(Part 2) Simplifying Spaces: A Pro Organizer’s Guide to Clearing Clutter

Welcome back to my two-part series on clearing clutter! The first blog featured hacks on downsizing your sheets, towels, gift wrap, and cleaning supplies. Many of you tried these tips and discovered that a little decluttering effort was worth it! If you haven’t yet read the first blog, here’s the link.

Today I’m sharing more ideas on tackling individual categories throughout your home to take away the overwhelm that clutter causes. We don’t have to live like this! Set a timer and try a few of these tasks and notice the difference in your peace of mind.

Candles

We love candles—they add warmth, ambiance, and mood to our spaces. But they can pile up. People love to give candles as gifts since they are easy to find, most everyone likes them, and they can be very inexpensive. The problem is that we are often gifted candles that don’t work for us. They may have a scent we don’t care for or a color that doesn’t match our design aesthetic. Take 15 minutes to gather up all of your candles and divide them into keep/donate piles. You could even gift the ones you don’t want to a friend or family member. Once that’s done, promise yourself that you’ll start burning the ones you love and enjoy the glow!

Bath/Shower Products

I don’t know how we end up with so many products in this category, but it happens to the best of us. Perhaps we tried a new brand or scent and didn’t like it. Or we kept adding bottles into the shower without removing the empty ones. Regardless, head to your bathroom and inventory what’s in there. Old razors? Toss. Soap slivers? Toss. Multiple shampoos, conditioners, and body washes that aren’t being used? Get rid of them and recycle the bottles. Depending on how many people use that shower, you can likely get by with just a few options for each category.

The same goes for other personal toiletries, especially expired products. Pare down, recycle, and give away. Please consider donating unopened products to women’s shelters, where they will be very appreciated!

Medication

While in the bathroom, let’s get rid of old medication and over-the-counter items clogging up your drawers and cabinets. Please don’t toss these in the garbage or flush them down the toilet. Fill up a bag with them and take them to a drug take-back program near you. Many Walgreens locations have a bin near the pharmacy where you can dump the medication safely. Now take a look around your bathroom and relish in the newfound empty spaces!

Treat Yourself!

Whether you tackled one of these areas or all of them, make sure you take a moment to be very proud of yourself! Your home is a very important space, and having a decluttered living area will be so good for your mental and physical health! I’m proud of you for taking care of yourself!