Deep Cleaning

So my husband and I have been doing some super deep house cleaning preparing for new carpet, hardwoods in the kitchen and dining room and last but not least painting. Well, the painting will be done first but you know what I mean.

It is so surprising how much clutter and junk can accumulate in homes over the years, especially in the kids rooms. My boys had a tremendous amount of clothes in their closets, until we cleaned them out that is. It is great to have such clean closets in the boys’ rooms but depressing all at the same time. I just figured out that both of them have outgrown EVERYTHING from their PJ’s and underwear to their jeans and long sleeves. It will be a fun and very expensive shopping trip but they have to have clothes….right?!

Another place that seems to collect a bunch of junk is kitchen cabinets. I had enough cookware, bakeware, and storage containers for 3 households. I would often wonder “what happened to that dish”, and think that I just sent it home with one of my sisters or left it at some other family function. Boy was I wrong…it was all buried in the very back of my kitchen cabinets. I really can’t figure out how all of it fit in there without falling out all over the kitchen floor but it did. We donated all of it that we didn’t need so it will help out some other family, which I am so glad to do, but geez why do I buy all those little gadgets with every intention to use them but never do? The “junk drawer” in the kitchen is another place that seems to eat things until it gets cleaned out too. I found receipts from last year in that drawer. I just know I’ve cleaned it out since last year and those receipts had to be hiding from me when I did.

Then there is the hall closet. WOW that was a job. I had more sheet sets, gift bags, candles, dust rags, vacuum bags, etc. in that poor closet. This one I have to put a little blame on my mother-in-law; (she can’t hear me right?); she hoards so much stuff because she always thinks someone may be able to use it someday. Well, that somebody and someday always seems to be my husband and I when she decides to clean her closets. I just didn’t have the heart to tell her no, but we finally had to tell her that we didn’t need anymore, although we did appreciate her concern for our household.

I guess the whole thing to keeping your house clutter free is not buying something just because it’s on sale or looks cool but because you will really use it.

Another great way to remain clutter free is to get new flooring because it basically makes you move out of your house, store your stuff somewhere until it gets done, then move back in the very same house. A lot of work but well worth it….or so I tell my husband anyway!