Spring Decluttering Checklist: 10 Helpful Items to Remove to Lighten Your Load
Inside: Get the spring decluttering checklist and refresh your home for the new season with these tips and tricks for spring decluttering.
Want to freshen up your home for the new season? There is something about the spring that motivates me to clean and declutter.
In winter, I tend to feel more like I want to hibernate, but the warmer weather helps me to be more productive.
If you’re feeling motivated to get your home decluttered, this spring decluttering checklist and tips will help you get started!
What Month Is Spring Cleaning?
So what month is spring cleaning anyway? Often people start spring cleaning in March with the arrival of the new season, but it can really happen anytime.
Depending on where you live, March might still be a pretty cold month.
Spring cleaning and decluttering can be done whenever you want to. If you’re struggling to get motivated to begin, imagine your home after you’ve finished.
Where Did Spring Cleaning/Decluttering Come From?
According to a Washington Post from the 1800s, spring was when a big house cleaning was done to clear out the dirt and grime that had been created throughout the winter from burning coal or wood.
Prior to that spring cleaning had roots in religious and cultural practices.
Religious roots
As part of the Jewish custom, spring cleaning coincides with the Passover in March or April, which signifies the liberation of Jews from Egypt.
Greek Orthodox church members clean house for a week leading up to Lent.
In Iran, the holiday Nowruz, also known as the Persian New Year, coincides with the first day of spring. Cleaning is one part of the thirteen days of celebration.
What’s the Difference Between Spring Cleaning and Spring Decluttering
So what is the difference between spring cleaning and spring decluttering? Spring cleaning involves dusting, washing, and scrubbing.
Spring decluttering is getting rid of the excess so that you have less to clean and dust. The decluttering process clears up more space and allows for more breathing room.
What Should You Include In Your Spring Decluttering?
You can include anything you want in your spring decluttering process. I’ll include a list of ideas for your spring decluttering checklist to help you get started.
If you want additional items to declutter, sign up on the form below and get the free Decluttering Jumpstart, which includes 12 high-impact areas to declutter as well as 100 items that are easy to declutter.
What You Should Not Do When Decluttering
There are quite a few common mistakes that people make in the decluttering process. I’ve learned what not to do when decluttering by making some of these mistakes myself.
Don’t try to do it all at once. Breaking down a room into small sections makes it feel more manageable and helps it to not become as big of a mess in the process.
You can always add another small project, but taking on more than you have time for will land you feeling frustrated and defeated.
Spring Decluttering Tips & Tricks For Your House:
Use the following tips in your spring decluttering to help you to be more efficient and get more accomplished.
Schedule it & create a deadline
Decide when you’ll be doing your spring decluttering. Keep in mind, it doesn’t all have to get done in a day or weekend.
You can schedule it in small chunks of time that work for you and your schedule.
Create a self-imposed deadline for when you want to be done with the process. That will keep it from dragging on indefinitely if you’re someone who struggles with procrastination.
Set a timer
Not having enough time prevents many people from getting started with decluttering, but you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish in ten or twenty-minute increments.
Set a timer and spend ten minutes decluttering a drawer or shelf. If you want to continue past the time, you can, but you don’t have to.
Seeing your completed decluttered spaces helps motivate you to continue with the process.
Remember that the less you have, the easier the cleaning
If you’re combining your spring decluttering with spring cleaning, keep in mind that the more you remove from the flat surfaces in your home, the easier it will be to clean.
It takes a lot less time to clean countertops when there are fewer items sitting out on them.
The same goes for products sitting out in a bathroom or items sitting on a side table. The more that you declutter, the less time it will take you to clean.
Keep the end goal in mind
Think about how you want your home to look when you’re done with your spring decluttering and cleaning.
The clearer you are on this final goal, the more likely you will be to get there.
If you start to feel less motivated, your end goal will help you to get back on track with making more progress.
Spring Decluttering Checklist: 10 Things to Toss Today
Need some ideas for where to begin? Use this spring decluttering checklist to get started with things you remove from your space to lighten your load.
1. Items in your yard
Spring is the perfect time to clean up the yard and declutter the weeds or any other greenery that needs maintenance.
Clear out the old before planting the new. If you have old broken equipment sitting out in the yard, now’s the time to toss it.
2. Décor
With the coming of a new season, it’s also a great opportunity to evaluate the décor in your home. Having excessive decorations sitting out can make your house look cluttered.
