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    Clear Your Clutter in Five Minutes a Day

    By Good Housekeeping | Work + Money – Tue, May 25, 2010 7:11 PM EDT

    Getting rid of stuff seems to be the chore we all dread. But when closets are crowded, drawers are jumbled, and shelves overflow, it can really slow you down. Tackle the problem by taking a little time every day to focus on just one or two areas (like kitchen counters) that drive you crazy. These clutter-busting hints will help you dejunk your space - which will save you time and stress.

    If you have five minutes...

    • Chuck crummy sponges and outdated cleaning products lingering in your kitchen; clear old leftovers out of the fridge and pitch any expired foods found in the pantry.
    • Do a TV-room makeover. During TV commercials, quickly tidy up the room you're in. Gather all the magazines, newspapers, and bits of trash and put them in the garbage. Straighten pillows and refold throws. Organize your work space. On the next program break, you can even give the den a quick vacuum.
    • Throw away old cosmetics and expired medicines in the vanity drawer or the cabinet over the sink. Sort bath towels and washcloths for laundering or the rag bag.
    • Weed out toys and games that haven't been used recently. If they are in good condition, you can donate them to a shelter, a hospital, or a school.
    • Gather misplaced belongings in a holding basket; later, ask family members to claim their possessions and put them away.
    If you have one hour...
    When serious decluttering is in store, try the ABC method. Select a cabinet or closet that's been bugging you. Take everything out and arrange items into three piles:
    A: always used
    B: used during the holidays and special occasions, or seasonally
    C: not seen or used in a year or so
    Then do a final sort:
    Step 1: Toss or give away C items unless they are valuable or have sentimental worth.
    Step 2: Return B items to the back of the storage area.
    Step 3: Place the A team in the front of the space so those items will be handy for immediate use.

    Get more tips for controlling your clutter!

    How do you keep your house clutter-free?

    More from Good Housekeeping:

    Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

     

    4 comments

    • Vieshia
      Vieshia  •  9 months ago
      This article will really help me. I am organizing my home for back-to-school. I have triplets and clutter can add up fast in my house, especially when everything is times 3!!! My babies are 4 and I have already started by buying storage bins and sorting the toys. I minimized their toy collection by about 60% by donating and tossing broken ones and I am on a baby stuff giveaway rampage! I look forward to the final product of my organization project.
    • Samantha Larrick
      Samantha Larrick  •  2 years 0 months ago
      That ABC method is a part of 5S. I'm an industrial engineering student, and part of our curriculum is 5S. I ended up going back to my apartment and 5S-ing it.. It was one of the best things I ever did. I'm now in the process of using up all the random soaps and lotions I've accumulated. I haven't had to buy anything in a few months... lol
    • katzenmoon
      katzenmoon  •  2 years 0 months ago
      I make myself clean at least 1 room in my house before I allow myself to go shopping (this includes grocery shopping as well). Think about how many times a week you go to the store X a clean room. I have a small place so I always have a pretty clean little house.
    • the crystal
      the crystal  •  2 years 0 months ago
      I agree with the author's 5 minute plan. I have my own "take 5" system which is to take 5 things and put them away or throw them away each day. Sometimes I do it more often. But the "year" guideline doesnt work, particularly for me. Reason is, some things come less than once a year in my life but I can't afford to buy new every time it might come up. Examples: weddings, interviews, snow (snow boots), even things like a turkey baster. If I go somewhere else for thanksgiving, why should I throw out a turkey baster I could use (and buy another one) for the next turkey I fix? That's a good example because I have a nice glass baster I bought overseas, can only seem to get plastic around here which just melts and clogs with heat. For too-small kids clothes, I have a huge donation pile I need to take care of. Would you throw out a screw driver that was a size you hadn't needed in 12 months? I doubt it.
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