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CITY NEWS

A Guide to Spring Cleaning

Special to The Emeryville Connection
March 2008

The rainy days of winter are almost behind us and for many of us the excess we have accumulated during winter (or over the years) has reached the breaking point. It’s time for Spring Cleaning! If the thought of trying to tackle home organization is just too daunting, don’t be discouraged. Follow these simple steps; it will make de-cluttering a breeze.

1. Sort your things.

Categorize them in a way that makes sense to your lifestyle. Think about grouping them together by the item’s owner, use, frequency of use, function or physical characteristics. Keep things simple by creating as few categories as possible.

2. Reduce the amount.

Get rid of anything that you don’t benefit from on a regular basis. (If it has been in your closet for a year or more and never been used or worn, get rid of it!) If the items are usable, sell them or donate them to a charity. Going through this process will maximize your space and allow you to focus on the things you really love and need.

3. Assign a home.

Assign a specific place for each of your categories. Focus first on the things you use most often like sports gear, gardening equipment and bulk storage like bottled water or cleaning equipment. Place seasonal storage like summer or winter clothes, Christmas decorations, and outdoor toys second. Last but not least give your memorabilia a home (things like photo albums, old school books, old children’s toys and clothes).

4. Count and measure.

Count and measure your items to determine exactly the amount and type of space you’ll need for your belongings. If you are creating a new space in your home to store your organized items measure the height, depth and width of the space. Bring all those measurements with you when you go shopping. Time spent planning will save you time in the long run and make shopping easier!

5. Choose the storage.

Choose storage systems that best suit your personal needs, space and style. Choose units that are flexible over time. Adjustable shelves, the option for doors and/or drawers, and the ability to ad on later are key features to look for in a storage system that can change as your needs change. Choose boxes according to the job you want them to do. Plastic is perfect for most things, galvanized metal and wood are ideal for heavy items and cardboard is just the right thing for clothes and other light weight memorabilia.

Organizing your home doesn’t have to be hard. It will take some time but it will be time well spent. Think of how relaxing your home will feel without your clutter closing in on you. If your trouble areas are the laundry, hallway, attic, garage, closet, DVD/CD storage or kid’s toy storage IKEA has a solution that will fit just about any style and budget. Stop by the store or visit www.ikea.com and get inspired! Happy Spring Cleaning!