The 10-10 Decluttering Method: The Easy Way to Clear Clutter

Have you tried to tackle the clutter in your home, only to find it’s too time-consuming—or that you get stuck and don’t know where to start? If other decluttering methods have left you overwhelmed or simply didn’t work, the 10-10 decluttering method might be the solution.

We spoke with organizing experts to learn how this method works and why it’s so easy to fit it into your schedule, no matter how hectic life gets.

What is the 10-10 decluttering method?

The best thing about the 10-10 decluttering method is that it’s one of the easiest ways to reduce clutter quickly.

It involves removing 10 items from your home in 10 minutes. Pick a spot to declutter, gather your organizing supplies, set your timer, and get to work—and then stop when the timer goes off.

Matt Paxton, host of Filthy Fortunes on the Discovery Channel and author of Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff, says it’s among the most effective organizing methods around and ideal for seniors who have many items to sort through.

“I work with seniors mostly, cleaning up 25-plus years of clutter, so figuring out where to start is a great place,” he explains.

Does the 10-10 decluttering method work?

Clutter can have a crippling effect on people who already feel overwhelmed by the process, which is why Paxton says this method works well for those who don’t know where to begin.

“Most of my clients are so overwhelmed that they freeze and can’t start,” he says. “Picking 10 items in 10 minutes makes you pick easy items first because you are limited by the 10 minutes. Your brain immediately looks for easy items you can let go of that don’t have an emotional tie to them.”

By selecting items that are simple for you to part with, you avoid decluttering paralysis—that stuck feeling when the task seems so big that you don’t start at all.

Another advantage is that you can start and stop as your schedule allows, Paxton adds, so decluttering doesn’t dominate your life or become overwhelming.

“Ten items in 10 minutes helps you start whenever it suits you, and it helps you start easily and end quickly, so you never get so exhausted that you quit,” he says. “Not quitting is the real secret to decluttering.”

How to start the 10-10 decluttering method

Begin in an area you know needs decluttering, such as the refrigerator, recommends Diane N. Quintana, certified professional organizer and founder of Atlanta-based DNQ Solutions, a home-organizing consulting business.

"Take 10 minutes and toss all expired foods,” she says. “Stop even if there is more to do. If you want to keep working, set your timer for another 10 minutes. But if you have had enough for one day, decide when you will do this again."

Quintana advises focusing on one room at a time. Once that room is as clutter-free as you want it to be, move on to the next.

“The idea is to work your way through your home, one small space at a time, dedicating 10 minutes to removing 10 things you no longer need, use, or love,” she says. “The more often you do this, the more you will remove from your home.”

She also recommends keeping track of the areas you’ve decluttered.

“You can make a paper list, keep a spreadsheet, or use the notes function on your phone,” she adds. “Identify these areas as places in your home you will keep clutter-free.”

How to maintain a clutter-free home

After you conquer the clutter, it’s important to develop habits that keep it from creeping back in. These expert tips can help ensure you stay on top of clutter and keep your home organized.

Use the “one-in, one-out” rule

For every new item you bring into your home, get rid of one existing item. This simple habit prevents extra clutter from piling up.

Incorporate a daily reset

Take five minutes each day to straighten up high-traffic areas, recommends Quintana. For instance, a quick family room reset may include bringing dirty dishes to the kitchen, recycling old magazines and newspapers, and putting remotes back where they belong.

Give every item a home

Assign a designated place for each new item, and remove things you no longer use, Quintana advises.

Trade screen time for tidying

The amount of time you spend on your phone might surprise you, says Paxton. He suggests checking your daily app usage and swapping 30 minutes of scrolling for a few quick tidying tasks instead.

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Spending just 10 minutes a day decluttering can make a noticeable difference over time. With small, consistent efforts—and a method that keeps things simple—you can transform your home from chaos to calm.