My No Mess Decluttering Method Demonstration 

Dear Dana. You may or may not be aware of this wonderful fact about you: you are mothering mothers. This is so cool. For all of us who had amazing but messy mothers, absent mothers, busy mothers etc. And somehow we never learned the habit of real life home managing. Thank you so much. Thank you for mothering mothers/fathers/homemakers… ❤️

"Where would I look for this first?" is a great question. I've never heard anyone approach organizing this way. You are brilliant.

Today I took all the donations I finally dragged out of my closet to four different locations, and I just needed to tell someone. 😅 Thank you so much for all the awesome content!

My family always made me cleaned as a child and I hated cleaning but not because of cleaning but because the way I felt it was a punishment and was never taught how to clean just expected to know and when I did it wrong I got punished for it even when I told them I didn't know how to do said task. These videos make so much sense to me thank you for your help. :)

Starting to love this method! :) A small hack for the difficult stuff: if I get stuck or overwhelmed, I will actually take a picture of the closet/dish mountain/other stuff. Then, while I gather up energy (for example watching a tv show or cleaning videos), I will look at the picture, and make decisions about the hard things. Or organise it mentally/look for more functional solutions. For me, this kind of tricks my brain into thinking I am relaxing, but I am actually 'working'. It also means that once I go to that spot, it will be very quick, because I already made the hard decisions/I know where to take things.

I absolutely love that this didn't end with everything in cutsey little matching (expensive) bins in rainbow order with fancy cricut labels (which would be applicable for about a week). Dana, I love watching your videos and your methods are awesome and so practical. Happy New Year!

I love it! "It's not organized, but it is decluttered, and I can find stuff." You nailed it!

This is just one of many important take aways for me. If the doorbell should ring expectedly or unexpectedly...or if I must leave...all I have to do is shut the cupboard..I don't have a bunch of "piles" in the way. I love that idea

I am so glad I found you. I’m 74 years old and live in clutter and have done for years. Your system makes sense to me. I wish I had found you years ago. Thank you!

That red ribbon hanging down is maddening!

"Better is Good" comes out of my mouth SOOOOO many times lately! I found Fly Lady years ago and discovered that part of my issue with clutter is that I want things to be PERFECT so if I didn't have time to get it to perfect, I procrastinated and did nothing. In the past year or 2 I've found Dawn of Minimal Mom, Cas of Clutterbug, and YOU! Each of you 3 wonderful women have helped me to get my space to ... better. It's not close to perfect, but it IS better. Thank you for all you do. LOVE your videos and know that I will smile and/or LOL every time I watch one.

"I think because this thing is wonky and it keeps getting in my way that it's trash!" Favorite quote ever!!! I say that all the time!!!

Dana, thanks so much for sharing your 5-Step Decluttering Method. After I watched this video (and took notes), I applied your method to my kitchen desk drawer. It was so jam-packed, we've been unable to open it. However, it took me less than 5 minutes, and I found a credit card that's been lost for months!

I love how at the end you show us a real space. So often RU-vidrs will show this amazing decorated Pinterest worthy area for the final reveal which is just not realistic and actually depressing because my area will never look like theirs. Thank you for showing us what an actual completed area will look like and when I accomplish this I feel like I did it correctly and I have confidence to move to the next area.

The clarity of that much success at 9:47 with no emotions used, no decisions made and nothing all over the floor etc, this is an absolute game changer

I dont drink herbal teas but have too many selections in my tea drawer. Guests use to drink it. But for the last few years, only 1 guest drinks a cup of tea a few times a year. I've decided to clear the drawer of all the tea. I will give the tea to my hubby to take to work for them to enjoy. I will keep the 1 tea flavor our one guest enjoys but I'll put it away until that guest returns. There is no use to keep a drawer full of teas when nobody else is drinking it. Thanks for your videos.

She’s right- This is actually the only way to not make a mess. If course it’s counter-intuitive to be “less efficient” by making multiple trips….but unless we have a physical limitation, there’s no excuse not to use it! I think if it as exercise, not inefficiently. I love that I can stop whenever I want. And it also means it doesn’t have to be “a whole production” I will use this method with my messy car. If I grab even one thing every time I arrive home, and put it away, I’ll have a clean car eventually 😅. Better than the nothing I’m doing now!! Lol

If you are new here, Dana’s methods really work. Her books, podcasts and videos are so helpful. So excited to get her new book soon. ❤️

Your commentary on the beading cord elastic really resonated! I appreciate that you acknowledged that you might be upset when you remember that you got rid of it, but that having simplified space is worth more than the convenience of having the item on hand.

