@@deyanideydreaming you can call your shelter to double check. I called some of my local shelters and they gave me the green light to bring my old towels, pillows, blankets, linens, and even my partly used cleaning supplies
My 6-year-old daughter just glanced at the screen and "Oh my gosh. Look at her. She's beautiful." Every woman loves to hear that so I thought I'd share. Btw, I'm really enjoying your videos!
I have so much cheap costume jewelry, I will wear a piece and keep a little mesh bag in my purse and the first compliment on it I receive ... Even if it's a total stranger I will take it off and place it in the gift bag and give it to them! I am telling you, the piece will never be missed and you will make that persons day!! I do this all the time with necklaces and bracelets!! With love from Azerbaijan
I had a customer give me her necklace when I was at work because I'd complimented her on it, (and it wasn't cheap, she told me she'd paid £100 for it!) I have worn it so much and I love it, a) it's beautiful and b) it reminds me that people can be lovely.
Eileen, do you mean that's a good thing to do with free samples? Or just I'm nice and I do this :) (my mind wanders too much so I think I missed something). How do you afford the backpacks? I'd like to do this.
Love your channel. After 10 years in the same house and accumulating a plethora of clothing, cooking ephemera and decorative objects, I made the decision to downsize in advance of relocating to a warm climate after retirement. The first thing I did was pack up my career clothing and call Salvation Army to pick up the 100 bags of clothing and shoes. The second thing I did was order a dumpster and I ruthlessly went through every closet, pantry and storage space. I am amazed at how easy it is now to clean my house and I also no longer feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of "stuff" weighing me down.
For those with declutter anxiety, try the halfway concept. Where you put whatever item in a box and put it away, in the garage or closet. If you haven't touched it in a few months then you are safe to donate. I have an old laundry basket on the top corner shelf of my closet where these things gather over a few months, then I take the whole basket into the thrift store to donate when I'm switching seasons. I usually feel SO much better doing this!
Started to declarer over a year ago....after a while I realised my mind also needed to free space.... And my work, especially the people I was working for filled up so much cuter in my mind....so one morning I was pushed to the limit and I finally gave my notice to resign. 6 months later I started my own business that keeps me happy.
Melissa, I literally just finished cleaning my small apartment. It was a disaster! But your videos are so encouraging and thanks to my mom. After 4 hours or close to that my apt is pretty clean and I feel great! I hope you will keep these videos coming! Thanks for your help!
I'm a young italian woman and I've always lived with my parents. I always clean the house, as my parents both work full time everyday. But next week my mom is free and we would like to declutter the garage. Really messy, full of boxes and my sister's childhood games and dolls. My dad needs also some space to store his extra furniture (he's an antique furniture restorer, don't know if it's right, english is not my motherlanguage sorry). Our garage needs also an extra pantry to store canned goods and wines. Thank you if you are reading this! :)
My entire life needs decluttered! Thank you for the inspiration. It feels good knowing I'm not a total failure when I don't achieve what I think I should every day, lol!
I need to declutter my entire house. We have twenty three plus years of combined crap in our itty bitty house. I'm a combination pack rat/slob/borderline hoarder. I like your ideas for just tossing a few items at a time. I really need to declutter my shoes, makeup, & toiletries. I've also lost 100 lbs, so I need to declutter my closet. 😳😳😳
I've been doing the Konmari method and it's great. The garage, however, is kind of a separate scary entity so husband and I are taking everything out, sorting, tossing, donating, keeping and then putting the rest back. I can't believe my husband was willing to do this. He gets so mad when I ask him if we can organize the garage. It's mostly his stuff and lots of it is stuff from his deceased loved ones that he has avoided dealing with. He decided it was time, even if it was a hard process and it is. I'm proud of him and I'm looking forward to a less cluttered garage. He collects information--CDs, DVDs, paper, magazines, newspapers, etc. Can't wait until this project is finished!
