It might sound too good to be true, but I've learned that 25 minutes is plenty of time to make serious progress on any to-do list — whether it's cleaning, tidying, or decluttering — especially when you pair it with five-minute breaks.
This Pomodoro Technique gets its name from the Italian word for tomato. It was invented by Francesco Cirillo, who used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to track his work intervals, aiming to boost productivity without burning out.
I relied on this method during high school, college, and grad school, and I've since added it to my home-cleaning routine. I recently tried it to conquer my spring sorting and cleaning — here's how it went.
How I put the Pomodoro Technique into action
Back in my student days, I'd study for 25 minutes, take a five-minute break, and repeat that cycle four times. After 100 minutes of work, I'd take a longer break — about half an hour — to clear my head and reset for the next round. That's exactly how I use it at home now.
When spring rolled around, I wasn't sure where to begin with spring cleaning, even though I'd already made a spring cleaning checklist. Cleaning supplies? Check. Cleaning tools? Check. Motivation? Missing.
That's when I remembered my old friend the Pomodoro Technique and decided to give it a shot — just 25 minutes. If I got into a groove, I'd keep going. It's a bit like the try-for-five method for beating procrastination, but more focused.
Unsurprisingly, I quickly found my rhythm and started ticking off chores with ease — cleaning, tidying, and even tackling some decluttering I'd been putting off. Honestly, I'd say the Pomodoro Technique is now my favorite way to get motivated to clean, and content editor Chiana Dickson agrees.
'Knowing I have a break coming really helps me zero in on the task,' she says. 'Ironically, writing about cleaning has turned me into a serial procrastinator, but the Pomodoro Technique helps me shake that off and get started when I need to.'
Twenty-five-minute stretches followed by five-minute breaks keep you productive and chase away procrastination.
With only a short 25-minute block ahead of me, followed by a well-earned break, cleaning the bathroom didn't feel so overwhelming. Sure, using my brand-new Joseph Joseph CleanTech kit helped, but even that usually wouldn't get me fully invested. Within those 25 minutes, though, I managed to clean the shower, clean the tile floors, and even clean the grout in the floor tiles. And just as I expected, after a five-minute break, I was back and ready to go.
Next on my single-tasking list was vacuuming my bedroom carpet. I know how often I should vacuum, but I usually put it off. In 25 minutes, though, I vacuumed under my furniture, under my rugs, and even under my bed — a big job that means pulling out all my underbed storage, cleaning, and putting everything back. That five-minute break felt well-deserved, but I wasn't finished yet.
Just 25 minutes can turn a neglected bedroom into a serene sleep sanctuary.
I'd been meaning to declutter and organize my purses for a while, and since they were already out from under the bed, it seemed like the perfect time. I know purses aren't typical items to declutter in March or April — but we're all allowed to stray from the usual path, right? This task took longer than 25 minutes, but with a five-minute break to split it up, my purses got organized, and I was already thinking about whether to donate or sell the extras. I then took a long break and decided that was enough for one day.
But next time I need to shake up my cleaning routine or declutter my home, I know exactly which method I'll use. After all, once you find something that works, why change it?
What to shop
No batteries required
This mechanical timer is perfect if you want to channel your inner Francesco Cirillo, but your phone or an online timer works just as well!
Six piece set
This cleaning system is a joy to use, with everything you need for a truly sparkling space, from dusting to scrubbing.
Smooth gliding wheels
I love using plastic underbed storage boxes like this to keep my shoes, purses, and other odds and ends organized and out of sight.
Another technique Chiana relies on when tackling her own to-do list is the 'last-things-first' cleaning method — using cleaning chores to procrastinate other daily tasks. That sounds like another one for me to try next.
