8 places you should be decluttering on a daily basis

Many people who are naturally tidy will say that orderliness is merely a habit.

So get into the groove of doing a little bit of decluttering every day, and you’re sure to live a (somewhat) more streamlined life.

Here are eight areas in your home that could do with a tidy on-the-daily.

The mailbox

Start setting your home life in order before you even walk in the door by making sure to clear your mailbox.

Any junk mail can go straight in the recycling bin outside and you can deal with mail and bills immediately.

Your handbag

The busier a person is, the more likely they are to accumulate fodder in their handbag. Receipts, toiletries, charger cables, hair clips, mail, snacks, and more will get lumped into the bag.

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Take a couple of minutes at the end of each day to clear what’s arrived there into the relevant places, and make sure you have what you need for tomorrow.

The kitchen sink

Does anyone really enjoy doing the dishes?

Washing dirty pots and pans is an activity that only becomes less attractive the longer you leave it.

Do yourself and the air in your home a favour – don’t leave unwashed dishes in the sink overnight.

Your clothes pile

Let’s be real – we all have one of these. Whether it’s your chair, a corner of your bed or in a hamper, unworn clothes just seem to gather.

Make it your practice to return clothes to the wardrobe before bed for a more relaxing bedroom (and maybe even a better night’s sleep).

The car

Don’t treat your car like an open-plan filing system, a trash can or a laundry basket.

Make a rule that when you get out of the car, all new additions – like coffee cups or the drycleaning you just retrieved – come out with you.

The kitchen bench

The counter in your kitchen is a point in the home where clutter easily accumulates.

It might be tempting to decorate this space with a tray for odds and ends, but by doing this, you’re simply allowing yourself to procrastinate.

Instead, create a pinboard somewhere in your kitchen. Reminders and important documents can be pinned, everything else can go back where it belongs.

Your desk

Maintaining a tidy home office is important for morale and productivity. Plus, you deserve to work in a well-ordered environment.

It’s easy to bring things from around the house onto your desk (e.g. scissors, charging cables) and then be frantically wondering where they are later.

When you finish your work for the day, make a ritual of putting everything away.

Your wallet

File receipts, remove excess coins, keep an eye on your loyalty cards (you might have a nice surprise) and make sure you have all your cards.

– Originally appeared on stuff.co.nz