I believe strongly in any cleaning approach that is undertaken over the course of a few days. Taking your time, using a schedule, and limiting the amount you do every day to make sure you stay motivated are important aspects of actually finishing the job. That’s why I really like the 5×5 method from The Secret Slob. It captures the elements of working in small chunks and scheduling your cleaning, but also gives you the structure that other methods lack.
What is the 5×5 cleaning method?
When you use the 5×5 cleaning method, you’ll pick five zones to focus your cleaning on, then take them on in a 25-minute burst. That’s a little longer than the 15 minutes I usually recommend for quick, daily cleaning sessions, but the shorter, five-minute sessions that are baked in even it out.
Because you’re doing five zones in five minutes each, this is best suited for quick cleaning and decluttering, not more intense disinfecting and/or organizing. Cleaning isn’t a one-time endeavor, obviously, so spicing up the routine with some variety can up your motivation. Consider doing a few weeks of 5×5 rounds, then a few weeks of scheduling other, more in-depth approaches, cycling back and forth so you get everything done but don’t get bored doing the same thing all the time.
How to use the 5×5 cleaning method
When using this technique, you’ll need to adhere to a schedule. It’s similar to the Pomodoro productivity method in that you set a timer and limit yourself to only cleaning during the 25 minutes you set aside to clean. When you’re scheduling those 25 minutes, keep the practices of time blocking and time boxing in mind: In your overall daily schedule, carve out exactly 25 minutes somewhere for cleaning using the 5×5 approach; when that time rolls around, get straight to work, only focusing on cleaning for that time. When the time is up, stop. Knowing you’ll have to stop when the timer goes off will keep you locked in on the task while you do it; knowing you’ll pick it back up during the next day’s block will ease your anxiety around not getting everything done.
Once you’ve picked out an uninterrupted 25-minute block and committed to cleaning during that time, select five zones to focus on. These should be small, like a desk, cabinet, or shelf. Don’t dedicate five minutes to, say, the bathroom, but rather to much smaller sections within it. Identify the five zones, then work on each for exactly five minutes. In general, it’s best to keep the zones close to each other—don’t hop from the kitchen counter to your nightstand. Each 25-minute burst can be dedicated to a certain room or area, so you stay focused and see more real results when the time is up each time.
Focus on the big-picture needs in each zone, like clearing surfaces and removing items that don’t belong. These are quick hits designed to have a big impact over time, so don’t get tied up in more intensive activities like reorganizing the areas. You can (and will) do that another day.