Are you tired of drowning in stuff but have no idea what to do? Clutter can be overwhelming, which can make it difficult to deal with. Decluttering not only helps you attain an organized home, but it’s also beneficial to your health. In fact, the American Psychological Association states that cluttered spaces cause stress and anxiety.
If you’re ready to have a tidy home where you feel calm and relaxed, then you should try one of these trending decluttering methods our experts recommend to tackle your clutter with ease.
The 5-Second Rule
If you struggle with making decisions quickly, this decluttering method can help. The “5-second rule” is a method where you have to decide to keep or toss an item within a 5-second timeframe. If it takes you longer than 5 seconds to decide, it’s an indicator it can go. Diane Quintana, expert organizer and owner of DNQ Solutions, says that this rule gives you permission to get rid of something if it takes you more than 5 seconds to remember the last time you used it.
“People often struggle to let go of things because they might need it someday, or they keep things ‘just in case.’ This 5-second rule makes a person stop and recognize the fact that if they have a hard time remembering when they last used an item, they most likely do not need it,” she says.
90/90 Rule
Another popular decluttering method is the 90/90 rule. Quintana says that the rule to this method is if you have not used something within a 90-day window and you don’t plan to use it in the next 90 days, it’s something you should remove from your home.
“Like the 5-second rule, it makes a person stop and think about the things they are keeping. If they aren’t using something and have no plan to use it, why are they letting it take up valuable real estate in their home? It is a method of giving permission to let something go,” she explains.
I love this method because the 90/90 rule covers you for the current and upcoming seasons, which is perfect when decluttering something like your wardrobe.
KonMari Method
Although this method has been around for over a decade, it is still trending today. Liora Seltzer, a platinum-level KonMari consultant and owner of What U Keep, says this method is an intentional process where you reevaluate everything you own by categories. These categories include clothing, books, paper, miscellaneous items, and sentimental items.
“You need to hold each item and decide if it sparks joy for you. If it does — you keep it and give it a home. If it doesn’t, you let it go with gratitude. Sparking joy is an umbrella term for anything that supports your best life. At the end of the process, you will have only things that support your best life and serve a purpose for you,” she says.
Core 4 Method
The Core 4 Method has exploded in popularity thanks to social media platforms such as TikTok. Organizers and people are sharing videos of how they tackle clutter with this trending decluttering technique, which can work for large and small spaces.
Quintana states that it’s a direct and simple approach to clearing clutter. A person doesn’t need to think about what to do next; they just follow the basic steps and make progress with decluttering.
The method is quite simple and consists of these four steps:
Clear out: Remove trash and large items from the space
Categorize: Group similar items together
Cut out: Remove things you no longer need, want, or use
Contain: Put things back neatly in an organized fashion
Finding methods that are simple to follow can make decluttering much easier and speed up the process.
20/20 Rule
The Minimalists’ notorious Netflix documentary started the popular 20/20 rule, which is still helping people quickly remove clutter from their homes. The rule states that if something costs less than $20 or you could probably replace it in less than 20 minutes, you can let that item go.
Quintana says this is a fantastic approach to decluttering because it is the small things that cause the most clutter. “You can let these things go, knowing that you can probably find that item (or something similar) for less than $20 and in less than 20 minutes,” she explains.
20/10 Decluttering Method
The 20/10 method, created by Rachel Hoffman, is one of my favorites because it breaks the process down into 20-minute increments. Rather than going for a huge decluttering marathon, this method has you declutter for twenty minutes and then take a 10-minute break. It is simple yet very effective.
Plus, by aiming for smaller twenty-minute decluttering sessions, you will be able to fit it into your daily schedule. I found that it also took the overwhelm out of trying to tackle the entire house or even a room. You can dedicate twenty minutes to a specific area and feel a sense of accomplishment when you see your space clear of clutter.
The key to stopping procrastinating and starting decluttering is finding a method that is easy for you to do. Try one of these trending decluttering methods to help you organize your home and kick clutter to the curb for good.
