DAY ONE: Ok, it's time to sort your stuff. Before we can get our deep clean on, we have to sort and toss. This part will be painless and easy and feel so good when you're done!
Pick a drawer (any drawer) and make a start. This is a great way to get into your cleaning groove, and it's one of the most satisfying jobs you can do. I like to work from the top down or from the back to the front of the house. Start with your nightstand, your sock drawer, or the junk drawer in the kitchen. The point is to break it down into achievable jobs, so you don't get overwhelmed by it all. Once done, let that feeling of orderly accomplishment motivate you to keep going. Try to stick to only drawers for now. Later, we'll get to the pantry, your closets, and the medicine cabinet.
YOU WILL NEED THE FOLLOWING:
- A few empty bags or boxes to divide things into categories: relocate/sell/donate/or toss.
- Trays and Drawer Organizers to corral the small, random stuff.
- A used Bath Sheet or Turkish Towel on its way to the laundry.
- Use a few old Tea Towels or a cut-up T-shirt as a Cleaning Cloth.
- Cotton Buds (I like the wooden ones best)
- Leather Cleaner
- All-Purpose Cleaner
- Optional: A wall-mounted Battery Organizer. I bought this guy, and it’s made my Junk Drawer so much neater. I love it.
HOW TO DO IT:
- Have your bags and boxes clearly labeled and ready to sort through the things you want to throw away and those you wish to keep.
- Spread your used towel on the bed or floor and dump it out of your drawer.
- Dust or vacuum the inside of your drawer first. I’m looking for a good, hand-held vacuum for my closet for this type of job.
- Spritz the inside of wood drawers with Leather Cleaner (or use All-Purpose Cleaner for laminate or MDF drawers), wipe clean, and let dry while you sort. I like to use cotton buds (Q-Tips) to get into the corners.
- Once you’ve sorted through and thrown out everything you don’t love (be ruthless!), put the good stuff back and move on to another drawer.
- TIP: Use a timer and allow yourself no more than 20 minutes per drawer to sort and clean. Stay away from old letters or photos, or you'll lose momentum.
REWARD: It may sound trivial, but the reward portion of this exercise is a crucial part of achieving your daily targeting goals. ALSO: It's important to reward yourself for completing the task. It can be linked to your job (like using the spare change/coupons you find to get yourself a small treat) or something completely random like a bubble bath, new exotic tea, a hair mask, or whatever floats your boat. The main thing is to visualize your reward goal and stay motivated long enough to achieve it.
Congratulations! You’re on your way to a cleaner, more organized home.
NEXT UP: The Closets.
xx, mlk
