Decluttering Methods that ACTUALLY WORK! 

Thanks for being here, friends! Leave in the comments below any decluttering methods that have been helpful for you. I always love more ideas! :)

I have adhd and chronic illness. Im an ex hoarder & artist. If I pick things that spark joy everything is an art project, anything that means stopping and leaving the room *squirrel* ain’t happening. This is what decluttered my hoarder house… every time I get up to pee/drink I scooped up 1 box of stuff. I sat on my bed watching TV (reward) and sorted the box with 2 questions. If I had to move out today, would I pay to move it? Can I live without this?If there is a no and a yes… trash. Husband takes the bag out for me. Done

I’ve listened to several of the professional organizers on RU-vid over the last year as inspiration and support for my own decluttering journey. I definitely prefer focusing on one small area at a time. I’ve let go of hundreds of items this way while being very CAREFUL not to shop mindlessly. That’s a key point….lots leaving, less coming in. My home is so relaxing and beautiful for sticking to this method.

One of Dana K White’s most important points is you have to ask yourself when decluttering, “Where would I look for this if I needed it?” And put it there.

I am also in that season of life. I am soon to be 69 and I remember when my sisters and I had to go through my mom’s house when she passed..it was so overwhelming. I now think about what my kids would have to do if/when I pass. I really don’t want them to have to go through what we did. It really helps with the decluttering.

Another hack, especially for procrastination, is to create a decluttering/organising ritual. Light a candle, listen to a podcast, wear specific clothes, listen to music, all these things will become a habit that, in time, will help kick you into gear at a time you least feel like getting started. :)

I just started the 20/10 method a few days ago and for me, this is it. I use it for cleaning as well as decluttering, and the progress I've made in just a few days is amazing. And all without feeling overwhelmed ! It's been like a miracle for me. And if you're tired, it doesn't have to be 20/10 . You can make it 15/10 or 10/10 if you want to ,and still make a lot of progress.

Julie Morgenstern's book Organizing from the Inside Out has great chapters, some early ones about maybe the paychology behind keeping way too much stuff, and middle chapters about her SPACE method: Sort, Purge, Assign a home, Containerize, Equalize (check up on every so often). She explains why doing those steps in that order works very well!

This video gets GOLD! 🏅 It puts all these methods in a nutshell and so clear!

At this stage of my life I am better off to pick a cabinet or drawer and declutter a little at a time.

Apparently, the brain processes clutter as "MUST DO URGENTLY" because it is a "problem" that needs an "actionable solution" continuously right in front of your eyes. But since we have no time to solve the problem, we shove it out of our consciousness. That is why it is so incredibly stressful to have clutter consistently in our lives: you are adding THIS humming stress on top of all our other "urgently must be done" things in our brains. It can feel overwhelming SO quickly, especially to those with ADHD/creatives. We have such horrible executive function skills to begin with.

You did a great job explaining and summarizing each of the different methods. Thank you😊

I'm 73 y.o. Always had a house in order but lately I feel that I must get rid of things that are no longer essential to my retired life. We are only two in my 7 rooms, 2 bathrooms house. Dear hubbie is still working so I most often then not am in charge of keeping the house tidy. So, what I feel better for my season of life are the No mess Method (Dana K. White) and the 20/10. Without being aware of this last method, I already kind of practice it. I would take 15 minutes of cleaning, or decluttering, and then 10 minutes of "me time" and then go back to my task. I find it less stressful and more enjoyable. Many thanks.

The 20-10 method helps deal with decision fatigue.

