You probably don't want to think about this, but summer has already gone and now it's time to prepare your home for the colder months. Apart from deep cleaning, which is a great idea at the beginning of autumn, you should consider decluttering. We've put together a list of 13 things you should get rid of at the end of summer.

1. The kids’ summer clothes

Don't store your children's summer clothes. Give them to charity, instead.  Kids grow a lot in the space of one year. You can't expect them to fit into the same clothes next summer. Do yourself a favour and make some much-needed space for their winter clothing.

2. Old toiletries

It’s time to get new toothbrushes, bath sponges and other toiletries. Get soaps and shower gels with more autumn-like scents like cinnamon or green tea to help you get into the mood for the new season.

3. Medicines that have expired

As the weather gets colder, you and your family member are more likely to get sick. Make sure your home pharmacy only contains medicines that have not expired yet. You don’t want to take or give someone else a medicine that's out of date.

4. Old magazines and newspapers

Why would you need old news? Unless, of course the news is about you! Old issues of magazines and newspapers don't serve any purpose, but take up space you can use to put new books or a beautiful family picture.

5. Food that’s gone past its expiry date

When last did you check your cupboard? Most of us forget to check the expiry date of cupboard foods, because usually they last long. Well, long is not forever! Use the opportunity to clear all food items that are no longer safe to eat. Also, it's a chance to restock with some healthy goodies. New season, new you!

6. Chipped cups, glasses, dishes and bowls

While you are in the kitchen, check the state of your plates, cups and glasses. Any time is the best time to have a cup of tea during the autumn.  Don’t take the risk of cutting yourself on a chipped mug. Even if it's your favourite one!

7. Things with missing parts

Stop telling yourself that you’ll find the missing parts or buy spares… It's been a year! Just throw the whole thing away.

8. Damaged clothes

We know some people develop an attachment to particular pieces of clothing, even when they are damaged beyond repair. Maybe it's a precious memory you have with that dress. Fair enough, but it doesn't mean it should stay in your closet! Create a memory box and put that item there, then take it to the attic or the garage.

9. Shoes you don’t or rarely wear

“But what if I need them for an outfit?” We’ve all used that excuse for a pair of shoes. In 95% of the cases they stay untouched. Be a wise person and throw them away.

10. Presents you don’t like or won’t use

You can’t return a gift, but you don’t have to keep it either if you don't like it or need it. Be good to yourself and to others by donating any unwanted items.

11. Junk mail and letters not addressed to you

Moved to a new place recently? You may still be getting the previous occupants' mail. Don't pile it up, if it's been more than a month. Return them to the sender. In regards to junk mail, put up a sign on your door you don't want to receive it and get rid of the items you already received.

12. Paperwork you no longer need

Some documents you need to keep for quite a long period of time. However, others can go straight in the bin. Go through your filing cabinet or folder and dispose of any paperwork that’s no longer needed.

13. Toxic cleaning materials

Invest in the wellbeing of your family and the appearance of your home. Swap the commercial cleaning products, full of toxins, with eco-friendly solutions or DIY mixtures.

Actually, the list is longer, but we leave it to you to decide what else you don't want to keep in your home and in your life with the start of a new season. If you ever need us to help with the cleaning, you know where and how to find us. Happy decluttering!

Aren't you tired of looking for things to wear early in the morning? The problem is not that you don't have enough clothes, it's the fact you can't find what you are looking for. That's a common problem for many people who struggle to organise their closet. Don't worry. It's easily fixable. Here are 10 great closet organisation tips.

Get rid of as many unused clothes as possible

Most of us often by clothes just because we felt like it, not really because we plan on wearing them. Or, we mistakenly took the wrong size and couldn't be bothered returning the item. Eventually, we end up with a pile of clothes we have never worn and have no intention of wearing in the foreseeable future. They clog up the closet and leave us frustrated every time we are trying to find something we actually want to wear.  Say "No" to useless storage fillers and closet blockers! Number one closet organisation rule - gift, sell or throw away anything that hasn't been worn for more than a year or never worn at all. Not only you will release some much needed space for new items, you will also get rid of bad and old energy. So go bravely ahead!

Sort out your clothes by category

Closet organisation can be very easy when you split your clothing by category. Some ideas for categories include - t-shirts, sweaters, jeans, dresses, skirts and so on. During your spring cleaning, use the opportunity to rotate seasonal clothing. Move back the jumpers and sweaters and bring tank tops and summer dresses to the front. Organising your closet by category makes it look neat and tidy.

Sort out your clothes by season

Another approach to closet organisation is dividing your clothes by season. It's similar to organising by category, but makes the seasonal rotation seamless. Once the summer is over, just bring out the autumn colours and items. Of course, there are the all-year-round clothes that we just love to wear in any kind of weather. These will go in a special section, which you can easily access. This approach is very beneficial for providing enough air circulation in your closet and it looks so organised, that you already feel better by just looking at it.

Sweater Care

If you have a small collection of sweaters, it's a good idea to keep it on hangers, so it’s not going to lose shape and crunch. It saves you ironing time and will keep them smelling fresh.

Organise by colour

Many shops organise their displays and shopping floors by colour. There is something really visually appealing in a closet organised by colour. Also, if you are looking for a particular colour outfit, you will easily spot it.

Choose your outfit for next day

Rushing every morning? Here's a really good time-saving closet organisation tip - mount an additional hook on the inside part of the wardrobe door. Choose the outfit you are going to wear in the morning the night before and hang it on the hook. Simple, quick and effective.

Pair the pairs

“Where's my other sock”? - asks your husband every morning before work. "Has the washing machine eaten it again?!" - you wonder... No. But socks can be very annoying because they always manage to get lost somehow. Solve this problem by handling them in pairs at all times. Wash them in pais, fold them in pairs and keep them in the closet in pairs. To make it even easier, get a box to store all the socks so they don't get lost.

Give to charity

Remember we spoke about clothes you don't wear or are unlikely to wear. Have a special box in your closet where you can store good quality clothes that you got tired of or don't fit anymore. Instead of throwing them away or piling them up and blocking your closet, give them to charity. Make space for new energy and new gorgeous clothes.

Get plastic boxes for clothes

If you have children you probably bought at least one of these large plastic storage boxes and stuffed all their toys inside. Smart move, but you know what's smarter? Using those same boxes for closet organisation. You can save a lot of space by putting the out-of-season clothes in them and leaving the current items out. Of course, if you want your closet to look more chic, you don't have to go for the plastic option. Storage boxes come in wooden, cardboard and fabric versions too.

Go beyond your comfort zone

Utilise all available space by putting shelves higher than you can normally reach. Then place the items you use the most on the lower shelves and the ones that are out of season or worn less often on the higher shelves.

Need some practical help with your closet organisation? We can do that for you. Let's talk about it.