Spring is around the corner, meaning many people are preparing for some heavy-duty cleaning. For some homes, this will only take a few hours and pieces of equipment, like vacuums and dusters.
For others, though, spring cleaning is a massive job. This is especially true if you have a large home, extra buildings like a garage or shed, or you haven’t had a full cleanout in years. If this is true, there are a few steps you’ll need to take to be prepared.
Set Proper Expectations
No one truly knows how much stuff they have until they dive into it. Don’t set yourself up for frustration by assuming you have little to go through. It’s better to expect more and be pleasantly surprised if you have less.
Take a Look Around
The next thing you should do is take an honest assessment. Walk through each room or building with a notepad and a pen or pencil. Get a good look at the types of things you have in each room and write down the categories. Sometimes, taking a few pictures of a room can help, usually because you notice more in a photo than you do in real life – especially when you’re talking about a mess.
Make a Plan
Once you have a decent idea of what you have to work on, it’s time to make a plan. Take a look at the categories on your list. Are there any that are an automatic no-go or that you are absolutely fine with getting rid of completely? Do you have any ideas for how to pare down your items? If so, make a note of it now.
Make a plan for how you’ll dispose of any items you don’t want. Is there a nearby charity that will do a pick up? Do you have a friend, family member, or church group that could use some of your stuff? Are you willing to drive to the dump several times or should you rent dumpsters for junk removal Cincinnati-located? Whatever you choose to do with it, make plans and reservations early so that everything is ready when you are.
Call In Reinforcements
If there’s ever a time to call on friends for help, a big cleanout is it. Ask if they’d be willing to help in exchange for you helping them with a project. Or offer to order enough pizza to keep everyone fed and energized. You can also consider hiring a junk removal service to help, as well.
While a cleanout isn’t as simple as this list might make it sound, these tips can help you get a strong start. They’ll also help you be both mentally and physically prepared for your big cleaning day – or week.
