Living Clutter Free Forever - decluttering tips,home organizing, minimalist living

Spring cleaning made easy - declutter first with the KonMari Method® #147

• Caroline Thor - Professional Organizer - KonMari® Consultant

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Spring is here, and with it comes the urge to refresh, reset, and clean. But let’s be real—spring cleaning is a nightmare when your home is full of clutter.

How many times have you tried to clean, only to waste time moving piles of stuff from one spot to another? Scrubbing around clutter isn’t cleaning—it’s just rearranging the mess.

I’ve been there. And I know the frustration of feeling stuck before you even begin.

But here’s the good news: You don’t need more cleaning hacks—you need a better decluttering strategy.

In this episode, I’m sharing:
 ✅ Why spring cleaning feels so overwhelming (and how to fix it!)
✅ The #1 mistake people make when organizing their homes
✅ How decluttering first makes tidying effortless and cleaning a breeze
✅ Small wins that build momentum—so you actually enjoy the process!

Imagine walking into a space that feels light, clear, and energizing. That’s what happens when you declutter first.

So, are you ready to stop cleaning around clutter and start creating a home that sparks joy?

🎧 Listen now

P.S. Tag me on Instagram @caro.thor and show me your decluttering wins! I’d love to cheer you on.

I would LOVE to hear from you. Text Message me here.

Thanks for listening! For more organizational motivation, support and free resources:
Join my online membership Clutter Free Collective
Join my podcast Facebook group Living Clutter Free Forever Podcast: KonMari® Inspired Organizing | Facebook
Visit my website www.caroline-thor.com
Come and say 'hi' on Instagram @caro.thor
Follow me on Facebook @carolineorganizer

Speaker 1:

Hi there, I'm Caroline Thor, professional organiser, konmari consultant, teacher and mum of three. I started off my life as a mum feeling overwhelmed, disorganised and desperately trying to carve out some time for me amongst the nappies, chaos and clutter. One day, one small book called the Life-Changing Magic of Tidying changed everything and I began to learn strategies for making everyday life easier. Today, I have the systems in place that means life can throw almost anything at me, and I want to share them with you. If you're an overwhelmed mum struggling to keep it together, then this is the podcast for you. Grab a coffee and settle in for a quick chat with someone who gets your reality. Hello and welcome back to this latest episode of the living clutter-free forever podcast.

Speaker 1:

I am so, so happy to have you join me, and I don't know how it is where you are in the world, but here in germany we have had a week of blue skies. It's still been chilly, but we've got the crocuses out, the daffodils are out, our trees, our cherry trees, are starting to come into blossom. Everything just looks beautiful and spring-like, and really spring is seen by everyone, I think, as a season of renewal. It's like nature shedding the old and making way for new growth, and lots of people at this time of year do their spring cleaning, and I have talked in a previous podcast episode and I will put a link to it in the show notes about how I actually really don't like spring cleaning in spring. I prefer to do it in autumn, because once the weather starts getting nice, I just want to be outside. I don't want to be stuck in the house. I've got things to do in the garden. I'd love to be taking the dogs for long walks. But if you are someone who needs to do a bit of spring cleaning and if I'm really honest, I didn't do too much in autumn and I do need to do a bit this spring then this episode is going to help you, because spring cleaning is so much easier when you declutter first and not just any sort of decluttering decluttering with joy and intention, the KonMari way.

Speaker 1:

So as spring gently nudges us into this season of making us want to refresh our homes, we really can take that cue from nature. The trees are starting to get their new leaves, the trees are starting to get their new leaves, flowers are blooming, there's the fresh air sweeping in and this instinctively wants to make us clear out our homes and refresh our spaces, but there is very often a problem. We go straight into scrubbing and dusting, but if we're cleaning around clutter it just feels frustrating and ineffective. So today I'd like to talk about why decluttering before not the same thing. I am really sorry, but people often say, oh, I've been cleaning when they're talking about tidying up or they're talking about decluttering, and it really isn't the same thing.

