Will You Clean Up on Our Decluttering Quiz?

The rule means that for every new item you bring in, you must let go of something you already own. This helps prevent the reclutter cycle by ensuring your possessions remain within the limits of your space.

Buying organizing supplies before decluttering leads to inefficiency. As noted by Naeemah Ford Goldson, a certified professional organizer and founding member of the National Association for Black Professional Organizers, decluttering first helps you understand what you actually need, preventing waste and redundancy.

The challenge — finding any item in under 60 seconds — is a litmus test of how organized your home is. If it takes longer, that may signal the need for further decluttering and systematizing.

For those who worry they may regret donating or discarding something, the advice is to hide the items in a box or black bag and put it out of sight. If after three to six months you haven’t looked for or missed anything inside, it’s likely safe to let it go. This approach can help you build confidence in your decluttering decisions.

When you focus on goals like saving for a vacation or giving to charity, you naturally de-prioritize accumulating possessions. According to Joshua Becker, founder and editor of the website Becoming Minimalist and author of The More of Less, The Minimalist Home and Things That Matter, seeing your money as a tool for meaningful experiences or generosity helps you resist the pressure to constantly buy more things.