How to clean an insanely messy room?
Asked by: Lacey Keeling DVM | Last update: February 10, 2026Score: 5/5 (34 votes)
To clean a messy room, first, tackle trash and items that don't belong by taking them out or putting them in designated baskets (like for the kitchen or bathroom) to avoid going back and forth. Next, gather similar items (clothes, books, papers) into piles to sort later, then focus on decluttering surfaces, making the bed, and finally, dusting and vacuuming from top to bottom. Break it down into small, manageable tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed, using music or podcasts for motivation, and establishing a routine for maintenance.
What is the 5 5 5 rule for decluttering?
The 5-5-5 Decluttering Rule (also known as the 5x5 Method) is a quick, manageable system where you pick five zones/areas, set a five-minute timer for each, and tackle decluttering/organizing in those focused bursts, totaling 25 minutes, making it feel less overwhelming. It's a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) approach to tidying, focusing on small, consistent actions rather than big, daunting tasks, often popularized by Steph of The Secret Slob.
What is the 12-12-12 rule for decluttering?
The 12-12-12 decluttering method is a simple, effective strategy to tackle clutter by finding 12 items to throw away, 12 items to donate, and 12 items to return to their proper place, totaling 36 items per session, making decluttering less overwhelming and more game-like. This approach provides structure, builds momentum, and helps create a more organized home in manageable chunks, ideal for beginners or when feeling stuck.
What is the 1% rule of cleaning?
The 1% cleaning rule, also known as the "one-minute rule," is a habit-building strategy where you tackle any small cleaning task that takes less than 60 seconds immediately, preventing messes from piling up and making deep cleaning less overwhelming by making tiny, consistent improvements daily. This approach focuses on preventing procrastination and leveraging small pockets of time, like wiping a counter while coffee brews or putting away a stray item, to maintain a tidier home with less effort over time.
What is the 80/20 rule house cleaning?
The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) for cleaning means focusing your effort on the 20% of tasks or areas that yield 80% of the visible cleanliness, achieving maximum impact with minimum time. This involves prioritizing high-traffic zones like entryways, kitchens, and bathrooms, decluttering frequently used items to create empty space (20% empty), and tackling high-impact surfaces for a home that feels cleaner quickly, rather than trying to deep clean everything at once.
cleaning my insanely messy room
What are the 4 C's of decluttering?
The 4 Cs of decluttering, known as the Core 4 Method by professional organizer Kayleen Kelly, are a simple process: Clear Out, Categorize, Cut Out, and Contain, designed to tackle overwhelming clutter by breaking it into manageable steps for any space, from a drawer to a whole room, focusing on progress over perfection.
How does $19 house cleaning work?
The $19 house cleaning deal, often from companies like Homeaglow, works as a "bait-and-switch" marketing tactic: you get a very limited initial cleaning (e.g., 3 hours for a 1-bed/1-bath home) for $19, but to unlock it, you must sign up for a monthly membership (around $49/month) and commit to recurring cleans, with early cancellation incurring fees, making the first actual service much costlier than advertised and locking you into a subscription.
What is the 10 10 10 rule for decluttering?
The 10-10 decluttering method is pretty simple — choose an area, set a timer for 10 minutes and get rid of 10 items in that space. "If you notice other items you don't need, remove them as well, but make sure to stick to the 10-minute timeframe," says professional organizer Tonia Tomlin of Sorted Out.
What are the 7 stages of cleaning?
The 7 steps in a standard cleaning process, especially in commercial or healthcare settings, generally involve: 1) Pulling Trash/Linen, 2) High Dusting (above shoulder level), 3) Damp Wiping high-touch surfaces, 4) Cleaning the Bathroom, 5) Dust Mop Floors, 6) Damp Mop Floors, and 7) Final Inspection/Detailing, following a top-down, far-to-near approach to prevent re-soiling cleaned areas.
How much to pay a cleaner for 3 hours?
A 3-hour house cleaning typically costs $120 to $300, depending on if it's one or two cleaners, location, and the depth of cleaning (standard vs. deep), with national averages around $40-$60/hour per cleaner, though some introductory offers might be lower. Expect to pay more for deep cleans or larger homes, with professional services charging more than independent cleaners.
What is the 27 decluttering hack?
27 fling boogie: This is another clever tool to help you declutter. Walk through your home with a garbage bag and collect 27 items. Do not stop until you have 27. Then close the garbage bag and throw it away.
How to be brutal when decluttering?
