How to Find the Clutter Problem Area in Your Home — And Fix It Fast

Clutter can sneak up on you if you’re not regularly decluttering your home and implementing organizational systems that actually work for you. One minute you’ll be tossing just one shirt onto your dedicated “clothes chair,” and the next there’s an entire wardrobe sitting there. Clutter can be even harder to tame when it’s hiding in a spot you’re not checking often. 

That’s why it’s important to identify any “problem areas” in your home, and then figure out the best way to keep clutter from taking over again. Here’s how.

The assignment is simple: Identify one place where clutter is an issue (visible or hidden) and address it. Some examples include cluttered counters, overstuffed drawers, messy cabinets, and disorganized shelves. Depending on the size of the problem area, you might want to declutter just three major items from the spot or tackle the entirety of it. Decide what needs to be tossed, relocated, or placed in an outbox.

Now that you’re aware of where clutter grows in your home, you’ll want to be mindful of it going forward. Set a reminder on your calendar for regular decluttering sessions to chip away at the mess. This can be a daily, weekly, or bi-weekly reminder — whatever works best for you.

• Sign up for email updates.
• Visit the 2026 Decluttering Cure page and catch up on assignments.
• Download the Decluttering Cure calendar.
• Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall Decluttering Cure progress here!
• See all the winners from our 2026 Organization Awards to get your home organized. 

The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.