One use for a single sock (esp a tube sock) is to fill it part way with uncooked rice, tie a knot in it to close it, and now you have a microwaveable heating pad for neck aches etc. You can also freeze it and use it as a cold pack. Obviously, there's no need to keep dozens of socks for this purpose though. ;)
Always donate your old towels to pet shelters or veterinary hospitals. they need towels and blankets desperately. i always donate linens to my vet and local shelters. they are more than greatful! and you'll feel better too.
Mish L no prob.. tell your friends too. my vet loves me for it. she said they go thru towels and blankets quickly because of emergencies with lots of blood. they can't reuse those towels.
But keep one of the old towels in the boot of your car. A lady once helped me after a dog ran in front of my car and go hit. We used the towel as a way to carry the dog to the car without pressing its injuries too much. She always keeps old towels in the car, because she volunteers to pick up wounded wildlife when someone reports finding one. I keep just one old towel in the car now, in case I have an opportunity to help an animal another time.
As a former volunteer for the RSPCA and a veterinary nursing student - I just wanted to confirm that those places WILL LOVE your old sheets/towels/blankets/throws and like Melissa said, probably even your pillows! (Rescues or other animal carers will ESPECIALLY love your stuff! If your small local vet clinic isn't interested, it may simply be because they already have enough old towels etc. So don't take one 'no' as a 'no' for other animal carer locations or charities!)
clothes... we use single socks/socks with holes as polishing rags or for cleaning the car etc. you get double use and if you have to throw it away it wasn't expensive and it was plenty used so no guilt for throwing away a perfectly good rag/washcloth
I thought I was through cleaning up my closet. But I didn't get all of it. I went through my Fall side and I donated 1 big black bag of clothes today. Thanks again for your help and support.
Thanks for tip on giving old pillows to an animal shelter. Could you do a video on disposing of tricky items in a more environmental friendly way. I recently found out that you don't have to throw out your odd socks or ripped shirts. If you can't donate something to goodwill you can bring them to H&M where they have a recycling program. I'm always stumped by where to donate good toiletries I don't use anymore and how to recycle something like an old steak knife. Can you recycle those? Is it safe to the workers who handle them? What about household cleaners that you don't use anymore?
Local women's shelters may take toiletries, cosmetics, makeup depending on item. I took some unopened/sample size things there before as well as hair products and nail polish that don't come sealed anyway. I have more to donate but not sure if they'll take them. I am told many women will appreciate gently used items even if opened, so if you go to donate and they don't take them "officially", there will usually be women there who will happily take them directly. It makes sense as so many things can be sanitized anyway. I haven't tried that myself though so far. I'm a bit nervous about these things for some reason!
Sorry to post in separate messages, if you have bras that don't fit (as so many women wear the wrong size, even those like me who read those stats and thought that'd never be me!) Soma stores take those in decent shape for women in need.
Melissa everytime I watch your videos I get that spark that makes me clean like crazy! I'm trying minimalist for a year or so and I'm so happy I came a cross with your video. Thank you your videos are great and well explain!!!❤️👍🏼
I keep my hair ties on a shower curtain ring (carabiners work too) in my medicine cabinet or drawer, and just a handful of spare ones in a baggie under the bathroom sink. It's super handy.
My top tip for hair ties: Put all of them on your hairspray can and do not buy more than these unless they break. That way you can always see them and keep track of them. And you do not buy more unnecessarily.
I did that when we got divorced 17 years ago. Then progressed on to their Xmas decorations. It was hard. No, it was brutal. I bought a couple of those plastic containers. Then I bought a couple of BIG plastic drawers. As I went through the house over the years if I found something I put it in their assigned drawer. So much easier than moving boxes around. Just open the drawer and pop it in. They are now both full and I'm still finding stuff. Time to buy two more drawers.. I save the papers that I remembered them making and remembered them giving to me. Just a few from each grade. I had a separate folder for their awards and grade cards. Hope this helps.
Oh my word! I have been so proud of my decluttering skills. We have even done KonMarie. Well, you caught me. I have been juggling PILLOWS! My linen closet is full of old pillows....the kind that are lumpy from being washed and dried! They will be leaving this week! Thanks!
