Hibernating bears are onto something. The frigid cold snap had me nesting and staying home. When the temperatures soared to 35 degrees, it felt spring.

Go with the weather flow

A snow day is perfect for cleaning out a space. Last one, I hit the basement then scheduled a donation pick up and dropped off items at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Newburgh. The warm temps had me in spring-cleaning mode. No excuses just do it!

Re-evaluate changes you would like to make in your home and your life. Start by putting your house on a diet. This means edit and forget it. If you don’t need it, want it or use it, get rid of it. Pass it along, trash it, sell it or donate to your favorite charity. Paying it forward helps you move forward and gets your house in shape.

Bonus: If you plan on selling, de-cluttering will help the process. Potential buyers cannot see past the stuff. In fact, the cluttered online photos may them from walking through the door. Clutter eats equity

The de-cluttered/organizing project can be monumental, attacking a whole room, basement or garage or break it down in baby steps. Here are some quick tasks that can be done in small increments.

Pantry

Stored pantry items and spices can use a date check. Discard expired items. Get reacquainted with purchased products and use them before you need to lose them.

New stuff

You spent money on new items only to have it sit in a closet, unused and forgotten. What are you waiting for? If it was to replace something old, donate the old item and use the new item. If it is an item you loved, why aren’t you using and enjoying it? If you are saving it for someday, today is the day.

Shredding paper

A box filled of old bills got shredded. A bin of manufacturer warrantees and instruction booklets of items that no longer exist in my home got recycled. Go through boxes, files then shred.

Personal care items

If you have not used a product over the last year, you probably never will. Donate it or pass it along to someone who can use it if it is still good.

Household Cleaners

There is regularly an inspirational photo in my newsfeed of a beautifully organized laundry room. I purchased square colored plastic bins from the dollar store and went through each shelf. Again, if you haven’t used a product in years, why hold onto it?

January sales

This is the best time to buy new bedding, sheets and towels. Take advantage of this month’s white sales to refresh the look of your bed and bath. Prepping for the spring market? A bed-in-a-bag is an affordable instant bedroom makeover