Several years ago, we made a life-changing decision. We decided to remove all the possessions from our home that we didn’t need.
Over the course of 9 months, we removed 50% of our stuff. And over the course of a few years, we removed 60-70% of our things and moved into a smaller home.
I discovered almost immediately that the less stuff you own, the more organized and clutterfree your home becomes. Go figure.
We would soon discover 21 benefits of owning less and decide that we’d never go back to our old lives of mindless consumption.
In addition to a significant purge that cleared the space for clutterfree living, we developed simple habits to keep our home clutterfree. They were not obtrusive or burdensome in anyway. Just the opposite, in fact. Practiced daily, they take only a few minutes to complete. But together, they leave our home in a perpetual state of calm (or at least, close to it).
Here are the habits I most recommend: 7 Daily Habits for a Clutter-Free Home.
1. Handle physical mail immediately. Too often, mail is only relocated from the mailbox to our countertop—where it often sits or begins to collect. But the fact is, most mail can be processed in very little time if we make it a habit. Immediately discard junk mail (or use Paper Karma to eliminate it completely) and process the rest. Mail that requires processing but can’t be handled right away can easily be placed in a manila To-Do Folder out of sight.
2. Clean dishes after meals. I used to hate washing dishes—especially right after preparing and eating a meal. But things changed when I read this story. Now, I view cleaning dishes as just the last step of the family dinner. Washing dishes (or filling the dishwasher) immediately takes less time (they wash easier when food has not dried). And the kitchen is clean all evening.
3. Make your bed each morning. Messes attract messes. One of the easiest places to see this is the bedroom. Your bed is the centerpiece of the room and when it is made, it sets environment and the culture. But when it is left undone, clutter begins to accumulate around it. The first, best step when cleaning a bedroom is to make the bed. And the first, best step for clutterfree living is to do it first thing in the morning (or find a spouse who does).
4. Store things off the kitchen counter. Messes attract messes and clutter attracts clutter. The better we get at storing clutter out of sight, the less likely it is to accumulate. The kitchen counter is a good example. When countertops become an acceptable place to store things, more things begin to collect there. But a clean countertop communicates calm and order, promotes opportunity for its intended use, and is probably easier than you think.
5. Return items nightly. When we minimized our possessions, we found tidying up to be easier. Every item has a purpose and every item has a home. At the end of the day, items are returned. This is a daily habit I have worked hard to incorporate in my life and my kids’ lives. One reason is because it allows every morning to begin fresh, new, and clutterfree.
6. Complete 1-2 minute jobs immediately. Clutter is often a result of procrastination—decisions put off or small jobs left unfinished. Counteract this procrastination in your home with a simple rule: If a job can be completed in less than 2 minutes, do it now. Take the garbage out, scrub the pot, return the remote control, or place your dirty clothes in the hamper. Every time you see a task all the way to completion, a source of clutter is avoided.
7. Minimize overfilled spaces right away. Clutter often reveals itself as too many things in too small a place: too many clothes in a drawer, too many linens in a closet, too many toiletries in a bathroom cabinet, or too many items on a shelf. When this occurs, as it often does, minimize the overfilled space right away by removing everything no longer needed. Don’t put it off. It will take longer than 2 minutes, but usually no more than 15. Staying ahead of clutter is the best way to defeat it altogether.
Each of these daily habits are routine in our home and help to keep it clutterfree all week long. Certainly, owning less helps make them possible.
Want a cleaner home? Own less stuff. It works every time.
Ivy says
I agree with all if this. And I carry out 95% of it daily. I learned most of this from my Mom and she was born in 1918.
She was a minimalist all of her adult life.
Kirin says
My mom was born in 1918 also, and she was a clutterer and hoarder due to a combination of depression and scarcity mentality. At 66 I am still learning how to create better systems and habits than I learned in childhood. Thank you for your help, Josh!
Lori in Prescott says
My mother was born in 1919 and she never let go of anything. It was all the stuff hidden and packed into her 900 sq ft house that jump started my minimalism even ahead of what it already was! I am happy to say everything in this blog I already do. I can thank my mother for that I guess!
