You ain’t really organized until your closets are organized- in my opinion. This spring, I am attacking my closets, cabinets, and drawers.
Check this super helpful video out:
Steps for closet organization: (thanks mom for being the clean closet queen; she taught me all of these)
Get better quality hangers and have only one kind of hangers. Looks nicer. (I think black plastic looks best)
Purge clothes that you haven’t worn in 6 months.
Is your closet large enough to have all four seasons of clothes? If not, put out of season clothing in clear containers to simplify the closet to the season you are in. (containers for under your bed?)
Zone your closet. Sections for shirts: short sleeve to long sleeve. Dresses- pants. Dark to light. Solid to pattern.
Shoes on shelves or shoe cubbies and zoned
Scarves and hats, gloves and other accessories in clear containers
Purses all together on shelves or drawers.
Keep empty hangers in a section of their own, hung up.
Keep dirty clothes hamper close by, so that no piles start to form.
What is all the fuss with spring cleaning? Shouldn’t we always be cleaning regardless of the season? I think it is a common feeling to be motivated by changing seasons to change things in our environment. When the trees start budding leaves and the air gets scents of bloom, spring fever hits me! Then, I am ready to buy vegetable seeds and excited to make lists of projects for outside and inside the home.
As Spring approaches, it is an excellent time to think about what areas of our homes need extra attention. What projects have been put off or need attention? A few questions come to mind as I ponder this topic:
What projects can I give an hour a day to that would help my home and family run more smoothly?
What spring and summer memories or events are typical for my family and what steps can I take to plan those?
What areas outside or inside my home are being avoided because it is too overwhelming to clean, organize, or decorate?
Spring Cleaning is just a name that our society has come up with for a temporary motivation to organize with an extra measure of social pressure. It is really nothing more than surveying the home or workplace and taking inventory.
Inventory by room by room. Each room should be maintained daily, weekly, and monthly. Clutter, clean, and deeper clean. Spring cleaning can be an extra time to re-decorate, put an organizational system in place, or re-arrange for a more effienent space.
Spring Cleaning Inventory (the List)
organize the list by room
scan the room: what do you not like in the room?
assign your name or someone else’s name to each task
write down items to purchase
what needs to be thrown out, given away, sold, etc.
what doesn’t work about the space? brainstorm solutions
budget any changes and talk thru it with your spouse, get ideas, look thru magazines for ideas, get help, share resources
plan time to give to the tasks/projects
enlist kids and or family members to have fun with the project
After each room gets this inventory, priortize the rooms in order for your time and attention. Look at your life schedule and set aside a reasonable amount of time for these extra jobs. They are in addition to our daily stewardship of our home. Spring projects are great opportunities for communities/groups to take turns helping each other with as well. I have heard of groups in our church, once a month serving a family in the group on a Saturday with Spring outside projects. What a great way to serve and be served.
I love Spring. I am reminded as the green stuff starts appearing of the newness of life and the character of God. It is so amazing that God created seasons, months, weeks, and days. I find that with each new day I feel a fresh start, new motivation to love God and others more.
As I start my list for Spring Work, I am intensely motivated to worship God in the ”before and afters” of projects!
What is all the fuss with spring cleaning? Shouldn’t we always be cleaning regardless of the season? I think it is a common feeling to be motivated by changing seasons to change things in our environment. When the trees start budding leaves and the air gets scents of bloom, spring fever hits me! Then, I am ready to buy vegetable seeds and excited to make lists of projects for outside and inside the home.