Something that "Melinda Plain and Simple" said in the comments of her last video really struck me about decluttering items that cost a lot of money. She was going through some nice boots and fancy dresses and said something to the effect that it would be an even bigger waste of money to let those items just sit in her closet unused and possibly deteriorate when they could be worn by someone else right now while they're still in good condition.
Minimalism has forced me to change my mindset and realize that the minute we purchased an item, we have accepted that it is going to end up in the landfill. It is going to the landfill eventually, whether it sat in the basement or a closet for five years first or not. Watching truckloads of stuff leave your house is a huge wake up call! So now before I even consider taking an item into my home, I have to ask myself if I’m actually going to use it enough to justify throwing it away in the future. It has been a huge shift in my priorities, especially around things like decor items and how many clothes we buy.
yes - I've had the same mind/priority shift too! I pair this with the one-in-one-out rule, though I try to make it "one-in-several-out" instead at this point in my decluttering/downsizing journey.
Yes! I bought myself a tiny home and I love this life style! I purchase less at the store or wherever and in turn save money. Plus my tiny home is minimal and peaceful. Thank you for your video, I am now a new subscriber 😊
Buying things at thrift stores (and later donating as well) is one way to give things a second, third, or however many life and delays that landfill final destination as well. I worked in a thrift store for a year and a half and know people who work in other thrift stores as well so believe me when I say you cannot believe the things that people will donate, including brand new in the box or wrapper. The best things go the fastest but if you shop secondhand FIRST, it helps circumvent that cycle. It saves you money as well, and when you donate, you can feel better about prolonging the life of those items.
Bless you Margaret! I do think that it's good to be grateful that we gave come into the new freedom. The longer it takes us to 'get sense' the more clear minded and determined we are. Thd de-cluttered freedom keeps us youthful... so all in all, it's all a plus! Every blessing. G Ire
Your poop story reminds me of my uncle’s rule about picking stuff up at the curb. He always said … you never know if they had a sewage backup so keep driving! 🤣🤣🤣
I used to have a very cute sign up on my wall, which read, "Mothers of little boys work from son up til son down." I owned it for over 20 years, not realizing that those very words, no matter how true, subconsciously made me feel tired every time I read them. It has left my home (the boys have not, lol), and I feel the weight of it off my shoulders. Thank you for your Facebook group, where I have received daily encouragement.
I have a similar attitude toward trying to sell things, whether on-line or with a yard sale. In my imagination, I could make some money and feel good about not wasting anything, but the reality is that I find the whole process to be very daunting and stressful. It's so much easier to just give it away. If someone is good at selling and enjoys the process, that's wonderful, but it's just not for me.
I don't enjoy yardsales (or online ones) but need the money because I'm unable to work. However, I've donated a lot of wonderful things, too. Trying to balance, and it would feel soooo much better with a clutter-free life. Hard to unlearn some habits!
We moved from UK to Spain at 7 weeks notice. Somehow I was really organized and sold a lot and gave away what I couldn't be bothered to sell. Now stuff sits in boxes for ages waiting to be sold so without a time limit it rarely happens. I just give stuff away now. I live in Africa now so there is always someone willing to take stuff off my hands.
Agreed!! I couldn't be bothered to spend all the time that's needed to sell things - having to arrange your schedule to meet with people, getting stood up, the occasional "buyer" who won't stop talking and leave - I'd rather just give it all to a charity, or list it as free and put it out on the step for whoever's interested. Might also be an introvert thing too 🙂
Hey! I love how you changed out that crate shelf to an even MORE useful mason jar shelf and a magnetic knife strip. It's awesome how you continue to make your kitchen so customized to your needs. And you do it in such a thrifty, creative way! So fun to watch. 😁
You made an excellent point about throwing things away: They will end up in the landfill eventually. I sat and thought about that and it is SO TRUE!!! That is a good come back if someone tries to make anyone feel guilty about throwing something away! This video was so good. I watched it and then rewatched it immediately. Thank you Rachel!
That's my new decluttering question: "would I be willing to clean poop off of this?" 😂 I love it. There is very little I'm willing to clean poop off of...
I don’t like looking at knife storage, so I keep them in a slotted wooden knife storage tray that fits in a drawer. It only holds 5 knives, so I’m not tempted to get more!
I absolutely agree with your philosophy about getting rid of stuff. People are too worried about the landfill at the expense of well being. The path of least resistance is vital. Otherwise you end up never getting things cleaned out.
I fullheartedly stand by your claim that your Facebook group is the best out there. It has been such a true support on my journey. YOU have been Rachel. Your 42K followers are blessed to have you!
I think my phone has been listening to me 😂😂 this just came up on my feed. Had a conversation with my mum and friend today about being fed up with everything and planning to get rid of stuff I haven't used in over a year.
Excellent info - addresses my roadblocks: landfill, donate, sell. Cleaning 💩 off stuff 👍🏻 I’m caring for my 96 YO mom. She now wants less clutter🤗 It’s so easy to say “you don’t need this” when it’s in someone else’s home. Using that clarity now for my home
thank you for all the helpful information. A tip for the glue on the glass jars: soak them in hot water and dish soap and then rinse and spray the remaining glue with 90% isopropyl alcohol and the residue will come right off. I use a cotton ball to lightly scrub away the residue.
