Pro Organizers Agree: The “Clutter-Free Countdown” Will Get You Ready for the New Year

If you’re looking to get your home into tip top shape as the new year approaches, you might want to consider trying out a clutter-free countdown. If you’re not familiar with this organization challenge, don’t worry—we asked professional organizers for their best tips. We also look at some of the other top decluttering tricks that pros encourage you to embrace in 2026.

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What Is a “Clutter-Free Countdown”?

The concept of a clutter-free countdown refers to tackling the clutter in your home over a specific period of time.

“It includes decluttering on a schedule so that the process does not go on indefinitely,” says Cathy Orr, a cofounder of The Uncluttered Life and the Declutter Deck. “Each day is structured and has a small task or two that is easy to achieve.”

The benefit of a clutter-free countdown is that you are less likely to experience overwhelm or burnout by dividing your projects into manageable bits.

“I like this method because it’s not overwhelming and you see progress quickly,” says Olivia Parks, the founder of Nola Organizers.

Keep in mind that a clutter-free countdown can also be as short as a span of minutes, Parks adds. When doing a shorter, perhaps 15-minute long clean-out, she advises focusing on something like a junk drawer.

If your clutter-free countdown will span multiple days, then you can tackle a bigger space, such as your closet or entire kitchen.

How to Create a “Clutter-Free Countdown” in Your Home

Anyone can choose to create a clutter-free countdown in their home. You will first need to decide how long you wish for yours to run, explains Nick Friedman, cofounder of College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving. The key, he says, is to choose a length of time that feels manageable to you.

Once you have determined the length of your countdown, it’s time to get to work checking decluttering projects off of your list. Friedman suggests starting with tasks that are “fast wins.”

Examples he cites include going through a junk drawer, sorting through a pile of mail, removing expired food from the fridge, and the like.

“Quick results build momentum,” he says.

Friedman’s next tip is to organize your home going one zone at a time; he suggests going room by room so as not to become overwhelmed by the process.

As you declutter, you will want to sort items into categories: keep, donate, and toss, Friedman adds. When it comes to things to toss or donate, you will want to remove these items from your home as soon as possible, he adds, noting that in doing so comes a huge sense of relief.

Other Decluttering Tricks to Try for the New Year

• Practice the two-minute tidy. This is a great habit to get into that will minimize the need for larger, more time-consuming cleanup sessions. “If something will take less than two minutes to put away, do it right then,” Parks says. “It might seem silly, but in the long run, it will keep messes from getting even bigger or piles from building up.”
• Follow the one in, one out rule. If you’re not embracing this practice already, Parks definitely recommends incorporating it into your life in 2026. Essentially, whenever you buy something new, such as a sweater, for example, you will donate or sell a sweater you already own. “This keeps clutter from slowly sneaking back in and helps you stay organized long-term,” Parks says.
• Organize by category. This is one of Orr’s favorite approaches. “By going through like items, I am able to make sense of my belongings,” she says, noting that this is also a great way to identify any duplicates.