It started with a drawer I couldn’t close… and spiralled into a full-blown life cleanse. Like every millennial, I planned a spring clean out this year and procrastination got the better of me. Now I’m standing in my cluttered home, wondering where all of this clutter comes from.
It’s not just me! In 2025, our homes are overflowing. From online orders to birthday gifts to the “just in case” items we never use, the pile just keeps rising. According to a UK report, 93% of households do a full spring clean each year, yet 44% admit they dread it. I totally get it. One afternoon, I realised I wasn’t just overwhelmed by the mess, I was living in it.
So I decided to clear out my entire house. Not just a quick tidy-up; this was going to be a deep, emotional, bin-bag-filled overhaul. Gather your equipment bin bags, boxes, cleaning equipment, rubber gloves, etc everything you’ll need for this clear out.
In this blog, let’s explore seven things that helped me get through it (mostly) sane, and that might just help you too.
1. Start with the junk drawer
Let’s be honest – everyone has one. Mine was full of dead batteries, expired vouchers, tangled cables and about 11 pens that didn’t work. But starting here helped me build momentum fast.
Why? Because it’s low-stakes. No emotional baggage. It’s just stuff you forgot about. Non-sentimental clutter is easier to deal with and delays decision fatigue, keeping the enthusiasm high.
Tip: Begin small and get a win. One cleared drawer often leads to three more.
2. Create clear categories and label everything
I tried the standard “keep/donate/bin” method. It wasn’t enough. So I upgraded to:
- Keep
- Donate
- Sell
- Recycle
- Bin
- Unsure (with a 14-day deadline)
This system sped everything up. No more standing over every item debating its fate. Plus, it helped me group things so they were easier to shift later.
If you stumble across old photographs, a favourite book or school reports, it’s very tempting to stop and reminisce. Instead, make a keepsake box for memorabilia like this.
Designated, labelled zones and bins makes clearing faster and helps prevent decision paralysis.
Tip: Make 2 recycle bins; one for recycling items for the recycling centre and the other for unused items that you can pass on to friends and family.
3. Set short, focused time blocks
I made the rookie mistake of thinking I could do an entire house in a single day. Spoiler: I could not. What worked instead was 30-minute blocks. I’d focus on one cupboard, drawer, or corner at a time and that was enough.
Setting a timer gave the task structure and kept me focused. Plus, it lets me stop without guilt. I’ve found the “Pomodoro Method” very helpful, for this reason: short, focused effort keeps things manageable.
If you’re tackling the whole house, it may be a good idea to plan out the job in a calendar, e.g. Saturday: Study & bedroom, Sunday: kitchen & Living, etc.
Tip: Give yourself enough breaks in-between tasks and boost your focus and motivation
4. Tackle your digital clutter
Clutter often isn’t limited to our cupboards, kitchen cabinets and shelves. Our desks need clearing out too. I found countless bills, parking tickets and other paperwork that seems useless but often can’t be discarded for tax reasons. Digitising some of these for the future or simply switching to a digital format would be simple.
Halfway through, I realised the mess wasn’t just in drawers – it was in my phone, too. I had hundreds of unread emails, useless apps, and notification pings from things I didn’t even remember signing up for.
So during every tea break, I’d do one of the following:
- Unsubscribe from 5 emails
- Delete blurry photos and screenshots
- Mute unnecessary group chats
By the end of the week, my house was lighter—and my head felt clearer. Digital clutter is just as toxic to your mental health as physical clutter.
Tip: 5 mins of digital decluttering everyday goes a long way. Apps like Docuware and FileCenter can help you manage large document sets.
5. Plan for the mess you’ll create
One big mistake? I didn’t plan how I’d get rid of everything. Within days, I had bags and boxes lining the hallway and piles of stuff I couldn’t carry to the tip alone.
Booking a skip with Proskips.co.uk halfway through saved the day and my car boot. It saved time, stopped the bottleneck, and let me keep the momentum going. If you’ve got bulky furniture, broken appliances, or bags of junk just chuck it in the skip.
Tip: Decluttering without a disposal plan is just organised hoarding. Get a plan in place early.
6. Don’t just hoard, re-home your belongings
A common trap? Shifting clutter instead of dealing with it. I nearly moved half my “unsure” pile to the loft until I realised I’m just hoarding things.
Things like unused cosmetics or books you are done reading, re-home them with a friend or family member. Old gadgets, kitchen items or clothes can either go to the charity shops or online stores if they are worth selling. If I wouldn’t pack it for a move or buy it again, it didn’t deserve to stay.
Tip: Sell or donate anything you forgot you owned. You’ll free up space and possibly even earn a little extra.
7. Make it practical, not perfect
Let go of the idea that your home has to look like a showroom. I spent far too long trying to make it Insta-worthy. But real life isn’t colour-coded spice racks and perfectly folded towels.
Instead of trying to make it look tidy, focus on making it work for you. A functional, low-maintenance home helps reduce stress and improve productivity even if it’s not aesthetic perfection.
Tip: Ask yourself, “Does this make life easier?” Not “Would this impress on Instagram?”
Conclusion: It’s not just tidying, it’s taking back control
Decluttering your home isn’t about being neat. It’s about being honest; with your time, your energy, and the life you want to live.
I didn’t do it all in one weekend. Some corners still need work. But I gained something much better than a perfect pantry: I created a home that feels like mine again.
