April 9, 2005

The Ottawa Citizen

Clean sweep: You've got the urge to clean, but don't know where to start. Go to the place that's causing you the most anxiety.

Kathryn Young
The Ottawa Citizen

Copyright © 2005 Ottawa Citizen

Twittering birds, warm breezes and bulbs pushing through the dark earth inexplicably make many of us want to sort sock drawers, organize the 10 shapes of pasta in our kitchen cupboards and clean toilets.

It's that time of year when the urge to spring clean and organize our homes and lives takes hold and won't let go until we've given away bags of old clothes and swept all the grit and salt out of our garages.

"Canadians get very itchy when it comes to spring," professional organizer Estelle Gee says, noting that she gets the most calls for help in the spring, followed by September and January.

"The farther north you go, the more people do spring cleaning. Psychologically, I think, we need to literally clear the cobwebs, both physically and in our minds. It gives us a new lease on life."

Warm weather and an early Easter have combined to bring the crowds to California Closets on Richmond Road, where Ottawa professional organizer Cheryl Adams advises customers on how to purge the fat and skinny clothes to leave the ones that actually fit.

"People tend to switch clothes at Easter," she says. They bring out the spring clothes, but haven't yet put away the bulky winter sweaters and ski pants, so their closets are at their maximum capacity.

Something about the whole rebirth theme of springtime motivates people to call Adams for help with closets and garages. In the fall, it's home offices and mudrooms.

"It's more functional in the fall and frivolous in the spring," she says.

So, you're feeling the urge to clean, but don't know where to start?

"Go to the place that's causing you the most anxiety," advises Gee, who runs Orderly Lives in Toronto and is a member of the ballooning Professional Organizers in Canada, which has grown from 19 members when it began four years ago to 378 members across Canada today.

For people with limited time and energy, she recommends focusing on the kitchen and bathrooms because they get the most traffic.

Kitchens

"If you feel your kitchen is clean and you've taken out the cobwebs, that feels like a fresh start," Gee says. And since most people don't have a couple of days to devote to cleaning, she recommends tackling one cupboard a day.

What applies to clothes also applies to food: If you haven't used it in a year, throw it out. Bugs can set up home in flour, crackers and muffin mix.

Once you've thrown things out, wipe down the cabinet with a vinegar/water solution, then replace remaining items, grouping like items together.

For example, if you enjoy baking, put the baking soda, flour, salt, sugar and so on in airtight containers in one cupboard near where you mix the batter. Don't tire yourself out criss-crossing the kitchen to get items. "As much as possible try to make it easy on yourself," says Gee.

She recommends hightailing it to Zellers, Canadian Tire or IKEA to buy the right containers to keep order in cupboards.

"If you are prone to disorder and have a messy family, then label the shelf -- go out and invest in a label maker.

"There's no excuse not to know where things are. And then Mom doesn't have to be the manager."

Bathrooms

"Unless it's a custom-built house, I've never come across a bathroom with too much storage," says Gee, who recommends adding narrow shelves above the toilet or recessed into the wall.

And under the sink -- the area she calls the "black hole" -- install those little units of plastic drawers to organize hair accessories, bath toys and extra soap.

"It's a way of subdividing this black hole into usable space."

If you're aiming for the trendy spa feel of serenity and calmness, keep surfaces clean and counters clear.

"Decor trends have a lot to do with psychological needs of ourselves," Gee says. "The more complex life becomes, the more we need quiet places to recover from the stress of our lives. You can't have a spa bathroom if it's grimy."

Closets

The basic problem Adams sees with closets is that people try to jam in too many things that don't belong together. She has seen master bedroom closets that house wrapping paper, gifts, financial files, office supplies, children's board games and even the odd guinea pig in a cage.

"They should be stored in the appropriate place. If you do that, you'll free up a lot of space," says Adams.

"I clean a closet when I'm in a not-so-good mood. I'm ruthless and will part with things. It's refreshing and perks up my mood."

Master bedroom

The master bedroom is usually last on the list to clean and organize, but should be first, says Gee, especially for parents who need a sanctuary, a haven of calmness.

"If you're a mother of teenagers, you need a timeout place." Put in an easy chair, if possible, to create a reading room.

"I'm surprised that anyone is having sex in Canada because I've seen so many uninspiring bedrooms. Old tattered sheets, books, clutter, mismatched furniture."

