Clutter Free Me Hampshire

27/03/2026

⏱️ 10 Minute Decluttering Challenge: SHOES

Let’s be honest… shoes are a bit of a nightmare.

They need to be right there, ready to grab as you dash out the door — because, well… life. But somehow, for something we use every single day, they create one of the biggest bottlenecks in the house. Every person, every activity, every season… it all adds up to a growing collection that ends up piled into the smallest, narrowest space we’ve got — the hallway.

And that’s where the frustration creeps in.

Because you want them to be easy. You need them to be convenient. But instead, you’ve got a jumble of trainers, boots, school shoes, “just in case” heels, and that one random flip flop that’s lost its mate… all fighting for space.

I would love to tell you there’s a perfect, one-size-fits-all storage solution — some magical shoe rack that transforms your hallway into a Pinterest dream… but honestly? I’ve yet to find it. The racks that hang on doors just seem to gather dust, the Ikea ones that pull out don't seem to hold more than 4 pairs and God forbid you have shoes that are a size 9 or bigger - they are not fitting in anywhere easily.

What does make the difference isn’t the storage — it’s getting really clear on what actually belongs in that space. Because most of us have far more shoes than we use. You might have a dozen pairs (or more), but if you’re really honest, you probably rotate the same three or four day in, day out.

You may LOVE shoes, maybe it's you thing - if you love them and like looking at them then that's great too (You know we're all about living with things you love).

So this week’s challenge isn’t about squeezing more in… it’s about stepping back, looking at your space properly, and separating what you need from what’s just habit, clutter, or “I might wear those one day.”

We’re going to reset your shoe situation so it actually works for your home — not against it.

👟 Let’s get stuck in:
Get them ALL out (yes, every single pair… no hiding ones upstairs)
Pair them up — any loners? Bye.
Filthy and you’re not going to clean them? Let them go.
Outgrown / not your style anymore? Time to move on.
Worn out? (holes, no grip, falling apart) — they’ve done their time.

👀 Now, check yourself:
Try them on — don’t assume they’re fine
Are they actually comfy? Or just emotionally attached?
Do you avoid wearing them? There’s your answer

♻️ What to do with the good ones:
Pass on decent pairs to charity
Branded / great condition? Try selling
BUT — give yourself a time limit (no long-term clutter-in-waiting!)
👠 Sort like a pro:

Group them into real-life categories:

Everyday go-to shoes
Work shoes
Workout trainers
Garden/messy jobs
Occasion shoes (aka “look amazing, can’t walk” category 😅)
Seasonal (sandals, boots etc.)

Now ask yourself…
Do those occasion shoes really need hallway space?
And if you haven’t worn them in 3 years… are they really coming back out?

🧠 Smart storage tweaks:
Keep daily shoes by the door only
Store occasional/seasonal pairs elsewhere
Use under-bed storage for low-use items
Individual shoe boxes work well and clear is great
Pop rolled magazines into boots to hold their shape

If you’re using shelves or racks:

Display shoes front-facing (like a shop — you’ll actually wear them!)
Tight on space?
Place one shoe forward, one reversed (you’ll gain more room than you think ✨)
Sandals & flats? Store upright in a basket
📸 Final step (don’t skip this one!):

Take an after photo of your fresh, calm, clutter-free shoe space.

Not only will it feel AMAZING…
You’ll probably rediscover pairs you forgot you even owned — hello “new” shoes without spending a penny 💁‍♀️

💬 Over to you:

What actually works in your house? I've added a picture below in the comments of my own shoe storage & this works perfectly for me with my space

20/03/2026

19/03/2026

Need a bit of a hand? You're not alone!
What tasks in your home would you get help with if you could?

12/03/2026

Love a good sort out of random baskets of 'that'll come in handy' stuff - often never to be looked at again as some of the expiry dates will attest too 🤣

08/03/2026

10 Minute Decluttering Challenge – Tools 🛠️

Alright… let’s have a little chat about tools.

Not the full-on, workshop-in-the-garage, channeling your inner Bob the Builder situation… just the everyday bits most of us have somewhere in the house.

