Spring Cleaning? Here’s How to Declutter Responsibly—and Maybe Earn Some Cash

San Francisco: Spring cleaning can feel hard. Start by breaking it into two jobs: getting rid of things you don’t use (decluttering) and cleaning really deep (deep cleaning). Do one at a time so it’s not too much.

Picking where to start is the next step. Treat each room like its own space. If you have a big garage or basement, split it into smaller parts. That way “clean the whole house” becomes something smaller like “clean the back part of my garage,” which feels easier.

Before you begin, read tips for organizing your tech—like tidying your cables and cleaning your earbuds—so you have all the tools ready. If you want to help the planet, check out guides on eco-friendly cleaning products.

One easy way to declutter is the KonMari method named after Marie Kondo. Empty a drawer or closet completely. For each item ask: Does it make me happy? If yes keep it. If no put it in a “not keep” pile. If you aren’t sure put it in a third pile.

Put that “not sure” pile in a box and label it with today’s date. Hide the box and wait until next year’s spring cleaning. If you never opened it to get something out, then you can give away or sell those items.

For clothes try a hanger trick. Turn all hangers backward. When you wear one piece of clothing, turn the hanger around the right way. After six months to a year, you’ll see which clothes you never used and can let go of them.

Got special items you want someone to have later? Write names or notes on stickers and attach them to each item or keep a list. This is part of remembering who will care for these things after you—Swedish death cleaning they call it—which helps you decide why to keep something.

Once you sort out what to toss, figure out how to get rid of it. Selling online is one way if you want cash. Places like NextDoor, eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and OfferUp are popular. For older tech and phones check Swappa or Gazelle to get the best price.