6 Top Items to Declutter in Just 15 Minutes

Quick Decluttering Tips: How to Organize in Just 15 Minutes

Decluttering your entire home in just fifteen minutes might sound impossible, but you’d be amazed at how much progress you can make in a short period of time. “Once you get into the habit of doing a fifteen-minute task, you realize that it doesn’t take long to get things done, which will help you be able to maintain and get more things done because you know it doesn’t take that long,” says Shantae Duckworth, professional organizer and founder of Shantae-ize Your Space.

I reached out to three expert organizers to find out which areas they would focus on if they had just 15 minutes to declutter. Their advice is practical and simple, and it might just inspire you to take action now.

Collect Surface Clutter

Six top items to declutter in just 15 minutes? Start by clearing surface clutter. A quick sweep around the house can make a big difference. Whether it’s an empty water bottle on the coffee table or unopened mail piling up on the kitchen counter, this small task can quickly streamline your space. Janelle Cohen, professional organizer and author of The Folding Book, suggests walking around your home with a basket and picking up all the out-of-place items. “Then put everything you grabbed in the basket into its correct home. Little clutter can really add up, but spending just fifteen minutes to fix the little piles before they become big piles will help to streamline your home and make tidying up easier and faster.”

Tackle Three Quick 5-Minute Tasks

Want to make a dent in your clutter in 15 minutes? Six top items to declutter in just 15 minutes could include three small but effective tasks. Sam Lund, an interior designer and professional organizer behind Simply Sam, recommends tackling small areas in five-minute increments. Start by sorting through your makeup bag or drawer, discarding expired products or those you never use. Next, focus on the sock drawer—be honest, that lone sock isn’t coming back. Finally, clear out your pen drawer. “You realistically only use one or two pens,” says Lund, so get rid of the extras.

Organize One Kitchen Area

Although it’s unlikely you’ll be able to clean your entire kitchen in 15 minutes, you can certainly make a start. “The kitchen is a very broad and huge area, but if I take a fifteen [minute] slice of time to clean out the junk drawer—that’s much more reasonable and attainable,” says Duckworth. Focusing on a single area allows you to accomplish something tangible in a short time, and it can motivate you to tackle more. Alternatively, try organizing one shelf in your refrigerator or pantry. By consistently dedicating 15-minute intervals, you could have an organized kitchen by the end of the week without overwhelming yourself.

Fold a Load of Laundry

We all have that pile of laundry that seems to grow overnight. Six top items to declutter in just 15 minutes? Folding a load of laundry is a task that can easily fit into a 15-minute window. Duckworth suggests that folding clothes while also sorting through missing socks or worn-out items is an efficient way to handle both laundry and decluttering at once.

Clean Out the Medicine Cabinet

How many expired or half-empty bottles are lurking in your medicine cabinet? Duckworth says this is an area that’s quick to declutter because of its smaller size and the fact that most of the items are easy to evaluate. From outdated eyedrops to nearly empty tubes of ointment, clearing out these items won’t take long. Once you’re done, make a list of anything that needs replacing, such as bandages or cold medicine, and order it online.

Do a Digital Declutter

Feeling like you want to declutter without getting off the couch? Try a digital declutter on your phone, tablet, or laptop. Six top items to declutter in just 15 minutes might include cleaning up your email inbox or organizing your photo library. While you may not reach “inbox zero” or erase every accidental selfie in 15 minutes, you’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish. Duckworth suggests tracking the number of emails you start with and how many you’ve cleared by the end of your 15-minute session. You’ll be amazed at the progress you make in such a short time.

By dedicating just 15 minutes to decluttering, you can tackle multiple areas of your home or digital life without feeling overwhelmed. It’s all about small, manageable tasks that add up over time, leaving you with a cleaner, more organized space.