Be selective with your décor and choose the things you treasure most. Your pieces will stand out more when there are fewer of them.
3. Furniture
Take a look around at the furniture in your home. Is it all being used? Is it crowding the room at all?
Consider if there are any pieces that you no longer need. If it’s not being used, it’s just taking up space, and decluttering excess furniture will make the room feel bigger.
4. Throws & pillows
Do you change your throw pillow covers seasonally? Some people like to do this as a way to freshen up the look of the room for a low cost, and they don’t take up much room to store.
If you have pillows that have gotten lumpy or you have too many, declutter the ones you no longer want.
Do you have throw blankets that are too heavy for spring? It’s time to store them away and declutter the ones that you don’t want to use again.
5. Tops of nightstands and dressers
Clear off the tops of your nightstands and dressers. Be selective in what you put back. You may be surprised at how much more relaxing your bedroom feels without the extra things sitting out.
Get this one checked off your spring decluttering checklist, and make dusting a breeze in your bedroom.
6. Linens
I love refreshing linens with the new season. Change out your bedding if you use different ones seasonally.
Declutter any that have holes, snags, or stains. Having less in your linen cabinet or closet makes it much easier to keep it organized.
7. Expired products & medicine
Spring is a great time to check the expiration dates on products in your bathroom and medicine in your cabinets.
Use proper disposal methods for medications and discard anything that has gone bad.
8. Clothing
Do you switch out some of your wardrobe in the spring? You might if you’re short on space and live in a place with very distinct seasons.
As you prepare to pack up your winter clothes, declutter any that you know you won’t want to wear next year. As you bring out the spring clothes, sort through them before putting them in your drawers and closet.
Create a wardrobe that you love that only has pieces that fit and that you feel good wearing.
9. Donations
Do you collect your donations during the colder months? Some people store them in their trunk, garage, or somewhere inside their homes waiting for warmer weather to drop them off.
Now is the time to get the donations out of your house. Stop letting them take up precious space. There are a number of ways to responsibly declutter items you no longer want.
10. Things to Recycle
Similar to donations, do you have items that need to be recycled that you set aside in the garage waiting for warmer weather?
If you have cardboard boxes and glass jars stacking up in your storage area, spring is a great time to finally take them to be recycled.
In the winter, dealing with these items may feel more challenging, so spring is the perfect time to get them out.
Spring Decluttering Room by Room
If you complete the spring decluttering checklist and want to do more in-depth decluttering, go through your home room by room.
Battle Clutter In The Bathroom
Go through the bathroom one drawer or shelf at a time. Clear out the items you never liked and donate what’s still useable. Your local Buy Nothing group is a great option for that.
Have appliances you’re not using or that no longer work? They’re a great option for things to declutter in the bathroom.
Lighten Your Clutter Load In the Living Room
Carefully evaluate the items in your living space. You should use and love the pieces in this room.
Spring is a great time to re-arrange the room and refresh the space. Create a living room that serves your goals and intentions.
Your living room should be a place where you can relax and feel at home.
Clear Kitchen Clutter
Keep those countertops clear and go through the cabinets and drawers one at a time. Eliminate duplicates and gadgets and appliances that you don’t use.
Check your stock of spices and see what needs to be trashed, replaced, or that you have too many duplicates of.
Go through your pantry and get rid of anything that’s expired, stale, or that you know you and your family won’t eat. Clearing kitchen clutter will have a big impact on how your home functions.
Grapple Garage Clutter
Springtime is a great time to finally tackle the garage clutter you’ve been putting off. Go through the boxes, bins, and tools, and eliminate what you can.
Be realistic as you ask yourself if you’re truly going to use the items you come across. Garages have a way of collecting items you don’t want to make decisions on.
If you have extra supplies from completed projects, consider passing along the items you know you’re very unlikely to use again. Now is the perfect time to start fresh and finally park your cars in the garage again!
How Do You Declutter Without Being Overwhelmed?
A big reason people don’t get started decluttering is that they feel overwhelmed. It seems easier to avoid it altogether than to tackle it.
To avoid getting overwhelmed, take it one small step at a time. Work in small sections and for short increments. Start in the spaces where it is easier to make decisions. Save the tough stuff for last.
Decluttering does get easier as you get going with it. Seeing your progress will motivate you to continue with it.
