8 Easy Marie Kondo Cleaning Hacks That Actually Save You Time
If cleaning your house feels like it takes over your weekends, you’re not alone. Most of us try to stay organized but end up chasing clutter more than we’re ever able to control it. That’s why Marie Kondo’s approach to cleaning is so refreshing. Perfection is not the goal, instead, Marie focuses on making everything simpler so cleaning actually becomes easier. These eight KonMari-inspired hacks don’t just make your space tidier, they genuinely save you time and make your home feel calmer every day.
Start With What You Actually See
Instead of tackling your whole house, focus on the spaces you notice first, like your kitchen counters or entryway. These are the spots that can impact the tone you set for your day. Clear them off completely, then only put back what belongs there. Your space will feel a lot more visually calm, and the fast results will hopefully give you motivation to keep cleaning. You’ll be surprised by how much better the whole space feels after just that.
Keep Items By Category, Not By Room
One of Marie Kondo’s tricks is organizing by category, not location. Instead of cleaning one room at a time, gather all similar items, like books or cleaning supplies, into one spot. Seeing everything together helps you realize what you actually use and what just takes up space. It’s a time-saver because you’re making decisions about a group of items all at once, not over and over in every room of your home.
The “One Touch” Rule
This one’s simple but powerful: when you pick something up, put it where it belongs right away. Don’t move it from pile to pile. It sounds like a small thing, but it keeps clutter from building up on surfaces so you won’t have to do one of those marathon cleanups later. Whether it’s a mug, jacket, or piece of mail, handle it once and be done with it. A little bit of consistency beats big cleaning days every single time.
Fold Vertically For Visibility
Marie Kondo’s vertical folding method isn’t just about looking neat, it actually saves time. When your clothes are folded upright in drawers, you can see everything that’s in the drawers at a glance. No digging, no refolding, no “where’s that shirt?” chaos. It makes laundry quick to put away, quick to find, and oddly satisfying to look at. Once you try it, you’ll never go back to stacking.
Create A Home For Everything
The reason clutter reappears in your home isn’t because you’re messy, it’s because your things don’t have a set place. Assign a “home” to each item, even small ones, where that item should permanently live. When you know exactly where things go, tidying becomes way easier. It’s faster because you don’t have to waste time deciding where to put something each time. It’s also surprisingly calming, and you’ll know where all your stuff is without having to search.
Let Go Of What Doesn’t Serve You
You don’t have to hold everything to your heart and see if it “sparks joy,” but the idea behind it matters. If something no longer fits and adds to your life, physically or emotionally, it’s okay to let it go. Fewer things mean fewer decisions and less to clean. You don’t have to become a total minimalist, but this is a great way to make space for what you actually use and love.
Store Things By How You Use Them
Put items you use often where your hands can easily reach and rarely used ones higher or lower. This one change makes daily life feel way more effortless. No more moving five things to reach the one thing you need. It’s all about designing your space to work with you, not against you. It’s one of those small mindset changes that will quietly save you time every single day.
End The Day With A Five-Minute Reset
Every evening, take five minutes to reset your space. Put away what you’ve taken out, fluff the couch cushions, and clear your surfaces. It’s not about deep cleaning, it’s about starting fresh tomorrow without visual clutter. Marie Kondo calls this respecting your home, but it’s also about respecting your own energy. Those five minutes at night make mornings calmer and cleaning will feel like maintenance instead of a battle.
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The beauty of Marie Kondo’s method is that it’s not about making your life perfect, it’s about making your life easier. When everything has a purpose and a place, cleaning stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling more like care. These simple habits add up over time, giving you more peace, more space, and yes, more time. The goal isn’t to have a spotless home, it’s to create one that reflects the life you actually want to live.
Bliss Donahue-Power