I have the Diabetes Association coming around tomorrow to do a pick up. I scheduled it so I would be forced to declutter knowing they would be coming by. It gives me a deadline that I have to meet. I still have some work to do tonight to get out as much as I can.😂
I've applied this "deadline" theory to our weekly curbside trash pickup day. It sounds silly, but the night before trash pickup day, if our cans aren't full, I make a pass through the house and gather boxes we've emptied or other things that should go, telling myself "gotta feed the trashcan monster"
Great point on the value of mental wellbeing & love the kitchen upgrade! I do regret parting with things to please someone else. There are some vintage magazines that I have been trying to replace for about a decade - they were wonderfully useful & had enormous sentimental value. And I have room for them. But I chucked them while I was on a minimalism kick, mostly to make my spouse happy. Downsizing can be really rewarding, just ensure it’s for healthy reasons.
Are you willing to share what they are? I'm so curious now. I follow a thirty thirty rule can I replace this in thirty mins for thirty dollars. It's really helped a lot. I also created a "wish" list on Amazon and called it "its gone" and when I ditch something big I THINK I might want/need/look for someday I add it to the list.
I'm so glad I watched this video! I have been agonizing over whether I should have a yard sale in spring or just donate the items. I have a pile of boxes cluttering up my living room in the meantime. After your video I decided to donate most of them this week. I'll try to sell a few of the pricier items (I set a limit of $25), but if they don't sell within 10 days of posting, they're going to be donated, too. Thank you!
Thank you Rachel, I love your 'My mental health' mantras and will remember them! My mother in law had a good mantra, which I try to remember, and which really helps to keep my house tidy (now I have got rid of almost all the excess stuff, with your help!); it was 'Don't put it down, put it away!' I don't always remember, so as a backup, whenever I go out of a room, I take a quick look round for one thing that I have put down, which can easily be put away, and do it! PS, I really enjoyed your minimalist art videos, and hope to see some more of them!
I’ve a day off today and (out of choice) I’m going rearrange and clean the kitchen. I’m sure it will involve another layer of Decluttering. It’s a joy to do as my daily upkeep is ongoing. It wasn’t always that way until I found the fly lady. I started out in a tiny apartment, which was a blessing as I’ve always been able to let go of most stuff. I’m glad of your Chanel and others like it for ongoing inspiration. 👍😀
Marie Kondo says “Does this spark joy”, you say “Would I be willing to clean poop off of this in order to keep it? LOVE IT, and I think yours is more powerful to me. 😂
So helpful 🙏 I am about to downsize my home to a property the third of the size. I have 8 weeks to achieve this 😅 My biggest hurdle is not liking to have to admit that I have wasted money 🤯
Wonderful. So many beautiful reminders in this video. Thank you. Your knife/shelf wall look amazing. I too use jars for decanted things & remove all labels on squirt soap, shampoo, dishsoap etc. You inspire me.
Peanut butter works great for removing labels too. Wipe it on just as you did the soap mixture and leave it sit overnight. Love your videos!!! I'm so happy I found you! :)
Just want to share that I recently learned that Eucalyptus oil works too-🤩 truly better than anything I have ever tried (to get any kind of sticky off), seriously, store-bought or other… It’s really amazing how good it works, and how much frustration it saves - it’s so good!! Hope you’ll try it😊
I have had huge decluttering issues from 3 years ago when I had to move quickly. I have such huge regrets about a lot of things I threw or gave away and am now trying to replace most of those. Decluttering is not for everybody 😢
Your crate shelves are the best! I agree that the jars need labels on the glass; get a black print on clear tape cartridge and use the medium size font; the words will be less prominent. I have been enjoying your “project” video format.
Any oil will break down the sticky residue on jars. I have a bottle of cooking oil that I quit using to improve our health and I use it for this purpose. I just wipe off the sticky with a used coffee filter that is dry. I have used baby oil as well. You do have to let it set for a while to break down the sticky. Thanks for your channel! You are so calming. Makes me think I can do this!
I wouldn’t clean poop off either. When my home was flooded many years ago everything with water damage other than clothes that could be washed went right in the dumpster. I’ve accumulated too much stuff since then but I now keep a box for donating unwanted items no yard sales for me either. It’s just too much work for the minimal monetary gain. Once a week my son takes the box to the local thrift store so I don’t have to. Too many temptations to buy more stuff.
I also like the idea of thinking about how big of a trailer/moving van would be needed to move all of your belongings if you were to move. My husband and i moved 5 times in the first 3 years we were married and the last move was the hardest because the house we were moving from was a house we had bought and thought it was going to be a long term home, so we had acquired so much stuff. I really don't want that much stuff though, I want to be back at the stage we were at when we were renting and knew that we would'nt want to pack up excess stuff!
my Mom would say "if you don't like/love it, get rid of it". Such wisdom 🥰🌱🍀🌷💐💗✝ I love my jars too . And you can make angel food cake in any pan, even cupcakes :)
This is the first time I've ever watched one of your videos. I must say that you are very good with words and I could listen to you talk all day. Have a wonderful day and I will be looking at some more of your videos as soon as I declutter some of my stuff. ✌️❤️
I spent so much time regretting getting rid of this one skirt that I loved, just to realize I owned it before I had kids and it wouldn't even fit me now anyways!
