--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The key to spring cleaning is to be…" description: "\"“The key to spring cleaning is to be ruthless! Throw out anything and everything you never use. (Or that may be incriminating. Burn, if necessary, but ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71e/josie-brown-31356_cleaning_the-key-to-spring-cleaning-is-to-be-ruth_285983.jpg" --- # The key to spring cleaning is to be ruthless! Throw out… ![“The key to spring cleaning is to be ruthless! Throw out anything and everything you never use. (Or that may be incriminating. Burn, if necessary, but remember—if using gasoline, those fires should be contained in a non-flammable container.)” quote by Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71e/josie-brown-31356_cleaning_the-key-to-spring-cleaning-is-to-be-ruth_285983.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71e/josie-brown-31356_cleaning_the-key-to-spring-cleaning-is-to-be-ruth_285983.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71e/josie-brown-31356_cleaning_the-key-to-spring-cleaning-is-to-be-ruth_285983.jpg) > ““The key to spring cleaning is to be ruthless! Throw out anything and everything you never use. (Or that may be incriminating. Burn, if necessary, but remember—if using gasoline, those fires should be contained in a non-flammable container.)”” [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective decluttering requires decisive removal of unused items, even if extreme measures are needed, while emphasizing safety. **In simple terms:** Be ruthless when cleaning, discard everything you don’t use. Key Takeaway Remove unnecessary items decisively. Themes decluttering efficiency minimalism safety Mood practical motivational Type advice instructional When to use this quote - home organization - moving house - seasonal cleaning Key Concepts decision making risk management Questions to Reflect On - What items truly add value to your life? - How can you declutter safely? A Different Perspective Extreme actions can be unsafe or illegal if not handled properly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Spring Clean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring-clean/) [Spring cleaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring-cleaning/) ## Related quotes > [I've spent a lot on clothes. I'm not kidding when I say I could have bought several country homes with the money. I've also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-air/i-ve-spent-a-lot-on-clothes-i-m-not-kidding-when-i-say-i-could-have/) [Donna Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-air/) > [Apologizing is like spring cleaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-hannigan/apologizing-is-like-spring-cleaning/) [Katherine Hannigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-hannigan/) > [Fasting is like spring cleaning for your body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jentezen-franklin/fasting-is-like-spring-cleaning-for-your-body/) [Jentezen Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jentezen-franklin/) > [Every day for me in the past week or so has been like a therapy session. Feels good to get it out baby! Spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kourtney-kardashian/every-day-for-me-in-the-past-week-or-so-has-been-like-a-therapy/) [Kourtney Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kourtney-kardashian/) > [My spring cleaning involves deleting pornography links that are no longer deranged enough to titillate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-spring-cleaning-involves-deleting-pornography-links-that-are-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“All the royal tales got their own special festivals. In honor of the Sleeping Beauty tale, Ever After High held the yearly Beauty Sleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/all-the-royal-tales-got-their-own-special-festivals-in-honor-of-the/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [I look forward to spring cleaning and putting things in their place. It's therapeutic for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimora-lee-simmons/i-look-forward-to-spring-cleaning-and-putting-things-in-their-place/) [Kimora Lee Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimora-lee-simmons/) > [“Let's get married,' he would say to her, through the hush of the hallway, his voice sounding like a dusting cloth on the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-deep/let-s-get-married-he-would-say-to-her-through-the-hush-of-the-hallway/) Solomon Deep > [“I got my spring cleaning done early this year. I did it over the summer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-got-my-spring-cleaning-done-early-this-year-i-did-it-over-the-summer/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [When you forgive, you heal your own anger and hurt and are able to let love lead again. It's like spring cleaning for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marci-shimoff/when-you-forgive-you-heal-your-own-anger-and-hurt-and-are-able-to-let/) [Marci Shimoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marci-shimoff/) > [“It’s time for a spring cleaning of your thoughts, it’s time to stop to just existing it’s time to start living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/it-s-time-for-a-spring-cleaning-of-your-thoughts-it-s-time-to-stop-to/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Spring cleaning the house is easy. Spring cleaning life is tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/spring-cleaning-the-house-is-easy-spring-cleaning-life-is-tough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just an FYI that you made it through my spring cleaning of Facebook friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-an-fyi-that-you-made-it-through-my-spring-cleaning-of-facebook/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sometimes in life we need to go to the closet and grab our skeletons, pile up all those that we have outgrown or those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-edward-lee-miller/sometimes-in-life-we-need-to-go-to-the-closet-and-grab-our-skeletons/) [Cody Edward Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-edward-lee-miller/) > [“Spring cleaning can also be psychological, a time-out to confront the emotional clutter that has accumulated in your mental closet,” writer Abigail Trafford recommends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/spring-cleaning-can-also-be-psychological-a-time-out-to-confront-the/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) ## More by Josie Brown > [“can I help it if I’m a better assassin than I am a housewife?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/can-i-help-it-if-i-m-a-better-assassin-than-i-am-a-housewife/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“Important Tip: Avoid arsenic in any dishes. Seems that a dead guest has a way of putting a damper on a party. Go figure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/important-tip-avoid-arsenic-in-any-dishes-seems-that-a-dead-guest-has/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“He’s lucky I’m not wearing my six-inch fuck-me stilettos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/he-s-lucky-i-m-not-wearing-my-six-inch-fuck-me-stilettos/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“I grew up in libraries, and I hope I've learned never to take them for granted. A thriving library is the heart of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/i-grew-up-in-libraries-and-i-hope-i-ve-learned-never-to-take-them-for/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“Putting out the trash is a dirty job, but let’s face it—someone has to do it. Whereas many smart wives are able to cajole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/putting-out-the-trash-is-a-dirty-job-but-let-s-face-it-someone-has-to/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“Tidy