Organizers are the key

The key to keeping everything neat and tidy is by having great storage spaces and organizers in all places that you need them — in your closet, in your kitchen, and even at your work table. You don’t have to buy expensive bins or have new cabinets installed; you can just use old shoe boxes or containers, or purchase cheap ones from your local dollar store like Japan Home Center or Daiso.

However, it’s important to bear in mind that you shouldn’t equate storage space to how much stuff you can keep. Thus, our next point…

Declutter, declutter

The first step to cleaning up your space is to rid your life of clutter, and we mean really getting rid of it. Donating, selling, or giving away all the things you own but don’t really use will give you more fulfillment than just storing them in huge boxes under the guise of “tidying up.”

Marie Kondo, author of the best-seller “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, goes into detail about how to efficiently and effectively declutter your home in her book, but you can read our simplified guide to get the basics down pat.

Resize your wardrobe

You’ve most likely heard about capsule wardrobes when looking up OOTD pegs for trips abroad on Pinterest. But it’s not only for the sake of packing light; it’s also to keep your closet neat and tidy! Going the minimalistic route for your wardrobe will not only save you on space, but it’ll also save you from spending all that cash on clothes you don’t really need or apparel that only looks good with specific items (in Filipino, “may binabagayan lang”).

Resize your wardrobe to the essentials, the timeless pieces, and the items you really love, and then mix-and-match these pieces every time you head out of the house. You’ll be surprised by how many outfits you can come up with using only a few basic items in your wardrobe!

Opt for waste-free, eco-friendly products

A great tip for reducing your clutter at home is by purchasing products that don’t produce them! There are plenty of online stores now where you can source waste-free items like shampoo and sunscreen bars, bamboo toothbrushes, and tumblers. Check out Rraw PH, Berde, and Sac MNL for some nature-approved goodies to stock up on at home.

You should also make it a habit to bring reusable containers with you every time you do the groceries so you don’t have to bring home dozens of plastics. Always keep a tote bag in your purse too to rid yourself of your paper bag haul.

Print out a cheat sheet for cleaning every room, furniture, and item

There are plenty of cheat sheets you can find and print out from the web which will be useful when you actually start making a habit to clean your home frequently. It isn’t an annual affair, after all! Display this cheat sheet somewhere you can always see it, like near your wall calendar or at the front pages of your planner, so you’d be reminded of when it’s the right time to clean which.

For example, microwaves should be cleaned every week, bed linens laundered biweekly, and pillows washed every three months.

Check this article from Good Housekeeping, this article from Apartment Therapy and this article from My Domaine for comprehensive lists and printable guides!

Invest in good cleaning materials

Believe it or not, having a collection of high-quality and/or stylishly pleasing cleaning tools can motivate you more to start your cleaning duties. Just a couple of things you should invest on: a powerful lightweight vacuum, microfiber cloths, a mop, dusters for fans, shelves, and window blinds, furniture polish, gentle dishwashing soap, and so much more.

Work from the top, down

Always clean the ceiling first — the light fixtures, fans, and corners — before cleaning the windows and dusting the doors, cabinets, and tables, and then end by mopping or vacuuming the floor.

Do it all at once, if you can

Tidying up requires commitment to finish all you can in a day. Don’t limit your time for it. If you make yourself clean just for an hour every other day, then you’ll eventually feel like your decluttering isn’t leading anywhere at all. Instead, you’ll be accumulating clutter faster than you’re getting rid of them. Stay focused, take breaks, but don’t give up! Spring cleaning may not be a fun thing to do, but the fulfillment that follows after seeing your hard work can’t compare to anything else.

Got any more spring cleaning tips to share? Sound off below!