Maybe it’s my very Virgo tendencies, but thinking about it spring cleaning It always makes my heart skip a beat. The appeal of a clean, organized space, coupled with wide-open windows and sunlight streaming through it, is unrivaled. However, the rush and anticipation can be short-lived, especially when you dive into the actual work of cleaning and organizing. Before spring cleaning can begin, some decluttering needs to be done. But the question of what to declutter in spring can be overwhelming.
What to declutter first? Do I need a spring decluttering checklist before I start cleaning? Before you know it, you may throw up your hands and abandon the project altogether. That’s exactly why I asked the pros for all their spring decluttering tips.
What to Declutter This Spring: 6 High-Impact Areas to Get Started
In advance, cleaning and organizing professionals will decide which items you should declutter first. Tackle these spaces before you mop to get the most bang for your buck this spring.
Drop zones
First, it’s helpful to check the spaces where you and your loved ones place items daily. Nick Friedman, co-founder and CEO of College HUNKS hauling trash and movingcalls these spaces drop zones. “The quickest win in any home is cleaning up the drop-off areas: entryways, kitchen counters, and coffee tables,” he shares. “These spaces collect mail, bags, random gadgets, and everyday clutter. When these surfaces are clear, the entire house immediately looks more organized. It’s a small project with a huge visual impact.”
To effectively combat clutter, keep a recycling bag nearby to throw away pieces of paper as you go along, as well as a trash bag for items that need to be thrown away.
Children’s affairs
If you have children, you already know how much they can accumulate. Vanessa Garcia, cleaning and organizing expert and Tasker for task bunnyencourages parents to start putting away their children’s belongings before embarking on spring cleaning. “One of the most important tasks I consider to be a big cleanup is going through the kids’ belongings: old markers, broken pencils and old toys that could be donated,” she says. “It’s always a good time to start picking them up and putting them aside, because most of the time they won’t notice.”
Garcia recommends involving your children in the decluttering process. “It can be a great learning opportunity for kids to do something good with what they have,” Garcia continues.
The refrigerator and the pantry
As they say, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Just as your wardrobe gets lighter for spring, so does your food, especially the fresher it is. fruits and vegetables come into season. But before you can give your kitchen a deep clean, Cathy Orr, co-founder of Purified liferecommends making a fridge and pantry cleaning.
“It’s time to throw out expired items from the pantry, deep clean the refrigerator and freezer shelves, take foods you never ate over the winter out of the freezer, and clean and wipe down the counters,” she advises. Once you’ve created more shelf space, you can wipe everything down, but this initial cleaning is essential.
Cupboards
Moving from winter to spring means your wardrobe will need to evolve with the seasons. You might as well declutter while doing so and reap the rewards of a refreshed space. “Closets are one of the biggest impact decluttering projects,” says Friedman. “Instead of overthinking it, I encourage people to take a small leap: If you didn’t wear it last season or it no longer fits your lifestyle, it’s time to donate it. Most people are surprised at how much space they save with just 20 minutes of assembly.”
Hidden clutter
It can be easy to litter behind closed doors. Out of sight, out of mind, right? But as you prepare your home for spring cleaning, you’ll want to make room for the items you In fact want to store. “Clear hidden clutter areas such as garages, junk drawers and storage closets where clutter accumulates,” recommends Friedman. “These spaces may be out of sight, but they’re often the ones that create the most stress because they make it difficult to find what you actually need. Once these spaces are reduced, it becomes much easier to keep the rest of the home organized.”
Personally, I like to approach junk drawers– these are small spaces that only take a few minutes to organize, great. You can’t wipe the drawers until they’re clean anyway!
Duplicates
While you search spring cleaning suppliesbe on the lookout for possible duplicates. “One of the most common things we see when helping our clients declutter is an overabundance of duplicates,” Friedman shares. He mentions that customers often have duplicates of cleaning supplies, as well as extra kitchen utensils or boxes of labeled items just in case. It encourages you to throw away or donate these items. “Keeping excess often becomes clutter. Simplifying these categories can free up a surprising amount of space,” he explains.
When starting your decluttering process, Friedman recommends feeling the excitement that comes with starting something new. “My biggest advice is to focus on momentum rather than perfection,” he shares. “Start with the areas that will make your home immediately look better. When you declutter the high-impact areas first, spring cleaning stops feeling like a huge project and starts feeling like a refresh.”
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