In this guide
The week after the holidays is the best time to reset a home. The decorations come down, the cupboards are full of leftovers and you have a clear idea of what did not work. This checklist goes through each room in a small home, with a few simple products that help the reset last past January.
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How to run the reset
Do one room a day rather than the whole home at once. Set a timer, take everything out of one area, throw away the rubbish, donate what you do not need and put back only what you use. Buy storage after you have sorted, not before, so you know exactly what you need.
Start with the kitchen and pantry
Check dates on everything in the fridge and pantry. Wipe the shelves and put like with like. A clear bin for snacks and one for baking is usually enough.
Clear pantry bins
After the cull, group what is left into bins so you can see it. Stackable ones use the shelf height. Measure the shelf before you buy.
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Shelf liners
With the shelves empty, it is a good time to wipe them and add a liner. It stops things sliding and makes them easy to clean next time.
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Drawer dividers
Reset the junk drawer. Dividers give each tool a home so it stays tidy after the reset.
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Closets and bedrooms
Take out anything you did not wear last year. Fold, hang and group by type. Use the floor of the closet for shoes and bins.
Fabric storage bins
Bins keep seasonal items tidy on a shelf. Label them so you know what is inside when winter turns to spring.
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Vacuum storage bags
Pack away bulky winter bedding and sweaters when you no longer need them. Bags save a lot of space. Do not store down or wool for long periods.
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A donation bin
Keep a bin in the closet for items you no longer use. When it is full, drop it at a charity shop, and the clutter never gathers again.
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Bathroom and cleaning
Throw away expired products, wipe the shelves and put the daily items in front.
A cleaning caddy
A caddy holds your sprays and cloths in one place and carries them from room to room. It makes a reset faster because everything is in one handle.
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Microfiber cloths
A stack of cloths is the cheapest cleaning tool. They wash and reuse. Keep a pile in the caddy.
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Labels and habits
A label maker
Labels keep the new system in place. A label maker makes quick work of bins, boxes and shelves.
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Reusable labels
If your system changes, reusable labels allow you to relabel in seconds.
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Keep it going
Spend five minutes at the end of each day putting things back. The reset lasts when the daily habit is small and easy.