DeCluttering Your Home FASTER | How to Get Rid of Your Stuff 

I'm a 78 year old man, and I'd add this advice to much younger people, such as those that are just starting out and don't really own anything. First thing to understand is that everything you buy or acquire somehow will require some level of your time and space; the obvious thing is not to buy it in the first place. Live very frugally and carefully. All those shiny things come out of your income. Why buy a book when you can go to the library and get it for free and you aren't looking after it, lugging around for the rest of your born days, only at some point having to figure out how to get rid of it. Things used to cost a lot more, relatively speaking, than they do now. 'Cheap' is a drug: don't take it. Mini -storage businesses never used to exist; now they are everywhere and well used. They are full of 'stuff' cluttering people lives and that is one way to get it out of sight. Don't buy it in the first place!

I recently saw a comment on a channel by a woman who said that people are only decluttering because the books and media told them too. That they should keep their stuff. Spoken like a person who has not had to clear out a relatives home after they passed/had to move. I had to clear out my Grandmothers home as we needed to sell her home for her care. She led a spartan lifestyle (thank goodness), but it was still a lot of work. My FIL house had to be put up for sale for his care, he had more stuff than my Grandma. Not to mention the times I have helped friends clear out their relatives places. My Father passed and he had two storage lockers full of sports memorabilia plus a room at my parents house that was full. It took my sister and I around two years off and on to sell that stuff for our Mom. This put me over the edge. I do not want someone to have to go through what we went through on my behalf. I am not a hoarder, but had a lot of stuff. I am not, nor will I be, a minimalist by any means. However, I have managed to get rid of around 50% of our stuff. It is an ongoing process. Good luck everyone!

Clutter is a deadbeat roommate that never leaves the house and pays no rent.

To get rid of my stuff I had a yard sale. Everything was $1 Clothes, table, chair, skis, books……… Everything! I made $600 and got rid of 90% of my stuff. People were buying stuff they didn’t really need or want but it was only a dollar so they bought it anyway.

I donate to a thrift store where proceeds go to rescue and foster animals. Makes it easier to let go of things knowing it will save a kitten 🤷‍♀️

We bought our home in June of last year. We downsized our stuff considerably. We have nothing in storage, nothing in boxes, not even a junk drawer. Our garage only has our two cars and nothing else. It feels good that we have a very organized and clean home. I don't want to leave our son with a bunch of our stuff when we pass.

I couldn't DISAGREE more! I ONLY buy used stuff these days, for about 15 years now. I have found the most amazing treasures for a fraction of the cost of retail, and it is FUN! I found at Goodwill for example a beautiful, ornate, gold fireplace screen locally at Goodwill and paid about $35, later finding it in a Frontage catalogue for like $350! My whole house is full of pre-owned stuff. Why should I buy new crap made in China?!

Have been married twice. Both of my husbands felt entitled to "help" me purge unnecessary stuff when we moved. I noticed that they both removed things of great memories or sentimental value to me. All of their keepsakes remained. My adult son has done the same thing. I refuse to let anyone else touch my things anymore. If they want to toss my stuff, I'll be dead soon enough.

Before I moved from a 2000 sq ft house to a condo in another state, I had to seriously downsize. I had 4 garage sales, listed stuff on fb and OfferUp, had Salvation Army pick up some furniture and took a ton to goodwill in many trips. I narrowed it down to a U-Haul pod and what would fit in my minivan.

Start minimizing as early as possible before a move. It'll take longer, be harder than you think. I was moving cross country, already a minimalist, and I assessed every item asking myself if It fits with the new life I want for myself. Too many of us haul baggage around most of our life because we think we should. I was able to get all worldly possessions in my suv, turn the key and head out to the new life.

I did it several years ago. My house is easy to clean now and I stay on top of it. The feeling is so good

Dear sir - please don’t overuse the swirling effect- it’s so distracting but great content.

I was watching a RU-vidr that was answering her viewer’s questions about why she didn’t save the clothes that her kids outgrew as hand me downs being that she had 9 or 10 kids . They lived in a very small 3 bedroom house ,she said she didn’t have the room or time or energy to be maintaining a bunch of old clothes. She also said everything we have will eventually be trash . I find that I need to just let it go ,and stop trying to find the ‘perfect’ place for it to go. When I donate clothes I don’t agonize over if a garment is good enough and would people want it .I trash socks,underwear,torn or stained items and donate the rest and let them decide if it is OK to keep. I don’t want to burden myself babysitting a bunch of ‘trash’.

The swirling is making me ill. I'll listen, but I will not watch!

