Decluttering your house can feel like trying to scale Mount Everest, especially if things have been piling up over the course of several years. But no matter how unconquerable the task may seem, all it takes is a few days to transform your home and make it neater than ever before. There are, of course,…
Medicine Cabinet
Your medicine cabinet is probably full of old pill bottles and half-empty moisturizer tubes that are occupying valuable space. Start by taking every last item out of the medicine cabinet, even if you intend to keep it. Then toss anything that’s past its expiration date, as well as any item you’re unlikely to use. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the clutter, reorganize the cabinet to maximize space and make it easy to find the items you use most often.
Pantry
It’s easy to forget about that old bag of rice or can of beans that’s been sitting in the back of the pantry for the last decade (or more). Since those foods — and others — are likely long past their expiration dates, it’s a good time to give the entire pantry a thorough clean. Remove all of the food and put anything past its best-by date right into the trash can. Not only will this provide you with some necessary peace of mind, but it’ll also clear out room in advance of your next grocery haul.
Car Console
The middle console in your car could very well contain everything from loose change to old fast-food receipts and even a few cassette tapes. Remove everything from the center console and decide what stays and what goes. Quarters for the parking meter? OK. A 2013 McDonald’s receipt? Toss it. Phone charger? Sure. The best of the Bee Gees on cassette? Probably not worth keeping. Decluttering the center console can create much-needed space for important items such as road flares or extra water bottles.
Underwear Drawer
The more you wear your favorite pair of Jockeys or socks, the more likely they are to develop giant holes that make them unwearable. Far too often, we delude ourselves into thinking we’ll eventually repair those holes, when in reality, we’ll probably never wear those pieces of clothing again. Search through your dresser for any pairs of underwear or socks with holes, and get rid of them ASAP. This will create more drawer space for the clothing you wear regularly.
Anything Above Eye Level
When walking through your house, you may not realize just how much clutter exists above eye level. We’re talking junk mail atop the refrigerator, old sporting equipment cluttering garage shelves, knickknacks haphazardly arranged on a bookcase, and so on. Make an effort to look up and clean the areas that are so often ignored. You should rest easy knowing there are no mystery messes hiding just out of sight.
Under the Bed
Who doesn’t have storage bins hidden under the bed, full of shirts or sweaters you packed away and promptly forgot about? While those giant containers don’t necessarily add visual clutter to your home, they are probably gathering dust and taking up space for no good reason. Be sure to remove the bins from underneath your bed every once in a while and get rid of the items you’ll never wear or use again. By clearing space under the bed, you can use it to store seasonal items that you actually will use again, like winter jackets.
Decluttering has been linked to many mental health benefits, including improved focus and self-esteem. However, for some people, the act can be physically and emotionally draining. To make it more manageable, tackle one of these decluttering tasks per day, giving yourself a well-deserved break at the end of the week. Your space, and your mind, will be better off for it.
