Tag: spring cleaning

Give Up Clutter for Good

Posted on by Jordank

Just a week ago, New Orleans revelers celebrated Mardi Gras, tossing some 25 million pounds of beads. The following day—Ash Wednesday—marked the beginning of Lent, the annual religious observance that asks Christians to engage in six weeks of penance or self-denial by giving something up.

Whether or not you’re a regular churchgoer, there’s one way to give things up that will reward you immediately, even as you help others: Pledge to give up clutter during Lent—and maybe for good—by cleaning out your old clothing, housewares and other unused goods and calling ClothingDonations.org for a pickup.

Clutter not only gets in your way, it clutters and confuses the mind. “Like used plastic shopping bags stuck on the branches of a riverbank tree, our clutter poisons our view and enjoyment of the objects that we do need and want and use,” says green living expert Annie B. Bond.

Her “8 Easy Steps to No More Clutter” begin with a thorough sorting exercise. Arrange your stuff into five categories: “Essential” things you need every day; “Favorites” such as photos, jewelry, and souvenirs; “Other people’s stuff” that winds up in your space; and “Annoying” or “Downright gross” items like junk mail and dirty laundry.

Start with the gross, she says, and sort out the simply annoying. Return other peoples’ stuff and find places for your favorites. Finally, put all of your essentials in places you can access and use them. Anything that still doesn’t have a home when you’re finished is clutter—and you can throw it away or donate it.

This is a comprehensive approach to spring cleaning, to be sure, but with almost five more weeks of Lent, you’ll have time to give something up and still do the virtuous work of helping others. When you donate the stuff that clutters up your house, the proceeds go toward programs that help feed, house and thank the nation’s veterans for their service.

There’s never a bad time to give up clutter, but you, your family and the nation’s veterans will all be better off once you do. So start today—you’ll be happy you did!

Prepare for Six More Weeks of Winter

Posted on by Jordank

Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his Pennsylvania burrow last week and saw his shadow, indicating — however unscientifically — that there will be six more weeks of winter. So far, the weather has been relatively mild in the areas of the country that get snow, but if the groundhog is correct, homeowners can look forward to more sloppy, slushy weather.

As noted in previous Quick Tips, snow and salt mean more dirt inside the home. People track through with wet, snowy shoes and boots, releasing a muddy mess onto the floors. Whether you have wood, tile or carpeted floors, a little meltwater can make them look dingy fast; if left unchecked, those stains can ruin them.

To protect your floors, first clean them completely, then place a tray or throw rug at each entrance to your home. Direct your friends and family members (politely but unflinchingly), to leave their snow-caked shoes and boots in that designated area, and your home will stay cleaner throughout the season.

Dust buildup is another problem in a closed-up, heated home. Wipe down ceiling fans, picture frames, electronics and other flat surfaces, and vacuum thoroughly. You’ll probably be spending much of the next six weeks indoors, and you don’t want to spend it sneezing.

When those tasks are done, you can take advantage of your indoor downtime by starting on a few of Style Guide’s 12 Winter Cleaning Ideas. First up? Going through your clothes and deciding what to keep. “If you haven’t worn it in two years and/or it makes you feel guilty, it’s a giveaway,” the story says. Bag those items up and contact ClothingDonations.org for a pickup.

Other areas that could use some “cleaning” before spring include your budget, the site suggests. Tax time is coming up, and there’s no better time to plan out expenditures for the year ahead. Speaking of taxes, now is the time to gather up all of your receipts from last year so that you or your accountant can crunch the numbers. (Remember, that clothing donation is deductible!)

At the same time, organize paperwork and digital files so that you can continue to find the information you need when you need it. If you decide you don’t need some of those papers, so much the better: Toss them in the recycling bin.

If the weather is still miserable when you’re done with these tasks, you can get a head start on your spring cleaning by attacking some of the more detailed household chores such as cleaning windows, grout and upholstery. By the time you emerge from your burrow next month, you’ll be able to enjoy the warmer weather with a clean, organized home!

