Here in the Midwest, spring tends to tease us a little.
One day it’s sunny and warm and you’re convinced winter is finally over. The next day you’re digging your coat back out of the closet. Around here we call that stage “Fool’s Spring.”
But even if winter hasn’t completely let go yet, this is actually the perfect time to start preparing for spring cleaning.
For the first post in my new Ask an Expert Series, I spoke with my friend Tracey, a professional home organizer with more than 30 years of experience helping families simplify and organize their homes.
Instead of waiting until the first truly warm weekend to tackle everything at once, Tracey recommends getting ahead by completing a few simple organizing tasks now.
These are five things professional organizers often do before spring cleaning even begins.
1. They Swap Out Seasonal Clothing
Professional organizers know that seasonal closet swaps are the perfect opportunity to declutter.
As you start putting winter clothes away, take a few minutes to evaluate what you actually wore this season.
Ask yourself:
Is this item worn out or stained?
Will it still fit next year?
If I saw this in a store today, would I buy it again?
If the answer is no, it might be time to donate or toss it.
Before storing winter clothing, check for stains or missing buttons. Fixing small issues now makes things much easier when you pull those items back out next fall.
When bringing out your spring and summer wardrobe, take inventory of what you already own and make a list of anything you might need.
Organizer Tip:
Store seasonal clothing in clearly labeled bins and include sizes if you have multiple children.
2. They Reset the Garage Before Outdoor Season Starts
During the winter months, garages tend to become a catch-all for everything.
Early spring is the perfect time to do a quick reset before outdoor activities start up again.
Pull out outdoor furniture, gardening tools, and decorations so you can see what you already have.
This is also a good time to check:
Bikes and scooters
Sports equipment
Gardening supplies
Outdoor furniture
Taking care of small repairs or missing items now means your family will be ready to enjoy the first warm weekends of the season.
3. They Prepare Their Cleaning Supplies First
Before spring cleaning even begins, professional organizers recommend checking your cleaning supplies.
Go through your cabinet and remove products you know you won’t use. Maybe the scent wasn’t your favorite, or the product simply didn’t perform well.
Many animal shelters gladly accept donated cleaning supplies, since they often operate on limited budgets.
Next, make a list of any larger cleaning projects you might want to outsource this season, such as:
Window cleaning
HVAC maintenance
Air duct cleaning
Scheduling these early can help you avoid the busy spring rush.
4. They Clean Out the Medicine Cabinet
The medicine cabinet is one area that is often overlooked during home organization.
Take a few minutes to check expiration dates on:
Many everyday items like lotions, deodorant, and toothpaste actually do expire.
If something is expired or you know you won’t use it, it’s time to toss it.
Unused toiletries that are still safe can often be donated to local homeless shelters, where they are greatly appreciated.
5. They Sort Kids’ School Papers Before Summer
If you have kids, you know how quickly school papers and artwork can pile up.
Before the end of the school year arrives with an entire stack of projects, take a little time now to sort through what you already have.
You don’t need to keep everything.
Choose a few favorite pieces and meaningful projects to save and recycle the rest.
If you want a simple way to preserve those memories, services like
Artkive can turn your child’s artwork into a printed keepsake book.
It’s a great way to save the memories without storing boxes of papers.
Final Thoughts
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to happen all at once.
By tackling a few simple organizing tasks now, you’ll make the entire process much easier when warmer weather finally arrives.
And when those first beautiful Midwest spring days finally show up, you’ll be able to enjoy them — instead of spending the whole weekend cleaning.
Save This for Later: Spring Cleaning Prep Checklist
Getting started is often the hardest part. Save this checklist so you can come back to it when you're ready to begin your spring cleaning. I am a big fan of writing things down and making lists... it helps me to stay organized as activities ramp up in the spring.
✔ Swap out winter and spring clothing
✔ Declutter and donate unused items
✔ Reset and organize the garage
✔ Check and restock cleaning supplies
✔ Schedule larger cleaning services
✔ Clean out medicine cabinet and toiletries
✔ Sort and keep meaningful schoolwork
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