Out With the Old, In With the New! A Guide to Spring Cleaning
Lent coincides with the Spring season which makes it the best time to embrace decluttering while Spring cleaning! If you don’t celebrate lent, no worries, just join us on a 6 week journey of Spring decluttering! In fact, plan a party or a crawfish boil in 6 weeks because a party ALWAYS motivates me to get things done! A black trash bag can hold 40 lbs so let’s see how much “stuff” you can lose in 40 days!
Mardi Gras season is sadly coming to an end. Out with the parades and King Cake and in with the Lenten season. Lent is 40 days, not counting Sundays (6 weeks), beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter Sunday. Participating Christians are fasting, as well as living in moderation and repentance.
For me personally, it’s a time of sincere reflection where I truly look at the things in my life that need change, ask for God’s guidance, and take the steps necessary to make that change. Some years, my lenten commitment has been been prioritizing my time. Other years, it’s been as simple as adding exercise to my routine or even checking the mail everyday. It’s setting a personal goal and sticking to it for 6 weeks!!
Lent coincides with the Spring season which makes it the best time to embrace decluttering while Spring cleaning! If you don’t celebrate lent, no worries, just join us on a 6 week journey of Spring decluttering! In fact, plan a party or a crawfish boil in 6 weeks because a party ALWAYS motivates me to get things done! A black trash bag can hold 40 lbs so let’s see how much “stuff” you can lose in 40 days!
Week 1: Closets.
Each day spend 30 minutes gathering items to toss or donate out of each one of the closets in your home. This includes the storage room off of the garage too. How many bags can you fill? Lastly, vacuum the floor and wipe clean any lighting or shelving.
Week 2: Kitchens and Outdoor Kitchens.
Start at the top cabinets and work your way down to the bottom.
Top cabinets - wipe items you're keeping, toss or donate items not used often or ever, and wipe spills and fingerprints off the doors and shelves.
Counters - clear them and then clean them.
Refrigerator - toss old, expired items, wipe shelves. Do you need to change the water filter?
Bottom cabinets - wipe items you are keeping, toss or donate other items. Wipe shelves and doors.
Appliances - Clean. Donate the ones you aren’t using.
Week 3: Office/Desk.
3 piles: Toss, file, action
Toss all junk mail. All of it. No, you won’t go back and read that article from 2015 about the hummingbirds. Let it go! It’s online if you really want to read it. (Take a picture of the recipes you want to try and store in a file on your phone or computer.)
File: Just do it. No whining allowed. We all hate it, but no one else will do it so just fix a glass of wine and get to it!
Action: Make a list. Get it done this week. All of it. No, you don’t get a sticker. But email me and I’ll tell you that you’re a rockstar!
Week 4: Living Room and Entry Way.
Time to change the throw pillows to the spring colors! Seriously, who does this? (Ok, Lisa, my partner in Houston does this. Maybe she will come do this for us all! I’m concocting a plan for Lisa to help us under achievers without seasonal throw pillows!)
Books: I love books! I’m a former teacher so, of course I love books! Unless you have a library at your house, let them go! You can get them from your local library if you are dying to read them. Only keep what fits on your bookcase.
Throw blankets: I have 30. Ok, maybe exaggerating a tiny bit, but these teens end up using them for sleepovers all the time. Donate the ones you don’t use to an animal shelter. They love them! I store the rest in a blanket chest or linen closet.
Sofa: Flip the cushions, checking underneath for the winning lottery ticket. When you find one, call me and let’s celebrate! If not, just vacuum on top and underneath the cushions.
Fireplace: If Spring has sprung in your area as it has in ours, it’s time to clean out the fireplace and toss the ashes. Be sure to follow the guidelines found here. I’ve seen a house catch on fire because of hot ashes, so be extremely careful!
Your entry ways set the tone for entering your home. What is this space saying about your life and do you want to change that tone? When my children were younger, this space was a hot mess because of all the activities! Now’s the time to put away the items that don’t belong there. Straighten the ones that do.
Everything else: Y'all know everything else lands in this room. Send it to its home. Bye!
Finish this room by cleaning any lights or fans and vacuuming the rug and under all the furniture.
Week 5: Bedrooms.
I’m about to get all serious on you now. Bedrooms need to be a place of rest! Look around your bedroom. Does it feel like a climate controlled storage unit or a peaceful place to rest your head after an exhausting day?