You know the ones — a couple of screwdrivers, a hammer, maybe some pliers, possibly a drill if you’re feeling fancy.

And yet… somehow… they multiply.

They come with flat-pack furniture, get passed down, bought in “just in case” sets… and before you know it, you’ve got a random collection scattered across drawers, cupboards, and that one “everything” box.

So let me ask you…

When something needs fixing, do you know exactly where to go?
Or are you rummaging… moving things… getting slightly annoyed… maybe even giving up?

And what about those Allen keys — how many do you actually have? A neat set… or a metal spaghetti situation?

Because here’s the truth: most households only need a small, simple selection of tools. Enough to do the jobs that actually come up in your life.

This isn’t about getting rid of everything — it’s about keeping what’s useful, ditching the duplicates, and making sure it all lives in one easy-to-find place.

Your 10-minute action plan:

Take everything out (yes… all of it 👀)

Group things together — screwdrivers, Allen keys, spanners, the lot

Spot the duplicates — how many do you realistically need?

Keep a simple, practical set that covers your actual needs

Choose one home for them — a toolbox, a drawer, a container that makes sense

Anything extra? Let it go to someone who’ll actually use it.

Places like Men's Sheds or local repair cafés will happily give those tools a second life.

Because the goal here isn’t perfection… it’s ease.

Knowing what you have.
Knowing where it is.
And being able to grab it in seconds when you need it.

Quick one to leave you with:
If something came loose tonight… would you fix it straight away — or start the great tool hunt? 🔍✨

01/03/2026

✨ 10 Minute Decluttering Challenge: Nuts, Bolts & All the Random Fixings ✨

Let’s talk about that drawer (or tub… or multiple tubs 👀). The one full of screws, hooks, bits from long-forgotten flatpack furniture and those “probably important” pieces you’ve been holding onto just in case.

Now be honest… could you find the right screw in under 30 seconds? Or would you be digging around for half an hour before giving up and buying another pack anyway?

Set a timer for 10 minutes and tip everything out so you can actually see what you’ve got. This is where the magic starts. As you go through it, be ruthless. The rusty bits, bent nails, duplicates, and the “what even is this?” items can go. You’re not running a hardware shop — you don’t need endless options you’ll never use.

Pause for a moment and ask yourself… when was the last time you actually needed a random nail or screw? More often than not, it’s for flatpack furniture — and those usually come with everything you need anyway.

This isn’t about how much you have, it’s about being able to see it, access it, and use it without the stress. Once you’ve decluttered, then you can think about organising. Not before. Organisation is not decluttering — it only works when you’ve already reduced what you own.

⏱ Your 10-Minute Challenge Starts Now

1. Empty it out (yes, ALL of it)
Tip everything onto a surface so you can actually see what you’re working with.

2. Quick wins first
Bin or recycle:

Rusty bits

Bent nails

Random “what even is this?!” pieces

Duplicates you realistically don’t need

3. Reality check moment
When was the last time you actually needed a loose screw or nail?
Was it for flatpack furniture… where everything came in the box anyway?

4. Keep only what earns its place
This isn’t about how much you have — it’s about being able to:
✔️ See it
✔️ Hold it
✔️ Use it when you actually need it

5. THEN (and only then) organise
Organisation is NOT decluttering 👏
Declutter first, always.

If you’ve got time:
✨ Sort by size, type, or use (weirdly satisfying)

If you don’t:
✨ Grab a simple divided box next time you’re out (usually around £5 — small price, BIG sanity win)

25/02/2026

Have you got a spring in your step too? Let's harness the motivation the change in weather can bring ☀️ WhatsApp me below

23/02/2026

✨ 10 Minute Decluttering Challenge – Batteries Edition 🔋

Be honest… do you actually know where your batteries live?

Because if your smoke alarm started beeping at 2am and needed 2 AAA batteries… would you be calmly sorting it… or rage-rummaging through that drawer? 😅

You know the ones…
– The kitchen junk drawer
– The cupboard under the stairs
– Random loose ones rolling around in a bag (why?!)

