Mom Fell Five Days Behind On Her Fifteen Minutes Or Fifteen Items October Challenge, Cleared 75 Things Out Of One Junk Drawer To Catch Up, And Is Daring You To Join

One mom decided to stop waiting for the perfect time to tackle the clutter. In a video from @cansterling, she speaks to moms who have stuff everywhere and are trying to declutter, and she shares a month long challenge her best friend put her onto: fifteen minutes or fifteen items.

The twist is where she started. By her own account, it was October 5th and she was five days behind, so she caught up in one go by getting rid of 75 items.

The Challenge in Plain Terms

The idea, as she describes it, is simple. Each day in October, you either spend fifteen minutes decluttering or you get rid of fifteen items. Either one counts. That flexibility is a big part of the appeal for busy moms, since some days you have a few minutes and some days you have an armful of things you are ready to be done with.

Because she had missed five days, she did the math and went for 75 items, which works out to fifteen items for each of the five days she missed. Her method was a place a lot of homes have: the junk drawer. She says she went through it, counted 75 items, and put them in the trash.

She ends her video with an invitation. If you are down for the challenge, she asks you to comment.

Why a Junk Drawer Is a Smart Place to Start

The video does not explain why she picked the junk drawer, but it is easy to see the appeal. Junk drawers collect small things that are quick to judge: dried out pens, loose batteries of unknown strength, broken keys, rubber bands, takeout menus, expired coupons and mystery cords. Because each item is small and low stakes, you can make fast decisions, and the count adds up quickly.

It is also a space you probably visit every day, so a cleared drawer pays off right away. Many people find that a small, visible win makes it easier to keep going.

A Simple 31 Day Plan

The creator did not share a day by day schedule, so the plan below is a general idea built around her challenge. October has 31 days, and so do a few other months, so you can use this any time.

Week one, small spaces. Take on one drawer or one shelf a day. Think junk drawer, bathroom drawer, kitchen utensil drawer, nightstand, purse and car glove box.

Week two, surfaces. Clear the kitchen counter, entry table, dresser top and any flat spot where papers and mail pile up. Toss or file what you find.

Week three, categories. Go room to room for one type of item. Examples include mugs and water bottles, kids’ toys that are broken or outgrown, towels and linens, and old chargers.

Week four, closets and bigger spots. By now you have momentum. Choose a hall closet, a pantry shelf, or a section of your own closet and apply the same quick questions.

Final days, finish line. Use the last few days to haul out donations, take out the trash and bask in your handiwork. If you fell behind, take a page from this mom and catch up in one big session.

Where to Start If You Feel Stuck

Pick one drawer. Do not try to organize the whole house. Set a timer for fifteen minutes, empty the drawer onto a table, and sort into three piles: keep, trash and donate. Anything broken, dried out or expired goes straight to the trash. Anything that belongs in another room gets set in a basket to be put away later, so you do not wander off in the middle of the task.

Ask a quick question about each item. Have I used this in the past year? Do I know what it is for? Would I be upset if it disappeared? If the answers are no, it can probably go.

Count as you go. The creator counted her items, and seeing a number grow is motivating. A simple tally on a sticky note works fine.

Make It a Team Effort

Notice that this challenge started with a friend. Many people find that sharing a goal makes it easier to stick with, even if the only check in is a quick text message at the end of the day. Pick a friend, a sister or a neighbor and swap your counts. Share a before and after photo if you feel like it.

Keep your expectations realistic, too. Missing a day is not a failure. As this mom shows, you can make it up whenever you are ready, and a single productive session can erase a lot of guilt.

The Takeaway

Fifteen minutes or fifteen items is a challenge almost anyone can fit into a busy day, and a junk drawer is a great place to prove it to yourself. Whether you join in on day one or day twenty, the point is to start. If you are down, as she says, comment and tell her.