7 Things You Should Declutter Before Springtime, According to Organizing Pros

Spring is upon us—soon, you’ll feel the fresh breeze through open windows, smell the tulips, and revel in the sunshine. That means it’s also another special time of the year: spring cleaning. Beyond scrubbing and power washing, decluttering is a key part of that process.

Below, we’ve highlighted seven categories of items organizing experts recommend decluttering before spring arrives. Quick, read on before the tulips bloom!

Meet the Expert

• Elsa Elbert is the founder and CEO of Composed Living, a Los Angeles-based professional organizing company.

• Beth Blacker is a Thumbtack pro and the owner of It's Just Stuff, a home organizing company in Boulder, Colorado.

Outdoor Items

So long, popped (and poorly patched) pool toys. Goodbye, broken patio furniture. Spring is the ideal time to take stock of your outdoor items, such as beach towels, planters, and patio decor. 

If an item has been damaged by winter weather or isn’t useful to you anymore, get rid of it. Be sure to take note of anything that needs to be replaced in time for your next backyard barbeque or pool party.

“Take advantage of the perfect weather and make sure you have everything you need to enjoy being outdoors during the warmer months,” Elsa Elbert, the founder and CEO of Composed Living, says.

Whatever Lurks In Your Junk Drawers

Try as we might, most of us have (at least) one junk drawer—a spot to haphazardly toss all the items that don’t have an obvious home, like batteries, matches, and receipts you thought you might need, but never did. 

Spring is the time to take everything out of your junk drawer and start fresh, says Beth Blacker, aThumbtack pro and the owner of It's Just Stuff.

As you return items to the (now clean) drawer, determine what you can toss or relocate somewhere else that makes more sense. Blacker recommends utilizing spring-loaded drawer dividers to help create sections or implementing various sizes of drawer organizing bins for better containment of like items.

Expired Items

Mascara doesn’t last forever, and neither do condiments, prescriptions, and sunscreens. Medicine cabinets, refrigerators, and pantries are due for decluttering.

Anything with an expiration or “best by” date should be examined to determine if it’s still healthy to use or consume. Though it’s best to declutter items with an expiration date regularly, start by setting a practice of an annual spring clean-out. 

“If you are someone that lives by a calendar, you could schedule this task at the beginning of every season moving forward, but at the very least do this once a year,” Blacker says.

Books

We can picture it now: poolside lounging, a book in one hand and a beverage in the other. With warmer weather ahead, Elbert suggests making room for this summer’s beach reads by decluttering your bookshelves now. 

Stock a Little Free Library in your neighborhood, or contact your local public library to see if they accept used book donations.

Clothing

Out with the sweaters and boots, in with the sundresses and swimwear. As the season changes, set aside an afternoon to your closest. What didn’t you wear this winter? Chances are you won’t grab for it next winter either. 

Depending on your closet set-up, you may also want to rearrange your closet entirely so the pieces you’ll be reaching for most often are easiest to grab. This may mean storing knitwear and winter coats elsewhere, like under your bed. 

While this is another task that’s best to be done four times a year—at the end of every season—you can’t miss the crucial winter-to-spring transition. 

“Your day-to-day wardrobe options need to be reevaluated constantly, or you will end up with clothes that are dated, don't fit the same as they used to, or simply no longer feel good to wear,” Blacker says. 

Catch-All Containers

Check all of your purses, jacket pockets, and reusable bags for items that were unknowingly left behind. Tissues, receipts, and smushed packs of gum are common offenders. 

“If, for no other reason, you need to do this because you may find a lot of money that got stuffed into various crevices,” Blacker says.

Kids' Games and Activities

It’s time for that puzzle, the one with all the missing pieces, to go. The same goes for dried-up glue sticks and board games your kids have outgrown. 

“Little ones will be on summer vacation before you know it, so now is the time to donate anything no longer used, and restock with activities that will keep them occupied and off their screens,” Elbert says. 

Read the original article on The Spruce.