The start of a new season is prime time to take a look at your home and give it a fresh reset. If you’d like to get on the spring cleaning train — or you’re needing some inspiration — read on. Thanks to years upon years of testing products and organizational gear in our own homes, Yahoo editors are pros when it comes to knowing what really gets the job done. That’s why I decided to interview a couple of our in-house shopping pros to find out how they keep their spaces shipshape — and which stuff helps them do it. First up, our Director of Commerce Initiatives Jeanine Edwards .
Hi Jeanine! What does your typical cleaning and organizing routine look like?
I am a neat freak, so I really never let my apartment get too messy, dirty or disorganized. At the start of spring, I always wash my curtains, wash my duvet and swap it for a lighter blanket on my bed and have my area rugs cleaned. Then there's the matter of my closet! I do a reverse declutter — take everything out! I try on each piece, inspect it for holes, rips and other signs of wear and make sure I still like it before putting it back in the closet or in storage bags. Anything that doesn't meet muster goes in the donate or trash pile. It takes a whole weekend, but it's the only way I can keep my small-ish closet under control.
What is your favorite room or section of your home to organize, and what is your least favorite?
I absolutely, positively HATE the bathroom. Mine is small, which makes it especially awful, but even fancy ones just aren't my thing. I purposely try to keep as few things in there as possible, so I don't really ever have to organize it. I clean it once a week and try to get through it as quickly as possible.
I like tidying up basically all the other rooms in my apartment. The kitchen is critical to me because I live in mortal fear of critters in my apartment. So I clean it religiously every night after I cook dinner. My bedroom is also important because I can't sleep if there is mess or chaos. My closet is a top priority for me because I love my clothes, shoes and bags and need to know they're stored properly so nothing gets ruined. I need to know where everything is at all times, so I am meticulous about putting things back in exactly the same spot and maintaining order. Yes, I am a nightmare to live with.
What are your biggest tips on getting and staying organized for those who may not know where to start?
I am not a do-it-all-in-a-day kind of person. The thought of tackling my entire apartment in one go is completely overwhelming. So my best tip is to tidy a little each night. I never leave dishes in the sink overnight, I vacuum every Sunday and Wednesday before bed and I always put away the clothes on "the chair" in my bedroom before I tuck in. This means nothing ever accumulates, so I never feel like I'm staring down a big job.
My other tip will garner some eye rolls, but it's what works for me — you need stuff t o be organized! Sweater bags , clear, stackable shoe boxes , baskets , trinket trays. I know it seems counterintuitive to buy stuff to organize your stuff, but it really does help.
What are your favorite organizing products that you swear by?
I love jewelry, so I splurged on a fancy jewelry box, and I have no regrets. I never have to worry about untangling chains or finding matching earrings, and I like that my special investment pieces are stored safely and securely.
I own an obscene number of sweaters, so folding and stacking them on a shelf in my closet just doesn't work. I have them all organized in sweater storage bags by style and fabric (cashmere crewnecks in one, cotton cardigans in another), and it not only makes my closet look more organized, but also makes finding the sweater I'm looking for much easier.
Shoe storage has always been a struggle as an apartment dweller. I invested in a shoe cabinet a few years back, and I hate that I waited so long to buy one because it's been a game-changer. Everyone who comes to my apartment thinks it's just a nice console table , but little do they know it's stuffed with sneakers! I also have the clear, stackable bins at the bottom of my closet, and they're so much more efficient than keeping shoes in their boxes.
Let’s wrap up with a few rapid-fire questions.
One big cleaning day or a little each day?Clean a little every day!
The most underrated organization-related product is...Under-bed storage bags! Everyone thinks about the bins, but if your bed is low to the ground, those bins won't fit. I swear by these $6 bags from Target . I use them to stash seasonal clothing and Christmas decorations under my bed.
Music, podcast or TV while cleaning?Music. I either listen to the radio (retro, I know!) or a playlist of my old-school jams from the early 2000s.
