Spring Cleaning with a Cause
Have you ever just wanted to toss everything out and start over completely? I’m sure we’ve all felt that way from time to time, so this spring, I’m taking advantage of cleaning out not only physical clutter, but mental clutter as well. Spring-cleaning will feel a whole lot better when I know that I am helping myself as well as others with it.
I’d Give You the Shirt Off my Back – The other day, I started going through my laundry to pack away the winter clothes for next year. Much to my chagrin, I realized that all my huge clothing bins were still full of the clothes I had put away from the previous winter. It didn’t make any sense to me that I would have so many sweatshirts and corduroy pants that I had no intent to wear any time soon, nor had I even thought about in a year’s time. I decided to do the only logical thing and get rid of some of the clothes I had amassed. After I combed through and weeded out the things I knew I wouldn’t (or couldn’t!) wear, I still felt like I had a lot. So, I went through the pile again. I managed to separate all the things I really didn’t care for anymore, and keep the sentimental items and the things that I knew I could still get good use out of.
I’ve never been one to just throw anything away, because I know that it not only helps me feel better to have it out of my way, but if I donate it, someone else can benefit, too. It’s easy to do, as all you need to do is find your local Salvation Army and you can drop off your no longer needed clothes and house wares, where the less fortunate can repurchase them at a discount. Plus, these donations are tax-deductible, so it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Reduce, Re-use, Recycle – Before you go and toss out everything you own, think about how you can transform any of the items around the house to more useful objects. For instance, if you’ve got tons of junk mail lying around, you can get creative and make anything from jewelry to craft paper from the otherwise worthless stuff.
Once you stop seeing garbage as garbage, you can begin to see how it can be used for creative purposes. You can make a beautiful vase out of a wine bottle, or even use paper towel and toilet paper rolls to wrap up loose computer or extension cords.
What are some of the ways that you use spring-cleaning to put you in a great mood? How does helping others help you?
-Lisa
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Comments
Rachel Saturday, April 24, 2010
I was just going through my drawer yesterday pulling out old clothes that I can't wear anymore. I have some really awesome shirts that are to small for me, but I would love to make stuff out of them. Do you think you could post a blog on different things to do with shirts that are to small? haha
Shelly Monday, April 26, 2010
I have been going through my house and freecycling things ... its so true that one persons junk is another persons treasure ... because I have had people coming by to pick up things that I would have tossed into the landfill otherwise.
will Tuesday, April 27, 2010
@rachel
i am in the same boat with t-shirts from gigs, i was thinking about cutting out the designs on them and making a collage to put in a frame for my wall :)