The day after we installed a magnet for our knives, I watched a video on Feng Shui that insisted there should never be any blades showing -- something about cutting the good energy. I left them up. They have been handy and efficient for about 20 years now, and life is still good. :) Good call on your part.
Just want to thank you for your motivation with a calm presence and voice. After watching this video, and thinking about the poop story, I totally emptied a cupboard I had been meaning to do for years. The cupboard is bare and I am so pleased.
Thank you sooo much. I have two recliners in my garage. I tried to sell the one and got scammed about of a lot of money.$$$$ I can't get my car into the garage and my car is in danger of theft/vandalism$$$$$. I took to heart about the not bothering to sell. Being scammed cost me a lot of money and more money if my car gets tampered with.i can't spend any more time or money so I called a local donation place with a large truck. Of they want them, come get them. I pulled the trigger and the truck will be here Thursday. Thanks for talking me through it.
This refers to the fictional self. Look up videos on it. Basically you are keeping things you want to do in the future or that have potential, but it is not what you are or what you are able to do right now. Therefore, those items are there for your fictional self. One that does not exist at the moment.
Love this video! I’ve kinda hit a wall with my decluttering. Finding an excuse to keep everything. Now I’m going to ask my self “would I wash poop off this?”
yep - it is nice to find a multi-purpose item that actually works well for a change! There are so many gadgets out there that claim to do lots of things, but only does each task sub-par. When my mom's kitchen had an electrical fire 2 years ago, several of her small appliances no longer worked (they weren't plugged in or related to the fire in any way - we figure the room just got hot enough that it damaged them). She automatically assumed she'd need to replace everything, then took the opportunity to really think about WHAT she really used, and what was worth replacing. And in discussing this together as a family, I loaned her my toaster oven and Instant Pot (showed her how to use it, and we cooked dinner in it together the first night she brought it home after the renovations were done), since they'd do most of the work of the appliances she'd lost in the fire. After a couple weeks, she decided what she'd need and what was not necessary. We didn't replace everything: instead of 2 sizes of Crock Pot, a Rice Cooker, an air fryer, and a steamer, I convinced her to get just an InstaPot. It was one large-ish appliance taking up the same amount of space of EACH of the 5 other items it was replacing. And a lot of the other things didn't get used often enough before the fire, didn't warrant replacing anyway (turkey fryer, huge roasting pan, etc, toaster AND toaster oven...)
Excellent video! My main living area is not a landfill anymore! My basement is a landfill, and that’s another story! 2023 will be decluttering the basement. Really like the magnetic knife strip! I wish I knew how to use power tools! Did Brian show you how to use them? 🌻🙃💜
Oh, I'll put it in the garage till I have a "garage sale" ha ha ha, been there, done that too many times. They are not worth the trouble & stress involved for the little you make, that's what they have Thrift Stores for! I like the new knife strip, it looks good!
Angel food cake pans can be used for coffee cakes, too. I rarely make an angel food cake (btw, homemade ones are way better than store-bought) but I use my angel food cake pans every Christmas for coffee cakes.
The two thing that help me are "would I replace this if I lost it in a fire" and "am I holding on to someone else's memories" (useful for sentimental stuff).
Let us be honest, the moment something (especially artificial) is produced it is destined for the landfill - What God made is dust-to-dust - whether or not we purchase it or not just distributes any guilt that could/should/might be felt. Mental and physical health are our most significant possessions while in this world (where we also have landfills). As you said in another video, it is down to whether it is a priority for us. Let where the landfill is located be our choice in the matter... As always, thank you Rachel for your sound advice and for letting us into your home for a while...
Dear Rachel, your presence has a soothing effect on me. I love that you do things in some circles considered "men's work" while talking and I'm curious to know why you do it, what made you choose to show that? To me that always sends a subtle message of validation of my own growing skills in that area, "Yes, I can do that too, even if it is in a softly manner." This video brings up some contexts I've been experiencing myself but didn't have words to express and hearing you speaking of them is very vey nice. For instance, the affirmations "My mental wellbeing is worth more than my grandmother's tea set." How liberating! There's so much power in going for an accountability partner, that I can confirm! I got inspired by another of your videos some time ago and asked a friend, who helped cleaning my desk via skype, because we are thousands of kilometers apart.
