Spring Cleaning: 5 Places to Declutter (and 5 Spots You’re Probably Forgetting)

As a professional home organizer, I have a confession: I do not wake up in March magically energized to scrub baseboards. I am not twirling through my house with a feather duster singing to the sunshine.

What I do love, however, is the feeling of a home that breathes a little easier.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean emptying every drawer, renting a dumpster and questioning all your life choices. In fact, if you focus on the right areas first, the rest becomes dramatically easier. Think of it as clearing the runway before takeoff.

Here are five areas to declutter before you start deep cleaning and five commonly forgotten spots that deserve a little love too.

Five Areas to Declutter First (So Cleaning Is Easier)

1. The Entryway
   This is where shoes pile up, mail multiplies, and mystery items appear. Clear out-of-season gear, toss junk mail, and relocate anything that doesn’t belong. When this space is streamlined, you’ll immediately feel calmer walking in the door. Plus, you won’t be vacuuming around 14 pairs of “just for yard work” shoes.

2. Kitchen Counters
   Counters are prime real estate. When they’re crowded with gadgets, paper stacks and three different bottles of olive oil, cleaning becomes a complicated obstacle course.
   Store appliances you don’t use weekly. Corral loose papers. Wipe down what’s left. Suddenly, cleaning your kitchen goes from “major production” to “quick reset.”

3. The Coat Closet
   Be honest: how many coats do you actually wear? If opening the door feels like being tackled by outerwear, it’s time to declutter. Donate what no longer fits or isn’t worn. Whatever is left can be pushed to the edges to wait for next season. Wash and dry your winter gear before you tuck them out of sight.

4. Under the Bathroom Sink
   If you have half-used lotions, hair tools and old make up under here, you’re my people. Dispose of expired items safely, toss dried-up cosmetics, and group like items together. Cleaning becomes much easier when you’re not rearranging a host of tiny bottles under the sink. I rarely advocate for purchasing storage solutions, be here is one area that they are very useful. Measure carefully before buying to make sure it will fit around plumbing and that the cabinet doors will properly close.

5. The Laundry Room
   Detergent drips, lonely socks, dusty shelves. I think on some level, most of us hate laundry and it shows! Declutter empty containers and random items that migrated there. Once it’s cleared, wiping surfaces and sweeping floors takes minutes and maybe we hate doing laundry a teeny bit less.

Now that we’ve tackled the obvious, let’s address the sneaky spots that quietly collect dust while we’re busy scrubbing the “important” stuff.

1. Light Switches and Door Handles
   These are touched constantly and rarely cleaned. A quick disinfecting wipe makes a big difference. It’s oddly satisfying, too.

2. Baseboards
   Baseboards are difficult to clean if there is stuff in front of them. But, if you take on the challenge, you’ll be rewarded! A quick vacuum with a brush attachment followed by a damp cloth works wonders.

3. Kitchen Garbage Cans
   We take out the garbage… but when was the last time you cleaned the can itself?
   Give it a rinse or wipe-down. Your nose will thank you.

4. Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures
   If you turn on your ceiling fan and create a gentle dust tornado, it may be time. A long-handled duster with a mist of water will get those clean and keep the falling dust to a minimum.

5. Under Furniture
   Out of sight, out of mind! Until you drop something and discover a colony of dust bunnies.
   That long attachment on your vacuum comes in handy here, or hat long-handled duster can also help. It doesn’t have to be perfect; even a quick pass makes a difference.

Spring cleaning isn’t about achieving showroom perfection. It’s about resetting your space so it supports your life instead of stressing you out.

Start small. Pick one category or one room. Set a timer for 20 minutes. Celebrate progress, not perfection.

And please hear this: clutter is not a character flaw. It’s usually a sign of busy lives, growing families, shifting seasons and just being human. Homes are meant to be lived in, not staged for a magazine spread. If you clear the high-impact clutter first, cleaning becomes simpler and far less overwhelming. And when you tackle those forgotten spots, your home will feel noticeably fresher, even if no one else can quite put their finger on why.

Spring is about renewal, not self-criticism. Open a window. Put on music you love. Declutter a drawer. Wipe a switch plate. Admire your progress!

As always, if you need help with decluttering and organizing, reach out at simplesanctuaryhomeorganization.com. Happy Tidying!