It's never too late to start feeling fresh by taking control of your living space. It's time to declutter and get rid of all those unnecessary items. But don't just chuck them away, donate them to a new loving home. Here's how you can master the two most important Ds in cleaning.

How to declutter

1. Identify - Start by going through everything and deciding what's staying and what needs to go. What is vital and what can go will be different for each person but make sure to be tough on yourself. Ask how much you really use something, could it go to a home/someone who would appreciate it more? This could be clothes, hardware, furniture, decorations, etc.What you are decluttering for will also determine what you need to do. Are you cleaning in preparation for moving out or cleaning for a better living space over the foreseeable future?
2. Remove - Once your go pile is complete, it's time to dispose of anything which can't be donated. Doing this first will free up space for moving stuff about or anything new you might want to introduce. Try to recycle as much as possible, a lot of items will be labelled with how to do this appropriately but if not, you can always check the UK's recycling website for help (keep reading to know what to do with those donatable items).
3. Organise - Sort out your remaining items. You may have already started to do this while cleaning out, but now is the time to decide where things should be stored or displayed. Consider what you will need easy access to and what can maybe be tucked under the bed and brought back out on the rare occasions it gets used. For example, you'll need your charger either close to your desk or bed, so make sure you keep a plug socket/port free for it.
4. Utilise - Create dedicated spaces for certain items. You'll know what you'll need to have on your desk when you work (laptop, stationary, paper, lamp, speaker, etc) or close by the door when you exit for the day (shoes, coat, backpack, etc).Try to identify what is missing from your space that might be causing clutter or cramped space. For example, over-the-door hangers and hooks can be a quick and cheap fix to get any large clothes out of the way.
5. Tidy - The cherry on top of the cake, all you have left to do is a general cleaning that you would normally do every week or so. There might have been a bit more mess made by following the previous steps but this shouldn't take long to remove. Leave your space feeling fresh by investing in an air freshener or buying a few scented candles. Once you've finished your decluttering, it's time to donate...

How to donate

Donating and selling your own stuff you don't use anymore is important. It's also important to identify and organise your unused items into what is in good enough condition to be passed on, and what you can recycle at your nearest recycling point. There is no point in trying to sell broken or damaged items as it will only come back to haunt you later on! Basically, just put yourself in the mind of the potential new owner - would you be disappointed by the condition of the item? If so, then don't donate it.

So once you have the items you can donate, you will need to decide on where to do the donating. There are charity shops all over the place, especially in cities and town centres. Each charity shop usually represents and contributes to a specific cause. For example, donating to the British Heart Foundation will help raise money for research into heart and circulatory disease. Each organisation has different methods and processes for donating so always check their website first. You don't want to find out the cat shelter charity won't accept your old bedside table after you've dragged it all the way down to the store.

So now you're a master D&D'er, get to work on organising your items and getting them in the hands of people who can put them to use. Ask at your reception for your nearest donation points!