Hurricane Katrina was a major help in getting rid of "stuff/everything" for me and my family. One of the best/worst things in my life. Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.

Sometimes it’s just best to give away your SELL pile, especially when you know damn well it will sit around sabotaging your goals for a year and a day.

My mom was a hoarder and I watched people's mouths drop with disgust as they entered our house and saw stuff was stacking on top of everything else, including the chairs so guests could not even sit down. It was embarrassing, but my mom thought all of her items were worth something, even the $1 beanie babies and the ceramic angels. It just kept getting worse and worse. My brother and I live very simple with little because we have trauma from our childhood.

When I declutter a specific room, I usually clutter my other rooms

Guilt is clutter. We keep things out of guilt. And it becomes a huge burden.

I am age 81 and " trying " to get the wife to let go. She has 20 year old clothes all neatly stacked in the walk in closet, neatly because I did it. She grew up very poor in the Philippines so I often think perhaps it is harder to get rid of something because she had so little. I personally am going to sell or donate some old Disney comics, reprints because the originals went 50 years ago. Western dvd's, a set of ten Silver western medals that took me 10 years to complete the set. Old memories are the hardest to let go but like you said, can I or will I ever use it again. Will I ever watch the movies again, No. Gone, Big items are not a problem, it is the STUFF in drawers, closets, shelves that are the hardest to get rid of. YOUR KIDS ' DO NOT ' WANT YOUR STUFF, unless it has a President's picture on it.

I’m using “Swedish Death Cleaning”. My husband and his brothers and spouses had to clean out his Mom’s house after she died. It took a couple of days to remove all the “stuff”. After that, I swore my kids would never have to do that for me. I think with all the decluttering I’ve done it should only take a few hours to clean out our house. I enjoy the lack of “baggage”.

If you ever hate getting rid of things just imagine that if you died tonight what would happen to that stuff anyway.

Great for an analytical person with lots of stuff. Great for Swedish Death cleaning. I make it easy. 10 minutes a day. I can do that. Now I'm organized enough that right now I'm letting go of 3 things a day, trash or donate. I keep a bag by the front door putting donates in as I go. I take it to a donation center once a week. It's not always easy letting go thinking I may need or want it later that's most people's major 'LET IT GO' issue. Si now I think of it as giving to someone else. Makes it eadier.

This is great for getting me going. You do imply that one has the space to start making all the different piles of things however. I actually have been throwing things out every week since a bad builder wrecked my house and caused the chaos I am trying to sort out now. By getting rid of several bags of excess above the normal weekly rubbish, I start to see hope for the time soon when I do a great sort-out into 'rubbish', 'keep' 'donate' piles. I want to put in a word for the older folk like me who have become disabled and are in pain. The younger generation do not understand how difficult this makes life. For example, carrying the washing downstairs is a major task now and extremely painful and leaves me in such pain I can hardly do anything else. Being old, alone and in pain is very difficult and prevents me doing the things I want to do.

A key to sanity is controlling the inflow of items. I've learned to avoid "sets" which are designed to encourage consumers to spend "just a bit more" for extra items they don't need or use. One is left juggling extra possessions in an effort to access the items actually used then throwing away the unused portion/item of the set. Whether it's cookware, glassware, cosmetics/polish, tools, office supplies, cleaning supplies, linens/sheets, socks, food, etc. I buy the best quality of an item that I want/need and avoid extras of any kind.

I'm 74. I get rid of stuff every day. There are Hoarders in my family, so if I don't use it or wear it, I toss it or give it away. I seldom buy anything new. I'm emptying my top shelves because my climbing days are limited. Tina, Al's wife

I always love to just peruse antique shops and try to build personal glimpses of the individual lives of those who have passed from this life. Collections of beer tap handles, fishing lures, music records, jars of buttons, cooking utensils, books, and on and on. It’s almost as good as people watching at the airport!

So so true in every respect! Especially the part where he says 'nobody wants your junk even if you think it is not junk!

I had started dating a woman I knew for years, and after about a year we decided to move in together. I had never seen her apartment.... big mistake... once I saw it. I helped get her cleared up over a couple months after the official move, but it didn't take long for things to start piling up. I'm the exact opposite person...so it put quite the strain on our relationship. In the end it didn't work out, but I did realize she didn't want to live that way, it's was clear she didn't know how to only live with what you actually need or use, or not to buy ten of something when you only needed one, it was a deep seeded emotional thing that causes that behaviour.

I love my stuff. In fact I have everything I want to own. Whatever needs fixed, I got the part and and tool to fix it with.

I sold my collections for $$$$; 1980’s skateboards, Schwinn Krate Stingrays. Now, I have a lot of garage space!

