As a professional declutterer, I hear a lot of tips and tricks repeated back to me by clients. One of the most popular pieces of advice I often hear is the mantra: “Touch it once.”
At first glance, this sounds like a brilliant, efficient system. The core idea is that you shouldn’t just set an item down to deal with later—you should immediately put it in its correct home, preventing clutter from piling up in the first place.
But here’s the problem: For many of my clients, this excellent daily habit becomes a counterproductive, overly rigid rule when they are trying to tackle an already chaotic space.
Why “Touch It Once” Can Slow Down Your Decluttering Progress
If you are standing in a room that is currently in a state of chaos—let’s say a messy living room or an overflowing spare bedroom—trying to run individual items around the house one by one is going to significantly slow down your progress.
Imagine this scenario:
- You pick up a library book and walk it back to your office bookshelf.
- You walk back and pick up a coffee mug and take it to the kitchen sink.
- You walk back and pick up a pair of socks and take them to the laundry basket.
You’re getting your steps in, but you’re draining your momentum and mental energy on excessive movement, not on the actual decision-making that clears the clutter. And chances are, you’re going to get distracted. That quick trip to the kitchen might turn into a dishwashing detour, completely stalling your decluttering session.
The Professional Declutterer’s Solution: Batch and Conquer
Like any good rule, the “Touch It Once” mantra needs to be adjusted depending on the room you are in and the circumstances you are working with.
For rooms that find themselves in disarray, the first and most crucial step should be sorting, not relocating.
Instead of touching an item once to move it to its final destination, touch it once to put it in a temporary category pile.
| Category | Example Items |
| Kitchen | Mugs, Water Bottles, |
| Laundry | Socks, Shirts, Towels |
| Office | Stamps, Envelopes, Pens |
Once you have worked through the whole room, you can then relocate all the items in that category as a lot (or batch).
- Instead of one mug at a time, you carry a whole basket of 10 kitchen items back to the kitchen in one trip.
- Instead of one sock at a time, you carry a full laundry hamper directly to the laundry room.
This method is faster, more efficient, and helps you see rapid visual progress in the chaotic room—which is a huge motivator!
The Key Takeaway: Rules Are Tools
The “Touch It Once” rule is a fantastic tool for maintenance—for keeping a tidy space tidy. But when you are facing a large backlog of clutter, your goal must be efficiency and focus.
Don’t let rigid rules sabotage your progress. Give yourself permission to batch your chaos first. Concentrate solely on sorting and categorizing, clear that room completely, and then deal with the resulting loads. By focusing your energy and minimizing those distracting inter-room trips, you’ll not only clear clutter faster but keep your motivation soaring.
Suzanne | Founder of Happily Decluttered | Helping you reclaim your space through expert in-home decluttering | Learn More | Read the blog | Author of: Finding Your Happily Decluttered – Available on Amazon | Follow the journey: Facebook | Instagram.