How to get rid of piles on your counter! (Podcast Ep. 22) 

Our pet sitter said the cat food ran out and she didn't know where the overflow cat food was stored. Then she said " I thought, where would you store it, because you always have things right by where they get used". She opened the drawer next to feeder and there it was, no searching. You two have had such a positive impact on my life, incident by incident, decision by decision.

My favorite question I ask my kids now is "Would you rather find a place for this or let it go?" Dana is my inspiration!

One of my favorite things about the "take it there now" step is that often THAT is what compels me to let the item go (trash/donate). If I can't be bothered to walk across my house to put it away, how much do I really value this item? GAME CHANGER!

Organizing and decluttering are natural and enjoyable for me, and I often use my skills to help others. I went to my 83-year-old dad's house a few days ago, and he told me that he is overwhelmed by his basement. He had to get things off the floor due to a sump pump failure this summer, and he has a lot of stuff piled up on a ping pong table and various pieces of furniture. He is reluctant to get rid of things that might be useful to people, and, at first, I felt stuck. Then I remembered that Dana said to start by getting rid of trash, and Dawn said to sort like with like. I told my dad that I just wanted to start grouping things in categories. I got a box for memorabilia, and we quickly put items in it without agonizing over them. Before we knew it, my dad was making the decision to throw some things away, and he let me take some stuff home to give to others. He thanked me several times for the help. We are not done, but we made a good start. Thank you, Dawn and Dana (and Cas), for giving me ideas to help my dad. The biggest takeaways that I used with my dad were using a memory box, sorting like items into categories, throwing away trash, letting the container dictate how much to keep, and knowing that if we have too much stuff, we can't find what we need anyway.

I can say that Dana's audiobooks are absolutely wonderful. They were instrumental in changing my mindset and I often hear her voice (she reads the books herself) in my head. I am so glad I was exposed to Dana's approach. If you never read a thing of hers, please please watch her 5 step decluttering video and Container Concept. Those 2 alone will change your home.

I just found my kitchen table. The oldest receipt was from 2020. One bag of trash, one box of donations, everything else in it's designated place. It is such a relief. Now if I can consistently do this for every area without letting the table get out of hand again, I'll be in a great place.

True confession: I cleaned out the laundry room in the basement in 2019 and moved a can of paint and a couple other things to the bottom of the stairs intending to take them to the garage. It's still there now in 2024.

I even hear my semi-reluctant-to-declutter hub tell himself to "take it there now." That's what I call "progress, and only progress."

I agree with the other comments that you should lose the male intro. Just start with you!

I have 5 of you amazing ladies that I listen to. Frugal Fit mom, you two, Cas from Clutterbug, and the sweet lady from A to Zen life. Ooh also But first coffee Callie. I've learned so so many useful things and tips. Plus Flylady. It has given me permission to forgive myself for my failings along the way as well. There's so much grace and humility in these videos. I'm so grateful for all of you and the knowledge you share. 😊

The 5 minute pickup is like a sleeper activation command, when Dana says it, I pause whatever I'm doing and do the dishes, wipe the counters, sweep the floor and empty the rubbish bins 😂😂😂

My husband brings in the mail and tosses the junk right into the recycling can tearing up any credit card offers and the parts with our address. Then he puts bills and other important things into his bill paying binder. I took care of our finances for years so it’s his turn and he’s killing it. So there is never any mail on my surfaces!

My house used to be a disaster. I had so much stuff. Closets full things pulled up everywhere. I honestly had no idea what I even had. We sold that house in the middle of building another house so it all went into storage. They were there for about three years. As I needed things I would take them out but after three years and learning about minimalism, I decided that since I didn't need all the things that was still in storage I could get rid of it all. Most boxes I never even opened. They just got thrown away. I threw away so much so fast. Decluttering is actually easy for me. I am so glad I found yall pages cause I finally know how to keep my space clean and keep paper piles and other piles from ever forming.

I almost recycled my car title. Now its in the document safe thanks to you.

I love so much of this. Unfortunately, I am disabled and cannot expend the energy to go back and forth putting things in their home. I have to find a system that works for me. We must give ourselves permission to do what we can, but keep on going as you can. It's like eating an elephant. We do it one bite at a time.

