With the hot, dog days of summer behind us, and the family-filled holidays ahead, autumn is the perfect time to give your home a good fall cleaning. Whether it is bedrooms, attic, basement or kitchen and bathrooms that need rejuvenation, fall is a fantastic time to "leave" behind clutter and disorganization.
Storage Overhaul
One of the essential elements to keeping your home organized is to have good storage materials. From large plastic bins to smaller nesting baskets, getting your things into individualized spaces is key to feeling better about your surroundings.
In the bathroom, a shelving unit with smaller baskets or plastic bins on the shelves can keep your toiletries organized. In a garage, larger shelving units with larger bins keep toys and outdoor play equipment in an easy-to-find way. And for the attic, large labeled boxes and bins are irreplaceable- even large contractor bags can be helpful if labeled with masking tape and permanent marker.
Consider Hired Help
If you normally have a cleaning service at your home, you're accustomed to a certain level of cleanliness. If you do not have this luxury because of budget, consider hiring a cleaning service twice a year- once in spring and once in fall – to do a full house clean-up. It feels fantastic to have professionals go through your home and give a good scrub to bathrooms and kitchens, and good vacuuming and dusting to living areas.
Involve the Whole Family
Encourage children to do a fall clean up in their own rooms, packing away summer clothes in labeled bins for storage and putting together a box of toys they no longer use for donation to a charity. Many communities have clothes donation bins for collecting clothes to donate to the less fortunate, and it's good for kids to learn that many of their used items can be reused by others in need. Have a grandparent looking to help in you home? Ask them to work with a child to organize their bedrooms.
Revolving Attic Door
At least once a year it's critical to go through your attic in order to remove, replace and store items. If you keep adding boxes and containers to the space, eventually it will be unworkable and you'll dread going up there. Rotate holiday items in certain spots, remove boxes of clothes that are no longer useful, and consider selling on eBay or donating items that seem to remain there year after year. Keep it moving!
Whether your home is small or large, planning a fall organization day can help you feel better about your living spaces and allow you to enjoy a cozy, restful upcoming holiday season.
Mary McCarthy - Mary T. McCarthy is the blogger at pajamasandcoffee.com and Editor of Chesapeake Family magazine.
