The Seasonal Switch-up ~ Make way for Spring

By Hellen Buttigieg
At first, you’re afraid to put away winter gear because it is hard to believe that unrelenting, snow-filled season is coming to an end.  But as spring slowly slides into place, you’re finding spring jackets and raincoats being layered on hangers atop winter jackets.  The hall closet is bursting at the seams trying to contain the collection of everything from mitts and snow boots to umbrellas and Wellies.
It’s time for the seasonal switch-up.  Make some space for your spring and summer, and don’t give Jack Frost another thought.
Make room for spring.  It’s that wonderful time of year again when we can put away the winter gear and lighten the load.  Although there’s never enough storage, there are creative ways to better utilize existing spaces when storing out-of-season items.
Here are some ideas to consider: add another shelf above the existing one in all the closets, and purchase under-the-bed organizers.  If your bed is not high enough, you can get a bed riser to lift it.  Consider creating a document on your computer that serves as an index to outline where you’ve stored what.  When winter arrives, you won’t have to rely on your memory to find what you need.
How long have you been putting off that rummage sale?  Have you been saving items for years with the intention of selling them, but never seem to get around to it?  Pull out your calendar today and book a definite date to have your sale this spring.  Blocking the time now increases the likelihood of following through with it later.
Another option is to forgo the big sell-off entirely and donate these items instead.  It takes several days to orchestrate a successful sale, so determine whether the money you’ll make is worth the time and energy it will take.  After all, you can always get more money but you can never replace lost time.
Jump-start your spring cleaning with baby steps.  If you don’t know where to begin when it comes to spring-cleaning your home, start small. Pick just one room.  Moving clockwise, remove anything that doesn’t belong in that room and place it in a “move elsewhere” box to deliver to the room it should live in.  Pull out anything that doesn’t give you joy or value and place it in a give away” box.  Toss or recycle any papers and garbage that are left over.  Designate this room as a “no-clutter zone” so you will always have a sanctuary to escape to, regardless of what your other rooms look like.
Have you stored your winter coats yet?  If you’ve been putting off the task of storing your winter coats because you don’t have an extra closet, there’s a solution.  A sturdy, rolling garment rack makes an ideal spot to store winder coats during the summer.
Be sure to dry-clean all items before storing, even if they look clean.  Body oils and not-yet-visible food stains attract moths – especially on wool coats.  Cover the clothes with a clean, cotton bed sheet or use a zippered canvas wardrobe cover specifically designed for this purpose to keep your clothes dust-free.  If you don’t have room for a garment rack, store seasonal items in large garment bags, suitcases or under-bed storage bins.
Source: New Home Guide