While many people find joy in spring cleaning, the warmer weather can be a good excuse to put it off. The task can seem overwhelming, a room-by-room spring cleaning checklist can make the decluttering process much more manageable. The checklist below is designed to help you break your decluttering process into bite-size chunks. Completing each room before moving on to the next will give you a motivating sense of accomplishment at multiple stages during the decluttering process.
Click here to download a printable PDF version of the spring cleaning checklist.
Click here for a list of what the ReStore does and does not accept.
Three Box Method
The three-box method is a great way to organize your decluttering process. As you go from room to room, take three boxes or large containers labeled “Donate,” “Keep” and “Trash/Recycle.” For larger items, place sticky notes labeled with the same three categories. Removing all items in every room and sorting them into boxes also presents a fantastic time to tackle a thorough deep clean of your house.
Declutter: A simple spring cleaning checklist for every room
Rooms
Bedroom
The bedroom is one of the most commonly prioritized rooms for spring cleaning, so it seems like a great place to start.
Surfaces
Examine items on all flat surfaces – the tops of dressers and nightstands, for example – and make sure they all are something you use regularly.
Closet
Take a close look at your clothes and shoes. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t worn it in a year, you probably won’t wear it again. The closet hanger experiment is a great way to examine how often you wear each item.
Under the bed
You never know what’s accumulated under there – and it’s time to find out!
Bedroom items accepted by most Habitat ReStores
- Complete Bedframes
- Dressers
- Nightstands
Kitchen
Cabinets
Perform a thorough cabinet sweep. Match containers and lids. Take stock of the dishes you need (and those you don’t). Remove expired items and be sure to check that all spices are fresh.
Refrigerator
Clean out any old or unused items in the fridge and the freezer.
Drawers
Is the infamous “junk drawer” located in the kitchen of your house? If so, take out all items to assess what you really need.
Kitchen items accepted by our Habitat ReStores
- Kitchen Cabinetry
- Vanities
- Countertops
- Fixtures
- Lighting
- Large & Small Appliances
Living room
Entertainment center
Sort through Blu Rays, DVDs and CDs and donate any you no longer watch or want. Recycle any empty cases you find.
Drawers
Go through any drawers to remove trash and other unneeded items.
Shelves
Organize all shelves, getting rid of any unneeded items.
Living room items accepted by our Habitat ReStores
- Furniture
- Home Decor Items
- Antiques
Garage/basement/shed
Everyone’s garage or basement or shed is different, and we’ve put them all together because what we are really referring to is the place in or around the house where extra stuff tends to pile up. This can be a closet, a finished basement, an outdoor shed or any place in between.
Donation piles
These spaces can seem overwhelming, so start with the easiest of all: donation piles. You’ve spent all year collecting items you need to donate, and it’s finally time to load them up and take them to the various donation centers around town.
Categories
Divide everything left into categories and go through each category one by one. Tools, building materials, cleaning supplies, whatever it may be. Check for duplicates and get rid of anything that’s broken – throw away if necessary but donate or recycle if possible!
Reorganize
For everything that you are keeping, group by categories to help keep them organized year-round.
Other items accepted by our Habitat ReStores
- Clothing
- Electrical Supplies
- Plumbing Supplies
- New Flooring
- Lighting
- New Windows
- Doors
- Lawn Equipment
- Video gaming consoles, controllers, and video games
Donating to the Habitat ReStore
How to prepare your donation
Please neatly pack any smaller items in containers or boxes.
How to drop off a donation
All ReStore locations have donation drop-off availability. No appointment is necessary.
Drop off your donation at a ReStore:
Our locations
How to schedule a pickup
For large multi-item donations:
Book Online
Call to Schedule:905-637-4446 ext. 427
Do I qualify for a tax receipt?
Yes, we issue tax receipts for ReStore donations all you have to do is ask!
Why donate to the ReStore?
Since 2002, our local Habitat ReStores have been diverting hundreds of thousands of tonnes of materials from landfills and giving families opportunities to purchase affordable household items and building materials while doing our part to protect the planet.
ReStores are the engine that drives our mission. Profits from them pay for our operations and admin costs so that every penny of every donation we receive can be funneled into our housing programs to help more families right here in our community.
💪The world is strengthened for future generations.