All flat surfaces need to be cleared. Sweet family photos (Limited!), maybe a lotion next to your bed, possibly a jewelry holder and maybe the current book you are reading or studying. That’s it. You need nothing else on any surface in this space! It distracts from your peace and rest!
Whats under your bed? My wedding box of stuff from 24 years ago was under mine. What the heck am I waiting for? Do my kids really care who came to my wedding? I know who was there. We have photos and videos (In color! HA!), the rest of the “stuff”…..bye! (You know you're hanging onto those wedding receipts….let them go!)
Bedding: Wash the pillows, then the bedding! Dry clean if necessary. (Clean the ceiling fan right before this.)
Hang or fold the clothes on that chair. We all have one, you aren’t alone. If they are clean enough to wear again. they are clean enough to be hung or folded and be put away. If you are Cajun, save your clothes. Now, cher!
Week 6: Bathrooms.
Wet places need a good cleaning. Clear the counter of the clutter. Any items needing to be on the counter deserve a pretty tray. This also helps keep a neat appearance on the counter.
Toss out old products. (Hair care, nail polish, body lotions, and soaps that you didn’t like the smell…) Don’t donate. No one wants old, expired stuff. Sorry, but just being honest. Contain like items and clean the shelves/drawers while you are there. Containing items helps the floor of the cabinets to stay clean.
Is the extra toilet paper cabinet all filled up? Don’t have one? I found a narrow basket at HomeGoods that works perfect. Time to clean that toilet too. Your loved one will appreciate this clean space if they catch the flu. Nothing worse than a dirty potty.
Where do you keep the bathroom cleaning products? I keep mine right in the bathroom! Easy to use when you just have a few minutes.
Check your towels and washcloths. Make a list of anything needed.
This is also a great time to get new toothbrushes and clean the hairbrushes.
Well, that gets you through the main areas of a house.
Here are a few odd things to add:
Check your filters and smoke alarms if you haven’t in awhile. Most are to be changed once a month.
Wipe down your doors, windows (Inside and outside) and walls. My back door gets really dirty with fingerprints since it’s white.
Check all ceiling fans. Gently wipe and clean.
Clean the outdoor furniture and cushions.
Make sure the pool is ready to go! Only a few more months!
Power wash house and patio as well as all porches.
And it’s time to clean out the garage too!
Now, folks. It’s time for a good ol’ Southern BBQ or Crawfish boil outside in that nice clean space!
If Spring cleaning seems too daunting on your own and you need some support, our team of organizers are happy to help!
Give us a call at 225-205-6400
Bonus Tip: Click the link at the bottom of the page to our Facebook and Instagram Pages to find out where to donate left over Mardi Gras Beads and join our new Lent Challenge!
Love this blog?
Sign up to get an email with our latest posts!
Letting Go is Hard to Do
Letting things go is HARD!
For many of my clients, the emotional attachment to THINGS is really strong. While my clients differ in the WHAT, the emotions behind it are usually similar.
So here are some simple strategies to let things go!
I started out with a blog calendar and then I had that client that made me want to write because her struggle is a struggle with so many, even me.
Letting things go is HARD!
For many of my clients, the emotional attachment to THINGS is really strong. While my clients differ in the WHAT, the emotions behind it are usually similar.
So here are some simple strategies to let things go!
1. Purge regularly. I suggest once a week for 15 minutes. Whether it be clothes, paper, collections...it doesn’t matter. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Start with areas that you have less attachment to and work towards the areas that are the most difficult. Adding your declutter session to your calendar will help you do it regularly, making it easier every time.
2. Write down your goals. List 3 things that are leading you to declutter. This will help you because you can look at the items and decide is this "Helpful or hurtful" to my goals. My 3 things are: Less stress, more time to do what I love and, surround myself with things that I LOVE and make me smile. For me that joy comes from the people inside my house, so my house is really clutter free compared to average. My love language is time.
3. Designate a space for items. When the items outgrow that space, it’s time to purge. This goes for anything....magazines, stuffed animals, Legos, jeans, books....whatever you’re hanging onto.
4. Get rid of the guilt of unfinished business. Barbara Hemphill states, "Clutter is the result of postponed decisions." Many people hang on to things because they want to "give it to someone" "read it" "use it" and yet years go by and the item, book, article gets buried amongst other things. You haven’t missed it yet, let go of the item and the guilt that goes along with it. By donating it, you are blessing others! If it was truly important, you would make the time.
