Spring Cleaning in a Smaller Space

This is the season of blooming flowers, chirping birds, and, of course, the annual tradition of spring cleaning. But this year, there's a twist: after “right-sizing” our lives from a spacious four-bedroom house to a cozy two-bedroom abode, spring cleaning takes on a whole new meaning.

We found ourselves in a position where we needed to act quickly in both the sale and purchase of homes, so we relied on our friend Jess to help. She is a professional organizer and CEO of Organista Home, who not only guided us on what to keep/purge but taught us how to look at our “stuff” moving forward to avoid hoarding in the future.

Thanks to Jess’s network of shelters and houses of worship, I’m proud to say we donated or sold over a dozen SUVs full of stuff with very little winding in the town dump!

That was then, this is now.

This weekend we confronted our staff again for what we called “decluttering round two.” You thought you'd conquered the clutter during the downsizing process, but somehow, there always seems to be more stuff lurking in the depths of closets and under the bed. Armed with trash bags and determination, we dove headfirst into the task, channeling our inner Marie Kondo as we bid farewell to anything that doesn't spark joy.

Speaking of sparking, I had to deal with a lifetime of impulse-buying 35 (maybe 135) candles collecting dust in the corner of the closet, in drawers, and in the garage. Jess taught me to pick two or three favorite candle scents and purge the rest and while that is easier said than done, I can report that I significantly cut down on the number of wicks and wax!

My husband is a writer, and he culled the books he’d already read or would never read and overstocked the bookshelves throughout the house. We donated his books to the library, and I gently reminded him of the candle-purging sacrifices we made as he moaned about it in the library parking lot!

Of course, no spring-cleaning saga is complete without the inevitable discoveries.

Remember that box labeled “miscellaneous”? Brace yourself for a trip down memory lane as you unearth forgotten treasures and relics of your past (my friend Karyn is particularly fond of my high school scrapbook). Each find comes with its own flood of nostalgia.

The cracked mug from your first vacation together might seem insignificant until you’re holding it over the donation box with tears in your eyes. We need an entire post about the boxes of pictures, both in frames and photo albums. Yet another post will be written about the kids art projects (we have 10X more because one of our daughters actually is an artist).

Now, let’s talk about furniture Tetris. You’ve got a couch, a coffee table, and a dining set meant for a larger space. Suddenly, you’re channeling your inner architect, rearranging furniture like a master puzzle solver. Who knew a piano could fit in an entryway (hubby not amused).

But wait, there’s more! Right-sizing (my husband and I dislike the reductive term “downsizing”) means getting creative with storage solutions. Say hello to under-bed organizers and stackable bins. Every nook and cranny becomes a potential hiding spot for your excess stuff. Just don’t forget where you stashed those winter sweaters when cold weather rolls around again!

With the clutter vanquished (for now), it's time to tackle the deep clean. Armed with an arsenal of cleaning supplies and WJRZ blasting in the background, you scrub, sweep, and dust your way to cleanliness.

There's something oddly satisfying about restoring your home to its pristine state, like wiping the slate clean and starting fresh. You swap out heavy curtains for lightweight sheers, trade cozy blankets for floral throws, and add pops of color with fresh flowers and vibrant throw pillows.

Sure, right-sizing has its challenges, but it also brings a sense of freedom and renewal. You may have less space now, but you've gained so much more: clarity, mindfulness, and a renewed appreciation for the things that truly matter.

So, as you bask in the glow of your freshly cleaned home, you raise a glass to spring, to new beginnings, and to the joy of embracing simplicity. Here's to downsizing, spring cleaning, and the endless adventures that await in your cozy two-bedroom abode. Cheers!

MORE LIFE STORIES FROM BARBARA

Think about how easier cleaning would be if we had the help of Cinderella's magical animal friends. Unfortunately, this is not our reality. Many of our realities include piles of dirty clothes, dirty dishes that "you’ll get to later," and always-accumulating dust. But there is hope for maintaining a clean home. Sure, we all have our hacks and tips, but which ones are worth trying out?

