8 Steps To Clean Your Sewing Room Fast

Hey guys. I found myself overwhelmed with sewing mess again. This seems to be a pattern for me so I need to get organised.

About 6 or so months ago, I found this awesome post titled 10 steps to clean your house fast. Using this list has really helped me to keep my house 'guest ready' most of the time, even if it is only the living areas.

But the thing is, my sewing room always seems to become a creative frazzled mess again! Well seeing that a list has helped me so much with the rest of the house, I made a specific list just for my sewing space.

Now. The key to this list working for me is that it keeps me focused. I have specific goals, reminders and a plan. You can change this list how you like, but I would 110% recommend printing out a cleaning plan to keep you on task. Without the list I would clean up bits and pieces here and there with no real plan of attack. With the list I keep myself on track and motivated. You can do some steps at the same time as each other but have one main focus to go back to, keep focused!


How To Clean Your Sewing Room Fast




8 Steps To Clean Your Sewing Room Fast

  1. Grab a big rubbish bag or large basket and start picking up rubbish. Fabric scraps, thread balls, blunt needles, paper off cuts, that pattern your two year old ripped up. It's all rubbish, get rid of it. Even that old t-shirt you have already used for one project. You say to yourself "but there might be enough fabric to do another". Let's be honest, just chuck it out. If you are anything like me, and messy, then chances are you are also like me and no, you probably won't get around to it.

  2. Next up, anything else that doesn't belong in the room has got to go. The kids toys, that jumper someone threw in the corner, shoes you left around, half finished cup of coffee, that plate with crumbs on it. Again, pile it all in a bag or basket and take it out. Don't put that stuff away now though! We are focusing on this one room and if you head off now to put those things away it is likely your sewing room will get left untouched once again.

  3. Designate some space for piles. Now collect the random fabric laying around and make piles. Small fabric peices in one, large fabric peices in another, clothing for repurposing in another. Go through the room and grab all the stuff that is laying around and assign it a pile. You can choose different piles to what I have, you could have knits in one, woven in another. It all depends what you have laying around the place, making mess :)

  4. If you haven't already, designate homes for your stuff. Where is the fabric stored? Thread, notions, patterns, so on. No use going any further if your stuff doesn't actually have anywhere to go. Seriously, go to the dollar store and buy some plastic drawers or shelves if your stuff doesn't have a home yet.

  5. Pick up thread spools and put them in their place. Same with zippers, buttons, notions, needle packets that have made their way out of their home. Send 'em back. Store the patterns you want to use again. Fold them up, and dont worry about creasing them, you can iron them out next time easy peasy.

  6. Now we should have some clear space. So get to folding your fabric piles. Put them away.

  7. Vaccuum. This one step makes such a huge difference. Just do it.

  8. I put this step in because it is a great reminder. Clean out the sewing machine. Oil if needed, change the needle if needed.

  9. ...bonus step!... 
    • Seriously, if you have some stuff you know you will never use, consider having a de-stash sale or just donating it. More stuff means more stuff to clean.


    So now I am curious. Do you guys have some organisation tips for me? Is there some secret, which I don't know yet, that might help me keep the room clean?
    xx

    13 comments:

    1. This is awesome! Some days I really need a kick in the butt to clean up my sewing desk, especially as it's located in a communal area :)

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    2. Love this!! I am fairly tidy and clean as I go, but step 8 ahem - thanks for the reminder :)

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    3. Ugh. It's the vacuuming that kills me! I wish my sewing room didn't have carpeting in it. Sweeping just seems so much easier!

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    4. Bonus step - yep more stuff does make more mess. Contemplating a thinning out of fabrics. Seriously WHAT use ever will come from off cuts of thermal backed kids curtaining?

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    5. Have you been peeking in my sewing room window? Great tips! Thanks. :)

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    6. Great tips! I love destashing! I hate having things around that I don't think I have any use for.

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    7. My major problem is that I store my fabric in crates. Then, when I get an order, I have to rifle through every crate and then there is chaos and fabric flying everywhere, hahaha. But, then, what happens? Yes, I just stuff it all back in the crates in one huge mess.... :(

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    8. I'm a seriously messy crafter but after every project I have to clean so I can start fresh I hate clutter in the craft room more than anywhere!

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    9. Great tips..I try to do a re-set cleaning at the end of each project too...it is my way to get energy for the project to come...

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    10. Great tips..I try to do a re-set cleaning at the end of each project too...it is my way to get energy for the project to come...

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    11. Well timed post my sewing room is a complete mess, I am a classic procrastinator. Why am I sitting typing this when I should be clearing up the mess or sewing?
      ;-)

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    12. I saw a cool way to store fabric. For example, if you use crates for your fabric, put rods across, fold the fabric and hang 1 or 2 fabrics over each rod. kind of like a files in a filing cabinet. Easy to see what you have and also organized.

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    13. I clean my sewing room, sort scraps and clean my sewing machine after every project.
      I keep clear plastic boxes/drawers from the Dollar Store to keep each ongoing project in (BOM, etc.) This keeps me able to have some organization to each project I have going, I usually have several at a time.

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