The Ultimate Decluttering & Deep Cleaning Guide for your Home!

A few days ago, I wrote up three points to help prep for simplifying and decluttering your home in time for a good Spring cleaning! Today, as promised, we will go more into the actual process itself. I love a good declutter! 

If you didn't get a chance, hop on over to the previous post so you can be all caught up! Preparation and intentionality are key to making this work :)

 I think I could write separate, detailed posts about each of these, but I spared you and condensed everything in a few points per room. I so do love lists, don't you? Of course, everyone is different and has different decluttering needs. This is meant to be a guide to help you with your decluttering and simplifying.

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First, let's tackle some excuses we might come up with for items. Ideally, you want to only touch each item once in this process (do you have your boxes/bags ready?):

Sentimental Items. These are probably the hardest thing to deal with. If someone special gave you an item, or a certain item holds a fond memory, it may be hard to let go! This was actually the biggest thing that kept me from making radical decisions when it came to decluttering. I had boxes of cards that people had given, and items that collected dust on shelves. Before I knew it, I was overwhelmed - but I still couldn't give them up. It took a while before I realized that a lot of these things were just clutter in my life. I finally went through everything and managed to decide on a few items to keep in a memory box. Everything else I took pictures of (if I deemed it worthy) and donated/sold/threw out the rest.

Items you think you might need in the future. Honestly, if you haven't used it by now, you likely won't. Accept that it is just taking up space, and it needs to go. I should probably let go of the ice cream maker I have hiding in my cupboard now that I think about it...

Items that were expensive. Yeah, that happens - we don't always make the best purchase decisions. Everyone makes mistakes. But if you're not using it, why are you holding on to it? Think about other purchases you likely don't make too wisely, like the phone plan you spend way too much on or all those fast food stops. Though not material, a lot of money goes into these things for some people. Is it any different? Something to chew on anyway (no pun intended). 

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• Be honest about your clothing - Oh man, I think I could write a complete separate post about this one. Get rid of everything that doesn't fit, is worn out or beyond repair, things that you don't love wearing, and items that you haven't worn for a year (if you didn't wear it last summer, you probably won't wear it this summer either). I like to use thredUP to send my great condition clothing to and make a little money (Send your used clothes there to sell! And buy great second hand items there too! Here’s a link for $10 for you to use to find something you actually love!)

• Accessories, shoes and scarves too! - Say goodbye to the accessories and scarves you don't wear anymore or don't fit your style. Trust me, you'll feel better once you do!

• Critique your sock drawer - it's time to let go of the socks that have no partner and the underwear with, gasp, holes! Anything with worn out elastics probably should be purged as well.

• Remove things that shouldn't be in your bedroom at all! - Your bedroom is for sleeping and dressing and escape. Why is there a toothbrush in your closet and a rubber duck under your bed?

• Reduce items on surfaces - Clear the top of your dresser and your side tables, and limit items to 3-5. It's soothing to see clear surfaces.

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• Get rid of unnecessary duplicates - Do you really need 5 whisks and 9 sauce pans? Chances are that your burner can't handle that many pots at a time anyway...

• Spices and canned food that are outdated or you never use - Don't forget to check your fridge and freezer! I like to use bins in my cupboards and fridge to keep things organized :)

• Extra dishes you never use - Also the ones that are broken/or chipped.

• Small appliances you don't use - Remember that ice cream maker I mentioned earlier.....?

• Containers with no lids - If you have a giant drawer full of Tupperware with mismatching lids and pieces that are no longer useable, I urge you to please, please get rid of them. Limit and organize!

• Linens - That one ratty dishcloth needs to go. You know the one I'm talking about.

Related: DIY All-Purpose Cleaner

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• Throw away soaps, lotions, cosmetics, etc., that you haven't used in a year - or don't plan on using (think of all of those Christmas sets you received last year). You also probably don't need six tubes of lipstick...

• Expired medication - Medication should not be kept in the bathroom due to moisture anyway. Take expired goods to a pharmacy to be disposed of properly.

• Duplicates - The four boxes of bandaids under the counter are probably not necessary. Weed through and consolidate.

• Linens - Get rid of completely worn out towels and those with holes in them. Five towels per person in the household is also a bit excessive...decrease to two and add one or two for a guest.

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• DVDs, CDs and Video Tapes - In this digital age, do you really need or use these? Digitalize what you can and get rid of the rest.

• Magazines/Newspapers - Get rid of editions you don't read or need anymore unless you're planning on making a collage TODAY. Otherwise, say goodbye. I agree, there's nothing like flipping through a magazine, but digital copies do help keep clutter down if you would consider...

• Games that are missing pieces or games you don't play - replace pieces if you really like a game, but get rid of games or toys that aren't played with! You really don't need them.

