Spring Cleaning and Decluttering

 

I have been thinking about spring cleaning our house for a few weeks now and I have procrastinated about getting started. So my intended method of attack is to declutter and clean out cupboards and draws first and then go through the whole house and wash walls and skirting’s, vacuum, mop and wash the windows. The worst thing is that I often want to clean at the most inopportune times i.e. midnight; rather than at a normal hour.

I wanted to start at one end of the house and go through room by room. I have now nearly finished the kitchen and have managed to fill two banana boxes full of stuff to sell/get rid of and things that do not belong in the kitchen. I have 5 cupboards left in the kitchen and then I just need to wash down all the outside of the cupboards and do the benches. At some stage I need to do the oven, but that might have to wait until the weekend.I have included some before (photos on left) and after (photos on right) to show you my pantry and second draw of shame. The pantry looked like I had just gone shopping and thrown the food onto the shelf.

Then I will move onto the dining area and lounge. There is a bit that could go from the lounge including DVD’s and CD’s we do not want and also some other bits and pieces.  The hall is pretty basic and just needs a painting hung and the walls washed and touched up with paint. Oh blast….and the hall cupboard needs to be cleared out to make more space for storage.

The bathroom is pretty much completed as I did the cupboard and draw a few weeks ago. So all it really needs is the walls and ceiling wiped down.

The bedrooms are a little bit more complex and I think that I might leave them until last as there are quite a few draws and two wardrobes to sort out. The spare room cupboard is completely packed to the gunnels with so much stuff and I am cringing just thinking about it.

The study seems to be the “holding” zone for everything that has been removed from the rest of the house. I need to go through my books one last time, then sort and file our paperwork and finally clear out the cupboards of unnecessary stuff.  

Honestly, I cannot believe how much “stuff” we have accumulated over the years. I do sort things often, but seriously it just keeps creeping back in. I hate taking things to the dump, so I would rather items find a new home where they will be loved and used instead of sitting unused in the back of a cupboard.

Also, there are things that Mark will not let me get rid of that I hate, so I just have to find better places to put them. I do have a process of dealing with this and I will often say to him “do you want to keep item 1 or item 2” knowing full well that he will never, ever part with item 2. It is naughty, but it seems to work.

I think I might have to write a list to keep myself on task. So the plan for the long weekend is:

1. Finish the kitchen

2. Sort out the “stuff” into three piles 1. Give Away. 2. Sell on Trade Me and 3. Throw away.

3. List things on Trade Me

4. Start (and finish) the rest of the house Lounge, Hall, Bedrooms (sigh) and study

5. Mark to wash the walls and ceiling in bathroom and to do all the “touch” up painting

6. Wash windows inside and out

Are you spring cleaning or decluttering?  What is your process?