What is the 3 second rule for cleaning?

Author: Shawna Howell IV  |  Last update: Saturday, August 16, 2025

In this TikTok video, Kelly, who's known for her decluttering methods, like the Core 4 Method, and tips, explains that the three-second rule helps people make “quick and confident decisions when they are decluttering.” When applying her method to an item, you decide in three seconds to either “yes, you keep it” or “no, ...

What is the golden rule for cleaning?

The golden rule of housekeeping is simple: clean as you go.

What is the 3 second decluttering rule?

What Is the “3-Second Rule” for Decluttering? Created by professional organizer Kayleen Kelly, the three-second rule for decluttering requires you to decide in three seconds if you'll keep or get rid of an item. If you hesitate for more than three seconds, then the item stays.

What is the 12-12-12 method of decluttering?

The 12-12-12 decluttering method is a game-changer for organizing small spaces without feeling overwhelmed. By tackling 12 items to throw away, 12 to donate, and 12 to put back in place, you can focus on making progress without needing to do it all at once.

What is the 80 20 rule for decluttering?

This by-the-numbers decluttering strategy is simple: Only take up 80% of any given space in your home with stuff, and leave the other 20% empty. Generally, that means getting rid of about 20% of the items in your house to ensure your home is comfortable and has a feeling of spaciousness.

My Declutter 3 Second Rule

What is the 333 method of decluttering?

If you want to take the Project 333 Challenge

Choose 33 items (or less) including clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories. Pack up and hide everything else and then you don't have to think about shopping or what to wear for the next three months. For more details, here's a little guide.

What should you not throw out when decluttering?

Never throw these 6 things out when decluttering – learn how to organize them instead
  • Important documents.
  • Old paint.
  • Sentimental items.
  • Old keys.
  • Certain travel mementoes.
  • Decorative bins and baskets.

What is the fastest way to purge clutter?

10 Creative Decluttering Tips
  1. Start with 5 minutes at a time. ...
  2. Give one item away each day. ...
  3. Fill an entire trash bag. ...
  4. Donate clothes you never wear. ...
  5. Create a decluttering checklist. ...
  6. Take the 12-12-12 challenge. ...
  7. View your home as a first-time visitor. ...
  8. Take before and after photos of a small area.

What is the 90 90 rule for decluttering?

What Is the 90/90 Rule? Here's the gist: When you come upon an object you're unsure about decluttering, ask yourself two questions: Did you use it in the past 90 days? If not, will you use it in the next 90 days? If your answer is “no” to both questions, away it goes.

What is the one touch rule for clutter?

Ltd., said that the one-touch rule involves handling an item only once. “Rather than picking something up and setting it down temporarily, you place it immediately in its designated spot. This habit minimises clutter, and helps maintain organisation, and prevents items from piling up,” he said.

Which room to declutter first?

“The entryway into one's home should be the first space you organize above all others, whether that is a foyer, long hallway, or just an entrance area,” according to Jane Stoller, founder of Organized Jane and author of “Decluttering for Dummies.”

What is the golden rule of decluttering?

Take it room by room: Start decluttering one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Focus on a specific area before moving on to the next. Sort methodically: Divide items into categories (keep, donate, sell, discard) and work through each category systematically to prevent decision fatigue.

What is the correct order to clean a house?

Conclusion. Following a systematic order for cleaning your house can make the task more manageable and ensure a thorough job. By starting with decluttering and moving through dusting, disinfecting, vacuuming, mopping, and specific room cleaning, you create a clean and organized living space.

What is the neighbor cleaning rule?

Neighbourhood Cleaning Rule (NCL) is a data preprocessing technique used to balance imbalanced datasets in machine learning, improving the performance of classification algorithms. Imbalanced datasets are common in real-world applications, where some classes have significantly more instances than others.

What is the 1 minute rule for cleaning?

The 1-minute rule for cleaning is a quick and simple guideline that encourages you to clean up small messes as soon as you notice them.

How to clean out a house full of junk?

How to clean out a house full of junk
  1. Plan your home cleanout.
  2. If you're getting rid of large items, schedule your junk removal.
  3. Start with removing obvious trash.
  4. Begin sorting clutter that's left.
  5. Donate and sell unwanted items.
  6. Organize and put away the items that remain.
  7. Create daily habits to prevent clutter.

What is the 20/20/20 rule for decluttering?

Then we tested our hypothesis: the 20/20 Rule. Anything we get rid of that we truly need, we can replace for less than $20 in less than 20 minutes from our current location. Thus far, this hypothesis has become a theory that has held true 100% of the time.

How to declutter in 5 minutes?

For those who are overwhelmed by their clutter, here are some great ways to get started, five minutes at a time.
  1. Designate a spot for incoming papers. ...
  2. Start clearing a starting zone. ...
  3. Clear off a counter. ...
  4. Pick a shelf. ...
  5. Schedule a decluttering weekend. ...
  6. Pick up 5 things, and find places for them.

How do you declutter when you're poor?

Time and energy to care for yourself and your family, to rest, to learn, maybe even to earn more if you need to.
  1. 8 tips to declutter on a low income.
  2. Start, even if it's hard. ...
  3. Don't ask "Does it spark joy?" ...
  4. Take time. ...
  5. Keep duplicates – in moderation. ...
  6. Use an "on hold" box. ...
  7. Use deep storage. ...
  8. Organize inexpensively.

How to decide what clothes to get rid of?

If You Have These 12 Things in Your Closet, It's Time to Get Rid...
  1. Old Costumes. ...
  2. Bridesmaid Dresses. ...
  3. Things Someone Gave You as a Gift That You Never Liked. ...
  4. Stretched Out Clothing. ...
  5. Things You're Holding on to Just Because You Spent $$$ ...
  6. Shoes That Leave You Limping. ...
  7. Tangled or Discolored Costume Jewelry. ...
  8. Free T-shirts.

How do you clean when you're overwhelmed by clutter?

Tips For Cleaning When You Feel Overwhelmed
  1. Don't Sit Down. ...
  2. Have the Right Tools for the Task on Hand. ...
  3. Race the Clock Cleaning. ...
  4. Choose Somewhere to Start. ...
  5. Figure Out Your Priorities & Make a List. ...
  6. Create a Cleaning Playlist.

What is the 3 3 3 rule for clothes?

The 333 method is essentially a bite-sized version of a capsule wardrobe. You choose three tops, three bottoms, and three shoes, and challenge yourself to create as many outfit combinations as possible with your selections.

What do I declutter first?

Simple Ways to Declutter Your Spaces​
  1. Start by removing trash.​
  2. Begin by choosing one small area to organize — like a drawer.​
  3. Sort items into three piles: Keep, donate and toss.​
  4. Find a specific home for everything you intend to keep — for example, a hook for your keys.​

What is the four box method decluttering?

Four Box Method

For this home decluttering method, you'll need four boxes labeled with the following categories: Trash, Storage, Put Away, and Give Away/Sell. Starting one room at a time, sort items into the appropriate boxes.

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