I just had an urge to declutter, pulled everything out of several drawers then became so overwhelmed and had a mental breakdown 🥲 now I'm decluttering along this video, thank you so much Dana, your videos have been really helpful!

I love your method!! I call the "take it there now" part my exercise. I don't look at it as a time waster, but as a micro-bit of exercise. All those steps add up!

I've been using my least favorite extra totes to use for donations. gets rid of them and they are super sturdy.

Dana.. my mom has completely turned her whole life around because of your podcast. She’s got me listening to you now! I prefer RU-vid over podcasts but one day when I have a long drive, I will listen to you. Thank you so so so much. ❤

The pre-order printable has been AMAZING! The Yes/No questions make it so easy. And it’s hilarious to me how much more ends up in the donation box or black trash bag because I’d rather do that than “take it there now.” 🤣🤣🤣

I went to grab a container from my cabinet and ended up decluttering as I just couldn’t stand it. Now the cabinet is much nicer and the drawer that all my lids were in now holds my mixers and other baking things I had stuffed all over every where. Thanks Dana. I think ‘where would I look for it first’ is my new mantra.

The shower hooks “not hanging over my head anymore” made me chuckle, because they will literally be hanging over your head! Hehe (sorry, I couldn’t resist!)

I prefer to get a box and dump everything in it. Start with cleaning off all the shelves, and wash them down. Now the area is clean and empty. Then sit down next to the trash and recycle bins and start sorting. Pull out all like things and put them in a pile, tools, sewing, office supplies, etc. then you will have the rest to throw out. Only put back what belongs in this room. If you get called away, you can get back to the contents easily. Often times, going with one object to another room will get you distracted. Also having a container near your stairs helps, Items can be placed there to carry up the next time you go upstairs, (or down). I am 71 and don't waste my time. Happy cleaning!!!

No leftover piles! Yay! As a "victim" of past decluttering gone wrong, seeing a workable space and no piles to sort through at the end is such a relief! Thank you so much 💓!!

I decluttered my dresser while watching. I dealt with one piece of procrasticlutter that was decades in the making. Whew! Progress, only progress. You are awesome sauce, Dana!

To me, the only downside of this method is to keep going back and forth to different areas in the house. I use little cheap baskets labeled craft room, dining room, office, bedrooms etc. Then move them all at once. Lessens fatigue and improves efficency

I have begun to declutter my house and I am primarily using your method. For me taking it where it goes right now makes the most sense because I have it where it will be used. I am still learning to let things go because I have had to clear my mother’s house in the last six months. I promised my children I would not leave them as much as my mother left me to manage.

Lawd get that dadgum red ribbon hanging down! It’s been driving me nuts since you opened the cabinet door.

Despite already being a member of Dana’s “Take Your House Back” course, listening to ALL of her podcasts, and having read ALL of Danas books including her newest one, I found this particular video of’ how to decluttering without making a mess’ to be the most clarifying about how to actually DO the five step decluttering process than anything else! Thank you Dana!

I know you have done lots of visual examples before on your channel but I honestly get something new out of them every time! Please don’t ever stop because you think we have seen it all

Firstly, let me thank you for showing a realistic example of what organizing looks like and not a magazine-shoot-worthy end result! Secondly, your differentiation between decluttering and organizing is a life changer for us perfectionist procrastinators! Thirdly, thank you for your videos and books. They have been life changing for me, my family, and my home. No longer do I feel obligated to take on large, long lasting "organization" projects than never seem to get completed. By just doing a little at a time, and telling myself that "better is good", my home is *slowly* turning into a livable, less chaotic space. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Also, I absolutely love the comical write ups at the end of your videos! Please tell your video editors that they are appreciated by your audience! lol

I find your videos helpful. A lot of us need step by step real life situations and how to deal with our items. Thank you for going step by step. There are so many RU-vid's that say " let's declutter" and then play music the whole time. I am like why did you get rid of that? Many of us need this step by step and reasoning. Thank you. ❤

This method changed my world. Now when I get interrupted or distracted in the middle of decluttering there's not a giant pile of stuff that goes elsewhere. I can just stop.