Start Your Spring Cleaning Now

Posted on by Jordank

The calendar tells us that there are still almost two months to go before spring officially starts. And even if your area of the country is already experiencing periods of spring-like weather, the fact is that there really isn’t that much going on during the winter months.

Sports fans have big events to watch on TV, but there are no major holidays until Easter. Sure, you might choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day or St. Patrick’s Day, but these holidays are unlikely to make a big dent in the social schedule.

Take advantage of that extra time by getting a jump-start on your spring cleaning.

The weather may still be treacherous, so instead of thinking about scrubbing and dusting, make your jump-start about decluttering. You can “clear a path” today so that your home is ready for a big scrubdown when the weather improves.

Start with your clothing. By this point in the winter, you know which items you and your family really use during the colder months, and which ones you don’t. Bag up those extra sweaters, fleeces and corduroys and contact ClothingDonations.org for a pickup.

Next, look at the junk you’ve accumulated. Are your closets overflowing with gadgets, tools and tchotchkes that you no longer want — or never did? Box ’em up and “transition” them out of your living quarters so they’ll be ready for the first garage sale of the spring.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so you’ll make a neighbor’s day even as you relieve yourself of all that stuff. Just don’t try to do all of the decluttering at once, Money Crashers says; pick a closet or room and get it exactly how you want it before moving on to another space.

Once the path is clear, you’ll have the time and space for a quick home-improvement project! A new coat of paint, refreshed bathroom tile or new carpeting will help elevate your mood, and it’s a good idea to get those messy renovations done before you deep-clean.

By the time Easter, Memorial Day and the other big holidays arrive, your house will be spacious, clean and inviting again. And you’ll be able to kick back and enjoy the warmer weather with a renewed sense of accomplishment.

A New Home For Your Old Things!

Posted on by Jordank

Finding garage sale items a home. If there are still items that weren’t sold at your garage sale this year, don’t bring them back into your home. Again, donate them to us if they’re in good shape. Your donations will help fund our veterans programs. Any gently used clothes, accessories, or books are greatly appreciated!

It’s Garage Sale Season—Are You Ready?

Posted on by Jordank

With Memorial Day already behind us, it’s time to look forward to other summertime activities. One of the most popular summer traditions is the neighborhood garage sale. It’s time to reward the hard work you did while spring cleaning and organizing your home, and give the unneeded items you found while cleaning a new home.

If you’re participating in your neighborhood garage sale, the process of organizing your sale items can be daunting and overwhelming. But, despite the potential stress, attracting shoppers to your treasures is also part of the fun! You need to strategize and develop a plan, which is where we come in to help.

In the weeks before your sale, go through each room of your home with a box. If you find unused and unopened cooking utensils in your kitchen drawers, place them in the box. If there are shelves of unread, or already read, books in your home, it’s time to put new price tags on them. Then, tackle your bedroom and closet. Is there furniture in your bedroom that you’re not using (old dressers, desks, etc.)? Are there clothes in your closet that you haven’t worn in years? Add them to the box. Going room by room will make your garage sale planning more organized and stress-free!

When it comes time to have the sale, you know that you have great items—but do your potential customers? Make sure to have plenty of prominent signage. Get creative, and have fun with your ads! Consider having refreshments (like water or lemonade) available for guests if it’s hot outside. For parents bringing young children along, be sure to have a station or area where children can color or play board games. These are just a few ways to make sure your sale stands out even more!

Not everything will sell, of course. But, don’t despair! If you have leftover items that didn’t sell, do not bring them back into your home where they’ll just sit in boxes and collect dust for another year. Avoid the clutter and do a good deed at the same time by donating these items to us! ClothingDonations.org will pick up your donations for you, making it incredibly easy for you to keep a clean, clutter-free home for the summer. Even better, your donation will help fund our veterans programs. You can visit our website for more details and to schedule your donation pickup time.

Happy Garage Sale-ing!