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Exclusive: Expert Spring Organization Tips Plus 13 Must-Haves Get Your Home in Order
Get your home in order this spring with these expert tips!
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Spring has officially sprung! If you're like me, you've had cleaning and organizing your home top of mind. As a self-proclaimed organization nerd, I was thrilled to connect with Rachel Rosenthal, Organizational Expert and Post-it® Brand Ambassador, to get her tips and tricks on decluttering, organizing mistakes to avoid, and the trends we can expect to see when it comes to home organization this year. Find out what Rachel has to say, plus some of the best products to help you clean and organize this spring!
Simple Tips To Help Make Decluttering and Organizing Less Stressful
Rachel has three tips to make decluttering and organizing simple:
Schedule decluttering and organizing in small chunks: Tackling the organization of any area in your home can feel daunting. However, by scheduling it as an appointment on your calendar, like any other commitment, you're more likely to follow through. Rather than setting an ambitious goal like organizing the entire garage in one day, set a more achievable target, such as dedicating 30 minutes to start. Following your organizing session, there are going to be additional tasks to consider, such as getting items ready for donation, trash, or repair. Develop a systematic plan to organize the space, breaking it down into manageable increments of time and energy. This will allow you not to be frustrated or rush the process, but systematically create more organization for you and your space.
Make it as fun as possible and give yourself a reward: Many of us are reluctant to dedicate our time to organizing and making decisions about what to keep or discard in our homes. However, if you make the task of getting organized fun, it can transform from a chore into a lifestyle choice. Incorporating elements such as music, working with a friend and celebrating small victories can make the process more enjoyable. Additionally, incentivizing yourself with rewards can further motivate progress. For instance, for every five items of clothing donated, you could treat yourself to a new purchase or grab a favorite treat like ice cream once the first half of your closet is decluttered.
Focus on an easy task first: Starting with a simple task prevents organizing from feeling overwhelming, gives you a quick win, fosters enthusiasm for accomplishing a goal and gives you the motivation to keep going. Begin with a corner of a room, or a portion of a drawer or cabinet, concentrating on the manageable task at hand. This initial success will naturally propel you forward, building momentum to tackle the remainder of the space or another area.
Common Mistakes People Make When Organizing and How To Avoid Them
Getting organized might seem simple, but Rachel says there are a few mistakes people can run into when doing so. Here's how to avoid them:
Skipping the decluttering step when getting organized: When starting to get organized, it's crucial to begin with the initial step of decluttering. Otherwise, you'll find yourself shifting around items that serve no purpose, consuming valuable time in the process. While we often have sentimental attachments to possessions, retaining items that have outlived their usefulness only perpetuates unnecessary clutter.
Post-it Super Sticky Notes
Organization Hack
"Equip yourself with a set of Post-it® Super Sticky Notes and create three distinct piles labeled: donate, trash, keep. Then, sort items into their respective categories. Although this phase may seem daunting, it doesn't need to be perfect. The primary objective is to eliminate anything from your space that you don’t love, fails to match your current lifestyle or no longer serves a practical function."
Trying to copy an image you see on Instagram or Pinterest: Numerous people turn to Instagram or Pinterest for inspiration on organization. However, trouble arises when they attempt to replicate the exact image they see. It's crucial to recognize that each person's space is unique, as are their lifestyle, organizational hurdles, and home dynamics. Rather than striving to mimic a particular image, use it as a springboard for inspiration, infusing it with your personal touch to suit your space and home. Additionally, it's essential to acknowledge that Instagram or Pinterest might be staged and unrealistic to everyday life.
Shopping for containers before you organize: Introducing containers or bins to your organized space can indeed enhance and maintain its organization. However, purchasing containers before the organization process itself can cause more clutter. It's a myth to believe that containers alone will magically instill organization. The first step is to organize the space effectively, after which containers can be added in. And before going shopping, take precise measurements of the space, think about the aesthetic you wish to have, and identify what items you intend to contain. The key lies in prioritizing decluttering and organization initially, followed by incorporating containers.
2024 Organizational Trends
Rachel also shares some on-trend organization hacks you can expect to see in 2024!
More sustainable organizing products: Rather than relying on plastic, a growing number of individuals are choosing to utilize eco-friendly materials such as wood, glass, bamboo and woven materials for organizing products like bins and baskets.
Less “pretty” color-coding, more functionality: The era of meticulously color-coding solely for a neat look, is fading. Instead, there's a shifting focus towards organizing to optimize functionality within a space. Regardless of its visual appeal, if a space lacks effective organization, it becomes challenging to maintain.
Adding simple labels: Instead of using a label maker to label every drawer, there's a growing trend towards using straightforward, simple, handwritten labels on Post-it® 100% Recycled Paper Super Sticky Notes.
Post-it 100% Recycled Paper Super Sticky Notes
Simple Recycled Labels
"These Notes along with their packaging are 100% curbside recyclable and offer 2X the sticking power, making them ideal for labeling practically anything, anywhere."
Best Spring Cleaning Products
Truly Free Everyday Cleaner
Non-Toxic All-Purpose Cleaner
From laundry to your bathroom and kitchen, Truly Free has non-toxic cleaning products that are safe to use anywhere around the home. The brand literally has a cleaner for everything, but I love this Everyday Cleaner! I use it daily on countertops, tabletops, and more.
Why You'll Love It
Tackles tough messes on hundreds of surfaces
Plant-powered family-safe ingredients
Fragrance-free
Mr. Clean Foaming Magic Eraser Sponge
Multi-Purpose Cleaning Sponges
I've always been a big fan of Mr. Clean products — they remove built-up dirt and grime with such ease, not to mention wall scuffs and more. You can imagine my excitement when the brand introduced these Ultra Foamy Multi-Purpose Cleaners! I leave them around the house to wipe up tough messes. Hot tip: Leave one in the shower to tackle that pesky pink mold that shows up!
