HGTV's Jillian Harris uses this 4-step method to restore order to her 'cleaning madness'
The Love It or List It star brings order into her home with these four steps (that you can replicate, too)


If you are thinking of starting the New Year with a deep clean, you are not alone. January is often viewed as a month of renewal – starting with your home. Though this is famously a time to organize chaos, knowing where to begin can often feel overwhelming. And celebrities agree.
Canadian designer Jillian Harris, known for Love It or List It Vancouver and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, recognizes the process isn't simple – especially if you're taking on a significant clean. However, when armed with the right home organizing ideas, you can achieve a tidier home quicker – and it will likely look good for longer. This starts with the correct method, she says.
'I love to organize – and while at first, I thought I was a little crazy with this mentality, I thought there have to be people out there like me. And for those who are baffled by my ways, I want you to know that there is a method to the madness – and I’m going to share it with you,' Jillian Harris says in her blog. Here are her steps.
1. Schedule your clean
When Jillian shared her method, she had just moved into her new home, so she did begin by decluttering her entire space. However, if you're not new to your home, it is better to begin at the next step – scheduling.
'I love to schedule everything, including cleaning. I use the notes app on my iPhone for my cleaning checklist,' she says. The designer assigns chores to either herself or her partner Justin Pasutto and checks them off as they are completed. 'They disappear from your list, but they also reoccur every single week. You really thought you could get out of chores that easily? Not in this household!'
2. Organize
Whether you're organizing a living room, bedroom, or entryway – Jillian's method remains the same. She starts by taking baskets, bins, and storage containers and separating items in her drawers with smaller containers that keep 'random odds and ends' in place.
'It’s the perfect way to keep your home looking neat and tidy,' Jillian says. 'You name it, it has a home.'
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
3. Take it one step at a time
If you like to multitask, you'll likely bring this ideology into all parts of life, including your home. However, Jillian says that it is better to focus on one room and take it one step at a time.
Whether you're decluttering toys or cleaning windows, you should not take on a new area until each room is entirely complete. 'Slow and steady wins the race,' the designer adds.
4. Maintain your clean for 15 minutes
'If you can get into the habit of cleaning for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening every day – you’ll be surprised at just how much you can get done,' Jillian says. This simple cleaning tip will allow you to maintain order between larger cleans and make deeper cleans feel less daunting (when the time comes).
Fraiche Food, Full Hearts by Jillian Harris and Tori Wesszer – $30.50 on Amazon
Fraiche Food, Full Hearts shares a glimpse behind Jillian Harris and Tori Wesszer's lives and the recipes that have fed their families through the years. It includes ideas for birthdays, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.
-
The ultimate summer barbecue menu – stylish, seasonal, and so easy
From our home-made rub and our best-ever grilled lamb to our smoky lapsang souchong ice cream and whisky cocktail, we can help you get your summer barbecue party started
-
The 5 worst attic conversion mistakes any homeowner could make – and the expert advice you need to avoid 'a blown budget '
Avoid these common pitfalls when planning your attic conversion
-
Meghan Trainor's 'palette cleanser' white kitchen has impressed designers for 'centuries'
The singer's 'light, bright and calm' space reminds us why white is anything but vanilla – here's why experts agree
-
We love Chrissy Teigen's take on the latest trend for 'warm minimalism' – a cozier version of the clean aesthetic
Some trends come and go, but we predict that warm minimalism is here to stay. See how Chrissy has perfected the look...
-
Drew Barrymore's spring cleaning secret will bring 'a sense of control' to your home
The actress decided she was going to 'Marie Kondo' her life – here's what her process involved – and how you can do the same
-
Joanna Gaines doesn't ever 'want to leave' her garden cottage, and it's easy to see why
The Fixer Upper star has given this plant-lovers paradise an early spring clean – we take a look around
-
Martha Stewart's Vodka tips will make you rethink how you clean this January
A deep clean begins and ends with one ingredient – this is the new way to use your vodka this 'DIY January'
-
Behr Color of the Year – designers react to 2023's most powerful hue
Interior experts respond to Blank Canvas – the clean color of the moment with 'endless design possibilities'
-
Using a pan lid to clean upholstery? This TikTok hack neutralizes odors and freshens furnishings
A pan lid is the surprising tool you can use to refresh upholstery, and even your carpets
-
Marie Kondo reveals her favorite room to organize – and her secret to staying motivated in challenging spaces
Even the queen of organization has her favorite spaces to clean – here she shares her secrets with H&G