Dana helped me so much in my journey of getting my house under control & released me of a lot of guilt I was carrying about not being able to do so. The 5 minute pick ups were huge. Once my kids realized that once the timer went off we would be finished, they stopped complaining about cleaning. It’s amazing how much we can get done in 5 minutes! Also, the container concept absolutely blew my mind. It never occurred to me that spaces have natural limits. That’s just not how my brain works. I appreciate so much you sharing what you have learned & your thought processes along the way.

Take it to its proper home right away. 24:37 As someone who likes to get her steps in, you can get a lot of steps by running up and down your stairs a few times in the process! Look for the positive spin! 😃

I was always told to sort, sort, and sort again. Focus on the pile. What works for me is when I find the shoe from my monopoly game to stop and go put it in the box with the other pieces. Like once I tackle a pile, solve the issues, not categorize it.

Oh my goodness! I watched half of this video and decided to tackle my clothes. I now have room in my drawers and closet, but it was so emotional! I was so wiped out, I fell asleep at 6:00! Today I'll do a hall closet (little easier!) I so want 2024 to be easier. Thank you ladies for all the inspiration! Blessings to both of you for a wonderful new year!

Thinking about decluttering makes me think of my student days. I was 20 when I first came to Germany. I arrived here with 2 suitcases and a backpack, and moved from one youth hostel to the next, living out of my bags, until I could get into student housing. That was all the stuff I needed, for many months on end. I wish I could go back to only needing that amount of stuff today. Maybe I should watch more van life videos for tips. Imagine how much simpler life would be with so much less stuff! 😊

Whenever I come home from shopping, I put the receipt in my credit card file folder for that particular credit card. I then reconcile with the statement monthly. Whenever I return from the doctor, I put the copay receipt in that particular doctor’s folder. I open my mail, and recycle paper right away.

Got rid of spray oils and a huge tub of protein powder that was living in the small cupboard by my stove. Bought a beautiful jar and put all my utensils in it. Then… I put the whole thing up inside the decluttered cupboard. That, in turn, freed up a drawer!

YES THE COURSE IS GREAT! IF YOUR CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST, REMEMBER YOU CAN RENEW EVERY YEAR AFTER FOR ONLY $10 DOLLARS!!😃

I just lived through an example of "would I remember that I have this item?" I bought a frame for a piece of art. Then I was putting away Christmas decorations and found a large frame i had been storing "just in case." Luckily it was the wrong size for the art, but I decided to donate it since there's little chance I'll remember next time i need a frame.

I really like when y’all speak out loud the thought process behind decluttering the pots, toys , paper etc . Really helps 👍

I relate to the printer paper story so much! I was looking for my thumbtacks (push pins) for a few days ... literally searching every obscure place that I might keep office supplies... before I found them on a shelf with the glue gun supplies (with craft stuff instead of office stuff). Needless to say when I was done with them, I put them back in the first place that I looked (with office stuff)

I discovered the 5 min pick up at 55! What a game changer ! I only get piles if I’m super busy or if I’m not home. Then the first free moment I have to go through and completely put everything away. Try not to get to that point though.

I'm listening to this Podcast Ep.22, and hearing about things that disappear in miscellaneous piles. I have been decluttering/downsizing in earnest the last 3 years. I have slowly made noticable progress and hired an organizer 4 times in this time frame. (I am 79 with self-diagnosed "Inattentive ADHD.") Paper, of any kind, has been a huge problem for many years. Last month, Jan the organizer, was helping me sort, file and throw/shred papers. Here's the kicker - she found an uncashed check from my mortgage company for overpayment of escrow funds. The check was dated August 2013, and it was about $750!! I freaked out! That's a significant amount of money for me. Fortunately, the bank canceled the check and reissued a new one. Haven't received it yet, but I am very grateful they did that. Moral of the story: don't let your papers get out of hand. It might cost you! (Dawn, I live in St. Anthony Village, adjacent to NE Minneapolis and spent part of my childhood in Faribault. Husband was from a tiny town in northern Iowa.) Love your videos, and can relate, like those about working on the house you had moved - in the country, in miserable winter weather, etc. Happy New Year!

