I Tried The '1-Minute Tidying Rule', And My House Has Never Been Cleaner

I have something to confess: even though I used to be a cleaner, my home is often far dirtier than I’d like.

The endless kitchen tasks, the constantly-hair-covered bathroom floor, the endlessly dusty bookshelves – something is always verging on filthy, despite my weekly deep cleans. 

It seems that no matter how hard I scrub on my designated purge day, the mess returns. It’s a frustrating game of catch-up, or at least it was until I came across the “one-minute rule”.

Since then, my home has never been tidier or easier to keep – even if it’s not immaculate, it’s certainly far more presentable (a huge shift). 

What’s the “one-minute” cleaning rule?

The method, invented by author Gretchen Rubin, is simple. If you notice a mess you can clean up in a minute, she advises, do it right away. 

For me, the rule resembles “habit stacking” – a means of tacking good habits onto your existing routine to make it stick. 

Now, when I brush my teeth in the morning or evening, I give my sink, mirror, and shower glass a quick wipe (I’ve started keeping a microfibre cloth nearby for the job, which I switch out for a clean one daily). 

While I’m waiting for my afternoon porridge to microwave, I clean my hob. 

And after returning from the gym and waiting for my French press coffee to brew, I run over the floors with a dry mop. 

It sounds simple, but I’m usually an “all or nothing” cleaner – I either do a very intense, meticulous clean, or nothing at all. 

The “one-minute rule” has taught me the value of completing simple, small tasks throughout the week.

It’s made the biggest difference in the most stressful areas

The biggest relief has been in the kitchen and bathroom, which is where I reckon most people see the biggest messes. 

The “one-minute rule”, I feel, is uniquely useful in these high-activity, mercilessly light-floored spaces. Not only do I spend the most non-work time in there, meaning I have more time to notice little messes, but it’s easier to “habit-stack” one-minute cleans onto the endless tasks that take place in both. 

In short, I’m happier, more relaxed, and less stressed – and my home has never been cleaner (it’s even easier to handle on deep-cleaning days now). 

Not bad for a 60-second change, right?