From a recent project by LMW Edits
Spring Cleaning can be overwhelming. Where do you start? What are you “supposed” to do? A clean, organized home is after all subjective. In addition, everyone’s space is different. Some are renting small flats, while others have expansive abodes and a team to clean for them on a regular basis. Whatever your living arrangement, we can all agree that spring brings a sense of renewal—freshness, lightness, and joy and you should channel that energy into your home.
If you’re up for tackling your whole home, bravo! But if not, pick a few spaces that you feel could use a refresh. Wherever you are, it’s best to start with a list organized project-by-project. By breaking down the big project into smaller parts, you’re more likely to find success. And your list could be spread out over a few weeks—you don’t have to do everything in one day.
Lucy Milligan Wahl, runs the popular SF-based home organizing company, LMW Edits. She believes you can’t really clean your home until you’ve organized it. “It's really hard to do deep cleaning in an unorganized space because the clutter gets in the way (of your vacuum, of the corners of a room, etc.). So before trying to clean, declutter and organize.”
Since we all need a win right now with Shelter In Place, I’ve asked Lucy to share some of her client’s simplest projects that made the biggest impact to inspire your spring cleaning.
Stop paper clutter before it even starts
Place a basket or bin right by your front door or mail box so you can recycle junk mail and catalogs before they ever enter your home. TIME: 5 minutes
Tame Your Junk Drawer
Re-name it the utility drawer, and only keep items there that you need to use in that space. Organize it with drawer dividers like this one and never again spend time rummaging around in there. TIME: 30 minutes
Refresh Your Wardrobe
You just spent months in your fall and winter clothes. Pull everything out and evaluate what you actually wore. If you didn’t wear an item, it’s probably safe to say you can re-sell it or donate it. Pull out your spring and summer clothes and store your heavy coats and snow gear in under-the-bed storage containers, etc. TIME: 1-2 hours
Pantry Purge
You’ve likely been stocking up on food recently, but have you made an inventory of what you already have? Go through your pantry and toss expired food, spices, and condiments from the fridge. Organize what you do have by grouping like-with-like, for example, grains with other grains. Clear containers similar to the these make it easy to see exactly what you have on hand and how much. TIME: 1-2 hours
TRAYS FOR EVERY SPACE
Items out on the counter or dresser can look messy--but place those same items together on a tray, and the grouping instantly looks more stylish and becomes more functional. Group like-with-like and you've got a collection and portable station--which can be replicated throughout your space from the kitchen to the bedroom. TIME: 20 minutes
For more, check out LMW Edits including her virtual program.