‘Tis the season – the season to clean. But before you do, take a few spring cleaning tips from an expert. Erin Braune is a declutter-er and home stylist. She’s also the founder of The Clutter Consultant, a Gold Coast-based business helping locals minimise chaos and maximise space in their homes.
How long have you been a clutter consultant for?
The Clutter Consultant was born under a different name in 2014 and was rebranded in 2020, amidst the global pandemic. There was a greater need than ever to help people declutter their physical environments, schedules and minds.
What does a typical day in the life of a clutter consultant entail?
As a Clutter Consultant, no two days are the same. My day starts with school drop off which is walking distance from our home. I then continue on for a 45-minute jog to clear my mind, move my body and set my intentions for the day. Once home, I prepare myself for either a day of administration (replying to messages and emails, quoting, invoicing and content creation) or I head to a client’s home for a decluttering and organizing session, or I head to the shops to purchase the storage solutions that I need for my next project.
The start of spring is typically when we feel motivated to do a big clean. But cleaning the whole house, top to bottom, can be overwhelming – where should we start?
When you decide to declutter your entire home, it’s important to think about how you want that space to FEEL once you’ve reached your goal. This is one of the main questions I ask my clients before we tackle their project. Is this space calm and serene? High energy and playful? The systems and styling we implement into the space will reflect the feeling. I also encourage my clients to keep in mind that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Despite what some heavily edited TV shows might depict – this does not happen in one weekend/visit.
Realistic timeframes need to be set, with small goals along the way that can be checked off. Declutter by category instead of by room – for example all clothes, then all toys, then all linen, etc. These items can be across many rooms in the house, so it helps to group them together for this exercise. You’re then able to truly see what you own and be decisive about what stays and what goes. Then, discard with intention.
What are the main areas or tasks you focus on when spring cleaning?
Primarily due to the change of weather and Christmas being three months away, I find that welcoming spring prompts the need to declutter linen closets, children’s toys and wardrobes. Clothing and shoe choices can change dramatically, especially here on The Gold Coast, so coats, jackets and boots generally need rotating to the lesser used section of the wardrobe. Heavier blankets and quilts are rotated off beds, which impacts the linen cupboard, and toys are due to begin a slow declutter in order to be prepared for the influx of new items at Christmas. This is also a brilliant time to really edit your wardrobe, check your pillows for the last time you replaced them and discard of any items across these categories that are broken or damaged beyond repair.
Not everyone can find time in their busy schedules for a big spring clean. Which decluttering/cleaning tasks would you tackle if you only had a small window?
I like to call this the daily or weekly reset (whichever fits your schedule better). The trick with routine maintenance is that there is no trick – the goal is not to be organised but to have a simpler life. Checking in on your home needs to become a disciplined part of your daily routine. If you check your screen time, I guarantee that it is more than five, 10 or 20 minutes per day. Let’s steal some time away from that to use for something that is going to better our environment and decrease the mental clutter.
I encourage my clients to check in on their home for 30 minutes each day. This does not need to be in one chunk – it can be three 10-minute intervals. I have found the timed basket method to be the most effective. Grab a washing basket, set a timer, put some music on and get to work.
Clear benchtops by putting everything in that basket and then taking it with you as you return items to where they should go. The limits the amount of time spent coming back of forth.
Collect all shoes from the doorway into the basket to put away. Sort folding into family members using the basket. Put all items that belong in the garage or outside in the basket and return them in one trip. It’s practical and it works. It also means that if you are called away or need to stop, everything is in the basket to come back to.
What are your top tips for maintaining a clean, tidy home?
- Daily disciplined tidying. Do not lose sight of the bigger picture and remember how you feel when your home is decluttered, organised and calm. Remind yourself that five minutes now saves 30 minutes later. Look at the constant editing as meditation for your nervous system. Make it a daily practice.
- Release the guilt. Be honest with yourself as to why you’re keeping/storing certain items. If it’s to protect others’ feelings at the expense of your own, then it’s time to go. If it’s from a scarcity mindset, then it’s time to reflect on how you can detach from that so that you’re able to create your desired life.
- Release the need for perfection. The goal is a simpler life which means practicality trumps perfection. Systems that work, that you will maintain, mean you get to spend more time doing the things you love, not meticulously folding towels (unless of course you love doing that).
- Create a home maintenance schedule.Have set days for when you change the sheets, clean the bathroom, vacuum the floors etc. Write this down and have it somewhere easily accessible. It will eliminate the decision fatigue associated with choosing what to do and when. After a while, it will become second nature and part of your routine. There’s no better feeling than chipping away at small daily tasks knowing that you won’t have to spend half a day cleaning and tidying your home from top to bottom.
- Be realistic. Life happens, plans unravel and people get sick. There will be days that are missed and that’s okay. Slow down, reset, start over and, when needed, give yourself extra time to play catch up. Getting the family on board with this one will also make the process much faster and more enjoyable for everyone.
What are the must-have products and tools in your kit? The ones you could never complete a decluttering project without?
Coming in at first place would be my trusty tape measure. Whether it’s measuring for storage solutions or styling pieces or furniture, it wouldn’t happen (accurately) without my tape.
Second to that would be cleaning spray and cloths. Whenever I declutter a space, it’s promptly followed by a thorough wipe down.
Third would be large heavy duty garbage bags for refuse and donation items.
Anything last tips or trade secrets to share?
If you have a pesky label that won’t peel off nicely, try using a hairdryer to gently reheat the glue. Simply wave the dryer over the label and once it is warm, the sticker should peel of neatly without leaving any residue.
To find out more about Erin, The Clutter Consultant or to book in a decluttering session, simply head to www.theclutterconsultant.com.au.