Minimalist Mindset for Spring Cleaning
When the weather begins to warm - even if it’s just for a weekend - Midwesterners get the urge to purge our homes of clutter. We try on our summer clothes for Spring Break vacations and cross our fingers that they’ll last us another season. We see more grass than snow, and take stock of seeds and lawn care equipment. We wash the salt off our cars and get the bikes tuned up for the summer.
If you want to make the most of your spring cleaning, here are a few minimalist tips:
Divide and conquer - We know spring cleaning can feel like a hefty challenge. Break up big cleaning and organizing projects into micro-tasks. See our kitchen-specific cleaning advice.
Minimize - Be thoughtful about items you are throwing away or donating. Are you getting rid of something because it’s simply outdated? Will you likely purchase a shiny new replacement in a short time? What can you do to repair or refresh an item that is still useful?
Fix what you can - Maybe that shirt just needs a button sewn back on. Or the lawn mower just needs an oil change and clean blades.
Repurpose - Old plastic tupperware that you don’t want to use for food can be used as drawer organizers or storage for hobby supplies. Holey shirts can be repurposed as cleaning cloths.
Rearrange - Spruce up a room by moving items you already have onto new shelves or into new spots. The change of scenery might be just what you need.
Sell or give away on social media - Some items may be in great condition but you just aren’t using them anymore. This is a perfect opportunity to make a few bucks off of them. Facebook marketplace and Buy/Sell/Giveaway groups are usually free to post and time efficient.
Buy second hand - If you still need something, use those same social media sites and your local thrift shops to buy organizational or decorative items secondhand.
Spring cleaning does not have to mean cleaning every square inch of your house. For M, it’s doing one extra cleaning task she doesn’t usually incorporate into her weekly cleaning. For A, it means cracking windows and letting in the fresh air, and feeling energized to get a little more done each week. The winter blues (aka seasonal affective disorder, aka Vitamin D deficiency) are very real here. Find what is manageable in your schedule and time of life.
