Spring Cleaning 101
It has officially been Spring for a few weeks now, but it FINALLY feels like it, too! We’re getting in the mood for Spring by doing some Spring Cleaning.
Spring Cleaning can be incredibly cathartic, but where do you even begin? There’s the constant struggle of what to donate versus throw away, then the fear over using all those chemicals all day.
Not to fear, we’ve got your guide to take all of the stress out of your Spring Cleaning experience.
CLEAN
There is nothing quite like the feeling of a completely clean apartment. But between the floors, the countertops, porcelain, and glass, you’ve got a lot of different chemical cleaners going on. You could open the window to let in the fresh air, or you could just avoid the chemicals all-together.
We’re using all cruelty-free, earth-friendly cleansing products for our Spring Cleaning. Most of these not only lack the terrible chemicals, but also smell amazing and work like a dream! Here’s a few of the products we keep in our cabinets.
1. The aromatherapy powerhouse: Meyers Clean Day Baking Soda Cream Cleanser ($3.99)
2. The overachiever: Bronner’s Sal Suds Liquid Cleaner ($8.99)
3. The wax-free floor wonder: Method Squirt + Mop Hard Floor Cleaner ($5.99)
4. Free + clear stain-fighter: Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Detergent ($12.46)
DONATE
Take the opportunity of Spring Cleaning to go through your place and get rid of all those things you haven’t used in years. Some things can be donated, others recycled, and others trashed.
Here’s how to decide:
1. Go through your closet, pantry, and refrigerator and take out anything that’s been there for over a year without being used.
2. Is it unused and in perfect condition? Donate. We support organizations like the Bowery Mission, which accepts clothes and food to help the poor and homeless in our community.
3. Has the item been used, but in great condition? Donate it or exchange it! Check out NYC’s Stuff Exchange initiative to keep items out of our landfills. Give your stuff a new life and new home.
4. Does the item have holes or breaks? Recycle. You’d be surprised how many things you can recycle. Looking for a way to recycle old clothes, linens, or textiles that just aren’t nice enough to donate? GrowNYC collects old textiles at NYC’s Greenmarkets around the city.
5. Is the item non-recyclable, expired, or just downright gross? Trash it. Check out our guide to Keepin’ It Fresh in your fridge to learn more about what’s good in that refrigerator of yours.
ORGANIZE
So you’ve scrubbed everything and gotten rid of all the excess - now get yourself organized. Make it easier on yourself next year by putting solid organizational processes in place.
Here’s our favorite tricks to keeping organized and clean year-round:
1. Have trouble figuring out what clothes to give away? Use this trick: Take everything in your closet, and flip the hangers around so that the opening faces towards you. When you wear that item of clothing, turn the hanger around the normal way. At the end of the season or year, see what you didn’t wear and donate it.
2. Start a system in your fridge. When you buy a new condiment or really anything that goes in the fridge, take a moment to write in sharpie the date it should be used by very large on the top. Check out this guide from Real Simple to be the guide for your dates. At the end of each month, check your fridge and throw out anything with an old date.
3. Make hanging shoe organizers your new best friend. They’re good for storing shoes, hair tools and cosmetics, and even for storing all those new cleaning products. Find different sizes and use them over the back of any door, from closets to under the sink.
4. Make your stuff a work of art. Our favorite way to save cabinet space and also create a talking piece is to hang pots and pans from the ceiling or walls in a staggered pattern. If you have nice stainless steel pans, be sure to keep the extra clean and shiny with baking soda so your art piece stays looking sharp. The added bonus of this decorating tip? Everyone will automatically assume you’re a great cook!
So you’ve cleaned and organized your place - what’s next? Tackle your fridge, Keepin’ It Fresh. Once your fridge is all cleaned and ready to go, try a little Spring Cleaning on your body with some healthy Detoxing. Round out your week of cleaning mania by Freshening Up Your Life.