Hi Estrela! I never thought of it as "men's work" 😁 I grew up with very traditional parents, my mom stayed home, she always had long hair and wore dresses most days, she celebrated for femininity. But she also did most of the wood working in the house - she built shelves and cabinets, in my kitchen I have a hutch that she made me. When we bought the house, she came and helped me do remodel projects. And just last month I was up at her house helping her put tile on the floor prepping for a new wood stove. Even through my parents were very traditional in what mens/womens roles were, I went hunting with my dad, was in shooting sports as a teen, learned to work on cars, hauled hay and butchered chickens and my brothers learned to cook and sew and had dolls. I'm very thankful for that. I'm so glad this video was helpful ❤️ ❤️
@@Nourishingminimalism Thank you, Rachel for that personal note. Much appreciated! Anyways, you working mindfully during the speaking kind of soothens me. 🙂
the question i ask is when did i last use it. sentimental items are more difficult but all the rest of the stuff's value is determined by if i use it often or not. if no then that item is simply displacing oxygen in the room and has to go to either the garbage, yard sale or Goodwill.
I can't stand drying glasses so I just put them in the oven on a low heat. That way I can do other things and they can be put away when I have time when i'm not using the oven.
Okay this is seriously the best suggestion I've heard yet. If this was covered in poop, would I take the time to clean it off just in case I might want it at some point?
You can do it, Mickie! A power drill is the BEST tool for getting stuff the way you want it in your home. Pull your hair back, use safety glasses, and go for it. There are many excellent videos out there for beginners. I highly recommend The Honest Carpenter. You've got this.
I have a feeling if I ask whether I'd be willing to clean poop off I'll declutter too much 🤣🤣🤣. The ONLY thing I've regretted decluttering is a label maker, I was able to replace it for $10 at a yard sale
I like the laundry bag idea . I actually used them to hang my mothers deodorants, etc out in plain sight . She has Alzheimer’s and cannot find any of her things in the bathroom. Now she can see everything that she uses . It works, for now. Thanks for all of the great tips.!
@@susannovak8263 If someone accidentally bumped the knife handle while plugging something in, it could cancel the magnetic hold and it would fall. Ouch!
You said you might put labels on the front of the jars above the knives so your kids know what is in the jars. Should kids really be reaching above the knives?
I had a girlfriend that worked in a cannery Lori and she did all her canning in the oven which is a lot better because you get more. Canning jars in the oven.
I love the idea that we don’t need our homes to be the landfill.
Something that "Melinda Plain and Simple" said in the comments of her last video really struck me about decluttering items that cost a lot of money. She was going through some nice boots and fancy dresses and said something to the effect that it would be an even bigger waste of money to let those items just sit in her closet unused and possibly deteriorate when they could be worn by someone else right now while they're still in good condition.
I agree with her! And the other way I see it is, the money is gone regardless lol.
Minimalism has forced me to change my mindset and realize that the minute we purchased an item, we have accepted that it is going to end up in the landfill. It is going to the landfill eventually, whether it sat in the basement or a closet for five years first or not. Watching truckloads of stuff leave your house is a huge wake up call! So now before I even consider taking an item into my home, I have to ask myself if I’m actually going to use it enough to justify throwing it away in the future. It has been a huge shift in my priorities, especially around things like decor items and how many clothes we buy.
yes - I've had the same mind/priority shift too! I pair this with the one-in-one-out rule, though I try to make it "one-in-several-out" instead at this point in my decluttering/downsizing journey.
Yes!!! Is it really worth the garbage/pollution you are inevitably going to be responsible for!!!!
Yes! I bought myself a tiny home and I love this life style! I purchase less at the store or wherever and in turn save money. Plus my tiny home is minimal and peaceful. Thank you for your video, I am now a new subscriber 😊
Buying things at thrift stores (and later donating as well) is one way to give things a second, third, or however many life and delays that landfill final destination as well. I worked in a thrift store for a year and a half and know people who work in other thrift stores as well so believe me when I say you cannot believe the things that people will donate, including brand new in the box or wrapper. The best things go the fastest but if you shop secondhand FIRST, it helps circumvent that cycle. It saves you money as well, and when you donate, you can feel better about prolonging the life of those items.
Hi, I haven’t regretted getting rid of anything, but I am full of regret for not having done it a long time ago! ❤❤
True words Margaret! ❤️
I've been struggling my whole life 😢
Bless you Margaret! I do think that it's good to be grateful that we gave come into the new freedom. The longer it takes us to 'get sense' the more clear minded and determined we are. Thd de-cluttered freedom keeps us youthful... so all in all, it's all a plus! Every blessing. G Ire
Your poop story reminds me of my uncle’s rule about picking stuff up at the curb. He always said … you never know if they had a sewage backup so keep driving! 🤣🤣🤣
😂 good point!
...or bedbugs, etc
@@katiegleaves3792 yesss!
I used to have a very cute sign up on my wall, which read, "Mothers of little boys work from son up til son down." I owned it for over 20 years, not realizing that those very words, no matter how true, subconsciously made me feel tired every time I read them. It has left my home (the boys have not, lol), and I feel the weight of it off my shoulders. Thank you for your Facebook group, where I have received daily encouragement.
I have a similar attitude toward trying to sell things, whether on-line or with a yard sale. In my imagination, I could make some money and feel good about not wasting anything, but the reality is that I find the whole process to be very daunting and stressful. It's so much easier to just give it away. If someone is good at selling and enjoys the process, that's wonderful, but it's just not for me.
