How to use the 20/10 cleaning method

What is the 20/10 cleaning rule?

The 20/10 rule is simple: spend 20 minutes cleaning followed by 10 minutes relaxing. This method is great because it’s easy to follow and remember. By committing 20 minutes to cleaning, you can stay focused and accomplish more by knowing there is an end goal in sight: relaxation. Taking a 10-minute break while cleaning can help prevent burnout and make cleaning more enjoyable.

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How to use the 20/10 cleaning rule

The 20/10 cleaning method is a great way to tidy up, whether you’re organizing your digital clutter or organizing your home office. Here are the details on how it works:

Locate a specific area that you want to clean

To clean an overall space, it’s easier to start by focusing on a specific area. This will prevent you from getting overwhelmed and can also help you stay productive. Seeing progress in one area can help you stay motivated to continue cleaning. For example, if you want to clean your garage, start with the left-hand side of your garage before moving on to the other side.

Use a timer

Your phone likely has a built-in timer. Simply set a 20-minute timer and start cleaning! If you’re using your phone, turn on do not disturb or turn off your phone’s notifications. This will keep you from getting distracted by texts or social media posts during your 20-minute cleaning period.

Play music or turn on a podcast

Spending time cleaning or organizing can feel mind-numbing. If you struggle with focusing while cleaning, playing upbeat music can help you stay motivated, or playing a podcast in the background can help you stay entertained. Your favorite music streaming service may have created playlists specifically for cleaning and organizing that can help you power through your tasks.

Stop cleaning as soon as your timer goes off

Once your 20-minute cleaning timer goes off, stop what you’re doing and set a 10-minute timer. This 10-minute period is your downtime. It’s important to respect this downtime in order to prevent burnout. There’s no right or wrong way to spend your downtime—you can read a book, meditate, scroll through your phone, or take a break to eat a snack. Once your 10-minute period is over, start your timer again for 20 minutes and resume cleaning.

Other timed cleaning techniques you can try

If you find that the 20/10 cleaning method isn’t working for you, try these other timed cleaning techniques:

• The Power Hour: For this cleaning method, simply block off one hour to focus on cleaning your space.
• The Pomodoro Technique: This technique can also help you manage your projects or focus on studying. The Pomodoro Technique calls for 25 minutes of cleaning, followed by a five-minute break. Once the 5-minute break ends, spend another 25 minutes cleaning.
• The 10-Minute Tidy-Up: This technique is best for daily use. Simply spend 10 minutes per day to tidy the clutter in your home. This technique can help prevent clutter or messes from growing, and some find it more manageable since you’ll spend a smaller amount of time cleaning.
• The Two-Minute Rule: This rule is simple—if something takes less than two minutes to clean, organize, or put away, do it right away. This is another daily technique that can help you prevent clutter from accumulating. For example, if you know that it will take you less than two minutes to wash your coffee mug, do it right away rather than leaving it in your sink for hours or days.

Cleaning in smaller, manageable 20-minute chunks can help you remove more clutter. If you’re interested in exploring more cleaning techniques, see how you can make the zone cleaning method work for you.