Home Ideas

Decluttering the house can be stressful. That’s why it’s important to start small and take it one room at a time to avoid overwhelm. A detailed checklist can help you set your decluttering goals and stay on track. Not to mention, the satisfaction of checking tasks off your to-do list — cleared out mismatched hangers in the closet, check!If you’re worried about where to start, we’ve got you covered: Good Housekeeping’s decluttering checklist breaks down what to tackle in every room of the house. You should probably get a few donation boxes and trash bags ready before you begin. Keep in Mind While Decluttering:Decision-making is one of the hardest parts of the decluttering process, so remember to give yourself patience and grace. “Focusing on one pain point, like a drawer or cabinet, will allow you to build your decluttering muscle with small, quick wins,” says Laura Kinsella, founder of Urban OrgaNYze, who suggests setting a 10-15 minute timer to stay focused and accountable. “Decluttering is contagious, so as you build momentum, it will make it easier to tackle larger projects.” How to Declutter Room by Room:EntryOld mail, newspapers and magazinesReusable shopping bagsShoes and jackets you don’t wear regularly Seasonal items John keeble//Getty ImagesKitchenExpired foods and spicesTake-out containersChipped or cracked dishesOld dishtowels and table linens Duplicate kitchen items (bottle openers, measuring cups, can openers)Excess reusable water bottlesExtra coffee mugsSpecialty appliances you rarely use (panini press, holiday-themed waffle maker, shaved ice machine)One-off party supplies (birthday napkins or holiday plates)Takeout menus John keeble//Getty ImagesRelated StoryLiving Room Miscellaneous cords, wires and chargersGames or puzzles with missing piecesOld remote controlsHome decor and furniture you no longer enjoy Excess throw pillowsReid RollsBathroomsOld medicationsExpired or unwanted toiletries Excess packaging from productsWorn or old towels Hair tools you rarely useCosmetic samplesRandom hair accessories and brushes YinYang//Getty ImagesRelated StoryBedroomsClothing that no longer fits Unpaired socksUncomfortable shoesAccessories you don’t wearDamaged jewelryMismatched hangersOld magazines or booksWorn sheets and pillowcases Kseniya Ovchinnikova//Getty ImagesLaundry Room Unused cleaning suppliesExpired laundry detergent, fabric softener and stain removers Out-of-place itemsRipped or stained clothingBroken hampers or laundry basketsFancy/Veer/Corbis//Getty ImagesKids’ SpacesUnworn or outgrown clothingToys children have outgrown or no longer enjoyDuplicate itemsIncomplete toy sets, games or puzzlesDamaged books, dried-out markers, etc. Petri Oeschger//Getty Images Related StoriesAlyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries. More

When learning how to do laundry, one of the first things taught is to sort your light and dark clothes before washing to avoid color bleeding. But the follow-up rule that often gets overlooked? Keeping those lights and darks separate in the dryer as well. It may seem like overkill, but according to Good Housekeeping’s resident laundry expert and Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director Carolyn Forté, it’s actually a pretty important step. Not only is it a bad idea to double up the loads in the dryer after washing separately (thus, potentially overfilling your machine), but a few things can go wrong if you throw them all together.”There can still be some loose dye that rubs off from darks onto lights as items tumble against each other in the dryer,” Forté warns. “Plus, light items can deposit lint onto dark items that make them look dingy and can be difficult to remove. And lint can go either way, from dark to light or light to dark.”Laundry Essentials:Instead, Forté says to keep them separate, and dry them on cycles recommended for the types of fabrics and garments included in your load. For instructions on how to dry, check the care and fiber labels on your clothes — usually located on seams, at the back of the neck, or near the back waist of your garments. And when in doubt about all of the laundry symbols on your clothing labels, use our handy guide:Good HousekeepingRemember: Anything with deep blue, black, red, brown or dark gray dyes is considered a dark, whereas garments in pastel shades, cream, beige and light gray should be in your whites pile. Items that are in between — like lavender, pink, orange, light blues and greens — should be thrown in with the colors to be safe.To keep yourself accountable, Forté says it’s best to get in the habit of doing smaller loads, more often, versus trying to cram everything into one large load. A hack she loves is setting out separate sorting bins either in the laundry room or each bedroom to help remind yourself (and others!) to keep their lights and darks separate. More Must-Know Laundry Tips: More

