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 The flowers are blooming; the birds are chirping…ok, maybe not quite yet. More accurately, the ground remains blanketed in snow and we had yet another snow day from school last week. On the bright side, the temperatures are slowly rising and spring is on its way.
Spring cleaning is a tradition in colder climates where we freshen up our homes and offices from top to bottom after the long winter. Many people associate spring cleaning with scrubbing, dusting, vacuuming, etc. While these activities are necessary, I argue that one of the most important parts of spring cleaning is getting rid of clutter that you don't need. If you start by de-cluttering, you will have a lot less to scrub, dust and put away when you clean.
Here are some tips to help you start the season off right.
- Open your windows
Nothing compares to a breath of fresh air after a long winter. As you're cleaning, open the windows to let the fresh air and sunshine in, remove musty winter odors, and protect yourself from inhaling dangerous fumes from cleaning products.
- Eliminate distractions
At home, turn off the TV, and let your calls go to voicemail. At the office, block off your calendar so you don’t get scheduled for meetings, let your calls go to voicemail, and don’t open email.
- Focus on one space at a time
Focus on one space at a time. In the office, take it one drawer at a time. At home, take it one room at a time.
- Make yourself a checklist
Make a checklist of the tasks that you only do once or twice a year so you won't forget about them.
- Be ruthless
If you don't use it, or you don't love it, get rid of it. Be ruthless when you de-clutter.
- Donate, sell, or give away
If you have items in good condition that you don't use, they are prime candidates to sell, donate, or give away. If you choose to donate, many of these organizations will even pick up your donations for you. If you choose to sell, take some photos with your digital camera, and put them up for sale on eBay (www.ebay.com) or Craigslist (www.craigslist.org). If you have something to give away for free, there is a great resource call Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) which lets you post items for free.
- Make your spring cleaning project fun
Play some fun music. If you are spring cleaning at home, get the family involved. Give everyone a task, and then have something to look forward to afterwards. You can also make it into a game if you have younger children.
 If you are spring cleaning at the office, it doesn’t have to be dull and boring. When Organize Your World coordinates a File Clean Out Day for a business, it is company-wide and we make it fun. As well as providing structure, guidance and support, we have prizes for different categories, we play music, and we wear themed t-shirts. It can be lots of fun.
Spring is often associated with thoughts of crisp, fresh air, buds on the trees, singing birds and a sense of renewal. Spring cleaning will help to bring that wonderful fresh feeling into your home and office.
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