It’s an ongoing battle to keep the creep of clutter under control. The fallout from ordinary life soon sprinkles across every room of your home, even after a successful clearout. To combat build-up, follow a system of daily decluttering.
Always leave each space better than you found it. Take one item that doesn’t belong when you leave a room–or an armful of things. And if you’re not headed to where the items belong, then “drop zone” them.
Daily Decluttering With Drop Zones
If you struggle with everyday messes, “drop zones” spark the subsequent action of clearing away, like a daily decluttering prompt.
A familiar example of a drop zone is the trusty bottom stair; a hub for mislaid upstairs items that are left in the hope that someone might return them on their next ascent…
In my home, bottom-step items are mysteriously invisible to everyone but me. All who pass leap gazelle-like over them, springing merrily and unladen on their way. Nevertheless, these items are quickly and easily taken on my next journey upstairs and eventually migrate. A stair basket makes the task manageable for one person.
A drop zone can be established in any room to tame the spread of chaos. A singular allocated zone keeps the rest of the room free of miscellaneous debris in one sweep. Choose a spot nearest the door so that items are easily picked up on the way out. A drop zone becomes a permanent dumping ground unless the second, vital step of “clutter migration” occurs.
Daily Clutter Migration
Don’t let a simple tidy-up get the better of you when rushed by the daily grind. Thoughts of “I don’t have time for this” or “I’m not going to that room” lead to a bigger problem that demands more attention down the line.
Driving clutter toward its proper destination gradually beats taking no action at all. Methodical clutter migration demands the least time and energy to keep a home in order.
After a stair drop zone, clutter migrates to the master bedroom. Place the daily declutter items on your bed so they have to be cleared before you go to sleep.
Drop kids’ items on their beds as you go. Everything will be put away at bedtime while prepping school uniforms and book bags. All spaces are peacefully reset for the next day while winding down for sleep.
Gather odd dishes by the door so they always leave when you do. Collect from other drop zones en route.
Daily Decluttering Rule
The hard-and-fast rule is to always clear drop zones within 24 hours to stop clutter mountains from accumulating.
Only allow one small drop zone per room that can be cleared in one trip. If you’re starting from a higher level of clutter, try making each space look just 10% better each time. Think of the impact that will make in a week.
With defined drop zones and steady clutter migration, you don’t sweat the small stuff. With minimal effort, everything finds its way home.