Yes, I would love see more videos on the minimalist life. We’ll be moving into a retirement community in about four years and our new apartment will be about 700 square feet smaller than our house is now. We’ve begun decluttering but would love more encouragement and ideas in this area. Thanks!! I LOVE your videos!!
You continue to dazzle! Thank you for reminding me of these things - 9 of which I could improve upon - because they're actually the low-hanging fruit of clutter-dum if we will but see ;'). And then there's paper. .... Finally, a year after kinda early retiring, I'm able to take a much harder look at copies of old projects etc that have been hanging around, I guess in case my last employee threatens to take back my money unless I prove I'd been working...Or did I think I'd sit here browsing thru this stuff 3 hours a day, reliving the memories...really? Unfortunately, these joined some other stacks of important papers I really do have to go through...But I will feel so empowered if I start lobbing those old pillows out the window, yep. Built up quite a collection myself over the years, still searching for the perfect one for a problematic neck, y'know, and these include essentially new ones that just didn't test well yet others do not flock to claim from me...So, here, puppies, enjoy :")....(Thank you guys for the continuing inspiration :').
I was sat at my dressing table and instantly threw the broken/damaged hair ties, pulled out and put the samples where I will use them up and will be working my way through other decluttering 😄 thanks
I couldn't stop laughing. 1) fits me. 2) fit me, 3) fits me etc. I FINALLY got to the point of getting rid of stuff. I'm only 70 years old. lol I painfully got rid of a few books by giving them to our library for a book sale. Then I gave some things to our local boys and girls club thrift store. Almost fainted when they sold one of my ancient African hand carved masks for $300. (We are talking small town in the middle of nowhere.) Did I almost faint because I gave it away, no, it actually made me feel great and I keep giving them stuff. I've been going there with stuff a couple of times a week. My beautiful Italian shoes that hadn't fit me for the last 40 years or so, sold the same day. (They actually price the items using the internet, so they are not giving them away for nothing, unless it's junk.) Knowing that those kids will benefit makes me feel good. I suggest that people find a place that makes them feel good about giving nice things and I don't mean some random place like Goodwill, which doesn't really help anyone, because it's a good motivator. (I only started a month ago.) Needles to say I enjoyed your video.
I am so happy I found your channel!! you have inspired me to be so much more conscious of my cleaning habits. I am so motivated to clean immediately after watching your videos!! I love all of them. I also love your cleaning cloths!! I use them all the time and feel so much better about not using paper towel!! Thanks so much for sharing your advice!!
Let's not forget to donate to GoodWill, ARC, Homeless Shelters, Women's Shelters, Animal Shelters (they need towels and blankets) and to recycle during all of this decluttering. Knowing that others will enjoy the item more than you can really help the process. And recycling whatever can't be donated can make you feel good, too. Good deed for the day! Check with your local trash and recycling provider to find out about large electronics like TVs, many stores that sell electronics have small-electronics recycling boxes near the front of the store for remotes, old cell phone, old CDs etc. Results of my decluttering day: -7 boxes and a 50 gallon trash bag to the Good Will -2 boxes to recycling -1 box to small-electronics recycling -2 boxes of books and crafty stuff to friends It was a good day and I felt so much better once it was out of my living space!
Books are the main thing I need to declutter! I studied literature at university and I've accumulated A LOT of books, many of them unread. I do read a lot, but there are some books I always pass over. So that's my next big declutter! And... helping my other half declutter. He's a bit of a hoarder. I'm sure this has been suggested many times but if anyone needs motivation, I love listening to The Minimalists podcast while cleaning. I started off thinking it was a little extreme (looking mainly at you, Josh), but over time I've worked out it's something I aspire to. Definitely helps get me in the decluttering headspace!
