Hoarder to MINIMALIST| 4 Years of Decluttering Before and After 

I've spent weeks and weeks cleaning and decluttering my elderly parents' home. It's hard to part with things, but please don't leave your hoarding and clutter for someone else to deal with. Most likely, they'll have to deal it with during one of the worst times of their lives: when you've passed on, and they are in mourning and already emotionally overwhelmed, and it will become their responsibility right at the one moment when they have the least time, energy and emotional fortitude to do it. It's tragic and exhausting and it hurts!

Enjoyed this video immensely. But i especially like the honesty of admitting to being overwhelmed and then recognizing if it takes a week to do, so be it. Im in my 70s, overwhelmed and doing a little every day. I get discouraged because i see little progress. You give me hope!

Decluttering is harder than you think because of good memories, health at the time, other commitments - so well done. Decluttering is an ongoing process which really never ends. 82 year old minimalist. 😁👍

My cookbooks are long gone. It is so easy to find great recipes online. I did create a recipe holder 3 ring binder with cooking dividers. For the recipes I truly love, I print them, slide them into a plastic sleeve and into my binder. It’s my best system ever

This video really shows how minimalizing is a layered PROCESS! So helpful to revisit spaces over time and with gained experience! I love your channel!

I don't agree with some of the pantry organizing methods: 1. The canned goods are in bins so you can't readily see what you have. Do you want to pick up each can to see what it is? 2. If you decant dry goods into jars, don't forget to cut the instructions out of the box and slide it into the jar so it can be read. 3. Organizing doesn't have to mean putting items into bins or jars or whatever. It is possible to be organized with things just sitting on the shelf! It's not all about making it look pretty, it's about function.

I am not a minimalist to this extent. But the magical thing about minimalism is, things just stay organised. Effortlessly. Because there is not that much to create a mess - and they are easy to put away fast, because there is actually space for them in the cupboards. When I first started decluttering, it is actually shocking how much junk I was storing, that I never used. And now that I have less (I think I got rid of about 50% - I didn't have a specific goal in mind), I enjoy opening every drawer and closet. I enjoy cleaning, because I don't have to think about what to do with all the clutter first. It is not so much about having as little as possible - it is about having the appropriate amount of things for the space, and a functional system to keep it organised.

I just came across your channel and this is just what I need right now. My mom passed away 2 years ago and I have been in depression since then. My house is an absolute mess and needs attention desperately. Seeing someone else go through being overwhelmed is a great help. Thank you for being vulnerable.

Years ago when I first realized I needed to do better in organizing my house with 4 children that were born in 5 years. You took me back instantly when you said, "nothing on the floor". My actual first step was "nothing on the table" Day 2 was "nothing on the floor". Sad to say 2 took me weeks. But I'm so glad that myself and my children were able to build that life skill. Love your channel. Minimalism has been a lifelong journey for me. I'm glad to have found a friend along the journey.

This shows how most of us had to go though many decluttering trips to get to where we are :) It is not often you can go from a big house full off stuff to a small studio with almost nothing, it is a process that teaches you what is imported to your life and your life alone

Your 4 1/2 year ago self was so inspiring! Can you imagine going back and having to start from scratch like that again? Thank you to you from that long ago for beginning the process and not giving up! (Even with a couple burnout breaks). Imagine if we all just started now, we could learn, grow, and get better at it over time, and eventually end up in a place that is perfect for us!

I ❤ this video!! I love how real it is. With kids waking up in the middle, with stuff falling on the floor. But especcially the beginning clips of the areas look just like mine and i'm sooo happy to see not everyone has this perfect minimalist, organized home...

