This 12-month decluttering calendar will help you get organised for the year
Dreading the decluttering process? Household clutter seems relatively harmless, but a messy home can make many of us feel out of control.
According to research by RAJA UK, 16 per cent of Brits say decluttering the home improves their mental health, while findings discovered that tidying up can reduce fatigue, remove distractions and improve concentration.
To help you tidy like a pro, the experts at RAJA UK have created an easy 12-month decluttering calendar for everyone to try. Why not give it a go...
January
Take down your Christmas decorations and pack them into a cardboard box so they are organised for next year. Recycle unwanted boxes and cards and donate any Christmas gifts you don't need.
'Pack baubles away in storage boxes, keeping them colour-coded and labelled ready for efficient decorating next year,' says Sam Greig, senior designer at Swoon. 'When it comes to tackling the dreaded string lights, I would recommend investing in a cable winder. These handy organisers keep cables tidy and tangle-free, making it easier for you to unwind them when you need them again next Christmas.
'Then, do a sweep of each room in your home to find all of the remaining decor. There is nothing worse than completing your fifth trip up the loft to find a lonesome nutcracker still living in the spare bedroom! Try to efficiently pack everything into one or two large storage boxes and store them away in your loft, garage or cupboard – out of sight and mind for another year.'
February
Reorganise your kitchen by checking the expiry date on food and putting anything that is out of date in the food waste bin. Take an inventory of your small appliances and cooking utensils, and get rid of items that you no longer need. Once you've done this, tackle your junk drawer by recycling old takeaway menus, find proper storage for receipts, and sort through miscellaneous items.
'As you reorganise your space, consider donating any electrical items or accessories you may no longer need to a charity, or gift them to a family member or friend,' suggests Ruth Lavender, design expert at Benchmarx Kitchens. 'It's also a good opportunity to check best before dates on food items, as well as wash any rogue tea towels and sort through the random items that may have accumulated over the years.'
March
Clear out your bathroom, including your medicine cabinet. Check to see if medicines are still in date and dispose of items that have expired – store them by medicine type, such as liquids and pills.
April
As the weather turns warmer, April is brilliant for tackling your wardrobe and donating anything you no longer wear. If you have children, do the same for their closets. See what clothes fits (and will still fit in the next six months).
Abby Lawson, an organising expert, recommends going through clothes in categories — tops one day and trousers the next — and keeping a donation bin in the back of your wardrobe to make it easy to collect and donate items you no longer wear.
May
Not sure what to do in May? Clear out your vanity drawer by assessing if creams, make-up and bath products are still good to use. Don't forget to give your bathroom boxes and storage containers a clean too.
June
Go through your storage space, such as the garage, shed, attic or garden potting table. Sort it into zones, if you can, with boxes and baskets. In your garage, for example, separate household tools, sports equipment, seasonal decorations, garden supplies and so forth.
July
July is the perfect time to tackle craft items, such as paints, pens and other art materials. Once you've sorted out what to keep, place them in clearly labelled storage boxes. It's worth organising your books, board games and DVDs too.
August
Not sure what to do during the summer holidays? It's an ideal time to recycle threadbare towels, sheets, blankets and linens or donate them to your local animal shelter.
September
With everyone heading back to school and work after the summer holidays, September is great for organising your home office space. Invest in some desk organisers, such as pen pots, and filing systems for documents. Cable organisers are an easy way to ensure that your desk looks tidy.
October
'You'll want to repeat the process you did in April with winter clothes,' say the team at RAJA. 'Look at the items you didn't use and sell, donate or repurpose them. Store away your sandals, flip-flops and other summer shoes. Get rid of the ones you won't use next year.'
November
In November, go through the decorations that you packed away in January. If you've bought anything new, donate or sell what you won't use. Again, make sure you're up to date with what is in the kitchen cabinets – it'll help with your Christmas food shop.
December
Early December is all about organisation. You'll likely be having guests over as the Christmas season approaches, so prioritise the hallway (clear shoes, bags and the like), the spare room (get the bed in order and corral towels and throws), and organise your crockery and tableware if entertaining is set to be a regular occasion. Then you can enjoy all the festivities in what is hopefully a clutter-free house.
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