Here’s How to Find and Fix Your Clutter “Problem Area”
Apartment Therapy’s Decluttering Cure is a free two-week decluttering program that’ll help you achieve a tidier home. Sign up here and get all 14 assignments delivered to your inbox.
Clutter can sneak up on you. One minute you threw just one shirt on your dedicated “clothes chair” to wear again soon, and the next there’s a giant heap of slightly worn items just sitting there. And that clutter can be even more difficult to tame when it’s in a hidden spot.
Well, today we’re going into focus mode to tackle one major clutter problem — and declutter it for good.
Day 11: Identify a clutter problem area.
The assignment is simple: Identify a place where clutter is an issue (visible or hidden) and address it. Some examples of where to look include counters with items all over them, overstuffed drawers, messy cabinets, and disorganized shelves.
Pick one place you want to work on today. Depending on the size of your space, you might want to declutter just three major items here or the entirety of it. Decide what needs to be tossed, relocated, or placed in an outbox.
Now that you’re aware of where clutter grows in your home, you’ll want to be mindful of it going forward. Set a reminder on your calendar for regular decluttering sessions to chip away at the mess. This can be a daily, weekly, or bi-weekly reminder — whatever works best for you.
PRO TIP: Find the fix. Now that you know your problem area and spent time decluttering, it’s time to implement a system or solution that’ll help keep clutter at bay. Check out our 2024 Organization Awards for the best organizers to help solve your problems.
Where’s your clutter problem area? Share it in our community forum!
More ways to participate in the Decluttering Cure:
Sign up for email updates.
Visit the 2024 Decluttering Cure page and catch up on assignments.
Download the Decluttering Cure calendar.
Join the conversation by checking out the Decluttering Cure board in our community forum.
Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall Decluttering Cure progress here!
See all the winners from our 2024 Organization Awards to get your home organized.
The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.
Further Reading
I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered
We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On, and Here’s What They Said
