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Spring Cleaning: The Struggle is Real

3 bags and 7 boxes full.–That’s how many clothes I emptied from my kids’ rooms. I sorted a few to sell, made $60, set aside a box of some of my favorites from Lil’ J’s fashionable toddler days for my niece, and hauled the rest out to my front porch for a group looking for donations this week.

Donating-clothes

I don’t get the urge to clean often, but when I do, I sometimes go crazy.

Last weekend it hit. You’d think I was 40 weeks pregnant and nesting, getting ready to move or something with the way I was decluttering closets and cabinets, and putting stuff in boxes. I said goodbye to dozens of adorable clothes they’d outgrown, heck, clothes I’ve outgrown. And other things around the house that we just didn’t need anymore. Doesn’t keep my kids from wanting to dig through the boxes and finding stuff they’ve “missed” like these hats I pulled out for their cousins.

decluttering with kids

I had one cabinet full of old baby food, bottles, cups, and a bunch of other stuff jammed in there. You weren’t safe from things flying at you if you opened it. I organized that entire cabinet! Now it’s shelves are neatly lined with sippy cups and kits plates. No baby expired baby food in sight.

organized-cabinet

Then this morning I went to town on the medicine cabinet. Like baby food, I had quite a bit of expired medicines, old prenatals and breastfeeding vitamins. Oh man, it’s nice to be done with that.

I cleared out and organized that cabinet. I put all of our medicines in a little old shipping box (until I get a cuter basket) so they’re easier to find and won’t fall all over the place. I didn’t realize there was a special way to handle expired medicine disposal, but you’re suppose to mix your old and expired medicine with an absorbing substance like used coffee grounds or kitty litter. We don’t drink coffee or have a cat so…? I was getting ready to just have my husband take it with him to work–Surely they had something like that there. But I looked up a place to toss controlled substances and there’s a place just up the road at a drugstore (which also has an ice cream soda shop, win-win!).

SafeDisposal-NielsenData-NeverSoughtInfo-TW-v3

I’ll bring our old medicine and the kids there after school to get a treat and make a lesson out of it. Follow us on Snapchat (JenniferBorget) and Instagram (BabyMakingMachine) to see that go down.

So now I’m feeling pretty good. We haven’t been able to see the floor in my son’s closet since we moved into this house. Now there’s lots of space! We made lots of room in my daughter’s closet for new clothes that I hope to make and buy. Why yes, all this cleaning has made me want to sew! Though I think I should go through my craft bin next and get rid of all of the stuff I’ve been holding on to for way too long.

So I guess I’ve been missing out on the spring cleaning hype all these years, but I’m here for it now. You know how much I love cleaning. Aren’t you proud of me?

Have you gotten down with spring cleaning lately?

*I love finding ways to keep my family safe that I otherwise wouldn’t have known about, which is why I’ve partnered with Know Your OTCs on this post. 


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Kia says:

Girl I am the same way when it comes to cleaning….when I’m in my groove…I am IN it LOL! Thanks for sharing the info about how to dispose expired meds…never knew!

Haha, gotta capitalize on that moment right? I feel ya!

We just cleaned out our medicine cabinet too! I found a whole bunch of expired medicine hiding in the back! Thank goodness because it can make our littles sick if they take it! Spring is always a great time to clean everything out and I love how clean the house always smells post cleaning job!

Helene Cohen Bludman says:

It feels so good to purge all those things we will never use again. I try to do it a few times a year to keep up with all of it.

Sonia says:

I started my spring cleaning in January! I went through and deep cleaned the house. I purge toys any time they don’t keep their room clean.. which is often. As for clothes, anytime the weather changes I have to make room in their closet so it’s a constant thing for me.

Sonia says:

Oops… sent too soon.

As for meds, We (husband and I) put the the exp date on a calendar and set up a reminder. It’s worked really well and our pharmacy is just downstairs so disposal is no problem!

Khrista says:

I am so far behind. Once I am in the groove…watch out! LOL. And nothing is safe. It is hasn’t been touch or used in a year then it’s outta here. I make piles too. Keep, donate and sell. My daugher’s keep pile is always way too big!

We are knee deep in Spring Cleaning here. I need to finish!!

Dawn Nieves says:

I’m working on Spring cleaning now! I just cleaned out and re-did our bathroom but this reminds me I need to check out our medicine cabinet too! Thanks for the reminder.

I’m with you. Once I get started, I throw out tons. On to the medicine cabinet now!

Working on organizing my home right now! So hard with the work and demands of my job!

Rosey says:

I need to go through the medicines. They accumulate and then expire taking up much needed space.

Milena says:

Yes, I have started Spring Cleaning. I’m dying to have a yard sale. No OTC drugs to throw away yet here, but thanks for the tip!

Kristin says:

I seriously need to purge my own kitchen cabinets. There is stuff in there that I know I never use!

Laura Funk says:

Hoping to start on this over the weekend! Cannot wait to open up the space in our home

Honestly, with four little ones I don’t think the spring cleaning ever really stops.
Seems like ever time I turn around I am going through their clothing to sort out what they have outgrown. I was hording a set of sheets for a bed that we got rid of in December for heaven sake!

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Hi! I’m Jennifer Borget

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I'm a former journalist, and lifelong creator striving to make the world a better place. This is the space where I share my journey in making the most of every day by cherishing our individuality and celebrating our differences.



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