I love this woman. (I kinda still cringe when I watch her awesome videos because she total bursts my self-delusion bubbles!) I've read so many articles, books, and watched MANY RU-vid videos about getting organized and decluttering -- wayyyyyyy too many! Dana White's methods clicked for me. Finally. I am actually getting organized! Thankfully, the decluttered area have actually STAYED uncluttered and well organized. I am still working through the entire homestead. God bless her!

Whats motivating is having a friend hang out and help .I listen to you while I work and its like having myvown personal assistant! Thank you your awesome!

The 'i probably won't realize i have this and buy another' is so great tip. I have an odd, probably anxiety realted, issue of 'i can't throw that away, what if I need one'. But with a giant mess i would never find it anyway. (Doesn't help i was raised by a grandparent who went through the great depression where that mindset was valid.)

This is so helpful! Part of what holds me back from doing the decluttering I want to do is the mess I know it will create (with other methods). I love that with this method I could stop if I run out of energy or my kiddos need me and come back later without leaving a bigger mess than I started with! Can't wait to try this out!

The saying 'take it there right now' is the best. Its proves to help get decluttering done.

Love this method! I kept thinking, 'wow, if she had to leave right away for some reason she could just shut those cabinet doors and her place would still look great!' So simple, but my mind is literally blown! 😃

Love the visual of the before and the final result. So much better! And I totally went back and paused the ending credits several times so I could read them all. Reid makes me laugh. 😆

I’ve watched this video once before. Watched it again just now and was so motivated (even though I’m sick) that I went and filled a huge garbage bag full of trash - and completed a decluttering and organizing project I’ve been wanting to do for months!!🎉 thank you for your wonderful and very helpful videos!

Hi from Australia! Thank you so much Dana. Do your dishes, 5 minute pick-up, 5 steps, only progress, container method, clutter threshold, visible spaces first etc. = ❤. These have been so great in dealing with all the ‘just-in-case’ and sentimental items we have in our house, and in dealing with the last of our parents passing. Thanks for using your God-given talents in such a wonderful way! 😃

I absolutely use your method now and "Better is good" has become part of my vocabulary. The one thing I really differ on is when you took the shower curtain hangers & put them on the shower curtain. That would utterly derail the project I had going in the cabinet. I would have put it & the curtain in the bathroom to do later, and continue in my craft cabinet.

The beading cord elastic would have been my downfall. I have such a hard time letting go of the "what if I could use this someday" stuff. For me, that stuff is way worse than even the sentimental stuff.

Could you please take us on a tour of your new home? Kathryn from Texas

You’re so funny! Thank you for making this fun instead of horrible and frustrating ❤

I really love your videos. I've always been overwhelmed with decluttering because of the "mess in the middle" of other decluttering methods. I have two special needs children and a husband with disabilities, I just can't pull everything out of my dresser and closet to declutter clothes. Your process makes so much more sense for me.

I’ve been struggling with clutter for YEARS and watched tons of videos and read many books on the topic. I borrowed an audiobook version of your Decluttering at the Speed of Life from the Libby app just to give it a try, I didn’t have high hopes at all because I’ve tried so many books, and I haven’t heard of your book before. But your book is the first one I listened to from the beginning all the way to the end! I found myself nodding at what you are saying and everything made so much sense to me! And I love how you read the book personally and it felt just like listening to a RU-vid video. The way you kept drilling the decluttering questions really helped me remember them. It makes so much sense to start decluttering from the most visible spaces. I used to always start in my bedroom, make halfway progress then give up. But having my entryway and kitchen counter finally free of clutter is motivating me to keep going. I searched your name and found your RU-vid channel! I’m excited for more content from you!

Discovered you at just the right moment. I am overwhelmed at the moment but, as I am watching and listening, I am literally calming down………I CAN DO THIS!!!!! 😊

Thank you so much for making this video!!!! I love seeing actual items in someone’s clutter. Most of the time you just see that clutter and then see it go away without learning why they made any of those decisions. It’s not helpful. Seeing your actual things and the reasoning WHY you’re doing the things you with them, is so helpful!!! It makes you think about your own things as well, and helps you learn about what to do when you start looking at your items.

So helpful and more realistic than all the frufru videos that magically appear in multiple organizer containers without explaining why

goodness! I love this, I'm off to tackle my cupboard of doom. so happy to see a decluttering method that doesn't result in more mess and doesn't require me to go and buy anything to achieve an organised and tidy space.

