'My house was a disaster until I tried the 27 decluttering hack.'

I've tried everything to tackle the chaos that seems to multiply overnight in my home.

From elaborate storage solutions to Pinterest-worthy organisational systems, nothing quite stuck until I discovered the "27 Fling Boogie" — a decluttering method that has genuinely changed my life.

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What is the 27 Declutter Hack?

It's almost embarrassingly simple. You set a timer for 15 minutes, grab a bin bag, and a donate box and find 27 items to either bin or donate. That's it. No complex sorting systems, no expensive storage solutions, just identifying 27 things you no longer need and getting them out of your house.

Let me paint you a picture. I work full-time. I'm a single parent with two kids (boys) who think "putting away" means "leaving it on the nearest horizontal surface," and a house that perpetually looked like we'd been burgled. The mess was actually starting to affect my ability to feel content in my own four walls.

I stumbled across the 27 Fling Boogie (created by decluttering guru Marla Cilley, aka FlyLady) during a late-night doom-scrolling session. Desperate and sceptical, I decided to give it a go the next morning.

The first round was ridiculously easy – 27 items practically leapt into my bin bag. Old magazines, broken toys, expired pantry items, single socks that had been partner-less for years. I felt a tiny spark of accomplishment.

So I did it again the next day. And the next.

Two weeks later, I noticed something. The surfaces in my home were staying clearer. I wasn't doing the mad pre-dinner scramble to find somewhere to actually put our plates. The kids weren't whinging about missing things because suddenly, everything had a place.

Why this hack actually works.

It's time-boxed: Fifteen minutes! Even the busiest person can find 15 minutes, which means no excuses.

It's specific: The number 27 gives you a clear finish line. You're not vaguely "decluttering" — you have a precise goal.

It's satisfying: Seeing that bag of unwanted items leave your house provides immediate gratification. It's the decluttering equivalent of crossing something off your to-do list.

It's sustainable: Because it's quick and easy, you can make it a regular habit rather than a once-a-year overwhelming project.

How to make the 27 Declutter Hack work for you.

Start with easy targets.

Begin with the obvious clutter — junk mail, broken items, expired products, clothes with holes, things you actively dislike. No difficult decisions required.

Don't overthink it.

I used to hold onto things because "I might need it someday." Now I ask: "Have I used this in the past year? Does it bring me joy or solve a problem?" If the answer is no, out it goes.

Make it routine.

I now do the 27 Fling Boogie every Sunday afternoon. It takes 15 minutes but saves me hours of cleaning and searching for things throughout the week.

Get the family involved.

My kids now do their own mini version — 10 items each. They've learnt valuable lessons about what we actually need versus what just takes up space.

The unexpected benefits.

Beyond the obvious cleaner home, this simple hack has provided surprising benefits:

Less cleaning time: With fewer items to dust, move, and organise, the weekly clean takes half the time.

Easier decision-making: Regularly deciding what to keep has made me better at making quick decisions in other areas of life.

Money saved: I'm more intentional about purchases now, knowing anything that enters our home needs to earn its keep.

More gratitude: We appreciate what we have because each item serves a purpose or brings joy.

I never thought a simple 15-minute decluttering routine would change my life, but here we are — living in a home that feels spacious rather than suffocating, where we can find what we need when we need it, and where cleaning doesn't consume entire weekends.

If your home feels overwhelming and previous decluttering attempts have failed, give the 27 Fling Boogie a try. Sometimes the simplest solutions really are the most effective.

What is your go-to decluttering hack?

Feature Image: Supplied.