The 20/20 Decluttering Rule: Does It Actually Work?

Have you heard of the 20/20 decluttering rule?

It’s one of those delightfully simple decluttering ideas that sounds almost too easy:

If you’re keeping something “just in case,” but you could replace it for less than $20 and in less than 20 minutes, you can probably let it go.

That’s it.

And you know what?

I actually think it’s pretty useful.

But I wouldn’t use the 20/20 rule to decide whether to keep everything in my home.

Because the real value of this rule isn’t telling you what to get rid of.

It’s helping you recognize when “but what if I need it someday?” is keeping unnecessary clutter in your home.

What Is the 20/20 Decluttering Rule?

The 20/20 rule for decluttering is commonly associated with Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known as The Minimalists.

The idea is intended specifically for those “just in case” possessions many of us have trouble letting go of.

Think about the things you keep because:

I might need that someday.

What if this other one breaks?

That’s probably useful for something.

I’d hate to get rid of it and then have to buy another one.

The 20/20 rule gives you a practical question to ask.

If you needed this item again, could you replace it for less than $20 and within about 20 minutes?

If the answer is yes, you may feel more comfortable letting it go.

Why the 20/20 Rule Can Be Helpful

One of the hardest parts of decluttering is uncertainty.

You know you haven’t used something.

You don’t particularly want it.

You probably wouldn’t buy it again.

But then your brain whispers:

Yeah, but what if…?

And suddenly that random cord you haven’t used in seven years feels absolutely essential to your future survival.

We’ve all got our version of the random cord drawer.

The 20/20 decluttering rule interrupts that thought pattern.

Instead of asking:

Could I possibly need this someday?

You’re asking:

How difficult would this actually be to replace if I did?

That’s a much easier question to answer.

And sometimes realizing that an item isn’t rare, expensive or difficult to replace gives you permission to stop storing it for an imaginary future emergency.

But I Wouldn’t Apply the 20/20 Rule to Everything

This is where I think decluttering rules can get a little too…rule-y.

Your home isn’t a math equation.

There are plenty of things that cost less than $20 and could technically be replaced in 20 minutes that I wouldn’t tell you to throw away.

Something can be inexpensive and still be useful.

Something can be easy to replace and still make sense to keep.

And repeatedly getting rid of useful things only to rebuy them later isn’t especially helpful either.

So I wouldn’t walk around my house holding every possession and asking:

Under $20? Twenty minutes away? OUT IT GOES.

That’s not the point.

Instead, I think the rule works best for a very specific category:

Things you’re only keeping because you’re afraid you might need them someday.

The Better Question: Why Are You Keeping It?

Before using any decluttering rule, I’d ask a simpler question:

Why am I keeping this?

Maybe you use it.

Great. Keep it.

Maybe you genuinely love it.

Keep it.

Maybe it’s meaningful to you.

That’s worth considering.

Maybe you know you’ll need it for something specific in the foreseeable future.

Fine.

But maybe your only answer is:

Well…you never know.

That’s when the 20/20 rule becomes useful.

You’re not using a formula to determine what you’re allowed to own.

You’re using the rule to challenge the fear that’s making the decision harder than it needs to be.

What About Waste?

There’s another reason I don’t love rigid decluttering rules.

Decluttering shouldn’t become an excuse to treat everything as disposable.

If you already own something useful that you reasonably expect to use, keeping it and caring for it can make perfect sense.

Good stewardship isn’t about getting rid of as much as possible.

It’s about being intentional with what you have.

Sometimes that means letting go.

Sometimes it means keeping something and actually using it.

Sometimes it means donating something so another person can use it instead of letting it sit forgotten in your basement for another decade.

The goal isn’t to own the fewest things.

The goal is to stop asking your home to store things that don’t deserve the space, attention and energy they require.

Try the 20/20 Rule on Your “Just in Case” Clutter

If you’d like to experiment with the 20/20 decluttering rule, don’t start with your entire house.

Choose one small area where “just in case” things tend to accumulate.

Maybe it’s:

• a junk drawer
• a bin of miscellaneous household supplies
• extra kitchen gadgets
• old cords and chargers
• duplicate tools
• toiletries
• craft supplies

Pick up one item at a time.

First ask:

Do I use this?

If yes, you’re done.

Then:

Do I actually want to keep this?

If yes, you’re done.

But if the only thing stopping you is:

What if I need this someday?

Now ask:

Could I replace this for less than $20 and in about 20 minutes if I genuinely needed it?

Sometimes the answer will be no.

Keep it.

Sometimes the answer will be yes, but you’ll still have a good reason for keeping it.

That’s okay too.

And sometimes you’ll realize you’ve been storing something for five years to protect yourself from a hypothetical $6 purchase.

There’s your answer.

What If the 20/20 Rule Doesn’t Help?

Then don’t use it.

Seriously.

No decluttering rule is going to work for every person, every possession or every home.

And if you’re struggling to declutter, the problem may not even be that you don’t have the right rule.

Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff.

Maybe you don’t know where to start.

Maybe you’re trying to organize before you’ve decided what you actually want to keep.

Or maybe clutter isn’t your biggest problem at all.

Your home could be messy because things don’t have logical places to live.

Or because your systems are too difficult to maintain.

Or because you haven’t built simple habits that help your home recover from everyday life.

That’s why I don’t think the answer to a messy home is finding one magical decluttering trick.

First, figure out what problem you’re actually trying to solve.

Then choose the right tool for that problem.

The 20/20 rule happens to be a pretty good tool for one very specific problem:

“What if I need it someday?” clutter.

And if that’s what’s keeping your drawers, cupboards and storage rooms full?

Give it a try.

Just don’t let a helpful little decluttering rule become another set of rules you think you have to follow perfectly.

Your home should support you.

Not boss you around.

The 20/20 Rule is one useful tool for one specific kind of clutter. If you’re curious how it compares with other popular decluttering methods, I’ve broken down what each one actually helps with.

Not Sure What’s Actually Making Your Home Feel So Messy?

Take my free Messy Home Diagnostic to find out whether clutter, organization or home habits are creating the biggest problem in your home right now.

Because once you know why the mess keeps happening, you can stop trying random fixes and work on what will actually make your home easier to manage.