'The key to being ruthless when decluttering is to remember that your items are not serving anyone by sitting in a storage room, or a musty basement or attic,' she adds. 'If the item is no longer serving you, let it go so that it can benefit someone else. '
What is the 135 decluttering method?
In simplest terms, the 1-3-5 decluttering method is a method that seeks to break decluttering down into tasks of varying size and difficulty: 1 could be a large task, 3 is something more medium in nature, and 5 is five small steps towards your goal.
What is the chaos method of decluttering?
The chaos method is an organizing strategy popularized by Kim Jones of Lock & Key Home. It embraces total immersion in the decluttering process. You empty every box, container, bag, drawer, and cupboard in a room or space. Ideally, it's about creating a temporary state of chaos to gain full clarity on what you own.
What should I remove first when decluttering?
Start with easy, high-impact areas or categories like trash, expired food, junk drawers, or the tops of surfaces (counters, tables) to build momentum. Focus on visual clutter first (old mail, trinkets) for quick wins, then tackle avoided items (like the coat closet or garage), and finally move to deeper categories like clothes, books, papers, and sentimental items, often by category rather than room.
What is the 50% rule for clutter?
The 50% rule for clutter is a simple decluttering method that challenges you to cut the number of items in any space (like a drawer, cabinet, or room) by half, aiming to leave spaces only 50% full for better organization, easier access, and less visual noise. It's a way to quickly create significant impact by focusing on keeping what truly adds value, rather than getting bogged down deciding on every single item, and it promotes a feeling of lightness and calm.
What is the golden rule of cleaning?
The golden rule of cleaning is simple: clean from top to bottom. This basic principle ensures that dirt and dust don't settle on already cleaned areas. Understanding this rule can transform your cleaning routine. It saves time and effort, making the process more efficient.
What is the correct order to clean your house?
The best order to clean a house is top-to-bottom, starting with decluttering, moving to dusting high surfaces, then cleaning wet areas (kitchens/bathrooms) with cleaners that need dwell time, and finishing by vacuuming/mopping floors, ensuring dirt falls onto uncleaned areas, say experts from Cleaning Institute, CR Maids, and Merry Maids. This systematic approach prevents re-cleaning and makes the process efficient.
What are the biggest decluttering mistakes?
- 5 Common Decluttering Mistakes.
- Mistake 1: Getting Overwhelmed and Not Starting at All.
- Mistake 2: Not Having a Plan or Setting Goals.
- Mistake 3: Buying Organizing Containers Before Decluttering.
- Mistake 4: Thinking Sorting & Organizing are the Only Tasks in Decluttering.
- Mistake 5: Trying To Do It All On Your Own.
What is the 333 rule for decluttering?
The 333 rule, or Project 333, is a minimalist challenge to declutter your wardrobe by selecting 33 items (clothing, shoes, accessories) to wear for 3 months, excluding underwear, sleepwear, loungewear, and workout gear. The goal isn't deprivation but to simplify decision-making, reduce clutter, and experience freedom by focusing on what truly adds value, allowing you to thrive with fewer items.
What is the fork decluttering method?
"The fork decluttering method is a streamlined approach that categorises items into four distinct groups: Functional, Optional, Replaceable, and Keep- worthy," says Caroline Caron Dhaouadi, founder of Homefulness.
How much should a cleaning lady be paid?
Cleaning ladies' earnings vary widely, averaging around $14.66 to $20.85 per hour nationally, but can range from minimum wage up to $23-$35+/hour, or even more for specialized work, depending heavily on location, experience, whether they work for a company or independently, and the type of cleaning service. Independent cleaners often charge $25-$50 per hour or more, covering supplies and business costs, while company employees might earn less but get benefits.
Why is Homeaglow so cheap?
Homeaglow costs less than other cleaning services because we don't charge the same overheads. With Homeaglow, you pay a low subscription to use the platform and hourly cleaning fees are paid directly to the cleaner.
What should a cleaner do in 2 hours?
In two hours, a cleaner can perform routine maintenance for a small-to-medium home, focusing on high-traffic areas: dusting all surfaces, vacuuming/mopping floors, thoroughly cleaning bathrooms (toilets, showers, sinks), wiping kitchen counters and appliance exteriors, and tidying living areas, essentially covering a few rooms or the whole house with basic tasks like emptying bins and straightening up. For deeper cleaning (oven, fridge, windows, scrubbing grout), they'd likely focus on only one or two rooms.