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Bettesworth Construction
90/90 rule

How to Use the 90/90 Decluttering Rule

Ask whether you used an item in the last 90 days and expect to use it in the next 90. If both answers are no, consider letting it go—unless its use is seasonal or occasional.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 2 min read

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The 90/90 rule is a quick way to decide whether to keep an item: ask whether you used it in the last 90 days and whether you realistically expect to use it in the next 90. If the answer to both is no, consider letting it go. It is a decision aid, not a requirement to discard every possession that has been sitting unused.

Apply the rule one item at a time

  1. Choose one possession and consider the role it actually serves in your life.

  2. Ask: “Have I used this in the last 90 days?”

  3. If you have not, ask: “Will I use it in the next 90 days?” Base your answer on a realistic expectation, not simply the possibility that you might need it someday.

  4. If both answers are no, consider letting it go. The Minimalists frame the decision around whether a possession serves a purpose or brings joy; the rule gives you permission to release it, not an order to do so. (The Minimalists’ 90/90 rule)

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Adjust the window for seasonal or occasional items

A fixed 90-day period can miss belongings used only at certain times of year. Seasonal clothing and holiday decorations, for example, may be useful even if their relevant season did not fall within the recent 90 days. Judge these items by the next realistic occasion you will need them, or choose a time window that covers their normal use cycle. (The Kitchn’s example of applying the rule to a closet)

Choose a period that fits the item

The Minimalists explicitly say the interval can be changed: it might be 120 days or six months instead of 90. Use a longer period when that better reflects how often the item is needed, and answer the future-use question honestly. (The Minimalists’ 90/90 rule)

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What the rule can—and cannot—tell you

The 90/90 rule is a heuristic for making an uncertain keep-or-let-go decision. The Minimalists’ official explanation does not provide a named statistic or study demonstrating that the rule improves decluttering outcomes, so treat it as a practical prompt rather than a proven measure of what you should own.

You do not need to buy anything to use it. Donation bags, bins, and labels may help organize a decluttering session, but they are optional supplies, not requirements of the rule. The Minimalists’ books page describes The Minimalist Rulebook as an optional collection of 16 rules for living with less; the 90/90 method can be used without it.

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