Clear Out the Clutter: Spring Cleaning

Cleaning is hard when you have a husband underfoot. (Children too.) I have no problem giving them a job to do while I'm hustling from one room to another. Kids seem to do as they're told, but husbands always, grunt, grumble, and act like you've inconvenienced them in some extraordinary way.

For that reason, I have to approach spring cleaning like a military strategist with Greg. He hates to clean.

Recently, we made a slight advancement on his closet shelves. This is where he keeps his socks, underwear and jeans. I emptied each shelf onto the bed and made him scrutinize every item. If the elastic on his underwear or socks were lax, out they went.

His jeans were a little more work. Some were too holey even for work pants. Others didn't fit. The holey ones went to the trash, but the rest went into a donation box.

In the end, we managed to fit his clothes back on the shelves without the aid of a crowbar.

I need to recoop my strength before I make him tackle his hanging clothes. When you live with a man who hates to give up anything, you have to pick your battles.

If you have cooperative children and spouses, clearing the clutter is much easier.

My go-to formula for cleaning is to attack each room individually. If doing an entire room is too much, drill down to manageable bites.

For example, a Bathroom despite its small size can be formidable. Start by emptying drawers.

• Toss out old meds.
• Get rid of old makeup.
• Sort drawers by use. Makeup in one, bandages and ointments in another. Dental care in another.
• Buy some pretty containers for things you use often like soap, bubble bath, hair brushes, pins, and makeup.

Once you've streamlined where everything goes, you'll find your morning routines far more efficient.

Kitchens are often over burdened with stuff you probably don't use regularly. I've since relegated my crock pot to the attic. I only use the Instant Pot now. I don't bake often so the big mixer is in a cabinet.

The Keurig has its own corner on the counter. Since Greg uses it daily it needs it's own spot. The same with my toaster oven, which I use more than my big oven.

I don't like my counters cluttered. They get messy enough through daily use, so I only keep out the things I need daily.

• Decide what's important for daily use and put it somewhere handy.
• Toss, sell, or donate duplicate items. You know you have them.
• Toss expired seasonings and canned goods. Don't rely on the label though. Just use it as a guide.
• Get rid of broken items. If they're broken, you're not using them. If you're not using them, why let them take up space?
• Pull out everything from each drawer or cabinet. What's useful? What hasn't seen the light of day in over a year?

Bedrooms are a problem for me. The master bedroom has two big pieces of 'furniture' aside from the bed. The first is an ellipitcal trainer. I almost talked Greg into selling it last year, but he decided to start using it again.

The second is a massage chair. Let me tell you, it's awesome, but it's also huge. I hate that it takes up so much space, but it's the best spot since we like to use it before bed time and watch a little telly.

Bedrooms in my opinion should be restful places. I like soft, serene colors on the wall and a comfy bed. In the end, you should choose what makes you feel safe and rested.

Living Rooms seem to be a catchall for games, electronics, and food. Decide what's important for your family. Our living room is very minimalist. We have a couple of snack trays and side tables, but I try to keep them clear. Greg always looks at me funny, but if I get up off the couch for any reason I scan his snack table to see if he has any wrappers. The more I tidy as I go along the less chance of crumbs. If only I could get him to do the same.

• Go though your books, CD and DVD collection. If you're no longer interested in a title, donate it to a local charity.
• Get rid of your ratty sofa throw and get something you'll be proud to use and display.
• If toys and games clutter your living room, invest in a few choice pieces of furniture with storage. Upholstered boxes do double duty as extra seating and storage.

Bonus Room: The FreezerThis week I plan to do an inventory of my freezers. They're empty enough now that I can easily see what I have left. The plan is to pull everything out, see what I have, and then put the oldest food to the front so I can use it up first.

This will inevitably mean some surprise meals, but I've been feeling creative. My goal is to do something different than the usual recipes I use.

I've already started with a leftover piece of French bread I found. I cut it into thin slices and cut out the middle, toasting the bread in a skillet and then frying an egg in each center and topped with shredded cheese. Greg LOVED it. The bread might've been destined for bread crumbs but instead I made a homey breakfast that was a big hit. (I'll post a picture the next time I make this dish.)

Clutter comes in all forms, but don't let it decide your life. If you can't use it, reuse it, or recycle it, it's time to let it go. We are DIYers so we probably have more gadgets and raw material than most people. As long as everything has a place and it's easy to find, I don't have a problem with extra stuff. It's when it's useless and in the way that it becomes an albatross.

Is there one room that gives you more trouble than the others?