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De-cluttering and spring cleaning
It doesn’t have to be spring for you to give your house a good cleaning. But before you give your home a clean, a good de-clutter will make cleaning much easier and faster.
Decluttering
We’ve all got things in our homes that we’ve had for years – but are they essential? You could get rid of old clothes you haven’t worn for years, de-cluttering shelves, cupboards and under the beds. You’ll be amazed at what you’ve been collecting over the years. A clutter-free environment is easier to clean—and easier to keep clean.
Let’s get started!
Start small whether it’s your bedroom, kitchen cupboards or wardrobe. Take one room at a time and you are more likely to succeed rather than panic and give up half way through. First de-clutter your storage areas first. This way you will have somewhere to store all the items you do want to keep and will have a realistic idea of how many or few items you can store. It’s always best to take everything out of the area to be de-cluttered.
It’s always difficult to decide what should be kept, stored or thrown away. So be realistic - will it really come in handy one day or is it just gathering dust? If you haven’t used something for the last six months – will you really use it again in the future or is it just a memory (old family photographs) or a seasonal item (e.g. Christmas decorations, summer fans). It’s good to be selective by choosing to keep the most important items but getting rid of the rest.
Items you no longer need can be put to good use elsewhere. Some items may be recycled, given to charity or sold at a car boot sale or an online auction. ou can also recycle larger possessions through Freecycle, the free online local facility that allows you to give away any unwanted items to people who need them.
Finally, make sure you clearly label any items for storage – that way it will be easier to search for when you need them. Once you’ve de-cluttered you may want to invest in new storage items such as a new bookcase, filing cabinet, a shoe rack or photo album to keep things in a good order.
Remember, de-cluttering is a way of life, not a one-off chore. Now you’ve de-cluttered its time to start spring cleaning!
Spring cleaning
It doesn’t have to be spring for you to clean your house! To keep you home in tip-top shape for all seasons, these great tips will help keep your home clean and fresh in no time.
- Start your spring clean at the top of the house and work your way down. Working from room to room and not moving onto the next until the last is complete will keep the momentum going.
- Choose some good music to get you in the mood and to keep yourself motivated.
- Start with dusting everything. Rarely vacuumed spots may not look dirty, but dust will have collected in the corners of rooms.
- Tackle the dusting before moving onto the vacuuming or mopping, it will save you going over things twice.
- Take time to clean your windows and lights, this will help light to come in and brighten up your home. Window blinds and curtains can also be dust traps so it is important to clean them thoroughly.
- Don’t forget your skirting boards. Wash and wipe them down with mild detergent and damp cotton cloth.
- Leave no stone unturned, don’t avoid big pieces of furniture such as sofas and wardrobes.
- Change the look of your home by re-arranging some furniture, a change is as good as a new look and will help your home look refreshed.
A tidy clutter free home will help make you feel in great shape!
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Metropolitan Support Trust is a part of Metropolitan Housing Partnership, a unique network of locally focused member organisations working together to provide housing, regeneration, community, care and support services.
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