I Caught the Spring Cleaning Bug + 1 Confession
Come March and my winter-sun-soaking heart starts to slowly and dreadfully make its way towards summer. Except for the bounty of mangoes that this season brings, there isn’t a thing that would put this awfully hot, sweaty season in my looking-forward-to list. Tathagata argues – he wouldn’t trade summer for anything.
As we started stowing away the woolens for the season, I caught the spring cleaning bug. There’s probably something about spring and de-cluttering. I have always seen my mother cleaning, shifting and organizing her way through the house during spring. Perhaps she passed that onto me this year.
Organizing my closet has constantly been on my mind since a couple of days after our wedding. But I was always pushing that thought to the back of my mind. I had even bought a stash of hangars to get that motivation going. But something or the other was always an easy excuse.
This March, I put my foot down once and for all. My closet was getting a make-over after all.
It took me a whole hour to realize that Tathagata needs more shirts and I need less sarees. Oh and I also discovered the awesome pull-out hangar holders which had been hiding behind the daunting pile of clothes.
An hour of organizing had the closet looking like it should – neat. And I hope to keep it this way. I felt like a burden had lifted off my shoulders. This got me all pumped up to work my way through the wall-mounted wardrobe in my room.
I sorted out the mess one shelf after the other. I allotted a place for everything in the wardrobe – office-wear, casual wear, socks, handkerchief, scarves, shrugs etc. Now that I have these organized, I can see where everything is and keep better track of our clothing options for different occasions. This has been a huge help in cutting down our spending for things we don’t need. This has also cleared up space in my wardrobe and has opened up breathing pockets here and there. I like it that way instead of over-stuffing it like a Thanksgiving turkey.
I reserved the next weekend for the storage under the bed. Our queen-size box bed has a pull-up storage option. This area can be accessed from the two sides of the bed and also from above by pulling up the wooden lid-like planks. This entire area had been stacked with our wedding gifts. Cups and saucers, table lamps, wall clocks, bags, sets of glasses, frying pans, pressure cooker, casseroles of different sizes etc. Those had been awaiting a good sorting for long.
Tathagata pulled up the mattress, dusted the wooden planks and yanked them up. Next he helped me take out the gifts and assemble them in order of usage. We kept the ones we would need near the side doors and the ones that we might need someday towards the centre. I now wish I had kept the hand-written notes of blessing that came along with them. All of them had taken out time from their daily lives to pick out a nice present to help us start our married life. It’s amazing how every single thought counts.
Anyway, about an hour or so of sweat glands on full blast later, we had the storage space looking squeaky clean.
I think cleaning and organizing your living space has a detoxifying effect on your mind. I was instantly feeling a lot less tangled after the spring cleaning. I’ve discovered that organizing my thoughts starts from organizing my closet. It has also helped get rid of the excess and has made my purchases more purposeful. I’ve found out that I need a lot less than I thought. It helped me feel way lighter and more in control of my closet than the other way round.
I’m also thinking of creating a capsule wardrobe in the near future to pull myself out of the cycle of impulse purchase (which I have been taking steps to control). I’ll be trying that out in the near future and let you know the results. Till then, I have quite a clothing collection to wear out.
Before you go, I have a confession to make. I have a really bad habit of hoarding. I’m always clinging on to old clothes and stuff, finding myself swearing to use them but ending up stashing them at the back of the closet. It not only takes up space in the closet, but also in my mind even when it is not in sight. Skeletons in the closet, anyone? I know I have to deal with that one day. But today’s not that day. Today I’m just stoked to see my storage spaces cleansed and organized. Today, that makes me really happy. It’s as they always say, keep a little room in your heart (and your closet) for the *unimaginable*.
Who else caught the spring cleaning bug?
10 Comments
Jay
I always plan to have a good spring clean and get rid of things I don’t need but then the job seems too big and I keep putting it off. Maybe this will give me inspiration to do it this time.
Ronita
I know that feeling Jay. But once you get to it, a clean and organized closet is going to feel a lot more energizing than you thought.
Nitin Singhal
I don’t think I would ever catch a spring cleaning bug. My closet may be disorganized to others, but it is organized for me. That more important. Don’t you think?
Ronita
Sure thing. It all comes down to whatever suits you. Thanks for dropping by Nitin.
Linda (LD Holland)
This post has motivated me to tackle some spring cleaning. We unfortunately have enough room that we don’t need to swap our clothes as the season changes. So we don’t always take a hard look at what we are accumulating. I understand how spring cleaning has a detoxifying effect. I have a low tolerance for clutter. And I am sure a deep purging of things would help. Just need to get hubby on board!
Ronita
I feel you Linda on the hubby part(haha)! All the best with your spring cleaning and I hope it turns out great.
CARMEN | Wellington World Travels
Actually, it is because we are moving that I am forced to clean my closet. lol. Never thought how much stuff I have that I am not using at all! Even I cling to old clothes and stuff, thinking I might wear them in this occasion or that event or whatever excuse. Years later, they are still there unused, some of them still have tags. I ended up donating more than half of my clothes. Even i like decluttering and organizing. As you’ve mentioned – it has a detoxifying effect on our mind. I feel the same way
Ronita
I’ve read on someone’s blog that for every piece of clothing she buys she donates one. Your comment reminded me of that. Donating clothes to someone in need is noble and I believe in true acts of service. I’m going to put this thought into action soon.
Renata - www.byemyself.com
Very nice post – and very fashionable: Cleaning and sorting is the new black – and I think it’s a good fashion. Especially since it might lead to minimizing and that’s what our world needs. So your post is almost kondo-esqu 😉
By the way – love your Bali-pic!
Ronita
Thank you Renata! Love that Kondo reference. I’m trying to be as minimalist as possible – takes the load off. The Bali pic is one of the attractions in this room.