I Tried the “One Room” Rule, And Now I’ll Never Clean Another Way

I love the luxury of taking my time, and that even applies to cleaning. But when I’m moving or tackling big organization projects, though, the clock can feel like a daunting presence. Rooms seem too big and intimidating, and just as I’ve got halfway through a cleaning or reorganizing project, I’m suddenly totally overwhelmed by the fact that I just have way too much stuff and way too much dust. But thanks to internet kismet, I recently realized what my main problem is: I don’t follow a cleaning system, and if I did, it could make all the difference.

Ex-professional cleaner turned cleaning inspector Cindell Kimbrough swears by a time-saving system, and it’s simpler than you think. All you need to do is clean one room at a time. “This is the most efficient way to get your entire house done really fast,” she says.

Kimbrough breaks down her system in a viral TikTok video, and why she needs it. “I have ADHD,” she says. “If I make myself do this, I clean so fast. If not, I’ll be cleaning all day and it looks like I did nothing.”

With this system, Kimbrough is able to fully clean 2,000-square foot houses in two hours. Her fastest feat using this system was cleaning a 5,000-square foot home, top to bottom, in less than five hours. My mind immediately started spinning upon hearing this, thinking about how long it typically takes me to clean much smaller spaces. I knew I needed to try this cleaning hack out for myself — to save some time, and my sanity.

• Step One: Choose your room. (If you have a large open space or a hallway, turn it into a room.)
• Step Two: Pick up clutter on the floor. Make a pile outside of the door for items that need to be relocated throughout the home. Do not spend time going in and out of the room!
• Step Three: Choose a corner to tidy up and work your way around the room. 
• Step Four: Go back to your first corner and repeat the process but with dusting. Wipe doors from top to bottom and follow along the baseboards.
• Step Five: Vacuum and/or mop the floor. 

I chose to clean my room, which often has cat toys, yoga equipment, and art supplies strewn about. I’m usually good about picking certain areas so I don’t get too overwhelmed. The problem is that I can sometimes give into distractions and boredom in the process. As a result, I find myself embarking on side quests and putting off the original task, making every chore last so much longer.

I tidied up my room about one week ago, so the floor part was a breeze. However, I’d avoided addressing one specific corner due to the disarray of accessories, plants, and small knickknacks. I’m guilty of letting my bags and hats hang messily from a hanging shelf, and using my small dresser as my landing pad for random items. There’s also a Chewy box my cat likes to play in and an old battered toy on the ground, both of which I’ve held off saying goodbye to. 

Making a “throw away” and a couple “relocate” piles made noticeable differences while cleaning this corner. If not for the piles, I know I would’ve wasted a lot of time walking back and forth to the trash, the closet, and so on. I used the same approach for my desk area, and I felt more clearheaded and well-paced because I trusted the system. All together, I cleaned for a little more than an hour — not as impressive as Kimbrough’s speed, but there’s still time to improve!

Having never followed a structured cleaning system, I can see how disorganized some of my large-scale attempts at cleaning have been in the past, especially when preparing for a move. I’ve let the pressure of packing and cleaning under a time crunch convince me that rushing equals efficiency. 

Even on a day-to-day basis, it makes much more sense to pour energy into one area rather than trying to divide and conquer. I love this rule because it’s incredibly straightforward, easy to follow, and results-driven. 

You can apply the system to any space, and for any cleaning task, and make it work for you. In this case, less is definitely more!