If I decided to put the shower curtain up I would have had to clean the tub and wash the shower curtain. I would never have gotten back to the cupboard. That's why I have a put away box in the area. Kathy B. P. S. I would put each of those categories in separate boxes inside the cupboard.

Thank you. So, I realized part of what's helping me with your videos is you're explaining WHY you do each step. When it all feels like a leaf tornado then it's hard to do any of it.

I love watching your videos and so do my two teen daughters. I have wasted more time overthinking and procrastinating at times than being diligent and productive.🤦‍♀️ You are so helpful and simply a beautiful person. Thank you for all you do to show us how to make decluttering so much easier! God bless you!

This makes decluttering really achievable, as I can walk away at any point without leaving a big mess! Also I jumped up as soon as you showed the ruler, because I knew damn well I had that one bad unnecessary ruler in my drawer too, and immediately got rid of it. It’s not much, but it’s one thing less! :D

Just pre-ordered for my BFF, whose cleaning personality is more like yours. I grew up constantly moving and getting rid of stuff, so I learned not to get attached to much. Her dad puts her on a guilt trip for getting rid of anything, even stuff she hates! Anyway, so excited to give it to her!!!

I love all of this and I'd add just one tiny little thing and that is I'd make only one trip away from the area with all of the things that have other homes. I guarantee that if I walked away from that cabinet I'd be sidetracked multiple times by heaven knows who and what! So, I love this that the stuff isn't totally pulled out (like I thought I had to do and hated), which just overwhelms the LIFE out of me! Thanks for the video!

silver tools that are hand held as a category totally rocks…nut cracker and stapler all in one spot…yep I’m in the right place

My daughter recommended the book "Decluttering at the Speed of Life" to me. I bought the audio version and have listened to it while driving to and from work at least 4 times over the last 2 years. So the other night I started on my office closet (again) and played this video while I worked on it. It was as if you were giving me moral support as I worked on it!! LOL Thanks, Dana!!

Impressed you had to fake clutter. 😁 What a huge sign you have been a success!!!

I LOVE your no mess decluttering. My previous efforts would start with a huge mess and I wondered why I started.

This is one of the most helpful organizing videos I’ve ever seen. Life changing skills you’re teaching! Thank you!

I love the magic that happens when I use the five-step method to clean up after meals: First, dispose of trash- wrappers, containers, vegetable trimmings, etc. Second, put things where they belong- leftovers in the fridge, condiments in the fridge, dishes in the sink. Third, notice any dish or pan that just gets in your way and take it to your donate box. All the while, thinking of the container concept. Lastly, wash the dishes and wipe off surfaces. Beautiful!

This was so helpful. I was just introduced to your videos by the scary algorithms of RU-vid that seem to read my mind. Your method really resonates with me. It makes so much sense after years of putting stuff into different labeled boxes. They always say to take stuff all at once to a particular location. I end up with half-finished piles. I love the permission to go put things away right away. It is done! Plus, ya know, more steps! Call it exercise. Better is Good is a great phrase. I could go on and on but butterflies know exactly what I am talking about anyway. I am so glad I listened to you today. I feel so happy right now. Weird, I know.

I love your decluttering method! I have all your books and am in the take your house back course. I still have a long way to go, but I have made more progress this year than in all my previous 40 ish years of my life!

You are brilliant, Dana. Never stop being youre lovely self

This video and walk through is golden.

I had a slight interruption of an hour because I felt compelled to declutter my creative stuff =D great techniques! Thanks for sharing!

Love this! The logic of the questions, ‘where would I look for this’ etc make so much sense to me. Also love that you can stop or get interrupted without having a messy spread out pile of stuff.

Your personality is the Mom-vibe I need right now, thank you Dana ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Can you do an office supplies declutter please? I am drowning in craft and office supplies and it all feels useful. I need help! Thank you so much, Dana, you are one of my favorite people I have never met! 😁

I really enjoy the funny editors comments at the end. Great job Reid!

Dana, I really love your metod! It is a different approach ❤ Thanks!

Thank you Dana!!! I love your method and the fact that you show real messy and cluttered cabinet that most of us can relate to 😅 it’s great to see I’m not alone in this department 😂❤ Thank you! I loved the use of the black garbage bag . It’s perfect for me and my family members who don’t help but want to keep cluttering the home with things they’ll never use again or think they’ll fix them (BS!!!)!!!.😂😂😂

She really brings a calm in helping me, as I'm feeling overwhelmed. I have already made progress just watching her videos! Love her humor too! She is awesome!!😢

Great idea to break the deadlock in cupboards! Like the fact you didn't even use containers, but had things in piles. Also a great reminder that the whole point of organising is to make things function better.....and better is good!

