THINGS TO DO
By Elizabeth Morse Read
I can still remember my grandmother muttering, “Fibber McGee’s Closet!” whenever she glanced into my typical teenager bedroom years ago. That mid-century comedy had long since disappeared from the radio waves, but it still conjures up scenes of a cluttered, messy living space.
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o when you start your spring cleaning this year, keep that iconic image in mind, and strive to create a lean and clean environment. Pretend that you’re moving out and downsizing instead of just cleaning the top layers. You don’t have to go all Marie Kondo, but you do want to clean strategically – don’t just clean the surfaces; get down deep and clean out the clutter and disorganized mess that collects dust and grime in the first place! If you can afford it, hire professionals
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to steam clean your carpets, wash the windows inside and out, and spruce up the floors and furniture. Why not get friends and family involved? Throw a spring-cleaning “barnacle party” and assign everyone a particular room or chore throughout the house, then reward them with a big dinner. Be realistic – and relentless – when deciding to keep an item or get rid of it. When was the last time you used that fish-poaching pan, curling iron, ski boots or pair of hand weights? If you haven’t used it or worn it in the past year, why not give it away so someone else can enjoy it?
March 2020 | The South Coast Insider
And after you’ve purged your living space of unwanted dust-collecting items, you can treat yourself to some new towels, bed linens, or underwear – get out those gift cards from Christmas and birthdays!
A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING Head for the discount stores and stock up on shallow plastic tubs for under-thesink items, plastic milk crates for bottles and canned goods, and wire space-saving shelving and attachments for the laundry room and kitchen cabinets. Stock up on trash bags and cardboard boxes for
