Winter Cleaning Tips

Although we generally think of Spring as the best time to clean out our houses of extra stuff, winter is really the idea time. The holidays bring in more items that you will have to store, especially if they are seasonal. Well, don't just pack everything away and save it for a spring day; while you are stuck indoors this season, put those carbs to use and get some boxes ready!

Holiday Leftovers

Just a year of accumulated items can start to crowd your personal space. It's hard to decide what you need and what you just like or has some kind of sentimental value. But this is the first step to winter cleaning-deciding what you can't live without. The holiday season likely inundated you with some more paltry items that are only used for that season such as decorations of every shape and description. Before you pack them away to deal with next year, take a scrutinizing look through the holiday spoils and make a few educated guesses as to what you will be using this coming year and what you likely won't ever use. It's as simple as that. If you don't think you will ever use it or it isn't your 'style,' it's okay to get rid of it.

One Step at a time

Next, you should figure out what items that you have hanging around that have never been used in your kitchen, than your living room, bathroom, dining room, etc. Just take it room by room and you'll find that the task is less daunting.

Separate as you go

Don't wait until you have a huge pile of junk creeping like a predator over your living room rug. Get a garbage bag ready for things that can be trashed without guilt. For the 'useful' items get them ready in boxes. Label the boxes according to where you would like to bring them, whether it is to store them in the garage until the weather is nice enough to have a yard sale or donate them to a charity. It's easier to keep track if you start out right. Otherwise you will find that the sorting part is just as time-consuming as the deciding part.

Where to Bring them

If something is clearly broken and has no redeeming qualities, toss it out. But if you feel something might be worth a little to a collector or enthusiast, than save it to be sold. You can sell these items in a yard sale, as mentioned before, or you can even become a seller on Ebay. But take a tip from Ebay buyers and don't sell anything that is of questionable quality (e.g. smells bad, is missing pieces, etc.). It's also a good rule to only give away items that you would deem 'selling' worthy. While charities appreciate donations, they would like to receive them in 'nice' condition; in other words, it's not another route and/or name for the garbage bin.

Clothing

Even if you don't think you have a lot of clothing, you probably do. Weed through the clothes that you don't fit in and probably never will. Decide whether it is really worth it to save that mustard yellow shirt because it might come in handy if you plan on wearing red plaid bell-bottoms. And don't forget your kids' closets too. Make sure you go through things that don't fit or are too tattered to be worn any longer.

Donations of clothing are welcome at Goodwill or Salvation Army (and if you live in some western states Deseret Industry). However, if you have friends or family that could use the clothing, you might want to think of them first. Be careful not to store clothing in a garage or attic until you give them away, as they will have an unpleasant odor.

So, don't wait for spring to do your cleaning. Stop the problem before it gets worse, and you'll feel much better about spending time inside this winter.