Over the years, I’ve tried countless organization and decluttering methods, but I had never applied at home a concept originally created for the automotive industry.
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According to Ideal Home, the Japanese 5S method is an adaptation of an efficiency system used in offices, and it has now become a favorite among professional organizers — for good reason.
The 5S (sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain) gained a prominent place in the world of home organization because they offer a simple, functional, and sustainable process. Just like the Japanese inyo-onyo principle, the 5S method has been gaining followers for its ability to transform routines without requiring major investments. But does it really work, or is it just another passing trend? I decided to test it to find out.
In Japanese, the 5S stand for seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu, and shitsuke — which, in free translation, mean sorting, organizing, cleaning, standardizing, and sustaining.
According to Ideal Home, professional organizer Rebecca Crayford is one of the specialists who reinforce the method’s effectiveness. She explains clearly what each “S” represents in practice:
- Sorting – grouping similar items and discarding what is no longer useful.
- Set in order – making sure every object has a specific and accessible place.
- Shine – cleaning and refreshing the space as you organize.
- Standardize – creating simple routines to make maintenance easier.
- Sustain – maintaining these habits daily to prevent chaos from returning.
“I like this method because it goes beyond occasional tidying,” says Rebecca. “It’s a structure that makes continuous home organization easier.”
I had already tried several organization methods — including some well-known ones, such as the “dissolving caterpillar method,” one of my favorites. But I realized that 5S has an important difference: it was created to last. It’s not a one-time cleanup; it’s the construction of a system that works long term.
Testing the Japanese 5S method
I decided to apply the method in my home office, which also serves as a guest room and, honestly, as a storage area for everything that hasn’t yet found a permanent place.
I’m grateful to have this versatile space: it’s my working environment, but also the place where we store both temporary and permanent items. The heated drying rack and my partner’s sports equipment are kept there because there isn’t a better place for them. But this comes at a cost: the room is constantly messy.
I was really hoping the 5S method would help change that — and it did.
1. Sort
I started by taking everything out of place: I gathered in the center of the room every item that didn’t have a defined home. It looks chaotic, but it works. Seeing the accumulated mess forced me to make decisions quickly.
2. Set in order
This step was the most challenging, because I usually postponed deciding where each item belonged. But motivated by the promise of a calmer, more functional space, I persisted — and managed to put everything in its proper place.
3. Shine
The third “S” became my favorite. I usually separate cleaning from organizing, but the method made me do both at the same time. That surprised me — and saved a lot of time. I discovered that small, frequent cleanings make any space feel lighter.
4. Standardize and 5. Sustain
These are the hardest steps. My office/guest room would always become messy again within a few days. But as Ideal Home highlights in its analysis of the method, the last two “S” are exactly what guarantee long-term organization.
To standardize, I created a simple rule:
everything that ends up in the office must find a place within 24 hours. If it doesn’t have one, it should be moved to another room.
To sustain, I committed myself to short weekly tidying and cleaning sessions.
The result
I’m determined to continue using the 5S method — and confident that it will work in the long term. It’s a realistic, efficient method that truly transforms daily routines.
I can safely say I’ve become a fan of the Japanese 5S method.
And you — will you try it?
This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
