Spring Into Cleaning

If you're like me, the last thing you want to do when the weather starts to get warm is to stay inside and clean, but I always feel better when I finish a few key spring cleaning chores. It washes the winter out of my house, along with those stuffy, closed-up winter smells. If you don't know where to start your spring cleaning ritual, here are some ideas.

1. Start at the top. This time of year is a great time to clean your ceiling fans and light fixtures. Most light fixtures will unscrew with a basic flathead or Phillips head screwdriver. I usually suggest cleaning from the top first because dust falls as you clean, so why try to fight gravity?

2. Launder everything. Have you ever asked yourself "when was the last time I washed that?" Include washing draperies, pillows, comforters, and dust ruffles in your spring cleaning ritual. Pet-owners and smokers: you will be amazed at how washing fabrics freshens the air in your house. It's one of those old open house "staging" tricks. If you are lucky enough to get a particularly nice spring day, hang items on your clothesline. If it's too overwhelming to wash them all at home, spend a few hours taking up four or five machines at a laundromat. Or, better yet, get them dry-cleaned. Just don't forget to read the labels!

3. Shampoo the carpets. It's worth it to call a professional shampooing service because they will move the furniture and do the legwork. If you want to do it yourself, though, you can rent a shampooing machine from many supermarkets, home repair stores, or department stores. If you have pets, have kids, or smoke, think about purchasing a shampooer and doing it more often, section by section. I thought I had clean carpets until I shampooed them! Wow!

4. Get rid of expired items. Take time to look through your refrigerator, kitchen cabinets, and bathroom cabinets for expired items. You may be surprised at items that have expiration dates. For example, did you know that sun block expires? So does bottled water. Feeling guilty about all the garbage? Take preventative measures: make a list of new items to buy, but only include items you actually used in the past year. Any other items can be bought or borrowed in an emergency.

5. Sort and purge before buying anything. I know, I know, all of the stores are having sales on organizing equipment. Resist the urge to buy new shelves, bins, boxes, and hangers before you actually go through your stuff. You will probably wind up buying eight bins in a sale, when you only really need four. Extra racks and bags become part of the clutter. I know it's tempting, but be
strong!

Daylight Saving To-Do List

Instead of worrying about your "inner clock" when daylight saving time rolls around on March 9, why not concentrate on a few important tasks that need to be done every six months? By scheduling them during the highly-publicized fall and spring events, you'll never forget them again.

1. Right after you change your clocks, change your smoke detector batteries. Fire companies have been promoting this routine for years. It only costs a few dollars for a new battery, and it could save your life.

2. Replace air filters in your heating/air conditioning system. This should be done at least every six months, or more often if you have pets or run your system a lot.

3. Flip your mattress. Flipping your mattress twice a year saves your mattress and your back. (Flipping may not be necessary for memory foam or pillow top mattresses.)

4. Replace your car's windshield wipers. It's best to replace your windshield wipers ever six months, or more often if you have a long commute and park outdoors. Measure your wipers, buy replacements for about $5 to $15 each, and install them yourself. Or, ask your mechanic to do it, possibly in combination with an oil change or inspection.

5. Replace your car's air filter. Either ask your mechanic to do it, or do it yourself. Air filters cost about $10 to $50, and your auto parts store will have guides on which filter your car uses. Although
it can be a little dirty, it doesn't take a whole lot of know-how to change the filter. Just make sure you let your car's engine cool down before opening up the hood.

6. Add your own items to this list. For example, my vacuum cleaner needs a filter replaced every six months. There is no way I would remember to do that without my daylight saving list.

After the first time you implement your daylight saving to-do list, you will know the last time you did everything. You'll not only save daylight, but you'll save your sanity!

I Want to Get Organized, But Where Do I Start?

It's a month into the new year, and you said you wanted to go to the gym six times a week. But you keep running late because you can't find your sneakers and you forgot to wash your gym clothes...again. Mission: change your resolution. It's time to get organized! We only get 24 hours a day, so use these tips to regain your time and streamline your home.

1. Set goals. The best place to begin is at the end. Visualize how you want to feel when your space is organized and when systems are put into place. How will it improve your life? Won't it be great having more time to spend on the things you want to do instead of spending time looking for things? Your goals will help you get through the organizing process, especially if you're dreading it.

2. Start small. Don't let not knowing where to start stop you from starting. If your whole house overwhelms you, begin with a small project. Organize the top of your dresser or your purse, then move up to a closet, a filing cabinet, or under the bed. If you just want to organize one room, break it into sections. Based on your goals, make a list of actions, and how long you think they will take. Avoid perfectionism-it is more important to start now than to start in the absolutely perfect place.

3. Schedule time. Mark your calendar with one-, two-, or three-hour appointments for sorting and purging. Don't try to do it all in one sitting until you get tired or frustrated and are more likely to make
bad decisions or give up. When it's time for your organizing appointment, close the door, turn off your phone, and set a timer, so you can commit yourself to clearing your space. These few hours will save you dozens of hours in the future, so stick to your duties and remember your goals.

4. Plan how items will leave the house. Decide what you will do with purged items before you start organizing, whether it's donating them to a thrift shop or making a hand-me-down bag for a friend. It may be helpful to sort in these five piles: "keep," "other rooms," "donations," "recycling,"
and "trash."

5. Ask for help. Don't be ashamed to ask friends or family members for help. Ask people to deliver donations to a thrift shop or shred old documents for you. If you need more direction, don't
be embarrassed to call a professional. There are over 4,000 professional organizers nationwide serving tens of thousands of clients, so you are not alone in your organizing challenges.

Read All About It in the News of Delaware County

Sara Long will be writing a monthly organizing column for the News of Delaware County. Pick up a copy the first Wednesday of the month, and read the "So Long to Clutter" column in the Life section.

Delaware County Daily Times Feature

Sara Long Organizing was featured in the Delaware County Daily Times business section: http://www.saralong.com/SaraLongDailyTimes.pdf.