Spring is here! Like many others, maybe you’ve decided to tackle some spring-cleaning or remodeling projects while spending a lot of time at home during the pandemic.

Tidying your home can offer a lot of surprising benefits including reducing stress, better sleep, and decreasing allergens. Symbolically, decluttering can mean you’re letting go of extra baggage and therapeutically discarding all that no longer serves you.

As Marie Kondo says in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, “The moment you start tidying, you will be compelled to reset your life. As a result, your life will start to change.”

To make cleaning easier, don’t try to conquer everything at once. Instead, work on organizing just one room at a time. Read on for some guidance and to see our checklist:

Basement/Attic

Has your basement or attic become the dumping ground of broken, outdated items from the 1990s that are eternally collecting dust? How about items that could help someone else in need? Begin by clearing out these hoarded belongings:

• [] CDs or DVDs you don’t use
• [] Outdated reading materials
• [] Unneeded paperwork
• [] Children’s toys, dolls & stuffed animals that are never played with
• [] Holiday decorations that are broken or never displayed
• [] Halloween costumes that are never worn
• [] Furniture that’s never used or damaged

Utilize storage bins or shelving units to reorganize everything you’ve decided to keep. Vacuum the floors, walls, ceilings, and vents.

Living Room

We’ve all been spending a lot of time in our living rooms lately! Make it a space that you enjoy being in. Start by seeing if any of the following things need to be replaced in your living room:

• [] Dirty, stained carpets
• [] Broken TV
• [] Ruined couch
• [] Old furniture

Discard old magazines and newspapers that you no longer look at.

Kitchen

Is your kitchen in need of some spring-cleaning? Start out by cleaning out your refrigerator and cabinets. Discard any of the following:

Refrigerator:

• [] Produce that’s no longer fresh
• [] Food that’s past its expiration date
• [] Condiments that have gone bad

Cabinets:

• [] Soups and canned goods that have expired
• [] Pasta or any other boxed goods that have expired

See a guide to determine the shelf life of the food in your fridge and cabinets here.

Mop the floors, clean the windows, and vacuum – you can even put some flowers in a vase on the kitchen table to add a pop of color and brighten up the room.

Consider replacing old, outdated appliances that no longer work.

Bedroom

Begin by sorting through your closets and drawers to see which items you’d like to donate:

• [] Clothes that don’t fit
• [] Jewelry, watches & other accessories you never wear
• [] Hats, gloves, or scarves you don’t need
• [] Bags, purses, or luggage that’s never used

Allow yourself to let go of gifts that you no longer need or want without feeling badly about discarding them.

When was the last time you replaced your mattress? For the best night’s sleep, your mattress should be replaced about every seven to ten years. Have your old mattress hauled away if it’s lumpy, misshapen, and saggy.

Backyard

Want to prep your yard for spring? If they’re in good condition and someone else could use them, donate:

• [] Play sets that are never used
• [] Toys that are never played with
• [] Lawn & garden tools that you don’t need

You can opt to have your old shed, pool, or hot tub removed as well as any construction debris.

If your spring-cleaning is underway and you need some assistance removing old appliances, furniture, carpets, mattresses, TVs, and more, UnderCut Junk Removal can assist. Find out about our cleanup services at undercutjunkremoval.com, or call us for a free estimate at 516-317-6203.