Spring just rolled around the corner and the signs of a new season are everywhere. Typically, this is the time of year that many people take on a spring cleaning project. With warmer temperatures, longer days, and more daylight, we tend to feel more inspired to clean our indoor spaces. Here are some tips for your office spring decluttering.
Break It Down
We know how easy it is to feel overwhelmed by clutter that has accumulated over time. That’s why it’s important to break down your items into manageable piles. Make a list for each room of all the items that need sorting. Separate your items into categories,
Be sure to include a “Not sure yet” pile. Items that don’t have obvious destinations can be big time drains while you try to figure out where they belong. They can break your momentum, so it’s important to have a “Not sure yet” pile and toss anything that is questionable into this pile, so you can continue sorting. You will deal with this pile last.
An example list might look like:
- Move to storage room
- Return to office
- Donate to thrift store
- Bring to recycle centre
- Bring to dump
- Not sure yet
Delegate
Decide who will perform all of these tasks and take note of what’s been assigned to whom. Perhaps one of your staff members is able to drop off reusable items to a local thrift store. (Be sure to clean any items that are being given away before donating them). You may want to assign one person to each pile, which will speed up the process significantly.
Set A Schedule
Dealing with items should happen before any cleaning tasks. For this reason, it makes the most sense to set a schedule for the first list so that the tasks are completed before your cleaning company arrives to deep clean your space.
Set aside a pre-determined chunk of time, specifically dedicated to decluttering your office. Allow yourself a few hours to a few days, after which your professional cleaning company can arrive.
Save For Later
If items that end up in your “Not sure yet” pile remain in that pile by the end of your allotted cleaning time, designate a corner or a room for these items and place a tag with today’s date on them. Set a day in your schedule to revisit these items in six months and again in a year. If they have not found homes before then, chances are they are not needed and can be given away.
More than likely, you will want to hire a professional cleaning company for some of the larger cleaning tasks, such as air duct cleaning, carpet deep cleaning, and window washing.
