Basics of Cleaning

I will keep this simple for you. Just about every area you are trying to “reboot” will follow these steps, from a junk drawer to whole rooms. Keep these steps in mind for every task no matter how small and you will start to see and feel a difference in your space.

STEP ONE- Empty the Space 

You may be tempted to open a drawer or closet or whatever space you want to get done and just remove obvious garbage and call it a day. This can be especially tempting with areas like purses and “junk drawers” but I strongly urge you to empty the space with full intentions of improving it! Deciding to do the things with intent will be a game changer! Still, I find doing a whole room can be overwhelming so I will empty one area I know I can complete at a time and keep going as long as I can.

STEP TWO- Clean the Space

Once the area is emptied you’ll want to clean it. This may mean sweeping or vacuuming larger areas or just dusting and polishing smaller ones. Get rid of all debris and make any repairs that may be needed. You now have a clean slate for your “reboot”.

STEP THREE- Organize the Space

Now turn your attention to the stuff you removed. Group like items together and get rid of excess. Decide what is needed to keep the stuff you are keeping organized. Make sure organizers fit in the space you plan to use them and go with your “look” if it is a decorative space.

STEP 4- Decorate the Space

If you are taking care of a space that will be seen you’ll want a decorative theme. This can be done with repeated colors or pattern. Bigger spaces like bedrooms may require more planning and have accents that are purely decorative. I like to have a theme in mind from the beginning so when I am organizing I know what colors or patterns my bins, baskets, and labels should be. Now that we have the space cleaned, organized and decorated the real work begins…

STEP FIVE- Maintain the Space

This is where many of us will falter but it is soooo much easier to maintain a space than completely redo it! Work checking this space into your daily, weekly or monthly routines. Each time you do it it will get quicker to accomplish and you feel the difference in your mindset as you manage your chaos and are able to enjoy your space.