I absolutely love my cookbooks!! Even with my journey to be more minimalist I refuse to give them up😊 I love thumbing through the pages looking at recipes, it’s therapeutic to me! Enjoyed looking back and seeing how far you have come! Wow! Great job! Everything looks amazing!!☺️

I’m so proud of you. My mom lived with us for 10 years. She moved into senior citizen housing in March and I’m now free to declutter and discard things she pressured me to keep. I’ve been on a decluttering journey for 6 months. I’ve taken at least 4 pick-up truck loads of items for donation. I have a box in my pantry and I’m constantly putting items in it. Once it hits the box then I don’t invite it back and I drop a box or two off every time I’m headed to the city as we live in a very rural area. I’m constantly touching new areas in my home, garage and barn. In the past 6 months my garbage can has been full every week but two. We are on a journey to use up cleaning and personal products. In the end, the stuff didn’t come to our farm overnight so it will take a period of time to clean it up.

Real life moment that I loved: When you went back into the kitchen and showed us your cute little girl on the floor in the pasta! Real life is messy, that's why we're constantly cleaning! My husband never got that until I was so sick, I had to stay in bed for 3 days. He kept the kids and dogs alive, so I'm good with that. But oh the mess my house became! He realized that I spend a LOT of time every day cleaning up! And he became thankful! Great video! I feel inspired to finally tackle my crazy pantry! It is crazy tall (I think my house was built by Amazons), and very deep shelves where products go to die! I need to devise a better plan! Thanks!

I'm not seeing quite hoarder level, but I appreciate the great transformation!

I don't usually like signs with writing but your "Laundry - Good Clean Fun" sign IS adorable!!!!!!

So nice to see your honest situations when you first started this journey. I totally agree about the Marie Kondo method being so overwhelming! I knew when I read her book that I’d lose my mind if I pulled everything out of my closets. I do much better taking bite-sized approaches.

Funeral homes can take expired makeup if you still have some to get rid of❤

It took time for me to work in my clothes closet but I never made a pile. Now it's simpler for me to pick out what I'm going to wear. I don't like having a lot of clothes. I've been decluttering since January 2023 and it is definitely a process. I would never recommend making a pile. Smaller chunks is easier to deal with. I'm 60 years old and I need life simplified and I don't want my children dealing with a bunch of my belongings after I'm gone. Decluttering has been so good for me. I'm even downsizing what I hang on the walls, less for me to dust 👍I know there is more I can do; one day at a time.

"It's not about beating yourself up, it's about moving forward". Wise words my friend ❤️

Great video! As I was watching everything that went into the trash bag, I started thinking about everything in my bathroom that needs to be trashed and it makes me sick to know I spent all that money on stuff I rarely used! I’m slowly but surely gaining motivation and mindset from your videos, just gotta put it to work!

The thing I really liked about this video is that it shows how we progress. You were doing the best at the time and now you are doing even better. Truly inspirational 💜 Ha! My new favorite part is baby snow angels in the macaroni!

I used to live alone and I was never an organized person. Everything was pilled everywhere, it was hard to clean, I couldn't find anything. But everytime I tried to declutter, I couldn't get rid of things. I had a box with a bunch of papers and broken stuff because I told myself I would repair, I could use later for this and that. I had so, so many clothes, and I couldn't let them go. So I moved with my boyfriend last year, but the thing is that we lived like 30 minutes apart from each other and neither of us have cars, so we had to move stuff by carrying (either walking there or taking a bus) or paying someone to carry it for us (and we are broke students, so....). What this is means is that what was and wasn't important got clear really quickly, becase the more stuff I wanted to keep, more 1h+ trips were needed to be taken. I can't remember half of the things I got rid of, I never missed them. This opened my eyes and made me focus on what is essential.

I found your channel today! I’m so excited to really start my journey! I have been decluttering a lot. I really appreciate you showing where you started a little over 4 years ago and now. It has me so motivated! I can’t wait to be at the spot where I am no longer always cleaning.

Congratulations on your 4 years!!! I just celebrated 17 years as a minimalist! It is so great that you were able to find what works for you. My linen closet in my old apartment looked just like yours before I became a minimalist! I am sorry you had a period of burn out. Your closet now looks so pretty!!!!! I love how you organize. I love seeing how you originally organized under your sink and how it is now. I have a tiny container of make up. I've never been a make up person though, so I am sure that was a tough one to organize when you were very into it. Loved the pantry work. What a huge closet you have!! Mine is itty-bitty. I do not have cookbooks. The ones I used to have, I made copies of my favorite recipes and put them in a binder. My binder has all my favorite recipes from online, cookbooks, and family recipes! I need to reorganize it, but I use it constantly and am always going through it of things to make each week. I probably need a bigger binder.