Many people have been sharing how they keep their homes spotless or tidy home habits they developed. A good habit to develop is making sure everything has a place. This could be something you developed from your parents, a relative, or on your own. Making sure everything has its own spot can prevent clutter and get you in the habit of putting things back after using them. This also makes it easier to wipe down surface areas like your countertops without appliances constantly getting in the way.

You don't want things to get to a point where you feel overwhelmed by cleaning. Here's a bit of advice: don't leave deep cleaning for cleaning day. Try coming up with a cleaning schedule or a routine. This could be cleaning the bathroom on Thursdays and washing bedding on Sundays. Just cleaning a little bit every day helps in managing keeping a clean home.

There are all kinds of ways and methods for cleaning anything. Of course, some are more effective than others. And some require a handful of steps and instructions. But let’s be real here: we all just want the best cleaning tips and hacks. Those that leave your place spotless with minimal effort.

Some of us may think we have it all together when it comes to cleaning around the home, but there’s always something new to try. For instance, when you have a stained or spotty plastic or vinyl shower curtain, you can just toss it into the washing machine with a little detergent to get it clean. Then there’s descaling your coffee maker. It just takes a mixture of half vinegar and half water brewed until the reservoir is empty. This can help get rid of calcium buildup and keep your coffee maker running a little longer.

Check out more cleaning hacks people swear by below.

Lemons are great for cleaning. This is especially true if you're trying to ditch chemical cleaning products. Not only is the scent amazing, but you can use the fruit to clean wooden cutting boards, deodorize your drains, and degrease pans. According to Taste of Home, lemons work well for cleaning ovens. They said for oven buildup, just fill an oven-safe baking dish with water and lemon juice. Then, bake for 30 minutes at 250 degrees. After the oven has cooled, remove the side and wipe any remaining grime from the oven's interior.

This one is for those with kids or who often watch them. If one of the kiddos decides to draw their best crayon artwork on the walls, your wooden living room tray, LCD screens, clothing or appliances, there are ways to remove it. Some people swear by WD-40. They say it's good for clothing items and LCD screens. For clothes, The Spruce suggests flipping the fabric inside out, spraying WD-40 on a cloth, and dabbing it onto the crayon stain. Then, scraping off the solid bits left behind. You can also treat crayon stains with detergent and a toothbrush scrub, or a dab mayonnaise on a cloth for walls.

There are several ways to remove wine stains. But if you find yourself in a bind, then try salt or club soda. You start by spritzing the wine stain with club soda. Next, blot the wine, or colored drink stain, with a microfiber cloth. Just repeat this until the stain is gone. Some people swear by kosher salt. Usual Wines reported that salt will absorb the wine and lift away the color from the surface.

You may have heard of this cleaning hack. Most comforters are machine-wash-friendly. If the comforter fills only half the washer then you should be good to go. When ready to dry, add tennis balls to the dryer to keep the comforter's stuffing from collecting in one corner. According to Real Simple, if you have ever pulled a washed comforter or pillow out of the dryer to find it lumpy, the tennis ball trick can prevent that.

Dusting is a task that many of us can live without. But if you're looking for an easier way to tackle dust, try using a dryer sheet. They collect dust better than a cloth. You can run it along your baseboards or lines. Apartment Therapy reports that you can also dust surfaces with a sock. Obviously, you want to make sure it's a clean sock. Some people even say that using a pillowcase for hard-to-reach places like ceiling fan blades does the trick. Just open it up, carefully slide it over the fan blade, and use it to wipe out from the center of the fan to the tip of the blade. "The motion collects the dust from the blades and any dust that falls drops into the pillow instead of onto your floor," said Apartment Therapy.

Nobody's a fan of stubborn brown stains in coffee mugs. Here's a cleaning hack to try. Sprinkle some baking soda onto the bottom of your stained cup, add just enough water to form a paste and scrub. Then, give it a good rinse. Some people have also tried distilled white vinegar. Just fill the mug with vinegar and let it sit for 10 minutes. Molly Maid recommends another approach, which is pouring salt into the bottom of the mug and dumping a few pieces of crushed ice on top. Cover the mug with a few layers of plastic wrap and shake vigorously. They said the coarse salt removes the coffee stains without any chemicals.