Gee says the bedroom should reflect the woman's taste to put her in the mood -- somewhat like the Victorian concept of a boudoir as enticement for nocturnal activities other than sleep.

Since the bed takes up 80 per cent of the room, focus on making it beautiful and inviting. It could be frilly, with 15 pillows, or spare, calm and Zen-like.

"It doesn't have to be expensive. It just has to feel good."

Children's rooms

Gee has only two rules for kids' bedrooms: no food allowed and don't put in a desk. It simply becomes a place to pile junk. Instead, put in a storage unit for toys, clothes and CDs.

Her advice to parents of teens: "Close the door until they're 21. I tend to cut kids a lot of slack, especially with teens. Pick your battles."

Garages

Most garages don't have enough room for the car because of stuff dumped on the floor.

"There's usually not enough shelves," says Adams. Install shelves and special racks to get sports and gardening equipment, and tools up on the walls.

The basic principle for organizing any room or closet is to group stuff that belongs together.

"Group them and contain them," says Adams. "It's all about your time, being able to find everything without searching for that lost sock or ballet shoe."

At the other end of the scale, Gee has had to counsel some clients to just relax. The organizing bar has been raised so high, with all the TV shows and magazines, that people, especially women, expect too much of themselves.

"I think it's a way of enslaving women in absolute guilt because their homes, their bodies, their lives aren't perfect," says Gee, adding that organization is seen as a woman's responsibility. "You'll never see an organizing article in a men's magazine."

And she says there are times when you simply have to let go or you'll drive yourself insane.

"If you have children under 25, don't try to organize your family photographs," she says. Simply date them, put them in boxes and leave them. "There will be plenty of time later to organize and scrapbook."

Kathryn Young is a regular contributor to Style Weekly Homes.

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Where to find help

For the 75 per cent of people who are organizationally challenged, there are lots of great books and magazines, as well as television shows and resources on the Internet, says professional organizer Estelle Gee.

Here are a few websites and new products that might spark your cleaning spirit:

- www.calclosets.com : California Closets' website offers tips and shows what the possibilities are. Popular closet accessories are the valet rod (a pull-out rod that lets you hang clothes temporarily while you pack or set out the day's outfit), and velvet-lined drawer inserts for jewelry. There are also pullout belt and tie rods, a shallow wall safe that fits between studs, laundry sorters, and dozens of plastic organizer boxes. Garage organizers include racks for skis, bikes and golf clubs plus pegboards and recycling bins.

- If you're in serious need of personal coaching, you could hire a personal organizer who charges $40 to $80 per hour for residences and holds your hand through the difficult task of throwing things out. Check out the Professional Organizers in Canada website at www.organizersincanada.com to find an organizer in your area. There are 23 listed as serving Ottawa.

- www.Freecycle.org : Register with this free online network, which connects people who want to get rid of stuff with people who need it.

- If you're desperate for a clean toilet, you could try one of the new disposable toilet brushes with cleanser impregnated in the throw-away scrubber head. Scotch-Brite makes one that can't be flushed, while the Scrub 'n' Flush has a biodegradable head. But if you're concerned with landfill overflow, Gee says you could try using them just in the high-germ months of winter.

- The Command line of bathroom caddies from 3M sticks on the wall with a special adhesive that can easily be removed without leaving marks -- ideal for renters. There are large and small caddies, soap dishes and hooks. They are water-, heat- and humidity-proof and can also be cleaned in the dishwasher.

- If pets contribute to your need for spring cleaning, you could rid your house of smells and win some money too. SeaYu Enterprises, maker of Petrotech Odor Eliminator, is running the Stinkiest Pet in America contest. Log onto www.sea-yu.com to submit your 200-word smelly pet story, whether it's about a funky feline, an unpleasant litter box, or a rug that reeks from your puppy's frequent accidents. The deadline is July 31. First prize is $300.

Cleaning tips

- Don't forget to clean carpets, upholstery, windows and draperies. It may just be time to toss the balloon shades and bring in something more tailored.

- Go through the house with a critical eye and inspect things like hand towels. Don't use them if they are faded or stained.

- Retire artificial plants and flowers. It's spring and time to bring in the real thing.

- Toss your old toss cushions and replace them with bright, trendy spring colours, like deep apple green, pink or purple.

- Throw away chipped cups and glasses and replace with inexpensive ones from Winners or Home Sense.

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