I rally loved that you shared the reality of decluttering and organizing in the kitchen, that’s what I’m doing today, my kitchen really needs it. Thanks for the video, I love your energy and positive attitude.

Real and very inspiring. Loved your honesty. From overwhelmed to satisfied. The end result is beautiful.

Thank you for sharing. You've come a long way. Inspired me not to give up.

I love and appreciate your openness about being easily overwhelmed and needing to break it down into small pieces, but continuing. Your personality makes me happy ! You’ve inspired me to keep on and my home feels great ! Thank-you !

I love the longer videos!! You have worked so hard on your home, and it is beautiful and immaculate! This video is inspiration for motivating me to whip my house into shape, thank you so much!!!

It's great you can look back at how things looked before decluttering. Your house looks so fresh and simplified now. I wish I had taken pictures. Sometimes I feel like I still have things to get rid of, but having simplified is great and I'm maintaining it. Great video. You are inspiring. I like that you remind not to shop for things I don't need.

I needed this. I can relate. It’s overwhelming. And the difference between minimizing first round to later rounds years later is exactly how it’s been for me and it was so REFRESHING to see your progress and updates!!! I went from living single to having a boyfriend, my brother and 3 nephews, 3 cats and one large dog ALL live together over the last few years. We have so much STUFF. This is so helpful to me to know it’s ok to do in stages. THANK YOU! ❤

THANK YOU !!! Thank you for being real! I am going to try a few your tips this week. 😊

Your pantry is amazing!! Love that you get yourself pretty containers for the things you do keep. Its how I reward myself too 😊

You have come a long way, Candace! What an awesome transformation you have made through the years. I never saw your old footage from your makeup days. Wow! Just think of the money you save now.

Loved seeing the before and afters!! I was super impressed by all of the make-up that was decluttered!

I love that you show real life of decluttering with kids!

Oh my god! I love the video! I am going through the same stage now as I am so tired of my clutter! And I have told myself not to think about the time it will take! If it takes several months, so be it! ❤

I like bins. It helps with adhd, and “pantry blindness.” My kids can go to the snack bin, bread bin, breakfast bin, whatever, and see what’s available without being distracted by the whole of the pantry. It’s also great for sticky things like syrup or honey to be in those clear bins. And lastly, a lovely pantry is inspiring and peaceful. We all need inspiration and peace.

I’m so glad you made this change. Makes life easier. Great job!

I love this!! This is one of the only decluttering videos I've watched that genuinely reminds me of my house and the way it looks when I'm sorting stuff. Thank you for the honesty xxx

O Candace...I remember your original decluttering videos and your makeup declutter video especially. You have come so far! You should be so proud! It all started with baby steps and you've made it so so far!!!

Thank you for showing us where you started, where you were 4 years ago, and where you are now. I started this process a few years ago. Like you, I get extremely overwhelmed if i tbink about it too much. I recently did my bedroom closet & i actually enjoy goung in there now! I srill haveto finish the rest of my bedroom. I take it a small section at a time. It works!

Actually, as I have gotten older, I find it hard to reach the things that are overhead. I cannot believe your bins for the children's clothes that need to be washed are over the top of the washing machines. Getting up on a stool is dangerous as you get older. And sometimes, we shrink as we get older which makes reaching overhead more of a challenge.

I love physical books, and currently have two completely full bookcases of cookbooks. I rarely cook from them, but I like looking through them, lol.

