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.
Ari Herzog says
Not knowing what Paper Karma does, I want to point you and other readers to Catalog Choice. It’s a website service at http://catalogchoice.org that is free to use and enables you to unsubscribe from any junk catalog you receive.
Lisa Quenon says
Sometimes I have helped folks with ‘organizing’ which mostly seemed to always be getting rid of excess/unwanted paper clutter. I would say to them, until the whole house is done, get one spot absolutely clear and clutter free…as your resting spot while the rest is happening. You will feel such peace in your resting spot…and such energy to move on and conquer more!
Looking around my little apartment right now, I am seeing the vestiges of a summer of knee pain and creating art and a few other things. I fantasize (& have attempted several) of a total art supply system that remains tidy.
I have a long way to go. However, I believe that if/when I apply your ideas to even my art supplies…that surely some good can come of that.
I do not own a lot…I never have. I’m not a stuff person or a collector of anything…save for a few beloved children’s books to share with young friends.
I think I would benefit from what I’ve told others about creating ‘positive stress.’ I imagine someone important…very important…is coming to visit my home (soon). Doing this seems to give me what I’ve called ‘fresh eyes’ … the ability to see clutter and dirt that I’ve previously given myself permission to walk right past.
Think I’ll do that today!
Thank you!!
Judy says
It’s definitely a work in progress…
I have pets and children and grandchildren, so I know my house will never be “magazine perfect” but it’s better than it ever has been.
So nice to have this family of minimalist friends here for support and tips. It’s great to know we are not alone in this journey.
Thanks, Joshua. Always happy to be here :)
Laura at SimplyClearly says
Great post and habits Joshua! My favorites are making the bed and keeping the kitchen counters clear. I am working on the 1-2 minute tasks, as far as doing them right away, those are a little more difficult for me, but I’m getting there.
Patricia says
This is so true. I need to do better.
-Patricia
http://thesundayusual.blogspot.com
BrownVagabonder says
The one that I have a harder time with is the kitchen counter – I have certain items stored on the kitchen counter, like the olive oil dispenser, and onions for cooking. I am having a hard time figuring out where to put those items.
That is the one thing that I will be working on this weekend – I would love to see the kitchen counter completely empty and free. That would be such a great sight to come home to. Thanks for the post and the reminder.
Cheryl Roeben says
I, too, struggle with having a clutter-free kitchen counter, not only in my home but in the home of a woman I work for. In both places, I have no more than a 2 foot by 1.5 foot area of counter to work on most of the time & I REALLY have to work to retain/maintain that small space! At home, it’s easier but at work my client & others often fill the space with things either because they don’t take time to put them away or don’t know where to put them or in the case of my client, the counter is where she can see them so she doesn’t lose track of them (she’s had a couple of head injuries so I kind of understand that but it still makes it hard)! She doesn’t learn new routines easily either & often doesn’t remember what she’s been told despite frequent reminders.
Steven says
I feel like a noob, but I just cant seem to get the hang of number 2. Thanks for adding it to the list. Makes me feel like it’s not just me! :-)
Lori in Prescott says
Noob! What a great word! Did you invent that word? Maybe you could be a ‘clean as you go’ kitchen prep. By the time I sit down to the meal almost everything I used for cooking is washed and drying on a rack, or in my dishwasher.
Mel says
I totally agree, Steven! I pretty much do all the other suggestions on a daily base, but the second one is SO hard! Although I love a clean kitchen, I can’t seem to get myself moving after lunch/dinner…
Jens says
I actually do all these things since I was a teenager because I hate clutter (not only for reasons of “minimalism”).
The problem is: My spouse doesn’t share my point of view :-D
Delfina says
I do not know how to get rid a house full of 3 house full of furniture, etc.. my beautiful how is nice but when we bought it we notice it had no storage areas. We do have a garage and are renting 2 large storage areas until we clean out the house and minimize what we have. Where do I start???
Lena says
Start with the easy stuff first. Just bring out the trash.
Identify clutter and remove it. If you dont want to get rid of something, for whatever reason, then keep it. Just remove the things you dont want.
for some inspiration: http://www.365lessthings.com. Colleen, the owner of the site, removes a thing a day.
stephanie@stephsjoy says
This is really helpful, especially the suggestion of finding a spouse to make the bed, I will have to suggest that to my husband.
Cheryl Roeben says
I’m often up before my husband so I don’t get the bed made as soon as I get up. I’ve tried to instill in my husband that as soon as he gets up & finishes dressing that he needs to make the bed BEFORE he goes to eat breakfast. How far do you suppose I’ve gotten with my request? Sadly, not far!