1Lean Into Natural WoodAdam PottsWarm up your kitchen with natural grain and stain, which pairs beautifully with stone countertops and brass hardware. Hommeboys Interiors goes for a cooler-tone oak flooring and triple-bleached walnut cabinetry.Photo by: Adam Potts 2Introduce Contrast With Black CabinetsGreg RieglerMoody black cabinets are the perfect complement to bright white walls in this vintage-inspired kitchen. To complete the look, Cheryl Clendenon of In Detail Interiors brings in a distressed runner rug and floating shelves filled with collected decor. Photo by: Greg RieglerAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below3Find the Right Shade of CreamAmy LambFor cabinets and walls, design firm Ponton Interiors goes for a cream paint — the neutral shade feels warm, inviting and airy. An oval-shaped window at the end of the space adds interest and allows more natural light in.Photo by: Amy Lamb of NativeHouse Photography4Make a Statement With BlueJenny SiegwartAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below5Add Oomph With Colorful Floor TilesSteve HershbergerCreate visual interest in a small room with eye-catching tiles, like this hexagon pattern. In a charming interior by Four Brothers Design + Build, teal flooring creates a clear divide from the adjacent dining room.Photo by: Steve Hershberger6Let Classic Colors ShineAdam Kane MacchiaIn a sunny galley kitchen, you can’t go wrong with bright white cabinetry. Try painting a few lower cabinets black for contrast, then tie everything together with black and white marble countertops, just as BHDM Design does here. Photo by: Adam Kane MacchiaAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below7Install a BookshelfFrazier Springfield PhotographyBuild a bookshelf at the end of your galley kitchen for extra storage. It’s a great place to store glasses and dishes, plus display cookbooks and trendy decor. Here, TeassWarren Architects settles on dark wood to create contrast against the white cabinetry. Photo by: Frazier Springfield Photography8Divide Space With a Glass PartitionSteve HershbergerA half-wall topped with a glass partition ensures a seamless flow from the kitchen to the dining room in this cozy bungalow designed by Four Brothers Design + Build. This galley kitchen is larger than average with a pantry and designated coffee bar.Photo by: Steve HershbergerAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below9Create Warmth With Textured WoodKELLEY_KISH10Maximize Wall SpaceSara Ligorria-TrampAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below11Experiment With Pops of ColorThomas KuohHere, Studio Munroe infuses bold color with decorative accents that aren’t necessarily permanent. Things like runner rugs, Roman shades and a tile backsplash can be swapped out if your style changes in a few years. Photo by: Thomas Kuoh12Embrace a Light Wood GrainLara KimmererThis modern kitchen, designed by Cassia Wyner, has mostly light wood cabinetry — but glossy white upper cabinets brighten up the space. For a streamlined look, hide the fridge behind the cabinets, too. Photo by: Lara KimmererAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below13Turn a Narrow Room Into a Butler’s PantryCourtesy of Bakes & KroppThe galley design layout is great for kitchens, but even more functional in a butler’s pantry, which is an ideal place for storage and food prep. Here, Bakes & Kropp packs a lot into a tiny space, including a prep sink and small stovetop. 14Try Two-Tone CabinetsCarlina Teteris//Getty ImagesDon’t limit yourself to one cabinet finish — especially if you want something with more personality, like a wood grain. Hint: White upper cabinets might create the illusion of a larger space.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below15Install Lights Under the Cabinetsultramarinfoto//Getty ImagesOverhead lighting (think pendants, recessed lighting and flush mounts) is key, but under-cabinet lights illuminate your prep station. It’ll make things like chopping and reading recipes easier in your galley kitchen.16Go Glam With a High-Gloss FinishJohn keeble//Getty ImagesThis sun-filled kitchen is defined by glossy blue cabinets, and a geometric backsplash on one side. The high-gloss paint reflects lights, making the room feel brighter and more spacious.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below17Show Off Industrial StyleTom Sibley//Getty ImagesFrom the exposed wood ceiling and black trim to the gray tile floor, this small galley layout showcases a chic industrial vibe. There’s also black shelves above the cabinets to maximize vertical space.18Draw on Nature’s Color PalettePolina Pigulevsky PhotographyAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below19Rely on a Pastel ShadeJohn keeble//Getty ImagesBring color into your home with a subtle shade. These pale blue cabinets look light and bright, yet add a dose of personality to a modern galley kitchen. 20Skip the Cabinet HardwareVera Vita//Getty ImagesFor a modern and minimalist style, ditch clunky cabinet hardware. A lack of handles or knobs can make a narrow space feel cleaner and less cluttered. Instead, let cabinet doors (like this soft wood grain) be your focal point.Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.Watch Next Advertisement – Continue Reading BelowAdvertisement – Continue Reading BelowAdvertisement – Continue Reading Below More