First of all, you are such a bright, happy and positive person. Your very honest approach to hows and why's of decluttering and minimizing is so very realistic and do-able! Please do make more videos on clothes, kitchen & store room declutter and minimization. Thank you very much. Keep your smile on.😊

I can so relate to your video. I am on the journey to get organized / declutter and get upset with myself . Just recently I have been realizing this is a journey not an immediate fix. I also have ADHD so my new way of dealing with things is to do 1 area or category at a time example jewelry. This seems to work well for me. Thank you so much for your honesty

Amazing! I love this video where you show the the three stages because I am somewhere between your stage two and three and I really really appreciate seeing this!

💕This was so fantastic!!!! Love the before and after and years later. Such great content!!! Thank you!💗

So neat to see all the progress!

Omg this was/is me. Almost 4 years now in my decluttering journey. Simple living. I take inventory of what no longer fits or isnt used and let it go. I have just 1 small makeup up bag just like that. It feels great to not throw money away and to see how far I've come. Great video. New subscriber. Thanks for sharing your experience. I can relate to all of it.

Thank you for this video. I absolutely loved watching this decluttering clean up! Your pantry looks amazing!

This was so helpful to me! I get so overwhelmed and this video showed me, I can do a little at a time and make a difference! Thank you for this! I got so many great ideas from this video!

I have been watching since the beginning of your minimalism journey and you have inspired me so much! So much hard work has gone into your journey. Amazing!

I appreciate you so much for your vulnerability and sharing your process and progress! I was so motivated watching this video! The fact it took you over years and you didn’t give up was really inspiring! It reminded me that the process will be a marathon and not a race! I’m now motivated to start my journey towards minimalism! Keep being yourself and making these videos!

Love that new linnen closet!!!! 😊

lOVE IT, SO GLAD THAT I FOUND YOU

This video is FANTASTIC! I watched you before the minimal journey, love it. from Australia 😁💕🇦🇺

For the bathroom (accessories/ tools etc)and hall closet (office/school supplies)I use an over the door shoe holder-Cruise ship travel hack for saving space

It was the title for me‼️ Motivational indeed! I have been decluttering nearly a year. I am a single empty- nester. I live in a 2 bedroom 1.5 bathroom townhouse. I struggle with invisible chronic illness. So the stairs and all have become too much! I applied for a 1 bedroom apartment. It will be a huge task getting rid of things accumulated over 15 years. Not to mention that my daughter left quite a bit of her things that she didn’t want. This video was just what I needed‼️

I ❤ the idea of using a set of tongs to assist with laundry! What a great idea for reaching items in the bottom of the washer! I have a long handle "gripper," and I use it constantly. I'm a big fan of anything that makes my life easier! 🥰

Your attitude, personality, laughter, and smile are infectious. You stay sooo upbeat & positive even in the mist of hiccups. We all like to feel we are not alone in our struggles so thank you for sharing your journey. Just a note for the future... those little makeup pods have Soooo many other uses if not for you, other's. Stud earrings or small jewelry holder. Making your own natural lips gloss. Sorting beads or findings if you make jewelry and endless other crafter uses. I know it might take a minute, but if you poke a toothpick in dry makeup it will all fall out (I use junk mail envelopes). Then donate and all that plastic will be useful & not in a landfills. Thanks again I'll be back for more tutorials. 💜

That was cool to see the progress!

What an incredible job you've done! Bravo! It looks great. Bet it feels great. Thanks for sharing your ideas and inspiration. This motivates me.

Great motivation to work a bit at a time. It can be overwhelming and it makes me stop the progress. Thank you for sharing!

Luv your declutter ideas thanks for sharing.💜

Excellent and to the point ! well done adn thank you - helped few of my clients 🙂

LOVE my cookbooks and actual books. As I watched the video I wondered if you had thought of spray painting the brown baskets white (or another color of your choosing). I totally agree with you that loving the basket or container makes such a difference on whether or not I can keep organized. Also like the idea of storing baking utensils on the inside of the doors. Excellent video!

Very motivating video. Best yet at decluttwring and organizing Makes me want to reaaly get goung. Thanks so much. Thanks for not having annoying music or beats. I also really like this longer video.

