Even the cleanest homes have problem areas where clutter seems to overtake the area quicker than the blink of an eye. One reason for this is that every single home has specific clutter magnets that just attract the clutter no matter what you do or how often you clean it. Identifying these clutter areas is the first step to getting them under control.
Not every home will have all of these clutter magnets, but chances are good that each home will have several at the very least. As you read through this article, stop and take the time to check each of these places. If you notice that one is overly cluttered, you have identified a potential clutter magnet in your home.
Most Clutter Prone Areas Of Your Home
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1. The Junk Drawer
In the day and age of technology, everything has a cord. Add to that random screws, odd kitchen gadgets, chopsticks, restaurant menus, ketchup packets and such and your junk drawer can easily get overwhelmed.
If yours has become like this, take the time to organize it.
- Test each cord to be sure it has a match and if not, toss it.
- If you can’t use something you find (or don’t know what it is), get rid of it.
- If it doesn’t belong in the kitchen, return it to its rightful home.
- If you need to keep it but rarely use it, consider storing elsewhere, in deeper storage, like a cupboard that is out of the way.
- Remove all paper clutter, recycle it or make a binder for menus and recipes.
Then, when you know exactly what should be in your junk drawer, find a set of drawer dividers that will perfectly organize everything that belongs in your catch all drawer.
2. The Kitchen Table
Some homes don’t have a junk drawer but instead have a cluttered kitchen table and it’s easy to understand why. As your family walks past it, they have gotten in the habit of dropping their clutter onto it and walking right on by.
This particular clutter magnet can be hard to break since it is usually more than one person responsible. However, knowing that it is a problem area is the first step to putting together a plan to remove clutter.
It may take some time to break your family and yourself of this habit but persistence is key. Keep reminding yourself and others to put things where they belong right away instead of using the kitchen table as a half way point.
Things like key hooks, mail organizers and purse/knapsack holders at the front door will cut back on the number of things that get dumped on the kitchen table.
Do you have any of these 100 items that you should get rid of?
3. The Pantry
Most homes have a cluttered pantry at least once in awhile. The issue with a cluttered pantry is that it not only makes it hard to plan meals, but it can also cause wasted food and even cause your family to be sick.
For ease, make sure that all pantry foods are dated with the date you bought them. This will prevent accidentally eating expired food. Then, make sure that like gets put away with like and the oldest product gets used up first.
It is a good idea to make a recurring schedule for regular times to cull. Some people like to do it with every new grocery shop. That may sound excessive but it only takes a few minutes as opposed to waiting till your pantry is a complete disaster and you have to spend an hour or two going through everything.
4. The Desk
The home office desk is often a source of clutter and it’s one that almost every home has a problem with. The easiest way to fix this is by making sure everything has a home and that no one is laying things that don’t belong on the desk.
As you clean it, you might be surprised at the amount of screwdrivers and other things that don’t belong, on your desk. If you don’t already, a desk organizer set can help you get and stay organized.
When organizing your desk, it is best to sort by how often you need items first. If you use something daily, like pens or staplers, they should be handy and easy to reach. Either store them on top of your desk in a caddy, or in a nearby drawer.
Then as you go down the priority list, those items can be stored in less easily accessible areas. Relegating items that are used left often to back spaces ensures that these items do not make it hard to access things you do need on a daily basis.
5. The Toy Box
The kids/pet/adult toy box is almost always a clutter magnet for many different items, some which don’t even belong in there. It may be filled with things that are no longer played with, broken toys, books that are out of place, games that are missing pieces and sometimes even the odd shoe, jacket or doohickey that you are not really sure where it came from.
This catch all box not only keeps you from being able to get a clear idea of what you have, but it is also an incredible eyesore when it is overflowing and spilling everywhere.
To fix the problem, make going through this toy box a regular thing. You can also cut down on the clutter if you make a point of throwing things that are broken out right away instead of lazily throwing it in the box to deal with later.
6. The Closet
Closets are made for clothes and jackets but due to lack of space, they often end up as a clutter magnet for everything under the sun. Even worse is that since those items are out of sight, they are often out of mind.
This can easily create a clutter magnet that eventually results in doors that won’t shut easily if it’s allowed to grow too long.
Cluttered closets are another situation where everything having a specific home is helpful. If you absolutely have no other space, it is time to declutter first. Then use totes and storage racks to help you organize what is left so that things are in their proper place and can be found easily.
7. The Bathroom
Your medicine cabinet and really your bathroom drawers in general are by far the most common and most dangerous clutter magnet that any home can have:
- While most meds can be safely used for a couple months after their expiration date, there are some that become toxic and extremely dangerous after expiring.
- Old, expired cosmetics, brushes and sponges can also be dangerous and cause infections.
To keep things organized and safe, it is best to organize items by type, clearly circle or write expiry dates on products and keep them stored in their own containers. Regularly toss any items that have expired whenever you notice them. It is better to be safe with these types of clutter.
Other clutter you may find in your bathroom drawers may include samples, old hairstyling tools you no longer use or are broken, and old brushes or applicators. Make a habit of not pushing these things around when you are trying to find something else. Throw them out if they are continually in your way and you can’t remember the last time you used them.
Old towels that should now be used as rags can also be removed and kept in the laundry room or garage.
Again, store items you use daily most accessible and less used items deep within drawers or cupboards.
Clutter magnets in your home can be the most frustrating areas of your home. Learn how to keep them under control and you will have more space and be able to find things when you need them.