The Spring Cleaning Mistake Almost Everyone Makes (and How to Fix it!)

Spring is in the air, and that means it's time to throw open the windows, roll up your sleeves, and tackle some deep cleaning. Perhaps you make a list: mop the floors, wipe the cabinet shelves, deep clean the oven, etc. 

But here's the thing: if you're cleaning before you organize, you're doing it backwards. And that's the #1 spring cleaning mistake we see people make.

We get it. Cleaning feels productive, it smells good, and you can see the results immediately. The problem is, if the clutter is still there when you're done, you haven't actually solved your problem, just made it shinier.

Here's the truth nobody wants to hear: YOU PROBABLY HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF. Stuff that's expired. Stuff you don't like. Stuff you won't use. Stuff you're saving for that once-in-a-lifetime event that (probably) won't ever happen. Stuff your mom left behind when she visited 4 years ago. SO MUCH STUFF.

So this spring cleaning season, let's tackle the STUFF first and THEN do some spring cleaning that will ACTUALLY last. 

Why Cleaning Before Organizing Doesn't Work

Think about your "wipe the kitchen cabinets" to-do. If you're really thorough, perhaps you'll pull everything out and wipe down the shelves. But then you stack everything right back the way it was: the expired spices in the back, the random lids with no matching containers, the three bottles of olive oil you didn't realize you had. Clean, yes. Functional? Not really.

The same thing happens in the bathroom, the entryway closet, the pantry, and more: you clean around the clutter instead of eliminating it, and within a week, you're feeling overwhelmed once again. I think there's actually a phrase for this… something like "polishing a curd…?' but you know what, never mind. The point is, it doesn't work. 😉

Organizing first may take a bit longer in the beginning, but it's sure to keep your space clean and peaceful for the long haul.

Ready to get started? Here are 4 spaces you can organize first for the biggest impact:

1. Kitchen Cabinets

   
   This is ground zero for the clean-before-organizing trap. Before you wipe down a single shelf, pull everything out first. Toss what's expired, combine what's duplicate, donate what you don't use, and then give what's left a real home. A modular organizer like our Cabinet Caddy makes your spices easy to actually see (and reach), so nothing gets lost in the back of the cabinet ever again.
   
   

2. The Pantry

   
   Same energy as the cabinets, but with even more opportunity for things to go rogue. How many half-empty bags of pasta do you have back there? Before you wipe down those shelves, follow the same steps as above: pull everything out, toss what's expired, combine what's duplicate (we love those airtight bulk containers), donate what you don't use, and give what's left a real home.For the cans, jars, and bottles that always seem to multiply, our Mighty Susan keeps everything visible and accessible so you're never digging around for the one thing you actually need
   
   

3. The Entryway

   
   The entryway sets the tone for your whole home — and it's usually the first place clutter lands. Shoes, bags, mail, art from your kids day at school… clear it all out before you mop the floors or wipe the baseboards. A simple shoe shelf organizer keeps the floor from becoming a tripping hazard, and a few good baskets can corral everything from dog leashes to umbrellas. Once the clutter is gone, don't forget to set the mood! A few well-placed pictures of a piece of art can transform your entry from a drop zone into a space that actually welcomes you home. Our Go Hang It! Pro makes hanging pictures a breeze, so there's no excuse to bare walls any longer. 
   
   

4. The Shower

   
   Your shower is supposed to be your oasis: a place to decompress, reset, and start or end your day on the right note. But cluttered bottles lining the edge of the tub and a rickety over-the-shower-head organizer that tilts every time you touch it? Mood. Ruined. After you toss the products you don't use and clean those tiles, upgrade to a shower organizer that ACTUALLY works. Our new ShowerSMART is an adjustable AND antimicrobial shower caddy that promises to keep your shower organized, clean AND sleek.

The goal of spring cleaning isn't just a home that looks clean for a week, it's a home that feels good to live in all year long. So this year, resist the urge to just grab the mop and go. Organize first. Your future self will thank you.

Need help getting started? Check out our 5 Foolproof Steps to Organizing ANY Space for a simple system you can apply to any room in your home, follow us on social media for before/after inspiration from customers like YOU, and browse our best-selling organization products to find the perfect tool to make this your best spring clean yet!