As someone who is constantly juggling several clients, back-to-back work travel, and a packed social calendar, it’s safe to say my day-to-day can get a little chaotic. And, truthfully, that sheer mayhem can infiltrate my home organization routine. I might have the best intentions of having a tidy home, but a few, particularly hectic weeks can send my once-neat space into a tailspin. There’s a pile of packages, surplus of expired cosmetics, and heaps of clean laundry that needs to be put away.
In my experience, the best way to keep your home organized amid chaos is to find time-efficient processes that are easy to maintain no matter what. Over the past few months, I’ve sworn by the 20-minute method, but why limit myself to just one organization strategy? So when I heard about the 12-12-12 method, I was curious to put it to the test. Perhaps this could be the missing piece to a spiffy space, I thought to myself. So, I gave it a try for a few weeks—and here’s what happened.
What is the 12-12-12- Method?
Just in case you haven’t seen the 12-12-12 method all over your social media, this strategy is about breaking down a larger, more intimidating project into smaller, more doable tasks. The secret, according to this method, lies in 36 items: 12 items you discard, 12 items you set aside to sell or discard, and 12 items you put back to their rightful home.
What’s It Like to Use the 12-12-12 Method
Out of all the organization processes I’ve tried, I have to admit that the 12-12-12 method was the most difficult one to implement into my lifestyle.
Most of my daily routine consists of simple upkeep: Putting my coat away, washing dishes, throwing out expired food. You know, the basics. Not only did I struggle with pinpointing a dozen things to discard at any given time, but I also found it incredibly challenging to find a dozen items to donate every day. And don’t get me wrong: I am all about paying it forward and giving items I no longer need to someone who does. But doing this every day? It felt like a scavenger hunt that added more time (and stress) to my already chaotic life.
Since I wasn’t quite ready to call defeat, I switched gears and tried the 12-12-12 method in my home office’s closet, which is overrun with old notebooks, luggage, and my precious candle collection. From there, I made three piles: Keep, toss, and donate. Per the rules of the 12-12-12 method, I couldn’t keep all 36 items I pulled out, so I had to make some tough (but necessary) decisions.
Like many people, I often rationalize keeping items I don’t necessarily need. “I haven’t looked at this legal pad since 2022,” I’ll tell myself. “But what if I wrote down something really important that I’ll need?” Another justification: “This lipstick isn’t my shade, but what if I have a Halloween costume that needs a dark purple lip?” I could go on. However, the 12-12-12 method challenged me to stop the “what ifs” and part ways with products that are just taking up space. Best of all? I’m able to give a lot of items a second home—be it a consignment store, a friend’s house, or a worthy charity.
One caveat: If you’re bringing the 12-12-12 method to a particularly cluttered part of your home, you’re not going to see sweeping change in just one day. After all, you’re only sifting through 36 items a day, so patience is a virtue.
Should You Use the 12-12-12 Method?
Well, it depends. If you have a lot of stuff—and are allergic to purging—the 12-12-12 method offers a great incentive to discard or donate items that don’t serve you.
Personally, I don’t think this is process is the most conducive with my lifestyle. Since I’m often on the go, I find quick spurts to be a more sustainable way to keep my home intact. Or, if I have a free weekend, I like to use the Core 4 method to tackle a messy area in one fell swoop. In my opinion, the 12-12-12 method falls somewhere in the middle: It’s not as time-efficient as the 20-minute method and, unlike Core 4, it’ll take longer to see results. Truthfully, I can’t stand leaving projects partially complete, which you’ll likely have to do with the 12-12-12 method.
But if you’re starting from square one and don’t have any other organization tactics in place, why not give it a try? After all, this strategy will teach you how to be a little ruthless when decluttering. And, if you need any tips on where to donate your old wares, we have you covered.
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance journalist who has over a decade of experience in print and digital media. She covers interior design and lifestyle content for a breadth of publications, including Good Housekeeping, Country Living, House Beautiful, Veranda, and more. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
