The clocks going forward last weekend marked the beginning of Summer Time. The stretch in the evenings with the noticeable lengthening of daylight tends to put a spring in our steps.
The awakening of nature and the return of colour to the landscape turns our attention to our own homes and what we can do to refresh them as we embrace spring. This often involves a major clean up and clear out, an opportunity to declutter and reorganise, remove unwanted items, and find better ways of doing things.
Cleaning and decluttering our living spaces can have a positive impact on our lives. From improving air quality to reducing stress and boosting productivity, there are many benefits to spring cleaning. Decluttering allows us to get rid of space invaders – the excess items, mountains of paperwork, or general mess which can threaten to take over our homes, leaving us feeling weighed down and struggling to find anything.
The secret of success is not to be overly ambitious. Instead of setting a full day aside for cleaning and getting fed up half way through, break the task down into smaller steps by creating a cleaning calendar. This way, you can tackle chores little by little and make the whole process more manageable.
So, instead of allocating eight hours to decluttering and cleaning one day, for example, break it into 20 and 30-minute sessions in the evenings, over a week, or at the weekend. Then, you are less likely to dread those allocated cleaning hours and be more productive.
Experts say one of the main reasons homes look cluttered is because there are multiple small items scattered all over the place. Abandoning things on countertops or tables, hanging items on the backs of chairs, or worse still, leaving them on the floor, can make your home look messier than it is.
When doing a clear-out, your aim is to have a place for everything and, as the saying goes, [to keep] everything in its place. This approach will help you maximise space, maintain an organised environment, and reduce time spent searching for items. If you cannot find an appropriate location for something, ask yourself if you really need it. This is also a great approach if you have limited storage and are trying to free up space.
Start small. If the task facing you seems overwhelming, break it down into bite-sized chunks. Instead of tackling an entire room, begin with one drawer, shelf, or corner. Small successes build momentum and make the task ahead appear much more manageable. Try to operate in a methodical fashion, if you are working in the kitchen, for example, go from cupboard to cupboard.
Declutter before you clean. Remove items you no longer need before you start cleaning. Otherwise you are wasting time and energy working around them. Creating three piles, to keep, donate, or discard items will simplify the process, making decisions clearer and easier.
Adopt the one-year rule. If you have not used something in the past year, it’s likely that you do not need it. Be ruthless, too. This is important because it will speed up the decluttering process. Make a decision about an item and stick to it. Give away anything in good condition, which you no longer use or need, to charity or sell it. Remember, one person’s junk is another’s treasure.
Prioritise. The things you use frequently, such as keys, umbrellas, scissors, or gloves should be easy to access.
Have a system. Focus on completing one area before you move on to the next. This not only prevents confusion and chaos, it gives you a sense of progress and completion.
Open windows. This will improve ventilation and freshen up the house when you are cleaning and dusting.
Start at the top. When cleaning, begin with higher surfaces such as shelves and work your way downwards to avoid getting dust on something you have already cleaned.
Clean everywhere. Do not forget the hidden areas such as behind furniture and under beds, especially if you have pets. Dust tends to collect in these spaces.
Set a deadline. The temptation when you begin spring cleaning is to keep going until your energy or enthusiasm runs out. The problem with this approach is that you are likely to over-do it and then get so fed-up that you abandon the project altogether. Aim to work in short bursts, that way you will stay focused and will avoid exhaustion.
Take breaks. This is necessary, particularly if you decide to commit to the task for a longer timeframe. Time-out not only gives you a chance to have a snack and a short rest to boost your energy levels, it will also enable you to admire what you have already done. This will help you stay motivated.
Enlist assistance. Some tasks can seem overwhelming, especially if everything is left for one person to do. If there are any willing helpers in your house (even unwilling ones may be open to bribery! ) get them involved. It will make the whole thing quicker, easier, and less stressful. It will also create momentum and the process might even become enjoyable. Listening to music or a podcast while you work will act as a pleasant distraction and might even spur you on to work faster or achieve more than anticipated.
Aim to keep kitchen surfaces clear. This will not only make cleaning much easier, the place will also look better.
Check household items. Replace batteries in smoke alarms, clean filters, and inspect appliances to make sure they are in working order.
Edit your wardrobe. Our wardrobes usually require attention because they are often overloaded with garments we no longer wear, items requiring alternations or that need to be cleaned, and bad buys. Set aside a time to go through each garment and examine it with a critical eye. Have you worn it in the past year? If not, it is obviously not at the top of your firm favourites list and deserves to go to a home in which it will be loved and wanted. Divide items into sections for charity shops, dry cleaning and repairs, and reconsideration. Decide if you can bring any of the last pile to life by mixing and matching them with something else or adding accessories.
Look at the bigger picture. April is National Spring Cleaning month and the Galway County Council and An Taisce are aiming to make this 27th annual campaign its most successful to date. An estimated 2,700 tonnes of litter was collected from roadsides, parks, and coastlines nationwide last year with more than 170 Co Galway groups and volunteers participating.
Liam Conneally, the chief executive of Galway County Council, is encouraging people to take part. “It can be as simple as two neighbours coming together to pick up litter in their own area or a larger group of volunteers working across their community. Free clean-up kits are available for all registered groups in Galway.”
People can register online at www.nationalspringclean.org and further information is available from the Galway County Council’s Environment Section at (091 ) 509510 or [email protected]
