Spring is one of my favorite times of year because, well…. the cleaning! 🙂
Anyone else? …Yes? …No?
This year, I’m even more excited to get into my Spring cleaning because I’m moving out of my condo at the end of the month [more on that to come]! Though I’m certainly bummed about leaving my wonderful roommate + the place we’ve called “home” for the last 6 years behind, I’m really looking forward to the next chapter, going through all of my belongings, and doing some serious downsizing!
Lately [especially after spending the last month living out of one suitcase], I’ve become absolutely fascinated with the idea of creating a minimalist lifestyle. I love nothing more than being in a clean, fairly empty, and organized space!
I do clean regularly, I go through my closet often, and I tidy up my bedroom daily, but just because it looks clean does not mean it feels that way. I can sense that I have stuff under my bed, I can sense the overflow behind my closet doors, and in the cabinets of my nightstands. I know that one of the drawers to my dresser is broken + one is rigged shut because it flat out broke due to the 18 pairs of jeans that were shoved into it, and I literally cringe at the thought of everything I have in our storage unit downstairs. UGH!! Though it’s all out of sight when I shut the doors, the feeling of excess definitely weighs on me + I am so ready + SO excited to say goodbye to a lot of it!
So with that said, I’ve been doing a lot of research on how to declutter + simplify my life! There are so many great systems out there, including the KonMari method! Taking bits + pieces from all that I’ve read, I designed my own plan of attack for going at this mess, and I wanted to share it with you! Feedback is encouraged.
Alright, here we go! –>
- Tackle my belongings by category.
- Separate everything by items I definitely want to keep, items I’m getting rid of, and items I’m not 100% sure what to do with.
Anyone else have BAGS + BOXES of clothes?! - Only keep items that “spark joy”. Things that I regularly use/wear, items that I LOVE + make me happy, or items that are extremely sentimental.
- BUH BYE BOOKS! I’m so going to reintroduce myself to the library!
- Only keep one of every hair, skin, body related product at a time.
- Toss any + all makeup I haven’t touched in 2+ months.
- Downsize nail polish collection! Toss old polishes + only keep favorites…I swear, this is a whole project in itself.
- Get rid of all paper mail! Transfer all bills/statement to be received online.
See ya, cabinet full of junk mail! - Sell/donate any handbag or pair of shoes I haven’t carried/worn in the last year.
- Remind myself of the overall goal every step of the way…you’re in the process of creating a clean, decluttered environment, full of nothing but things I adore! 🙂
It’s definitely going to be a bit of a daunting task, but I am freakishly excited about getting rid of all of my excess “stuff”! Seriously, though. I cannot even explain it, I’m not exaggerating one bit. I cannot waiiiiit to clean house, start fresh, and make room for all of the new + exciting things to come! 🙂
Do you guys have any tips for downsizing/moving/getting rid of overflow? I’d seriously love to hear them!
XOXO
I did this earlier this week and it felt so good! I scrubbed down every surface in my house, went through my nail polish, and my closet. I have lots of papers that need to be shredded, but I don’t have a shredder so that one I have to figure out. Once I clear that stuff out, I will be rid of all the extra “stuff” I have just laying around. With my closet, I ask myself if I can remember the last time I wore it and if I were out shopping would I buy it again. Those 2 usually help me decide whether to keep or toss!
Ahh, I’m so jealous you already cleaned! Haha. I am really looking forward to it, but dreading it at the same time because I knowww it will take me a while. I love those 2 questions you ask yourself, such a great way to decide whether certain items are worth keeping! Putting that tip in my pocket as I tackle my closet + all the clothes I have in storage! 🙂
I was going to do it this weekend, but decided to go ahead and get started. I’m glad it’s out of the way and I’ve been enjoying my clean apartment all week.
That is the best feeling!! 🙂
I am so proud of you love!! And now, of course, you inspired me to do the same!! I really need to get to decluttering!! I love your tips!! My closet is such a mess and I think I will tackle it first haha!!!
Haha aw! Yay!! We can all Spring clean together!! Closets are always the hardest, but I feel like everyone wears the same items *all of the time*. I need to just recognize that + get rid of the rest haha.
Haha exactly!!!
Love this post, lucky to have you lay out all of these tips for me! We will tackle the Welly together! XOXO
Oooooh yes, it’s going to be an adventure! 🙂 🙂
I have attachment issues, but I have also explored the minimalist approach of managing the items and stuff I own and I must say I love it! Cheers to fresh starts and happy beginnings!
Aw yay! That’s great to hear! I am definitely on a mission to “downsize” + plan to really stay on top of it from here on out. There is really no need for sooo much stuff! I’m the worst when it comes to products! 🙁
CRAP. This has given me motivation to clean my condo out. Your closet though, oh my god. I mean, I’ve totally been there but I HATE when it gets to that point!
UGH! I was like, I cannnnnot post this picture!! I swear it looks worse than it is LOL, but still, it drives me absolutely insane! I started cleaning today + am so excited to continue! I think the closets may have to be the last step though…woof. 🙁
This has definitely given me my task for this weekend. I clean and clean and clean but down sizing is something I struggle with. That is my goal. This post is very inspiring because I can relate to the entire thing. The beauty of simplicity.
Aw, thanks girl! I cannot stand all the excess, it’s just not necessary. Simplicity really is a beautiful thing!! 🙂 Happy Spring Cleaning!! XOXO
I have sooo been in the spring cleaning spirit lately. So much so that I have been pulling weeds & landscaping the yard for three weeks now and also got on my hands and knees with a toothbrush to scrub dirt out of the texturized surface on my tile floors. I eventually gave that up after about 25 minutes & got a magic eraser mop instead, which only kinda worked. Two years ago, I turned all the hangers in my closet backwards. Once I wore something, I turned the hanger back around the right way and donated whatever clothes were still hanging backwards after a year. That helped me get rid of a lot of things I don’t wear and was just holding on to for whatever reason.
