Spring Cleaning Tips

It’s that time of year… Spring cleaning! We’ve put together a list of areas to focus. Whether you can dedicate an entire weekend or short periods of time on this, it’ll be worth it.

Make a plan

Illustration by @sannyvanloon.

We always start here whether we’re organizing, packing, or cleaning. Just because it’s housework, doesn’t mean it can’t be fun (or at least mildly enjoyable) - make a playlist, open the windows, listen to your favorite podcast, and take breaks. Wearing a mask and gloves will provide extra protection from cleaning chemicals or any allergens you might be exposed to. Incorporating a long term solution like air purifiers in your home can increase your air quality. Keeping a handheld broom & dust pan set in your kitchen is handy for quick clean up.

Toss it

Let go of outdated or no longer fresh cleaning supplies. Recycle empty (and washed out) bottles and containers. Here’s a quick resource on how to dispose of potentially hazardous household chemicals in Knoxville.

Restock

Replenish cleaning supplies with quality products. Consider swapping an older vaccuum for a HEPA vaccuum, like this one. This handy tool will help you tackle blinds in half the time. Amazon customers are raving about this powerhouse pumice cleaning stone. Stick to similar scents to avoid sensory overload from multiple products (we’re all for the Mrs. Meyers seasonal scented cleaning supplies). These microfiber cleaning cloths are our go-to. Try all natural or eco-friendly cleaning products. Here are a few we recommend: Wooden cleaning brush set, Biodegradable cleaning wipes, Dryer sheets, Dish soap, Dish detergent pods, and Laundry detergent.

Just so ya know: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning when you click the link to purchase a product on this page, HYD receives a commission for sharing this with you without any additional cost to you.

Don’t forget

Tend to the areas and items that only need rare attention that you don’t routinely clean monthly or weekly! Here’s a list of places you may want to consider:

• Ceiling fans (to avoid a dust storm, place a pillowcase over a fan blade then pull towards you to collect dust)

• Switch plates (Magic Erasers can work wonders here)

• Air filters & vents (don’t forget to write the date on the new filter when you replace it & put a note in your phone calendar for the next replacement date)

• Dryer return

• Luggage

• Trash cans & recycle bins (if they are commonly stinky, toss a couple dryer sheets in the bottom to help absorb odor)

• Oven

• Toaster (bye bye crumb collection)

• Microwave (Tip from Good Housekeeping: Fill a bowl with 1 cup of water and a chopped-up lemon, lime, or orange or several tablespoons of vinegar and stick it inside. Turn the appliance on high for several minutes or until the solution boils and the window is steamy, then let it cool for 5 minutes before opening the door. Remove and wipe the inside and outside with a sponge.)

• Refrigerator & freezer (once completed, this is one of the most satisfying transformations)

• Curtains (and fabric shower curtains - toss in the dryer on air-only cycle for a quick refresh)

• Patio furniture (get it ready for it’s prime season!)

• Medicine cabinet & first aid supplies

• Pet beds

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What other areas do you focus on for your own spring cleaning?
It’s a great time to do a quick purge in your closets as the seasons change, too!

Is Your Home a Reflection of You?

Photo by Brooke Phillips.

As we begin a new year, we want to encourage you to reflect on a few questions we often explore with our clients. The hands on “organizing” and “packing/unpacking” work we do is important, however the deeper work we do often has more meaningful implications than we can express through before & after images.

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Take some time to consider these questions:

What do you love about your home?

What are a few of your favorite memories or meaningful moments that have taken place in your home?

What do you hope others feel when they spend time in your home?

Does your home decor and style consist of your own selections? Or is it a combination of gifts from loved ones and passed down pieces from family members?

Where do you find inspiration for your home?

Who do you trust to help you make decisions about your home?

Where do you go in your home to find rest?

What are values that you’d like your home to reflect?

What do you wish you could change in your home?

Are there areas in your home that cause you to feel overwhelmed?

What is one improvement you could make to your space that would increase your enjoyment?

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Photo by Texture Photo.

Before we begin any home organizing project, we create space to listen first. This allows us to gain a more full understanding of why a client reached out to us and what hurdle they are hoping to overcome. Life is messy, complicated, and unpredictable - and our homes are often affected by the events and seasons of our lives. We remind our clients that feeling shame around the current status of their home is not helpful, beneficial, or necessary. Rather, we encourage them to dream again of what their space could look/feel/be like. We remind our clients that their home is never too far gone & there is always somewhere to start.

Do you have an area of your home you’re ready to reclaim? Our team is ready to help.