I don't enjoy yardsales (or online ones) but need the money because I'm unable to work. However, I've donated a lot of wonderful things, too. Trying to balance, and it would feel soooo much better with a clutter-free life. Hard to unlearn some habits!
We moved from UK to Spain at 7 weeks notice. Somehow I was really organized and sold a lot and gave away what I couldn't be bothered to sell. Now stuff sits in boxes for ages waiting to be sold so without a time limit it rarely happens. I just give stuff away now. I live in Africa now so there is always someone willing to take stuff off my hands.
Agreed!! I couldn't be bothered to spend all the time that's needed to sell things - having to arrange your schedule to meet with people, getting stood up, the occasional "buyer" who won't stop talking and leave - I'd rather just give it all to a charity, or list it as free and put it out on the step for whoever's interested. Might also be an introvert thing too 🙂
Same here. I've tried it & it's so stressful
Hey! I love how you changed out that crate shelf to an even MORE useful mason jar shelf and a magnetic knife strip. It's awesome how you continue to make your kitchen so customized to your needs. And you do it in such a thrifty, creative way! So fun to watch. 😁
🥰 Thank you Kelsey!
I love the idea of “not regret” but “inconvenienced”. I haven’t heard it put that way but you are absolutely right!
You made an excellent point about throwing things away: They will end up in the landfill eventually. I sat and thought about that and it is SO TRUE!!! That is a good come back if someone tries to make anyone feel guilty about throwing something away! This video was so good. I watched it and then rewatched it immediately. Thank you Rachel!
Thank you ❤️❤️❤️
That's my new decluttering question: "would I be willing to clean poop off of this?" 😂 I love it. There is very little I'm willing to clean poop off of...
I'd be naked and homeless if I used that metric 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I so agree! Best question ever!
Love it!!! Same here 🤪😅😅😅😆🙌
Ha ha ha I agree it's too funny!!!
I don’t like looking at knife storage, so I keep them in a slotted wooden knife storage tray that fits in a drawer. It only holds 5 knives, so I’m not tempted to get more!
Same here
I absolutely agree with your philosophy about getting rid of stuff. People are too worried about the landfill at the expense of well being. The path of least resistance is vital. Otherwise you end up never getting things cleaned out.
I really love these styles of your videos seeing you work while you chat. It is so encouraging. Thank you for your words of encouragement 🥰 God bless
A clean/tidy Kitchen and a made Bed!!! Will do wonders to your home!
I fullheartedly stand by your claim that your Facebook group is the best out there. It has been such a true support on my journey. YOU have been Rachel. Your 42K followers are blessed to have you!
You nailed it when you said my mental well-being is more important!!!!!
I'm in that process of getting rid of stuff that I might need but my mental health is more important than anything else. So I'll be donating more.
I think my phone has been listening to me 😂😂 this just came up on my feed. Had a conversation with my mum and friend today about being fed up with everything and planning to get rid of stuff I haven't used in over a year.
Excellent info - addresses my roadblocks: landfill, donate, sell. Cleaning 💩 off stuff 👍🏻 I’m caring for my 96 YO mom. She now wants less clutter🤗 It’s so easy to say “you don’t need this” when it’s in someone else’s home. Using that clarity now for my home
Rachel when I saw that you have uploaded a video I became so excited!I really enjoy watching how confidently you do your tasks!Stay blessed
thank you for all the helpful information. A tip for the glue on the glass jars: soak them in hot water and dish soap and then rinse and spray the remaining glue with 90% isopropyl alcohol and the residue will come right off. I use a cotton ball to lightly scrub away the residue.
I have the Diabetes Association coming around tomorrow to do a pick up. I scheduled it so I would be forced to declutter knowing they would be coming by.
It gives me a deadline that I have to meet. I still have some work to do tonight to get out as much as I can.😂
That's an excellent idea! Deadlines are motivating. 😊
I've applied this "deadline" theory to our weekly curbside trash pickup day. It sounds silly, but the night before trash pickup day, if our cans aren't full, I make a pass through the house and gather boxes we've emptied or other things that should go, telling myself "gotta feed the trashcan monster"
Great point on the value of mental wellbeing & love the kitchen upgrade! I do regret parting with things to please someone else. There are some vintage magazines that I have been trying to replace for about a decade - they were wonderfully useful & had enormous sentimental value. And I have room for them. But I chucked them while I was on a minimalism kick, mostly to make my spouse happy. Downsizing can be really rewarding, just ensure it’s for healthy reasons.
Are you willing to share what they are? I'm so curious now. I follow a thirty thirty rule can I replace this in thirty mins for thirty dollars. It's really helped a lot. I also created a "wish" list on Amazon and called it "its gone" and when I ditch something big I THINK I might want/need/look for someday I add it to the list.
I love that many times you do all these little projects around your house while making your videos. It is almost as if we are there with you! 🙂
You are my new mentor for decluttering - loved this😊
Aw thank you! 😊❤️
I love that you speak your truth. I found a few snarky comments below, but you can't please everyone.
Rachel you're pretty darn handy❤ thank you for another great one. If its not a clear yes it's a no.
