When it comes to decluttering, most of us try to put it off for another day. This is where the SPOT decluttering method comes in to save the day and reshift your priorities.
After a recent house move and still some areas that aren't quite 'sorted', I was interested to see how this could motivate me into finishing off these last bits that I kept putting off.
So, I spoke to professional home organizers for their tips on this speedy decluttering method, and gave it my best go in my own home.
What is the SPOT decluttering method?
SPOT is an acronym that stands for Select, Purge, Organize and Tidy.
Professional organizer and founder of Organize Every Room 'Cara Palmer, explains, 'It's a focused approach to tackling clutter in specific areas rather than attempting whole-home organization at once. As a professional organizer, I find this method particularly effective for clients who feel overwhelmed by decluttering or need to declutter and clean a house when they're too busy.'
This streamlined decluttering tip is laser-focused, forcing you to work in only one area to make a to-do list less overwhelming.
Marie Potter, eco-friendly organizer, certified virtual organizing professional, and trained professional organizer adds, 'Whether it’s a single drawer, a shelf, or the corner of a counter, this method is designed to be tackled in short bursts of time and takes advantage of the magic of momentum.
'It works well because it helps people build confidence and stay motivated to declutter by offering them immediate progress without having to commit to a full-day decluttering marathon.'
What areas of the home, or troublesome clutter spots is it good for?
The main areas where this method can work are those that tend to be 'dumping' grounds for daily clutter.
Marie suggests, 'Kitchen counters, entryway tables, bathroom drawers, nightstands or junk drawers are key 'hot spots'. It’s also great for refreshing small clutter magnet zones that need attention.'
Cara adds, 'It's great for home office desks – paper piles and office supplies can quickly overwhelm these spaces, and another pain point is closet floors and shelves, which often become catchalls for items without proper homes.'
Where is it not good for?
This isn't a method for sorting a whole room or tidying a whole house in less than four hours. Cara explains, 'When entire rooms need overhauling, a more comprehensive approach is needed; these spaces typically require project-based organization rather than spot treatment.'
Marie agrees, 'It's not for decluttering sentimental items like photographs or memorabilia boxes. These spaces often require more planning, emotional energy, and time than a single session allows.'
There are plenty of misconceptions about decluttering – that we have to tackle a whole room in one go, for example. Another big no, according to Cara, is shared spaces with conflicting organizational styles. 'These require conversation and compromise beyond the SPOT method,' she says.
How to do it
- Select your location – To work out where to start when decluttering, choose one specific area that's overwhelming you, it could be your desk, cabinet shelving in the kitchen, the bathroom vanity, or overflowing clothes in the bedroom chair. Keep it small and manageable.
- Purge – Start by removing everything and use the 'keep', 'trash', and 'donate' method. Be ruthless, using methods such as the 5-second rule, and use either bins – we like The Container Store's iDesign large Linus cube bins, or trash bags to keep the items in whilst you sort.
- Organize – Assign all the items you are keeping a home. This is where you may need drawer dividers, specific storage bins, or tiered organizers like Amazon's 3-tier wide expandable rack organizer to help transform the space.
- Tidy – Give the area a good clean – Method's lime + sea salt all purpose cleaning spray from Target smells great – and put back everything you want to keep. Place the most-used used at the front for ease.
I tried it in my closet
Whilst my closet wasn't the worst, it had been – I had recently moved after all, the clothes had been put in very quickly rather than organized properly. The dresses were touching the clear bins, everything was too squashed together, and not everything was hung up.
I'd badly folded the bedding and towels, and they didn't have a 'home'. It needed a focused 20 minutes or so that I felt I didn't have time for... and as such, it never got dealt with. Time to apply the SPOT decluttering method!
I removed everything from the closet one by one, and whilst I didn't take everything off the hangers – I'd already purged a certain amount whilst packing up the old house, I did tidy everything on the hangers and did the buttons up.
I put a couple of things in a pile to donate that had missed the moving purge. Then I gave the closet a quick dust with these fantastic microfiber dusting gloves from QVC – they will revolutionize your cleaning process!
Then it was time to put everything back. I hung the dresses on the right so they weren't touching the bins and could hang naturally. I put my coats together on the left and the most worn tops and cardigans together.
This gave me extra space on that first shelf that I can later use for folded items when I've bought myself the T-shirt folding board from Walmart. I then refolded and organized the bedding and towels. I love how neat and tidy everything looks, and I now know where everything is without having to dig.
Who is it good for?
This method is excellent for those of us who don't want to spend hours decluttering.
Cara suggests, 'It's ideal for busy professionals with limited time for organization projects, parents who need quick wins between family responsibilities and those easily overwhelmed by traditional decluttering approaches.
'People with ADHD who benefit from shorter, focused tasks and individuals in smaller living spaces where one cluttered area impacts the entire home.'
What to shop
There are certain key buys that will help with this method, check out those on top of our list below.
Recommended by Marie, these rectangular chalkboard labels are perfect for labelling Mason jars, spice jars, spray bottles, plastic bins and office supplies. They are adhesive so you can stick them to most surfaces then use the liquid chalk marker to write the contents on.
Highly rated and one of Cara's top choices, this wall-mounted mail organizer is ideal for keeping items off a console table in your entryway. It has a section for mail, a small shelf, and hooks for keys, dog leads, and caps. It comes in black, which will go with most schemes, and you'll wonder how you managed without it!
Made from bamboo, these clever dividers will expand to fit most drawers making them a really good buy – they also look great. There is an adjustable sectional design with small cut outs so you can make them more individual to your needs. The four pack means you can create a uniformed look.
Meet the experts
A more focused approach to decluttering has been like a breath of fresh air, it took the anxiety out of it as it was a short burst of sorting rather than being a longer and more overwhelming process.
I'll be trying the reverse decluttering method next, as it's good for small homes.
