10 must-read clutterbusting tips

Clutter! Every person struggles to keep it at bay, and most would admit that five minutes before visitors arrive all manner of junk is being quickly stowed in the nearest room with a closeable door. Here are some simple ways to keep the clutter under control even when you have limited space.

Clutterbusting tip 1 – Never leave a room empty-handed

If you’ve got a spare hand, grab something that doesn’t belong and put it in its place. You’ll be surprised how many things get put away if you follow this simple step. Try counting how many times you leave a room each day.

Clutterbusting tip 2 – The golden rule

Follow the ‘one in, one out’ rule. The biggest cause of clutter is that you, your partner, your flatmates or your kids keep bringing new things home when they simply don’t have a place for them. Make it a household rule that if one new thing is brought home to stay, one old thing must go.

Clutterbusting tip 3 – Think big

It stands to reason that large items take up a lot of space and add to the general clutter in the home. Ensure your larger items such as the ironing board, fitness equiptment and vacuum cleaner have a home when not in use. And put them there!

Clutterbusting tip 4 – Be ruthless with clothing

Most of use have an abundance of clothing because of clothing swaps, hand-me-downs or a slight shopping addiction. Follow the ‘one in, one out’ rule and be sure to get rid of an old item of clothing for each new item you add to your wardrobe. Another fun tip is to hold a yearly ‘fashion show’ – try on each item of clothing and decide whether to keep it or get rid of it.

Clutterbusting tip 5 – Paperwork be gone!

Deal with paperwork as soon as you open it. Mail, bills, catalogues, school notes and receipts – it all piles up so quickly! To cut down on the confusion with paperwork, try to sort mail as soon as it arrives – it’s much easier to deal with in small doses. Keep a simple system of clearly-labelled folders for easy filing. Do the same with your email inbox – a daily cleanout will ensure you never have to deal with that annoying ‘mailbox is full’ message again.

Clutterbusting tip 6 – Super storage

Invest in good shelving and storage solutions, but remember – more storage equals more stuff. In particular, ensure each bedroom has suitable storage for personal possessions, including clothes. When your personal space is filled, go by the rule of ‘one in, one out’ – whenever they bring something new home to keep, something old has to go. It’s amazing how much tidier the house will be when all your stuff has a place to live.

Clutterbusting tip 7 – Quick kitchen cleanup

Take 5 minutes to clear the kitchen bench and table before bed. You’ll feel much better in the mornings if you wake to find a tidy kitchen. A quick tidy-up of these two key areas of the home can help your morning stress levels, because you won’t be surrounded by clutter during your pre-coffee rush around.

Clutterbusting tip 8 – Put it away, straight away

It’s a common habit for busy people to plonk an object down where we last used it, mostly because we’re doing so many things at once. Get into the habit of putting things away as soon as you’re done, and you’ll cut down on a great deal of the clutter in one simple step.

Clutterbusting tip 9 – Speed cleaning

You might be surprised just how much you can achieve when you put yourself on the clock. Set the oven timer for 20 minutes, choose an area, and clean, clean, clean!

Clutterbusting tip 10 – Many hands make light work

Teach your children that cleaning is a family job. Even very young kids can help with some household tasks, and dealing with general clutter is perfect for little hands. Make sure your kids participate in the daily de-clutter by giving them a couple of small jobs to do before bed. Simple tasks like putting the cutlery away after dinner, sorting clothes or filling drink-bottles for school can make a big difference to a busy mum.