I am the worst about keeping lots of everything BUT I've been decluttering my entire house slowly. Here is a list of what I've trashed, donated, or gifted. 1. Plastic cups (free ones from restaurants). 2. Old coats (My hubby had several from high school that he had a hard time parting with) 3. Clothes that no longer fit (I kept thinking eventually I'd lose the weight but I didn't) 4. Shoes (which you mentioned in this vid) 5. Expired baking and canned food products 6. Make up and beauty products 7. PAPERS...This is my biggest problem area. (My mom passed away 6 years ago and I still had her old paper clutter! WHY, did I hang on to that mess???? Additionally, I still had my paper trail to contend with) It's a long journey but every time I give something away or throw out items, I feel amazing. I love watching these types of vids for inspiration and motivation to keep moving forward and getting rid of the clutter and gain a peaceful mind. Keep up the great work!.
Carolyn Durbin what is it with men and coats?! My Hubby won't let me get rid of any of his even though he goes for the same one every time! 🙄 well done on all your progress xxxx
Carolyn Durbin I've bought him a 'man box' which sits in the bottom of his wardrobe. He's allowed to keep ONE of each wire and ONLY if we've got them in the house already and might need to replace them! I'm getting there slowly but surely! I guess I'll have to keep working on the coats!xxxx
I’m a crafter. I have a whole closet for my crafts. A box for each category. My struggle with decluttering this space is that everything is organized. I may not at this moment have a need for periwinkle blue yarn but I have it and know where it is. I buy things on sale because buying in the moment is expensive. There’s always room for more because I’m constantly using it. I guess my question is when does a hobby become clutter?
I just did a major decluttering this last week. Some of those cutest single socks I have I'm planning on filling with rice and sewing them shut to make little reusable, microwaveable heat pages/hand warmers! What I need to declutter? Paper. I do a lot of doodling and always have a ton of loose papers!
I think you covered this one before but things from past relationships 🙈. I told my therapist I would tackle this, it's been 2 weeks and I haven't lol. Alright guys, wish me luck!
When my Dad passed, I was outraged that all of his knowledge went with him. He was very intellectual. I determined that when I go, I would leave everything behind. I am doing that. At the same time I recognize that space is at a premium, so what I collect has to be rubber meets the road stuff. I'm constantly culling. I put everything on 3x5 cards, in 3x5 file boxes, & file by subject. Yes, I know there's the internet, but I'm tactile, & visual. I need to focus on what's truly profound. That's easier said than done, but writing this has clarified my course of action, & freed me up to let things go. Thank you for your show.
I just did a major decluttering this summer. Sold a ton of crap a yard sale, threw a bunch more away. And have had to buy about 10 things I've needed that I got rid of thinking I'd never use them. lol But I really loved the clean unclutteredness of it all while it lasted.
I have actually been decluttering both physically in my home and digitally and it's the best thing I have ever done (especially digitally). It feels so calm not to have so much going on around you.
I need to declutter my entire house! OUr youngest is off to college and we are left with twenty years of clutter. It doesn't help that my husband is pushing from packrat to hoarder, and I tend to hoard craft stuff. We are moving next year, so we need to seriously declutter and minimalize! I'll be watching every single video!
I really need to declutter my old photos and negatives! I never seem to find the time, space or mental energy to sort through them. Setting myself up to scan the important ones and then sort the digital ones (I probably have more digital than printed ones these days) into a sensible system seems so daunting. Thanks for your ideas and inspirations.
I feel terrible now. I have no attachments to materials. Can be anything. I love to declutter but unless I can sell it I usually just throw it out into the recycling bin or keep it on the curb for the truck that collects non recyclable items. I have only donated a few bags of branded almost new winter clothes to the Salvation Army and orphanage boxes. Otherwise I toss things out without giving it a second thought. For instance if I'm cleaning the kitchen counter and come across a toy, I toss the toy into the trash! I should really start donating more. Thanks Melissa. And everyone else. Your comments made me realize how oblivious I have been.
Thanks for giving me a start! May Day became mayday, mayday as I was buried under the clutter from the hall closet. Finished cleaning and sorting then tossing the big ten! Feel great! Back pantry is next. I have empty space in my closet!!! Amazing!!!
I have a lot of clothes! A lot of tank tops! A lot of Camis! A lot of jeans! So I've Decluttered over the years by reducing my amount slowly so it's not too overwhelming for myself. I've reduced my pile of tank tops from 80 to 60 to 40! This has made decluttering and purging easier to do!
