Decluttering for 15 to 30 minutes per day is highly effective, as consistent, short sessions prevent burnout and build habits, accumulating over 7 hours of work monthly. While, for faster results, 1–2 hour sessions are recommended, extreme cases may require 8-hour, weekend "marathon" sessions.
You would be surprised by how much you can accomplish by decluttering for 15 minutes every day (or most days) over the course of a month or a year. You'll make more progress taking tiny, consistent steps, than if you devote 3 hours on a Saturday to it and abandon before you're done. Set that timer - You got this!
The 5-5-5 Rule for decluttering, popularized by Steph of The Secret Slob and Apartment Therapy, is a quick, low-pressure method that involves setting a 25-minute timer, picking five different zones in your home, and spending just five minutes tidying or decluttering each zone before moving to the next, making it ideal for tackling daily messes without feeling overwhelmed.
Be clear about the sentimental items that should have a place in your home. You only have so much space to store them all. "Family photos, heirlooms, and keepsakes are often decluttered because they feel like clutter, when the real challenge is deciding how to honor the memory," says Hines.
The rule, coined by David Allen, productivity guru and author of Getting Things Done, basically says that anything that can be done in 2 minutes or less should be done right then and there. This has countless applications to housework — especially to decluttering.
How to Declutter Fast: 6 Simple Tips and Tricks
The Most Effective First Room: The Kitchen
Among all the choices, the kitchen is one of the best rooms to declutter first.
home, the 1% rule involves doing just one small thing to make your home better. The habit definitely leads to a more tidy home, but, more importantly, it also creates a more peaceful emotional state.
27 fling boogie: This is another clever tool to help you declutter. Walk through your home with a garbage bag and collect 27 items. Do not stop until you have 27. Then close the garbage bag and throw it away.
Here are 5 clever tips to help you declutter and bring order back to your living space: 1️⃣ Embrace the "One In, One Out" Rule: For every new item you bring into your home, let go of one you no longer need. This simple rule will keep your possessions in check and prevent unnecessary buildup.
Research shows clutter can overwhelm your mind, drain your focus, heighten stress and disrupt sleep. But don't let clutter clutter your thoughts: By clearing your space and calming your thoughts, you can boost your attention, lower anxiety and have better cognitive and emotional well-being.
Of course, the time it takes to declutter can vary for so many different reasons. It's hard to say there's a rule of thumb, but one view is that it can take 1 to 1.5 days per room (or 8 to 12 hours per room). Obviously, closets and bathrooms might require only a few hours, whereas a garage could take 2 to 3 days.
Developed by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists, the 90/90 rule is simple: If you haven't used or loved an item in the past 90 days, and don't see yourself needing it in the next 90 days, it's time to let it go.
Most people probably think the hardest thing to declutter is sentimental clutter. While it's true that presents its own challenges, I actually think the hardest thing to declutter is aspirational clutter. This type of clutter is tied to your actual identity!
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Starting too late, not establishing clear goals and trying to do things all at once are some of the biggest mistakes you should avoid when decluttering before moving. Instead, you should do things early (at least eight weeks in advance), create and stick to a to-do list and declutter one room at a time.
The 5 Most Common Clutter Personalities
The 333 method philosophy revolves around one simple rule: you choose 33 items to wear for 3 months. This includes clothing, accessories, outerwear and shoes, but excludes essentials like underwear, sleepwear or workout gear.
The 50% rule for clutter is a straightforward decluttering method that challenges you to reduce the number of items in any space (drawer, closet, room) by half, aiming to keep spaces only 50% full for easier management, better organization, and a less overwhelming environment, often by removing duplicates, unused items, or things you no longer love, creating breathing room and simplifying decision-making.