Westerly Sun Column | Start Your Summer Cleaning with the Library

 I know it’s customary to deep clean and organize your home in the spring, but can I petition to make “Summer Cleaning” a thing, instead? After all, the longer days provide you with even more time to stress about the tasks you’ve overlooked for the last few months, and the abundant sunlight coming through the windows serves to illuminate the cobwebs and dust that have gathered in the corners. It’s a great time to throw on your headphones and get to work! If you need some inspiration or guidance, the library is here with resources to help you out.

There are no shortage of professional organizers out there, each with their own methods for taking care of your space. Marie Kondo made waves in 2011 with the publication of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing”, which presented her “KonMari” method. She’s starred in her own Netflix series and published 3 more books since, including “Marie Kondo's kurashi at home” (2022). Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin of “The Home Edit” also have their own Netflix series, “Get Organized with The Home Edit”, which incorporates a bit more interior design than Kondo. They’ve published several books for various age groups, but their most recent is “The Home edit: stay organized : the ultimate guide to making systems Stick” (2023).

Perhaps you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, and prefer to take baby steps in tackling your house. Good news: there are plenty of books that focus on just one area of the home! If your kitchen is the issue, check out “Fridge Love: Organize Your Refrigerator for a Healthier, Happier Life” by Kristen Hong. Is your kitchen table constantly covered in pieces of mail? Try “The Paper Solution: What to Shred, What to Save, and How to Stop it From Taking Over Your Life” by Lisa K. Woodruff. Or, perhaps the 18,550 photos on your phone are beginning to stress you out and you don’t know where to start? Just me? I’ll be checking out “Declutter Your Photo Life: Curating, Preserving, Organizing, and Sharing Your Photos” by Adam Pratt in the near future, followed by “How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing” by KC Davis, because I’m not about the tough love approach.

If you are inspired to go through your home, and part with the things that are unneeded or no longer “spark joy”, bear in mind that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure! There are many of non-profit organizations that rely on donations from the public, as well as local “Buy Nothing” groups, which encourage gifting unneeded items to other members in an effort to combat consumerism, reduce waste, and build community. Finally, if you come across new or lightly used school supplies while cleaning, please consider dropping them off at the library between July 31st and August 7th to be included in our “School Supply Swap” on August 10th. Full details can be found on our website!

By Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian