Clutter be gone: conquer household mess

Clutter is a persistent beast. It breeds until it takes over every nook, cranny and surface in your home. But fear not, help is at hand with these practical tips.

Do a little at a time

Bit by bit is the best way to begin decluttering your home. Start with whichever part of your house depresses you the most - whether it’s a messy desk, a cluttered kitchen table or a chaotic closet - and gradually sort through the mess.

Once you’ve tamed your chosen area, pick another clutter magnet and repeat. Working in short, sharp, regular bursts is achievable and satisfying. Remember, fighting clutter is a daily chore: unless you keep on top of it, it’ll soon be back.

If you do find things building up again, designate one clutter-free zone. Whether it's a worktop, side table or shelf, vow to keep it clear and, when you succeed at that, pick another. Keep going until the zone is your whole house!

Have a strategy

A great tactic is the ‘four box method’: get four boxes and label them 'keep', 'store', 'donate' and 'bin', then simply categorise your clutter. Be sure to follow your decisions all the way through to the end. 

Put away your ‘keep’ items, put your ‘store’ items in storage bags or boxes, and sell or give away your 'donate' items as soon as possible. Bag up your ‘bin’ items and put them outside immediately. Remember: no going back.

Set up a method for dealing with mail. Sort it as soon as it arrives: be realistic and chuck away what you don't need, pin important stuff to a noticeboard and file all that 'maybe' paper away, but be sure to go back to it when you have time.

Give everything a home

If the four box method is too overwhelming just choose five things, find sensible homes for them and make sure they always go back there. Do this every few days with five new items and your house will be more organised in no time.

In the spirit of giving everything a home, keep an eye on all those little objects that have lives of their own. Keys, shoes and mail are repeat offenders, so build a shoe closet and label boxes for all those awkward bits and pieces. 

You've already set aside a clutter-free zone, but you can also have a deliberate clutter space. Use a storage bag, a chair or a blanket box and make this strictly the only place in that room where clutter is allowed. This should help keep the rest of the room neat!

Never surrender

If you do find yourself relapsing into untidiness, don’t panic - just clear up and try again. It's ok for things to get on top of you now and again, but eventually decluttering will become a habit and you'll be able to do it without the effort!

And remember, whether you need storage or clutter-busting solutions, DotComGiftShop has everything you need to keep your home tidy for good.