Spring Cleaning gets all the attention. But I would argue that Fall is when editing our homes makes the most sense.  Regardless of what or how you celebrate, the approaching holidays tend to bring things into our homes. Decorations come out of storage. Packages appear on the porch. Rather than waiting until January and wondering where everything is going to go, Fall gives us an opportunity to create space before the hectic time arrives.

 

Children's toys are a natural place to begin. Which toys are still being played with? Depending on its condition, a toy might be donated, passed along to a younger friend or family member, or discarded.  It is simply about making room for what your children truly use and enjoy!

 

Cold-weather clothing is an editable category.  Coats, fleece jackets, and vests seem to reproduce while we aren't looking. Most of us reach for the same few favorites every season while the others remain crowded together in the closet. Take them all out and look at them honestly. Which ones do you actually choose when you leave the house? Keep your dependable favorites and donate the rest.

 

And then there are socks. Years ago, I volunteered at AHOPE here in Asheville. People who were unhoused, or living very close to the edge, could come in to take a shower, charge a telephone, and other basic needs.  One of the first things people would ask for was socks, they wear out quickly. Socks need to be replaced far more often than we realize. Many of us have more socks than we wear and Fall is a good time to empty sock drawers!  While new socks are especially valuable to shelters and outreach programs, it is always best to check an organization's current guidelines before donating.

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The garage deserves a fall edit too. This is not the time to purchase an elaborate wall system or another collection of plastic bins. First, decide what deserves to stay. Put away what is seasonal. Donate, discard then organize what remains. That order matters.

 

Fall cleaning is less about scrubbing and more about preparing. It creates a little breathing room before the holidays, a little calm before the busiest part of the year, while helping those who need it.

Spring may inspire us to open our windows.  Fall gives us a reason to open our closets.

 

For seven days, find seven things in your home that you no longer need or use. It could be a face cream you will never open, a duplicate kitchen spatula, or those multiple jackets!  Donate, share, recycle, or discard appropriately. Invite your children to join by giving them a basket and asking them to find seven things in their rooms. It quickly becomes a game!

Try Seven for Seven one week every month. By the end of each week, you will have cleared 49 unnecessary things - and created a little more room for the life you are actually living.