This March, all across Los Angeles County, we’re finally seeing signs of sunshine after weeks of (much needed) rain. Flowers are blooming like crazy everywhere and the Painted Lady butterflies have started their northern migration. Spring is officially on the horizon. With that, however, comes our household mandatory spring cleaning.
For some, it’s exciting – to cleanse your living space from the stuffiness of winter and to reorganize, recycle and begin the new lively season on the right foot.
Others, however, find it extremely overwhelming! Where do you start? Which room? Can I recycle my husband?
All jokes aside – spring cleaning most certainly has its challenges. Here at Pico Cleaners, we’ve helped clean and refresh the wardrobes of Los Angeles for nearly 40 years. We’ve learned as many tips as we’ve taught when it comes to the process of renewal, and we gladly share them with all of our customers.
Here are our top 5 tips for making your spring cleaning a breeze:
Start Spring Cleaning with the Big Stuff
Getting to the point of cleaning can be challenging. The best motivator to stay in that “let’s get it done” mindset is to set yourself up for visual success. By clearing out big things like old furniture, fixtures, and empty Amazon boxes, you uncover a larger area of floor space at a quicker rate. When you visibly see your living space getting emptier, and subconsciously more organized, it encourages you to keep chugging along and eventually get down to the more detailed cleaning work.
Use the “One-Year” Rule
The one-year rule is the best practice when going through your wardrobe. The rule states that if you haven’t worn it in the last 12 months, it’s good to either sell or donate. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule, i.e., heirlooms, tuxedos/evening wear, etc., but 12 months helps the truth come through. It allows for quick decision making and optimizes prioritization. After going through your wardrobe with the one-year rule in place, you’ll be left with plenty of available hangers and a semi-blank space to fill with new and properly fitting styles.
Dry Clean Winter Jackets
Most people wear the same one or two jackets all winter long. Logically, it makes sense – winter is just a short period of the year, especially here in Los Angeles. With so much wear, keeping your jackets clean prior to storing can help increase their longevity. At Pico Cleaners, we clean all types of fabrics and materials, including leather, wool, and nylon. Additionally, for jackets that have wear-and-tear marks, we provide all types of alterations to restore your garment to like-new condition.
Find Your Donation Spots
One situation you want to avoid is failing to follow through with transporting unwanted or unneeded items to prospective drop-off points. They’ll just sit, either in the car, or worse, still in the house, and wait until your next major clean up period. Planning out your closest donation drop-off spots will help keep your eye on the spring cleaning prize. A simple search for Good Will, Habitat for Humanity, Buffalo Exchange, or similar locations near you that will take or buy clothing and other items will save you both time and future headaches.
Consolidate Fashionably
Let’s say you’ve cleaned, donated, and sold just about everything you can. You’re still having trouble finding space for everything or you just want to move more things out of the way. Consider using furniture and luggage as storage! Old, once-functional trunks can now become decorative pieces in your home to store items like blankets or children’s toys. Even current luggage can make for excellent storage and will usually sit nicely in a closet or under a bed.
