Start Your Spring Cleaning Now

Just because Monday was in the 60's, it doesn’t mean Spring flowering is on the horizon. Spring doesn’t officially commence until March 19th. The next month will be fraught with unpredictable weather, ranging from potentially tons of rain to hip-high snow fall. Or maybe it won’t. Maybe it’ll be a mild Spring, punctuated by cool air and premature buddings.
 
But just because Spring isn’t breaking tomorrow, doesn’t mean we can’t get an early start on our Spring cleaning! Homeowners and renters alike are susceptible to the phenomenon of accumulation. Especially since by the time Spring really does take hold, we’ll have spent an average of 6-7 months, mostly indoors, with early sunsets and little to do but place Amazon orders. Act now while you’re still mostly shut-in and get a head start on your Spring cleaning.


 
Check your closets, cupboards, basements, and attics for the stuff you won’t be wearing or using over the next 18-24 months.If something’s been sitting around for longer than that, let’s be real—chances are you’re not going to wear it or use it anytime soon. So why let it take up space in your home? This goes for pretty much everything, except maybe books and albums (those have their place). You know that blouse you snagged on sale at Macy's ages ago? It's probably never going to make its debut. It's better off finding a new life through donation than just collecting dust.


 
If you’ve been accumulating building materials, cans of paint, buckets of mud, and other remodeling essentials for a home makeover, get started now. I get it, you might be thinking you need to wait until it’s hot out to put a clear coat on the deck, but honestly, anything over 50 degrees is perfect.If it gets too hot, the stain will dry before its protective molecules are absorbed by the wood. There will be more and more warmer days for projects like this on the horizon, even if they don’t stick around for too long. Inside, you can do just about anything and you should. Why wait until things get busy in the middle of summer? Wouldn’t you rather be poolside, camping, or boating?

 
If you have stuff with utility that just needs organized, do it! Nothing makes life easier than knowing where stuff is when you need it. Put shoes on a rack or in their own boxes or bins. Purchase storage containers and label each container with a home-labelling system or at the bare medium a jumbo Sharpie. Then build shelving to house said tubs. No worries, you don’t need to be a carpenter to assemble a basic wire or corkboard garage shelving until. Most require nothing more than a rubber hammer or screwdriver and 30 minutes of free time. Place dry items like pasta, cereal, rice, beans, and oatmeal in sealable plastic or glass containers. Target and Wal-Mart both sell pantry organizing jars on the cheap. Finally, buy some drawer dividers and/or liners to separate small miscellaneous, but crucial, items in your desk or rolling toolbox.


 
Clean the gutters. Why wait for some magical day when you can settle for right now? Stuff’s just going to keep accumulating in there and you know the old saying about what brings Spring Flowers? Don’t let those gutters overflow with rain and cause damage to rooves and siding or sink into your foundation. Toss on your yardwork trousers and a sweatshirt, grab a ladder, some gloves, and a bucket and get busy.


 
Start picking up yard work essentials. This one might seem counterintuitive since I'm telling you to clean up, but having the right tools for the major outdoor cleanup will make everything easier when the time comes. Start picking up mulch, fertilizer, and hand tools like rakes, hoes, shovels, posthole diggers, and pitchforks now before they start flying off the shelves.
 
Maybe you’re ready to take "cleaning" to a whole new level—like making a bigger change. Could it be time to think about buying or selling your home, where you can hit the reset button on all your organization goals? If that sounds like you, I’ve got you covered! Let’s grab a coffee (my treat!) and talk through your real estate goals. I’ll help you feel confident and ready to take that next step!