Transform your home in a night with these 10 tricks

After decades of life well-lived, our homes can become a museum of memories, with items tucked away in drawers and boxes that no longer serve us.

Some possessions are comforting, but others quietly take up space, energy, and even our peace of mind.

What if clearing just a few small items could make your home feel lighter and safer almost immediately?

Many older Australians choose to age in place, preferring to remain in familiar surroundings rather than move to a care facility.

Yet clutter can make that goal harder than it needs to be.

With over 4.2 million Australians aged 65 and over, and one in four living alone, creating a manageable, safe home has never been more essential.

Professional organiser Rachel Burditt highlighted 10 items that are surprisingly easy to let go of—small, low-emotion possessions that can kickstart a decluttering journey.

Small steps, big difference

Decluttering didn’t have to be overwhelming, especially for seniors.

Breaking the task into bite-sized steps meant real progress could be made without feeling defeated.

Even removing minor items could build confidence and momentum for tackling more meaningful possessions.

The ten items you won't miss

1. Old chargers and cables: Drawers often overflow with tangled cords for devices no longer used.

Those old Nokia chargers, defunct laptop adapters, and mysterious USB cables served no purpose except taking up space.

Australia had excellent e-waste recycling programs—check your local council for drop-off locations.

2. Excess water bottles: While staying hydrated was vital, most households didn’t need a cabinet full of bottles.

Keep two or three favourites and recycle or donate the rest.

3. Broken umbrellas: Bent ribs, torn fabric, or jammed mechanisms meant an umbrella was more hazard than help.

A reliable umbrella was essential for safety—broken ones could trip you up.

4. Stretched hair ties and accessories: These little items accumulated in drawers and bathroom cabinets.

Once they lost elasticity or became covered in hair, they were better off gone.

5. Empty candle jars: Unless planning a craft project, empty candle containers just collected dust.

Clean glass jars could be recycled, and some could be repurposed as small plant pots if they were actually used.

6. Single earrings: Holding onto the lone survivor of a broken pair rarely worked out.

Craft groups often welcomed single earrings, so donating rather than discarding was a good option.

7. Faded receipts: Old receipts added clutter unless needed for tax purposes.

Photograph important receipts and store them digitally before recycling the paper.

8. Ill-fitting jeans: Jeans that cut in or sagged around the waist affected both comfort and confidence.

Clothes that no longer fit could be sold, donated, or recycled.

9. Socks with holes: Unless repurposed as cleaning rags, socks with holes simply took up space.

Many Australian cities had fabric recycling programs for unwanted textiles.

10. Dried-out pens and markers: Testing pens that didn’t work only added to the mess.

Office supply stores often offered pen recycling programs, and some councils accepted them in e-waste collections.

The emotional side of letting go

Decluttering could be emotionally challenging, particularly for seniors attached to possessions.

Integratedliving noted that disposal could always be declined, and professional programs approached the process with compassion and understanding.

Why this matters for safety and wellbeing

A tidy home reduced trip and fall hazards and made everyday movement easier.

It also lowered cleaning demands, increased mental clarity, and prepared the home for any future downsizing.

Getting started today

Pick one category from the list and spend 15 minutes gathering those items.

Daily, small tasks were far more sustainable than trying to overhaul the entire home in one weekend.

Online charts and guides could help structure these efforts into achievable steps.

Decluttering was a journey—professional help was available, and progress was made one small win at a time.

If you’re feeling inspired to start decluttering but aren’t sure where to begin, there are simple methods that can make the process feel manageable and even fun.

One approach breaks the task into clear, achievable steps that help you steadily clear out items without feeling overwhelmed.

For a practical guide to implementing this method at home, check out a useful real-life example that shows how small daily actions can lead to big results.

Read more: Simplify your decluttering process with the 12-12-12 method

What’s the first category you’ll tackle in your own home, and which small win surprised you the most?