Ah, springtime. When fresh rain showers wake up the garden buds, and we start thinking about spring cleaning. It’s time to freshen up our inside environment to match the outside, and the best place to start, in my opinion, is the wardrobe.
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When to Spring Clean
Anytime is a great time to declutter. It doesn’t have to be springtime. For the last few years, my spring cleaning has started at the beginning of Lent, usually in February. During this time, I have adopted the ritual of taking an item a day out of my house and putting it in a bag to donate, so that at the end of the 40 days of Lent, I have 40 items to give to someone in need.
This is a great way to do something good as well as declutter your home. I typically donate to local charities like Mission Arlington, but a fellow Fort Worth Mom mentioned utilizing buy nothing groups on Facebook. These are a great place to share with your community and neighborhood.
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The Wardrobe
For me, I begin with my closet because I feel overwhelmed when it is cluttered. First, I find articles of clothing that don’t fit me anymore. I used to hold onto items thinking I would lose weight and wear them again, but I found that I had A LOT of pieces that didn’t fit. Now, I might keep one item as a piece for setting goals, and donate the rest.
Next, I dig out the clothing that was gifted to me that doesn’t fit my personal style. If I’m not confident wearing that item, I donate it.
I have also started Marie Kondo’s method of holding something and, if it doesn’t bring me joy, letting it go. When I first heard about this method several years ago, I’ll admit, I thought it sounded silly. Yet, I was intrigued and watched Tidying Up on Netflix, just to see what all the fuss was about. Sure enough, I tried the method out and discovered that it is so much simpler to let things go when I ask myself if they bring me joy.
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Next Up: Kids Closets
Once I’ve completed my own closet, I get my kiddos involved in thinning out their wardrobes. I could do it for them, but I feel they should learn the importance of letting things go. Pulling out items that don’t fit is the easiest thing to let go of, and it gently teaches the kids that not everything lasts forever.
Last But Not Least, Linens
Lastly, I will attack the linen and hall closets. These closets always feel the messiest because they have the bulkiest items. Admittedly, I don’t let go of many linens, but I always like to, at least, go through them, re-fold them, and try to organize them to fit the shelves better. The organization might only last a week (and not happen again until next year), but it gives me a feeling of accomplishment.
