It’s all too easy for clutter to build up around the home. While some struggle with putting clothes away, others have trinkets and random bits and bobs that start accumulating.
Thankfully, there are ways to reduce this mess without having to spend all day cleaning. It’s called the ‘pile method’ – and many housework whizzes use it to transform their homes in a matter of minutes.
Undine Almani, a lifestyle influencer, will do whatever it takes to speed up the chores she hates to get the clean room she loves. She prefers to “speed clean” rather than deep clean, to make herself feel better about the state of her room, without taking up too much time.
In YouTube video that’s gained hundreds of views, she she showed her room littered with clothing, making it look messy. Then, she showed how the technique can help sort the situation.
The easiest way to get started, she claims, is to “make piles”. First, she sorts the clothes out into what needs washing and what can be put away.
She also recommends making a pile of all of the different items in your wardrobe. For example, one pile of socks, one pile of tops, one pile of trousers. “You’ll feel accomplished immediately”, she said.
The second step is to fold up the items. She folds the clothes loosely rather than neatly, dubbing it the “lazy version”. “Done is better than perfect,” she added.
At the end of the clip she makes her bed, and shows how much tidier her room is. She adds that instead of always doing a deep clean, you can just “fake it till you make it” by doing a speed clean.
Many were appreciative of the advice – as one person said: “Appreciate your realness,” while another wrote: “I’m definitely going to rewatch this while I declutter the house”.
Meanwhile, a third added: “Folding clothes and putting them into piles should be considered an art form”.
10 ways to declutter fast
- Try the ‘pile cleaning’ method. Asmentioned above, it’s a great way to speed clean when you are lacking in energy and don’t have much time to tidy.
- Set a timer for a specific amount of time (e.g., 15, 30, or 60 minutes). This creates a sense of urgency and helps you stay focused, while also showing you won’t have to be cleaning indefinitely.
- Get rubbish bags, boxes, or baskets to sort items quickly. Have separate containers for items to keep, donate, and throw away.
- Pick a small section of the room (e.g., a desk, a corner, a shelf) to begin with. This helps you gain momentum and see progress quickly, as well as stopping you from feeling overwhelmed.
- Start from the top of a section and work your way down to keep things orderly and reduce the need to re-clean surfaces.
- Clear flat surfaces like tables, desks, and countertops to create more space for sorting other items.
- Be clinical and try not to overthink the items you have gathering dust. Throw them away, donate them or find a place for them. Chances are, you’ll never actually think about them again.
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Consider distractions. While some find that having music or TV on in the background makes the job go quicker, others get diverted when they have entertainment to tune into instead. So if you find yourself dancing to Beyonce instead of tidying, it may be time to switch off.
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Stay organised. After sorting, put the items you’re keeping back in an organised manner. Alternatively, have a ‘relocate’ box for items you are planning on moving elsewhere in the house. Just don’t leave this lying around for months!
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Treat yourself. After each session, allow yourself a small reward or break to stay motivated. You have earned it, after all.