I have Subscribed to you, and given you a thumbs up. I also follow Clutter bugs, and am a butterfly, which means I like to see my things out that I love, so could never live in a minimalist way, but I live in a small home, where the downstairs is totally open plan as one room, so there is a tiny kitchen, and a sitting room, and a small space where a dining table could go. The front door opens directly into this, so any mess is very visible! I have also tried the other methods that you suggested, and have books on the subject, and they all help in their own ways, but I find it is hard when you live alone, and have no one to call on for help - I live alone with my rescue greyhound Madge. I can not afford to get anyone else to help me, and do not have a car, live in a rural isolated spot, and only go out of the house to walk Madge, and take my rubbish to the end of the lane, due to my sever anxiety about leaving the house. I live on my pension, as I am 67 years young, and have no spare cash to get folk to come and take away things I want to donate, and I have tried getting the charity shop to come and pick up the things from me, but they have so few resources, that they can not do this. But I am gradually selling some bits on my local face book page, which is a free site, and folk can come and pick the items up from me. I will get there one day, and everything gone, is another good thing. Thanks for your video, and I shall be following you. Blessings from Jilly & Madge the rescue greyhound, from a sunny West Devon, England. xxx

I love Julie Morgenstern's Organizing From the Inside Out. Works for everything including organizing and decluttering your schedule. I've tried lots of different ways and they all have their season but Julie's method sticks with me. It is very psychological. As im a psychotherapist, writer and artist perhaps that is why it endures for me. I really appreciate analyzing the why of our spaces or the 'clarify' as you say!

No mess method here. Didn't know were I would be without it. Especially with small kids.

I've just used the onion method and peel away more and more layers as I'm ready.

Not mentioned in your video but swedish death cleaning has been a game changer for me and also if I were to move would I take this with me.i have purged so much stuff this summer with just these two methods.

I’m a fan of Dana K White. I’ve been decluttering my house for decades. I used to use the method you mentioned first which was when I would get so angry with the clutter in our home I would just start purging. I have rented a dumpster on more than one occasion to get rid of the excess stuff in our home. Unfortunately my husband decided to become a prepper after I had done a massive declutter in our home. It paid off during the 2020 lockdown nonsense, but I still need to purge what I can. We are hoping to move within the next five years so I want to lighten the load now. I’ve never used the method of pulling everything out before decluttering. Making a bigger mess first doesn’t work for my personality. However, I never went as far as Dana with her take it there now approach until recently, after watching her videos. She makes perfect sense to me. The great thing about you covering all of these different methods is that it can give hope to someone who has failed in the past because they used a method not suitable to their personality. We all need to remember “if you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you always got! Try a new method, you might be surprised at how it could work for you. Happy Decluttering!

No mess method for sure!

Dana K. White's No Mess method works for anyone, but is super helpful for those of us who tend to get sidetracked and/or don't have a lot of time to devote to decluttering. She does talk about defining the space/room as you approach decluttering it. This way you know what stays and what needs to go to another room....or out the door!

Something that helps me to organize and declutter without getting overwhelmed: I pick a particular spot that's packed or out of control, say my clothes closet with way too many clothes. I look at and touch each piece of clothing just briefly. I don't take much time or think about it much but clothes that stand out to me that I have not worn or need mending or I don't like anymore , I just pick out and put them in the "discard"pile. It would take me 5 or 10 minutes. I don't remove all my clothing from the closet I just look at each piece and remove what I don't want or need. That's all I do for that session. Than maybe the next day I do the same thing and put a little more thought and discernment as I eliminate a few more things. My next session, I look again and I have usually elimated at least 1/3 of the clothes and now I have room to organize the closet. The key for me is to not overthink it and to spend no than 10 minutes at a time. I do this with other areas, too, like kitchen cabinets, ultility closets ect. It works for me as I can get overwhelmed easily. Also, I don’t have to put it off if I only have a small amout of time because it's done in short sessions.

I’ve watched a million videos to find the perfect solution to finally declutter, purge and organize, I’m still searching but I love this video and how down to earth you are! I don’t feel like I’m listening to a collage lecture while thinking, I could never achieve what they’re talking about! Hard to explain but I just wanted to tell you, I’m subscribing to your channel, you actually make everything you explain, obtainable and just have a relatable & calming way.. Thank you!

I love that you put all of these methods into one video! I have tried them all! For me it is very dependent on the room or area I am decluttering. I am a huge fan of Dana K White and her no mess method. She describes herself so incredibly well and that helps me to relate to her. Sometimes I use Conmarie for specific categories. I’ve used the Home Edit in some spaces and that makes my heart swoon! I will add the 20/10 to any method I am using.