I consider myself someone who likes things a certain way, especially when it comes to home organization. If my closet isn’t organized by item (shirts, then pants, sweaters and blazers in that exact order), it irks me all day. So when things aren’t the way I like them, I can get a bit overwhelmed. That’s when the frantic cleaning and organizing begins. When I first discovered the viral ‘rage cleaning’ trend, I had a feeling I’d be able to get on board pretty quickly solely based on the name. After scrolling through a few of over 8 million TikTok videos filed under the term, I found myself laughing at the ridiculousness of it all while simultaneously relating in a real way. “Rage cleaning is a phrase that makes me laugh,” says Katie Ortega of @heyitskatieortega. “It’s not as bad as it sounds, but to me, it’s when I’ve just had enough of a mess in my house and I’m aggressively tackling the mess.” So I decided to wait until the next time I wanted to scream into my kitchen cabinets or kick all the shoes blocking my front door to give the popular cleaning method a shot. Unsurprisingly, that happened pretty shortly after. Read on for more on what I learned about the trend, the results of my experience and the best areas to rage clean according to an expert.What is rage cleaning? Like exercising, rage cleaning is a way to let out some steam (and surprisingly, it can be just as physically demanding, depending on the chore you decide to tackle). By channeling anger into motivation, rage cleaning not only helps you release pent up tension — it can also help you clean more efficiently, according to our cleaning experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute.”Cleaning is very therapeutic and so satisfying! You take something dirty or disorganized and make it clean and beautiful again,” says Carolyn Forté, Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director. “Cleaning takes effort and it’s a great way to relieve stress while accomplishing something you’ve been putting off. And the payoff is big. You feel better in two ways, less stressed or angry and you have a cleaner home to show for it!”So if you find yourself consistently glaring at an unorganized or dirty area of your home, try channeling that aggression for good. It may just trigger the most thorough cleaning session of your life. My rage cleaning resultsMy first rage cleaning victim? My container cabinet. Because it’s pretty high up, I often find myself blindly tossing containers and water bottles up there after washing them (which often results in something dangerously flying out each and every time I dare to open it up). I’d even started to keep other containers and bottles that didn’t fit on the kitchen counter. I decided that I finally had enough of the clutter.Laura MillarLaura MillarAfter cleaning the cabinet, I not only felt less agitated — I felt relieved. I can now open up that cabinet anytime without fear. Plus, I feel more motivated to keep it that way now that I know its potential.Next up was my stovetop. Although the permanent stains are from previous renters, I noticed how grimy it had gotten recently under my watch.Laura MillarLaura MillarI put on some music and started scrubbing away. By the time I was all done, I was actually smiling just looking at the results. I then proceeded to aggressively empty my dishwasher, refill it with the dirty dishes in the sink and wipe down my counters while I still had the motivation. I sat down afterwards and soaked in the feeling of not having any more cleaning to do for the rest of the night. And it sure felt good. My biggest takeaway? Clean and organize whenever you feel the sudden urge. I often hold off cleaning until I have plenty of time to really commit, but with rage cleaning, it’s all about just getting what you can done while you feel like it. What are the best spots to tackle while rage cleaning?According to cleaning experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute, the best spots to rage clean are those you might not get to often but show the biggest results when you do. Here are a few recommendations:Organize a messy closet. If you find yourself feeling bothered every time you open your closet, it might be time to start rage cleaning. Channel that anger into energy and get organizing. Be open to getting rid of clothes you no longer need, too. Scrub dirty floors. There’s nothing more therapeutic than getting on your hands and knees with a sponge and some cleaning supplies. You’ll be left with floors that sparkle and a better attitude. Vacuum the carpet. Had enough of lingering dust and hair on the rug? It can be exhausting, but committing to vacuuming the entire carpet (yes, that means under the furniture) is one of the most rewarding areas to rage clean. But if you’re not feeling up to a chore that may take a bit longer, try quick tasks that can be completed in a matter of minutes. It’s all about tackling an area that makes you feel overwhelmed and freeing yourself of that feeling through cleaning. Related StoriesLaura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC’s TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates.  More

