Spring Clean House: Part 1 – Seven Benefits of Spring Cleaning

I think Mother Nature had us fooled here in the New England area that Spring was right around the corner! A lot of us got our spring clothes out and put away our snow boots, but she had something else planned. But that shouldn’t stop you from Spring Cleaning!

And if you are like me and so many other women, we all got to know and understand the “KonMari Method” very well this winter, as we all read the New York Times Best Seller book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, by Marie Kondo.
So what is the KonMari Method, you ask?  It’s the idea of decluttering.

Before picture of my closet (my side)

As Marie Kondo talks about in her book “Visible mess helps distract us from the true source of the disorder.”

The picture above is of mine and my husband’s walk-in closet. We had just recently moved into our house and four days after we moved in, my mother passed away. I believe Marie’s comment is so true, because for me as much as I wanted a clean, organized closet, my mind and heart couldn’t deal with any more stress at that time, so it sat unorganized and overwhelming to walk into.

So with the help of a professional organizer, we took everything out of the closet and started going through things one at a time, so I could decide what I didn’t want anymore.

It felt so good to purge and get rid of things. We donated 6 bags of clothes and 2 bags of shoes and pocketbooks.

I now have a closet that I feel good walking into because everything has a place. As Marie mentions in her book:

Spring cleaning is a great idea for any place you live. Whether you have a large or small space, own your own home or rent, every dwelling needs a good thorough cleaning on a regular basis. Spring cleaning brings many benefits, and here is a list of the important ones.

1. Happiness
Having a clean home is a great feeling. A cluttered, messy environment can wreak havoc on one’s emotions. Being able to come home every day to a space that is tidy and organized is a great gift you can give to yourself.
2. Stress Relief
It is a depressing feeling to wake up to disorder every single morning. Many people can attest to the fact that living in an untidy environment brings you a great amount of unnecessary stress. Spring cleaning will ensure that your home feels peaceful, rather than the chaos that you may have been forced to become used to.
3. Pride
No one wants to invite their friends over to a home that appears uncared for. It is embarrassing when your home is in disarray, and someone calls out of the blue and asks to drop by. When your home has been through a detailed spring cleaning, you will feel proud about the way it appears. Inviting guests over will be a pleasure for you, and for them as well.
4. Time
Time is yet another benefit of spring cleaning. When you have to dig through a pile of clothing to find a small piece you have misplaced, or search yet again for the keys or shoes you lose on a consistent basis, valuable time is being lost. Spring cleaning saves time, as it give you a change to reorganize. It allows you to sort through everything you own once again, and give each tiny item a place of its own in order to be easily found each and every time.
5. Organization
To be organized is a great feeling. When you are organized, life runs more smoothly. If your home is orderly, both you and your guests will feel the difference. It will be easier to go about your daily duties, and keep on top of everything you are responsible for.
6. Health
Spring cleaning is a great workout. It may be surprising to some, but both light and heavy housework give your body a boost. You may be surprised at what a sweat you work up while getting your home into tip-top shape. You can be sure to move your muscles, stimulate your lymphatic system, and even get a bit of cardio in while organizing items and scrubbing walls.
7. Generosity to Others
One of spring cleaning’s outcomes is finding things that we realize we do not need. This is a great time to give away what we cannot use anymore to someone who can benefit from our unwanted items. When you have sorted through clothing that no longer fits, appliances you no longer use, and books that your children have outgrown, you have a choice what you will do with it all. Consider donating to a charity or someone in need. The feeling of satisfaction will be worth all the time and effort you put into it.
There are many benefits of spring cleaning, and these are just a few. Consider all the bonuses that this yearly ritual will bring you. Keep yourself going through the hard work with the thoughts of everything you will gain.
Follow us on our “Spring Cleaning Series” this month.