I tried the viral JACK decluttering method, and it instantly stopped me from hoarding things

We're not short on professional decluttering methods these days, and having tested most of them myself, I know each has its merits. But I'm always intrigued when I see a method that's gaining a lot of attention on social media, because it usually means it's doing something right. Lately, it seems that everyone is talking about the JACK decluttering method.

Decluttering enthusiasts and novices alike are swearing by this method as the ultimate way to curb the clutter and let go of items they no longer need. And now that we're officially in cosy season territory, I was only too eager to give the JACK decluttering method a go and see if it would help me restore order to my home for the winter months ahead.

How would it fare up against the other decluttering trends I've tried lately, from the 'decision fatigue' and upside-down methods to the 'use it up' rule? After putting it to the test, I'm pleased to say the JACK method has firmly earned its place in my decluttering toolkit.

What is the JACK decluttering method?

When I first heard about the JACK decluttering method, I was initially a little confused. It turns out this isn't a method named after someone – it's an acronym, with each letter proposing a different action we take when decluttering items:

• Justify: find a real reason for keeping something
• Assign: give every item a distinct role or job
• Contain: put the item in a fixed, specific place
• Keep (or let go): decide firmly whether it stays based on the previous steps

There are several variations of this method online, and like most of my favourite decluttering techniques, the JACK method can be adapted to suit your needs.

Once I knew what the acronym stood for, I could instantly see the appeal. Any method that asks us to justify keeping something can work wonders, whether we're decluttering the bedroom or decluttering books. Trying to find a fixed place for something can really make us think about whether or not we want to keep it.

Before using the JACK decluttering method, I wanted to ask an expert whether they thought the method had grounds. Professional declutterer Shannon Murphy, founder of Simpl Living Co, says it definitely has potential.

"I think the JACK method is a useful starting point for someone beginning to declutter," she says. "The idea of asking yourself why you’re keeping something and having an honest conversation with yourself is particularly valuable."

But Shannon warns, the idea of having to 'assign' a place for everything might not work. "Not everything in our homes needs to have a practical purpose or a specific job. We might keep something because it’s sentimental, because we love how it looks, or simply because seeing it makes us feel good," she says.

That's interesting food for thought, and it definitely made me intrigued to see how I would get on trying the JACK decluttering method myself.

Trying the JACK decluttering method

The first place I tried the JACK decluttering method was in our home office, which also houses our wardrobes. I've started storing odd items on top of the wardrobes for lack of a better place, but this makes the whole room feel messy and disorganised.

I start by taking everything down and trying the 'Justify' step. This forced me to get real – what was my actual reason for storing these items?

I had old photos, stationery, books, and some early Christmas presents on top of the wardrobe, most of which I could justify keeping. But I also had filled-up notebooks from several years ago and random toiletries I couldn't even remember buying, which I couldn't think of a solid reason for keeping.

Next, I 'assigned' a role or job for each item. After talking to Shannon, I decided not to take this step literally and simply thought about what I was keeping each item for. Old photos, for example, don't have a useful 'purpose', but I'm never going to get rid of them because they're nice to look back on.

The 'contain' step was a little trickier. The advice I've seen online concerning this part of the method says we should find a fixed, limited place for each item, like one drawer or shelf. If it doesn't fit in that space, it means we have too much of the item and can let some of them go.

For example, I have a specific cupboard for storing my books in the living room, but they'd started spilling into the home office because the cupboard was full. This made me stop and think about why I was keeping so many books when I didn't really have space. Because I rarely read a book twice, I decided it was time to let the books on top of the wardrobes go.

Once I'd made the final decisions on what was staying and what was going, I was much happier with how the space looked. The tops of the wardrobes are almost empty, except for the Christmas presents, but given that these won't be in my home forever, I was happy to keep them there.

I also decided to try the JACK method in our hallway. I always like to organise the hallway for winter because of the bulkier coats and shoes we store there, and lately it's been a bit of a struggle to get coats on and off the overcrowded pegs.

Working through each step of the acronym, I decided to get rid of one coat, and then spent some time shifting things around in various wardrobes so that not every coat had to live in the hallway.

Decluttering success doesn't necessarily mean getting rid of the most items; it can simply mean reorganising and making the most of the space we have (which is what the wardrobe editing trend teaches us).

As my hallway is now looking much neater, I'd call the JACK decluttering method a success.

Verdict: should you try the JACK decluttering method?

All in all, I'm a fan of this method. I found the JACK acronym provided a really useful framework for structuring the decluttering process and encouraging me to think about what I was storing and why. If we don't have a reason to keep an item, or if we can't find the right place for it, it's probably time to let it go.

That said, I don't think you need to stick to the rules of the JACK decluttering method rigidly. Use it as a starting point, and if you get stuck on any of the steps, try to work through them in a way that suits you. Any progress you make towards organising your home is a win.