I'm so glad I watched this video! I have been agonizing over whether I should have a yard sale in spring or just donate the items. I have a pile of boxes cluttering up my living room in the meantime. After your video I decided to donate most of them this week. I'll try to sell a few of the pricier items (I set a limit of $25), but if they don't sell within 10 days of posting, they're going to be donated, too. Thank you!
Thank you Rachel, I love your 'My mental health' mantras and will remember them! My mother in law had a good mantra, which I try to remember, and which really helps to keep my house tidy (now I have got rid of almost all the excess stuff, with your help!); it was 'Don't put it down, put it away!' I don't always remember, so as a backup, whenever I go out of a room, I take a quick look round for one thing that I have put down, which can easily be put away, and do it! PS, I really enjoyed your minimalist art videos, and hope to see some more of them!
Thank you so much Charlotte! The "Don't put it down, put it away" is such a good rule to follow. Saves us so much time in the end! ❤️
I heard a similar one: Touch once.
I heard a similar one: Touch once.
Thank you for this Vlog, I love the rational regarding getting rid of expensive items, which is one of my big stalling areas. 😊
I love this. I have made good progress since I gave myself permission to throw things in the trash. I am also a member of the Facebook group.
I’ve a day off today and (out of choice) I’m going rearrange and clean the kitchen. I’m sure it will involve another layer of Decluttering. It’s a joy to do as my daily upkeep is ongoing. It wasn’t always that way until I found the fly lady. I started out in a tiny apartment, which was a blessing as I’ve always been able to let go of most stuff. I’m glad of your Chanel and others like it for ongoing inspiration. 👍😀
Marie Kondo says “Does this spark joy”, you say “Would I be willing to clean poop off of this in order to keep it? LOVE IT, and I think yours is more powerful to me. 😂
So helpful 🙏 I am about to downsize my home to a property the third of the size. I have 8 weeks to achieve this 😅 My biggest hurdle is not liking to have to admit that I have wasted money 🤯
I consider it's still not wasted money if it becomes a blessing to someone else once it is donated or regifted. 🤓
Wonderful. So many beautiful reminders in this video. Thank you. Your knife/shelf wall look amazing. I too use jars for decanted things & remove all labels on squirt soap, shampoo, dishsoap etc. You inspire me.
Peanut butter works great for removing labels too. Wipe it on just as you did the soap mixture and leave it sit overnight. Love your videos!!! I'm so happy I found you! :)
If you have essential oils, lemon is king at breaking down glue residue
Just want to share that I recently learned that Eucalyptus oil works too-🤩 truly better than anything I have ever tried (to get any kind of sticky off), seriously, store-bought or other… It’s really amazing how good it works, and how much frustration it saves - it’s so good!! Hope you’ll try it😊
Goo Gone
A blow dryer lol
I have had huge decluttering issues from 3 years ago when I had to move quickly. I have such huge regrets about a lot of things I threw or gave away and am now trying to replace most of those. Decluttering is not for everybody 😢
Just found you!!
Love your message, love the pace of your video!! Inspirational
Have started the declutter many , it's a process.
I'm back at it 😃
Your crate shelves are the best! I agree that the jars need labels on the glass; get a black print on clear tape cartridge and use the medium size font; the words will be less prominent. I have been enjoying your “project” video format.
Black print on clear tape..perfect!
I am loving your mind set and sharing of wise knowledge! Thank you dearly xoxo
Thank you Louise! ❤️
Your presentation is so good and I have learned so much from the videos
Thank you so much
Any oil will break down the sticky residue on jars. I have a bottle of cooking oil that I quit using to improve our health and I use it for this purpose. I just wipe off the sticky with a used coffee filter that is dry. I have used baby oil as well. You do have to let it set for a while to break down the sticky. Thanks for your channel! You are so calming. Makes me think I can do this!
great suggestions for the label removing. And you CAN do this! :)
Yes I love her calmness♥️🫶🏻
I wouldn’t clean poop off either. When my home was flooded many years ago everything with water damage other than clothes that could be washed went right in the dumpster. I’ve accumulated too much stuff since then but I now keep a box for donating unwanted items no yard sales for me either. It’s just too much work for the minimal monetary gain. Once a week my son takes the box to the local thrift store so I don’t have to. Too many temptations to buy more stuff.
You have been soo helpful to me over the years! I love your hairstyle/outfit, and the shelving project turned out so nice!
I was just thinking that Rachel dresses like I do!
I also like the idea of thinking about how big of a trailer/moving van would be needed to move all of your belongings if you were to move. My husband and i moved 5 times in the first 3 years we were married and the last move was the hardest because the house we were moving from was a house we had bought and thought it was going to be a long term home, so we had acquired so much stuff. I really don't want that much stuff though, I want to be back at the stage we were at when we were renting and knew that we would'nt want to pack up excess stuff!
so helpful, thank you. If it's not a clear yes, it's a no. Just this week I was thinking, if I say "hmmmm" or ""maybe", its a NO.
