THROWING EVERYTHING OUT IN 2024 / Decluttering, Organizing, & Cleaning! Whole House Declutter 

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We retired to a smaller home that had no basement. The garage is not big so I left that for my husbands tools and decided that I would not store anything and gave away all my storage bins and totes. Everything I own is neatly in my house. I bought enough clear plastic sweater boxes to fit on my guest room closet shelf and filled them with my holiday decor. I started with my favorites and when they were full I donated everything else. I cannot tell you how wonderful it feels to know I never have to clean out a shed, garage, basement or attic again the rest of my life. It was my retirement gift to myself.

Instead of shredding I plug my kitchen sink and fill it with hot water and put all of my papers in it and swish it around until the ink basically washes off the papers and then I squeeze out the paper (usually into a big ball.. so fun lol) and put it in the trash/recycle. It’s so much easier and faster than shredding.

This will sound so silly, but I think I watched about forty seconds of your video before I took off and FINALLY got through a room I’ve been struggling with for a YEAR! 😂 I don’t know what it is, how you did it, but thank you!!! I think it was a combination of seeing your basement - so much like what mine was when we moved a year ago, but now it’s “off-limits” so I’ve had all my junk in this problem room! And then you said something like “you won’t BELIEVE how it turned out!” And I could just picture my ideal room when you said it, and I finally got right to work!! I’m watching the rest of your video now, and I’m so excited to see how your basement goes! (You did amazing! The “yard sale” was such a wonderful idea!! What a great way to rehome your belongings!! Inspired!)

Just a helpful tip to others who have a hard time letting go of emotional objects...take a picture of it. My mom passed away in 2017. We did declutter shortly afterwards but I still had one bedroom full to the ceiling that i had a hard time with. This week I have given away 4 big uhaul boxes full of stuff. Sent it to goodwill. I divided stuff up and am sending some to sisters. Its so mind relieving to do this. Its just stuff.

What a great idea to have a free yard sale...all of those organizing containers look brand new! It is nice knowing that someone else can use them.

It is so encouraging to see that other people have the scene challenges with clutter that I have had.

Dear Catherine Elaine I enjoyed this video while I was cooking and planning to declutter yet another section of my garage. I retired from teaching and have no idea why I kept boxes and boxes of self generated lesson plans. If I had good sense, I would have just tossed them in the school dumpster as I broke down my classroom! I am now 70 and it really does take me longer to complete these purges because I both move more slowly and got caught up in looking at everything. My garage became so packed (former art and reading teacher) that at first I couldn’t even get to the middle of garage to replace burnt out light bulb! Thanks again for the inspiration. 👍❤️

Incredible how much you accomplished in a day! Serious stamina. Very motivating, thank you!

I gave my vhs to a shop and they digitalize it for me and now i can watch it in my laptop etc. ☺️

I found that when I have shelving in the garage or basement, I have "given myself permission" to hold onto things that we really don't need to be holding onto. So we got rid of the shelving unit in the basement and have a stack of up to four bins and four bins only - which hold offseason items, with one bin for winter coats/boots and two bins full of Christmas decor. This has kept everyone honest about what needs to be saved and what does not need to take up space in our home. I'm trying to follow the advice of so many decluttering / minimalist experts out there who say that if you are keeping something in a box, bin, or in the back of a closet or in the garage or basement (and not using it at least monthly), then it is EXCESS aka CLUTTER and we need to set it free. "You're not going to use something more often when it's been packed away." #truthbomb

I try to post everything I declutter to my local "Buy nothing" facebook page. It's good to know that it's actually going to people that need it instead of going to a thrift store that might throw it out if it doesn't sell. I've also been going to clothes swaps, you get free clothes and it refreshes your wardrobe while also cleaning our your own.

Here for allllll the decluttering motivation! 😍 You already know my basement is a WRECK, so this is much needed!

I love this video. It's so satisfying to watch. Just a couple of tips, 1. (tip from another youtuber) if you need to use storage bins, buy clear ones so you can see what's in them without needing to open and look to see what's in it; and 2. scan all important documents and save them onto your computer so you dont need to keep physical copies and can print them whenever you need a physical copy.

Awesome work! I really like that you gave your stuff away instead of selling it.

Omg. How motivating. I've been waiting for this video. Great work. Tax documents 7 years. I bring my stuff monthly to staples to shredder. Very cheap

I used to have a shredder, but it died. So, instead of buying a new one, I take anything that needs to be shredded to Staples. It's a little over a $1 per pound for stuff that needs to be shredded. Totally worth it to me.

It's amazing how liberating it feels to let go of excess stuff. 😍

You've done such a great job- love the process you did for giving things away and getting rid of the trash. The plan you have sounds a perfect way to get the area how you want it. Really enjoyed watching ❤

I'm so excited that this popped up on me feed .You did a great job. Thanks for the motivation!

