Sort Your Life Out: The Four Most Common Cluttering Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Decluttering expert Dilly Carter, a familiar face from the BBC One show 'Sort Your Life Out,' believes tidiness is a form of expressing care. Her journey into professional organizing began unexpectedly while assisting an ex-boyfriend organize his late mother's home, a task that ultimately helped them reconcile.

Growing up in a busy household with working parents, Carter developed a preference for order and organization early on. Her career path led her to work as a personal assistant for business executives, where she not only managed their schedules but also began assisting them with organizing their personal spaces.

“

It was a way that I could help him, And in doing that, we ended up getting back together.

In her new BBC video podcast, 'Sort Your Life Out Unpacked,' Carter engages with celebrities, discussing their cherished possessions and offering advice on maintaining clutter-free homes. She highlights four common decluttering mistakes and provides solutions.

“

I like to think of kitchens as real estate. Everything in your kitchen has to earn its place in there.

Carter views kitchen counters as valuable real estate, emphasizing that every item must justify its place. She often observes infrequently used gadgets occupying prime counter space, suggesting items should be stored in drawers, cupboards, or even attics if not regularly used. Her advice includes regularly assessing kitchen contents and prioritizing multi-use appliances over single-function gadgets. For instance, a blender is more versatile than a juicer, as juice can be extracted from blended pulp using a sieve.

Regarding clothing storage, Carter notes that rolling T-shirts, while space-saving, hinders visibility. She advocates for file folding, where items are stored vertically, allowing for easier identification of colors and styles. This method is particularly effective for maximizing drawer space, though she advises careful consideration of which garments are best suited for this technique.

“

We only roll or fold when we're trying to maximise the space of a drawer.