10 Day Declutter Challenge
We're all spending more time inside these days...
If you’re like us the words “spring” and “cleaning” in the same sentence usually make us turn the other way, but in an effort to add some structure to our days and get ahead on spring cleaning, we've started a 10-Day Declutter Challenge!
Whether you're waiting on this uncertainty to pass before listing your home for sale this spring or you just want to tidy up a bit around the house - this challenge is for you! Before you deep clean everything, you need to declutter. The less stuff you have, the less stuff you need to clean.
Our 10-Day Declutter Challenge will help you slowly tackle decluttering your home to make it a little less daunting and a little more fun if you’re the type of person who likes to cross things off a to-do list every day. Happy decluttering!
DAY ONE
Junk Drawers & Countertops
Before diving too deep in grandma’s china we’ll start small. Everyone has at least one (or two) junk drawers in their kitchen. Clean these out first, throw away any actual “junk” and organize the rest.
DAY TWO
Pantry, Refrigerator, and Freezer
Remember those frozen pretzels you bought last year when you were craving them? They’ve probably expired or will stay in there for another year so it’s probably best to toss them. Go through your pantry, fridge and freezer to get rid of all expired and unwanted food items.
DAY THREE
Kitchen Cabinets
Now we can dive into the good stuff. If you’re the type of person who loves getting free cups at every event you go to or has way too many plates it may be time to part ways. You can donate anything you don’t need or toss anything that’s been used too much.
DAY FOUR
Books, Movies, and the Mail Pile
Unless you’re stuck in the ’90s or like to collect DVD’s there’s no reason to keep piles of them. You can toss them out, give them away, or put them in a box tucked away.
DAY FIVE
Toys, Games, and/or Office Supplies
If you have kids, it’s likely you have a lot of toys laying around. Go through the toys and games they’ve outgrown and set them aside to donate.
After decluttering your living room, here are some tips on how to stage if you are considering selling soon.
DAY SIX
Clothes
If you haven’t heard of Marie Kondo yet, she has great tips on how to sort through your clothes that actually work. Check them out here.
DAY SEVEN
Shoes and Accessories
Just like with your clothes, sort through your shoes, belts, bags, hats, and anything else that may be hiding in your closet. Throw out or donate things that don’t fit or are not used anymore.
DAY EIGHT
Under the Sink
The space under your sink is probably filled with a couple of things... cleaning products, old lotions, and a few half-used bottles of shampoo. Take some time to go through which products you'll actually use and toss the ones you know you won't or those that have expired.
DAY NINE
Linen Closet and Medicine Cabinet
Did you know that medicine expires? It does, so those old prescriptions and cough medicine should probably get tossed out. This would be a great time to put old towels in the garage for chores and to refold all the towels in that one perfect way.
DAY TEN
Nightstands and Tops of Dressers
For the last day, let's clear off your nightstands and the top of your dressers and first give them a good dusting. We find that these areas are often neglected and tend to collect a lot of dust. Then, re-evaluate what you have on top of these spaces - is everything functional? Do the remote batteries need to be replaced? Can you get rid of anything here?
Yay! You've Reached the End of the Challenge!
To help you stay on track we created a checklist. You can download it here.
If you need advice on getting your home ready for the spring market just know we're here to help you no matter what's going on in the world.