Top 18 'Dust-and-Disarray' Forgotten Corners to organize this weekend - Goh Ling Yong
We’ve all been there. The main living areas are sparkling, the pillows are fluffed, and the kitchen counters are gleaming. From the outside, your home looks like a pristine sanctuary of calm and order. But we all have our little secrets, don't we? Those hidden corners and forgotten spaces where chaos reigns supreme, tucked away behind a closed door or shoved into a dark drawer.
These are the "dust-and-disarray" zones—the spots that don't make it into the weekly cleaning routine. They are the silent accumulators of clutter, breeding grounds for expired products, and final resting places for items we "might need someday." The good news? Tackling them isn't as daunting as it seems. In fact, dedicating a weekend to conquering these forgotten corners can be incredibly satisfying and will bring a new level of deep-cleaned peace to your home.
So, roll up your sleeves, put on your favourite playlist, and let's dive into the 18 forgotten corners you can finally organize this weekend. Pick one, pick five, or challenge yourself to tackle them all. Your future, more organized self will thank you.
1. The Infamous Junk Drawer
We have to start with the king of all clutter zones. The junk drawer isn't a mistake; it's a feature in most homes. It’s the designated catch-all for loose change, stray buttons, old keys, dried-up pens, and those mystery cables you’re too scared to throw away. The problem arises when it becomes an overflowing abyss where nothing can ever be found.
The solution is a total reset. Dump the entire contents onto a cleared surface. Be ruthless. Throw away actual trash—old receipts, broken rubber bands, pens that don't write. Then, sort the remaining items into logical categories: batteries, stationery, tools, keys, etc.
Invest in small, adjustable drawer dividers or a dedicated junk drawer organizer. This is non-negotiable. By giving every category its own tiny home, you prevent the items from mingling into a chaotic mess again. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can find a spare battery or a book of matches when you need one.
2. The Abyss Under the Kitchen Sink
This dark, damp cabinet is often a graveyard of half-empty cleaning bottles, crusty sponges, and a tangled collection of plastic bags. The awkward plumbing pipes make it a notoriously difficult space to organize effectively, so most of us just shove things in and hope the door closes.
Start by taking everything out and giving the cabinet a thorough wipe-down. Check the expiration dates on all your cleaning products and safely dispose of any that are old or that you never use. Consolidate duplicates—do you really need three half-empty bottles of all-purpose cleaner?
To maximize this awkward space, think vertically. Use stackable clear bins or a two-tiered sliding shelf that can fit around the pipes. A tension rod installed near the top of the cabinet is a brilliant hack for hanging spray bottles by their triggers, freeing up valuable floor space below for sponges, dishwasher pods, and trash bags.
3. The Medicine Cabinet Mayhem
Your medicine cabinet should be a source of relief, not a stressful jumble of expired pills, sticky cough syrup bottles, and ten random skincare samples. An unorganized cabinet makes it hard to find what you need in a hurry and can even be a safety hazard.
Empty the cabinet completely. Lay a towel on the bathroom counter and sort everything into categories: daily medications, first aid, skincare, dental, etc. Be scrupulous about checking expiration dates and properly discard any expired medications (don't just flush them!).
Use small, clear acrylic organizers or labeled bins to keep categories separate. If you have a lot of small items, a magnetic strip on the inside of the door is perfect for holding tweezers, nail clippers, and bobby pins. This simple overhaul will make your morning routine smoother and give you peace of mind.
4. The Spice Rack Shuffle
Is your spice rack a chaotic jumble of mismatched jars, with three different containers of paprika and a mystery herb from 2015? You're not alone. A disorganized spice collection makes cooking more frustrating and can lead to you buying duplicates of spices you already own.
Pull every single spice, herb, and extract out. Check expiration dates—while old spices won't make you sick, they lose their potency and flavour. If it smells like dust, it's time to toss it. This is your chance to rediscover that jar of smoked salt you forgot you had!
For a truly streamlined look, decant your spices into uniform, labeled jars. You can organize them alphabetically, by frequency of use, or even by cuisine type. Whether you use a drawer insert, a wall-mounted rack, or a tiered shelf in your cabinet, having a clear system will make you feel like a professional chef.
5. The Black Hole Under the Bed
The space under your bed is prime real estate for storage, but it often becomes a dusty, forgotten dumping ground for things you don't know what to do with. Old shoe boxes, forgotten workout equipment, and bags of off-season clothing can create a cluttered mess that affects the calm energy of your bedroom.
Pull everything out from under the bed. You’ll probably need to vacuum. Sort the items into "keep," "donate," and "trash." Only things that are truly useful and belong in the bedroom (or are designated long-term storage) should earn a spot back under the bed.
Use proper under-bed storage containers with lids to protect your belongings from dust. Wheeled containers are excellent for easy access. Vacuum-seal bags are a game-changer for storing bulky off-season bedding and clothing, shrinking them down to a fraction of their size.
6. The Linen Closet Labyrinth
The linen closet often starts with neatly folded towels and sheet sets and slowly devolves into a teetering Jenga tower of mismatched pillowcases, balled-up fitted sheets, and threadbare towels. When you’re afraid to open a closet door for fear of an avalanche, it’s time to intervene.