Continue to focus on the next small step as you systematically work through your home. Celebrate your wins along the way and be proud of how far you’ve come!
Use the Spring Declutter Checklist and These Simple Springtime Declutter Tips to Refresh Your Home!
With the spring declutter checklist, you’ll be well on your way to getting your home refreshed for the new season.
Who knows…it may even motivate you to do some spring cleaning too!
Want to keep up to date with The Simplicity Habit? Sign up on the form below to get weekly decluttering tips sent straight to your inbox. You’ll also get the free Your Home Decluttered Jumpstart which includes 100 easy items to declutter and 12 high-impact areas to declutter in 10 minutes.
I’ve done like you suggested and broken down my rooms and it’s satisfying crossing off the list when sets of drawers or wardrobe are done. I have also tackled my craft items, one box to offer to my craft group other things, three big bags in the bin. Two large bags to charity shops. Two big boxes of wool given a one year to use and marked accordingly. Still some rooms to go but bit by bit we are getting there, my problem is I have inherited items and no one left in family to pass on to. So do I give to charity and let someone else enjoy owning or keep them out of loyalty. Made a list and two months to decide…..thank you…
Oh Girl, I am right there with you on inherited items that hold sentimentality, and I just really struggle to let go of them. Currently I have children to pass mine on to but waiting because they are not in their forever homes, and I don’t want anything to get lost in the shuffle. Most are antiques and actually worth money, or actually useful especially if we need to go back to pioneer days, LOL as well as sentimental value of course. But someday they will get them… as for you not having family to pass it on to, you might look to extended family… possibly a cousin’s child that might be interested in making a good home for it? Just a suggestion but also close friends or neighbors might be good caretakers for it. I know as a child we had a elderly neighbor lady who never had any children, but her husband had bought her a doll as an anniversary gift, I suspect it was because she couldn’t have children and was heartbroken about it, but it was very old even when I was a child. And she ended up giving it to me not long before she passed away. I still have that doll. She made me feel special and important by entrusting it into my care and I was only a child. So, you might consider another source to share your love. Many Blessings!
When my daughter buys her new home she is taking most of my furniture with her. I therefore have to declutter and throw a lot away that I don’t have a place to put. Then there will be less for my son (who lives with me ) to dispose of as he doesn’t like clutter. I have made a WILL. GOT POWER OF ATTORNEY. So it is sensible now to leave less for my children to dispose of when I die. I am 77yrs of age so it makes sense to do this work. I appreciate this topic in the post. Most helpful to not leave too much for your children to sort out and make decisions about when you die. It is also Respectful to do this work. I have already given away all ornaments, heirlooms, and homely items to charity. Plus packing crates of special items for my daughter to take to her new home. Feels good to have done this work so far which is ongoing for a while.
I spent the last couple weeks decluttering and spring cleaning. I also found myself by happenstance redecorating my entire apartment. I finally got the art framed that I purchased almost a year ago. Two works hang in bedroom, one in my study, and a center piece in the living room. My red leather sofa saw it’s final day which meant I had to buy a replacement, changing the color to mustard yellow and completely changing the identity of the room. I wanted life in my apartment and I’m allergic to pets so bought a fully grown snake plant and a 5 foot tall spineless yucca. To Buy Nothing Group I unloaded 9 throw pillows, two yoga mats, cast iron stove top grill and 5 quart dutch oven (both never used in the 3 years I had them), and 6 sets of bed linen. I also tossed about 20 pounds of linen (duvet covers mostly). I replaced with 3 sets of luxurious organic French flax linen sheets and duvet cover. Oh, I sought New York Times’ Wirecutter for recommendation on the best cordless vacuum and bought it despite the expense. My apartment is carpeted with that awful industrial beige carpet that will be cleaned next week. Then spring cleaning will be finished. It’s been fun. I got a new home out of it.
Two questions.
How do you refresh the garbage disposal?
How often should we discard pillows and replace with new?
Hi Anita. We use the drop in packets to clean the garbage disposal. We tried some other methods but that seems to work best. For pillows I don’t have a set timeframe. I go more by when they aren’t working for you anymore (got too flat, lumpy, etc.). I hope that helps!
Perfect. Thank you. I found organic drop in packets for the garbage disposal and bought new down and feather pillows. I decided that if I had to ask, it was probably time.