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• Papers! - Unless you've gone paperless (we'll tackle digital clutter next), you have likely collected quite the amount of paper! Go through old papers and shred what you no longer need, and file what you do. If you are not completely sure about something, I would vote scanning and still shredding it. Just don't shred your birth certificate. Not a good idea.

• Clear off your desk - Keep what you leave on your desk to a minimum. It's much easier to get work done that way anyhow.

• Junk Drawer? - I will admit I had one of those in my desk - until I decluttered. It is now an orderly collection of materials I need. I had some random things in there - like key chains and old batteries...it was a scary sight. You don't need these things either! It's such relief when I can go in there and find the essentials I'm looking for right away.

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• Emails - this is a large undertaking indeed. Delete all time sensitive emails (expired coupons, deals, etc.) and emails you no longer need. Archive important emails.

• Contacts - there are probably a lot of contacts you no longer need to have - like your brother's best friend's sister's cat's previous owner, with the email, fuzzyfeline@catlover.com.

• Pictures - I feel as though I'm constantly cleaning my photos because I neglect to do it right away. You don't need blurry pictures that are impossible to decipher...and that one photo you took 50 times to get a perfect shot? Just keep the one perfect one.

• Create a filing system and stick to it - Create a system that works for you. Folders can be your best friend! Go through old documents and get rid of ones that are no longer relevant or useful. Digital clutter is a real thing!

• Clear your desktop - Having a clear desktop is amazing. Clear it off after every project to avoid having to search through it, wasting time and energy.

• Feeling ambitious? - Back up all of your files and reset your computer to the factory settings! It feels great - like getting a brand new computer! I do this on my devices once a year.

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• Go through boxes of stuff - you know the ones I'm talking about. You probably haven't looked through these boxes in years - do you really need to keep what's in them?

• Throw out old paint, oil, cleaning supplies, boxes, newspapers, etc. - do it responsibly though and recycle what you can :)

• Get rid of tools you never use - if you haven't used that electric saw or wood detailer ever, you might just want to sell them...

• Exercise equipment - commit to using it, or say goodbye.

• Holiday Decor - Do you still use that wreath from 1978? No? Toss it. Consider minimizing your decor in general - less is more!

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• Go through the glove compartments - There might be more trash in there than useful items! Organize or throw away receipts and other papers (important papers fall under the 'organize' category, okay?).

• Check the trunk - The less weight you have in your car, the better! At one point, I had a few half-filled bottles of antifreeze in my trunk... Consolidate what you can and store everything else away properly. You should keep that extra blanket in the trunk though.

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Phew. I think that's enough for now. Did I miss anything? If you've ever decluttered before, you likely know what a difference it makes in your life. 

Do you plan on decluttering and simplifying your home this Spring? I hope so! In this case, I wish you a happy decluttering and a wonderful weekend! 

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Preparing to Declutter and Deep Clean

I love Spring. Even more than Spring itself, I love Spring Cleaning. Call me strange, but I do. It has been a long Winter, and things have been accumulating, but over the last couple of weeks, I have successfully managed to declutter even more to make way for my spring cleaning day. 

Spring is just around the corner, and I thought it would be appropriate to share some decluttering tips to help you get ready for your Spring cleaning! There are no rules when it comes to decluttering, in my opinion. I do, however, believe in guidelines. I've outlined three ways to begin preparing for your simplifying process below. Later this week, we'll get to the actual decluttering.

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Set Goals

Decide what you want to accomplish for each area. This is completely up to you. It helps if you write down your goals and share them with someone else to keep you accountable. 

Commit & Be Thorough 

This will take time. Decide on how much time you will commit to each project/room. Follow through and don't continue or move on until you have finished.

Create a System

Decide whether you will sell, donate, or throw away the things you collect. Be sure to have garbage bags or boxes handy for each category. Some categories you could use are:

• Keep

• Donate/Give Away

• Sell

• Throw Away

• Sentimental Value

• Put Away

• Repurpose

Feel free to pin the image below!

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Later this week, once you complete these steps, I will be back with more practical tips for decluttering every room in your house! Don't you just love simplifying?

Update: You can now find the Ultimate Guide for Your Springtime Simplifying HERE!

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Meal Planning in a Few Easy Steps

A few weeks ago, I posted about why I meal plan, and today, I'm going to be sharing how I go about meal planning. I know I said I would post this earlier, but it has been a crazy couple of days. Since it's the beginning of the month, I thought I should get to it. 

The process of meal planning itself is a pretty easy one. I plan for the entire month. It used to take up to two hours, but now that I'm better at it, it goes by much quicker - usually no longer than an hour.

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1) Check the Fridge, Freezer & Cupboards

I do this first because I can then determine what needs to be and can be used. I also do not wish to buy duplicates unnecessarily, so this step usually eliminates that. I also check on my staples to see if they need refilling. 

