The big clear out

It's spring time which means spring cleaning time! Since it's National Declutter Week, there's no time like the present to get your home in order, writes Yvonne Evans

The spring clean can be quite a daunting task especially if you have a family. The job can be overwhelming. Take it step by step, one room at a time. If your loved ones are willing to pitch in, all the better. If you don't know where to get started, here are a few tips to get you on the way.

- Go through your own wardrobe. If there's anything in there that you don't think you'll wear again, bag it up. If you're not sure whether to rid of clothing, think, have I worn this in the last year? If the answer is no, get rid of it. Once you've tackled your own wardrobe, head to your children's rooms. Children grow so fast that realistically there are going to be clothes or shoes in their wardrobes and chests of drawers that have become to small. The clothes you wish to disgard can be of great help to another so why not donate to your local charity shop?

- While you're in your children's rooms, take a look in their toy boxes, there's a good chance that many of their toys are broken or simply toys that you're children have gotten too big for. Bag or box these items separately. Old toys in good condition can be passed down or given away. These can be kept for a younger child you know or be donated to charity.

- If you still have items such as high chairs, walkers and play pens that are taking up your storage, and you don't plan on expanding your family, these items will be very much wanted by another. If you want to earn back some of the cash you spent on these items, the 'baby market' is a great place to move on these unwanted items. The next market will take place on Saturday 24 March at St Finbarr's GAA club. For more information go to www.thebabymarket.com

- If you think that the declutter job will produce masses amount of rubbish, make your life easy and hire a skip or skip bag. These bags are quite large and buying one will most likely save you time and money over putting your unwanted clutter in your regular refuse bins. The skip bags can be bought for approximately €10 at most DIY stores. Once you have fiilled your bag, you can organise with the company who make the bags, a payment and a collection day. Waste Recovery Services in Cork provide these services, go to www.wrs.ie for more information on skip bags.

- Once you have successfully made a start on your decluttering, consider better storage options, to make life easy on you and your family until next year's spring clean. Smart Storage provides a service which installs storage facilities for under your stairs and your attic. If you are lacking in storage place, under the stairs can give you a whole new space for your household items such as schoolbags, shoes and your hoover. Prices with Smart Storage start from €350 including installation. For more information go to www.smartstorage.ie

The 'big clean' is never easy and can be a huge job. Keep it simple, one job at a time. Happy cleaning, this National Declutter week!