Last month, we gave you tips on spring cleaning, but you didn’t actually do any spring cleaning, did you? Who has the time? That’s why, this month, we’re providing an easier option. Instead of spring cleaning, just do some spring organizing—no scrubbing required.
A lot of organizing is finding a way to deal with objects you don’t even realize are getting out of hand, like mail. Often, so much junk arrives in the mail, that it slowly works its way onto horizontal surfaces all over your home. Let 41pounds.org come to the rescue. The average American receives 41 pounds of junk mail annually. For $35, 41pounds will stop junk mail from getting to your door for a full five years! Plus, they’ll donate $10 to the environmental partner of your choosing. Life without junk mail, who knew it was even possible?
Another popular apartment organizing technique, that’s both chic and easy, is pegboard in the kitchen. Pegboard is extremely lightweight, as easy to hang as a picture frame, and can hold a plethora of kitchen utensils, from pots and pans to spatulas and measuring spoons. You can have pegboard cut to any size at the nearest home improvement store, and it’s quick and easy to paint, adding a colorful, designer touch to your kitchen.
While you’re in the kitchen, take a look in your kitchen drawers. Did that frighten you? Stuff seems to accumulate willy-nilly in kitchen drawers until they’re almost impossible to close. Take everything out, one drawer at a time, and go through every item, asking, “When was the last time I used this avocado slicer?” If the answer is, “Over a month ago,” it’s got to go—or, if it has some sentimental value, hang it from your new pegboard. Then, buy the drawer dividers and organizers that best suit your needs, so that everything you actually use will be at your fingertips.
Move on to your bedroom closet, where you have to face the harsh realization that it’s time to bid adieu to that lucky shirt you wore when you got your driver’s license 20 years ago. Donate clothing that no longer fits or that you haven’t worn in the last few months, except for those parachute pants you bought in the ‘90s; those need to go in the garbage.
You have beautiful, spacious, walk-in closets at Encantada, and with all that room, organizing should be a breeze. With some labeled boxes and containers, shelving, and hanging organizers, you’ll know where everything is at a glance.
Finally, if there are still CDs, DVDs, and books cluttering your living room, proudly display your old-school sensibilities with shelving units and racks specifically designed for 20th century media.
While spring cleaning is mainly cosmetic, organizing is a positive lifestyle change which not only can improve the look of your home, but can improve your life, making it more stress-free. Once everything is in order, it’ll be easy to keep it that way.