2) Gather My Recipes

This is my favourite part! I love going through the recipes I love and the ones I haven't tried. In addition to checking my repertoire, I open my Pinterest boards and my Pocket feed to see what recipes have interested me, and what I might be determined enough to knock off the "try list." Note: Our breakfasts are usually pretty standard because of work schedules, so we usually have fruit and whole grain cereal or bread. I don't bother planning for that because they're staples for us. A couple of times a month, we will have a free morning in which we can be a bit more adventurous though! 

3) Get Out the Calendar

I print out a blank monthly calendar to place my meals on. Eventually I want to make and use a reusable one. First, I block off the days where I don't need to worry about preparing food (days we're out of town or eating out, etc.). Next I schedule any grocery shopping trips (usually two). This helps me determine what ingredients I need to last longer. By the way, we personally only eat twice a day (one large breakfast, and an early supper/late lunch). If we are dying of hunger, we'll have a light snack later on.

4) Group Together Meals

I don't necessarily group meals that have overlapping ingredients if I don't plan on making enough to have leftovers. Sometimes we do though, and a lot of ingredients are versatile anyway. Making sure each meal for the day adds up to the recommended amounts of nutrients (more on that in the future!), I start putting them on the calendar. 

5) Make a Shopping List

Being sure I double check the things I already have, I make a list! It's easy. I write down every thing I'll need for each meal I'm preparing and take a poll, so to say. This way, I can be sure I'm getting enough of a certain ingredient. Note: I usually make two shopping lists. One for each shopping trip I need to take. This also helps me make sure that produce will last long enough, etc. Plus, I don't have to take extra time later on to make a completely new list. I can add to it if I run out of a staple or two during the week. 

Note: I group my list into sections according to what store I will be visiting. This way, I'm not jumping between sections and wasting time. 

6) Execute!

The one thing I really like about this system is that it's flexible. If I decide I don't want a certain meal one day, or if something comes up where we don't need to cook after all, it's easy to change it up and move it. It's basically just for my sanity. 

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What do you think? Easy enough to try yourself?
Do you use another method? Comment below- I'd love to hear about it. I'm off to meal plan for this month now - a few days late... I'm a little behind in life these days :)

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Confessions of a Meal Planner

I had attempted meal planning several times over the years, but it never stuck. It takes time and effort - two things I didn't always have. Since I work full-time now, I need to be very intentional to make good decisions. Meal planning is one of those good decisions. 

I've been meal planning three years now, and though I've yet to really perfect it, I would say I'm getting there. There is such a satisfaction I find in it that I've never known before! This may come across quite strong for a topic such as meal planning, but I don't know how else to express myself right now!

Meal planning helps me with so many things. I'll let you see for yourself: 

Updated June 2019

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Saves Time

I aim to make as few trips to the grocery store as possible. Once a week max! Having a list that keeps me on track not only reduces the time I spend in the store, but the number of extra trips to go because of forgotten items. It’s all in the plan. 

Saves Money

Because I'm making less trips a month to the store, I'm spending less! How? Well besides gas money, if I go to the store to pick up one thing, my eye might catch something else that I end up buying. My quick stop ends up costing much more than intended, and that adds up over time. In the same way, if I forget something, I'm more likely to have to pay a visit to a convenience store where prices are much higher. This is also why I bring a shopping list with me, and why I leave my husband at home :) 

It Helps Me Be Decisive

This has to do with time, but I decided to make it an extra heading. I am extremely indecisive. You would not believe how long I could stand in the kitchen staring at nothing to decide what I should make for dinner. I am the most indecisive person I know! If I didn't meal plan, by the time I would decide on what I want to make, I would already be starving, too lazy to cook, and prone to have trail mix for dinner - or nothing at all. Which would be the best case!

Related: How I Meal Plan

I Feel More Prepared & At Ease

As much as I love cooking, I do not feel like doing it every day of the week. I am a busy teacher and the last thing I want to do after a long day at school is to be in the kitchen the whole evening. I like to prepare freezer meals that can be put into the crock pot or in the oven on days I know I will be busy or unmotivated (or not even home for dinner!). I include these in my meals plans! They are also great in a pinch when life throws the occasional curve ball. Because it’s life. Of course curve balls will be thrown!

I Can Make Better Food Choices

I will admit that I'm not always the most motivated person. If I didn't meal plan, it would be easier to just grab high caloric foods to satisfy my hunger, as opposed to choosing foods that also satisfy my nutritional needs. Meal planning allows me to be intentional about what I feed myself and others, making sure what I eat will benefit my body and life!

Grab my free meal planning guide if you want help starting out with a food plan. In it, I include my basic shopping staples list (which is pretty and functional) and even a sample meal plan.

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So there you have it: a few reasons I choose to meal plan.
What about you? Do you meal plan? Would you like to start?

In this post here, I talk a bit more about meal planning and my process. 

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