It’s the time of year for spring cleaning, and I have become more ruthless with what I keep around our house! Maybe it’s multiple moves over the past few years, but I just don’t want my cabinets full of junk. So I wanted to share 5 ways I keep my house organized and declutter.
Don’t repurchase something before you run out
This first one has made SUCH a huge difference for me. I used to just pick up cleaning products because they were “cute,” and I now own about 6 Mrs Meyer’s cleaning sprays. I do love the scents but it’s a bit excessive! For the past 6 months or so I’ve made a rule that I won’t buy cleaning supplies, makeup, or toiletries until they run out. (Obvious exceptions include things like toilet paper…you do NOT want to run out of that.) This trick keeps my cabinets clean and ensures I am using everything I already have. Less money and product wasted!
Keep a running grocery list
We keep a notepad in our kitchen with items we need to get the next time we are at a store. This helps us ensure we have what we need but we aren’t drowning in 15 cans of black beans, but we have what we need on hand.
Throw out expired food
We try SO hard to not waste food, but every once and a while something gets lost in our cabinets. Every few months I do a pass of the fridge and pantry to throw away food that has gone bad. I’m pretty liberal with expiration dates – they’re not an exact science – but there are definitely things that go bad haha.
Stock items with multiple uses
Enter baking soda and vinegar! I LOVE baking soda for cleaning so many things. We clean our glass stovetop, our sinks, the tubs, and you can use it to cook. Plus it’s also so affordable! Vinegar is another cleaning superpower. I try to run a cleaning load in our washer and dishwasher once a month using a cup of vinegar.
Another favorite of ours is Castile soap – look how many uses it has!
Eat a “pantry meal” once a week
This trick is helpful for your budget AND your pantry! Once a week eat something that you don’t have to shop for. Maybe it’s pancakes, pasta with a homemade sauce, or something from Trader Joe’s you’ve had in the freezer for a while. It will clear up space and save you from a grocery trip.
I hope these tips are helpful to you – I use them all the time! I hope even just one tip can help make decluttering part of your routine, or even cut down on the need to declutter constantly. By using what you have you naturally declutter – crazy, right?!
