As the Beatles said, it’s been a long, cold, lonely winter. Now that spring has sprung, I’m ready to sing “Here Comes the Sun,” as I set about cleaning and organizing, preparing for temperate days ahead. Here is my strategy for the weeks ahead.
Make a Plan and Start Small
After a year of working, schooling, and doing just about everything else from home, my house has seen tidier times. Tackling a quarantine’s worth of clutter at once may feel daunting, so start with “bite sized” chores. Prioritize what needs immediate attention, then schedule tasks that can wait, but be sure to put them on your calendar for later this month (or next). Start with some easy one-and-done projects to rack up a few early successes; they’ll motivate you to keep going! For instance, organizing one junk drawer or doing a deep clean of your fridge can be done in an hour or so, but will make a big difference to your mindset. Once you finish the first project it will be easier to move on to bigger (and messier) tasks.
Focus on the Forgotten
Mopping, dusting, counter-wiping, and vacuuming are essential for making your home feel refreshed, but don’t forget about less obvious tasks that may have been overlooked. For example, your cleaning appliances sometimes need to be cleaned themselves; they have nooks and crannies for crumbs, dust, mildew, and soap residue to hide. Start with your washing machine and dishwasher: run an empty cycle on the hottest setting with vinegar and baking soda in place of detergent to disinfect and deodorize. Place vinegar and baking soda (or a little bit of lemon juice) in a bowl on the bottom of your empty dishwasher and run a hot water cycle to break down any hard water or mineral buildup.
Clear Clutter
Has your Amazon Prime habit gotten out of hand during quarantine? You’re not alone! When I find myself getting a little too well acquainted with the ‘add to cart’ button, I’ve a technique to make sure I’m not accumulating too much clutter. Make a habit of doing regular basement or closet clear-outs (I like to do this every couple of months) to keep on top of your collections. I like to separate everything into three categories: keep, donate/toss, and undecided (for those things I can’t let go just yet!) Set aside a place for items in the third category. If you use your “undecideds” at some point over the next few months, they’re keepers! If you still haven’t touched them by the next change of season, it might be time to say goodbye. Gift them to a friend or sell them online. That way, you’ll have plenty of space for those shiny new purchases from your next midnight shopping spree – Peloton’s excepted.
Digital “Dusting”
Our physical spaces are not the only places that effect our wellbeing. Over the past year, our digital spaces have become essential to our success at work or school and should be thought of as a classroom or an office. A cluttered phone, computer, or tablet can be every bit as stressful as a messy room. Organize your apps into categorized folders, keeping those you use the most pinned for easy access. If your camera roll is overflowing with years of snapshots, use an app such as Gemini or Slidebox to make cleanup simpler. They can find duplicate or blurry photos, detect screenshots, and create folders to help you get your collection under control…the better to enjoy memories you have captured on your phone!
What cleaning task do you find most daunting? And what is your tip for tackling it?
Comments