Spring Cleaning: THE Closet

Cleaning out the closet is always the hardest feat for me to tackle, you see, I am a collector of clothes.  I enjoy hoarding clothes. If you know me, you will often hear me say that, "clothes are my thing."  Indeed they are, but sometimes you just need to part ways with those "oldies but goodies". Spring time brings about a new time in your life-a time to shed your old skin and what better way to do that than by cleaning out your closet?

1 >> Does it fit?  No? Toss it.
2 >> Have I worn this in the last twelve months?  No?  You're not going to.  Buhbye
3 >> Is it likely that I'll wear this again?  Eeee probably not, don't really know what I was thinking to begin with. 
4 >> Is it damaged?  But here's the true question: will you actually repair it?  Sewing is not my forte.
5 >> It is in style?  Carry over season attire?  My best/worst question because if you love clothes you'll find a way to rationalize it. But DON'T!
6 >> If I was shopping right now, would I buy this?  Uhhh more like what was I thinking when I bought this.
7 >> Do I feel confident when I wear this?  You want to build an arsenal of apparel that represents you as an individual; you don't have time to keep deal with clothes that do not make you feel like the strong, free spirit that you are.  It is time to break up with that stiff conservative attire and step into what makes you feel like you.

And don't feel bad when you look down at your bedroom floor and there is a pile of clothes taller than you.  What you do with all of this is solely up to you, but I would suggest taking it to an area donation center.  Don't use this time as mourning; use this time to pass your treasures on to someone who needs them and will be extremely grateful for them.  It’s a win/win situation because now you have room in your closet to actually see what you have + you just clothed a stranger giving them the confidence and strength you once felt in your old threads.

These random simple acts of kindness are what make the world go around.

Scale down and pass it along.

-J

Spring Cleaning: To Do List

Now that you have your simple, green cleaning products, let’s create a list!

Lists are what keep my life in order.  Lists remind me what I need for the upcoming day, as well as, allow me to see my personal goals for an extended period of time.  Plus, who doesn’t like to mark things off lists? It just feels good! Below is a list of items in our house that we tend to forget about such as fire detectors, air conditioners, etc. This will help get your Spring Cleaning week started. Add it to your daily cleaning list and voila- you have the ultimate cleaning list! Have fun crossing it off!

**If you want to remove mildew from floors by spraying a mixture 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach, 1/3 cup powered laundry detergent and 1 gallon of water.  You will wash from the base up the wall.  Please be sure to wear gloves when using cleaning products.

** Pick a Saturday to shampoo the carpets.  Use that day as a family day, and take the family on a hike.  Go outside and enjoy the day together.


Refer to our recent post, Spring Cleaning: Simple and Green Recipes, for everything you need to knock out this to-do list the green way!

Happy Cleaning!

-J

                                                               

Spring Cleaning: Simple + Green Recipes

Spring time equals Spring cleaning in my house.  Every year, we go through the entire house and spruce it up a little bit, from top to bottom.  It is the time to wash away all the negative from those dark cold months of Winter, but it also gives you a chance to really reflect on what you want to do in this time of re-birth. Spring delivers a time where the simplest changes can leave you feeling anew and refreshed.  Over the course of the week I am going to introduce some new techniques to turn your Spring cleaning venture into a simple, green, family centered experience.  Because let's be honest, you aren't going to tackle everything on your own.  Make it a family affair.  Before you decide to divide and conquer, take some time to acknowledge the types of products you are going to be using during your Spring cleaning.  Listed below are recipes to create your own household cleaning items; these items are safe, easy on your pocket, and a fun science experiment that you and your family can make together!

These recipes can help you tackle anything in the house in a safe, frugal, and green manner.  Know what products are being sprayed in your house.  Taking a green approach to cleaning products will help alleviate any concerns you have with spraying toxic items in and around your house.  Vinegar is used in all of these products, (my least favorite smelling component) but if you are like me and loathe the smell of vinegar I have a little trick that will help with the smell.  With the help of numerous essential oils: rosemary, tea tree, eucalyptus, lemon, orange, you can bring the smells of your newly planted garden into your home.  All of these oils are safe to mix with these recipes. A few drops will do the trick. Find any essential oil you need at Mountain Rose Herbs. 

[ We got these recipes from He and She Eat Clean blog. They also have a great shopping list to help get you started! ]

Happy Spring! 

-J