How to declutter problem areas at home

When is clutter a problem? Clutter can drain a person’s energy and wastes tons of time searching for things they can’t ¿QG 7KH SUHVHQFH RI PRXOG DQG dust from clutter can also lead to KHDOWK FRPSOLFDWLRQV $OWKRXJK less common, a messy home can HYHQ SRVH D ¿UH KD]DUG +HUH V how you can help with your KRXVHKROG FOXWWHU

Entryways

Sophisticated storage helps keep clutter under control ZLWKRXW GRPLQDWLQJ WKH KDOOZD\ Combine hooks and coat racks with shoe racks and baskets for frequent use items such as keys, SXUVHV DQG ZDOOHWV

Pantry

Without a proper storage and organisation system, your pantry can become cluttered with random appliances, canned products, packaged foods or

VSLFHV 2UJDQLVLQJ VPDOO SUREOHP areas with a functional layout that is easy to maintain can save \RX WLPH DQG PRQH\

Search the pantry to throw out expired items and check inventory before heading to WKH VWRUH 'RXEOH FKHFN \RXU shopping list to make sure you KDYHQ W DGGHG GXSOLFDWHV

Use airtight plastic or glass FRQWDLQHUV WR VWRUH GU\ IRRG Write the expiration date on the back of the container with a ZDVKDEOH PDUNHU

Set limits on how long items can be kept in the pantry, nonperishable food you don’t eat within a few months should be GRQDWHG WR \RXU ORFDO IRRG EDQN

Bathrooms

Use small bins with lids to organise your bathroom cabinets DQG GUDZHUV *URXS VLPLODU items together or assign each member of your family a bin WR KROG WKHLU GDLO\ HVVHQWLDOV 'UDZHUV ZLWK FXWRXWV DURXQG plumbing make the most of HYHU\ VSDFH

Playrooms

$ FKLOG V URRP FDQ EH FKDOOHQJLQJ WR RUJDQLVH &DUHIXO organisation and a frequent decluttering process can keep \RXU FKLOG V URRP RU SOD\URRP FOXWWHU IUHH VR \RX GRQ W KDYH WR VSHQG KRXUV FOHDQLQJ LW XS

Examine toys regularly to remove duplicates or discard EURNHQ WR\V 'RQDWH WR\V LQ good condition your children no longer play with or have grown RXW RI

Using the one-in-one-out rule with toys can help prevent clutter and encourages kids to NHHS WKHLU SOD\ DUHDV WLG\

Garden

When it comes to decluttering your garden, start with the big MREV ¿UVW DQG \RX OO NQRZ KRZ much storage space you need to keep the rest of your backyard

WLG\ ,I \RXU VKHG LV ¿OOHG with garden supplies, outdoor toys and patio furniture, take everything out and organise LQWR FDWHJRULHV 7KURZ DZD\ anything that is broken or no ORQJHU LQ XVH

*DUEDJH FDQ EH VWDFNHG WR make it easier to be taken to D ODQG¿OO RU UHF\FOLQJ IDFLOLW\ Leftover items can be taken to a charity shop or sold/gifted ORFDOO\ RU RQOLQH