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Declutter Your Life With These Spring Cleaning Tips
By now you may have heard of the international phenomenon that is Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Originally intended as a guide to help hoarders clean up their lives to achieve mental clarity, it has since become a worldwide sensation. There’s even a show in the works! That’s why we thought we’d take a moment to distill her magic down to a few essential truths. If you’re ready to do your spring cleaning in Bend, think of this as your ultimate guide.
The Life-Changing Magic of Spring Cleaning in Bend
Based loosely on the principles of Feng Shui, the ultimate goal of Marie Kondo’s book is joy. By getting rid of all of the literal things in your life that don’t cause you joy, you’re left only by the things that do. Such is a recipe for a peaceful and joyful existence. Take the bed for example. If you’ve crammed books, shoes, and clothing beneath your bed, will you still feel peaceful when you go to sleep? What if there was nothing underneath your bed. Would you feel peaceful then?
Most of us would agree that if there were absolutely nothing underneath our beds, we would feel much more peaceful when we went to sleep. Why is that? It’s because literal space gives you mental space. That’s the life-changing magic of tidying up. The key, however, is not to go through your house room by room, it’s to go through your house category by category. Otherwise, you might wind up a can opener in every room—and that’s probably not necessary.
Organize Your Home By Category
The key to spring cleaning in Bend is to work category by category starting with clothing tops. Put all of your tops into one big heap in your bedroom and then start going through each piece item by item. Hold it in your hands and decide whether or not it’s something you love (and want to keep), or if it no longer brings you joy (and you want to discard). Follow this same process for each of the following categories (in order).
- Clothing
- Tops
- Bottoms
- Dresses
- Pajamas
- Jackets
- Handbags
- Belts and scarves
- Shoes and boots
- Hats and gloves
- Socks and underwear
- Jewelry
- Costumes
- Athletic apparel
- Books
- Books
- Cookbooks
- Magazines
- Papers
- Coupons and receipts
- Taxes and files
- Warranties and instruction manuals
- Important documents
- Bills
- Greeting cards
- Wrapping paper
- Checkbooks
- Notes and handouts
- Business cards
- Recipes
- Komono (or Miscellany)
- General
- Kids
- Office supplies
- Cleaning supplies
- Kitchen items
- Decor items
- Garage items
- Bathroom items
- Sentimental items
Discard What No Longer Brings You Joy
By the end of this process, you should have several garbage bags full of things to donate. Bring them to the non-profit of your choice. They’ll be thrilled to receive so many quality items, and you’ll feel completely refreshed to come home to a clean space.
Organize What Does Bring You Joy
Whatever’s left should be organized back into your home as beautifully as possible. Stop by Bed Bath & Beyond or Cost Plus World Market for cleaning and organizing essentials that will help you complete your spring cleaning in Bend. By the end of the process, your home will look tidier, and your mind will feel clearer.