THE DECLUTTERING DIVA: HOW KRISTINA DUKE IS HELPING FAMILIES REDUCE CLUTTER, RECYCLE SMARTER AND SAY GOODBYE TO “GLOARDING” THIS FESTIVE SEASON

If you’ve ever stood in front of a chaotic drawer—the one filled with old glasses, random screws, cords you swear might be important, manuals you meant to read and “just in case” items—you’re not alone. Clutter is universal, especially for families. But for professional organiser Kristina Duke, better known as The Decluttering Diva, clutter isn’t just mess. It’s emotional weight, mental overload and a signal that families are simply doing their best in the whirlwind of everyday life. Her partnership with Specsavers on their OptiCycle recycling program is helping parents declutter responsibly, starting with an unexpected household item: old eyeglasses.

Where It All Began: The Making of a Professional Organiser

Kristina’s career wasn’t sparked by one moment but by the intersection of passion, personality and real-life chaos. “There were several things that sparked my interest into becoming a professional organiser – firstly I love people and thought I’d be great as a psychologist or something – helping people to brainstorm and strategise new ways to be,” she explains. Her skillset sharpened through motherhood, navigating tight spaces and big emotions. “Secondly, after having 3 kids under 5 years old in a house with little to no storage I became really good at decluttering and organising with limited space, budget and managing my kid’s neuro-spicy needs.” Those early years became her training ground for the practical, accessible systems she now teaches families.

Why We “Gloard” (And Why It’s So Common)

Keeping old glasses might feel harmless, but it creates a surprising amount of clutter. Kristina says it’s as emotional as it is practical. “Gloarding is not an official word or diagnosis but it’s that common habit of saving our old eyeglasses. There are 2 mains reasons we gloard: keeping them in case we need them (like the new pair gets lost or broken) and because we don’t just want to throw them out, it seems such a waste.” It’s a small behaviour with a big footprint—and Specsavers’ OptiCycle program gives families a solution that feels responsible, not wasteful.

Why Letting Go Is So Hard for Parents

Every home has that drawer of “bits” we think we’ll eventually match to a toy, a gadget or a moment of free time that never arrives. Kristina understands why parents hold onto so much. “Running a household and managing family life can be busy, so it’s no surprise that we lose track of what goes where and keep it case it’s connected to something else,” she says. “Think about that random screw packet from some flatpack furniture, those notes and pamphlets about something we want to buy or research and those ‘bits’ that go to some toy that we know is missing a piece.” She says the deeper issue is emotional pressure. “We often feel this need to have everything all complete before we can let it go, and the reality is we are unlikely to get to that state of having it together. For many we feel the guilt of things going into landfill because we don’t know where else it can go.”

Turning Decluttering Into a Life Skill for Kids

For Kristina, decluttering isn’t just about cleaning—it’s about empowerment. “I believe it’s a fabulous skill to teach our kids not just to tidy up but also to declutter – to consciously edit items that we no longer need or use which in turn makes for a clearer space which is great for our mental health,” she explains. She says parents can elevate the lesson by showing kids how to dispose of items responsibly. “We can level this skill up by finding creative ways to dispose of our unwanted items, rather than just adding to landfill, like the Opticycle partnership at Specsavers.” The result? A tidy home and environmentally aware kids.

Clutter Is More Than Mess: It Impacts Our Mental Load

Kristina says clutter can reveal what’s happening beneath the surface. “Clutter is often a physical symptom that we are struggling and feeling overwhelmed,” she explains. Life—especially family life—gets busy fast. “Common things like busy schedules, sickness and ADHD can quickly escalate an home from being organised to out of control in not too long,” she says. While she’s quick to reassure parents that “overflowing laundry baskets and messy kitchen drawers are not the end of the world,” she acknowledges the emotional toll. “They can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, frustration and guilt if left unchecked for too long.” Decluttering isn’t about perfection—it’s about creating systems that support a calm environment. “Having a decluttered home is not about throwing it all away but about having systems in place so the home can feel peaceful in a world that often feels so hectic.”

How to Get Kids Involved with Specsavers’ OptiCycle Program

Kristina encourages parents to use recycling initiatives as an opportunity to engage kids. “Send your kids on a glasses hunt in the house to find all those random pairs hiding throughout the home,” she suggests. Turning it into a game helps build ownership. “Making the declutter process fun is a great way to get kids involved and accountable.” Once families decide what to recycle, she says to embrace the outing. “Take the kids to your local Specsavers and get them to place them in the marked bins for recycling. Yes, it takes a bit more time to get them involved, but it’s worth the training.”

Where Overwhelmed Families Should Start

When everything feels like too much, Kristina says the key is to pick something small—but visible. “Start with something small and achievable like clearing shoes from the front door to each person’s wardrobe or shoe shelf,” she says. Adding playfulness boosts engagement. “Put on some music and get the kids to race to see who can put their laundry away before the song ends.” These little wins create momentum and that crucial feeling of success.

One Daily Habit That Changes Everything

Kristina’s most transformative habit is simple enough for even the busiest parents. “Don’t put it down, put it away,” she says. But she also believes in grace over perfection. “Maybe you feel that is hard but you can cheat a little to have a box assigned for different areas of the house or for each member of the family and when you find their things put it in their box and each has to rehome the items by a certain time each day or week.”

How Her Own Family Shapes Her Work

Kristina’s personal experiences guide her professional approach. “In my family we all have very different attachments to things, different ways that our brains work and process and different levels of focus and attention,” she says. Those differences taught her to adapt systems so they work for everyone—not just the person organising. “They have taught me to be flexible in the ways I organise and set up systems, to make it suit the majority, not just myself. Most of all, they have taught me that making tasks fun is the best way to keep them engaged.”

A Festive Season Message for Families

The end of the year brings joy—but also clutter. Kristina encourages intentionality. “Consider gifting experiences rather than physical things this Christmas – memories are far more magical and take up very little space,” she says. When new items arrive, she suggests decluttering the old ones. She also recommends using downtime to set up systems. “Use the downtime to create some recycling systems like a ‘donate’ basket near the front door or laundry for items that no longer fit or are no longer used – these could then be donated to your local op shop or listed on a freecycle page in your area.” She says creating dedicated spots for recycling helps immensely. “Finding a space for a box for those random things like batteries, light globes and old pens which no longer work but can be recycled too.” And of course: “Don’t forget to collect any unused glasses and recycle them as part of the Opticycle program.”

Through honesty, humour and deeply human insight, Kristina Duke reminds families that decluttering isn’t about perfection—it’s about clarity, calm and conscious living. And with Specsavers OptiCycle, even something as small as an old pair of glasses can be the start of a simpler, more mindful home.