Japanese 5S method: your path to a calm, clutter-free home

A successful home refresh starts with understanding the best decluttering methods to ensure your clear out truly sticks.

Clearing out clutter that accumulates over time creates a space that feels organised, flows well, and supports everyday living.

In our ongoing Decluttering Series, we’re exploring popular decluttering methods to find what really works, with insights from lifestyle influencer and professional organiser Hazel Burton, aka @thehomereset.ie.

In this post, we’re diving into the Japanese 5S method, a timeless approach focused on lasting organisation rather than a quick fix. Hazel put it to the test in her own home and discovered how powerful this method can be for a long-term clear out.

What is the Japanese 5S method?

The Japanese 5S method might sound technical, but it’s really a simple approach to help you with your home clear out, and keep things organised for good.
It’s made up of 5 steps:

• Sort – go through the space you’re working on and remove anything that’s not really needed
• Set in order – arrange what’s left so it’s easy to find and use
• Shine – give the area a proper clean to refresh the space
• Standardise – create habits or systems that make it easy to keep everything neat

This isn’t just about tidying up once; it’s about changing how you think about clutter and organisation so your home clear out lasts longer.

Putting the Japanese 5S method to the test

Hazel started her 5S journey in the kitchen, a space that can quickly fall into disarray with daily use. To make sense of the clutter, she leaned into the five steps, taking a practical, no-nonsense approach to her decluttering.

Declutter tips inspired by the Japanese 5S method:

• Label everything you plan to keep so it doesn’t wander off course
• Use drawer organisers and storage containers to ‘set in order’
• Take ‘shining’ seriously – a clean space feels fresher and is easier to maintain
• Revisit weekly to ‘sustain’ your new system

Hazel began by clearing out expired foods and unused gadgets, a straightforward sort that created instant breathing room.

Next came setting in order: reorganising cupboards based on what she uses most often, making essentials more accessible.

To support long-term organisation, Hazel introduced clear labelling to help everything stay in its place. That’s where the Brother P-touch CUBE label maker came in. A compact, custom label printer that connects to a design app for easy, personalised label-making. From pantry jars to storage baskets, labels helped her create a system that’s both functional and visually satisfying.

The result? A kitchen that looks good and functions even better – one Hazel can maintain without starting from scratch every weekend.

The verdict

Hazel gave the Japanese 5S method a solid 9/10.

I found that by following the steps in order, it was surprisingly easy to implement. If I could change one thing, I’d move the ‘Shine’ step a little earlier in the process – cleaning before organising just feels more natural to me. But overall, I loved how simple and effective it was.

A great approach for anyone wondering how to declutter your home or looking for a no-fuss tidying-up method. It’s structured, satisfying, and with the right tools like a custom label printer – easy to maintain.

Ready to try it?

The key to making the 5S method stick? Systems. With Brother’s custom label printers, it’s easier to create storage solutions that work for the whole household. When everything has a place (and a label) you’ll spend less time searching and more time living.

Whether you're planning a full clear out or just looking for a way to declutter your home with more intention, the Japanese 5S method is a method worth trying – and one that truly flows better with Brother.