Autumn is here. Leaves will soon change colors, the air is already starting to feel cooler, and more and more signs will soon fill telephone poles around town, advertising tag sales bound to be chock full of household goodness. But it doesn’t always have to take a pending tag sale to attract the cleaning bug.Just like with spring-cleaning, fall-cleaning is a great way to usher in a new season; get out the old and bring in the new! Your home is an investment, and nurturing that investment by keeping the inside, as well as the outside, fresh goes a long way.
Tackling a tag sale or even just a big clean inside can be overwhelming, so it’s best to take it in stages.
First comes the sort. Putting similar items together and laying them out in a large space can help you see what you have and what you don’t need. From there you must distinguish among the items.
Keep, toss and donate are three piles that will make any sort a breeze. A good rule of thumb: If you haven’t used it in a year, it’s probably best to get rid of it. Ask yourself if you really need something before deciding to keep it, and even after you’ve kept it, go back through the pile to make sure again. Remember, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
Keeping a house clean, organized and tidy is often hard to do, especially with a family or when a person works often and has little time for a social life, let alone housework. Important, however, is making sure your treasures are put where they’ll get the most bang for their buck – you’ve kept them for a reason, so make sure they get put to good use. Don’t hide things away where you won’t find or use them for another year. Make sure you know what you have and where it is.
Following through with the parameters you’ve set for a sort is key if you’re really trying to start fresh. If you’re going to toss it, toss it. If you’re going to donate it, donate it, or in some cases, try to sell it. Your home is your kingdom, your domain, and a place to be appreciated, maintained and made your own. Do that by making sure you fill it with only the things you want and need to make you and your loved ones happy.