20 / 10 sounds like pomodoro. Great tips thanks.

Glad I stopped by today! It was worth it, thank you!❤

All great methods 😁 I generally follow Dana the most, Flylady Kat, the tidy tutor Kathy Roberts and Clutterbug ❤️

Dana K White's method is brilliant

I have ended up doing some major cleaning out of my china cabinet and music shelf and cabinet. I threw away some old music, put a pile away, and have two boxes of china and other things that are going to Goodwill. Why? Because we are having hardwood floors put down , today, in our dining room and music room. I'm so excited! The floor people even put felt pads on all of my furniture, in those rooms. I have new area rugs to put down....one under the baby grand piano, and an 8x10 in the dining room, under the table. I put a new lamp shade on our lamp. My hubby said, "wow! That makes it look a lot more modern!"

You explained Dana’s system well. I didn’t fully understand why she would take the item to the place she would look for it. That makes sense-if you have very little time , it works perfectly

Nice video, thank you for sharing.

Just heard about having another body in the room-either actively helping or simple BEING there as a supportive person-maybe reading a book. I've tried all kinds of methods-and in 5 years (in a house a family grew and left) great progress is evident. Yet there is so much more....endless but no longer daunting.

In my mid 50s now and I find the Kon Marie method is ideal for my home . Having collected so much stuff over the years I find that going through say all the bedding in one big pile helps . Same with clothes and books . Helps me focus on what I need to get rid of .

I'm so glad that I discovered this video and your channel! The No Mess method is just what I need and what I've been doing today and this video was my 10 min. break! (I didn't know that the No Mess method or 20-10 was a "thing." I was just doing it this way today and so your video helps me to feel as if I'm moving in the right direction. Thanks!) Yes, I'm subscribing🤗

This video is just what I absolutely needed today!! You popped up out of nowhere. Now, I’m subscribed, with all notifications on. I’ve also shared with a few others…that know the struggle is real!!!! I don’t know about any of you, but I live with the “Progress Police Chief”, the hubs. Need I say more? 🙄 *20/10 (maybe 30/10), will be my go to for today. IMO, it addresses setting a realistic goal to start with. *My new normal/mindset, has to be…regular maintenance will help make me successful at maintaining. Thanks again❣️

Deniece Schofield & Don Aslett. I learned a lot from them in the early-mid 90’s, before the flylady.

No mess Method combined with the 20/10 🤩🥰

I’m going to try the 20/10 method. 😊

Thank you Betsy! Im going to try the 20/10 method. Great video ❤

While not actually pulling everything out, an overall house plan could help - draw up a houseplan and write in each room what would be the most logical place (the first place you would think to look for it) for categories of items - then you can at least get the things that need to stay to that room. ❤

Great vid easy watching ❤Thanks❤

I always Clarify. I did it without thinking about it. Just seemed like common sense. Great video!

Thank you

Wow amazing video. Thank you 🙏 ❤

Excellent video❤❤❤❤

Thank you for all these great decluttering tips !! I’m overwhelmed, but don’t want to leave my kids all my stuff… my house is full of other peoples stuff too… my brother, my mother , my kids, their exes…& I’m a collector of “things I might need someday “, crafting items I’m going to get to when I’m retired… tools, books, etc… I have family coming in a couple months …I have to get a handle on this !! It keeps me awake at night !!

This is such a great video, Betsy! I need to do this to my basement closet so bad 😂

thank you ... today my kids will help out. summer break & its time for some family bonding and lessons . we going with 20/10 method

I just subscribed, I am not a young mom, all my kids are on their own but the house still has stuff for them. I will be working toward having the mess not be left for them. Lots of tasks to do. I use Dana;s method. Is primo, and the 20-10 sounds good.

I will try this method. Thx

Love your challenge. Thank you for being here 🎉

Love Dana K White 's book. Decluttering at the speed of life. ❤

loved it ! New subscriber. Off to do 20 minutes of decluttering!

