If another person talks about how “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” changed their life, I swear I’m going to…

do nothing about it :) Did I get you there?

I have the book but haven’t gotten around to reading it. And I do have to say, I’m a little tired of the hype. 

As a self-proclaimed “hoarder” (a title I hold with a tiny bit of pride, actually), I tend to accumulate a lot of things and have trouble getting rid of them. Although I keep some items for sentimental reasons and “what if” situations, I mainly just collect more items than I get rid of. 

Now that it’s spring and I can actually see everything that has caught dust over summer, fall, and winter, I want to share with you a few of my weird but hopefully helpful tips on spring cleaning. (Note: None, literally none of this has been endorsed by Marie Kondo)

If you have trouble purging your clothes, go through them during an off season. 

For whatever reason, I find it a lot easier to part with items I haven’t worn in a long time if I’m parting with them in an off-season. For example, It’s a lot easier for me to get rid of an old summer dress in March and dingy sweater in July. I know that I haven’t worn some of my dresses in a really long time and if I find them in my closet and don’t really seem to care much for them, I know it’s time for them to find a new home.

Having those items out of sight lets the decision making process easier for me, because I know that I’ve lived without that item for a good period of time without needing it. 

Promise yourself to replace intimates and accessories. 

We often forget to go through intimates, socks, etc.–things we use on a daily basis–because we use them on a daily basis and they aren’t seasonal. It’s important to go through this stuff and throw out the ill-fitting item, outdated items, and items that have holes in them. If you’re anything like me, the idea of getting new items in their place can be pretty exciting. Promise yourself to get new bras when you toss the old, new socks when you toss out the old, etc. 

Turn your unloved but good quality items into a little cash

Take your clothes and accessories (not intimates though, ew) to secondhand stores that buy gently used items. You might get a little cash out of it. You can also consider selling your items online, too, but I personally find that to be a lot more work than taking garbage bags of clothing to a secondhand clothing store. It takes effort to get to the store, but you can get rid of your clothes in a matter of hours. Problem solved!

Set up a calendar for your skincare and cosmetics

Or any item that has to be tossed or replaced after a certain period of time. It might seem like a lot of work, but believe me, it’ll come in handy and you’ll be organized as hell. You could use a spreadsheet or set calendar alerts on iCal. 

Or, replace your items based on the calendar year. 

Replace your toothbrush and mascara every quarter. Your foundation, every new year. As long as you have a system that works for you, you’re good. Be sure to do a little research on the lifespan of your products. 

Clean your shoes, brah. 

I don’t know how often we think about this, but it’s worth cleaning your shoes after winter. If you’re like me and store shoes you wear on a daily basis in a closet with clean clothes…uhh that’s kinda weird right? Kinda like eating right next to a dirty bathroom, but not as dramatic. Just clean your shoes from time to time. Some shoes are okay to put in the washer and dryer, but you can use disinfecting wipes to clean the others, or special shoe cleaners if the material is more delicate. 

Reward yourself for cleaning. 

I’m a bit of a lazy person, with “bit” being an understatement. Cleaning isn’t my favorite thing to do, and clearing through and organizing clutter can be a major pain in the butt for me. In moments when I’m cleaning, I’m usually wondering how there are some people who actually like cleaning (I’ve met a few of you and I’m still wondering. And for the record, I don’t have anything against you or hate you). Anyway, I like to give myself a reward for cleaning. Nothing crazy, but something enough to make me want to do it. Like pizza. Pizza is a good reward for anything. 

If you have a lot of cleaning to do, set up a 30 day challenge and hold yourself to it. Then, give yourself a really large reward. Basically, just get yourself to do it. 

Actually create a system that works with your lifestyle.

If you like the minimalist look but are a hoarder, you’ll have to get creative to stash away the clutter. And, if you hide the clutter, you may forget you own certain items and buy them again, creating a vicious cycle. This is a moment where you have to tell yourself “No, I have a lot of things and I can’t live like a minimalist.” and then gear up for the lifestyle of a person who has a lot of things and needs creative but accessible storage. We all have to face reality and accept ourselves. 

Seriously, replace your bras. 

Ill-fitting bras showing through your t-shirts or dresses isn’t cute. If you’re in denial that your bra needs to be tossed (I think all of us have been here at some point), you need to check out this infographic. Good bras are important!!!  

If you need a new bra and not thrilled by the idea of going to the store to have yourself measured by a stranger (super awkward), you need to check out ThirdLove. Get 10% off your purchase at ThirdLove with the code TLSPRING10.

That’s pretty much what I’ve got for Spring Cleaning Tips. Do you have any to add to the mix? I would love to hear them, especially since I’m not very proactive when it comes to cleaning. 

Notes: I have nothing against Marie Kondo. She sounds pretty cool and I hope to get around reading her book soon. It has “Magic” in the title for a reason, folks.