Well, apparently, this week was National Spring Cleaning Week.  Too bad I missed it… luckily there’s always next year

The truth is, a clean home is not the same as an organized home, and I don’t mind telling you that while I love organizing, I am definitely lacking the same passion for cleaning.  At any given time, my home is never particularly messy, but it has its fair share of cobwebs in corners and slightly streaky windows.  The wonderful thing is, that even with a light layer of dust, tidy spaces still feel cared for and welcoming.  And if you do then find yourself in the mood to clean, an organized home is much easier to deal with: some rooms take as little as half the time to clean, once they’re de-cluttered.  In an average home, that’s a large time saving.

Dishtowels, Anthropologie

So if you’ve had a busy few months and feel that Spring is a great time to bring your home back under control, I’d suggest you clarify first whether your space is more in need of organizing, or cleaning.  If it’s both, for goodness sake, tackle them as separate projects rather than attempting to be Mary Poppins in one afternoon.

Ironing Board Cover: City Chic Country Mouse

And please be wary of any organizing books and websites which devote large amounts of space talking about cleaning schedules, habits and systems.  I strongly believe these are different topics, and you’d be wise to deal with your organizing challenges first, to smooth the way for your cleaning aspirations.

I’m curious: if you could choose between a visit from a team of Professional Cleaners, or a team of Professional Organizers, which would you pick?

If you chose ‘Organizers’ and would like friendly, confidential help to turn chaos into calm, contact me to take the first step. If you chose ‘Cleaners’ – very sorry, you’re on your own…