Clutter accumulates for all sorts of reasons. Having too much stuff, holding onto items “just in case,” and unfinished projects. Another key contributor is not putting items back in their rightful place. The “Touch It Once” method tackles that common habit squarely, and once you’ve got the hang of it, you may be surprised by how much of a difference it makes in keeping your home tidy.
What’s the “Touch It Once” Method?
True to its name, the “Touch It Once” organizing method asks you to deal with items in the moment rather than setting them aside to put away later. The idea is to complete the task in one go, whether that means hanging up your jacket when you walk through the door or putting a dish directly into the dishwasher. By eliminating that extra step of coming back to something later, you can prevent everyday clutter from piling up.
“The point isn't really to touch something only once. It's to finish what you started instead of creating another task for yourself,” explains Robin Murphy, a cleaning professional and creator of Who Likes It Dirty? She adds, “A lot of household clutter isn't stuff we don't want or need. It's stuff we simply haven't put away yet.”
How To Use The “Touch It Once” Rule
To make this work for you, Murphy says to start really paying attention to the specific things you move around repeatedly. From there, you can create systems that work for your home.
“If your keys are always on the kitchen counter, maybe that's where you need a place for your keys. If everyone drops their shoes by the door, give the shoes a home near the door,” she says. That might also look like keeping the recycling bin near where you sort the mail, or placing a hamper where clothes often pile up.
Also, get in the habit of not simply setting an item down wherever you are. In the moment, think about where that item’s place is, and then take it to said place. The combination of a mental shift and easing the task easier will make this genius organization method work for you.
Wendy Rose Gould is a lifestyle journalist who routinely contributes to Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Women’s Health, and House Beautiful, among others. She covers home and garden, wellness, and travel, focusing on thoughtful storytelling and detailed reporting. When not writing, you can catch her perusing thrift stores, singing, hitting the gym, and petting any cat or dog that'll allow it.
