No matter how vigilant we are, clutter always seems to rear its ugly head. Whether we unintentionally bring it home, or it’s growing unknowingly in the back of the cupboards, there’s always something needing to go up the charity shop.
Calling in a professional organiser can get things back under control, but how do you keep it that way? We spoke to 5 pros to find out the rules they swear by to maintain a clutter-free home, so you can clear the chaos once and for all.
Declutter based on the container
Marielle Goldberg, professional organiser from Sorted Home, says focusing on the initial space first is key: ‘Let’s say you have one drawer for your workout clothes and it’s constantly overflowing. Take everything out and then start putting your favourites back in. Stop when the drawer is full, not jam-packed! Everything that didn’t find a spot in the drawer is an automatic donate.’
Overfilling your drawers with clutter defeats the purpose of your efforts, so try to resist this habit. Prioritise your favourite items when deciding what to keep to make best use of the space and consider whether space needs to be saved for any extras hiding in the laundry basket. If your decisions needs reinforcing, ask yourself why those items you intend to donate didn’t quite make the cut.
Know where the clutter is going
‘My number-one rule is to always know your exits, and work them into your plan,’ says Gemma Bray, The Organised Mum. ‘By exits I mean charity shops, selling sites, recycling and so on. The biggest mistake I see people make is thinking about the first half of the decluttering process (the actual sorting and deciding what they want to keep) but not thinking about what comes next. If you don’t have the clutter’s exit as part of your plan, you run the risk of just moving clutter from one place to another, and you’ll waste your time and energy.’
You don’t want bin bags sitting in the boot of the car, or by the front door (aka churning), for endless weeks until you’re unsure what you decluttered in the first place. Know where you’re going to take your donations or recycling and make sure they will be accepted ahead of time. Recycle Now is handy to tell you local recycling points, while clothes banks are widely available if charity shops aren’t accepting donations.
Would you buy it today?
As you make decisions about what to keep, Marshall Aikman, owner at Amazing Moves Moving & Storage, says you should ask yourself one key question: ‘“If I don't already own this item, would I buy it today?” If the answer is “no” and the item doesn’t have much sentimental value to you, then you can get rid of it. This approach helps people understand what purpose each item serves in their lives and makes it easier to make decisions without feeling overwhelmed.’
Such a mindset will clear dated clutter that has little emotional value to you. If you need persuading, you can also question when you last used the item, if you even knew you had it, or whether someone else might value it more. Having a friend or family member helping you to declutter can give you a fresh take as well, so you don’t doubt yourself.
Create a ‘homework pile’
Marielle continues: ‘It can be easy to get distracted! To stay on track, create a “homework” pile – things that need batteries, repair or a discussion with another family member before donating. Separating those items allows you to keep your focus and momentum on the decluttering at hand. Just make sure you find time to deal with the “homework” pile later!’
There are always items that need addressing before they can move on. Clothes might need to be listed and sold online. Or a button might need replacing before it can be donated. You might even need to dry-clean some clothes you plan to keep. In any case, all kinds of odd jobs will pop up as you declutter. Having a box marked ‘homework pile’ will keep them grouped, so they’re easier to work through later. Just make sure you pencil in a time to do this in a calendar, so it doesn’t become its own form of clutter.
Declutter little and often
Breaking up the work can stop it from becoming overwhelming, says Lucy Milligan Wahl, founder of LMW Edits: ‘I often see clients try to tackle too much at once. I always recommend focusing on a small area at first, like a single shelf or drawer. That way, you're able to get a win under your belt and stay motivated for the work to come!
‘More stuff is always coming into our homes, so decluttering is never done. But I always tell clients that as soon as they lay hands on something they know they don’t want any more, put it in the donation pile or recycling bin right then. There’s no need to wait and assign yourself a weekend task of going through the clutter that has built up!’
Getting into the habit of decluttering can stop the work from mounting up and consuming entire weekends. One way we recommend you do this is by following Good Housekeeping’s own Declutter By Degrees method. This is based on a simple premise of decluttering for 20 minutes a day, for 5 days a week, working through the areas that follow your daily routine. Follow this, and clutter won’t have a chance to build up again.
Repurpose what’s sentimental
Sentimental items can be a stumbling block, according to Marielle: ‘Sentimental items can be some of the hardest to declutter. But are your treasures sitting in boxes, never to be seen again? I love challenging my clients to use their sentimental items by taking them out of storage, turning them into art or finding another way to repurpose them. I love framing things like old letters, hanging a vintage dish on the wall or digitising kids’ artwork to make a coffee table book.’
If something’s sentimental, it should be given the chance to be admired and appreciated. Hiding it away means it’s just gathering dust and taking up valuable space. But positioning it front and centre means it serves a purpose by triggering memories and makes it a talking point for guests, too.
We’ve found some genius ways to reuse sentimental items to give you some inspiration.
Don’t buy storage solutions until you’re finished
Finally, Judith Clarkson, Master KonMari Consultant at Life Sorted, says caution should be taken with storage solutions. ‘It can be so tempting to order new, pretty baskets, hangers, containers and magical storage solutions as soon as you decide to get organised, but I always advise my clients to hold off on the shopping.
‘Declutter first by deciding what you want to keep and letting go of the clutter from your home. Only at that point will you know how much you need to store and what type and size of storage solution will work best.’
Measure your available space, and make sure the storage solution fits flush, so none is wasted. Consider the size of what you need to store and make sure the storage solution is appropriate, too. Many boots struggle to fit into shoe organisers, while drawer dividers might be too tall or too short.
Handy storage solutions