I have started decluttering several months ago. Still have so much to do! Problem I have is not having a cooperative partner in this one area. But I am not giving up!
I've entered my 4th week of decluttering, organizing, and deep cleaning. It's hard work, and slow going, but it's getting done. I've had a lot of fun, and have watched many of your videos along the way. I've 2.5 rooms left: Family room, hubbies bathroom, and under the sink in the kitchen...ugh. Thank you for the helpful hints, and the cleaning motivation. My home was super neglected while I was at the University, graduated in 2016 - double Bachelors. (woot). So, cleaning was a monumental job. Soooo many expiration dates..... Again, thank you!
Unless the thing is trash. I hated sorting thru donations of pit stained & torn clothing and broken items. People treat charities like landfills and need to stop.
I need to declutter the whole house. Had to recently move my dad in and well he had so much crap it took me 3 months to move him out of his apartment. Now some of his crap is here and some of it is in his storage. So yes, I need to declutter the whole house. Yes, its too overwhelming and I don't know where to start either, but I cannot keep living like this. There are days when I just want to light a match and walk away.
Omg yes!! Same! 😒 My dad is a hoarder who ended up homeless he has stuff between my house, both my sisters, his friends and storage 😧 Hes my main inspiration for decluttering!
Start with one project at a time - pick a room, get rid of anything that is expired. Move through your rooms and do the same. Next, do clothes then donatable household items. Start from impersonal to personal (documents etc.) Set a time limit per week (1 hr?) that you dedicate to decluttering and make a categorized list!
When we were moving, we used some organizations that pick up at your house! Was so much easier to do big purges. A little tip...they tell you to leave it at the curb but that attracted unwanted attention from people driving by who would stop at our house and dig through, so from then on I told them it would be behind the house. If you have lots of trash to where you can't bring it all bag by bag to the curb, you can also rent dumpsters. Hope that helps.
Kelli King Its so hard to get old people to let go of their stuff. I kept telling my mother that she didn't need enough stuff for 10 children and all her grandchildren any more-They have their own stuff. Still it takes stages and stages. Its no fun. Good luck.
I am decluttering every month if not every 10 days it s not an obsession but you will feel light 😊you can brith it s an amazing feeling and you will be more organised and clean
It's very important of "HOW to GET RID" of the stuff you're throwing. Please read about zero-waste lifestyle. All the products send to a "household hazardous waste facility ! Please do NOT throw away your stuff into a "general bin" - it will lay on the landfill for decades and impacts the environment! Please recycle!
my art supplies. I took an art class a long time ago and I was really into art or so I thought and now I still like art but I never use my art supplies no matter how much I try
I've decluttered almost all aspects of our house. Deciding if I want to get rid of some extra furniture and Holiday decor still needs to be done, but that's about it!
I have decluttered a lot of my things, FINALLY, but now my husband needs to do his part, if it'll happen. however I have two souvenir cups that I realized are bothering me when I put things away. I love to declutter!! some weeks I decluteres the walk in closet, it has stayed organized!! and I even got rid of so many clothes and shoes. I don't miss them!! its a pleasure to clean those uncluttered places, but they don't even get as messy anymore!
I've been slowly decluttering for the last year or so and it makes life so much easier. I've gone through clothes, toiletries, shoes, cleaning products, kitchen utensils, appliance, towels, bed sheets, etc.. One category I still have to go through are my books. I have so many books that I want to read or read again that I just hold on to them. The truth is that I can't find time to have a "me time" to sit, relax, and read without interruptions. So I hold on to them with the hope that the day will come. Lately I've purchased audio books instead to listen as I clean the house or workout. It is a great solution for me not to add any more books, but I am still debating what to do with the pile waiting to be read.
I periodically go through my “library” and if a book is one I will re-read, I will keep it. Once I read a book, I know. So if I won’t read that author again or that book it goes in the go-away box. I also love the feel of a real book in my hands as I’m reading, so I totally understand the difficulty of discarding, even to give it away.