My parents weren't exactly hoarding stuff, but they stored everything for decades and I mean everything. It took us 5 years to declutter. I figured out there's zero chance I will be able to sell everything so I decided to donate. I loaded my car four to five times a year with everything from tech to clothes to kitchen machines and took it to bring-take events, organized by sahms with large families. What was left went to Caritas/Red Cross. My estimate is we donated 20.000-25.000€ worth - sorry, not sorry for every single piece of crap. Breathing easier is more precious than money.

Convincing my wife is almost impossible. I have no problem getting rid of stuff. Most of the clutter is in the basement. I donated a lot of old clothes on our last move. I also gave away a snow blower and mower to a neighbor since I was moving to a 55 and over. We still have too much for our next and last move.

Make the swirling stop I’m getting sick

I can honestly say I'm not attached to Things anymore. It's a good feeling!

You would be surprised what people will buy, if priced right: Scrap wood, CDs, appliances. However, you have to decide what your time is worth. Also, a sign on your lawn with free can do wonders. Lots of poor people around and lots of hoarders.

I'm gonna do a box sale Load up similar items into one box Put a ten dollar price on it Take the whole box Make bigger bills Get to re-home more stuff! But, ya got to stick to the no picking rule! It's the whole box, or nothing. peace

Oh gawd, I wish I could get rid of the crap in my house. Especially the crap other people have left here!

Why do I miss some of my stuff after I get rid of it

I found a charity that meant a lot to me, and I happily donated many things. It was liberating. Those things were oppressing and taking up space.

I used to donate all the time, but not anymore. The reason why is that places that accept donations charge people too much money for items that they received for free.

Jerry, i am going through this right now! Moving to Myrtle beach in three weeks thanks to your wonderful team. I love you guy's your the best!

I do this at least twice a year. One weird thing I got rid of was my high school yearbook. It has no meaning anymore and why would my kids want it.

You can be sure if you get rid of something you’ll need it tomorrow

Your audio is great. The video portion is very busy! So choppy! Wiggley transitions are distracting. I would enjoy a calmer approach.

Thank you for your timely video. Going through this now…a second time! Got rid of a lot of my parents things when they passed 12+ years ago. We are in our 70’s and I’m decluttering again, the rest of mom’s things and mine. (Not touching hubby’s things as he’s not ready). Taking clothes to free store, books and magazines to library, junk to thrift store, electronics to Best Buy to recycle. Have 30+ boxes ready for auctioneer I’ve worked with before to pick up as there are a lot of antiques. The kids don’t want any of it.

We are moving to what will be our last house and decluttering. This is the house my son will have after we are gone . Luckily, we have very similar tastes, so we are just doing the new home furnishings, etc, in what I know we both enjoy. I've asked him and made sure he won't have to deal with anything except the folder containing all needed legal documents after I'm gone. My father left no will, etc, and I REFUSE to have my son deal with too much as I know how it is. It's to much to go thru the stuff,deal with finances, etc

Well, people DO want your stuff, they just want it for nothing. They would love to take that nice guitar you have played on your whole life and offer you $5 for it. If you want to de-clutter, stop buying shit you don't need for starters.

It can be overwhelming. Just throw 2 items you don't need every week. That's over 100 items a year tossed out, or 1,000 items in 10 years. Plus, AVOID buying things you don't really need.

Jerry, thank you so much. I’ve been avoiding the much needed declutterring in my house, but you have given me some good advice on how to tackle my clutter.

Excellent presentation. It was logical and orderly. The part about the satisfaction felt when the space is clean is so true. It is the same when you began saving and investing money as well.

This would be so much better without the annoying whooshing sound every time the picture changes. Couldn't watch the whole video. Irritating.

There are several items I got rid of stuff that I wish I could get back. If you take care of items it is a collection, if you don't it is clutter.

Your video came up on my YT feed so I thought I'd scope it out while I ate my lunch. You seem like a very nice man who sincerely wants to help people with their clutter situation. My only issue is with the sorting into piles.....THEN using the One Touch method. At that point, you've already touched it twice. I won't directly promote a decluttering expert's channel here, but IMHO, there is a better, simpler way to declutter....a "no-mess" decluttering system. If I had to come back to piles everywhere and go through all that stuff AGAIN, I would be discouraged. I think that's why many people are largely unsuccessful at decluttering. Once someone declutters enough, the organizing part is mostly done. 🙂

Nothing I have not heard before but I need to do it. Thank you.

Yeah, this is a great video. This is what I’m trying to do get rid of stuff I don’t want donate first go through the stuff I don’t know whether I want to keep her cell step-by-step. I really appreciate this video. Thank you.😁👍❤️

Thank you much for this info Jerry. I needed it!

