5 reasons for a good spring declutter

At last! I think we have finally seen the back of the snow and ice. Spring is in the air, the weather is fast improving and I am in the mood for a big spring declutter!

There are so many good reasons to have a regular declutter, but spring has traditionally been the time for a good clean and clear out. Here are five good reasons for a spring declutter.

Your mental health

It makes you feel good mentally living in a tidy, uncluttered space. An organised home is so much easier to relax in than one with stuff everywhere. I find I also feel more in control and less anxious when our belongings are organised properly.

It’s easier to clean when you have less clutter to move around and a good spring declutter will actually save you time in the long run.

Your physical health

It’s better for your health if you can get to all those dusty areas. As we have all been stuck indoors over the winter months, spring is the perfect time to have a good clean, get rid of accumulated grime and let in some fresh air.

In our case, our 1940s house has a tendency to collect condensation and grow mould in poorly ventilated areas, such as behind furniture and in corners. This is really harmful to your physical health. I had a mystery cough for years until I realised that I have an allergy to mould. It needs regular cleaning.

There is also less danger of falling over things when you are tidy! Honestly, my friend has hoarder tendencies and her stairs are a nightmare. There is always so much stuff sitting on them waiting for the tidying up fairy to sort it into the right place. I keep telling her she will take a tumble.

A spring declutter will save you money

When you tidy and declutter your environment, you know what you own! This sounds daft, but it’s easy to forget items that you have tucked away because they might come in useful one day. You also avoid buying a new ‘whatever’ if you remember that you have one in the shed or the attic. So a good spring declutter can save you money.

This approach is also good to apply to your food stores, so that you use up what you have and don’t neglect items shoved to the back of the larder or at the bottom of the freezer for years on end.

Making money

When you have a spring declutter, you are likely to find items that you no longer use that someone else would happily pay for. You could sell it locally on Facebook or via an online selling platform such as eBay or Gumtree. Clothing can go on Depop or Vinted too.

Even if you don’t want to sell your old stuff, giving it away to someone who will use and appreciate it can make you feel good.

It makes you more productive

My office space had got into such a mess over the winter, with bags of stock waiting to be listed on eBay, loads of boxes already listed, stationery everywhere and stacks of bubble wrap and cardboard boxes – so many of those I could have started a removal company! 

It wasn’t pleasant to work in there and I had taken to going off into the sitting room with my laptop. Now that I have tackled it, it is a much nicer work space and I am able to get more done more quickly. 

Because it is only a small room and I am asking a lot of it, it is really important to keep it tidy and organised so this spring declutter was well over due. It’s still quite full but at least I can get to everything and lay my hands on anything I need.

Having a tidier house will take you less time to clean and find the things you need, so it makes you more productive overall.

My forward plan for a big spring declutter

Here is the list of things I plan to declutter in the next few months:

Large garden shed

We broke the back of this last weekend, as soon as the sun came out and it was dry enough to pull everything outside. I mentioned the boxes in my office…. there were even more in the shed. There is no way we need this many!! I occasionally sell breakables online and do need some, but not a whole shed full.

I forgot to take a photo before, but you could barely get in, let alone find anything. It is now clear and I have given away lots of things on Facebook and Freegle. However, it still needs a good clean and tidy and the decorating equipment needs to be organised.

Small shed

OK, I am embarrassed to show you how bad this is, but doing so will hold us to getting it done! I am put off by all the cobwebs and mice nests that I know are in there, but it’s pretty much unusable as it is.

It also needs some repairs and reinforcing, but that can’t happen until it is cleared.

Bedroom

The bedroom gets decluttered regularly, since I seem to accumulate lots of clothing items. This is because I find so many second hand bargains, I sometimes get carried away!

It needs doing again now and perhaps reorganising in some way. I want to repaint it this year – another budget bit of DIY.  The furniture is rather mismatched and, as I was so pleased at how my downstairs cupboard (a nice dusky pink as you can see) turned out with a lick of Frenchic paint, I am going to tackle the various chests of drawers and wardrobe and unify it.

Attic

The loft space is where the Christmas tree and decorations live, along with lots of old pictures, lampshades, duvets and pillows and lord knows what else.

Every time I go up there I say, ‘This needs a good declutter’. Then I close the loft hatch and get busy with other things. This time it is going to be done!!

I am holding myself accountable for my spring declutter efforts by letting you see some of the mess beforehand. Having already cleared my office, sorted the cupboards in the hallway as part of the redecoration process and done half the shed in the garden, hopefully I am on a roll!

I will let you know how I get on. Are you in the mood for a good spring declutter and cleaning frenzy?

I’m linking up with this Cass, Emma and Becky in this week’s ‘Frugal Friday’ linky.