How to Do the Tidy Up Fast Method

With a busy mom schedule, I have perfected the "Tidy Up Fast" method over the years. When my family sees me do this, they often mention that it looks like I am a tornado taking out all the clutter from a room. It's quite a scene. This method will give you a home that is not only organized but also clutter-free. There is no confusion trying to find items in overflowing drawers with the misplaced items when you tidied up last. 

Jump to:

• How to do the tidy-up fast method?
• Which room should you use this Tidy Up Fast Method? 
• Declutter and organize the things in the room first.
• How to Awaken from Clutter Blindness - Part 1
• How to Take Care of Clutter in the Home {Part 2 of the Awaken to Your Clutter Blindness series}
• How to Sort Kept Items {Part 3 of the Awaken to Your Clutter Blindness Series}
• Things To Label in a Well-Organized Home
• 15 Keepsake Items to Toss for a Stress-Free Home
• What to Keep in Your Organized Closet
• What to Keep in Your Organized Entryway Landing Zone
• Decluttering Tasks by Season to keep your home mess-free
• The Best Declutter Advice You Were Ever Told
• 11 Ways to Maximize Space in a Tiny Living Room
• What items should have a home in an organized home?
• Create a temporary holding area in the shared space.
• Decide when you will do the tidy-up fast method each night.
• Do the tidy-up task.
• Who should do this tidy-up fast method?
• How long will this Tidy Up Fast Method take?
• Conclusion

How to do the tidy-up fast method?

The step-by-step instructions are pretty straightforward. I describe it below to help you get started with the method quickly.

Which room should you use this Tidy Up Fast Method? 

You can essentially apply this method to every room in your home. This method can be used in various areas of the house, but start by focusing on shared spaces, such as the living room, den, open-concept living area, or basement. Completing this task daily will keep your room organized, and you will never have a disorganized space again.

Declutter and organize the things in the room first.

First, the process begins with decluttering and organizing the space. Everything in the space should have a home. Struggling with knowing what is cluttered in your space? Check out my series about clutter blindness.

Labeling is key.

Also, remember to label (affiliate) your bins with a specific category so you know what goes in each one. Visit my posts here about labeling.

I'm sharing below some posts to help you organize these shared spaces.

What items should have a home in an organized home?

Basically, everything, the toys, the throws, the remotes, the video games, etc... need to have a space to call their own. The toys have a bin large enough to store all the toys, the mail has a container to hold bills and other mail, and a charging station (affiliate) which can house all the electronics, etc...

Create a temporary holding area in the shared space.

Then, you will need to have a designated "temporary holding items" bin(s) and area, such as the steps or near the room's exit, to place found items that are not in their designated home. Having one container for each person in your house works best. Ensure that every small thing has a designated place. I like to place these bins on the steps. See the image below.

Great for temporary holding bins!

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Decide when you will do the tidy-up fast method each night.

Now, decide on the time of day you plan to do this tidying up. Pick a time that is between two other tasks. I like doing this before my kids take a shower or go to bed. But it could also be done before they go to their evening activity or practice. Below are some other examples of times.

1. In the Living Room shared spaces, do the Tidy Up Fast Method before leaving for work in the morning.
2. For the kitchen shared space, do this method before going to work or after dinner.
3. And you can even do this in the kids' areas, such as the playroom. A great time to do this is before your kids come home from school or right after if they have papers to give to you. 

Do the tidy-up task.

After setting up the room, at your chosen time/day, walk around and gather and clear the items (plates, cups, kids' toys, mail, bills, electronics) that were not put away. I like to go around the room in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction so I don't miss anything.

Look under tables, on top of entertainment centers, on the floor, inside cabinets, and behind and under sofas, beds, and chairs. If it has a home and it is not in its home, grab it and put it away. 

Remember not to think about the item or get annoyed. Since creating a home for all the items at the beginning, you will distinctly remember where each item goes. And, if you do not remember, you can easily check your labels (affiliate).

Then, any item that belongs on a different floor or in another room can be placed in the temporary holding bins designated for each person. This is where you involve the other family members.

Hand each bin to the loved one, and have them bring the items to their items' homes. This step may take a few minutes longer at first, but when they have their personal space organized, it will be a quick task.

Who should do this tidy-up fast method?

First, parents need to establish this method and a system in their homes. Deciding on all the details listed above works better if the adults determine the best possible way to do the tidying up. After establishing a system for this method and organizing and labeling the area, it's time to teach the children about this tidying-up method and where things go, and reinforcing when it needs to be done. In short, the entire family can do this method together each day.

How long will this Tidy Up Fast Method take?

This method should take less than 15 minutes each weekday. If you use this method during the week, it will save you time on the weekend, allowing you to focus on other tasks.

Conclusion

The primary reason for using this method is to clear the clutter before it forms vast, unruly, and time-sucking mounds. Please share and let me know if you tried this method and how it went for you. Feel free to leave questions if you do try this method. I would love to hear from you.

Please note that these are affiliate links through Amazon (affiliate). At no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.