Life gets busy. Between work, family, social commitments, and personal time, finding hours to dedicate to deep cleaning or organizing your home can feel nearly impossible. However, that doesn't mean you have to let clutter take over your space. Sometimes, a little bit of decluttering in just five minutes can go a long way in making your home feel cleaner and more organized.
If you're short on time but want to keep your home looking neat, here are some quick and easy 5-minute decluttering tips you can do daily to maintain a tidy space.
1. Clear Off Flat Surfaces
Flat surfaces like kitchen counters, tables, and desks tend to collect clutter quickly. Whether it’s mail, dishes, or random items left behind, these surfaces can make a room look messy in an instant. One of the fastest ways to make your space look tidier is by clearing them off.
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What to do: Grab a basket or bin and collect all the items from flat surfaces that don’t belong. Sort through them later, but for now, clearing the space instantly makes the room look more organized.
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Tip: Make it a habit to clear off your surfaces before bed each night. You'll wake up to a tidy home and start the day with less stress.
Pic courtesy of Be Good To Yourself by Margo YouTube video
2. Declutter Your Entryway
The entryway is often the first thing people see when they enter your home, and it’s a space that can get cluttered quickly with shoes, jackets, and bags. A tidy entryway can immediately give your home a more organized appearance.
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What to do: In five minutes, hang up coats, put shoes in a designated spot, and grab any stray bags or keys off the floor or countertops. If you have a mail holder or organizer, quickly sort through any mail or papers that are cluttering up the space.
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Tip: Keep a small basket by the door for items that need to be dealt with later (like receipts or important documents). This will help keep your entryway tidy while allowing you to deal with the items when you have more time.
3. Tidy Up Your Bathroom
The bathroom can get cluttered fast with cosmetics, toiletries, and towels. Even a quick 5-minute decluttering session can make a huge difference in how fresh and clean the space feels.
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What to do: Put away any personal items lying around on countertops. Wipe down the sink and mirror, toss any empty bottles or used tissues, and quickly straighten up towels or bath mats. Even small changes make a noticeable difference.
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Tip: Keep a small cleaning caddy under the sink with essentials like disinfecting wipes and glass cleaner. It’ll be easy to grab and use for a quick touch-up.
4. Toss Out Old Mail & Paperwork
Piles of mail, bills, and paperwork tend to accumulate around the house, causing unnecessary clutter. Taking five minutes to go through these items can help reduce the pile-up and keep things organized.
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What to do: Take a moment to go through any new mail, toss junk mail, and file important documents in a designated spot. If you don’t have time to go through everything, just put the papers in a folder or bin to sort later, but clear the immediate clutter first.
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Tip: Set up a designated spot or tray for incoming mail. This will help prevent papers from scattering around your home and give you a central place to deal with them when you have more time.
5. Do a Quick Sweep of the Living Room
The living room is often a high-traffic area where toys, blankets, or personal items tend to pile up. A quick 5-minute declutter can make the space feel more inviting and comfortable.
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What to do: Straighten pillows and throws on the couch, put away any items that don’t belong, and quickly vacuum or sweep the floor if needed. Take a moment to straighten up any clutter on coffee tables, like books, remote controls, or mugs.
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Tip: Make a habit of doing a quick “reset” of your living room each evening. That way, you’re always starting and ending your day with a clean, clutter-free space.
Bonus: Set a Timer for 5 Minutes of Focused Decluttering
Sometimes, setting a timer is the best way to get started with decluttering. When you only have five minutes, commit to focusing on one area of the house. It could be a single room, a specific surface, or a drawer that needs attention.
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What to do: Set a timer for five minutes and focus only on decluttering that one area. Whether it's organizing a drawer, picking up toys, or straightening up a table, just focus on getting as much done as possible within that short window of time.
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Tip: If you get into the groove, you may find that you naturally extend the time, but the key is to stay focused and avoid getting distracted by other tasks. This is a great way to fit in quick cleaning or organizing tasks even on busy days.
Back to You
Decluttering doesn’t have to take hours — sometimes, just five minutes can make a significant difference in how your home feels. By incorporating these quick and easy decluttering tasks into your daily routine, you can maintain a clean and organized space, even when time is short. Whether it's clearing off surfaces, tidying the bathroom, or tackling a pile of mail, these small actions add up to a more organized and peaceful home.
Remember, the key is consistency. By spending just five minutes a day on decluttering, you'll create a habit that helps keep your home feeling fresh, organized, and inviting. So, set your timer and start decluttering — your home (and your stress levels) will thank you!
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