I keep 10 pillows in a space bag in my closet, because I do have family stay from out of town, Space bags are a wonderful way to compress what you need to keep on hand. I slip in dryer sheets to keep things fresh smelling. I also switch them out once a year, buying Walmart $2.50 pillows. BTW...do you have children? I use my aging dish towels for rags. i keep a small pile of them, clean and folded in a container in my laundry room. Others get put in my recycle can. My favorite you tube channel is Do it on a Dime....she has amazing tips. I think I'll stick with watching her.
I am definitely guilty of keeping older pillows for 'emergency' purposes too, and having too many hair products that I don't use (mostly samples)...I am feeling inspired to get rid of some of them now! Also, on an un-related note, I love your earrings!
Computer room clutter has always been a challenge for us. Stuff like paperwork, important warranties, health records, proof of payment, printer paper, auto maintenance records, you name it. Plus it’s the room with a door that accumulates stuff that we can’t find a place for like guitars, trophies, amplifiers, legal papers, it’s overwhelming.
With important documents (tax stuff - keep for 7 years, certificates - keep forever etc.) file them. Bank statements, bills, and the like - keep them for a year and then shred. Switch to e-documents where you can and put a "No Junk/Solicitations" sign on your mailbox.
I am a paper crafter and it's difficult to purge my stash because 'I might need that for another project someday'. However, I've found great satisfaction in donating unused craft items and scraps to a local playschool who is more than grateful for the donation! As a matter of fact, they made me a Thank You card with some of the donated supplies. How cute!
Hi, my most challenging thing to declutter is all my "keepsakes". Those things that I tell myself I must keep because it's a special memory. Or came from a special person. I have a houseful of memories, starting with my children's kindergarten art (100's of pieces) to years of vacation souvenirs. And how do I convince my husband we don't need 15 frying pans? :D
Thank you Melissa this is really working for me. I remembered 3 of your Toss Today list (boxes, belts and hair ties ) I came back today to look at your list again, I remembered to write it down this time, thanks for your help.
Melissa, I need help to declutter toys! I have 4 girls ranging from 2 to 13 and its insane. I don't know what to keep and what to donate because every time I'm going through things I think they don't like anymore, they want to start playing with it suddenly. I end up calling it quits and the toys overrun every room in our house! Any advise/pointers would be much appreciated, you always seem to have the answer to anything cleaning/organizing 😀 Thanks.
A friend of mine had this same problem. What she did is take about one-quarter of the toys out (she let the children choose the first lot of toys). These were the toys the children kept. She then had the children choose another one-quarter of the toys and these were put into boxes (one for each child). The rest of the toys were given to a women's shelter for children there. Every six months the boxed toys were given to the children and the old toys were sorted through. What the children weren't playing with were given to the women's shelter. Before she started, she explained where the old toys were gong to go so the children actually felt good about giving them away. I'm not sure if this would work for you but it sure worked for her. :)
Sarah Kunkle Try this tip I just heard from another RU-vidr, doitonadime. Determine how much space you want to dedicate to toys (limit the space) and then your daughters pick what they want to keep in that space and play with on the regular, and at the same time ask them what they want to part with. The rest gets put into bins into storage (again, assign a limited storage space too). Then every few weeks or months, rotate the toys, so take out some of the toys from storage (they will seem like 'new toys' since they've been out of sight/out of mind) and store some of the current toys that they have become bored with. If there is anything that stays in storage a long time and never put back into 'circulation', donate it. Hope this helps, and good luck!
Teach your kids how to declutter! Toys that are broken need fixed or recycled, toys that are not being used can be donated. Show your kids how giving their unused toys can be a blessing to others! Doing it for them when they are not at home can upset them and actually create future hoarders! Keep it simple at first- toss one toy that is broken, donate one toy. The less they have, the easier it is to find the toys they love and play with and the easier it is to clean up! :)
You want a great idea for old towels, sheets, socks and curtains, donate them to a day care or church summer clubs! I do it! They appreciated everything!
