How to Declutter Fast: The 21-Item Toss Method

Living in Chicago is amazing—but keeping your space clean while juggling work, social plans, and everything in between? That’s a challenge. If you’re constantly staring at clutter and feeling too overwhelmed to start, you’re not alone. The good news is that with a few simple tricks, you can keep your home feeling fresh without spending hours scrubbing. Let’s talk about one of our favorites: the 21-Item Toss.

Let’s be honest—cleaning your apartment can feel like a massive project, especially when you’re low on energy or motivation. But here’s the secret: you don’t have to do everything at once. In fact, one of the best ways to clean your apartment quickly is to start with a simple, fun challenge that takes just a few minutes.

Why Decluttering First Makes Cleaning Easier

If you want to clean house, you have to declutter first. It’s the unavoidable truth—but it doesn’t have to feel awful. When surfaces are clear and floors are free of random stuff, vacuuming, dusting, and wiping everything down becomes a breeze. If you’re feeling stuck, you can always rely on professional home cleaning to handle the deep work once you’ve cleared the clutter.

Why the 21-Item Toss Works So Well

The 21-item toss is the perfect little trick to make decluttering fun and fast. Here’s why it works:

• It’s not overwhelming. You’re only looking for 21 things—not your entire apartment.
• It takes just 5 to 10 minutes. Grab a bag or a box and run through your space quickly.
• It pushes you just enough. 21 items is big enough to make a real difference, but small enough that you won’t procrastinate.
• It builds momentum. Once you start tossing, you’ll feel motivated to keep going.

If you have ADHD or just feel easily distracted, this hack is a game-changer. Instead of wondering where to start, you have a clear goal. And if you ever need deep cleaning help after you’ve cleared out the clutter, we’ve got you covered.

How to Do Your Own 21-Item Toss

Ready to try it? Here’s the step-by-step:

1. Grab a trash bag, a donation box, or a recycling bin.
2. Set a timer for 5 minutes (or 10 if you’re feeling ambitious).
3. Walk through each room of your home—kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom.
4. Look for things that are broken, expired, unused, or just taking up space.
5. Count as you go. Don’t stop until you’ve hit 21 items.
6. Immediately take the bag or box out of your space so the clutter doesn’t come back.

Do this once a week, and we promise your home will stay in control. Need a little extra help? You can always schedule a cleaning with Jikas Cleaning so your space feels brand new after the clutter is gone.

Turn Decluttering Into a Habit

The best part about the 21-item toss is that it’s repeatable. If you do this every single week, your house will never spiral into chaos again. It’s a low-effort, high-reward routine that even the busiest Chicagoans can stick to. And on weeks when life gets extra hectic, you can always call a cleaning service near me to handle the scrubbing while you focus on the tossing.

Whether you live in a studio in Lincoln Park or a three-bedroom in Wicker Park, keeping your place clean doesn’t have to be a source of stress. Start small, stay consistent, and don’t be afraid to ask for help cleaning my place when you need it. With the right mindset and a few simple tools, you can enjoy a home that feels peaceful, organized, and actually clean.

If you’re ready to take it to the next level, our Chicago cleaning company offers apartment cleaning and fast cleaning services that fit right into your busy schedule. You don’t have to do it all alone—sometimes the best thing you can do is book an appointment and let the pros take over.

If you want to clean house, you have to declutter. That’s just the unfortunate truth. And it can feel really overwhelming, especially if you have ADHD. You don’t know where to start. It can seem like it’s going to take forever, so we procrastinate. But a 21-item toss is the perfect little trick and hack to really make it fun and fast. So grab a bag or a box and run around your house and look for 21 things that can go. 21 things is the magic number because it’s big enough that it pushes you out of your comfort zone, but it’s a small enough number that it would only take you 5 minutes, maybe 10. It’s not going to feel overwhelming. And I tell you, if you do a 21-item toss every single week, your house is going to stay in control.