Everyone wants a decluttered home, but there’s one thing that holds us back: time. Try as we might, there’s never enough time to pull open every drawer and sort through what’s inside. Even if you manage that, there’s still the time needed to run everything to the charity shop or sell it online. In the end, clutter is inevitable, whether it’s stacked up on your shelves or sitting in a bin bag by the front door.
But what if we told you there’s a way to make this work a little easier? In fact, there are things you can declutter on the go that take zero time and effort to organise. So you can make the most of your daily routine and declutter odds-and-ends at the same time. While it won’t solve your clutter woes, it will certainly make a difference at surface level – so there’s no excuse not to. Here’s the clutter you can clear in seconds, with no need to stop or think.
1. Ice cream packaging
When the time comes to grab an ice cream from the freezer, quickly remove and recycle all the excess packaging. This takes up valuable space in the drawer and, being individually wrapped, the ice creams and lollies don’t need it!
You could do the same for other items when it comes to dinner, too. Although, this will take a little longer to sort, as you need to make the switch to sealable freezer bags and write down the date when frozen (with a freezer-safe marker). Take a picture of the cooking instructions if needed and create an album on your phone for future reference. Moving things over is a great way to save crumbs in the freezer – as well as space!
2. Takeaway menus
Takeaway menus, beauty spa pamphlets, estate agent enquiries; the junk mail never ends. Once it’s past the letterbox, it sits abandoned on the hallway table, waiting to be chucked later. But this is one of those things you can deal with as soon as it’s off the doormat.
It takes seconds to sort the junk mail from the legitimate mail. And once it’s out of the way and recycled, it won’t take a toll on your mood over the week (or gradually build into an overwhelming pile of paperwork). If there are any menus or services you want to keep, you can quickly take a photo before chucking it. Unwanted vouchers could be offered out to neighbours. If you want to put an end to this clutter, you could invest in a sign or sticker for your letterbox, too.
3. Damaged pants and socks
When the time comes to take down your washing, there’s always a holey sock or two in the mix, not to mention pants with snapped elastic at the seams. Seeing that we’ve just washed them, it’s easy to ignore the damage and move them directly to the bedroom drawers. But this is the perfect time to declutter what’s not up to scratch.
Set aside any damaged lingerie and recycle them at a local textiles recycling bank (yes, worn pants can be recycled once clean!). Unwanted socks can also be slid over the hand and used as a makeshift duster. This is one of the many ways you can repurpose old socks instead of tossing them.
4. Clothes that don’t fit
While you’re getting dressed in the morning, if you stumble on something that no longer fits or just doesn’t suit you anymore, declutter it there and then. Lynda Wylie, professional organiser from Tidy Rooms, recommends that you: ‘Keep a small box or charity bag in the bottom of your wardrobe and drop items in as you go, taking it to charity (or selling) when it’s almost full. An overloaded wardrobe isn’t serving you well and you won’t miss these items if you’ve already stopped choosing them.’
Decluttering while you’re dressing can help you to stay on top of a bulging wardrobe. Plus, trying the items on encourages definite decisions; seeing it on, you’re less likely to question yourself. It can help to avoid regrets, too.
5. Tissues from pockets
This one really can be decluttered on the move. The next time you’re walking past a bin, make the effort to empty your pockets of any forgotten tissues, receipts and wrappers. This can save you from discovering a soggy mess the next time you’re caught in a downpour or from dealing with the remnants in your washing machine. It can save rogue items from getting caught in your washing machine’s filter, too. Check out how to clean a washing machine if we’re too late.
6. Car clutter
All kinds of clutter can be found in the car – everything from empty water bottles to wrappers and car wash tickets. These end up crammed down the side of the door pockets and stuffed into the cup holders. Unless we dedicate some time to declutter the space, it rarely gets cleared out, but this is one of those areas you can clean on the go.
The next time you happen to park by a bin, take the opportunity to remove any clutter – keeping a spare bag to carry everything over can make the task much easier. If you’re a fan of parking up for a takeaway, you could also toss your clutter along with the remains of your meal. Or if you happen to be going through the car wash, use the time to grab your bag and declutter as you go through, so you’re cleaning it outside and in simultaneously!
7. Empty bottles in the shower caddy
Fed up with empty bottles cluttering up your shower caddy? Take a moment to chuck them outside of the shower before you turn on the water. If it’s nearby, the sink is a good dumping point where leaks won’t matter. You could also place them at the other end of the bath on the ledge – so long as they’re out of the way and can be easily collected for recycling afterwards.
Once you’ve cleared some space, wiping down the shelves with your squeegee will be much easier, saving more valuable time and soap scum. Using a squeegee is one of the things people with tidy bathrooms do after every shower.
Handy storage solutions
