7 quick decluttering projects to try

Getting rid of unnecessary things now means you’ll have less to organize later

Spending Saturday afternoon sorting through your things and making decisions on what to save and what to toss isn’t fun for most people. To make decluttering more palatable, limit yourself to one area (like a closet or dresser but not both) and one 30-minute time block (it may take you less).

If you need to pare down and organize, consider the following places to quickly make a dif ference:

1. Medicine cabinet

It’s the place where old prescriptions mingle with tweezers and toenail clippers. Empty the cabinet onto a small folding table, grouping together like items (toothpaste and dental floss). Then go through each pile, throwing out anything that’s expired or a duplicate.

2. Under the kitchen sink

This space often collects all the dirty cleaning items from the kitchen and beyond, said Jeffrey Phillip, a professional organizer in New York City. After discarding old cleaning products, take away anything not used in the kitchen. “Is it possible to store some of those items in a utility closet or nearby laundr y room?” Phillip asked. The under-sink area is best used only for kitchen-related items such as dishwashing detergent, sponges and trash bags.

3. Car trunk

“Try not to think of your trunk as a closet for the garage,”

Phillip said. Keep it as clear as possible, so there’s room for groceries, spor ts equipment and emergency gear like a flashlight and tire iron. Use plastic boxes or collapsible bins to keep like items together (washer fluid, coolant) and from shifting around too much.

4. Canned goods shelves

Some canned goods go into hiding for months, even years, then magically appear one day near the front of the cabinet. Should you chuck them if they’re past the expiration date? Accord