I dont regret a bit buying the Take your house back I bought it last year and I just renewed it again, I have learned to much. I used to be the one that would pulled everything out from a closet and make 1000 piles and then just to end up with a bigger mess and not wanting to complete the task afterwards, I would just move things, relocated everything to a mew place without decluttering first. But now I follow the steps of taking out the obvious trash and taking stuff back to its home, I no longer male piles, I take it there NOW. I could stop whenever without having to come back to a bigger mess the next day. I could easily pick up where I left off. Thank you so much for all you guys do. Im at the stage where I don’t think about it when decluttering, if its going to cost me less than $20 to replace out it goes. And I never find myself replacing an item that I got rid of. ❤🎉

After listening for 5 mins, I made a pot of green tea and started sorting out paperwork in the home office that has been ignored since the beginning of the month. Feeling productive as I'm listening to the podcast sorting it all out. More to do and will listen to another podcast or video as it is a motivator❤ thanks Dawn and Dana!

Some things are just TOO emotionally charged to fit in these categories. I would be overwhelmingly sad to get rid on my mom's lip balms because she's gone now. And as long as I can use them, I can feel her presence

"Get rid of piles" ... please tell me I'm not the only one who thought this was about hemorrhoids! LOL

Piles R me! I am all about piles but Dawn introduced me to one of Dana's books and it was life-changing! Thank you two SO much! I thought I needed to sort piles into piles but I got into your process and removed eighty percent of my paper. Without umpteen extra piles. It was so freeing! Thank you, Dana! Thank you, Dawn!

Anytime I am tidying, sorting, decluttering, cleaning.. Dana's voice is in my head, "Take it there now." She is right! Game Changer. It's done and there won't be an extra step later to finish what I have started.

"I don't see limits" WOW mind blown! That hit me - hard. I do that! And I didn't even realize it. Thank you!

I literally needed the psychology behind why and how to declutter. And decompressing the overwhelm of it all!! Love love this mental break down of it all. Cannot believe how much we have become addicted to shopping, comfort shopping, retail therapy and yet we never address the real issue,; we need to know the why behind this behavior and what this clutter is preventing you from getting free emotionally, spiritually and organizationally.

Thanks for the video. I am already pretty minimal and don't have alot of stuff, but I am always leaving mess/piles on my flat surfaces. I think its because when I come home from work I'm tired so its just easy to dump things on a table or leave dishes out on my kitchen bench rather then spend time putting them away. My goal for 2024 is to get better at putting stuff away 😝

I'm a school teacher and this right here- for the past two years I have slowly but surely decluttering and finding homes - Dana you have no idea how much you have helped me understand my space - all of you ladies have- God truly bless you three!!

When I first heard about, and implemented, Dana's Take it There Now method a couple years ago, it transformed my house and my life. It is the ONLY decluttering method that works for me, my hubby, and my daughter. The Progress and Only Progress, and Better is Good mottos are transformative! Always starting with trash (Dana's step one in the process) gives us momentum and quick wins, and ALSO doing the dishes daily (and anything else that is a daily task) before decluttering as she recommends is a must for me. Dana is freaking brilliant!!! 🔥🌟💖

Now that I've decluttered so much, it's so much easier to create a home for items because there are fewer items and more space.

While watching you I was motivated to start working on my office/craft room. I had a pile of papers on the corner of my desk and a couple of them on the floor that had to be sorted and most of it had to be put through the shredder. I spent approx 15 minutes and with only a few exceptions I either shredded the papers or threw them in the trash. Anything that I have to file it in a stack with other like things. I didn't have a lot of time because literally the way our house is wired my husband and I cannot run our space heaters at the same time or the fuse will blow. He was out of the house for a while so I took advantage of that time. I recently decluttered my kitchen as well as a little bit of my living room. Today my husband and I took the bags and boxes of stuff to the local donation center. I am really excited about 2024 being clutter free!!! Thanks for your inspirational videos.

Ive been reading "Nobody Wants Your Shit." Great book for people who need to be kicked in the ass to declutter. 😂😂

"The space is the size that it is!" OMG- just brilliant!

WOW, this came up as a second podcast this morning After I watched a different Minimal Mom episode, and WOW did Dana hit it on the head for me. EXACTLY!!! I don't see things leave my hand in the wrong place either, or really even see small piles, I just see massive piles by the time they look like a landfill. I guess I've always been this way, and just didn't realize it until I was older and had so much more stuff. Over the past year or so I've tried to make a habit, which is hard to do, I've not setting things down in the wrong place - not all that successfully. Thankfully then, this is not a symptom of dementia or something. I had to pause the podcast and start it over when she hit on the piles so quickly and it sounded like she was talking about me.