What's interesting is I think I do all this methods all at once, lol (adhd, which I swear Dana has, and she's said many have told her she also has), but today I'm going to throw that 20/10 on my timer and try that, because that's really helpful when you have those invisible illnesses...so while it's somewhat like pomadora (sp) technique, I haven't tried it for an all day experience and I'm really enticed by those 10 minute fun breaks. And why this hasn't occurred to me, despite giving my homeschoolers "brain breaks"...Idk...I'm a mom I guess, that's my answer. haha

I love Dana K White but the no mess method didn’t work for me when I was doing my initial big declutter because I needed to see what I was dealing with. The Core 4 is more like what I do. But Minimalista intrigues me.

First time on your channel and will Subscribe but would like to suggest at the beginning you introduce yourself - first name only is fine. Thank you for putting this post together. You did a great job with the entertaining clips you added. ❤

I like the 3rd method

I absolutely loved this! Could you please tell me where you purchased your map? Tysm! I am doing 20/10!

I'm actually making dinner while listening to this.

I am drawn to Dana Whites but I don't know more than you mentioned.

❤❤❤

I have everything questionable on the edges of my living room and I’m going in a circle and dealing with it. It is my last layer so I have to force myself. I will skip over it if it is in its home. When I’m in maintain mode is when I can use the no mess method. I do that in my kitchen.

20/10 or 15/5 (for those of us with Task avoidance 😩) Yes!!! using a timer . Stop !!! Take a break . Get out of the room get some water, tea, coffee, play w pet. Then go back! ☺ Repeat.

I've done the Kon mari method, but seem to get stuck on the books, never can get through papers yet!

I've been on a path for years now, once the "baby" chapter of life ended. My biggest obstacle has now become getting rid of stuff that's just too big for my space. Selling is hard-there's a lot of scammers out there and I can't see throwing away or donating stuff just to be rid of it. I'm currently at a dead end bc I refuse to bring the smaller stuff I want in before I get rid of the stuff that's suffocating me.

Where did you get that map?

Which method do you prefer?

Even marie Kondo herself admitted her method wasn't much help after having children 😅

Yes ! Dana K White . Start w trash , non emotional, first, then step 2 , etc . NOT pulling tons of stuff out, TOO overwhelming for some of us. Too Taxing on our brains.

Is that all you do is talk?? No thanks!!

how does a decluttering video add so much clutter to the video itself

🍅 The 20/10 Method sounds like a take on "Pomodoros." If you've seen any videos/books on the productivity side of RU-vid (especially in academia), then you've heard of this. [I've used Pomodoros in the past as a grad student, and it does help you focus! There are even multiple websites/apps with timers online, so I would look for those. 🍅 Pomodoro means "tomato" in Italian and was an idea created by an Italian, so you'll probably see lots of those, LOL!] The Pomodoro Method is typically based on 25/5 minutes instead, but you can obviously change it up however works best for you. The idea is that you stay focused for that time on whatever you're studying--in this case, decluttering. A typical study schedule might be four sets of 25/5 minutes then a half-hour break; others might do two sets of 50/10 and then take a break. It all depends on you and your tolerance for sitting there and the difficulty of what you're studying. Well, same with this, right? Declutter for whatever length of time you determine is right for you, then take breaks. The five-minute short breaks are great to go to the bathroom or get a drink while the longer breaks allow you to get something to eat, stretch, etc. I've been struggling to get some decluttering done that I've wanted to take care of for a while now, but I never thought of using Pomodoros to do it. It's actually a great way to pace yourself! You can plan to work for one session, or "Pom," or you can plan to work/study the entire day. What helps is knowing that your breaks are scheduled. You have more frequent short breaks, and then longer ones to eat. YOU are actually the one in control of how long you declutter and how long your breaks are as well as how many times you repeat this. That's the beauty of it! I know it worked for school, so I'm sure it will help with decluttering! Thanks so much! 🙏💜