This Professional Organizer Swears by the OHIO Organizing Method: Here's How to Use It

As a professional organizer, I’ve often heard the phrases “I’ll deal with it later” or “I’ll put it away later” from my clients (and, if I’m being transparent, from myself occasionally). When you’re busy and overwhelmed, deciding to tidy up later feels like the best thing to do in the moment. But it’s also what causes clutter to build up over time—and the problem is made significantly worse if you don’t have a designated home for all your things.

If you have perpetual piles of paperwork, clothes, or charging cords littering every available square inch of surface space, try the OHIO organizing method. It’s a straightforward—yet highly effective—approach that encourages you to deal with each item right away, rather than postponing decisions. Learn what the OHIO organizing method is and how to implement it into your daily routine. It not only keeps clutter from accumulating, but also reduces the mental fatigue that comes along with constant tidying.

What Is the OHIO Organizing Method?

As we’re sure you can guess, the OHIO method has nothing to do with the state. Instead, it’s an acronym for ‘only handle it once,’ and was initially popularized in the corporate world to assist with email management. It’s since been adapted as a home organization technique that helps curb clutter and decision making (just as it does with digital clutter, like emails).

The OHIO method is based on a simple principle: when you pick something up, decide immediately what to do with it. Either put the item away, create a storage spot for it, add it to a donation bag, discard it, or address it however else you might need to. The key is to avoid setting it down with the intention of dealing with it later, saving yourself from clutter and stress.

The primary advantage of the OHIO approach is that it helps curb unnecessary clutter in your home since you’re incentivized to take quick action. Handling each item only once reduces the time and energy spent making decisions. Doing so not only creates a tidier physical space but also improves mental space since you’re not left dwelling on what to do with your things.

How to Implement the OHIO Method at Home

Applying the OHIO method is simple once you get into the habit. Here are some examples of how to do implement it:

Set up your entryway: Designate specific spots for essentials such as keys, bags, and shoes. When you arrive home, immediately place each item in its assigned location. This prevents entryway clutter from accumulating and ensures that everything is easy to find when heading out the door.

Manage your mail: It’s easy to let mail and other paperwork pile up, but, eventually, it becomes too much to handle. Instead, set aside time each week to sort through each piece of paper (rather than picking it up and shuffling it around multiple times per week!). Toss junk mail, file important documents, and tackle any actionable items immediately.

Do a quick kitchen clean up: After mealtime, have everyone pitch in to promptly clear the table, clean the dishes, and wipe down surfaces. Avoid leaving items in the sink (soaking a pot or pan is a minor exception) or out on the countertops with the intention of getting to them later. This habit keeps the kitchen tidier and reduces the overall workload at the end of the day.

Keep your closet under control: When trying on clothes, aim to immediately hang them back up or place them in the laundry. Resist the urge to drape items over furniture—like the dreaded ‘clothes chair’—or leave them scattered on the floor. If you’re running late to an event and don’t have the time to put away the things that didn’t make the cut, be sure to do it as soon as you get home so the mess doesn’t linger.

Detox your digital clutter: Apply the OHIO method as it was originally intended to declutter your digital life. Reply to, organize, or discard emails and messages as you read them rather than revisit them over and over.

Keys to Success

Use the following tips to make the most of the OHIO method in your life and home:

Start small: Begin by applying the principle to a specific area, such as your desk or entryway, so you can feel confident before expanding to other, larger parts of the house.

Be mindful: Be conscious of those moments when you're tempted to set something aside "for later." Instead, challenge yourself to deal with it immediately until it becomes more like second nature.

Set aside time: If you know you won’t have the time or energy to, say, tackle the messy bathroom counter before your next Zoom meeting, carve out a few minutes later so you can clean up in one fell swoop.

Involve everyone: Encourage the whole household to adopt the OHIO method so you’re not doing it alone. This helps little ones learn how to tidy and will also speed up results thanks to the collective effort.

Be consistent: Work on making the OHIO method a regular part of your routine so you can reap the benefits of a tidier physical—and, just as importantly, mental—space.