When I think of springtime, the season welcomes warmer months, more time spent outdoors, and the urge to declutter every nook and cranny in my house. Yes, spring cleaning is here, and this annual ritual to clean during the start of the season can either be dreadful or rejoiceful—for the people who love to organize. And as a busy mom, I’ve found that the best way to declutter my house is by doing it little by little. If you’re ready to give your home a new refresh and don’t know where to start, a list may help you when decluttering your space.
I reached out to professional organizer and the owner of Clean & Orga-Nice, Gerryvel de Veyra, for the best tips and tricks when it comes to making your home clutter-free. From the overstuffed junk drawer to the forgotten space under your bed, she’s sharing a list of 50 spaces you can declutter in under 15 minutes to get your home nice and organized in no time.
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Gerryvel de Veyra, Professional Organizer
As a professional organizer and owner of Clean & Orga-Nice, Gerryvel helps her clients find calm in the chaos and creates systems that work for their unique lifestyle. She creates spaces, knowing that every home has a story to tell.
5 things to consider when decluttering a space
The number one reason why clients reach out to de Veyra for her organizational help is due to the overwhelm that comes with tackling a space. “When it comes to your own stuff, you might know that you want to keep them; the problem is what to do with all of it.” That’s where her expertise comes in. She’s sharing five simple tips to get you from decluttered to organized because, after all, “When you can physically clear out clutter, you’re not just freeing up the space, but you’re freeing up your mental energy, too,” states de Veyra.
 “When you can physically clear out clutter, you’re not just freeing up the space, but you’re freeing up your mental energy, too.”
1. Don’t stray from the space you’re cleaning
Have you ever started cleaning one space to find yourself in a different room in your house, only to return to the original area, which still needs tidying up? I know I’ve done this countless times and have been caught in the never-ending cycle. The ping-pong effect of cleaning multiple corners of the house at the same time can be exhausting.
However, de Veyra advises tackling one space at a time, and the key is not to deviate from that zone. de Veyra suggests, “If you have an item that needs to go to a different room, then set it aside, and only put those stray items away when you’re ready to move on from that space.”
2. Pick a time
For some, it can be helpful to pick a designated time each day to take on the mess. This can look like making it part of your opening shift or closing shift, but it doesn’t have to be finite either. If you know you have an open window while the kids are doing their quiet time activities, start your timer then. “As long as you set the time each day, especially if you have multiple areas to cover, you’re more likely to do the decluttering,” adds de Veyra.
3. Set a timer
15 minutes doesn’t seem like a lot of time to clean up an area, but you may be surprised by how much you can get accomplished. “Only allowing yourself 15 minutes at a time can make you focus,” states de Veyra, “and it’s like a game when you time yourself.” Plus, if you’re a busy parent, a timer gives you a hard stop and ensures that you move on to your next activity, whether that’s taking the kids to their extracurricular activities or moving on to another admin task.
4. Decide to keep or toss an item
If you’re a sentimental person, like me, letting go of things that have a story behind them can be difficult. De Veyra suggests asking yourself two questions when deciding to keep an item or toss it: “Do I use this item?” and, for sentimental pieces, “Am I ready to let it go?”
Define the timeline for deciding whether or not an item is still useful to you or not. Has it been over a year, two years, or more since you used it? If you haven’t used something in over a year, it could be an indicator that you may not need it anymore. An item may not be useful to you anymore, but it can be for others. de Veyra suggests donating unwanted pieces if you can.
And for sentimental objects, like your child’s first baby blanket, store it in a bin or consider if there’s a way you can recycle it into a keepsake, like turning it into a stuffed animal or framing it.
5. Make a list of spaces to declutter
There’s a drawer in my kitchen that I haven’t touched in four years, and if you were to ask me to label it, I’d name it “The Drawer of Random Things.” It houses anything from coins to art supplies to a trinket toy my kid lost over a year ago. I have a few spaces like this where things have been tossed in hidden drawers or corners, so they’re out of sight. However, the issue for me is that it’s not “out of mind.” I know all these things are misplaced, and at some point, they should either be thrown out or put in their proper place. So many things have accumulated over the years, and a decluttering list has definitely helped me in the past. If this sounds familiar, keep reading for our ultimate declutter list.
The Everymom’s ultimate declutter list
If you’re ready to declutter but aren’t sure where to start, this list is for you. De Veyra listed 50 spots in your home to declutter, broken up by zones. Using her tips above—like sticking to one area and setting a timer—you can make progress with as little as 15 minutes.
Hallways and Front Foyers
- Entryway or foyer
- Front hall table
- Shoe rack
- Staircase landing
Kitchen
- Kitchen countertop
- Kitchen “junk” drawer
- Kitchen utensils drawer(s)
- Kitchen cabinet
- Pantry shelf
- Spice rack
- Medicine cabinet
- Refrigerator shelf
- Top of the refrigerator
Dining room
- Dining table
- Buffet or credenza
Living Room
- Coffee table
- TV stand or media console
- Storage ottoman
- Side table or end table
Playroom
- Toy basket or shelf
- Craft table or artwork
- Game closet
Bedroom
- Bedside table
- Dresser drawer
- Top of a dresser
- Section of a closet
- Under-bed storage
Bathroom
- Bathroom countertop
- Mirror or under sink cabinet
- Makeup/skincare storage
- Shower caddy
Laundry Room
- Top of the washing machine or dryer
- Laundry room shelf
- Lost socks pile
Garage or Storage
- Broom closet
- Toolbox/work bench
- Kids’ outdoor toys
Office
- Book shelf
- Desk or workspace
- File cabinet
- Gift wrapping station
Porch or garden area
- Outdoor dining or living area
- Gardening tools
- Planter shelf
Car
- Car console
- Back seat
- Trunk
Miscellaneous
- Window sill
- Mail pile
- Pet area
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. With Patty’s passion for writing, experience as a mother of two, and expertise as a pediatric nurse, she brings a thoughtful and informative perspective to The Everymom.