This was wonderful, and much needed in my life now❤
my Mom would say "if you don't like/love it, get rid of it". Such wisdom 🥰🌱🍀🌷💐💗✝ I love my jars too . And you can make angel food cake in any pan, even cupcakes :)
This is the first time I've ever watched one of your videos. I must say that you are very good with words and I could listen to you talk all day. Have a wonderful day and I will be looking at some more of your videos as soon as I declutter some of my stuff. ✌️❤️
Thank you so much! 😊
So true, we bought a sectional (luckily second hand) and its way to big for my room, we have kept it but it's a burden, I'm going to sell it
I spent so much time regretting getting rid of this one skirt that I loved, just to realize I owned it before I had kids and it wouldn't even fit me now anyways!
🤣🤣
The day after we installed a magnet for our knives, I watched a video on Feng Shui that insisted there should never be any blades showing -- something about cutting the good energy. I left them up. They have been handy and efficient for about 20 years now, and life is still good. :) Good call on your part.
Good! I had a comment about that - not something I'm going to stress about. 😁
We switched to a magnetic knife strip like that and it has been wonderful for us!! I hope it is as useful for you as it has been for us!!♥️♥️
Just want to thank you for your motivation with a calm presence and voice. After watching this video, and thinking about the poop story, I totally emptied a cupboard I had been meaning to do for years. The cupboard is bare and I am so pleased.
Wow, great job! ❤️❤️
Yes! It's all going to the landfill eventually! My basement is Not the landfill!
What a great idea to borrow the Instant Pot to try it out before investing. Love your channel!
Thank you sooo much. I have two recliners in my garage. I tried to sell the one and got scammed about of a lot of money.$$$$ I can't get my car into the garage and my car is in danger of theft/vandalism$$$$$. I took to heart about the not bothering to sell. Being scammed cost me a lot of money and more money if my car gets tampered with.i can't spend any more time or money so I called a local donation place with a large truck. Of they want them, come get them. I pulled the trigger and the truck will be here Thursday. Thanks for talking me through it.
Wonderful! I’m sure you’ll be so relieved to have them gone! ❤️
I see a potential use in all the crap I own!
It's making me into a hoarder!
This refers to the fictional self. Look up videos on it. Basically you are keeping things you want to do in the future or that have potential, but it is not what you are or what you are able to do right now. Therefore, those items are there for your fictional self. One that does not exist at the moment.
I just found your videos!! I enjoyed it and love the birds hanging in your window!
You have spoken to me! God bless you. "Holding it for the landfill" Love it!
Love this video! I’ve kinda hit a wall with my decluttering. Finding an excuse to keep everything. Now I’m going to ask my self “would I wash poop off this?”
Thank you and Thanks for all you do!! Ps. Love your hair this length 🥰
Thank you! 🥰
I love the instapot, it replaced my crock pot, my rice cooker, steamer, my pans... it isn't any bigger them a crockpot rice cooker and pot combined
yep - it is nice to find a multi-purpose item that actually works well for a change! There are so many gadgets out there that claim to do lots of things, but only does each task sub-par.
When my mom's kitchen had an electrical fire 2 years ago, several of her small appliances no longer worked (they weren't plugged in or related to the fire in any way - we figure the room just got hot enough that it damaged them). She automatically assumed she'd need to replace everything, then took the opportunity to really think about WHAT she really used, and what was worth replacing. And in discussing this together as a family, I loaned her my toaster oven and Instant Pot (showed her how to use it, and we cooked dinner in it together the first night she brought it home after the renovations were done), since they'd do most of the work of the appliances she'd lost in the fire. After a couple weeks, she decided what she'd need and what was not necessary. We didn't replace everything: instead of 2 sizes of Crock Pot, a Rice Cooker, an air fryer, and a steamer, I convinced her to get just an InstaPot. It was one large-ish appliance taking up the same amount of space of EACH of the 5 other items it was replacing. And a lot of the other things didn't get used often enough before the fire, didn't warrant replacing anyway (turkey fryer, huge roasting pan, etc, toaster AND toaster oven...)
wow this video got popular fast❤🎉 so happy for you! Great video
Thank you for the encouragement. I've been on a mission to declutter, and it's been taking a long time.
Excellent video!
My main living area is not a landfill anymore!
My basement is a landfill, and that’s another story! 2023 will be decluttering the basement.
Really like the magnetic knife strip!
I wish I knew how to use power tools! Did Brian show you how to use them?
🌻🙃💜
Actually, it’s my mom! She is so capable and does all kinds of woodworking. 😊
Oh yes! She made you the cabinet that is your coffee center!
You are so blessed to have such a talented mom!
😊🙃🌻💜
Just a tip, orange essential oil will take those labels off with much less mess!
I agree never had a garage sale, I know it would encourage me to go out and purchase more stuff...
❤ Love this ideas on decluttering THANKS ❤️
Oh, I'll put it in the garage till I have a "garage sale" ha ha ha, been there, done that too many times. They are not worth the trouble & stress involved for the little you make, that's what they have Thrift Stores for!
I like the new knife strip, it looks good!
Vegetable oil is the fastest way I've found to clear the sticky residue off jars. Use a non abrasive pad to wipe off.
Angel food cake pans can be used for coffee cakes, too. I rarely make an angel food cake (btw, homemade ones are way better than store-bought) but I use my angel food cake pans every Christmas for coffee cakes.
