Going Marie Kondo on your house isn’t the only way to defeat chaos. If you don’t have time for the whole shebang, start by working on these five common clutter-causing items—get rid of them, and your house will feel so much cleaner. (Plus, you’ll avoid some nasty germs and chemicals.)
Say Good-Bye
Pretty Boxes
It's hard to resist the allure of a pretty box. And professional organizers often tout their benefits for storage options.
But unless you're using them for storage literally right this second, keeping them is just contributing to your clutter.
Your Grimy Dish Sponge
If your sponge is more than a week old, toss it. Sponges are germ cesspools. (Not to mention dirty sponges do not look chic on your countertop.)
The Pile Of Old Mail
If you're like us, you have a growing stack of unopened letters and coupon leaflets on at least one surface in your house. Set aside a few minutes to go through the piles, and recycle everything you don't need (which is most of it).
Magazines Spilling Off Your Coffee Table
Tough love: You're never going to reread that March 2003 issue of People. Just recycle.
Restaurant Receipts
Unless they're tax deductible, you don't need to hang onto your Chipotle tab. (Plus, receipts contain BPA, an endocrine-disrupting chemical that can be absorbed through your skin.)