We’ve all done it before. One minute you’re loading dirty clothes into the washing machine, the next you’re finishing meal-prepping for the week, running to pick up the dry-cleaning and totally forgetting to move your clean clothes over to the dryer. It happens to the best of us, even Good Housekeeping’s very own resident cleaning pro, Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director Carolyn Forté. But the question is, now what? Is it okay to let your clothes sit in the washer overnight? Do you need to rewash everything?Up Your Laundry Game:According to Forté, while forgetting wet laundry in the washer can be annoying, it isn’t the end of the world. Even leaving your load overnight — that is, approximately eight to 10 hours — in the washer doesn’t mean you automatically need to rewash everything with detergent. If it less than 10 hours, you can pop them in the dryer as you normally would. Or, if anything, Forté says you can always select a quick rinse and spin cycle to refresh things without running a whole wash again. That said, there is such a thing as waiting too long to move your clothes over to the dryer. “I would try not to let the load sit in the washer longer than overnight,” Forté warns. “Otherwise, items on top could start to dry, and they’ll likely be stiff and hard instead of soft and fluffy and the whole load could start to smell a little stale.”Again, not a huge deal, though. If your clothes sit in the washer longer than overnight, regardless if they smell or feel stiff, it’s best to do a quick rewash. Anytime you pick up a mildew scent from your load, Forté advises rewashing everything in a short cycle with detergent (look for the “Lightly Soiled” setting on your machine) to make sure all of your garments get properly cleaned. The more you know!More Genius Laundry Tips: More

According to feng shui, one of the most important foundational principles is related to desk placement — a principle called commanding position. Here, Style by Emily Henderson follows Feng Shui practices with the positioning of the desk.”Set up your desk so that when you’re sitting there working, you can see the primary entry to the space without being directly in line with it (usually this means diagonal from the door). Ideally, you have a solid wall behind you for support,” says expert Anjie Cho.With the entrance in front of the desk, you’re making yourself aware of the energy coming towards you. Plus, you’ll be able to see your path forward rather than facing a wall that stops you. However, if your space doesn’t allow this sort of placement, we have a couple of quick solutions in the list to come. Photo by: Sara Tramp More

After the chaos of holiday season, the new year means a fresh start. It’s a motivating time to set goals, whether it’s trying a new hobby, eating healthier or getting more organized. If the new year has you re-evaluating your lifestyle, decluttering the house is one way to improve your daily routine — and, professional organizers swear January is the best time to do it. “January is the perfect time to refresh and reset after the busy holiday season,” says Lindsay Melvin, owner and lead organizer of Orchid Organizing. “I recommend starting with areas that have accumulated post-celebration mess — the kitchen, living room and entryway.” Keep in mind: Starting small, like with a single drawer, will help you avoid getting overwhelmed. Not sure where to begin? From packing away seasonal decor to purging the pantry, here are the things professional organizers always do around the house in January. Related Stories1. Seasonal decorAs you take down your holiday decorations, assess your collection. Are there items you didn’t use this year that could be given away or donated? Most thrift stores will accept seasonal decor. Once you decide what to purge, “consolidate remaining decor into clearly labeled bins or totes,” says Melvin.If you want holiday decorating to be easier next year, take note from Beata Kozlowski of Tidy Step by Step, who always takes photos of what worked well, so she can easily recreate it. mgstudyo//Getty Images2. The kitchen — namely, your fridge and pantryOver the holidays, you spent a lot of time in the kitchen — cooking and hosting — and chances are, it’s accumulated clutter. “After the influx of holiday treats, pantries and refrigerators can become cluttered with gifts, expired items and half-used ingredients,” says Gretchen Moen, chief clutter cutter of Cut the Clutter. Make room for healthier eating habits in 2025 by streamlining the pantry, fridge and kitchen cabinets. Donate any unopened, unexpired items to your local food pantry. It’s also a great time to check your specialty