PhotoGraphy by Jill Graham

It’s time to purge your house of clutter, but where to start? Our experts weigh in on the best ways to tackle spring cleaning.

The holidays are long gone, but the decorative knick-knacks and kitschy sweaters are still taking up space on your shelves. It’s OK to admit it; it’s spring-cleaning time. 

During the 21st century, the size of the American family has shrunk while the size of the American home has almost doubled, according to federal census and housing statistics. All this extra space means extra room for goodies and storage. But if we only use 20 percent of our things 80 percent of the time, is it worth all those dusty boxes in the garage?
 
Even with all signs pointing to the need to organize, spring cleaning is one of the most dreaded times of the year. But perhaps it doesn’t have to be so painstaking.

We’ve boiled down the average home to four essential areas and found a professional for each to lend a hand, a few tips and perhaps a needed push into the spring-cleaning mindset. So grab a trash bin (and maybe some rubber gloves) – there’s work to be done.

Empty the Cupboards
The kitchen may be the easiest place to start, mostly because expiration dates can serve as training wheels in the purging process.

The first thing to do is get everything out, so use your table or counter as a staging area. Toss old medications, boxed foods and appliances you don’t use on a regular basis – those can always be rented or borrowed, says Jill Graham of Operation: Organize! in Chandler.

Before putting it back, consider the popular custom-made, adjustable shelving that can maximize space. And now that stainless steel is the trend for kitchen appliances, your organizing will help the kitchen match, since most pot racks, utensil holders and magnetic spice racks come in stainless steel finishes, too.

To help keep track of common cooking items like vanilla, baking soda, spice packets and toothpicks, Graham recommends wire baskets from Ikea that are versatile (they can also be used for stockpiling paper in the office or scarves in the closet) and inexpensive.