Spring inspires organization

Subject: Spring inspires organization Sun Apr 03, 2011 9:43 pm

Call it spring cleaning, clutter cutting or creating more storage. But, what it's really called is organization.
It's that time of year again to clean the closets, shelves and garage to create more space so you can live your life.

Many of us have trouble actually letting go of or finding new homes for our old stuff (short of just contributing to our local dump). Other homes could simply use a quick tune-up on how to organize rooms and eliminate clutter. And still others could incorporate a fresh new look.

Nonprofits will profit

Look through your closet. If some of your clothes have been hanging for so long that they're from a past fashion era, it might be time to start picking through them.

One way to decide whether to keep or ditch a shirt, jacket or pair of pants is to first turn all of your hangers around. Every time you return something you just wore, turn the hanger around the right way. Pick a length of time (one month, two months, six months), and if you haven't turned that hanger back around by then, you probably don't need that article of clothing. This is something you can do year-round, not just once a year.

When you're ready to lighten your clothes load, resist throwing them away and instead donate them to an organization that can reuse them. Nonprofit groups like Goodwill and The Salvation Army are more than happy to pass your old clothing to someone more needy.

That way, you feel doubly good about yourself.

Storage shortage

Storage seems to be an issue whatever the size of your home. So whether your shoes are strewn throughout different rooms or your bathroom counter and tub are rimmed with bottles, you just have to restore a little order.

Shoe crates or caddies make excellent choices right near the front or back door. They keep the shoes in one place, help maintain a little cleanliness on the floor and can also provide a decorative accent.

For the kitchen, Rev-A-Shelf provides fantastic options to help organize everything from wine glasses and cleaners beneath the sink to spices in a pantry closet.

And in the bathroom, a classic shower caddy and shelving above the toilet are fantastic options.

Mini-makeover

One spring cleaning method that might not seem overly obvious is giving a room a mini-makeover.

From the bedroom and bathroom to the kitchen and living room, less is more when it comes to replacing older energy- or water-guzzling fixtures with newer, more efficient ones.

WaterSense-rated faucets and fixtures save more water than ever before, and today's ENERGY Star-rated lights are more powerful while using less energy. And that's a win-win.

Spring cleaning doesn't have to be a scary, nasty, nefarious combination of words. It should mean what it's supposed to mean — out with the old and in with the new. And that's a refreshing thought.

Until next time, Happy Home Improving!

chicoer.com