Spring Cleaning with Meryl Starr

Spring is here, finally. The days are longer and warmer and we are all looking forward to spending more time outside. Spring is a special time for me as its time for Spring Cleaning. For a Personal Organizer, Spring Cleaning is like Christmas, New Years and July 4th all wrapped up into one.

As I mention in the "To Do List" chapter of my book, The Personal Organizing Workbook, Spring is the perfect excuse to make a clean start. The following is a list of 10 easy ways to prepare of the season.

1) Scrub-a-dub-dub. It isn't called "spring cleaning" for nothing. Dust bunnies, cobwebs grime and dirt all have to go.

2) Glasswork. Wash your windows. Nothing brings in light like washing away that winter film.

3) Plant a Garden Now. Then, enjoy flowers, fresh herbs, and home-grown tomatoes this summer.

4) Research summer camps for the kids.

5) Make sure the air conditioner is up and running. Change the filter lately?

6) Cleaning Agents. Spring is the perfect time to get your carpets, rugs and upholstery cleaned by professionals.

7) Curtain Call. Replace the shower-curtain liner in your bathroom. Mold and mildew can build up and exacerbate allergies and asthma.

8) Keep a picnic basket and a blanket handy, so you can make the most of a sunny afternoon at a moment's notice.

9) Finish up those indoor projects you started and did not complete during the winter. Projects like painting your bedroom or organizing a box of photographs. Soon your attention will be outdoors and you will not revisit the indoor projects till October.

10) Waste Not. Don't forget to clean out your closets, drawers and cabinets. Mark two bins "keep" and "get rid of". Be cold, be heartless, be unforgiving. And don't forget to get a receipt when you donate your stuff to local charities.

I hope this list helps you to get the Spring Season off to an Organized start. In the meantime please look for me in April's issue of "Health Magazine" (page 118) on the newsstands now. In this article I tackle the subject of organizing your home office, most people's number one clutter zone.

Enjoy the warm weather,

All the best,

Meryl Starr
Personal Organizer
www.merylstarr.com