How to Clean and Organize Common Problem Areas at Home

Before diving into individual spaces, it helps to set up a foundation that makes every room easier to manage. A quick whole-home strategy reduces decision fatigue and keeps you from shuffling clutter from one problem area to another.

Use a Simple Sorting Method

When you start emptying closets, cabinets or storage nooks, use four sorting categories to keep things moving:

• Keep: items you use regularly and need nearby

• Donate: items in good condition that no longer serve you

• Toss: broken, expired or unusable items

• Store: off-season, bulky or rarely used items are better suited for a storage unit

Declutter by Category

Instead of organizing room by room, group items like this:

• Cleaning supplies

• Seasonal clothing

• Tools and hardware

• Sports/outdoor gear

• Holiday decor

• Backstock or bulk household items

Clean as You Go

A few quick tasks make reorganizing smoother:

• Wipe shelves and drawers

• Vacuum or sweep debris

• Check for expired products

• Replace warped or damaged organizers

Know When to Use Self Storage

If you find that large or infrequently used items are crowding your closets, garage or attic, that’s a sign you’ve hit your home’s natural limit. Self storage works exceptionally well for:

• Off-season clothing

• Holiday decorations

• Sports gear

• Camping equipment

• Archived documents

• Bulk household supplies

This small cabinet tends to collect clutter fast, especially things like half-used cleaners, backup sponges and products you forgot you had. A quick reset helps this space stay practical rather than chaotic.

• Empty everything so you can see the full scope of what’s inside.

• Wipe down surfaces and check for moisture or leaks before putting anything back.

• Toss expired, nearly empty or duplicate products you know you won’t use.

• Use simple organizers that maximize the awkward layout, like pull-out baskets, shelf risers or a tension rod for spray bottles.

• Group similar items together so you always know where to reach for what you need.

• Keep only everyday cleaning supplies here; move backups or bulk items to a utility closet or small storage unit.

• Add labels or clear bins to prevent items from drifting back into clutter.

Closets become overwhelming when they’re packed with clothing you don’t wear or items that don’t have a clear home. A clean slate approach helps create a closet you can actually use every day. To keep these spaces manageable:

• Remove everything from the closet so you’re not organizing around clutter.

• Vacuum the floor, wipe the shelving and quickly evaluate what you actually want to keep.

• Sort items into logical groups — daily wear, seasonal pieces, accessories, shoes, donate, toss.

• Use slim hangers, shelf dividers or small bins to give belongings a clear place to live.

• Keep high-use clothing front and center; move formal or rarely worn clothes to less accessible areas.

• Rotate seasonal items out of your main closet and into clear bins, vacuum-seal bags or a climate-controlled storage unit.

• Dedicate a small landing spot (like a hook or basket) for items that need to be returned to their proper place to prevent pileups.

Attics and basements are natural catch-alls for anything that doesn’t fit elsewhere, which makes them some of the most cluttered — and overlooked — parts of the home. The key is to sort everything into broad, practical categories and store items in sturdy, latching bins that protect against dust and pests. Elevating containers on shelves or pallets also helps prevent water damage and makes it easier to keep pathways clear. As you sort, consider which belongings actually belong in these spaces and which would fare better in a climate-controlled storage unit. These areas often experience temperature swings, humidity and limited ventilation, which makes them risky for items that need more stable conditions, such as:

• Photos, documents and artwork

• Leather, fabric or wool

• Electronics and older media (records, tapes, hard drives)

• High-end or vintage furniture made of real wood, leather, etc.

In other words, anything sentimental, delicate or moisture-sensitive is usually safer — and easier to access — in a storage unit than in an attic or basement that fluctuates throughout the year.

A full reset is the only way to get ahead of garage clutter. Start by clearing things out: pull items out, sweep debris and take a quick inventory of what you actually want to keep. Then you’ll want to do the following:

Group Items by Use

Create clear categories so everything has a logical home. Common groupings include:

• Gardening and lawn care

• Tools and hardware

• Automotive supplies

• Outdoor and sports gear

• Holiday or overflow items

Once grouped, you’ll see immediately where duplicates exist and what needs a more permanent storage solution.

Use Vertical and Overhead Storage

Floor space is precious. Make use of the walls and ceiling to keep things accessible without losing room for parking or projects.

• Install pegboards for tools

• Use heavy-duty shelving for bins

• Add wall mounts for bikes

• Consider ceiling-mounted racks for lightweight, seasonal items

Know What Belongs in Storage Instead

Garages get dusty, humid and hot, which makes them a poor fit for certain belongings. Off-season gear, extra coolers, camping equipment and bulky hobby items often work far better in a self-storage unit, where they stay protected without taking over your day-to-day space.

Entryways and mudrooms tend to attract clutter because they sit at the intersection of coming and going — a place where shoes get kicked off, bags are dropped and mail piles up before anyone has time to deal with it. The best way to tame this space is to give every item a designated landing spot. Hooks for coats and backpacks, a sturdy tray for shoes and a small console or wall organizer for keys and mail can instantly create order where there wasn’t any. Keep only current-season outerwear in this area so it doesn’t become overloaded; heavy winter coats or off-season accessories can be stored in a closet or moved to a storage unit if space is tight. A quick daily reset (putting shoes back on the tray, clearing out mail, hanging jackets) helps keep the entry clutter-free and easy to navigate.

Utility spaces like laundry rooms, pantries and household closets often turn into catch-all zones because they’re functional by nature but rarely reevaluated. Start by clearing out old cleaning products, half-used detergents, expired pantry items or tools that no longer work. Once you can see what’s left, reorganize with simple systems that keep everyday items within reach and less frequently used supplies stored higher up. Adding shelves, stackable bins and even a lazy Susan for small products can instantly make these areas more efficient. If bulk household items or extra supplies are overwhelming your shelves, consider moving them to a small storage unit where they can stay accessible without taking up valuable utility space. A streamlined utility area makes household chores faster and keeps the rest of your home running more smoothly.

Once your home’s trouble spots are organized, the key is creating simple habits and structures that keep everything running smoothly.

• Create storage zones based on how you naturally use each space so items are always within reach when you need them.

• Use clear bins and consistent labels so anyone in the household can put things back in the right place without guesswork.

• Add small habits to your weekly routine — a five-minute reset, returning items to their zones, and clearing out anything that drifted.

• Revisit seasonal items twice a year to rotate what’s in use and prevent pileups from creeping back in.

• Keep frequently used items at eye level and store occasional-use items higher up to make your organizing system intuitive and sustainable.

If you’ve organized every nook and cranny and your home still feels cramped, it may be time to think of self storage as an extension of your space. A storage unit is especially helpful when bulky or seasonal items are taking over closets, garages or attics, making it harder to keep your daily living areas functional. Off-season clothing, heavy outerwear and specialty gear often do better in a climate-controlled unit, freeing up valuable room at home. Other things that you only use a few times a year — like holiday decor, sports equipment, camping supplies and hobby items — can also be stored safely without cluttering your everyday environment. Even items like archived documents, sentimental keepsakes, childhood memory boxes and older electronics benefit from being stored somewhere with stable temperature and humidity. If bulk household supplies are overwhelming your utility areas, a small unit can keep them accessible without causing clutter. In other words, the bottom line is this: self storage creates breathing room in your home while keeping the things you care about protected and easy to access when you need them.

Ready to find a storage unit for the problem areas in your home? Use our Storage Locator to find a facility near you. For more tips on staying organized, head to the SmartStop blog.