Declutter Like a Pro: 7 Areas Often Overlooked

Introduction: Where Clutter Hides

As a busy mom, you’re constantly managing your home, juggling responsibilities, and trying to keep everything in order. But even the most organized moms can overlook hidden clutter in unexpected places. While you might keep up with daily tidying, there are sneaky spots where clutter tends to accumulate, making your home feel more chaotic than it should.

Today, we’re highlighting seven commonly overlooked areas where clutter lurks—and sharing expert tips on how to tackle them efficiently.

7 Overlooked Areas and How to Tackle Them

1. Closets

Closets can easily become dumping grounds for out-of-season clothes, random accessories, and forgotten items.

• How to Tackle It:

Do a seasonal purge—if you haven’t worn it in a year, donate it. But how do you know if you’ve actually worn it? A year is a long time, I got a trick for you. Hang your clothes backworth on the rack. When you wear it, hang it up correctly. Next year, if you have hangers that are still backwards, it’s time to start looking to donate.

• Use matching hangers to create a streamlined look. I don’t care if they are brown, black, wood or metal; they just all need to be the same.This is our number 1 rule. You can have the preittest closet, with the prettiest clothes but if your hangers don’t match; your closet will look like a hot mess.
• Install shelf dividers to prevent piles from toppling over. Shelves can be long and if you have a lot of sweaters it can get messy pretty quick. All it takes is taking one sweater from the bottom. Shelf dividers can help keep the items contained. They have shelf divders for wire shelves as well.

2. Junk Drawers

The infamous junk drawer is where everything random lands—batteries, receipts, pens, and mystery keys. The kicker is; you actually need these items from time to time. Having a “junk” or misc drawer what we like to call it is a neccessitiy.

How to Tackle It:

• Empty the drawer and sort items by category.
• Use small dividers or containers to keep items neatly separated. This gives every item a home. Even that small tiny battery, or that little sewing kit.
• Label sections to maintain organization long-term. Lables allow everyone in the house to be on board.

3. Garage

The garage often becomes a storage space for everything from old toys to seasonal decorations and tools.

How to Tackle It:

• Create zones (sports gear, tools, holiday decorations) to keep similar items together.
• Install wall hooks and shelving to free up floor space.
• Donate or discard broken or unused items.

4. Pantry

Expired food, half-empty snack bags, and cluttered shelves make it hard to find what you need.

How to Tackle It:

• Check expiration dates and discard old items.
• Use clear bins to group similar foods (e.g., snacks, baking supplies, cereals).
• Label everything to maintain order and make meal prep easier.

5. Under the Beds

Out of sight, out of mind—but that doesn’t mean clutter isn’t piling up!

How to Tackle It:

• Pull everything out and decide what stays and what goes.
• Use under-bed storage bins for out-of-season clothes or extra linens.
• Keep it clean with routine checks every few months.

6. Linen Closet

Towels, sheets, and random toiletries can make this space overwhelming.

How to Tackle It:

• Fold linens uniformly and store them in labeled bins.
• Use door organizers for toiletries and small items.
• Rotate older linens to the front to ensure they get used first.

7. Kids’ Artwork & School Papers

Papers pile up quickly, and it’s hard to know what to keep and what to toss.

How to Tackle It:

• Keep only sentimental or special pieces and store them in a labeled memory box.
• Take photos of artwork and store them digitally.
• Set up a filing system for important school papers.

Why You Need a Pro

While decluttering these areas is possible on your own, hiring a professional organizer can make the process easier and more effective. A pro can:

• Provide a clear system that fits your family’s lifestyle.
• Save you time by streamlining the process.
• Help you maintain organization long-term with expert strategies.

Ready to Declutter Like a Pro?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you don’t have to tackle this alone. Orderly Flow specializes in helping busy moms create functional, clutter-free homes. Book a consultation today and let’s transform your space together!