Catherine, You are pretty amazing! I still am flabbergasted at the extent of your growth since you started your channel! Take care...Cher

Wonderful video! Appreciate your commentary as you went along about what you were doing and how you decided what to keep and what to give away. Very generous of you to share with so many the "bounty" from your basement! I also find that when I am in the mood to sort and make decisions, being ruthless with my discernment makes the chore go faster and easier. And I feel like a burden is lifted from my shoulders! The best thing afterwards was my husband's big smile and the ease with which I could find things and clean/maintain. Thanks you for sharing! new subscriber today- this is so worth my time!

You did an amazing job! Can’t wait for the next part.

I just love your decluttering videos 🥰

You did an amazing job! Thank you for the motivation to get things done today!

Hello! Totally enjoyed this video and looking forward to seeing more basement declutter!! Have a wonderful day!🥰

Yay! I know this has been on your mind and to do list for so long! I’m happy you are finally tackling it. Even though we can’t see our basements every day, knowing they are clutter free, clean and organized is a great feeling! Great job…looking forward to the next one 😊

Hi Catherine! You did an amazing job decluttering! So proud of you! You really have come such a long way with how you declutter! Can’t wait for the next video!

Omg this was so satisfying and I’m glad the stuff went to good homes

WOW! You did some work! I can’t wait to see the next video.

You did so great! I was so happy to see this video today. I started my basement yesterday. What an exhausting job it is.

It was really motivating, thank you!!😊

Catherine, WOW!! You were ruthless! What an inspiration!

Great job decluttering your basement. I know it's gonna look amazing when you're done with everything. You always organize very beautifully. ❤❤❤

Wow! This was such a satisfying video to watch! I loved you putting things out for free and have them taken quickly. I have watched your channel for a couple of years and enjoy seeing you minimize your space! I have been a minimalist since before there was a word for it and help others declutter their spaces. Very few people are able to quickly get rid of things in their basements as you did!🙂

Good job can't wait fir the next episode makes me want to go thru everything in.y basement

Catherine, that was such a motivating video! Great job!! Our local UPS store has a shredder where you can take your paperwork to. I am feeling very motivated to start our garage clean out before it gets too hot. Thank you

Great job, thanks for the motivation

Great job, I know it is alot of work but so worth it

You did such a great job!

Wow great job! I know the feeling of just wanting to get rid of things no matter how much I spent or might use it later. As Dawn The Minimal Mom says “your mental health/peace/calm is SO much more important”. I am also glad you’re on the decluttering kick now because I love watching decluttering videos 😂.

The best video!!!!! Can’t wait for the next one! Excellent job❤️❤️❤️❤️

I absolutely love this video! Can't wait for future ones. It was so motivating!

Thanks for all the decluttering motivation ❤

Nice work! And good music choice!

I love all your decluttering and cleaning videos. It's inspiring me to have a clear out.

Great job! You inspire me to get me working on my basement too.

i am loving the basement clean out! so inspirational!!

Wow! You made a huge dent in the basement. Great job. I can't wait for the next one. Have a great day ❤

Satisfying to watch and motivating. Thank you for sharing.

Your family is lucky for all of your efforts

Great job! Feels so good to declutter so much, right?! I laughed when you were going through the instruction manuals. My daughter told us we didn't need any either. I still kept some. I right the purchase date, model number, serial number, etc on them.

KUDOS and a big WOW for your Part 1 decluttering transformation! It did not disappoint! Cannot wait for Part 2!! YES YOU CAN do anything you put your mind to!❤

I love basement declutter videos! Great effort.❤

Amazing! You got so much done in one day. 😊 This was so motivating for me! 💜

Good video very helpful, thank you Catherine

1st time watching your channel. Great job!

Now THAT was a great transformation! Great job! You def should be happy and feel good!! Such a great start!!!!!!! You got this!!

Amazing !! Well done x

I've been looking forward to this video.

I did this in my garage recently. I still kept some organizers and such for use in the future, but I let go of a lot! Always a good feeling! Omg glad I am not the only one terrified of the instant pot lol!!

Awesome awesome work done. I like how you are thinking about others and helping others by sharing what you have in excess. God bless you all. Lots of blessings and prayers for you all.

That was a great video. I especially like when you discuss what is in each box and your thought process for how you are handling the items.

What an inspiration!!!!!!!Wow you were really ready to let go ive never seen anyone do this much in one day on their own and video, and set up to actually get people to come and take what they wanted on the same day. Great job. You made so many decisions. Im sure you slept well that night and maybe for a few nights x congratulations on your efforts. 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Yay I waited for it!

I think it's nice to have a personal shredder. That way you can easily shred something as the need arises. You can always take large amounts somewhere else.