I like that you broke down your work in chunks and peaces. The first thing I recognized as I did this with our flat (and I am still not done)is, that it is overwhealming and frustrating to pile all and then going through it. So I start every time with a corner (or as you said „a project“) and work through the topic until I am satisfied. And it can be that it takes several days. But that does not matter as long as I see progress even in little things. The good news are: the often you do this the more you will get a routine and a view for what you really need and what has to go 😀

Ine of the best decluttering minimalist videos i have ever seen. Thank you so much. I really love the time and effort you havr put into this video and shown the progression over the years. This really puts it all into perspective ❤the

Very inspiring project that from hoarder to minimalist. Congratulations you have a very nice idea. God bless

I hung my measuring spoons on my cabinet door, too, but had to change it because they clanged and scared me silly every time I opened the cabinet. Nice job getting to where you are today.

Wow! So proud of you with the makeup, thats great!!

Great job! I love when FORM meets FUNCTION. BTW you’re makeup is beautiful

Decluttering my pantry right now! 😭😭 while I listen to your videos!

Good job! I've been decluttering and organizing myself,it sure, isn't a one day thing. A little stressful for me, but I will get through it.❤

Your pantry looks amazing. What a fine job you did. And doing it with little ones.....awesome!

Thank you for taking your time! ! I get very overwhelmed/guilty easily because of all 'Junk'.but I don't have support so many loved ones giving you their advice or telling to do this or that. Quite honestly, it only makes me more overwhelmed, and guilty and depressed.

Im just glad to hear you donate things instead of just throwing it in the garbage

OMG, YOU ARE THE BEST!!🎉

This was so great and motivating to watch.

Wow, you have so many thing in USA!! Thanks for share ❤. I feel inspired.

I just started using the pantry check app to help keep an inventory of all the food in our house. It takes some getting used to going in and deleting and adding things, but I’ve loved it. It helps you see what’s about to expire and I use it to meal plan around that. It holds 200 items for free, after that is a paid version, but I’m doing a free trial for like 2 months before committing to it and you don’t have to enter credit card info for the free trial.

Great motivations. And so true to life, because it takes time and not everything can be done all at once or even over a weekend.❤

I enjoyed your review of your thought process (& starting poin) versus the “current” view(s) & where you are now. I felt as though we sort of got to join you on this journey. Your spaces are beautiful and inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing!

Very helpful and motivating video! ❤

It is so fun to watch this episode video. really appreciate your determination and persistence .👍

The toys and linen closet is so inspiring ❤

You are helping many générations ahead . Our grandchildren or family will have to deal with less things once we leave this world. Thank you thousands and blessings +++!!!

You're amazing, mom doing all Of this and still. Being a mother.❤

You have come from so far. It must be a joy to see your house now. I am always amazed how much stuff people have in their bathroom. So much bottles and so on. I know, I live alone, that is much easier to keep it minimal and simple. But my goodness, how much stuff need a human to get ready in the morning? 😮 You have done a great job. Irma from the Netherlands

Thank you. So much hard work but it’s worth it. I like yr pantry. Beautiful

The overflow make-up video footage has morivated me!! In the pantry, i can see why blue 🔵 didn't fit...because very few foods are blue! Love the kitchen part of this video... mother & baby!!! ❤️ As far as the visual chaos, it almost always gets worse before it gets better!! ...and your spaces look fantastic "after"!!!

Gray and white are my fav!! Beautiful

Thank you for the laundry room before and after. I’m not exaggerating when I say my laundry room is the same as your before photo. Same size, same shelf, cans of paint, step stool, cleaning products, light bulbs…same! The most eye-opening thing you showed me is that a normal sized laundry basket cannot work in a laundry room this size! I have the same teal boxes in my garage…same! I will move them to the laundry room! I am so excited about this and looking forward to my laundry room not being a mess! Thank you so much!

wow! the closet looks so good.

Canned goods don’t expire. The date code is only a sell by. So long as there’s no dents or swollen cans, you are good! Love the video. Motivated me to keep going. I’ve been decluttering the past 3 yrs. Not minimalism, just not wanting to be a maximalist anymore😂

Loved the video 💟