Time to spring clean and declutter: Home organisers show us how

Spring is approaching and it’s time to start ridding the nest of excess belongings and introducing new organising habits, writes Carol O'Callaghan

Sat, 28 Feb, 2026 - 08:06

Carol O’Callaghan

Houseproud people of previous generations got their spring cleaning underway by calling in the chimney sweep, followed by a marathon cleaning session over several days.

Rugs were slung over the washing line to beat out dirt and soot absorbed over winter, and every crevasse in the home was divested of dust, brushed and scrubbed.

Vacuum cleaners have dispensed with this labour-intensive seasonal ritual, but as consumers, we have as big a job to tackle, resulting from our shopping habits cluttering our homes.

Assessing the amount of stuff we’ve acquired in the last year often reveals kitchen cupboards and wardrobes stuffed to the hilt, and that’s before venturing into the attic.

If you’re longing to cull excess and don’t know where to start, the experts have some simple tips.

Tackling clothes and organising what you decide to keep is one of the bigger decluttering jobs. Picture: Neatly.ie

Professional home organiser Ann Teehan of Neatly.ie says the areas she would declutter over the weekend are kitchen counters, wardrobe and hall.“The kitchen counters and entrance hall are small, manageable declutters that can usually be done in well under an hour, which makes them ideal for building confidence and avoiding overwhelm,” she says. “Imagine how you feel when you walk into your kitchen, and the counters are full of stuff. Now imagine walking into clear counters and how that feels. All your stuff is quietly shouting at you, ‘you’ve jobs to do,’ every time you see it.”

Anyone planning a house move has the perfect opportunity to get rid of excess beforehand, taking only what’s wanted and needed. “I know you just want to get everything unpacked, but taking your time and finding the right home for everything will save you time and stress in the long term,” says Ann.

Hanging clothes up and categorising by colour makes it easier to identify what you have. Picture: Neatly.ie

“If you didn’t do a pre-move declutter, do it while unpacking. Don’t allow anything you don’t want or need to take up space in your home. And remember, organisation isn’t about perfection, it’s about making your daily life easier.

“Put things where it makes sense. Your cups above your coffee machine, kettle with the tea and coffee close by, your dishes as near to your dishwasher as possible, your keys in a bowl or on a hook in the hallway. When things live where you naturally use them, keeping your home tidy becomes effortless.”

Kitchen cupboards are among the top spots for quickly descending into clutter. Picture: Bellwood Storage

Professional organiser Niki Bowman of Simplify and Sort, advises heading straight to the one spot in the kitchen that you go to often and drives you mad the most.

“Think junk drawer, utensil spot or Tupperware cupboard,” she says. “Get rid of duplicates, anything that’s broken or you aren’t using. A small win here will make a huge difference to your day-to-day life. Your bedside locker table: Having this clear will make the space feel calmer. Get rid of rubbish, random bits and only keep the essentials you need at bedtime.”

There are, of course, plenty of people who love having things around them as it brings a sense of comfort, but there’s a difference between this and keeping things you don’t want for the sake of it.

“Get unwanted items out of your home as soon as possible,” says Niki. “Storing them in another spot in the house to deal with later isn’t decluttering, it’s just moving clutter around the house.”

She also sees procrastination as another hindrance to the would-be declutterer.

“We often wait for motivation to strike, but the reality is that this rarely happens, and it’s in taking action that we start to feel motivated,” she says. “So tackle just one small space at a time and the more you do, the more motivated you will become to take on more, and this will help you build momentum.”

Clear kitchen storage containers allow you to see what you have and bring order to food items. Picture: Joseph Joseph

If you can’t quite get your head around what should and shouldn’t stay, professional declutterer and organiser Anne Marie Kingston of White Sage Decluttering, maintains it’s getting rid of things that no longer serve you or you don’t use. She also advises that everything ought to have its specific place to go when not in use.

“Kitchen should only have kitchen items in there; hot press for your pillows, duvets, bed linen and towels only. The key to decluttering is to group the same categories together so you know exactly what you have. Avoid putting items up to the attic, especially items that might come in handy sometime. There is no such thing.”