Oh my gosh, you are a cleaning pro!! Toothbrush scrubbing tiles is legit! I’ve *tried* the hanger idea, and think it makes so much sense, I just have this problem where I’ll be in a rush, try on a million things and then just shove them back into my closet…and inevitably, mess up the system lol. But I want to revisit it + get better at that, I think it’s such a good idea!! :):)
Hahaha. I don’t know what happened, but ever since I moved out of my parents & suddenly cleaning was my responsibility, clean floors became one of my biggest pet peeves. We didn’t have the floors professionally cleaned when we bought our new house & I haven’t gotten around to it until now, but I’ve been acting like a crazy lady and am determined to get every smudge of dirt out of every little crevice! I definitely understand what you mean though. It was pretty difficult to keep things separated when I moved. But it did force me to wear clothes I never wore just because I didn’t want to get rid of it. Lol!
You are too funny!! I think it’s totally ok to be obsessive about cleaning, as long as you don’t let it stress you out 24/7 haha. We’ve rented our condo for the last 6 years + it was perfect for what we needed, but we never fully loved the actual space! It’s definitely a little older + needs some updating, so we never went super crazy to clean/decorate it because no matter what, it’d never feel totally clean. So I’m really looking forward to getting into a newer space, with less stuff, putting some effort into the decor, and just enjoying the simplicity + cleanliness of it all! haha
Fun Fun Fun 😚👚👗👙👠💄👡👟👜👛 away we go !!!
Yes! Goodbye extra junk!!!!
We have been spring cleaning for over a months. Whenever we do a deep cleaning I keep getting rid of things. Its refreshing!
You’re on top of it girl!! That’s great! We have one month to be out, so I’m trying to utilize my time well + not wait until the last minute to do all of this! haha
I’ve done clothes but I am procrastinating about clearing out makeup and beauty products…it’s going to be so tough!! Well done for getting started with gusto! 😀
Hahah thanks girl!! You’ll get to it! For me, makeup + products was a little easier because if I’ve had it for way too long + haven’t touched it, or it probably expired, it was an easy toss! Sorting through clothes, I dreaaaad! It will be a pain, I cannot even tell you how many bags/boxes of clothes I have in the basement, but I AM excited to go through them. I’m looking forward to just cleaning house + having a closet full of things that I love! 🙂
I have a storr of clothes, shoes, bags and things at my mum’s house that I currently in denial about! Why is it so hard?! I laugh in the face of expired makeup and live on the edge when it comes to using it! Lol! I have promised myself a declutter…I think I had just better get on with it…gaaaah!
LOL! Oh my gosh, I totally have stuff at my Moms house too. Ugh!! And you’re so funny, I’ve kept/used expired makeup for yeaaaars! But now that I’m in purge mode, it has helped me to part with it all LOL.
Ive been doing so much spring cleaning too! My goal was to only keep things I absolutely LOVE. You should check out the site Vinted! You can sell clothes/shoes/bags! Its so great. Plus, you don’t pay the shipping. Great way to not have to throw things away!
Oh my goodness, that site sounds awesome! I currently have a huge pile of handbags + shoes on my floor that are in great condition lol! I will definitely check it out, thank you!!! 🙂
Spring Cleaning for myself is not the issue because I don’t own much, but for my daughters it’s a process. I definitely will take your ideas in consideration and hopefully finish before Fall this time. I’m so lazy when it comes to this now that I have to do it for 3 people. Wish me luck! I’m so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. We have to get together soon.
Aww, thanks Toya!! Spring cleaning is intense as it is, I can’t imagine having to do if of 3 more people! But you’re super Mom, and those girls are awesome, so I’m sure they’d be happy to help their Mama out! 😉 Thank you for reading and your sweet words! I would LOVE to see you all soon!! I talked to Ash a couple of weeks ago, but we’ll definitely have to set something up ASAP!! 🙂 In the meantime, happy cleaning!! …That’s what I’ll be doing all weekend! 🙁 haha
I totally need to do this too! Although, it’s not spring here, it’s autumn, so maybe I’ll use that as an excuse to wait, haha! I’m so bad at clearing out my closet. I never want to throw anything away, even if I know I’ll never wear it again.
Oh wow, so crazy you’re in the middle of Autumn! I totally understand, cleaning out your closet is one of the most difficult tasks! I’m trying so hard to just bite the bullet + part with old items I no longer wear. Definitely easier said than done!
The pictures that accompanied this post are fantastic. I’ve seen similar closets (in my own home!)
How do you get rid of the stuff you don’t want anymore? Do you sell it or donate it?
Both!! I’ll sell whatever’s in good condition, donate anything I can’t sell, and toss everything else! lol
Where do you like to sell? Curbza is an app where people can sell their stuff like any other buy and sell site, but also offers an inventory platform where folks can take pics of their stuff, create a private inventory and organize their items within the app to see what they want, what they should donate, what they need to sell etc.
We’d be interested to get some feedback from someone who sells online like yourself :). It’s free to download. We’re also looking for guest bloggers if that’s of interest! Thanks Amanda!
Thank you so much for touching base! I currently sell to local consignment shops, but I’ll definitely have to check you guys out! 🙂
I’m getting all geed up reading your article – it sounds so positive and liberating!
Aw thank you! So glad you enjoyed!!