Organization is key to a well-run home. (Courtesy of Cheryll Gillespie)

I think I hear a robin…. and is that really a tulip I spy coming up in the garden? Honest, Spring is just around the corner and that puts me in a mindset to clear clutter. Yes, this is my annual get rid of all the excess in your home rant.

But clearing away all the clutter is so much more than that. I had a chat earlier this week with my friend Peter Walsh - guru of clutter from TLC’s Clean Sweep - about how life is simply better when you clear a path. I couldn’t agree more, and I’ve been writing about this for, oh ten years now. Peter and I chatted about his new book Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat. We all have stuff we’re not sure how we accumulated.

So your project for the next thirty days is to assemble one box or bag of clutter a day from the house. Peter’s focus in the book is the kitchen, and you’ll undoubtedly find more than a bag worth of junk here. I went through my own pantry and all the cupboards about a year and a half ago when I had had enough of processed foods and completely overhauled my family’s eating habits. I restocked my cupboards with fabulous organic and healthy ingredients for day to day cooking.

As Peter stresses, shop for the meal as opposed to buying food. Most of us also need to clear off the countertops. It is no fun to cook when there is simply no space. Why do you need all those appliances on the countertop? Unless they are used on a day to day basis put them away.

If you are a fan of Peter’s show you have no doubt seen him instruct homeowners to put all their gadgets in a box and pull out over the course of a month what they need to use. What’s left over is put into a yard sale. Your kitchen will not only look better but it will work better. It’s a fact that most of our rooms have 30 percent too much stuff.

Next, tackle every drawer, closet and cupboard in the house. Clear out all of those cleaning supplies and replace them with green, healthy products. Don’t forget to tackle the office and the basement.

Sort, box, label and store what needs to stay, but all of those extra light fixtures, clothes you were saving for a camping trip that never happens, old books, etc. simply need to go.

Save the garage for a sunny weekend when you just can’t resist being outside. Throw open the garage door and get ready to throw out broken shovels, toys and the rest of the junk.

The focus for March will be to simply clear space - to pare down and to edit. This also means that we do not need to bring any new items home (except of course for green cleaning products, clear plastic containers for storage and new healthy foods for the pantry). You’ll be surprised how much better you will feel and how much easier it is to live in your home when you give it room to breath. Happy cleaning everyone!