As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, fall is the perfect time to tidy up your space. While many focus on the obvious areas, numerous overlooked spots could benefit from your attention. Here are 13 overlooked spots to declutter and clean this fall for a clean and clutter-free space.
1. Under the Sofas and beds
Dust bunnies and stray items, such as shoes, toys, and food remains, often accumulate beneath furniture.
Action Tip: Move the sofa and vacuum or mop the floor. Check for lost items, such as remote controls or toys, and return them to their rightful place.
2. Behind and under Appliances
Kitchen appliances, such as refrigerators and ovens, can harbor dust, grime, and pests like roaches, making them challenging to clean.
Action Tip: Pull them out and clean the surfaces thoroughly before reassembling them.
3. Inside drawers and cabinets
Old takeout containers, mismatched Tupperware lids, unused kitchen gadgets, and expired spices and condiments occupy valuable drawer space.
Action Tip: Sort out any outdated and duplicate items and gadgets, and discard or donate them. Organize items by category or frequency of use,
4. Countertops
Unused dishes and pots occupy unnecessary counter and cabinet spaces.
Action Tip: Donate or store unused utensils in your storage area to free up space on your kitchen counters and cabinets.
5. Inside Closets
Seasonal clothing, forgotten items, and unmatched socks or linen can contribute to clutter in your closets.
Action Tip: Sort through clothes, donate what you don’t wear, discard old or unmatched linen, and organize the remaining items by season. Don’t forget to check the shelves for items that need a new home!
6. Bathroom Cabinets
Expired medications and unused beauty products or toiletries can occupy valuable storage space in your bathroom drawers and cabinets.
Action Tip: Check expiration dates, discard any outdated items, and organize essentials for easy access.
7. Entryway or Mudroom
It’s the first area your guests see; keep it clean and clutter-free!
Action Tip: Clear out shoes, jackets, and bags. Create zones for items so it’s easy for the family to put things away.
8. Home Office
Papers and office supplies can easily create clutter and disorganization.
Action Tip: Sort through documents, file essential papers, and recycle useless ones. Organize your supplies in labeled containers to create a functional workspace.
9. Bookshelves
Books, brochures, old DVDs, and instruction manuals can collect and accumulate dust over time.
Action Tip: Dust the shelves, sort and remove books you no longer want to read, and organize the remaining ones for easier access.
10. Pantry, inside refrigerators and freezer
Expired and unused food items may be lurking in the back of these areas.
Action Tip: Review all items, discard expired food products, such as old sauces, soups, and meats, then reorganize useful ones by category to create a functional and tidy pantry or refrigerator.
11. On top of cabinets and appliances
Dust and debris tend to accumulate on top of cabinets and appliances if they are not cleaned frequently. Sometimes we place sentimental items, decorations, and unused items up there, which only creates clutter and dust buildup.
Action Tip: Clean these areas frequently to prevent dust accumulation. Find storage solutions that keep these spaces tidy.
12. Bedroom Nightstands
Clutter on nightstands can disrupt your peaceful space.
Action Tip: Remove unnecessary items, dust the surface, and keep only essentials, such as a lamp, clock, and a book.
13. Garage or Storage Shed
Seasonal items can clutter your space, making it hard to find tools or equipment.
Action Tip: Sort through everything, donate or dispose of broken items, and create a system for organizing tools and outdoor gear.
Simple Weekly Decluttering Schedule for Overlooked Spots to Declutter and Clean.
Here’s a simple decluttering schedule you can follow to make your work easier. This plan spreads tasks over a month, making it manageable and less overwhelming. These are our suggestions, but feel free to tweak and adapt this schedule to fit your needs and lifestyle.
Week 1: Entryway, Living Room, and Office
Day 1: Sort through shoes, jackets, and bags. Decide what to keep, donate, or discard.
Day 2: Declutter surfaces such as tables and shelves in the living room. Remove unnecessary items and keep only what you need.
Day 3: Organize your media (DVDs, books, games). Keep only what you love or use.
Day 4: Tidy up and clean under furniture such as sofas and tables. Remove dust and clutter.
Day 5: Review or alternate decorative items. Keep only what you genuinely enjoy.
Day 6: Sort out and Declutter any duplicate, old, or unwanted tools, such as pens and tape dispensers, in your office and junk drawers.
Day 7: Take a moment to relax and assess your progress!
Week 2: Kitchen
Day 1: Dust and clean the tops of cabinets and kitchen appliances to remove clutter, dust, and buildup.
Day 2: Clear countertops and declutter appliances. Keep only daily essentials.
Day 3: Sort through pantry items. Check expiration dates and use or donate non-perishables.
Day 4: Declutter silverware, dishes, and glasses in your cabinets and drawers. Review cooking gadgets. Keep multifunctional tools, donate any duplicates, and discard old items.
Day 5: Organize the fridge. Toss expired items, wipe down shelves, and reorganize them.
Day 6: Clean and declutter cabinets. Keep only what you regularly use.
Day 7: Celebrate Your Organized Kitchen!
Week 3: Bedrooms
Day 1: Declutter your closet. Donate clothing you haven’t worn in a year.
Day 2: Organize shoes and accessories. Keep what you love.
Day 3: Tackle lampstands and bedside tables. Remove unnecessary items and keep it tidy.
Day 4: Sort through personal items (jewelry, keepsakes). Decide what to keep and what to donate.
Day 5: Rotate the mattress, change the bedding, and make the bed.
Day 6: Review under-the-bed storage. Discard items that no longer serve you.
Day 7: Treat yourself to a cozy night in your newly organized space!
Week 4: Bathrooms and Miscellaneous
Day 1: Clear out expired beauty products and medications. Dispose of them properly.
Day 2: Organize towels and linens. Keep what you use regularly and donate extras.
Day 3: Tidy up bathroom countertops and cabinets; keep it simple.
Day 4: Clean out the air vent, exhaust fans, shower curtain, and overflowing trash cans. Replace any damaged or clogged vents with new ones.
Day 5: Clean out the garage, basement, or attic, if applicable—focus on one corner at a time.
Day 6: Declutter any additional rooms (like the guest room or hobby area).
Day 7: Reflect on the month’s progress and enjoy your clutter-free home!
Tips to make your decluttering Schedule work
Be Flexible: Adjust your schedule to accommodate your personal pace and daily commitments.
Do Short Sessions: If a whole day feels too much, break your tasks into short sessions of 20-30 minutes.
Set a Timer: Use a timer for focused decluttering sessions to make the task feel more manageable.
Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge your accomplishments each week to maintain high motivation and stay motivated.
Fall is a fantastic season to refresh your home, and focusing on these often-overlooked spots can make a big difference. Set aside time to tackle one area at a time, and soon you’ll create a cleaner, more organized environment to enjoy all season long.
You may also like: 9 Easy Daily Steps to Reduce Clutter at Home.
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