5. Focus on small spaces. Do not overwhelm yourself with an entire room or closet. Start with a drawer, a folder, a shelf. And again, set a timer. 15-20 minutes.
6. Go with your gut. This is where having an organizer, friend, or anyone that can keep you accountable helps. If you don’t love it or use it, LET IT GO. I know personally how hard that is! My great-grandparents lived with me and I loved them like parents. Anything that was theirs is like a treasure to me....even if it’s ugly. Lol
So, I had to remember my goals and let some things so. Things that stayed in a cabinet or attic that I was only keeping because it was theirs needed to bless someone else. That was hard, but I don’t miss or even think about those items anymore.
Letting go is something you can definitely do if you are ready.
If you need someone to help you through the process and make you accountable, please give us a call.
225-205-6400
Love this blog?
Sign up to get an email with our latest posts!
The Effects of Clutter on Our Children
Numerous studies have confirmed my theory that clutter and chaos can have negative impacts on children’s lives. Excessive visual, olfactory and tactile stimulation may cause our senses to work overtime. If our senses are already working overtime just by being in a room, then how is a child supposed to focus on what’s important?
Look around your home, what message are you sending to your children?
Do you ever walk into your home and feel overwhelmed, overstimulated, and possibly anxious? In a 2016 study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology scientists declared environments can have a negative effect on a person’s wellbeing.
That made me wonder, what effect is all of our "stuff" having on our children?
Back in my teaching days, I planned my classroom centers with specific goals in mind. Certain areas were stimulating, bright and full of manipulatives and activity (ex. a math center), but I also planned areas with empty walls, calming colors and no clutter (ex. The reading center). It was interesting to me how children sought out the calming space, sometimes more than the active space. I also noticed the difference in the behavior of the children in these areas. Children in the bright areas were active, chatty, engaged. This area also had more emotional outbursts, aggressive behavior and chaos. Children in the reading center, which was less chaotic, were found to be quieter and calmer. There were fewer outbursts of emotions and less negative behaviors in these areas. This wasn’t a true scientific experiment, yet I saw first-hand that clutter and stimulation effect children’s behavior, sometimes in a negative way.
What does your child’s homework space look like?
Numerous studies have confirmed my theory that clutter and chaos can have negative impacts on children’s lives. Excessive visual, olfactory and tactile stimulation may cause our senses to work overtime. If our senses are already working overtime just by being in a room, then how is a child supposed to focus on what’s important?
Look around your home, what message are you sending to your children?
This sentence makes one thing come to mind, the cardboard box. Why? Because how many times do we buy things for our children only to watch them be more fascinated with the cardboard box? What makes us buy these "things" is great advertising that makes us believe our kids will be better, smarter and have much more fun with "____" item when in truth, the best gift you can give them is your time and a cardboard box. Ok, maybe a few markers or crayons too. Let the fun begin.
They don’t need more THINGS. They just need YOU.
Which brings me back to the message we send our children. If you are constantly needing new things, new stimuli, new stuff to feel happy, then your children could possibly be observing and learning that behavior, instead of learning that happiness comes from within. They too may be feeling overstimulated and anxious from all of the "stuff" you love to buy them.
Help your family win their day by having a clutter free home where they can play, focus and feel stress free.
Don’t know where to start? Call us for a consultation where we can help you formulate a plan! 225-205-6400
We at Chaos Organizing wish you a happy, clutter free Valentine’s Day!
Love this blog?
Sign up to get an email with our latest posts!
Feeling Chaotic? How Can a Pantry Help You Win Your Day?
Finding simple solutions to help you win your day is just one of the things we do as professional organizers. Here are a few of our favorite Chaos Organizing pantries. Notice the labeled bins, categorized shelves and location of items. All of that is a well thought out plan for each of our clients specifically tailored to their family’s needs.
After a long day of work, all I wanted to do was sit down. Dinner was done. The kitchen was clean. It was finally my time.
“ Mom. I need brownies for school tomorrow.”
“What?”
“Mom!!! I told you I need to bring brownies to school tomorrow.”
In all the chaos of the busy day, I had forgotten the brownies. “Do we have any mix? I can’t seem to find any in all this mess. Who shoved an empty bag of potato chips in here.”