Tip: Dig deep, and be sure to cover the body in a heavy layer of slaked lime—also known as calcium hydroxide, or Ca(OH)—which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/tidy-tip-dig-deep-and-be-sure-to-cover-the-body-in-a-heavy-layer-of/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“Helpful Hint: Some Berettas are compact enough to fit into even the smallest evening clutch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/helpful-hint-some-berettas-are-compact-enough-to-fit-into-even-the/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“Pies are so much fun to make—and so simple! All it takes to make a tender, flaky crust is the right amount of vegetable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/pies-are-so-much-fun-to-make-and-so-simple-all-it-takes-to-make-a/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“There will always be a boogie man. Politicians need one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/there-will-always-be-a-boogie-man-politicians-need-one/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“Granted, your hard-working hubby is doing his fair share just by bringing home the bacon. But by encouraging him to take on a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/granted-your-hard-working-hubby-is-doing-his-fair-share-just-by/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“Any woman can be both the perfect housewife and an accomplished assassin, because both functions require the same qualities: creativity; a never-say-die attitude; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/any-woman-can-be-both-the-perfect-housewife-and-an-accomplished/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“Make special memories on this day to honor the father of your children by asking the kids to prepare a special meal. (Note: save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/make-special-memories-on-this-day-to-honor-the-father-of-your/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“Should your naughty new neighbors resist your suggestions, invite them over to see your new media room. The fact that it doubles as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/should-your-naughty-new-neighbors-resist-your-suggestions-invite-them/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“I’m used to seducing and then killing men when they are at their most vulnerable. Tonight, though, it is me who is fighting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/i-m-used-to-seducing-and-then-killing-men-when-they-are-at-their-most/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“Bullseye. Well, almost. The cleaver misses his ear by a mere inch. He stops short, but he doesn’t turn around. Instead he squares his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/bullseye-well-almost-the-cleaver-misses-his-ear-by-a-mere-inch-he/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) [Explore all 16 Josie Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) ## More Cleaning quotes > [We should get a Roomba for our Roomba. I feel bad for it because it works tirelessly, and at night I can hear it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/we-should-get-a-roomba-for-our-roomba-i-feel-bad-for-it-because-it/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [The government should set a goal for a clean environment but not mandate how that goal should be implemented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dixie-lee-ray/the-government-should-set-a-goal-for-a-clean-environment-but-not/) [Dixie Lee Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dixie-lee-ray/) > [The thought processes that go through my head when I'm playing a game compared to the thought processes in real life are very, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-romero/the-thought-processes-that-go-through-my-head-when-i-m-playing-a-game/) [John Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-romero/) > [My mother worked as a maid, cleaning the fraternity dorm of the local college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/my-mother-worked-as-a-maid-cleaning-the-fraternity-dorm-of-the-local/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Western doctors are like poor plumbers. They treat a splashing tub by cleaning up the water. These plumbers are extremely apt at drying up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-parsons-burkitt/western-doctors-are-like-poor-plumbers-they-treat-a-splashing-tub-by/) [Denis Parsons Burkitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-parsons-burkitt/) > [A lot of people approach their barn or horse like they are going to war, because it's been going badly. So you pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-meehl/a-lot-of-people-approach-their-barn-or-horse-like-they-are-going-to/) Cindy Meehl > [“The house was clean, scrubbed and immaculate, curtains washed, windows polished, but all as a man does it - the ironed curtains did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-house-was-clean-scrubbed-and-immaculate-curtains-washed-windows/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [He's getting dumped. And he doesn't even know it yet. He's probably eating a cheeseburger or flossing or picking up his dry cleaning, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/he-s-getting-dumped-and-he-doesn-t-even-know-it-yet-he-s-probably/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [ I don't know that Brandy \[Burre\] would ever categorize herself as being trapped, but I felt like I saw her being trapped. When she's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-don-t-know-that-brandy-burre-would-ever-categorize-herself-as-being/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“For those who set out to clean the dirt of the world, the best broom is their own clean morals, because you can't clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/for-those-who-set-out-to-clean-the-dirt-of-the-world-the-best-broom/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [ Any small business owner wears many hats. We \[New View Window Cleaning\] are the salesman, bookkeeper, scheduler, cleaner, customer complaint department, etc. If you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/any-small-business-owner-wears-many-hats-we-new-view-window-cleaning/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [There's times when I'm cleaning the kitchen, and while I'm doing that, I'm singing and air guitaring with a broom to 'You Should Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/there-s-times-when-i-m-cleaning-the-kitchen-and-while-i-m-doing-that/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > ['Washio' provides laundry and dry cleaning on demand. They pick it up, clean it, and return it within 24 hours - and often with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yael-cohen/washio-provides-laundry-and-dry-cleaning-on-demand-they-pick-it-up/) [Yael Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yael-cohen/) > [Anybody and everybody's going to get it. I'm not racing through my division. I'm cleaning it out. So if you want two L's, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/anybody-and-everybody-s-going-to-get-it-i-m-not-racing-through-my/) [Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/) > [The 6th of August in the morning we saw an opening in the land and we ran into it, and anchored in 7 and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dampier/the-6th-of-august-in-the-morning-we-saw-an-opening-in-the-land-and-we/) [William Dampier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dampier/) Browse all 651 Cleaning quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The key to spring cleaning is to be ruthless! Throw out anything and everything you never use. (Or that may be incriminating. 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