Jerry, sometimes I ,like I also did my father get mad at you. But after some thought and realizing you are usually exactly right I wipe my runny nose and follow your advice. ❤

Didn't know about the Home Depot Bagster thing. That could come in handy. In my urban neighborhood with a lot of foot traffic we'll set boxes out front marked "Free" with stuff. Have to be careful to not to pick up more stuff than we set out.

Remember, it’s ALWAYS better to make piles than to have piles.

Have had several clean outs to make space and from changing premises. After disposing of several irreplaceable items I now sort stuff and leave it a few months then return and review and generally salvage about 10 - 20% out of the selection.

RULE #1. STOP YO BUY SHIT.

Timely topic for me. I am starting to declutter and identifying valuable major newer items to sell. Huge life changes also take some transition/processing time so I've let go in layers like an onion but need to make some greater steps even without a fixed timeline. My place is not cluttered but this is extreme downsizing so will do some initial donations and determine what to sell and then ask a family member to help price some things.

My difficulty is a spouse who will not let go of anything, stuff from childhood 60 years ago, papers and stuff in boxes and barrels inherited from parents, a sibling and even a cousin. Not a hoarder, but close to it. Very frustrating, and depressing.

When I saw the title, my initial thought was not what he was thinking at all, and he's right, you do need to declutter your place every so often. I totally understand how it can be overwhelming, but something Mack of Midwest Cleaning has said as he does this, both as a living, but as a hobby/special interest (he's autistic) is start on one section of the room, and work your way around it, clearing/cleaning a 4x4 Ft section, even if first just to utilize as a clean landing for your cleaning supplies, moving them as needed to another clean area as you go around the room. Since he was cleaning/clearing out of hoarding homes, there was no time for sorting out for recycling, trash etc as one, where he lives is mostly small towns without the ability to recycle so most items that do get tossed, get tossed into a dumpster in many cases. Also, if dealing with a hoarder, getting rid of stuff will likely make the issue worse, not better. So best to sort items in like/similar items into tubs and consolidate as much as you can, tossing pure trash so they can get around the house. If the hoarder goes into therapy and gets help, then they can get to where they are ready to get rid of much more stuff. Sometimes, just cleaning a home is getting it to a livable state, IE, getting rid of any biohazards that are present in the home, like rat feces, dead nats, dog/cat feces, dead/expired food being among the tasks. But for the rest of us, it simply means getting rid of items no longer of use to us, recycle, upcycle, sell or donate, and then toss the rest. I often do similar when I'm in a deep cleaning mode and do expect things to get worse, then better as you go through the room. Once, a few years ago, I went through my office and shredded 21Lbs of old stuff like taxes I no longer needed to keep, old receipts, junk mail that might get into the wrong hands, those with forms for credit cards for instance and I took all that to the UPS store and used their shredding service, paying $1 a pound to have it shredded, so $21 later, it was gone. Worth every penny, and all I had to do was stuff the shredding bin(s). Doing this periodically like yearly helps keep things at bay and the job never gets too out of hand.

thanks, helpful decluttering process

You are always helpful, calm collected and straight to the point

The problem I have is its all good stuff. I wouldn't have brought it home if it wasnt! 😊

Great video!

Great Vid Bud......Pretend you 'croaked' last nite...THAT'S IT...PERIOD !!!!

I don’t want to get rid of anything I have.

Getting rid of excess furniture can be needed. Sometimes if you have shelves and drawers they just get filled up. I got rid of old furniture that was too big and found i didnt need a lot of stuff that stored in them.

I don't have any clutter but want to share this with friends who need to do this.

Excellent..I had to play it 7 times cuz cognitive self but at least don't give up folks If I had given up I wouldn't have 4 1/2 years clean and sober off of every illicit drug and pharmaceutical addictive cigarettes and booze right now so never never give up never and I love you

Useful info here! ❤ Now I will wait for your video on: Selling decluttered stuff !

I noticed over the years that people that have no money have stuff the less money you have the more stuff you have because you think that is what shows you have money.., stuff… it doesn’t have to be expensive stuff. It just has to be stuff look at what I have look how much I have it I must be rich.! mentality is everything people think if I have lots of stuff people think I’m rich or well off and then their mind they are look what I have. I must have enough stuff to be rich but here’s the thing it’s just stuff.

