Decluttering is often seen as either a painfully slow process or the sort of unrealistic speedy transformation you see on social media, but experts agree that progress happens gradually. Successful decluttering is done in layers, over time when you have the energy and emotional readiness for the task.
That's where the '5-minute rule' comes in. Whether you have five minutes or five hours, breaking the job into manageable chunks can make decluttering feel far less overwhelming – and much easier to stick to.
5 minutes
You won’t be able to tackle a major project, but if you use the time strategically it can kickstart change.
‘Clearing one visible surface can have a surprisingly powerful effect,’ says Georgina Burnett, TV presenter and celebrity home stylist, who suggests that sorting out a bedside table or kitchen bench will instantly make a space feel calmer.
April Scott Tandy, founder of the Space Maker Method and author of The Mindful Art of Space Making, calls these moments ‘quick wins’. The goal isn’t volume, but confidence: ‘It doesn’t matter how much you declutter; the magic is that you took action.’
Ingrid Jansen and Lesley Spellman of The Declutter Hub, who have been organising homes for 24 years, recommend short reset tasks, such as unloading the dishwasher or starting a laundry cycle, to keep clutter from growing.
60 minutes
Avoid trying to tackle a whole room.
‘Choose one small, contained category rather than spreading yourself across multiple rooms, which will dilute results and motivation,’ advises Georgina, who suggests organising food containers, toiletries or paperwork as an achievable 60-minute task.
April advises asking yourself: is there an area I can sort out now that would help life feel a little smoother? A clear entryway or an uncluttered coffee table can make daily routines feel lighter and easier.
The key is to avoid distraction. ‘A lot of progress can be made in one hour, but only if you stay laser focused,’ she says.
A day or weekend
A kitchen or bathroom can be decluttered in a day, provided there’s a plan and you take regular breaks, according to Ingrid and Lesley: ‘Small, consistent steps beat marathon efforts.’
Weekends are best for spaces that will need to get messy before they improve, like wardrobes, garages and lofts. All the experts agree: declutter first, organise second. Sort items into ‘keep’, ‘donate’, ‘recycle’ and ‘discard’ piles, then work out storage.
Don’t underestimate how long decisions can take, skip rest breaks or buy storage too soon. ‘The power of starting small is that you guarantee yourself a bit of success. That motivates you to do more,’ says April.
Daily resets can be useful in preventing pile-ups, while weekly check-ins for high-traffic areas such as hallways and kitchen counters will help keep things in order.
Major projects
For seriously cluttered homes, think long-term. ‘Focus on slow, steady progress that will have a lasting impact rather than a quick win that won’t be sustainable in the long run,’ say Ingrid and Lesley.
April encourages decluttering in stages: removing the obvious layer of clutter first, then refining later. ‘Remember, your home didn’t get like this overnight, so it would be unrealistic to think you can tackle it all in one weekend. It’s going to take time and that’s okay,’ she reassures.
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