The two thing that help me are "would I replace this if I lost it in a fire" and "am I holding on to someone else's memories" (useful for sentimental stuff).
I got confused with the housecleaning example and cost, but I think I get the picture.
Always helpful! Thank you!
Let us be honest, the moment something (especially artificial) is produced it is destined for the landfill - What God made is dust-to-dust - whether or not we purchase it or not just distributes any guilt that could/should/might be felt. Mental and physical health are our most significant possessions while in this world (where we also have landfills). As you said in another video, it is down to whether it is a priority for us. Let where the landfill is located be our choice in the matter... As always, thank you Rachel for your sound advice and for letting us into your home for a while...
Hi I saw some where some one soaked the jars then rubbed mayo all over it to remove the glue .loved your project looks good x
Dear Rachel, your presence has a soothing effect on me. I love that you do things in some circles considered "men's work" while talking and I'm curious to know why you do it, what made you choose to show that? To me that always sends a subtle message of validation of my own growing skills in that area, "Yes, I can do that too, even if it is in a softly manner." This video brings up some contexts I've been experiencing myself but didn't have words to express and hearing you speaking of them is very vey nice. For instance, the affirmations "My mental wellbeing is worth more than my grandmother's tea set." How liberating! There's so much power in going for an accountability partner, that I can confirm! I got inspired by another of your videos some time ago and asked a friend, who helped cleaning my desk via skype, because we are thousands of kilometers apart.
Hi Estrela! I never thought of it as "men's work" 😁 I grew up with very traditional parents, my mom stayed home, she always had long hair and wore dresses most days, she celebrated for femininity. But she also did most of the wood working in the house - she built shelves and cabinets, in my kitchen I have a hutch that she made me. When we bought the house, she came and helped me do remodel projects. And just last month I was up at her house helping her put tile on the floor prepping for a new wood stove. Even through my parents were very traditional in what mens/womens roles were, I went hunting with my dad, was in shooting sports as a teen, learned to work on cars, hauled hay and butchered chickens and my brothers learned to cook and sew and had dolls. I'm very thankful for that.
I'm so glad this video was helpful ❤️ ❤️
@@Nourishingminimalism Thank you, Rachel for that personal note. Much appreciated! Anyways, you working mindfully during the speaking kind of soothens me. 🙂
Put labels on the jars but turn them backwards so you don't have to look at them.
Great idea!!
Simple and practical, tku.👍
Very good idea!
I use wet erase marker on the lid.
the question i ask is when did i last use it. sentimental items are more difficult but all the rest of the stuff's value is determined by if i use it often or not. if no then that item is simply displacing oxygen in the room and has to go to either the garbage, yard sale or Goodwill.
I love this! Why does it look like you’re a giant and you are in a tiny house! Wish I was a bit taller
😁❤️
I can't stand drying glasses so I just put them in the oven on a low heat. That way I can do other things and they can be put away when I have time when i'm not using the oven.
Okay this is seriously the best suggestion I've heard yet. If this was covered in poop, would I take the time to clean it off just in case I might want it at some point?
GREAT mindset shift statements!
My whole house is a “No” I just want to get rid of everything 😂
I wish you had talked us through the process of putting the stuff up on your wall. I’m a woman who is scared to try things like that!
You can do it, Mickie! A power drill is the BEST tool for getting stuff the way you want it in your home. Pull your hair back, use safety glasses, and go for it. There are many excellent videos out there for beginners. I highly recommend The Honest Carpenter. You've got this.
I am really enjoying your videos!!!
Wonderful advice! 🙏
Lol you have solved the great decluttering problem! Would I clean poop off it? 😂 Love it❤
Rachel, thought I would let you know that you can use a loaf pan to make angel food cake. I made 18 loaves for one of my daughter's graduation party.
FYI... You can make an Angel food cake in a bread pan 😁
-another great video!
I have a feeling if I ask whether I'd be willing to clean poop off I'll declutter too much 🤣🤣🤣. The ONLY thing I've regretted decluttering is a label maker, I was able to replace it for $10 at a yard sale
Ok, the big chair in our small front hallway has to go! 😅
I like the laundry bag idea . I actually used them to hang my mothers deodorants, etc out in plain sight . She has Alzheimer’s and cannot find any of her things in the bathroom. Now she can see everything that she uses . It works, for now. Thanks for all of the great tips.!
Good video Rachel! I reuse my jars, but how do you clean the lids?
I just put them in the dishwasher. As long as it wasn't pickles, I don't notice any lingering smells.
Knifes next to the outlet are a bit risky too. 😯😯. Do be careful.
Why?
@@susannovak8263 If someone accidentally bumped the knife handle while plugging something in, it could cancel the magnetic hold and it would fall. Ouch!
You said you might put labels on the front of the jars above the knives so your kids know what is in the jars. Should kids really be reaching above the knives?
I had a girlfriend that worked in a cannery Lori and she did all her canning in the oven which is a lot better because you get more. Canning jars in the oven.
One more thing LoL, where did you purchase the wooden shelf? Please.
It's some sort of box that I found at an antique store. 😊