7 SIMPLE Systems In Our Minimalist Home That WORK

Seven minimalist home systems (that keep the house functional with low effort)

1. Landing zone (arrival + departure)

   • Assign every frequently used item a specific spot in the entryway.
   • Put items away immediately when arriving home.
   • Example: keep a bowl by the front door for keys so they don’t get misplaced.

2. “10-minute reset” (post-meal kitchen cleanup)

   • After every meal/snack, do a 5–10 minute reset of the kitchen/dining area.
   • Tasks include:
     • Load dishes into the dishwasher (or handwash what’s needed)
     • Wipe down tabletop and counters
     • Put away cooking utensils
     • Store leftovers in the fridge
   • Goal: prevent kitchen “pileups” and make the next cooking/eating session easier.

3. Friday flow (weekly meal planning + grocery timing)

   • Plan six meals for the upcoming week on Friday.
   • Decide recipes and schedule grocery delivery for Sunday.
   • Use the calendar for flexibility:
     • Friday: plan meals + what groceries are needed
     • Saturday: add any forgotten/last-minute items
     • Sunday: replenish since the fridge is nearly empty
   • Benefits: reduces stress (“what’s for dinner?”) and food waste.
   • Shopping strategy:
     • Bulk buy meat and non-perishables (e.g., pasta, sauces, canned/jarred items), often from Costco.

4. 2-minute sweep (quick daily/weekly tidy resets)

   • Maintain designated homes for everything so items always know where to go.
   • Use fast tidy-ups to stop clutter from building—especially around kids’ items (craft table, toys in the living room).
   • Goal: keep commonly used spaces clean and welcoming.

5. Laundry loop (reduce laundry stress)

   • Pre-sort laundry instead of one big pile:
     • Separate bins for daughter’s items
     • Sort clothes into darks and whites
     • Separate containers for towels and cleaning rags
   • Keep 2–3 loads running at once (adjusting to shared laundry schedules or taking laundry to parents’ house).
   • Don’t let laundry linger:
     • Fold and put away within a day to avoid visible clutter and make items easier to find.

6. Bathroom baseline (standard cleanliness + smell control)

   • Keep up frequent, small actions to prevent grime buildup:
     • Place a rag on a hook under the sink for quick wipes of spills, toothpaste marks, mirror smears
     • Rinse shower walls/floor after each shower to delay grime and keep the bathroom smelling fresh
   • Use a non-slip mat that rinses and hangs (since there’s no bathtub, it avoids sitting water).
   • Weekly non-negotiable:
     • Clean sink, toilet, shower, floor, and area around the toilet (no longer than ~1–1.5 weeks between cleanings).

7. Exit basket system (declutter “in transit”)

   • Keep a basket near the entrance for:
     • Items that were decluttered and are waiting to be rehomed
     • Items that came into the home but need to be returned to their proper owners
   • Result: less visual clutter and better awareness that items are valued/used.

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Notable locations/products

• Costco (bulk shopping for pantry items and meat)
• Shared laundry in the building and laundry at parents’ house
• Non-slip mat for shower use (no bathtub)

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Notable speaker

• The video narrator (creator of the minimalist home systems)