Conquering Clutter Hotspots

Do you have areas in your home that are always cluttered? No matter how many times you try to tidy them up, they’re always accumulating more clutter.

Those areas are called hotspots. In our house, the hotspots are my desk, the playroom, and the kitchen counter. They can go from clean-and-tidy to out-of-control in less than 20 minutes.

I’ve been trying to organize and declutter my home for years now, and I’m always especially frustrated by these hotspots. I used to be a big fan of the Fly Lady’s podcasts, and when she taught her audience about hotspots, I was happy to know that I’m not alone in my frustration.

Hotspots just aren’t going to go away. Instead of wasting our energy being frustrated, here are some things we can do to minimize the destruction of hotspots:

How to Conquer Clutter Hotspots

• Think about the stuff that accumulates in the hotspots in your home. In our house, the stuff is usually things we don’t know what to do with at the moment. Try to brainstorm systems you could set up to reduce the clutter in that area of your home.
• Declutter a hotspot for ten minutes each day. Just a few minutes each day can make a big difference in the overall look of any area in your home.
• Observe your habits. It might be possible to cut down on clutter in hotspots by just taking a few more steps to put something away instead of dumping it on a hotspot. Try to deal with items immediately and put them away. This isn’t always possible, but if you’re trying to be conscious about your habits, you might be able to come up with a new system or organizing solution.
• Accept the hotspots. Clutter is going to be a part of any household. Learning to deal with it, and then move on will make you feel less stressed about the messy areas in your home.

What are the hotspots in your home?