5 Things to Remember for your Spring Cleaning

Spring has sprung!

I don’t know about you, but this is the time of year I start planning my Spring Cleaning. It’s the one time a year clean where I go through all my clothing, toys, books, cupboards and either give items away or take them to a charity organisation. It’s the time of year I clean out my freezer, organise my pantry, clean my skirting boards, wipe down the walls – all in the hope that when summer arrives, my house will gleam like a toilet bowl scrubbed with Napisan…

Organising is easier said than done though, it can all feel like a mammoth job. My following tips will help ‘break it down’ into achievable goals so that you too can have an organised kitchen. Remember – an organised house is a FRUGAL house – take stock of what you have and make it work for you!

1. Emptying the Bin

Place spare garbage bags in the bottom of the bin – it makes it easy for the kids to find (they can’t use excuse ‘I couldn’t find them’..) and they are right on hand when you need them.

2. Cheap storage

Invest in some clear plastic containers (like the takeaway containers) you don’t need to spend much to get a heap of these. They are great for storing items like birthday candles, matches, coins, rubber bands, pretty much everything you keep in your ‘junk drawer (everyone has one!) and you can see at a glance what is inside! I particularly like these for organising makeup (pencils, sharpeners, blushers, etc.).

3. Hook Up and Hang

Pick up some hooks from the supermarket or hardware store and attach them to the inside of cupboard doors. This is great for little items that frequently get lost such as measuring spoons or ladles. Some hooks have an ‘adhesive’ backing – so you won’t do any damage to the door.

4. Shopping Made Easy

Use a shopping list (we have a FREE printable checklist) and keep it on the fridge for ease of use. Just tick off the items you need when you run out! Or download our iPhone app which has an inbuilt shopping list creator!

5. Knives Out!

Use a magnetic knife rack. You can pick them up at most kitchen shops for under $10 (I bought on at Ikea for $7) – it keeps the knives out of drawers where they can blunt easily or little hands can get a hold of them.

Cleaning and organising your kitchen can make it such an enjoyable place to be! What are your tips for spring cleaning your kitchen?

Clare Whitfield Chief Editor

Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.

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Response to “5 Things to Remember for your Spring Cleaning”

Jess

November 9, 2012

I already do the bin bag trick and it works a treat, if you have a roll at the bottom of the rubbish then when you empty it – voila the next one(s) are already on hand 🙂

Also do the inner cupboard hook trick too – we got a few hanging metal hooks from Ikea and have them on the inside of our laundry cupboard for my intimates/lingerie bag…also on the inside of the cupboard under the sink for a tea towel and the oven mitt. Also have one on the inside of my pantry that holds a calendar – very handy!