JoJo says
My mom was born in that time, lived in the same house for 33 years. Stuff came in and never left! I tend to be cluttered because I grew up with it and, like you, I need to develop new routines.
Bonnie says
This is how my mother and grandmother and all their sisters cleaned house. Seems we forgot to teach a generation how to clean.
Christy Rolfe says
And your grandfather, father and brothers?
Sadie says
Hear, hear!
Jen says
Oh Christy Rolfe – you have my heart with your comment. Ha!
Emma http://asimplelivingjourney.blogspot.com.au/ says
I’m constantly de-cluttering various areas of the house and each pass over I do the more I realize we don’t need.
I’m not a shopper but my children, especially my eldest are where most of our clutter comes from. Admittedly they are very small still but it seems despite that as soon as I get things to a respectable level, its someones birthday and we get more again! (not from us)
I love these reminders. We do a lot of them but when we are tired, clutter collects. I struggle to relax in a messy space and because our house is small, a little mess feels like the whole house is messy.
I would love to see some “real” pictures of minimalist family homes – ordinary pictures, not magazine worthy ones? To see some of the systems they put in place.
warmly,
Emma
Slackerjo says
I live in a one bedroom apartment and I use shelves to keep stuff under control (I have a crazy rule, I can have stuff but 80% of it must be on display). I made a video about how to control clutter with shelving and how to make inexpensive shelving. My place is definitely not magazine worthy since I get most of my stuff out of the garbage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsHkliBvbxU
Janet says
Emma, I too live in a tiny house. One bedroom. We struggle with clutter as there is nowhere to work on something. Counter clutter is another problem. We have inherited valuables and don’t know what to do with them-jewelry etc. Also have 5 outbuildings! So overwhelming! In our little town we can donate to a place where the needy may come to take things. It’s great.
Rocktabulous says
I am by no means an expert, we actually have the same problem. This year before Christmas we went through all the toys and gave away anything that was out grown. We also decided to buy a large gift instead of many. It helped. Maybe this is something you could start with? Also any ideas to expand in this are welcomed.
Carolyn Bostic says
Any chance, Mr Becker, you would steer me toward minimalist households who are really short (under 5 ft tall) or who are wheelchair users for additional advice, please? I am a second generation counter clutter-er with paper or figurines being my big STUFF issue. I justify all this counter clutter by saying that I can only access the first 4.5 vertical feet by myself so I need everything low and out where I can see and reach. Thanks.
Kariane says
I love the idea of the two minute rule. I need to implement that.
As always, thank you for sharing. You have a wonderful way of putting things.
Ali @ Anything You Want says
Love these tips! I already do most of them and I am always amazed at home much more relaxed I feel as soon as the dishes are put away or the bed is made. There is something about being in an organized space that just frees your mind.
Jo says
My husband and I just recently retired. Every Wednesday we take a different room and clean it really well, dust, vacuum, clean floors, etc. During the rest of the week we keep things picked up. This way, over the period of 4 weeks or so we have cleaned the whole condo, with just the two of us it doesn’t get real dirty in between.
priest's wife @byzcathwife says
I especially love the ‘do a 1-2 minute task immediately’ rule a lot….thanks for the insight!
Laura Beth says
Okay, I can do better. You are spot on. Clutter attracts clutter and mess attracts more mess. I am going to take a few moments to make the bed every morning. I am happier when I do.
Thanks!
Daisy @ Simplicity Relished says
So true, Laura Beth! I’m much more inclined to fling my day’s clothes on the bed if it’s unmade. I’m committing to the disciplines here as well!
Angela says
This was written for me! Must try harder. I don’t have lots of stuff, because I don’t shop often. I do however have lots of paperwork lying around. I’m also notorious for not being tidy.
Thank you for this post.
Sarah says
My mom needs this. My dad too. It’s so frustrating seeing our kitchen cluttered with unnecessary appliances.
I’m 21 in in 2016 and I’m still at university. Can’t wait till I move out to have my own clutter-free space.
They don’t listen to me when I suggest they give things away or sell them. They probably think now that I’m attending university I think I know everything.
Thanks for this amazing website.