Dawn looks like all those images we see of Snow White ❄️....especially if the hair were a bit darker ! Loving it...looking pretty ❤

You both have opened so many eyes to the ways to actually have an organized, functioning home. Your permission and examples of parting with stuff and recognizing clutter, and getting rid of it without making a bigger mess, has been so helpful. Thank you so much!

If you think the take your house back course is too expensive I hear you I do. But I PROMISE you you will save $100s if not $1000s of dollars in this course. Because you are going to learn soooooo much about yourself, your house and your family and you won’t buy like you use to. You won’t waste places you didn’t even realize you were wasting. I’m SURE 💯 sure I saved more then $1000 last year taking this course just suddenly being aware of what I had and what I had 30 of and being able to find thing when I looked for them. It made me less stressed, it made me ON TIME, it made me stop yelling at my kids and gripping at my husband. The cost of this program I would pay for 100x over. If I knew know what I knew then I would buy it full price! Get it on sale $94 will be the BEST money you ever spent in your life! It’s a money back guarantee!! You have nothing to lose. Please please please if you are in the fence do it! Jump! Put $94 on yourself this year and make your life better! Spend that $94 on YOU give yourself this gift of change you DESERVE this!!!!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

OMG, take it there now has helped me so much even though I have three flights of stairs to navigate on some items I hear Dana’s voice if I start to just put something down instead of taking it to where I would look for it first. I’m definitely getting my steps in as I declutter.

What in the world was that intro dude on there for? That was ridiculous.😂

Thanks to you two Angel's, I've blasted through 10+ yrs of paperwork I've been dreading/ignoring. Dana was spot on, it went from mountains to molehills just by opening and looking 😮 Thank you, thank you, thank you 💜💗💜💗💜💗

I love the question "Where would I put it ?" Such a wise understanding of knowing yourself. I so ... loss things when I started organizing! Love That!

I adore you two! I just purchased Take Your House Back and feel so good to be able to give back to you three. THANK YOU!!

My piles originate from all the notes I write myself and are meant for "later", like to do's or reminders.

Dana I love so much that you used your passion to improve something you struggled with, and then THAT became one of your passions too! So cool!

I have followed Fly Lady for over 20yrs..this is pretty much the same type of system.

Dana’s books combined with Dawn’s RU-vid a year ago changed my life. Cass is now in the mix and her podcast guests have also been fantastic! You all are wonderful to make it cool to talk about our stuff. Big hugs 🩷

Dawn I love your channel and all your friends that you have on. I just joined you live for the 4 days after Christmas and it was great. Today, I went through most of my closet and have a 1/4 to 1/2 of garbage bage of donations. Tomorrow, the rest. Thank you and to all the women that surround you. 🎉

I get overwhelmed by mail I think I need to keep but don’t know where to keep it or for how long.

Love this information and inspiration!

Seven minutes in and you two are saving my sanity!!!! Thank you!!!!!

I love you two, and Cas, as well. I'm addicted to your podcasts! I have made a TREMENDOUS amount of progress because of your teaching. I do have a problem, though, and it must be because of my nagging ADHD. Almost every time I hear someone say, "right" or "like" or "right-like" my brain resets, and I can't pay attention to the next few words you say. 🥺

I love Dawn and Dana so much!!! ❤

I’m trying so hard to stop the “stuff shuffle “. When I heard this description, 🙄 me 100%. When I combine the idea of reducing inventory, moving towards some vague version of minimalism, the stuff is finally noticeably less. Getting there thanks to all of you❣️

I keep journals. Then they pile up. I do not want to throw them away. I can’t afford a house with a basement which is where I would keep them. I am a writer and use my past journals for stories that I publish. I have 40 boxes of journals in my living room.

❤❤❤ needed to hear this thank you!

Once I’ve organized I had to look at what I had. I realize that part of the issues I had with tools was how annoying it was to use them. They were often multistep. I hated the cords. Once I bought cordless tools, all the same brand, with interchangeable batteries I used them more. It also helped to have an organizer for parts. I bought a Dyson and the lack of the cord, and all those steps to unfurl it, Finda a plus, then wind it back up… but I also bought a rack that holds all the attachments right there by where the thing charges it’s so easy to grab, use, and put away.

Thank you Dawn and Dana.. Great info going into 2024, I need it.

Ok, I made the purchase! I love you two & Cas!

Dana's process is the BEST!

I love Dana. I consider her the og declutterer. Her brain works like mine. I'm so glad she's still in this space.

Highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend the Take Your House Back course! From chaos to peace. When I started, I was overwhelmed by all these things that I had. Piles everywhere. Clothes everywhere. And all these just-in-case, maybe someday. I'm at the stage where I've completed 2 full house decluttering passes and am now at the "Be Ruthless" stage. 1. My house has a limit of what it can hold 1.a. learning that lesson takes time and TYHB continues to help me get there! 2. I have a personal-to-me limit of what I can easily manage 2.a. I'm learning what that limit is. 3. Better IS Better! 4. Knowing my Clutterbug style has made everything easier to organize and keep organized. DO IT. SIGN UP TODAY!

HOW DID I MISS THAT YOU HAVE A PODCAST NOW??!! Lol! We’ll I guess I know what I’m doing for the rest of the night. Happy new year!

The two ladies that SAVED our home!

Thanks for making my life easier!

❤. … I needed this today. Thank you for making my life better! Appreciate you both!

I love all three of your channels. I have to say, Dana is sooooo funny, I love her sense of humor throughout her videos on her channel while going through stuff. I’ve learned the most I think from you Dawn though. I love Cass too

Happy New Year, wishing you all a great 2024. Thank you for all the great videos during the year.

This was so good, but just want to say Dawn your hair looks fantastic!

Love you ladies!

No piles - piles attract piles!! 😂

Thank you to you both, Dawn and Dana. LOVE YOU 3 AND ( Cas) and THE TAKE YOUR HOUSE BACK Course. ❤❤❤

I can relate to this so much… motivated me to start decluttering the kitchen!!

Great conversation gals!!! ❤

I love you both so much!!!!! Thank you so much for all the advice. They all resonate with me!!!!! Wishing you many blessings!!!!! Happy New Year!!!!! Love from Ania from Poland

This is a broad stroke, but I say to myself, “this is paper, it goes to the desk.” All paper goes to the desk. One paper hangs on my fridge - a list of appointments I have to show up for.

Dawn! Love your hair! Oh and your voice is in my head.

As I was watching this (your) video, I convinced myself to go and put some things where they actually belonged. Feels so good!

I move things from one room to another all the time Thanks for this video.

I always put your videos and podcasts on as online body doubling 🎉 thank you guys so much ❤

I agree that Dana's take-it-there-now method is a game changer!

Great to watch both of you together. I agree Dana's no mess declutter is the best method i have ever tried. I praise you both and cass to anyone who will listen! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! God bless all of you😇🥰

This course is so worth it! I’ve watched another organizer whose class is over $1000.

Thank you ladies for helping us with our homes! Life can be so overwhelming at times, and your tips are so awesome! Getting rid of things I don't use feels so good! Having less is = less stress 👍

Thank you for your podcast. It helped me. I was able to finish decluttering my smaller kitchen since I moved to an apartment.

That was fun to watch. I am very much like Dana. She and I think alike. Thank you both.

I found Dawn during Covid and learned so much. Dana, I heard about you through Dawn and then was skeptical about the take it there now and where would i look for it first. Low and behold it works for me!! Thank you both so much.

I LOVE the Take your house back course! It has helped me so much. Thank you for all your tips! I went to donate some stuff today. Threw a lot of things two weeks ago. And I go on repeat when I have the energy.

Course made all the difference for me. Especially the Facebook support group. Years later, I'm still working the program and I have literally moved mountains in my house and helped so many family members downsizing and taking apart homes after a death. Thanks so much. ❤❤❤❤❤

Yes!! I don’t see incremental mess either. 😂I never thought of it that way. Great insight for me ❤

🎉 Seconding @BabyBNJoe’s comment. As a teacher, I do use concepts that I learn from Dawn, Dana, and Cass in my classroom automatically because it has become part of how I manage inventory in general. The container rule should certainly be used more in my classroom because my cabinets runneth over! However, there has to be something different about inventory at work versus inventory at home. I can look at one item at home and have no problem making a final decision with it. At work it is so much harder for me. I don’t know what it is. A huge number of “just in case” items combined with procrastinated decisions I haven’t had time to make, combined with…pressure to have everything I could possibly need? I don’t even know. I would love to have that unpacked more to help me understand what I’m experiencing. Ladies, classrooms are a HUGE missed opportunity for unpacking the overwhelm. I know Dana was a drama teacher, but gen ed teachers tend to be borderline hoarders too! Also, I’m a butterfly with more ladybug closed storage, so I don’t think that helps either. A lot of factors here!