Spring Garage Reset

In a perfect world we would declutter and organize a space and we would be done.

For good.

But, for most of us, there is an inevitable shuffling that happens year in and year out. For myself, 10 years or so ago our family was acquiring a third bike….for my toddler son. A few years later there were 5 bikes total and then a kid outgrowing a bike, and then a bike trailer for the youngest, then add in 3 scooters and the helmets, pump for the tires, a bike rack for the car etc etc. PHEW! You get the idea.

Life evolves and so does our stuff. Stuff comes in (and hopefully also OUT as needs change).

Even as spaces may be “organized”, resets and maintenance are always required. (Sorry to say!) Take advantage of the change in season to assess a space to make it work for your current season. The warmer temps and daydreaming about spring and summer adventures is great motivation to tackle a garage, shed or attic before it gets too hot, and you’d rather be visiting the pool or traveling on the weekends.

Take Stock

If you haven’t organized a space before, sort your items by category. Then DECLUTTER!
Be honest with yourself about whether you are truly a gardener, cyclist, carpenter, etc.
Is there something the kids have outgrown or that needs repair/replacement?

Decide on Zones

Where in the space makes your items most accessible to the family members who need them?

For kids, keeping outdoor toys and bikes on a lower level near a garage door is an ideal spot. Any tools, chemicals, or equipment should be out of reach for little ones. Do you enter your home through the garage? Create a drop zone for shoes and hanging items near that entry.

Add Products

Always DECLUTTER FIRST!

My best advice for a shed, garage, or attic is to maximize vertical space. Ideally you choose these once and then stick with it! Here are my favorite products.

Industrial shelving that can withstand temperature fluctuations and have adjustable shelves are great for recreational items, tools, paint supplies, kids outdoor toys and more.


Track organizers are perfect for maximizing vertical space for large items like rakes, shovels, and even sports equipment

I’m a big fan of pegboard walls with hooks for their versatility as needs evolve.

Ball/Sports organizers are useful for active kiddos

Heavy duty screw in ceiling hooks to utilize that vertical space by hanging bikes, beach chairs, etc.

Ceiling Storage racks are great for storing tubs of seasonal or rarely used items like camping gear, holiday decor, beach gear etc.

DONATE & Discard

When you took stock, did you create a pile of items you no longer need? Offer the items through your Buy Nothing Facebook group, a local gardening club, or drop off at Habitat for Humanity Restore or local Community ToolBank.

Also, remember to check your local municipality to learn the safest way to discard chemicals and paint.

Who's Ready to Spruce Up for Spring?

Hip Hip Hooray! Spring is here. All the flowers make it my favorite season (minus the allergies). My mind and body are ready for more sunlight and outside time.

For me, I’m also ready to make one more effort to lighten up the house so that our family can maximize the summer months with pool time and adventures. That definitely includes some seasonal decluttering as well as some cleaning.

SPRING DECLUTTERING

  1. Kids Clothes

  2. Summer Wear

  3. My Clothes

  4. Travel Items

  5. Bathrooms (expired makeup or meds anyone?)

  6. Shed/Garage

Note: In the Fall I review fall/winter clothing, toys, the fridge and the attic/storage areas.
During the winter months I review toys again post-holidays as well as kitchen cabinets when holidays + indoor entertaining is more fresh in my mind. Taking this seasonal approach helps it not feel like I have to keep up with ALL areas at a time.

SPRING CLEANING

We try to tackle the following routines so the extra Spring tasks aren’t so daunting.

  • A DAILY cleaning routine of load of laundry, dishes/kitchen surfaces, end of day pick-up

  • A WEEKLY cleaning routine that the whole family participates of vacuum, dust, bathrooms, change sheets, any needed home maintenance/yard work, plus one extra item like one appliance.

  • SPRING TASKS

  1. Windows and blinds

  2. Dust ceiling fans (in a perfect world this would happen more regularly)

  3. Wash winter gear (we store it in our coat closet year round so we don’t have to swap out seasonal clothing)

  4. Wipe down baseboards/walls

  5. Clean bathroom light fixtures

  6. Wash bathroom rugs and shower curtains

  7. Air out mattresses with some deodorizer and then vacuuming

  8. File or shred papers post-tax season

Wherever you keep track of To Do’s (paper, digital notes, calendar) add a brief Spring Cleaning Checklist so your home can feel calm, fresh and clean for the upcoming summer months

Keepsakes

We know keepsakes are challenging to sort through because they carry memories, emotions and maybe even some guilt. They may not even be OUR keepsakes, but those we inherited from loved ones in the midst of a busy season of life raising children, careers, caring for parents, illness, etc.

As a professional organizer, it is standard practice that “Keepsakes” are the last category to go through once you’ve built up some “decluttering muscle”. If you’re overwhelmed with kitchen cabinets, lack of pantry, clothing coming out of your ears, books galore, toys out of your ears, than start with one of those.

BUT, what do you do with these items in the meantime. I recommend choosing ONE area of your home to store items that you aren’t displaying. Use large totes to store items in the attic for now (or a guest room closet or upper shelf somewhere). If you live in a small space, you have to be more ruthless more quickly. And remember to keep photos stored in a separate temperature controlled location.

For the most part, try to DISPLAY keepsakes - on the walls or a bookshelf for visual interest. For the items that cannot be displayed, designate one bin for each family member. My hubby and I personally use a cedar chest for our childhood/family keepsakes and each our kids has a file bin for small trinkets and paper keepsakes. This provides a great spatial boundary. I have probably only “reviewed” items in these areas a couple times over the last decade or so and find that a few things I once held dear, I am no longer interested in keeping.