Speaker 1:

Cleaning removes dirt, clutter removes energy, and I know that sounds like a bit woo-woo, but when our homes are cluttered it really does suck the energy out, and someone actually in my membership Clutter-Free Collective yesterday had posted that they're moving office location for their business and they couldn't believe how much stuff had built up there and how much energy it was sucking. So it really is the case that getting rid of clutter is going to remove energy. But the KonMari method is not just about curating your space, it's not just about tidying it up temporarily. It is about doing a declutter and organize that is going to last you for the long term. Because when we surround ourselves only with things that spark joy, the cleaning becomes faster and easier and more rewarding. And I often talk about the fact that when I started with the KonMari method and I was reading Marie's book and she said okay, you should visualize your ideal lifestyle. For me, my ideal lifestyle involved cleaning being really super fast and easy, because I don't like doing it. So trying to spring clean without decluttering is like basically watering a garden full of weeds, and if you want to do that, great. But personally I would rather have it quick and easy and joyful.

Speaker 1:

So how is clutter holding you back from enjoying a clean, fresh home? For a start, there's the mental load of clutter. Excess stuff makes your home feel stagnant, no matter how much you clean. I'm sure you've been in a position where you've moved a pile of stuff because you had to wipe over a surface. Then the stuff goes back and it just doesn't feel like you've done anything, whereas if afterwards that work surface is completely clear, it visually feels clean and decluttered and it's just a much nicer feeling. So these piles create visual noise, and visual noise is a problem.

Speaker 1:

Dust and mess accumulate around unused or unneeded objects. How many times it's happened to me? It's happened to me recently, actually. How many times have you moved a pile of stuff only to find that all the dust bunnies had collected underneath it? You know what it's like. So it does cause a problem and it also creates a time-wasting cycle, because cleaning is going to take longer if you're constantly moving things around rather than truly refreshing your space. And the KonMari method is a total solution because, instead of just tidying asking, does this spark joy? And removing what no longer serves you creates free spaces for you, and that is going to really really help you when it comes to your spring cleaning.

Speaker 1:

So how to decluster the KonMari way? Before you start spring cleaning, start with gratitude and intention. So, before you start diving in, pause and set the tone and actually say out loud to yourself I am making space for a fresh start and you can thank your home for supporting you through winter and invite in lightness and renewal. And then you can follow the KonMari categories, not rooms. Don't do it by room. So, rather than tackling one room at a time, focus on categories. Start with clothes. You can put away winter items. You can refresh your wardrobe with joy in mind. Then you can move on to books and papers. Clear out old papers and unfinished books that don't excite you anymore. Then you can move on to kimono, your miscellaneous items, the sneaky clutter spots, expired beauty products, unused kitchen gadgets, random decorations that you've got standing around, that you've never got around to moving and you don't even really like them anymore. And then, finally, sentimental items.

Speaker 1:

Spring is a wonderful time to reflect on what memories you truly want to keep. So you're decluttering with joy, so you're going to let go of what no longer serves you, and then spring cleaning becomes a breeze. You'll be able to dust and wipe and organize things a bit, feeling lighter when you're caring for only the things you love. So bringing a KonMari energy into your spring mindset is going to really help you. Decluttering isn't just about stuff. It's about inviting joy and clarity into your life.

Speaker 1:

Spring is a great time to let go of mental and emotional clutter as well. So old habits, if you know, you use the thing and then you leave it lying there and say to yourself I'll put it away later. Let's use spring to change that habit. You you may have lingering stress which you can perhaps address, or you're overcommitted in your scheduling. So a KonMari inspired question to ask yourself would be what do I want to bring into this new season of life? If you can address the clutter in your home, you will feel like you have done such an amazing spring clean because you will really have been focusing on joy before you actually start to clean the floor and wash the curtains and wipe over the surfaces, and all of that is going to be so much easier because you're not going to have this stuff standing around. So spring is about renewal. Let's create a space for joy, not just tidy up for a moment.

Speaker 1:

So I challenge you to pick one category and if you want to follow the KonMari method properly, then you would start with clothes, and I would challenge you to start today. Start decluttering before you clean, and I would love you to share your progress. Come to my DMs on Instagram, at carothor, and tag me if you post on social or send me a photo of your joyful spring refresh. I would love to see how you're getting on. Until next time, if you've enjoyed this episode, please send the link to a friend you know would appreciate it, subscribe and leave a review. I look forward to bringing you more organising tips next time, but if you can't wait until then, you can go to my website or find me on instagram, at carothor, or on facebook at caroline organizer. Thanks for listening and I look forward to guiding you on your journey to find your clutter free ever after.