By: Maya Doraiswamy and Molly Hurst
With spring just around the corner, we began to think about the obvious: warmer weather, the Flower Market, final exams, graduation, etc., but also, the simpler yet beloved concept of spring cleaning. An ideal from childhood, spring is a time for new beginnings and organization. For this March Rubble publishing, we wanted to provide some helpful tips and tricks to make sure that you can make your spring cleaning this year the best that it has ever been!
Tip #1: Looking for Inspiration
If you don’t know where to start, look online to see what others have done in terms of organization! Consulting social media, and apps like Tiktok and Pinterest, can be the perfect source of inspiration for your organization plans. There’s a lot of ways to make use of spaces (big or small), and sometimes influencers (who are all over Tiktok) have ideas and hacks that can be really helpful, especially if you’re trying to make the most out of your space. We’ve left a list below to help inspire your search and give ideas on what to explore further online!
DIY storage solutions
Closet organization hacks
Fun color coding ideas
Upcycling tips
Cute labeling systems
Creative drawer organizers
Tip #2: Making a Plan
The first step to successfully organizing or cleaning a space is making a plan. Ask yourself if you want to get rid of items, or simply move them around. One way to do this is to make a checklist, maybe with all of the things you have to clean/organize, or with where you want to put them, etc. Having a tangible marker of how much you’ve done and how much you have left really helps with time management when you’re spring cleaning, and it’s super satisfying to check off boxes! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, break tasks down even further into mini-tasks—such as sorting through a drawer or organizing a shelf—so you can see progress along the way and feel less stressed. Another great method is to set a timer for a short period, like 15 or 30 minutes, to avoid burnout and keep things moving efficiently. Once you have your plan, whether just a small list for the day or a goal sheet for the month, you’re ready to “spring” into action!
Tip #3: Using Organizers
Lists can be your best friend—the perfect way to map out your thoughts when work and to-do’s may feel overwhelming. Perhaps you’re someone who’s extremely particular about their schedule, or perhaps you’re a professional procrastinator in need of a new system. Either way, something as simple as your Notes App or a Google Docs page can go a long way in staying organized. We personally recommend having one list with major categories of all the things you need to track, maybe something along the lines of a personal, school, and ‘other’ section. Being young students with social, academic, athletic, and work obligations, subcategories never fail to help separate various lives. As avid color-coders, we’d even encourage you to designate certain classes with a specific color to stay consistent throughout your notes, planner, or any other items you have. Aside from lists, keeping a calendar is crucial to one’s sanity and organization. Once again, color coding different types of events never fails to help create both a clear and aesthetically pleasing map of the month. Below, we’ve attached a few simple templates that could help get you started with making your own personalized planner or calendar! These are just a few basic methods—your organizers should be designed however makes you happiest and most productive, and everyone has different techniques that work best for them!
Tip #4: Sorting Your Items
If you go more of the cleaning rather than the reorganizing route, the first step would be creating piles to sort different items depending on your intention with them. For example, if you’re going through your closet, have a pile of things to keep, one for clothes that you want to try on, and one for the stuff that you want to get rid of. Now, in order to stay organized and clutter-free, one of the most important things is more than just cleaning, but getting rid of stuff! As for the items you choose to get rid of, instead of just throwing things away, you can find alternative solutions such as upcycling or donating. In terms of upcycling, you might find that a quick internet search could help turn your old jars into a pretty vase or perhaps even office organizers. Repurposing items you already have can be both environmentally friendly and fun when it comes to organization, especially if you have a love for crafts or projects! Donating is another fantastic, rewarding option, since others can always benefit from what you may no longer need.
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to feel like a chore—with a little creativity and some helpful tips, it can be a fun and rewarding experience! By upcycling, decluttering, and finding new ways to organize, you can refresh your space and start the season with a sense of accomplishment. We leave you with these tips in hopes that you can personalize your own systems, and perhaps even find some fun in organization (just like we both do). Enjoy the start of the spring season, and have a happy spring cleaning from Molly and Maya!
Comments