Let’s be real: most of us think we’ve got a handle on cleaning. The kitchen counters are wiped, the laundry’s folded (kinda-sorta), and the living room doesn’t look like a tornado hit it. But here’s the kicker—a whole layer of mess lurks in your life that you probably haven’t even thought about. And lucky for you, I’m going to point it out!
I’m not talking about the obvious stuff like dusty baseboards or that junk drawer we all pretend doesn’t exist. (some people *cough, cough* might have more than one of those drawers)
No, these are the invisible clutter hotspots—those sneaky little corners of chaos that don’t scream “clean me!” but quietly drag down your peace of mind. Let’s talk about them and clear those spaces in our areas and heads once and for all.
Photo Credit: Deposit Photos
Digital Clutter
Raise your hand if your Alexa or Google Home has a to-do list longer than your arm—or if your smart TV’s app menu looks like a digital hoarder’s paradise. I’ll admit it: I ignored my Echo’s reminders until it started sass-talking me about “that thing you said you’d do three weeks ago.”
And the front of my screen looks like red dots everywhere with all the messages and calls that I’ve missed.
Digital clutter isn’t just annoying; it’s a mental drain. I know it is for me. Every time I see something that I’m not using but constantly in my face, it makes me want to scream.
Every unused app, outdated notification, or random voice memo is like a tiny pebble in your shoe.
How to Fix It: Spend 10 minutes cleaning your devices. Delete old lists, clear out calendar alerts, and uninstall apps you haven’t touched since 2020. A few minutes a day can make a big difference in staying on top of things and learning out that clutter.
The Car Glovebox
I’ll be honest. I don’t like opening my glovebox. It’s a museum of receipts, half-dead pens, and that random ketchup packet you swore you’d use someday. (sometimes, eating fries on the road is a must!) Your car might not be “home,” but it’s an extension of your space—and that little compartment is a clutter magnet we all forget about until we’re frantically searching for something we need.
How to Fix It: Grab a plastic bag and dump everything out. Toss the trash, keep only essentials like your manual and insurance card, and add a small organizer for things like a pen or spare change. Keep a microfiber cloth in there for quick dashboard wipes for a quick future win.
Purse/Backpack/Wallet
If I had a dollar for every time I dug through my purse looking for my keys, only to find a crumbled granola bar wrapper and a loyalty card from a coffee shop I haven’t visited in years, I’d be rich. And I heard the funniest joke the other day that said if you put all your receipts together from the bottom of your purse, you’d have a self-published book about the reason that you’re broke. (so true for me!)
Purses, backpacks, wallets—they’re portable chaos zones. We carry them everywhere, stuff them with random junk, and then act surprised when they weigh 100 pounds.
How to Fix It: Empty everything out on a table. Get rid of duplicate items, wipe down the inside with a damp cloth, then organize essentials into a small pouch or divider. I started keeping a tiny trash baggie in mine for wrappers and junk—it’s a game-changer.
Fridge Door Shelves
This is more than just a fridge clean-out. And while this is in your house, it’s still important to discuss. You might be great about throwing out old leftovers, but what about the clutter on the shelves?
I know my shelves get lined with mystery jars and old dressings – literally all the time.
How to Fix It: Pull everything out and check expiration dates. Wipe down the shelves and only put back what you’ll use. Group like items together—hot sauces in one spot, jams in another. That way, you know where things are so that you can grab it quickly and move on.
Email Inbox
My email inbox stresses me out. Sure, a lot of it might be junk, but that means that I have to filter through all the junk to find the things that are really important – and that just takes a ton of time.
How to Fix It: Set a timer for 15 minutes and unsubscribe from things you never read. (Not this one, though—we love having you as a reader!) Archive anything over a month old and set a date when you’ll have the inbox down to 0.
The biggest thing to remember about these hidden clutter items is that tackling them isn’t about perfection; it’s about reclaiming the calm in your day.
Next time you’re in cleaning mode, skip the usual suspects and hunt down these hidden messes instead. You might just find you’ve been living with more chaos than you thought!
What’s your sneakiest clutter spot? Drop it in the comments – I might have more cluttered areas in my space that I didn’t even realize!
For more cleaning tips, you might like the following articles:
