You don’t need to set aside an entire weekend to make your home feel a little less cluttered. The time it takes to run a load of laundry is enough to tackle a few small spots you might otherwise ignore when you’re busy.
Rather than pulling everything out of a closet or starting a project you can’t finish, pick one of these eight quick tasks while the washing machine does its thing.
The pile of mail on your counter
Gather the envelopes, flyers, and papers that have been collecting on your kitchen counter or entryway table. Recycle junk mail, shred anything containing sensitive information, and put the documents you need to keep in one designated spot.
Your makeup bag
Empty your makeup bag or everyday cosmetics drawer and check for products that are expired, dried out, or no longer part of your routine. Toss what you can’t use and put back only the items you actually reach for.
Socks that have seen better days
Pull out the socks with holes, stretched-out elastic, or missing partners that have been sitting in your drawer for months. Keep the pairs you wear, and check whether a local textile recycling program accepts the ones you’re ready to discard.
The kitchen junk drawer
You don’t have to reorganize the entire kitchen to make progress, so start with the drawer that collects takeout menus, loose batteries, old receipts, and random odds and ends. Remove the trash, return misplaced items to their proper spots, and leave behind only what belongs in the drawer.
One shelf in the refrigerator
Choose a single refrigerator shelf and pull out anything that’s expired, spoiled, or unlikely to be eaten. Wipe down the shelf before putting the remaining food back so you can see what you have and use it before it goes bad.
Your medicine cabinet
Check the dates on medications, creams, and other products pushed to the back of the cabinet. Set aside expired or unwanted medicines for an appropriate take-back program, then note any first-aid supplies you need to replace.
The pen cup or desk drawer
Test the pens and markers you’ve accumulated, including the ones you keep reaching for only to discover they don’t work. Get rid of dried-out writing supplies and keep a manageable number of the ones you like using.
Old photos and screenshots on your phone
While you wait for the washer to finish, scroll through your phone and delete blurry pictures, duplicate shots, and screenshots you no longer need. You don’t have to organize your entire photo library in one sitting to free up a little space and make the photos you want easier to find.