As always, the first step is to take everything out. Refold everything neatly. This is a great time to assess the condition of your linens. Are any towels stained or frayed? Do you have sheet sets for a bed you no longer own? Create a donation pile for usable items and repurpose old towels as cleaning rags.
To keep things tidy, store matching sheet sets inside one of their own pillowcases—this simple trick is a lifesaver. Use shelf dividers to keep stacks of towels from toppling over. Store bulkier items like duvets and extra pillows in large, woven baskets on the floor or top shelf.
7. The Tupperware and Food Container Tumble
Ah, the cabinet of plastic and glass containers. Opening the door can unleash a landslide of mismatched lids and precariously stacked containers. Finding a matching set feels like a major archaeological discovery. It’s time to restore order to this kitchen chaos.
Empty the entire cabinet. Immediately recycle any containers that are warped, stained, or missing a lid. Now, match every remaining container with its corresponding lid. If you can't find a match for a lid or a container after a thorough search, let it go.
The secret to taming this space is separating the containers from the lids. Stack the containers by size and shape (squares with squares, rounds with rounds). Use a plate rack or a narrow bin to store the lids vertically, filed like records. This makes it incredibly easy to grab the exact size you need without causing a container catastrophe.
8. The Tangled Tech Cable Purgatory
Behind your TV, under your desk, or in a designated "tech drawer," there's likely a tangled nest of cables, chargers, and adapters. It's a collection of cords for devices you haven't owned in a decade, mixed with the one crucial charger you can never seem to find.
Unplug and untangle the entire mess. Use a label maker or simple masking tape and a marker to label each end of the cables that are currently in use (e.g., "TV Power," "Router to Modem"). This will save you a world of headaches in the future.
For the drawer of spare cables, sort them by type (USB-C, HDMI, Micro-USB, etc.). Use Velcro cable ties or even simple toilet paper rolls to keep each cable neatly coiled. Store them in a clear, sectioned box. If you honestly can't identify a cable, it's probably safe to recycle it.
9. The Space Above the Kitchen Cabinets
This high-up, out-of-sight space is a magnet for dust, grease, and decorative items you put up once and then forgot about. It can make an otherwise clean kitchen feel grimy. It’s time to reclaim that vertical space.
Carefully take down everything from above the cabinets and give the surface a serious degreasing and cleaning. This might be the grimiest job on the list, but it’s worth it. Now, be critical about what goes back up. Is that dusty fake ivy really adding to your home's aesthetic?
This space is best for items that are either purely decorative or used very infrequently. Think beautiful serving platters, a collection of shapely vases, or large baskets. The key is to choose a few impactful pieces rather than a clutter of small knick-knacks. This approach looks intentional and is far easier to keep clean.
10. The Coat Closet Floor
The floor of the entry closet is often a jumbled pile of shoes, discarded scarves, and reusable shopping bags. It's the first dumping ground when you walk in the door, making it difficult to find a matching pair of shoes and creating a sense of immediate disorganization.
Clear the floor completely. Vacuum and wipe it down. Sort through the shoes and bags, donating or discarding any that are worn out or no longer used. This is also a good time to assess if any out-of-season coats can be moved to another storage area to free up space.
Install a shoe rack or stackable shoe shelves to get footwear off the floor. Use large, sturdy bins or baskets for other categories: one for winter accessories (hats, gloves, scarves), one for reusable bags, and maybe one for sports equipment. This creates a clear, functional system.
11. The Nightstand Drawer
Your nightstand should hold the essentials for winding down and waking up, but its drawers can quickly become a catch-all for receipts, loose change, old magazines, and a dozen tubes of lip balm. A cluttered nightstand can contribute to a cluttered mind, which is the last thing you need at bedtime.
Empty the drawers and wipe them clean. Decide what you truly need within arm's reach of your bed. This might include a book, a journal and pen, hand cream, your phone charger, and perhaps some tissues. Everything else can likely live elsewhere.
Like the junk drawer, small dividers are your best friend here. Use them to create designated spots for your essentials. A small tray can corral items like lip balm and medication, while a simple cable clip attached to the back of the nightstand can keep your phone charger from falling on the floor.
12. The Back of the Wardrobe
We all have them: clothes that have been pushed to the very back of the closet or the bottom of a drawer. These are the items you never wear but can't quite bring yourself to part with—the "maybe one day" clothes. They take up valuable space and make it harder to see and access the clothes you actually love.
This task requires a bit of fashion-show fun. Pull out everything from the back of your closet and the bottom of your drawers. Try each item on. Ask yourself: Does it fit? Is it comfortable? Do I feel good in it? Has it been worn in the last year? If the answer is no, it's time to donate or sell it.
Once you’ve curated your collection, organize your wardrobe by category (trousers, shirts, dresses) and then by colour. It’s a simple visual trick that makes your closet look like a high-end boutique and helps you put outfits together more easily.
