So at last, and I mean AT LAST Papa Diva and I are tackling our post-twins, post-moving house clutter. I am going through each room, archiving stuff we want to keep in boxes. Each box has a with Google doc relating to it’s contents and a QR code to stick on each box so we can scan and know what’s in there… This, dear readers, makes me warm and tingly from my grey geek matter down. I think our urge to declutter is partly a natural Spring urge to get sorted and clean after a Winter encased in dust and crap, and partly down to the new Channel 4 series Get Your House in Order.

The show features hoarders who are made to empty everything out of their homes and sell their excess rubbish for funds to have their home re-done by the show’s interior designer. It is actually terrifying to see the amount of complete and utter CRAP that people hoard, and I am so paranoid about clutter becoming uncontrollable that it has kickstarted a little regime. (check it out on Thursdays).

Now, to be fair, usually in the evenings sorting out our pit after the madness of working, having toddler twins and trying to fit in any form of exercise too is the last thing on my mind (the first being to cower, shaking in a corner with redbush tea, and loungewear). So to make it easy I have started doing just 8 minutes a day of anti-crap sorting. It doesn’t sound like much, by by jove it does have a cumulative effect. I have been ebaying stuff I no longer want or need, and make a cool £80 last weekend from junk.

The people from RugDoctor happened to email me during this méle of declutter so I thought you might like to see their top tips for a Spring Clean. I had added mine too, so you can get started on a Diva Geek Clean while the Spring Sun is shining:

1. Take it one room at a time Make sure you plan ahead and choose where to begin, make a list of the areas you want to target and tackle them one step at a time. Be sure to budget time for distractions too-unexpected visitors and phone calls are inevitable! (ok, I am really bad at this but it’s good advice. I tend to start in 3 rooms, have them all over the floor simultaneously, get really stressed after a while and rely on Miles to come and calm me down with wine. Their advice is much more sane.)

2. Declutter before your clean Always declutter before a polish, make sure your area is good to go before you don your gloves and spray. (yup, liking this.)

3. Deep clean those carpets Nothing refreshes a room more than a clean carpet, and hiring a Rug Doctor can have your carpets looking, feeling and smelling as good as new in no time. (ok, our carpets are covered in toddler goo, indecipherable crusty matter and chalk, so this is a good plan. When I can see the carpet, that is).

4. Make your vases blooming lovely What better way to freshen up your home than with a bunch of sweet-smelling blooms. Handpick some flowers from your garden for a sweet smelling aroma. (yes! This! *rushes to buy gerberas*).

5. Add a splash of vinegar to make those windows shine A top tip for making those windows squeaky clean is to add some vinegar to water and spray onto the glass, then simply wipe clean with a dust free cloth. (Hmm. or call the window cleaner? One does have a blog to write, a company to run, kids to feed, washing to do, The Tube to watch…)

6. Care for your curtains Are your curtains looking drab? Well take them down, remove the hooks and give them a quick cycle in the dryer with a wet towel to rid the dust. (Yip, although no amount of un-drabbing will save them from toddler claws. Maybe in the future. Ooh that vinegar came in handy for my chips in the end).

7. Revamp your wardrobe Empty your wardrobe of all your clothes and give it a good scrub, you never know you might find a couple of items you’d forgotten about too.( I love doing this, it’s always like finding a whole new set of clothes! Always room for more though. And shoes. *looks at Irregular Choice*  I am still waiting for the ‘phone to ring re my sponsorship. Rude.)

8.Open the windows for fresh air Winter is over so open up those windows and let the good fresh air billow through your home. (Yes, yes yes. Also maybe leave via windows and sit in pub garden? Much more fresh air there.)

9. Start from the top and work your way down With each room start at the ceiling and get rid of the cobwebs before working your way down walls and finishing with the floor. (well, I am just pleased I am doing something, but I like the advice).   

10.  Get the kids to lend a hand (are you kidding? They are 2. This ends in chaos). 

Have you got e declutter bug this Spring? Have you gone techy with it? Let me know.. x