Easy Decluttering Tasks You Can Do While Watching TV

Oftentimes, when we know we really need to purge, clean, organize, and get our houses in order, all we want to do is plop down in front of the TV and binge an entire series. Decluttering and organizing can be extremely physically, emotionally, and mentally draining, and, well, watching a few dozen episodes of TV isn't. But you may be missing out on a prime opportunity to mix these two activities together. By decluttering while you watch TV, you can enrich both activities by taking the stress away from decluttering while making your TV time more productive. According to research from Parrot Analytics, 8.9% of Americans are already using TV as a way to liven up their daily chores. Why not give your decluttering to-do list a run the next time a new season of your favorite series is out? 

Of course, not all decluttering tasks are well-suited to TV watching multi-tasking. If a decluttering project involves going through sentimental items or important documents, you don't want to be distracted by a good show. Furthermore, some tasks require you to stay in another space, like going through your clothes closet or your shed. So, we've put together a list of some of the best items to declutter in front of the TV to make them more enjoyable.

Too many of us leave the house wearing socks that don't fit right or look great. So, take an evening to organize your sock drawer in front of the TV to make getting dressed easier and your mornings more streamlined. It's best to do this task after you've cleaned a lot of laundry so that all your pairs are available for organization. Dump out your sock drawer on the couch or living room floor so you have a good view of all of your socks. 

Before you start pairing them off, create a discard pile. Socks that are permanently stained, have holes, have a loose elastic band, or don't stay up on your ankles should be trashed. Any that you don't wear, perhaps because of their color or pattern, can then be placed in a get rid of pile. You can donate new ones or repurpose old socks around the house. From there, start mating pairs either by folding them into a bundle or rolling them burrito style. Once they're paired up, you can organize them by type and function — separate athletic, business, winter, fuzzy, and everyday pairs. Also try creating your own DIY drawer divider to make it easy to see your full collection while sitting in a drawer. When you're done, if there are any socks without mates, put the stragglers in the bin. 

Everybody has one, but nobody wants one. The junk drawer is the phenomenon that seems to appear in all homes, regardless of how clean and organized the occupants are. They usually start out with a purpose like holding things you don't always need but often reach for like pens and batteries. After a while, however, the space often becomes a temporary holding area for other odds and ends like change, receipts, and old phone chargers you need to take to the recycling center. Take some time to get your junk drawer decluttered in front of the TV with a comfort show on. If possible, just pull the entire drawer out and bring it to the living room with you.

The good news when it comes to organizing your junk drawer is that most of the objects actually have a place elsewhere in your home. When you pull an object out of the drawer, put it in a pile for which room it needs to go to, whether that's the bedroom, bathroom, office, or kitchen. If there's an object that truly doesn't have a designated spot in the house, it can go back in the drawer. Some items will likely also be trashed or possibly donated. By the end, you'll find that you have far fewer items to deal with, making organizing a breeze. Try using an old egg carton or ice cube tray to sort out small items like coins, paperclips, thumbtacks, and so on. 

Ever tried asking your kids to gather up all the toys they don't want anymore, only to have them emerge with one or two toys and toy bins still overflowing? Sometimes, you've got to take matters into your own hands. So why not take the opportunity once your kiddos go to sleep to put on one of your favorite grownup shows, roll up your sleeves, and get to decluttering those kids toys. Pile all the toys up into bins and bring them into the living room to go through. Chances are that your kids won't even notice some are missing once it's over with, and you'll enjoy rooms that are much easier to keep clean. 

You spend more time with your kids than anyone, so you probably have a good sense of what they actually play with, which is a great starting point. If you know your little one hasn't played with a toy in over six months, it's a great time to get rid of it. If it's in good enough shape, consider donating it to a charity shop or local preschool. In that same line of thinking, the next phase of elimination should come down to condition. If it's broken and can't be fixed, dirty and can't be cleaned, is missing pieces, or you've been planning to repair it for months but still haven't gotten around to it, it's time to let it go.

Makeup and skincare products can be incredibly gratifying to collect. Between the pretty packaging and the balms promising to transform your skin forever, a lot of people have a pretty hefty inventory of cosmetics. But be honest, how often do you stray from your daily makeup routine? Unless you're a beauty influencer or professional makeup artist, you probably don't need as many products as you currently have, making cosmetics one of the best items to declutter from your bathroom today. 

Drag those caboodles and makeup drawers out to the TV, press play, and get to work. First, go through and remove any products that have expired — yes, cosmetics expire just like food, as they can harbor bacteria. If the product is past its expiration date, has a bad smell, or just looks off, toss it straight into the bin. If there's no expiration date, consider when you purchased it — each type of product will last for a different amount of time. While mascara should be replaced every three months, powder products can last up to two years. Next, sort the makeup and skincare products by type, such as blush, mascara, lipstick, moisturizer, toner, etc. In each category, try to limit yourself to a number you can keep of each. Needs will vary from person to person, but consider the products you regularly use versus those you don't reach for. Wipe down all of the makeup bags, drawer dividers, and drawers before placing your cosmetics back where they belong.

Lovers of print media will understand how hard it is to get rid of old magazines and newspapers and how easy it is for them to stack up and become clutter. Grabbing a magazine here or there or letting your mailed catalog collection sit on the counter can quickly become a problem. Gather all the magazines in your home and bring them to the coffee table by the TV, pop on a show, and get to sorting between the must-keeps and the must-goes. The easiest way to get rid of unwanted magazines is to recycle them, but you'll also need to take care to remove non-recyclable materials like plastic inserts. This is an easy, tedious task that you can do while mindlessly watching TV. 

If the stack of magazines you want to keep is still too high to easily store, you're not out of options. If you want to hold onto an issue of a magazine for a single article, recipe, photo, or whatever else, just cut out that page and stick it in a folder, envelope, or small storage bin. That way, you can keep the good stuff without all the bulk. Online subscriptions also go a long way for decluttering old magazines and newspapers and give you access to extensive periodical archives — many public libraries even offer these digital subscriptions for free!