Manicure & Pedicure Safety: How Safe is Your Nail Salon?
June 27, 2014
Hey there Clean My Space readers! I’ve published a lot of Clean With Me videos on our YouTube channel, but today I wanted to share a Clean With Me article. If you don’t know what that is, it’s when I go through a cleaning routine in real-time so we can clean “together.”
Today, we’re tackling the dreaded closet clean out. This bedroom cleaning task is a daunting one, I’ve actually been putting it off for a while, but this morning I decided enough was enough. So we’re going to tackle my very messy closet together using my three wave system.
And if you’re not familiar with my three wave system, then you should definitely check out My Secret 3 Wave Cleaning System. I use it for every cleaning task, and it helps me get through every room of the house as quickly and efficiently as possible. But for now, let’s step into my closet; be careful not to trip!
To start, gather up a couple of bins. I use one for clothing that will be donated and the other for clothing to pass along to family and friends. Then, grab your vacuum cleaner, an all-purpose cleaner, a microfiber cloth, and a garbage bag.
Locate a large flat surface where you can lay everything out. I used my bed, but the floor works too. You want all your cleaning products and tools within reach, so you don’t have to waste time getting up and down or running into the other room. And I always like to solicit some help if I can get it.
The first phase is pretty straightforward as it only involves one step. Remove absolutely everything from your closet and place it on that flat surface. We stripped our closet bare, including all of the clothes that were sitting on the top shelf, the clothes that were hanging, and the clothes that were in the drawers.
We also moved all of the other stuff that was clogging up our closet, blankets, suitcases, shoes, shoe boxes, old purses, hampers, and even my wedding dress. I’m going to break out my trash bag here and throw any trash right in there. So goodbye, old receipts and tags I forgot to take off.
The closet was completely empty when we were done. I highly recommend doing the same. While it’s a lot of work, it’s ultimately the only way to truly clean your entire closet. Plus, it gives you an excuse to have a mini fashion show, so excuse me for a moment while I try on that cute skirt I forgot about.
Unlike the first wave, wave two moves fast. But it’s an important one, so don’t skip it. Since you have everything out of your closet, this is a great time to clean the actual closet. Because I don’t know about you, but my closet walls and floor are usually barely visible.
Spray all the horizontal surfaces with your all-purpose cleaner and wipe them with your microfiber cloth. Then, give the closet a good vacuuming. If the floor needs more than just a vacuum, read DIY Floor Cleaners (Hardwood, Laminate, and Vinyl)
For wave three, I suggest you call upon all the patience and mental energy you can summon because you’re going to need it. This wave takes quite a while and can become a little bit overwhelming so take your time.
You are going to touch each and every piece of clothing that you removed in wave one and decide whether it stays or whether it goes. If it’s going to be donated, place it in your donation bin. If you think a family member or friend will love it, place it in that bin. And if it’s going back into the closet, hang it up or fold it neatly to be put away.
Remember, if you haven’t worn it in six months, it has to go. If it was a gift that you never wear but you’ve felt obligated to hang on to it, it needs to go. If you keep passing it over in the closet, say bye-bye. This is your chance to hold yourself accountable for the state of your closet.
By doing this, you will get a more tranquil, less cluttered closet. It can be hard to say goodbye to some items, but it will give you more physical and mental space, and it will make getting dressed a lot easier. And those clothes you decide to donate or give away get a chance at a second life with someone who might actually wear them, so feel good about that.
I also like to use this opportunity to purge hangers; fewer clothes mean fewer hangers! Keep the best ones and part with the others.
Phew, that was a lot of work. But I’m done, and I now have four huge bins of clothes that are going to a better place (some to friends and family, some for donation). But there’s one last decision that I’m having a hard time making, and I think I might need your help.
My wedding dress has been sitting in my closet, and I love it dearly, but I haven’t worn it or frankly even looked at it since our wedding day. I can’t imagine parting ways with it, but I know that so many people donate theirs. So what do you think? Is it worth donating? Or do you hang on to it for sentimental reasons? Let me know in the comments down below.
