Wirecutter - Organize every space in your home

Now that the holidays are in the rearview mirror, you may find yourself with a cluttered home and, finally, some spare time on your hands. Although the idea of a start-of-year cleanout may be appealing, it can also be overwhelming. To truly reset your space, you need a gameplan.

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Here’s what associate staff writer and resident cleaning expert Ellen Airhart suggests:

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“Decluttering is difficult because it involves a lot of small decisions and strategizing. So give yourself plenty of time and breaks, and separate it into very small chunks of work. Then go through with the appropriate cleaning tool and look forward to the relatively quick satisfaction of meeting each bite-sized goal.”

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Below, we’ve put together our expert advice on how to tidy just about every space in your house in the new year. Looking for more inspo? Sign up for our weekly Clean Everything newsletter.

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Clean your kitchen

Julia Stotz

Your kitchen has likely been a high-traffic area these past few weeks—it’s time to do a deep cleaning.

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At the very least, give your countertops a good wipedown, and wash your most-used appliances, like your oven, dishwasher, and microwave.

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If the inside of your fridge looks like a precarious game of Jenga, packed to the brim with pickles, spreads, and sauces, you might benefit from following our guide on how to organize a fridge.

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And if you’re really inspired, we also have advice on how to clean your sauce-stained cookbooks and keep them well organized for future use.

Declutter your office

Michael Murtaugh

A clean, dedicated workspace is the key to productivity. These few basic changes will help to limit visual clutter and minimize piles demanding your attention.

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Start with the essentials: desktop organizers, wireless phone chargers, and filing cabinets.

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After you’ve dug up all of your physical files, follow our advice on how to sort life’s most important documents, so that your bills, birth certificates, and reports don’t get lost in the shuffle.

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When was the last time you cleaned your tech? Sanitize your keyboard and mouse, wipe down your laptop, and corral the loose cables.

Attend to your digital footprint

A browser displaying a VPN, a smartphone, and a mug of coffee.

Michael Murtaugh

The unruliest space in your life can also be the most intangible one—your digital library. Loose passwords, antiquated software, and jumbled files open you up to a host of cybersecurity threats.

We have a comprehensive series on how to secure your digital life. But if you have time to tackle only a few tasks, make it these:

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Back up your computer.

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Enable two-factor authentication on your accounts.

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Clean out your digital library.

Tackle those tough-to-tidy spaces

Sebastian Compagnucci

Some areas—like your garage or closet—are just more daunting and time-consuming to clean than others.

The right organization gear can help you simplify the process, and these items can be useful in a variety of spaces. Check out our guides to the best:

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storage containers

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surface cleaners, wipes, and disinfectants

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vacuums (canister, cordless, robot—oh, my!)

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Already checked off everything in this newsletter? There’s a lot more to clean where that came from. Find more cleaning projects here.

Before you go: A deal on fantastic storage boxes

HAY

Sometimes small items like sunglasses, sentimental postcards, winter gloves, and random keepsakes contribute the most to a sense of disorder. In those cases, it’s nice to have catch-all containers that still feel special and make it easy to access what’s inside.

A favorite in our closet-organizing guide, the HAY Colour Storage Boxes are glossy, vibrant, magnetic-lidded vessels. These roomy boxes not only hide odds and ends but also enhance a room’s decor, and they’re particularly well suited to smaller spaces.

Use promo code 0T05FA7AAI to snatch a box for $10.

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