Get ready for Spring Clean-out for the DIY!

You know who you are. When you want something you want it done yesterday.  But did you know in order to get a free donation pick up from +DCGoodwill you need to schedule it about 8 weeks out?  So you know what that means?

Imagine this scenario: It's mid-April and weather starts to break, the sun shines and you want to get started on planting your spring perennials.  But you notice your garage is cluttered and so is your basement. The itch has begun.  The Spring-cleaning itch. Suddenly you decide you have a ton of donate; a sofa, 8 bags of clothes, a box of old electronics, and who-knows-what-else but you drive a two-door sedan.  Yikes. So you call up Goodwill and they tell you that you can get a free pick up and they are booking for June.  Are you serious?! But it's April! you reply.  Yep. They're serious.  So avoid any @!#&* on your part!

If you're looking for a free option to haul away your junk and you know you're gonna get the itch.  You better book your Goodwill pick up like...(looks at watch) NOW!  Here are 5 easy steps:

1. Fill out the form
2. Check out the things Goodwill won't take
3. Sit and wait.  Goodwill will call you in about 5 business days to set up your pick up.
4. Let the Spring Clearing itch hit; or better yet put a couple dates on your calendar to go through the back of the closet and the untouched places of your house and car and start labeling what's donate.  If you need help with the sort, schedule an appointment with us.
5. Make sure you set your donate in one central location for the day of pick up.  Generally in the driveway, garage, or somewhere on the first level of your home. 

If you're into convenience however you can pay. Goodwill DC has partnered with a junk hauling company that will remove your junk future treasures, out but for a fee.

You can of course hire Dexterous Organizing and not only will you have a partner to help you get your spring-clean out itch stretched but we'll bring our team of experts, from organizer and junk hauler to handyman and closet systems, to help you every step of the way so you'll not only clean out but maybe even implement a new system and get a great deal on a garage system installed so next spring's clean out might not be so daunting!

What are some things you plan on getting started on for a spring clean out? Share your ideas below in the comment section.  If you know of someone who is in need of a kick-start to spring cleaning please share with them or your audience on social media!

Getting Organized F.A.S.T.: The Pep Talk you'll need this Spring

Nowadays people are all about getting things done in a snap! Speed dating, Go-gurt® and even express manicures shows that things people used to take time to enjoy are rushed and squeezed into schedules. Let's face it, we all are busy and our times are at a premium. As a professional organizer I often use the acronym F.A.S.T. But ironically it breaks organizing down not to make it as quick as possible but hopefully as long-lasting as possible. How efficient can you be if you're always looking for things? Being disorganized takes our precious time away. So let's break it down so that we can get into the process of being organized and maybe you can enjoy a regular manicure and maybe even a pedi.

F. - FOCUS

1. Turn off the T.V. -- Organizing is NOT cleaning. It really isn't a mindless activity, it involves your eyes and hands and yes, your brain. I tell clients to turn off the t.v. as it causes distraction from our thought process. But if you desire some fun while getting the job done, upbeat music can give you the energy boost you need to continue.

2. De-clutter/Pare Down -- Spring Cleaning is all about letting go and opening your arms to embrace space and let new and more wonderful things in your life. Do you really need a food processor, Magic Bullet, and a set of Ginsu knives? If you use all three often than perhaps you do. But if you can't justify keeping all of the similar items, consider donating one to a friend, family member or Goodwill and let it go to someone who will use it. Open that space and place in your life to something useful or beautiful.

3. One area at a time -- If you start with the idea in ONE Saturday you will organize and clean your WHOLE 3 bedroom home you are setting yourself up for failure. Many times we pull everything out the closets, drawers, and bins and find ourselves 4 hours later in a bigger mess than we began with and no energy left to finish or no plan of action of how to put everything back in an organized fashion. Focus on one space, one place. Organize a junk drawer in the kitchen then move on to under the sink in the bathroom. You'll be surprised how organizing one small space can make a huge difference in functionality and you will be able to carry your enthusiasm throughout the whole house without feeling overwhelmed. Remember to De-clutter/Pare down during this process.


A. - Action Plan

1. Goals - What areas really bug you or stump you the most? Sometimes it's best to start with these areas but write down (yes write it down) what you'd like the space to become or transform into. Often a mind map is a good place to start to let your creative juices flow and give yourself a road map to follow.

2. Make it real - Wouldn't we all want to island hop once a year in the Caribbean? *Raises hand* But either because of time or budget it's not realistic. When making your action plan be realistic about your time and your budget. Make the plan as simple as possible and then once you've accomplished that goal you can add all the bells and whistles later.

3. Get a timeline - If you want to de-clutter for instance, give yourself a date to sort out things you don't use any longer, and then a date to donate (or schedule a donation pick up). If you create an action plan without a deadline or a time in your calendar set aside, it's just a dream and not an action plan.

S. System & Sustainability

1. Make an "I-do-this-anyway" System - Sometimes it's better to create an organizing system around the habits we already have versus trying to create new habits. For instance, if you kick your shoes off at the front door, it may be best to create an organized place for your shoes at the front door rather than to feel like you will suddenly create a new habit of walking your shoes to the bedroom closet each day. This way you make your organizing system more sustainable and longer lasting.

2. Maintenance - All good processes require maintenance. Schedule time each week or day to maintain the systems you've created. Remember that organization is a process not a destination. It may take several tries and tweaks until you get it right, or perhaps you experience changes in life (new family member, a move, a new job) that dictate you change a system. It's okay, you're not a failure you just have to adjust and tweak a system until you find the one that works for the life you currently lead.

T. Training & Tools

1. My first tool of recommendation as a professional organizer is HIRE A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER! *smile* We keep up with the latest tools, gadgets, gizmos and organizing trends. We may even help you to see you don't need any gadgets but give you tried and true tips and tricks that could tweak how you do things but make a grand difference in your life. Organizers have foresight and the outside opinion that you may seek without the judgments and comments from the peanut gallery of family and friends.

2. Books and pictures - If you don't know what you want initially, it's great to peruse the library or Barnes & Nobles to look at books and magazines on homes organization. Once you've gotten an idea of what you want you may slowly get ideas of how to get there.



Like what you read and want to share on your blog or in print? No problem. Just make sure you make this statement at the end: Copyright 2012. Andrea Hancock is a Professional Organizer, Speaker and Owner Dexterous Organizing based in the Washington DC Metro Area. Dexterous Organizing not only provides hands-on organizing services but attempts to also enlighten the world with tips of staying dexterous, organized and efficient in a world that demands much on our time and resources. Contact Andrea at (703) 606-8968 or via e-mail andrea@dexterousorganizing.com if you'd like to learn more about how you can put the pieces of your life together with organization!