Whether it is a dreaded chore or a cathartic experience, Spring cleaning is a great way to reset at the beginning of the year.
Find below some recommended readings that will help you tackle your organization and cleaning projects as efficiently, safely, and mindfully as possible.
Recommended Reading
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson
In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning “death” and städning meaning “cleaning.” This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming.
Margareta suggests which possessions you can easily get rid of (unworn clothes, unwanted presents, more plates than you’d ever use) and which you might want to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children’s art projects). Digging into her late husband’s tool shed, and her own secret drawer of vices, Margareta introduces an element of fun to a potentially daunting task. Along the way readers get a glimpse into her life in Sweden, and also become more comfortable with the idea of letting go.
Clean Mama's Guide to A Healthy Home by Becky Rapinchuck
In Clean Mama’s Guide to a Healthy Home, Becky Rapinchuk, author of Simply Clean and creator of the popular cleaning website Clean Mama, provides a step-by-step guide to take charge of your home’s wellness with a comprehensive, all-natural cleaning system.
Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana White
White has been on a "deslobification" journey for years. Now she shares the room-by-room decluttering strategies that transformed her home, walking you through applying the key concepts that will help you overcome the emotional challenges that make it difficult to let items go.
Clean My Space by Melissa Maker
Melissa Maker is beloved by fans all over the world for her completely re-engineered approach to cleaning. As the dynamic new authority on home and living, Melissa knows that to invest any of our precious time in cleaning, we need to see big, long-lasting results. So, she developed her method to help us get the most out of our effort and keep our homes fresh and welcoming every day.
Why Cleaning Has Meaning by Linda Thomas
Few of us enjoy cleaning--more often than not, it feels like a thankless, repetitive task that we must force ourselves to do.
Linda Thomas is an expert, professional cleaner who operated her own ecological cleaning company for more than twenty years. In this unique book, she explores her passion for cleaning, and argues that cleaning can have a profound effect--not just on the spaces we care for, but also on our own wellbeing and personal development.
This lively and readable book is full of anecdotes, practical examples, and ecological cleaning tips from the author's decades of cleaning experience. Ultimately, she states that, if we elevate our understanding of cleaning, we might even begin to enjoy it!
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