Tidying by Degrees: The Gentle Way to Get Organised

Good Housekeeping’s household advice editor Katie Mortram designed Declutter by Degrees for people who don’t have time (or the desire) for a dramatic clear out. The rules are simple:

• Choose today’s zone based on your routine. If you shower first thing, start with the shower caddy; if you get dressed straight away, sort your lingerie drawer. Seeing immediate improvements keeps you motivated.

• Keep zones small and manageable. Break up a large cupboard into sections or handle just “jeans” one day and “shirts” the next. You should be able to complete the area in one short session.

• Spend 20 minutes a day decluttering. Use a timer if it helps. When the buzzer goes off, stop. If you finish early, enjoy the extra time off; if you’re not done, pick up where you left off tomorrow.

• Take two days off every week. Building rest days into the schedule prevents burnout and keeps tidying from becoming a chore.

• Don’t move on until you’ve finished the current area. Empty the donation bag or recycling bin before tackling your next target.

• Revisit messy spots and clean as you go. If a space starts to revert to chaos, make it your next 20‑minute target and give it a quick wipe while you’re there.

These rules make decluttering fit into the gaps of daily life rather than turning it into a weekend‑long slog. Read more about this approach in our post “Tidying by Degrees: The Gentle Way to Get Organised” and the original Good Housekeeping article.

Not everyone wants – or needs – a dramatic decluttering marathon. That’s where Tidying by Degrees comes in.

At Sorted NI, we use Tidying by Degrees with clients who feel overwhelmed or have busy lives. The beauty is in the progress, not perfection, you still get the same results, but in a way that feels achievable and sustainable.

Our takeaway: small steps add up to big change. By tidying in degrees, you can transform your home without the stress.