Wow just wow! I don’t have a basement but I do need to go through my cabinets. Thanks for the inspiration you did an amazing job! Love ya

Enjoying your videos while I’m on the couch recovery from emergency gallbladder surgery 2 days ago!!! No fun, but at least I have you to keep me company 😂❤ Awesome basement transformation

This is a great video.. I can relate , we have a storage area in our basement and my goal is to declutter that and to just keep and organize those things we do use . And also organize the basement.. it is semi organized but needs improvement.

Lord what a transformation Catherine!!! What a great idea, putting stuff outside for free. You have to be exhausted!!!!! Great video!!!!!

Been waiting for these videos.😊

thank you, so motivating!

Way to go fantastic! I bought long led lights for my basement for a hundred dollars it is a major difference you will love it

I can relate to feeling like the basement is a dungeon.. lol . My house was built in 74 and back then the laundry is in the basement. I wish I had a beautiful laundry area but at present it’s not . I’ve been looking on RU-vid and Pinterest on ideas for basement laundry redo’s to get ideas. That will be done in the future. Right now we refreshed our bedroom and bathroom.. plus refreshing our 2 tier back deck. We hope to refresh the other 2 bedrooms next year , then tackle the basement the following year. It all takes time and money . Thank you for the tips on the free ‘yard sale’ .. that is a great idea. Kudos to you for getting it done . It is a lot of work but do freeing as you said . I too just went through our file system in our basement and office upstairs and we got rid if 3 bags worth of very old ‘data’ . Thank you for the inspiration!

What a huge amount accomplished in just one day!! 💖🎉🎉

Good job. Really amazing

God is good! I have a four bedroom home FILLED with stuff, nice stuff, new stuff, because my now ex after 22 years wouldn’t get rid of anything and I’m drowning in it everyday. My ADHD makes it hard to focus so I don’t know where to start. Your video DID inspire me, & I hope to build momentum. Thx so much for sharing and reminding everyone it’s space we need, not stuff!💕🙏

Awesome job. That is a big task

You go girl!!! 🎉

You did amazing job and it's such a big job!!

Amazing! You were like a whirlwind getting rid of stuff! ❤

Categorize, organization Yeah!!

Good job Catherine! I was going to add that big labels help too, but it sounds like that will happen later in the process of organizing. For some bins, I put separate labels for each thing that is in the bin, so that if I declutter something out of the bin, I just remove that particular label. And it reminds you of what things are in that bin. Also I find that sheer or clear bins help too, as it reminds you of what is in there and how much. I am looking forward to Part 2!

Love these videos, and you've quickly become one of my favorite content creators when it comes to decluttering and cleaning - I'm going back and watching videos from last year now! We do donations to a woman's shelter here, with our things. It's a secret home for women in unsafe circumstances, and we meet up and destash because they need everything to start over. I've gotten rid of a lot of storage that doesn't work for us anymore this way. Not sure if you have anything similar where you are, but it's a suggestion.

Amazing job!

Great job CE 😃

I never shred tax documents or major documents like mortgages and titles and things like that. While most people think this IRS can only go back 7 years, I attended a training as a business professional. The IRS can go way way way way way back if they think you've committed fraud. So keeping those records is really important I keep the last 5 years of tax documents in paper period the rest are scanned into hard drives. I hope this is helpful

Loved this video

I’ve seriously been waiting to see your basement since January.

You go girl!

Just joined your channel. You were absolutely ruthless. I've seen so many folks declutter and then put half the things they're parting with in the basement for a 'future yard sale'. Then they have a hoarded basement when they're done. You made fast decisions and got so much done so quickly.

Yesssss! I’ve been legit waiting for your basement declutter :) Do I have a basement? No. Do I have a similar type of Monica closet? Yes 🤣 loved this video as always girl. You’re content is 🙌🏻🙌🏻

I love your ideas and those of other commenters

You did great!!

You must keep important papers for 7 years according to my tax accountant. Also, you can take your papers to be shredded at some local UPS mailing centers. They charge by the pound. Trust me, it is worth every penny they charge. I wore out my paper shredder and it took hours and I think I got carpel tunnel doing it. At least it felt like it......just some thoughts., Great video of letting go... Awesome that you shared those items and blessed others.

Very inspiring video! In regards to keeping paperwork, I’ve been told to hang onto anything financial and government related for 7 years then it’s safe to shred after that.

You did a fantastic job! I just subscribed, you were very motivating. We went through something like that seven months ago when we moved out of state. Our basement looked almost exactly like yours, even with the same shelves. Things we couldn’t let go of in the past, we left and had someone get the stuff, and clean the house. I was so exhausted, I had no energy left. I was pretty ruthless leaving things behind. I didn’t want to pack One. More. Thing. It was a 4 bedroom colonial we lived in for 37 years. By no means was it a hoarder house…. I was always decluttering. It was mainly a basement problem!

You are doing great!

Great motivation

Wow, you did fantastic!