I'm so grateful to you Dana, for putting out so much after Christmas content. Also as a recovered re-seller, I SO identify with too many ship materials

oh my God that was one of the most practical, sane decluttering methods I’ve ever seen thank u girlfriend I desperately needed all those tools life changing

I would get stacking bins and utilize the unused vertical space in that cabinet!

Love this!!! Thank you so much for sharing this. So often I start a project and the space ends up a disaster zone, as if it wasn't already. By using these steps I feel I will be more effective in getting to my end result. The goal is to get rid of the heavy cloud that I feel when I walk into my house. The "stuff" is 80% of that cloud.

Thank you for pointing out my biggest problem re decluttering and tidying up as I'm guilty of the "inbetween". I usually make huge messes when I'm spring cleaning and cleaning out drawers etc, the mess seems to go for miles lol. My mantra USE TO BE "you have to make a mess before you can clean something properly" NO MORE... subscribed.

Loved this video. As a person with energy limitations I do this same thing and follow your steps, but I seperate the items into piles divided by the rooms they go in, and then take them all at once to their "homes". Then I'm not crossing my house over and over again. I realize this is a little different technique but it works the same for me and I don't exhaust myself. Having enough energy is my hurdle.

That's how I declutter. It's because of laziness. I don't want to make more work. You simplified it. Great video!

You are a true artist at creating clutter! 🎨

I did pre order and filled in for the freebie, it took seconds. I’ve looked at it and can’t wait to use it. It’s so easy and made me laugh. This is the best thing cos I was thinking that I need to write down the steps, but now I have the printable. We are moving soon and I can give the kids a copy each to go through their stuff too. So glad I found you Dana you speak to my cluttered soul!!! ♥️♥️♥️

😂 Family: sees thru the donation bag and says “that’s my favorite thing ever!!” 😩 SO true 🙈 but you never use it. Me: Use a black bag from now on 👍🏼

Your decluttering strategy is the BEST! Thank you!

"Would I know to look for this item", as someone with out of sight out of mind and hoarder tendancies, this has blown my mind!

I have been struggling with this a lot for the last 8 years or so, but the way you explained this and walked us through it was very helpful to me. Instead of taking right then though as I have a mobility issue, I would have to have a few boxes heading a certain direction or room, and everything in each and then moved mid cleaning and end of it. To just transport individually would be too much for me. But i can definitely do the boxes and then move them a few times. Thank you so much!!!

Dana, I am moving soon. Back in 2020, my boyfriend and I moved in together when my crazy ex roommate lost her last marble during the onset of the pandemic. He and I found out that we love being around each other. We live in a work-live small 700sq ft, 1 bedroom unit. We love the work-live lifestyle so much that we found a 3 story, 3,000sq ft condo. We move to our bigger dream place come July 10, 2023! In 2020, I moved my 2bedroom apartment in a storage unit. I have had so much anxiety over the storage unit. I am literally watching your videos as a means to mentally prepare myself to go to war against this 3 year anxiety filled, overwhelming decluttering task of going through my storage unit. I’m also scared that there might be mice in my things because it’s been in storage for so long and I’m super afraid of rodents and critters. I know I have to do this because I don’t want to take this feeling and unnecessary stuff into my future. So thank you for helping me feel like Rocky…just training mentally to pump myself up for the big task ahead. I am also excited to rediscover who I was prior to being in a long term relationship . I definitely want to reconnect with the awesome parts of my old life prior to meeting my sweet thang. I want to have fun and not just have anxiety. Thank you for your videos. They are helping!! I can do this!!! 😊 🎉

I've only watched half so far, but something about your sense of humor is so hilarious! 🤣 Compounding that is this cresting emotion I must have built up over my clutter... to think there is a systematic way to clear it all up!🤯🤗

This is the best advice for decluttering I’ve ever heard! Brilliant. You may have changed my life forever. Thank you!

I found you from Mel Robbins, thanks for sharing. Much appreciated!

I pre-ordered your book from Audible. I have listened to your other books multiple times while walking and find myself laughing out load and energized to tackle another area of my home. Can't wait to hear the new book!

I was so excited to share this and my husband loved it! Many a-ha moments of understanding for him