13. The Car's Glove Compartment & Trunk
Our cars are extensions of our homes, and they accumulate clutter just as quickly. The glove compartment can become a mess of old receipts, expired insurance cards, and dried-up wet wipes. The trunk can turn into a mobile storage unit for sports gear, emergency supplies, and forgotten shopping bags.
Start with the glove compartment. Take everything out. Create a small pouch or folder containing only the essentials: current registration, proof of insurance, and emergency contact info. Add a small first-aid kit, a tire pressure gauge, and a phone charger. The rest is likely trash.
For the trunk, remove everything. Vacuum thoroughly. Invest in a trunk organizer. These collapsible bins are perfect for containing groceries, emergency supplies (jumper cables, flares, blanket), and sports equipment, preventing them from rolling around while you drive.
14. The Laundry Room Shelf of Misfits
Every laundry room seems to have "that shelf." It's home to single socks, half-used bottles of stain remover, pocket treasures (coins, buttons, receipts), and perhaps a collection of dryer sheets that have escaped their box. It's functional chaos, but it could be so much better.
Clear the shelf and give it a good wipe-down. Sort through the contents. Reunite any sock pairs you can find (it's a miracle when it happens!). For the remaining single socks, give yourself a deadline. Keep them in a "lost sock" basket for a month. If their mate doesn't appear, repurpose them as dust rags.
Use clear jars or bins to store smaller items. A glass jar for clothespins, another for powder detergent or pods, and a small dish for pocket finds. This not only looks neat but also makes it easy to see when you're running low on supplies. As we often say on the Goh Ling Yong blog, creating visual systems is key to maintaining order.
15. The "Stuff" on the Bookshelves
Bookshelves are for books, right? Well, sort of. They also become display areas for photos, souvenirs, and random knick-knacks that don't have another home. Over time, these shelves can look less like a curated library and more like a cluttered yard sale.
Take everything off one shelf at a time. Dust the shelf and the items. Be selective about what goes back. Follow the classic designer rule: group items in odd numbers (1, 3, or 5) and vary their height and texture.
Mix up the orientation of your books—stack some horizontally to create platforms for small decorative objects. Leave some empty space (or "negative space") on the shelves. This gives your treasured items room to breathe and makes the entire arrangement look more sophisticated and intentional.
16. The Mail Drop / Command Center
This is the high-traffic zone, usually near the front door or in the kitchen, where mail, keys, sunglasses, and school papers get dropped. Without a system, it can quickly become a mountain of paper and a source of daily stress.
First, tackle the paper pile. Sort it into four categories: Action (bills to pay, forms to sign), File, Recycle, and Shred. Deal with the Action pile immediately. Be ruthless with junk mail—it goes straight into the recycling bin.
Establish a proper system. A wall-mounted organizer with labeled slots for each family member or for categories like "Incoming" and "Outgoing" can be a lifesaver. Add a few hooks for keys and a small bowl or tray for sunglasses and wallets. The goal is to give every single item that enters your home a designated spot.
17. The Pantry Floor and Back Shelves
You might have a neatly organized pantry at eye level, but what's happening on the floor or in the dark recesses of the back shelves? This is where bulk items, rarely used appliances, and expired canned goods go to be forgotten.
Empty out the problem areas. Check the expiration dates on everything and discard what's past its prime. Wipe down the shelves and floor. Think about what truly belongs in these less-accessible spots. The floor is great for heavy items like bags of pet food or cases of drinks. The back of the shelves is for duplicates or things you use infrequently.
Use clear, labeled bins to group items. A bin for "Baking Supplies," another for "Pastas and Grains," and so on. For deep shelves, turntables (Lazy Susans) are a brilliant solution. They allow you to easily see and access everything at the back with a simple spin. It's a small change that I know Goh Ling Yong would approve of for maximizing efficiency.
18. The Freezer's Forgotten Foods
The freezer can be a treasure chest of future meals or a frozen tundra of unidentifiable, freezer-burned mysteries. If you have to conduct an archaeological dig every time you want to find a bag of frozen peas, it's time for a defrost and declutter.
Take everything out of your freezer. Yes, everything. Work quickly and use a cooler to store food temporarily. Toss anything that's heavily freezer-burned or that you can no longer identify. Give the inside of the freezer a quick wipe-down with a warm, damp cloth.
Group the remaining food by category: vegetables, fruits, meats, prepared meals, etc. Use stackable freezer-safe bins to contain these categories. This prevents bags of frozen corn from getting lost at the bottom. Always label and date everything you put in the freezer. A simple "First In, First Out" (FIFO) system will help you reduce food waste and save money.
Your Home Deserves a Deep Clean
Whew! There you have it—18 forgotten corners just waiting for a little attention this weekend. The thought of tackling them all might seem overwhelming, but the secret is to just start. Pick the one spot that bothers you the most and commit to finishing it.
The feeling of transforming a small, chaotic space into a zone of pure, functional order is incredibly rewarding. It's a powerful reminder that an organized home isn't about perfection; it's about creating systems that make your daily life easier and more peaceful.
So, which 'dust-and-disarray' corner are you going to conquer first? We'd love to hear about your weekend organizing projects and any clever tips you discovered along the way. Share your plans and your victories in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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