Last weekend, Jane’s worst clutter fear came true.
She was cooking dinner in her kitchen when she heard a crackling sound coming from the living room.
At first, she thought it was the cat playing with something. But then she smelled it…that unmistakable, hair-raising scent of something burning.
She rushed into the living room and saw what no one ever wants to see: a fire burning in the middle of her living room.
Jane has quite a bit of clutter in her living room, much of it paper and other flammable items.
In those first moments, everything could have gone very, very wrong.
She screamed for her partner, who came running. Neighbors heard the commotion and rushed over to help as well. Thankfully, the fire was contained quickly.
It didn’t take long for firefighters to detect what caused the fire. A lithium-ion battery had caught fire from a portable charger.
In the aftermath of the fire, Jane realized just how many safety gaps there were in her home:
- No fire blanket.
- Missing fire alarm in the living room.
- Not enough extension cords to keep electronics from overheating (or being used improperly).
- Lithium-ion batteries stored (and charging) in cluttered rooms.
It was a huge wake-up call.
Safety before “stuff”.
As a professional organizer, I care deeply about creating homes that work for people, but organization is always secondary to safety.
If your pathways are blocked, exits aren’t clear, or heat sources are surrounded by flammable clutter, we have to address that before we start color-coding shelves or setting up filing systems.
Jane had another safety issue, too. One of her entry doors was completely blocked.
When the fire department arrived, they had to move piles of clutter into her carport just to get through.
Unfortunately, this type of clutter isn’t unusual.
Look around at some of the clutter in your own home…
- Are any entrances being blocked?
- Do any of your power outlets or plumbing fixtures have restricted access?
- Do you have any lithium-ion battery-operated gadgets located or near flammables such as paper or clothing.
If you said yes to any of these, take a deep breath. You’re not alone. It’s hard enough to get a handle on day-to-day living, let alone the clutter…let alone managing some future catastrophe.
You deserve to live in a home where you feel (and are) safe and protected.
Clutter is not a reflection of intelligence or willpower.
When an emergency happens, it can feel incredibly vulnerable. And unfortunately, people sometimes respond with judgement rather than support.
Jane’s neighbor looked at her clutter with shock and dismay…a look she’s still struggling to get out of her head.
The well-meaning firefighters suggested it would be good for her to clear the clutter (sometimes she has been actively doing for years), as though she were unaware of the problem.
It’s hard to feel judged and to have our efforts go unseen, especially when we’ve been working on decluttering for so long.
It can be exceptionally painful, especially during an emergency, because it’s easy to feel like a failure when the worst-case scenario occurs.
So, I just want to remind you…
Your safety matters more than someone else’s opinion. And organizing clutter is a journey that often takes years (or decades) to unravel.
Don’t feel pressured to go faster because of outside pressure or fear. That pressure often leads to burnout and more clutter.
Instead, take a moment to address safety concerns, rather than trying to declutter or organize first.
Below is a short safety checklist. You don’t need to do it all at once. In fact, I encourage you to just pick one thing and do it today.
Once action can save your life, your home, and your peace of mind.
Home Safety Checklist:
- Keep 3 feet of clear space around anything that gets hot (heaters, stoves, ovens, fireplaces)
- Make sure you can open every door and have at least 36 inches of walkway space in main paths.
- Store rechargeable batteries (laptops, e-bikes, vacuums, tools) away from paper, fabric, and flammable clutter.
- Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries if needed.
- Keep paper, dish towels, and plastic bags away from your stovetop.
- Never use frayed or damaged cords. Replace them immediately.
Here’s a quick video I made sharing even more insights about safety:
If you can only do one thing today whether it’s clearing the space around a heater, testing a smoke alarm, or moving a battery to a safer spot—that’s enough.
You deserve to feel safe in your home. You deserve the dignity of knowing you can get out quickly, and that your home can support you, not put you at risk.
And if you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, remember this…
Safety isn’t about perfection.
It’s about taking the next small step that keeps you healthy, safe, and ready for the days ahead.
