Confession time: I don’t always like cleaning and organizing. Yes, this may be a wild claim coming from a home writer, but it’s true. And while I definitely get a kick out of a great decluttering session or deep clean more so than the next guy, this isn't always the case. A lot of the time I’m looking for ways to cut corners, get the job done quickly and overall still get the results—but without dedicating a whole day to slogging away at it.
So because of my spontaneous laziness, as I’ve coined it, I’ve been on the hunt for a decluttering method that will make my (and others’) lives much quicker and easier. As we go into summer, the last thing we want to be doing is spending all day cooped up inside, sweating as we shift boxes of stuff and other general built-up clutter.
Speaking of summer, I was long overdue for sorting out my seasonal closet swap. So I decided to combine my want for a new quick and minimal-effort decluttering method with my desire to reinvigorate and unburden my wardrobe of sweaters—doing so with the all-too-enticing-sounding “micro-decluttering method,” here’s how I got on.
What is micro-decluttering?
The basic idea behind micro-decluttering is to think small in order to achieve something big. To only focus on tasks that take between 10 to 15 minutes and to tackle them one at a time. Decreasing the feeling of overwhelm, which often leads to procrastination, and creating a process that is actually feasible to work into our busy schedules.
It may sound like a slow process, only doing small tasks one by one, but it’s actually great for motivation – seeing those little wins as you go. And you’ll be surprised to learn how many jobs actually only take this small amount of time, yet still make a big impact on our spaces.
What makes it so effective is that 10 to 15 minutes isn’t a huge chunk of time. It’s easy to squeeze into your day while dinner is cooking or while you’re waiting to collect the children from school or in between work calls. Those few minutes can leave you feeling productive and prevent decluttering from becoming overwhelming, as you’re only dealing with one small section at a time. All contributing to that bigger picture.
How I used the micro-decluttering method
Thanks to the recent run of heatwaves, I'd been meaning to swap my closet over from winter to summer for weeks. Every time I opened my closet and saw the mountain of sweaters, coats and heavy knitwear staring back at me, I felt a sense of dread. I knew the seasonal switch wasn't a quick job—it felt like the kind of task that would eat up an entire afternoon, if not a whole day. As a result, I'd been politely ignoring it.
That's why I thought the micro-decluttering method would be the perfect test. If this approach could make a seasonal closet swap feel manageable, then it could probably make any decluttering project feel manageable.
Rather than tackling everything in one go, I broke the job down into smaller categories. One day I focused solely on my jeans and trousers, pulling out winter-weight styles and making room for lighter options. Another day I sorted through my jumpers and knitwear, folding away the chunky layers that had served me well through the colder months. On a separate day, I tackled hanging items, swapping blazers and heavier shirts for linen pieces, T-shirts and summer dresses. I continued like this until every section of my closet had been addressed.
Would it have felt more satisfying to empty everything out and complete the entire closet in one marathon session? Probably. But the reality is I hadn't done it yet precisely because I don't have a spare afternoon lying around. What I did have was 10 or 15 minutes here and there.
I was also surprisingly strict with the method. Each time I set a timer for exactly 10 to 15 minutes and refused to go over. I actually found this to be one of the most motivating parts of the process. Watching the clock tick down sparked a competitive streak in me—I wanted to see how much I could accomplish before the timer went off. Before I knew it, the time was up and the task was done.
My verdict
What surprised me most was how much progress I could make in such a short window. I assumed I'd become frustrated by the lack of immediate, dramatic results, especially compared to spending hours decluttering in one sitting. But that wasn't the case at all. In fact, seeing the small transformations after each session was incredibly motivating. It reminded me that spending longer on a task doesn't automatically lead to better results.
By the end of the week, my closet had been completely switched over for summer, and I'd barely noticed the effort. Instead of one exhausting decluttering session hanging over me, I'd chipped away at it in manageable bursts. Looking at the before-and-after difference—a wardrobe that felt lighter, tidier and far easier to navigate – I think the results speak for themselves. Sometimes 10 minutes really is all you need to make a noticeable impact.
As the Household Advice Writer, Ella covers all things home – from clever cleaning tips to the organisation tricks that really do make life easier. Before joining Good Housekeeping, she was a full-time freelance writer and production journalist at The Independent’s IndyBest reviews section, where she covered reviews, roundups, and product-related news articles, focusing on areas such as homeware and lifestyle products. With a keen eye for what actually works, she’s passionate about sharing practical, well-tested advice you can rely on. You can reach her at her email address: [email protected]
