If your kitchen counter is the centre of clutter in your home, you aren’t alone. It’s so easy to dump things on the bench to deal with later.
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But it doesn’t have to be that way. Thanks to the OHIO method, it is possible to have a clutter-free kitchen counter every single day.
What is the OHIO method for decluttering
The OHIO method stands for Only Handle It Once.
This means when you pick up something while cleaning or tidying your home, it does not go on the bench for you to put away later. Instead, you must decide on the spot where it goes. Otherwise, you are just moving clutter from one part of the house to another.
So instead of placing the jumper your child wore yesterday on the counter, take it to where it needs to go the first time you touch it.
When papers, drink bottles, and groceries appear on the bench, put them where they need to go ASAP.
The goal is to streamline the decluttering process and prevent items from piling up or moving around your home without a clear purpose. Nothing is set aside for later, so your kitchen bench and home remain clutter free.
Tips for using the OHIO decluttering method
Here’s what you need to know about the Only Handle It Once method:
Sort items as you encounter them
When tidying or decluttering your home, handle each item once. Don’t be tempted to deal with it later.
Make quick decisions
Don’t overthink it. Channel decluttering expert Marie Kondo and if it doesn’t spark joy get rid of it. Alternatively, put it back where it belongs then and there.
Complete one area at a time
Don’t try and clean or declutter your whole house in one go. You’ll end up feeling overwhelmed. The FlyLady Cleaning method recommends 15-minute chunks of time and diving your home into zones.
You might also like:
What happens to your mind when you declutter
Eliminate clutter and get rid of these three things right now
How to declutter your kitchen in 5 simple steps
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