The bag fell out and the crumbs all fell to the floor.
“Great, another mess I need to clean up,” I thought to myself.
“We will have to stop to get some pre-made brownies in the morning. It’ll be fine,” I yelled to my daughter.
Morning:
“Hurry let’s go. Where are your shoes? Don’t you guys remember we need to make a stop on the way to school?!! Get your stuff! Let’s go! I’ve got an early morning meeting. I can’t be late. Where is your soccer bag? We have to go NOW!”
Then I realize that in all the rush, I have forgotten to make lunches and it’s meatloaf day. No one will eat if I don’t whip up some quick sandwiches. I am going to be late. Today is already a bad day and it’s only 7:00am.
This scenario is enough to give anyone heartburn. Yet, so many of us face this level of chaos on a regular basis. How do we navigate past the drama? We get organized! That’s how!
An organized pantry could eliminate the question about the brownie mix which we actually do own but forgot about or couldn’t find.
An organized pantry helps child our children learn independence because they can pack their own lunch with the healthy choices available, allowing us to focus on our own morning agenda.
An organized pantry could be part of the key to keeping peace in our home.
Finding simple solutions to help you win your day is just one of the things we do as professional organizers.
Here are a few of our favorite Chaos Organizing pantries. Notice the labeled bins, categorized shelves and location of items. All of that is a well thought out plan for each of our clients specifically tailored to their family’s needs.
Our goal is to help each of our clients win their day. Please call us at 225-205-6400 so we can help you win yours!
Need help zoning your pantry?
Check out our blog on pantry zoning!
Love this blog?
Sign up to get an email with our latest posts!
Set up your consultation today!
How Clutter Affects Your Mental Health
Your home is your sanctuary or at least it should be. It’s your safe haven from the chaos you face every time you go out into the world. If you return from a chaotic world to just another home version of cluttered chaos, over time this stress will have impact on your health and psyche. Clearing the surfaces of clutter by getting rid of it or containing it will help you find the peace you are longing for at home.
We don’t hide our crazy we put it on the front porch and give it a cocktail.
Although southerners love this expression sometimes hiding your crazy is a necessary thing, keeping your spaces clutter free is emotionally helpful to you and your family.
Psychology Today reports:
Clutter bombards our minds with excessive stimuli, distracts us, makes it more difficult to relax, makes us anxious, signals to our brains that our work is never done, creates feelings of guilt, inhibits productivity, and frustrates us.
Your home is your sanctuary or at least it should be. It’s your safe haven from the chaos you face every time you go out into the world. If you return from a chaotic world to just another home version of cluttered chaos, over time this stress will have impact on your health and psyche. Clearing the surfaces of clutter by getting rid of it or containing it will help you find the peace you are longing for at home.
Having a home for your things so there is not clutter on all the surfaces is the key to winning your day.
However; with Pinterest, Instagram and the plethora of coffee table quality books featuring beautifully organized spaces there is no wonder getting organized puts fear into people’s faces. Behind those closet doors lies the reality that we are busy and far from perfect. It makes our fears become reality. All those pictures of matching containers in the perfectly organized closet paralyzes us.
It’s important to remember, just the act of being organized creates a beautiful, serene space.
Matching containers and beautiful labels are not necessary for a well-organized space. This is something you can work towards, changing out your containers a little at a time yet all the while living an organized life. In fact, all of your items do not necessarily even need to be contained. Containers are great for many things but at times can be an added frustration.
The goal is to finding solutions that work for you and your family. These solutions come from knowing what questions to ask yourself; starting with "Is this item helpful or hurtful to my goal?" Our organizers are experts at getting to the crux of your problems and developing solutions to help you win your day by streamlining your processes. Let us help you clear the clutter and so that you can recharge in your peaceful home. While we can park our crazy on the front porch and give it a cocktail, some days we just need to relax with the cocktail and contain the crazy.
On Thursday January 30th at noon, I will be joining Designer Arianne Bellizaire, on her Facebook live show. We will address the benefits and values of having an organized space and how you can achieve that goal.
Interested in learning more? Join the conversation on www.facebook.com/chaosorganizing or www.instagram.com/chaosorganizing.
Like this? Let us know by liking our blog at the bottom of the page and sharing it with a friend who might like it as well.
Love this blog?
Sign up to get an email with our latest posts!