How we use a “15 Minute Reset” to Clean our Home
(the alternative to staying on top of your cleaning)
Frankly, most of us are too tired to care about the dust on our baseboards. People talk about the benefits of minimalism and getting organized, but when you’ve already overbooked your week, how could anyone expect you to “find time” that doesn’t exist? They can’t.
That is why we do a “15 minute reset” to take care of our home during the week. Time is the whole issue, so when thoroughly cleaning the kitchen is too daunting, setting a timer for 15 minutes is a manageable alternative. It’s not about doing the whole job, it’s about checking some of the big boxes.
Here are some examples of how I address each “zone” in our house:
Kitchen: [set timer]. From my “starting point” on one side of the kitchen, put away all out of place items. Move all dishes into sink. Wipe Counters. Wipe Stove. Take out trash. Load or put away clean dishes if time permits.
Dining & Living Room: [set timer]. Put away clutter on the table and buffet. Wipe table. Push in chairs. Reset coffee table. Fluff pillows. Fold blankets. Light a candle. Vacuum if time permits.
Bedroom: [set timer]. Make bed. Clear bedside tables. Put away laundry until time’s up (so about three shirts).
Other Ideas: You may want to do your kids’ spaces in this way when they’re old enough to get involved in a 15 minute reset, otherwise I wouldn’t prioritize it because it is not a vital space or a common area (like the kitchen). Laundry isn’t part of my 15 minute reset by the very nature of how long it takes. Resetting your entryway or drop zone could be another great use of time.
The point of this exercise is to address high visibility items and to ONLY spend 15 minutes on it. After that, the impact for your effort decreases in value. Deep cleaning, organizing, and decluttering can all wait for a better day. We hope this idea helps you if you’ve been struggling.
You can try our kitchen cleaning checklist or home cleaning checklist together with the resets to help organize your tasks.
