Use the 90/90 Method to Clean (or Store) Items You Only Use Occasionally.
Some of the best decluttering methods work because they set strict deadlines. For example, with the packing party method, if you don’t use an item within three weeks of packing it, it’s time to consider parting with it. While having specific time periods to work on can help you if you find it difficult to overthink or make excuses for some potentially unhelpful things, these rigid schedules can also be a bit restrictive since they don’t leave room for holding onto the things you actually use only occasionally, but use . This is where the 90/90 rule comes into play.
What is the 90/90 rule?
Like the packing party,this rule comes from minimalists , who advocate a simplified lifestyle, at least when it comes to physical things. With books , documentaries and a successful blog, they are leaders in the field and their advice is almost always reliable.
Here they suggest asking yourself two questions about each item as you try to declutter: Have you used it in the last 90 days? Will you be using it in the next 90 days? If the answers are no, you can safely throw it away.
Minimalists are a little more lenient with this rule than some others, giving you the opportunity to decide what an appropriate time period looks like. If you really want to declutter and do it big, stick to 90 or even lower it to 60, but if it’s not urgent or you’re feeling overwhelmed, increase it to 120.
Why the 90/90 rule works
This rule is great if you’re feeling overwhelmed by having to decide what to throw away and what to keep. Decluttering is often stressful, not only because of the strategy and actual work involved, but also because you have to part with things that you may have a sentimental attachment to or worry about having to use again in the future.
This method works best for items that are used but not often, such as new kitchen utensils or clothes for special occasions. I recently got rid of a waffle iron that I hadn’t used in years, but it made me scared: “What if one day I want waffles?” If I want waffles, which I almost never do, I can go and buy them at a cafe. I haven’t used this waffle iron in 90 days (by which I mean I haven’t used it in hundreds and hundreds of days) and I certainly won’t be using it for the next three months, so it’s good to go. Give yourself permission to buy a replacement, or at least an approximation of one, in the unlikely event that you need the item again, and then get rid of it.
Obviously, this technique is really good in the closet. Clothes you haven’t worn in the last three months and won’t wear in the next three months can be donated and you’ll almost certainly not miss them. This six-month period is long enough to account for different seasons, weather and events, so it gives you a simple, straightforward way to get rid of what you simply don’t need.
While the 90/90 rule gives you some leeway for items that are used sporadically, it still provides some much-needed structure, which is key to meaningful decluttering. You need a plan and a set of rules to stick to, and this method still provides, albeit a little less overbearing than other methods.