Why You'll Love It
Cleans with 95% less scrubbing
Cuts through 150+ messes around the home
2-in-1 Eraser with DAWN Cleaning Power cuts through grease and grime on the first swipe
Scrub Daddy 9-Piece Dish Daddy Soap Wand with Interchangeable Cleaning Heads
America's Favorite Sponge
In my opinion, there's no competition when it comes to Scrub Daddy Sponges. I love them because they're capable of wiping, scrubbing, and scouring throughout the home. Plus, since they're dishwasher safe, they tend to last longer than traditional kitchen sponges!
Why You'll Love It
Includes dish wand, two sponge heads, two scour heads, Scrub Mommy, brush head, and two interchangeable plates
Dish wand: upright base stands to drain excess water; handle can be filled with dish soap or liquid cleaner; press button to dispense soap
Hook-and-loop backings on interchangeable accessories
Top-rack dishwasher-safe
PureZone™ True HEPA Air Purifier
Air Purifier for Spring
Buy from Pure Enrichment, $100
During the spring, our mattresses and pet beds are home to dust mites, allergens, and dander. Pure Enrichment’s air purifiers help remove particles, pollutants, and contaminants caused by spring pollen, wildfires, pets, and more. They also help make the air more comfortable for those with allergies and asthma.
Why You'll Love It
Perfect for medium to large rooms of up to 300 sq. ft., safely clean your home, bedroom, living room, nursery, or office air from dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, and household odors
True HEPA filter with the built-in UV-C light adds a deeper level of cleanliness
PureZone has 3 timer settings for 2, 4, or 8 hours which allows you to save energy or run continuously
Glass Cleaner Refill Pouch and Glass Bottle Set
Plant-Based Glass Cleaner
Get sparkling glass and mirrors without harsh chemicals in a beautiful, sustainable glass bottle. Scented with a light, fresh mix of essential oils, this is a must-have for spring cleaning.
Why You'll Love It
Non-toxic
No ammonia, chlorine, or other harsh ingredients
No parabens, phthalates, dyes
100% pure essential oil scent
No synthetic perfume
AspenClean Dishwasher Pods
Eco-Friendly Dishwasher Pods
Voted the best eco-friendly dishwasher pods by Good Housekeeping, these are safe for your family and pets! They are unscented, naturally formulated to cut through grease, non-toxic, and packaged in a zero-plastic, compostable container.
Why You'll Love It
EWG Verified™ and free from dyes, chlorine, SLS, & phosphates
Biodegradable, plant-based ingredients
100% zero-plastic packaging
Septic tank-safe
Tineco Pure ONE Station FurFree Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Lightweight Vacuum
With the PPURE ONE Station FurFree, you can enjoy hands-free self-cleaning as it automatically empties the dustbin and also thoroughly cleans every part, from brush to tube and filters. Spring cleaning has never been easier!
Why You'll Love It
Automatically self-cleans and recharges
3-liter dustbin means debris and dust can be held for up to 60 days
Specially-designed brush effectively targets and traps hairs without wrapping, making the brush even easier to clean
Best Spring Organization Products
The Skylight Calendar
Smart Family Calendar
From outlining your weekly dinner plans to assigning chores to the family, this smart calendar from Skylight makes staying organized easy! I love using it to keep track of appointments, dinner plans, and my husband's work schedule. The best part is you can integrate calendars you already use like Google, iCal, and more.
Why You'll Love It
Encourage healthy habits and autonomy with the interactive Chore Chart that transforms routine tasks into rewarding accomplishments
Assign each family member their own color, making it simple for everyone to see who needs to be where and when
Manage and access everything on your Skylight from anywhere with the mobile app
ClosetMaid SuiteSymphony Wood Closet Organizer Starter Kit
Customizable Closet Organizer
Getting your clothing in order has never been so easy! ClosetMaid, a leader in the organization industry, offers this closet organizer that comes complete with a tower, three expandable rods, five interior shelves. It'll fit closets 4 feet to 9 feet wide and the hang rods expand from 30 inches to 48 inches.
Why You'll Love It
Add on drawers, additional rods, top shelves or other compatible units to create a custom closet (sold separately)
Can store anything from clothing to décor or other items
ClosetMaid Adjustable Organizer Rack with Baskets
Wall or Closet Door Organization
Instantly create more space for storage in your kitchen, pantry, utility room, or closet with this adjustable shelf rack from ClosetMaid. We have one hanging on our pantry door and it serves as the storage for our vitamins, supplements, and dish towels!
Why You'll Love It
Easily reposition adjustable baskets to accommodate tall and short items
Ideal for storing cans, bottles, small boxes, spices, jars, small folded items & more
Wall mount or over-the-door rack with all hardware included for installation
ClosetMaid 2-Tier Pull Out Cabinet Organizer
Cabinet Organizer
This pull out drawer system has been a life saver in our pantry. It helps keep rogue bags of snacks in order, plus the easy-glide drawers make it easy to see what we have in stock in an otherwise very deep shelf system!
Why You'll Love It
Slide out cabinet organizer for base cabinets in your kitchen, pantry, bathroom, or laundry room to make your items easier to access
Organize and access pots, pans, toiletries, cleaning supplies, towels, small kitchen appliances & more to existing base cabinets
Here's to a clean and organized home this spring! Want more cleaning and organization tips? Keep reading!
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