Five Smart Tips for Your Complete Home Spring Cleaning

Few things are more satisfying than decluttering the home and enjoying a cleaner, more organized environment. Having a tidy home can reduce stress, limit the time you spend cleaning and organizing, and even help you save money by making the best us

e of your property and space. As spring arrives in Valparaiso, South Bend and other areas of Michiana, homeowners can take advantage of these tips to streamline the process and achieve a faster, more effective home cleanout.

Make a Plan

Clutter can be overwhelming when viewed as one big project. For best results, develop a plan to break the mess into smaller pieces. Start by listing the areas to be organized in order from most to least cluttered. Focus on one space at a time, starting at the top of the list, and add a goal date to stay on track. Repeat that process with each of the clutter zones.

Create Categories

To begin decluttering a room, closet, or cabinet, experts recommend gathering five different boxes or bins to organize items that can be removed or relocated.

• Put away items that should go somewhere else in the house. 
• Recycle paper, glass, or plastic items that are no longer useful and can be recycled. 
• Donate items that are no longer needed but have a useful life for someone else. 
• Fix items that can be used but need a bit of TLC first. 
• Trash items that have no further use and are not recyclable.

Try the Trash Bag Challenge

Fill a trash bag with items to remove from your home. Whether focusing on garments, toys, and books for donation, papers to shred or recycle, or simply items that are in the wrong spot, this is a fast way to make a big impact (especially when more than one family member participates or the challenge is repeated each day). Make it an activity for the whole family!

Learn the 80/20 Rule

Professional organizers swear by this rule of thumb: people typically use 20% of our possessions 80% of the time. Whether kids stick to a few favorite toys or parents and teens regularly wear only a fraction of their full wardrobe, they can achieve some breathing room by removing some of those items that sit in the closet for most of the year. Another helpful benchmark? Clothing that hasn't been worn in a year or more is usually ready for donation, with the exception of special occasion pieces such as formalwear.

Rent a Dumpster

For major clutter, having a dumpster on hand can ease the cleanout process, especially if you anticipate finding many items that can be thrown away during spring cleaning. A small dumpster measuring just 4 to 6 cubic feet is appropriate for small projects, or opt for a container that holds up to 15 cubic feet for an entire home cleanout.

When you're ready to start the process, Bin There Dump That Michiana is your source for affordable, convenient dumpster rentals. With our recent expansion to Valparaiso, we're ready to help even more homeowners wih their decluttering and moving needs. View our available sizes online or call 574-892-5554 for more information. You can also book your dumpster now and get on the road to a cleaner, more relaxing home.