Spring presents an excellent opportunity to throw open the windows and sort out the clutter, but Goodwill Industries of South Texas knows it can also be an overwhelming chore and intimidating to even get started! So we asked Lorie Marrero, the creator of ClutterDiet.com, to reach out to a few of her favorite fellow Clutter Diet® organizing experts to bring you the best tips to make spring cleaning easy — and even fun. Here they are!
- The Truth, The Whole Truth
Be brutally honest when evaluating items in your closet. Do you fidget with the item once it is on? Does it squeeze your arm or ride too low on your hips? Do you have to continually pull it up or down? Yes? Then it has to go. Replace it with something that fits properly and feels great!
— Nealey Stapleton, author of The Procrastinator’s Guide to Getting Organized and The-Organizing-Boutique.com
- Keep It Clean
Once you’re organized, stay organized. Here’s how: for each new piece of paper or object that enters your home or office, ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” If not, put it in a recycling bin or a box for Goodwill donations. Put the keepers with similar items for easy access. To keep clutter from returning, practice the One-In-One-Out Rule when buying things like office supplies or clothes or shoes: When something new comes in, something old must get donated.
— Helene Segura, TheInefficiencyAssassin.com
- Make it Fun!
Shake up your spring cleaning routine with fun contests: Challenge everyone in your family to find 10 items to put away and 10 items to donate to Goodwill. This can become a race, with the prize of a traveling trophy (or a hot fudge sundae, if you don’t want more clutter!) and you can repeat it once a week for the entire month of March. Your donations to Goodwill help fund programs and services to help people find jobs, earn paychecks and build their future. You can take pride in the positive impact donating to Goodwill has in your community.
— Lorie Marrero, TheClutterDiet.com
We at Goodwill Industries of South Texas hope these tips make spring cleaning just a little less intimidating and more exciting for your family. We look forward to seeing you at your nearest Goodwill donation station and we thank you for caring about your community and donating to Goodwill.
Happy Spring!