1. Rent a garbage skiff. 2. Have a yard sale where stuff is free. 3. What doesn’t sell by end of day goes in the skiff.

Moving from 56 squaremeter to 34 squaremeter..I have decluttered alot...it still will be 2 room and a kitchen...but lot smaller..not only decluttering things but also downsizing squaremeter..and I have no car!! Im i happy? Yes! Will i stay in a bedsofa ? Yes! Can you live in a very small space and still be happy? Yes! Do you go more outdoors? Yes! Because you only sleep and eat at home! Hace a wonderful day!!!

As Americans we do a mass a lot of stuff over a lifetime specially when you take into account other people's lives that you take on their junk when they pass. Finding out what you truly need and or want and will use sometimes can be a daunting process. Over a lifetime I've learned that a lot of people the decluttering gets clogged with emotional roadblocks. Many times holding onto things that don't make sense or not usable being attached to emotional trauma.

I start with the recycling. That gets a lot out of the way quickly usually in 15’. I sort by glass, magazines/papers, and plastics 1&2. That goes right to the hatch of my van as soon as I have faithful of any of the three to take my next time I pass by there. Touching only once does it work for me but I highly on my data it does for you. I put like things together then I can evaluate how many of something I have asked myself which of them are still serving me? Ones that do not get donated. I check with family first then onto a charity. I rarely sell any item. I will donate a large chest of drawers and a triple dresser at some point to charity that is able to pick it up. If that doesn’t work, I will call that junk service that make sure to take it to a charity. If I get overwhelmed, I will do just a category. Such as when I cleaned up work table, I will deal with just the paperwork or just pharmaceuticals or just pens making sure they all work anyway so good to hear your tips. Definitely one step at a time.

Wrote notes Gee Tyvm I subed Thanks Jerry

Gift it forward to Salvation army thrift stores for re-use and to support the homeless cause! Great stuff.

I took all my shit and put it into the dumpster when I moved from a house to an apt.

I had a friend who had no fewer than 12 dinner sets because every time an older relative died no one wanted the dinner set she took it.

I had not thought of the pick up bags.

I'm good at organizing my trash. I have been throwing things out for 2 years now. I had to clean out my mother-in-law and my mother's house. What JOBS that was. So I don't want anyone to have to throw my junk out for me. Although , maybe it is what I need to do , LEAVE it for them so they won't collect STUFF so much.

As a senior I no longer want all my stuff. Sick of it. I’ve been giving away tons and have a lot more to go. It feels great. I say let someone else enjoy it.

All standard recommendations but well organized..... Main thing I learned about that was new was a service called bagster from Home Depot

5:02 Than this keeping stuff is in containers. Than what? There is no room to place it back in the house or it will be messy again. So it stays in containers for the next years. I know. It's just me

The thumbnail is misleading. I thought it would be information about helping my MIL, who is overwhelmed. As she sorts her items, she won't eliminate anything bc "niece/grandchild/some other relative might want this." I think it's bc she grew up poor, but she isn't poor now. Neither are her niece/grandchild/some other relative.

Years ago people would take the "good" trash we set outside. But recently I tossed a barely used pressure cooker and no one scavenged it.

We downsized from a 400 year old heritage UK property to a new Penthouse high tech apartment by the sea and got rid of 90% of our possessions. It took 2 years to do this….

Serenity now.

My parents are both gone now. I have alot of stuff from my mom and dad because I am indian American and I celebrate both indian and American festivals and I know about both cultures. So, I do celebrate alot of things both indian and American. I have added on my own traditions also. I plan to write a will and take it to a notary and a lawyer and get my will officially signed and notarized in front of 2 witnesses. This is because I have chronic illness and I am on lots of medications. So, I am planning this. I am currently 47. Not sure after 50 what will happen. So I want to be prepared for anything. Life can be very very unpredictable. Sometimes.

Jerry Pinkas are those blinds behind you? I love em. Where does one find them?

ConMarie's strategy!

I’m obsessed with throwing stuff out now It’s bad…. My dad passed away in 2020 and I had to go thru all his stuff During this time we also planned on moving Well I’ve had to go thru 29 years of shit (We had 6 ppl living here now 2) I cleared out the attic Basement Garage Back room Shed But now I’m looking at my stuff and thinking if I die what do I leave behind do I need it… I wish I wasn’t all or nothing

I want my stuff!!!! So does my daughter (some of it) & my friends (certain things). So, bad title. Always try to give your things to those who can use them.

I need my stuff. I don’t care if anyone else doesn’t want it. If that’s true don’t lock your doors just let people take your valueless stuff. I did it for my parents. I did it because I loved them and my older brothers didn’t want any of it. Well maybe a few things. But who are you living for, yourself? Or others?

Recycling centers are doing less and less now. For example, our area no longer takes brown or green glass