Start the conversation today.

Sidenote: Just as we are continually encouraged and inspired by our clients stories, our team is made up of strong, resilient, and talented organizers who each bring a unique set of life experiences that enable us to serve clients facing all kinds of challenges. Read more about them here.

Telling More Stories | An Interview with Meg Davis

We are excited to share a little Q&A we had with Meg Davis. She is passionate about storytelling and just recently launched her own business: Telling More Stories. We always strive to honor the story of our client’s lives & their homes, so we were eager to chat with her to learn more about why storytelling is so important to her. Her posture of valuing connection and relationship is one that we so admire.

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enjoy our Q&A with Meg

Q- Can you give us a bit of background on who you are?

Grab your copy!

A- I grew up in Knoxville and have lived here on and off my whole life, it’s home. I went to UT and studied Psychology and English, never envisioning that those two would coincide into any kind of career. I always knew I wanted to be a writer in some capacity. After college, I worked at the Knoxville News Sentinel where I was interested in telling stories with a social justice angle, trying to amplify voices in the community that were seldom heard from. After my time at the Sentinel, I met Kreis Beall, who founded Blackberry Farm back in 1976. She had an incredible story and she herself was a beautiful storyteller. For five years, we worked together to write her life story in the form of a memoir. Her book, The Great Blue Hills of God, came out in February of 2020 with Penguin Random House. The process of telling her story is what prompted me to start my business, Telling More Stories. I discovered how powerful, and even healing, the process of owning and telling one’s own story can be and I knew that was something I wanted to elevate in others and be a part of. It’s an incredible privilege to take part in helping tell another person’s story. Outside of writing, you can find me dreaming up plans of converting an RV into a mobile office to travel around the country telling stories, hiking, forcing my dog to snuggle with me, or exploring our city. I’m a classic Enneagram 9, which means I am also a huge proponent of nap-taking and good old fashioned conflict management. 

Q- Why is "story telling" important to you?

A- Storytelling is important to me, because I think it’s the way we understand not just ourselves, but the world and our place in it. I believe that throughout history, stories have been the primary way in which we are able to interpret the complexities of life. I also think that stories are the great equalizer towards understanding one another, especially those who have differing world views or experiences. One of my favorite quotes is from Michelle Obama, she says, “It’s hard to hate up close.” I think this is the power of storytelling. Once we know someone’s story, where they came from, what shaped them, and the experiences that informed who they are, it changes the way we view that person and has the capacity to soften and change the way we relate to one another. 

Q- What are some of your favorite stories you've read? 

Follow @megcdavis

A- My favorite stories, in any form, are always the ones with complex, and often broken, characters. I love a good story with a strong, female lead and anything historical fiction.

Q- What have been some of your favorite stories to write?

A- In terms of my own writing, I love when I get the chance to amplify voices of people and communities and to help them tell their story in a way that makes them feel seen and heard. I love a good journey too - individuals who have overcome brokenness or hardship. I also love having a chance to build up and support other women through storytelling when possible.

Q- What is most challenging to writing & telling stories?

A- I have a difficult time writing stories that I don’t feel some element of connection to. Writing can also sometimes feel like a very solitary process which can be a challenge, which is why I enjoy what I get to do, which involves so much interpersonal interaction. Relationship for me is at the heart of everything, so it’s nice to feel like I can make what has the potential to be a lonely job, into something that feels more connected.

Q- What do you find most rewarding in telling stories?

A- What I find to be most rewarding is watching how impactful the process can be for the person telling their story. It is truly a powerful thing to watch.

Q- What do you love about calling Knoxville home?

A- I love living in Knoxville because it has such a vibrant, creative, and community feel to it, while also having such a diverse range of urban growth and outdoor accessibility. It feels like it is always growing, and that has been a fun thing to watch and take part in.

Q- If you could live anywhere in the world for a time, where would it be?

A- I have always wanted to live abroad for a season, somewhere in South America or Southern Europe.

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Thank you Meg for sharing with us! Telling More Stories offers a few packages if you’re interested in the storytelling process for yourself or someone you love. Feel free to pass along this interview or share Meg’s website with your friends!

Here’s to the stories we are living today & to the ones we will tell for years to come!

Glad Tidings

We want to wish you all holiday season full of comfort & joy. For those of you celebrating Christmas, we hope it’s one full of peace & celebration. Enjoy this beautiful Christmas poem from Madeleine L’Engle…

He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace
He came when the Heavens were unsteady
and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait

till hearts were pure. In joy he came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
He came, and his Light would not go out. 

He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!