And let’s talk about what’s actually in there…
– Dead ones pretending to have life
– “Maybe they work?” ones (they don’t)
– Rechargeables… that are definitely not charged
– A mystery mix of sizes all living together in chaos

⏱ Your 10-minute mission:

Gather them ALL
Go on a battery hunt – drawers, cupboards, bags, random boxes. Bring every last one together.

Sort by size
AAA, AA, C, D, button… give them their own little zones. No more mix-and-match madness.

Test or be ruthless
If you have a tester – amazing, use it.
If not? Be honest. If you don’t trust it, it goes.

Check your rechargeables
Are they actually charged?
If not – pop them on charge now so Future You feels smug later.

Create a proper “battery home”
One place. Easy to access. No more treasure hunts.

♻️ Now the important bit…
Those old, dead batteries? They do not belong in your regular bin.

Pop them in a separate bag and either:
– Check your local council guidance (some allow them with glass recycling)
– Or take them to your local supermarket’s battery recycling point

💭 Quick reality check:
If something needed batteries right now… would you know exactly where to go?

👉 If the answer’s no – you know what your 10 minutes is doing today.

08/02/2026

🕒 10 Minute Declutter Challenge: Tea Towels Edition

Be honest… how many tea towels do you actually have?
If you’re thinking “not that many” but you’ve got three drawers and an overstuffed cupboard that say otherwise… this one’s for you.

In the average kitchen we seem to collect:

The obligatory ones the kids made at school for the PTA (too cute to use, too guilty to throw)

The gifted ones (Christmas, birthdays, secret Santa… every year adds more)

The funny slogan ones (that were funny once…)

The holiday destination ones (souvenir of a great trip, now wiping up pasta water)

The ones so soiled they need boiling after every use

The ones that don’t actually dry anything

And the ones where the fabric makes your skin crawl when you touch them 😬

Your 10-Minute Mission:

Get them all out. Yes, all of them. Drawer, cupboard, back of the door, that random basket.

Sort into 3 piles:

Actually use & like

Sentimental but never used

Why is this even in my house?

Be ruthless with:

Ones that smell even after washing

Ones that don’t dry

Ones you actively avoid touching

Keep only what you genuinely need for your household (hint: it’s way fewer than you think).

Reflective Question:

If these weren’t already in your house… would you choose to buy them today? It's ok that your tastes change.

So this week, set your timer for 10 minutes and free your kitchen from towel overwhelm.
Then tell me: how many did you start with, and how many survived?
I promise, no one has ever said “I wish I’d kept more old tea towels.” 😉

Any brand new unused ones will happily be accepted at charity shops. Check with your local charity shop if they will accept any others for their 'rag bag' but make sure you check first and keep them separate and clearly labeled.

04/02/2026

Usually when decluttering kitchen cupboards it's how long ago the best before dates are but this one took me by surprise.... How is I possible that food expires in 2030!!!!😱

02/02/2026

One of the main reason we declutter and organise is to make our lives simpler - this super simple but highly effective top tip helps do just that!

27/01/2026

One of the really lovely parts of decluttering is being able to pass things on to people who can genuinely make use of them. Sometimes that’s charity shops, but more often it’s individuals or community groups where I know the items will truly be appreciated.

What makes it even nicer is being able to show my clients what happens next. So they don’t just see the difference in their own home, but can feel good knowing that someone else’s life has been made a little easier or more joyful too.

This beautiful cardigan was handmade by a student using some of the donated wool from one of my clients, who was a very keen crafter. Over time, she’d built up such a large collection of wool for planned projects that it had started to work against her — there was no space to sit and create, and the volume of it all felt overwhelming.
We cleared over half of what she had, and she still had plenty left to work with.

Her home feels calmer and more usable, the wool has found a new purpose, and someone else has created something truly lovely from it.
It’s worth asking yourself: are there things in your home that you’re holding onto “just in case”, that could be doing real good elsewhere?
And how might it feel to know that by letting go, you’re creating space not just for yourself — but for someone else too?

If you’re ready to start clearing with kindness and purpose, I’d love to help. 💛