Less Stuff, More Joy!
Written by Community Sustainability Advisory Committee (CSAC) Member Shuning Yan
As the days grow longer and the weather gets warmer, spring brings the perfect opportunity to refresh and renew. Spring cleaning is a time-honored tradition that not only tidies up your home but also provides an opportunity to improve your environment and help the community. Whether you’re deep cleaning, decluttering, or organizing this year, consider incorporating sustainable practices. Below are some tips and resources to help you with the process
Step 1: Take a Moment to Make a Plan
Before diving into your spring cleaning session, take a moment to create a plan. This will help you stay focused and ensure that you tackle the most important areas of your home.
Step 2: Break Down Your Tasks
The thought of cleaning the entire house can be overwhelming, so break down your tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, focus on one room or area at a time. You can even start with something as small as one drawer or a single shelf.
Step 3: Start with Areas that Bring You Joy
Begin with the areas of your home that bring you the most joy or are used the most frequently. For some people, this might be the kitchen or living room, while others might prioritize their bathroom or bedside table. By starting with these areas, you'll get a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep going. Remember, you know yourself best, so choose the areas that will give you the most satisfaction and make the biggest impact on your daily life.
Step 4: Organize extra stuff you find
As you clean each area of the house, it helps to separate items you no longer need into three bins: storage, Sell/donate, and discard.
- Storage: seasonal items, and rarely used items with high value should be considered for storage. Do remember to label your storage bins / boxes for easier future access.
- Sell / Donate: one person's trash is another person's treasure. That old planter box you have sitting in the backyard could be another community member’s start of their home gardening journey. Two great ways to donate your clutter
- Sell higher value items to the local community with tools like Facebook Marketplace; or use sites like eBay to broaden your audience.
- Donate to community members: Use Groups and community forums like Foster City Buy Nothing FB Group to gift items to your neighbors
- Donation centers: Most donation centers accept clothing, accessories, books, cookware, and other household items that are in good condition. Some local donation centers are listed HERE. Please ensure to check their donation hours before making the trip.
Discard: Consider what could be repurposed or recycled to reduce waste. Foster City CSAC has compiled a comprehensive list of how you can sustainably dispose of common household items responsibly. See list HERE.
Spring cleaning is not just about organizing your space; it’s an opportunity to give back to your community and the planet. By recycling and donating responsibly, you can make a positive impact while enjoying a fresh, decluttered home. So, roll up your sleeves, put on some music, and get started on your spring cleaning — your home and the Earth will thank you!
For other great ideas on sustainable living, come join us for the second annual Earth Day, Every Day Fair!
- Who: everyone is welcome!
- When: April 12th from 10 am - 1 pm
- Where: In-person Earth Day Celebration at the Foster City Public Library and the entry courtyard.
- Event Detail: The event will feature tables & booths hosted by local, sustainable organizations and services, including exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Inside the library, there will be craft activities as well as environmentally-themed entertainment for children and youth.
Organizers: The City of Foster City, the Foster City Citizens Sustainability Advisory Committee, in partnership with the Foster City Library and sponsors.