appliances, utensils and gadgets — give away any unused items. Expert Tip: “Declutter one drawer or cabinet per day to make the task more manageable.” — Gretchen Moen3. The entrywayThe entryway is a high-traffic area — especially when you’re hosting, so it can quickly become a catchall for coats, shoes and outdoor gear. “Consider setting up organized drop zones for each member of your family with functional pieces, like benches with storage,” says Victoria Tran, founder of Sorted.Bring in systems for shoe storage, hooks for jackets and sort through piles of mail. “January’s colder weather makes it a great time to organize the entryway, ensuring that coats and shoes are easily accessible,” adds Tonia Tomlin of Sorted Out.Thomas Barwick//Getty Images4. Toys and kids’ itemsYour kids probably received a lot of new toys and clothes last month. Get them involved in deciding what to keep and what to purge. “With the ‘one in, one out’ rule in mind, ask your children to consider letting go and donating some of their toys and clothes to make room for the new items they received over the holidays,” says Emily Mass, owner of Spaces by Emily. Connect Images/Henglein and Steets//Getty Images5. Your deskReturning to work after the holidays can be challenging — but an organized desk can put you more at ease. “A clean workspace can help boost productivity and reduce stress,” says Tomlin. “January is a great time to sort through paperwork, files and office supplies that have piled up throughout the year.” 6. Paperwork, including important tax documentsThe new year is an excuse to get your finances in order — especially with tax season coming up. “Winter weather often keeps us indoors, so you have the time,” says Kozlowski. Sort through old doctor bills, tax documents and other financial paperwork, creating organized folders (whether digital or physical). Kseniya Ovchinnikova//Getty Images7. Digital devicesOnce you’ve organized your physical spaces, consider a digital declutter — think emails, photos, apps and cloud storage. “Technology decluttering takes priority this year,” says Kozlowski, who also suggests consolidating streaming services and digital subscriptions.”Many people start the year by organizing their digital files and emails,” adds Tomlin. “This helps reduce digital clutter, making it easier to find documents and stay organized in a tech-heavy world.” Related StoriesAlyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries. More

There’s plenty to love about the winter season — shimmery snowfalls, crackling fires and fuzzy socks, to name a few. But those of us who live in cold climates know there’s one thing that is the literal worst: scraping the ice off your car after an overnight or early morning freeze. Not only is scraping your car windows a messy, cold job, but sometimes despite your best efforts, the ice just won’t budge. Plus, most car defrosters just aren’t speedy enough when the clock is ticking to beat the morning rush hour. Thankfully, though, we just discovered a new hack for melting away ice on car windows thanks to good-old Reddit — and an expert we talked to says it’s actually a very smart idea. According to Reddit user Luisquin, to melt ice, put windshield wiper fluid in a spray bottle and apply it directly to your icy car windows. “There’s no risk of cracking the glass like using hot water,” the user wrote in the Lifehacks subreddit, which received over two thousand upvotes. “A lot easier than scraping the ice.” Sounds pretty straightforward, but does it actually work? According to a professional car testing expert we talked to, the answer is a resounding yes. “This is definitely a trick I’ve seen used and used myself,” says Gannon Burgett, Associate Testing Editor at Hearst Autos. “I actually tried it out after seeing a friend that worked at a dealership use it to clean off some of the cars in the lot.”Prestone AS658 Deluxe 2-in-1 Windshield Washer FluidNow 28% OffDepending on the brand of windshield wiper fluid used, Burgett says the methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol and glycols, or a combination of these ingredients in the formula, can help lower the freezing point of the ice, making it an excellent defrosting agent. Burgett’s favorite windshield wiper fluid to use is Prestone AS658 Deluxe 2-in-1 Windshield Washer Fluid, which is formulated to melt ice and frost. The biggest thing to keep in mind, however, is that this hack works best when the spray bottle is kept inside your house or office when not in use to keep the contents from freezing. “Most windshield wiper fluid is usually freeze-proof down to low temps when in larger quantities, but when you put it into a small spray bottle, it is possible for it to freeze inside the smaller tubes of the sprayer, which usually results in the sprayer breaking,” Burgett advises.So there you have it, a hack from the internet that actually works! It sounds like it’s worth stocking up on windshield wiper fluid if it means saving you time in the cold. Must-Have Car Accessories: More