7 Steps to Get Organized for Spring!

Spring is one of my favourite seasons.  Summer is my absolute favourite, but spring is a close second.  I love the sense of new beginnings and new life after what always feels like a very long, cold winter (at least around here!).  There’s nothing like the feeling of the first really warm spring day!

Today I’m going to share a few ways that you can start getting organized for spring now, so that you can really enjoy the season.  

1.  Organize Your Spring Cleaning

There’s something about spring that makes us feel like giving our homes a freshening up.  After hibernating all winter, it’s great to throw open the windows and let in some fresh spring air. Even if it doesn’t feel like spring yet, get a head start on your spring cleaning now so you can enjoy the weather when it warms up.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a big deal.  In fact, many people follow a pretty good cleaning routine all year, so they don’t have a huge list of cleaning tasks in the spring.  For the rest of us, we can look at spring cleaning as an opportunity to tackle some cleaning tasks that we don’t regularly do.  Those will be different for everyone but may include things like cleaning your major appliances, vents, baseboards, windows, etc.

You don’t have to be overwhelmed with spring cleaning.  Just do a bit at a time.  It will all add up.  You can use a flexible cleaning routine like this one to make it less overwhelming.

To help you track and plan out your spring cleaning, you can download some free spring cleaning printables, like these:

• Freebie-Finding Mom – All Inclusive Spring Cleaning Checklist by Room
• Ask Anna – Spring Cleaning Checklist
• Organize and Decorate Everything – Spring Cleaning Tips and Schedule
• Scattered Squirrel – Spring Cleaning Planner Printables

2.  Change your winter wardrobe to Spring/Summer

Once the warmer weather starts to stick around, you’ll want to put away the winter coats, snow pants, hats, mitts, scarves, and boots, and pull out the spring jackets, rain coats, rain boots, running shoes, baseball caps, sunscreen, sandals, and flip flops.  I love doing this!!  It’s one of those tasks that fills me with anticipation for all the things we’re able to do in the warmer weather.

In addition to your outerwear, you’ll want to change out those warm sweaters, fuzzy socks, and fleece pajamas in favour of t-shirts, shorts, and summer dresses.  Another favourite task of mine.

Take the opportunity as you’re switching seasons to declutter.

• Purge anything that wasn’t worn this winter.  If you didn’t wear it this winter, you’re probably not going to wear it next year either.  Why store it? 
• Give away any clothes that your kids have outgrown or that you know won’t fit them by next fall/winter.  
• If you had too many of any particular articles of clothing this year, declutter some of them so you’ll have a more manageable wardrobe next year.

At the same time, look at everything that you’re pulling out for spring and summer.

• If it doesn’t fit now, give it away.
• If it’s not in style anymore, let it go.
• If you don’t feel fantastic wearing it, you won’t.  Donate it instead of having it take up space in your closet for the next 6 months.  

You can join the 365 Items in 365 Days challenge for more decluttering tips, motivation, and encouragement!

3.  Get Your Outdoor Spaces Ready for Spring

Spring is the time to get your patio set up so you can enjoy the warmer days and eventually evenings.  Get your BBQ cleaned up and ready to use (make sure it’s safe and that there are no cracks or leaks).  Pull out the deck furniture and clean it off.

Hook up your hoses and turn on the outdoor water faucets if you turned them off for the winter.  Clean out your eaves troughs if they’re still filled with fall leaves, so they can handle the upcoming spring showers.

Get bikes ready to use (dusted off, tires filled, chains oiled, brakes tested, etc.) and get out spring and summer sports equipment.  Wash off the outdoor toys and open up the sandbox.

If you’ve got a garden, rake out the dead leaves and add some new topsoil.  It will be all ready to plant when the weather’s warm enough and will look beautiful if you’ve got spring perennials starting to pop up.

4.  Clean Out and Organize Your Garage, Shed, and/or Deckbox

Garages can become dumping grounds over the winter so take some time to get rid of all the clutter that’s built up.  If you parked your car in the garage during the winter, there’s probably salt or sand residue on the floor so hose that off and air it out.

Organize your outdoor storage spaces so they are ready for all the spring and summer activities instead of winter ones.  Put away the snow shovels, snow blower and sleds up high or out of the way (you can use garage organizers like these).  Get out the gardening tools, baseball bats, golf clubs, and lawn chairs and keep them easily accessible.

You can check out my tips for organizing a “real life” garage here.

5.  Clean Your Vehicles

This is another one of my favourite things to do as soon as the weather warms up.  I love washing off all the yucky salt build-up and give my car a shiny face lift for spring.

Don’t forget about the inside of your vehicles either!  With the cold weather you probably didn’t take a lot of time to clean out your trunk or empty out the garbage.  Do it now.  Get rid of anything that doesn’t belong in the vehicle.  Put away the ice scraper/snow brush. Wash off the floor mats and give the inside a good vacuum.  Wipe down the inside of the windows and shine up your dashboard.  Your car worked hard all winter and now’s your time to pay it back by spiffing it up a bit.

6.  Complete a Quick Safety Check

It’s always a good practice to change your smoke detector batteries when you move your clocks ahead for Daylight Savings Time. And while you’re at it, make sure you’ve changed your furnace filter recently too.  It’s probably worked over time all winter.

7.  Decorate for Spring!

Even if the weather’s not super warm yet, put away your winter decorations and put out some happy spring decor.  It will help you anticipate the warmer weather even more.

Take a few minutes to organize your seasonal decor while you’re at it.  And there are so many great spring decorating possibilities! If you’re crafty you can create something that will help usher in the season. There are several ideas scattered throughout this post.

Don’t all those pictures just make you feel like spring is already here?!  They’ve definitely put me in the spring mood.  Keeping my fingers crossed it happens around here soon.  Enjoy it if you’re already feeling the effects of the new season!

Since my favourite part of organizing for spring is decluttering, I thought you might want to check out some decluttering ideas too.  If so, head on over to my Decluttering / Purging Tips & Ideas board on Pinterest!

How do you organize for spring?  What is your favourite part about a new season?

If you need help decluttering or organizing, contact me for in-person services in the Mississauga area, or virtual services anywhere else.

Happy organizing!