Inside: Discover what the ski slope method is and how you can use it to bring order to even the most chaotic rooms in your home.
A guest post by Evelyn Long
We’ve all been there.
You walk into a room that feels completely out of control. Piles on the counter. Papers scattered across the table. Laundry draped over a chair. Random items that somehow migrated there and decided to stay.
It’s not just the clutter that feels overwhelming—it’s not knowing where to begin.
When a space gets messy enough, it can stop us in our tracks. We tell ourselves we’ll tackle it when we have a whole free day, or when we have more energy, or when we feel more motivated. But that perfect moment rarely comes. And in the meantime, the mess continues to weigh on us.
The truth is, you don’t need hours of free time or a burst of motivation to restore order. You just need a simple starting point.
That’s where the Ski Slope Method comes in.
The Ski Slope Method is a gentle, practical way to bring order to even the messiest rooms—one direction and one decision at a time.
This decluttering approach turns the chaos into a more manageable situation. It decreases overwhelm and offers a stress-free solution that tackles messes one small step at a time.
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how the Ski Slope Method works and why it’s so effective for busy seasons and overwhelmed spaces. If you’ve been staring at a messy room, wondering where to start, this simple strategy might be the fresh start you’ve been needing.
What Is the Ski Slope Organizing Method?
The ski slope method of cleaning was developed by author, interior designer, and therapist Anita Yokota and is described in her book “Home Therapy.” She advises you to imagine your room as if you were a skier about to tackle a slope.
The best way to go down the mountain is not to speed straight down, but instead to traverse from side to side until you reach the bottom. You mentally divide the room into sections, tackling one at a time instead of barreling through.
What makes this cleaning method so effective is that it prevents you from feeling completely overwhelmed by the process. It’s a slow, gradual approach that builds momentum as you mentally divide a room into sections and work on one thing at a time.
This methodical technique breaks a daunting task into achievable steps. You’re gently traversing from side to side rather than flying down the hill at breakneck speed. Eventually, you reach the bottom.
Step-by-Step Guide to the Ski Slope Method
As with any major undertaking, it’s best to develop a plan. Here’s the best way to transform a room from chaotic to clean.
1. Choose Your Starting Point
Pick the corner of the room you want to start with. It may be the messiest or most bothersome one. Ignore the rest of the room for now — you will get to it eventually.
2. Gather Your Tools
You’ll need three containers — one for trash, one for donations, and one for things that belong in other rooms. Everything you touch will either go in one of these boxes or in its rightful place in the room.
3. Work in Zig-Zags
Get ready to head down that slope. You’ll be moving back and forth as you slowly descend the mountain.
Work through the first section, and then move on to an adjacent area on the opposite side of the room. Do not cross the hill until you have completely cleaned the area you are working on.
4. Take Guilt-Free Breaks
The key benefit of the ski slope method is that since you clean in contained sections, the rest of the room doesn’t get any messier. This enables you to take breaks when you need to without losing progress.
As you proceed, take a moment to celebrate your progress. It will help you to maintain your motivation.
5. Clear Out the Clutter
When you’re done clearing the clutter, put everything away in its proper place.
Letting things go lightens your physical and mental load, and donating your unwanted items to those in need can bring you happiness.
It’s nice to know that being generous can positively impact someone else’s life.
Putting the Method Into Practice in Your Home
Here are some practical examples of how to apply the ski slope method in your home’s biggest trouble zones.
Conquering Bedroom and Closet Clutter
Bedrooms and closets are notorious mess magnets. Open your closet door and start at the top left corner. Sort, hang, and organize that small area.
Move to the next section of hanging clothes, then to the shelves, and finally to the floor. Donate any clothing you have not worn for a while, including those that no longer fit or make you feel good about yourself.
When cleaning the whole bedroom, begin in the corner by your bedside table, then move to the dresser, and finally get everything out from under your bed.
Each area has a defined beginning and ending period, leading to a sense of accomplishment when done.
Reclaiming Your Garage
The garage is a frequent pain point for families, often becoming an unintentional storage room. The ski slope method is ideal for this large, often-neglected space.
Divide your garage into distinct zones, such as top-left shelving, the workbench area, and the junk pile.
Begin in one corner, working from the ceiling to the floor. Once that zone is clear, cleaned, and organized, move on to the next.
As you work, sort everything into categories and put like items together. For example, place bikes near the garage door for quick access out the door, and store tools and chemicals together to contain potentially hazardous and dangerous items in one corner.
Restoring Order to Kitchens
Cluttered countertops, overflowing cabinets, and disorganized pantry shelves can make you dread dinnertime.
Begin at the highest, most overwhelming corner of the room, such as the top-left corner of the pantry or the highest shelf. Empty that area completely, tossing expired food and placing unused gadgets in your donation bin.
Wipe down all surfaces. Then, move to the opposite corner of the room, remembering your zig-zag pattern.
Be sure to use containers to sort items as you move through each zone. This makes it easier to categorize pantry items such as snacks, canned goods, and cooking oils.
Keeping the Clutter Away for Good
The ski slope method is ideal for busy families because it can be used for long-term maintenance, not just a one-and-done organizing job.
It can help your family build lasting habits to corral the chaos. About 55% of Americans say clutter makes them feel stressed, so eliminating that pressure point can lead to household harmony. Make organization part of your routine.
Keep things under control with a 10-minute tidying session each evening, and ensure your kids put their toys back where they belong. When buying something new, embrace the “one in, one out” philosophy by also getting rid of something you no longer need.
Create cleaning cards so all family members can pick a task and complete it. This is an especially good motivator for children and may encourage competition to see who can do the most.
A New Mindset for a Tidier Home
The ski slope method shows that organizing doesn’t have to be a stressful, all-or-nothing project.
You can tackle a room section by section, providing you with a sense of accomplishment as you claim small wins and reach bigger milestones.
Heading down that slope and reaching the finish line at the bottom is a gold-medal feeling.
Evelyn Long is a home organization writer who helps homeowners and renters maintain a neat space through innovative decluttering tips. She has written for several other publications, including the National Association of Realtors and DecorMatters. She is also the editor-in-chief of Renovated Magazine, where she shares additional tips on decluttering and home organization.
Have you tried the ski slope method? If so, let us know how it went in the comments section below.
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