Long-term Disorder and Clutter: Experts Warn Against This Specific Organizational Habit and Offer Alternatives
Ready to conquer clutter chaos? Here's how to avoid the worst organizational mistake: cramming items into closets. Hiding your mess might give a temporary sense of control, but experts warn it'll only lead to more chaos later on. Instead, focus on these effective decluttering tips.
Sweep clean, not dirty: say goodbye to secret clutter stashes
Whether it's honestly-forgotten mementos or old paperwork, closets often become catch-alls for the stuff we're not ready to deal with. This is such a common habit that it gives the illusion of order without really solving the clutter problem.
If you find yourself constantly shoving things into an already overflowing closet, take a moment to rethink your method. When mental energy is low, it's easy to just close the door and forget about it. But keeping a cluttered closet has long-term consequences.
Karina Toner from Spekless Cleaning has seen this organizational oversight firsthand. "When people don't have the energy to sort or purge, they shove it away for 'later'"—but that's the one habit we're begging you to stop.
A cluttered mind is a cluttered house: why it matters
Putting off decisions
Stuffing things in closets doesn't just delay the problem—it also creates a vicious cycle. The more crowded and disorganized your storage spaces, the fewer options you have to put things away when cleaning up elsewhere. This can make your clutter problem even worse.
Professional organizer Sherri Papich says, "By cramming items into bins, baskets, drawers, or closets, you're delaying decisions and creating decision fatigue." All those unmade choices can leave you overwhelmed and waste valuable space, time, and money.
When your clutter takes up its own lease
If you can't find the back of your closets or garage, you're likely paying rent for your stuff. It's the reason clutter keeps creeping back into your home.
Better organization: quick, visible resets
So how do you break the habit and start creating a more organized living space? Instead of hiding clutter behind closed doors, try implementing these simple solutions:
Step 1: One closet at a time
Start sorting one closet, drawer, or space at a time. Instead of emptying it completely, focus on clearing a little bit of space. "Don't overthink it!" says Toner. "Just group similar stuff together (scarves with scarves, cables with cables), toss them into designated bins, and label them quickly."
Toner recommends using clear, stackable storage containers, like the mDesign Plastic Storage Bins with Handles. For labels, consider using a vretti Label Maker Machine from Amazon, but simple sticky notes will do the job just fine.
Step 2: Prioritize
When it comes to sorting through a category, consider the 20/20 rule: could the item be easily replaced in 20 minutes for $20 or less? If yes, it's time to let it go. Remember to always designate a "maybe" bin for items you're unsure about.
Label your maybe box with a date one month ahead. If you haven't missed or needed anything inside by then, it's time to donate or discard it. This simple approach will help reduce decision fatigue and declutter your space bit by bit.
Step 3: Lighten your load
Remove out-of-season clothing and store it under your bed using a clear under-bed storage container with easy pull handles and wheels, like this one. Invest in a shoe rack, like the INGIORDAR Store Shoe Rack, to keep shoes off the floor.
If you find yourself facing overwhelming clutter, adopt a mindset of simplification and minimalism. Focus on owning just one favorite piece of each item instead of multiples. It'll help you break free from clutter's grip and cultivate a clean, organized lifestyle.
- Closets, drawers, and other storage spaces can become secret stashes for unwanted items, giving an illusion of order but not addressing the clutter problem effectively.
- Adopting a mindset of minimalism, reducing multiple items down to a single favorite, can help break free from clutter and cultivate a clean, organized lifestyle, especially when it comes to out-of-season clothing stored under the bed and shoes kept off the floor using under-bed storage containers and shoe racks.
