With every new year, a lot of us experience an organization kick that is truly unmatched. I have certainly experienced this feeling this month especially given this never pending pandemic that keeps us at home. A re-occuring weekend project for me these days include organization and decluttering of various different things around our home.
Let me just start by saying that generally one of my biggest most helpful tips is to keep like things together. So for example all spices together, all chargers and cable in one place, summer clothing stored together, etc. etc. If this is not how your home is currently laid out this new year/winter season is a great time to get started on this transition.
Here are 5 general categories and tips on how to declutter and organize each respective category.
1. Spices
When I lived alone I hade a super cute spice rack with all of the spices I used on a regular basis and I kept those on my counter top. I left that along with a bunch of my other belongings with my sister when I moved from Windsor. Now, we keep our spices in a cupboard but we have not yet transitioned to a streamlined storage solution with clear labelled nicely.
I recommend using glass containers as they are easier to clean and will not get stained (as plastic ones tend to). Glass containers also make it easier to remove labels. Another thing to take into account is how you use your spices. If you commonly follow recipes and have to measure spices often, make sure the top of the container has an opening to pour the contents out. Alternatively make sure the opening of the container is large enough to fit your measuring spoon in.
I caution against buying pre-filled spice racks because it is often the case that you may not get the most use of all these spices. It is much more economical to buy what you use regularly. I like to buy my spices in the plastic bag form or at bulk barn and refill my containers that way.
Another way to make your spice rack look clean and streamlined is to get cute labels. I purchased these ones from Etsy which I was able to customize and I absolutely love them!
2. Undergarments
This is another category that you need to declutter at the very least once a year. I love to organize my undergarments by category and colour in order to make your undergarment collection easily accessible. You need to be able to see everything you have so you can make the most use of your items. This is a great time to dispose of any stretched out socks or undergarments with holes or rips from regular wear and tear.
3. Chargers and cables
If you keep all of your cable and chargers in the same place (i.e. a drawer) it is very easy to lose track of what you have. As a personal example, this year I transitioned from a Fitbit to an apple watch. In the process of decluttering my chargers and cables I found a couple of Fitbit chargers for which I have no use for. Make sure you also take this opportunity to dispose any chargers or cables that are no longer working or are frayed (these can also potentially be a safety issue or a fire hazard).
4. Winter accessories
Personally, this is a category that can also get a bit out of hand. I used to have a pretty large scarf collection and I would often buy random headbands, scarfs and mittens just for fun in various different colours. Overtime, I have learned to limit my purchasing habits. My scarf and winter accessory collection is pretty complete. I don’t think there is any reason for someone to have several pairs of gloves and mittens, a great way to do this is to stick to neutral colours when it comes to winter accessories.
Go through all of your winter accessories and declutter any duplicates (no one needs 4 grey wool scarves), any single mitts or gloves and any damage items or items you no longer use.
5. Skincare and beauty products
If you are a big skincare and beauty junkie like I am, your collection can certainly get out of hand. When decluttering and organizing your skincare items its best to put things in categories, throw out any expired items and get rid of any products that you know you will not use again (i.e. anything that has caused a reaction or breakout). My makeup collection is pretty minimal but I do have a larger collection of face masks and treatments.
Lastly, another pro-tip is to use Pinterest for inspiration. This is especially helpful if you have a very specific space that you would like to optimize. Pinterest is also great for when you purchase a popular Ikea storage system and want to discovery ideas of hose to organize those systems.
Let me know if you’ve been in the declutter/organization mood this January and if so what categories of items were you able to organize and declutter. I think being able to do this every month (perhaps one category a month) is a great way to audit your belongings and figure out what needs to go and perhaps rediscover things that you loved and forgot about!
