Not all decluttering has to be a major project. A great way to get started or even just maintain your progress is to build some decluttering friendly habits into your daily life. I'll share a few of my go-tos And be sure to share YOUR OWN decluttering ideas in the comments! First things first! 1) Make sure you have a sturdy dedicated donation box or donation drop zone in your home. I promise this will save you so much time in the long run. Here's a great tip from my friend Janeen - She has a dedicated drop zone in her garage where she stores all her donations as she declutters throughout her week. She then invites her friends to "shop" this area. Before the clutter is taken away for donation. It's genius and very effective! 2) Protect your space. Protecting your home from clutter creep is important. And I'm not just talking about curbing your shopping habits - you'd be surprised how clutter can sneak in. Here are a few examples: Paper Paper of all kinds gets conveniently mailed to us when we didn't ask for it. Sign up for paperless everything. From bills to notices. And then either recycle or shred immediately any mail or other paper clutter Don't let the paper linger... because you know what will happen. Clutter attracts clutter. Unexpected arrivals Well meaning Family & friends dropping off THEIR clutter or gifts you'll "love". Keep what you actually want and donate or pass on the rest. Don't let feelings of guilt keep clutter in your home using up valuable real estate. I'm giving you permission today. Hand me downs We are the grateful recipients of hand-me-downs from the boys next door. Every now and again, a bag of goodies lands on our doorstep....to my son's delight! I've learned over the years that hand-me-downs can be both useful and can be clutter at the same time. I used to keep EVERYTHING we were given. Over time, I realized that this didn't make sense. My son has clothing and texture preferences. By holding on to items he definitely wouldn't wear... I was just storing clutter. Now I have a system in place to deal with the hand-me-downs effectively. I sort the hand me downs immediately - into clothing that we're keeping and items we'll be passing on. And then I check his current wardrobe for anything else that can go...like clothing he hasn't been wearing or items that are too small) My son is perfectly ok with me decluttering his clothing. I then walk the hand-me-downs to the home of a younger boy in the neighborhood. 3) Build decluttering into your cleaning routine. These are a few ways I do it - When I'm emptying the dishwasher - I do a quick scan as I'm putting things away for items I never use, broken dishes, or duplicates. This doesn't mean I'm emptying all my cupboards and drawers and doing a full kitchen declutter I'm just taking a few minutes to take an extra look. When I'm putting away the laundry - I quickly check my closet for items I know I haven't worn in ages. Or when I'm folding I set aside clothing that I know my son has outgrown - so it's ready to go and not continuing to clutter up his space. Even if you only pull out one or two items - that all adds up! Any progress is better than no progress. 4) Build conversations about decluttering into regular life. Follow ideas like the "one in and one out rule"....but find a way to talk about it with those you live with. Teaching them about intentional spending and wants versus needs will help tame the clutter monster. My daughter knows that if she buys something new, something else has to go. Like any preteen, she likes going to the mall - but she doesn't buy randomly. Before she leaves, she lets me know what's on her shopping list. This gives her the opportunity to learn first hand about intentional spending and not buying things just because they're cute. That's a valuable life lesson on clutter maintenance that she can bring into adulthood. 5) Listen to yourself. Sometimes you'll be excited to take on more and other times you'll need a break. One of the best motivators for decluttering is your own progress. Take pictures or go back and look at your old Decluttering projects and pat yourself on the back. Decluttering isn't a race - it's a marathon. Take your time. Progress is progress. Thank you for being here. Let me know in the comments what you're decluttering today. ❤️ Bonus tip: Immediately put any items you find into your donation box so they don't sneak back into the cupboards. I swear clutter has legs of its own.
So much to declutter! My husband and I have had 3 parents pass away this year so we have some of their things as well as our own to pare down. I am starting in closets today. So excited to find a new to me channel on decluttering- looking forward to many more videos from you!
@@mountaingarden8823 Thank you so much for being here. I appreciate it. I'm sorry to hear you've had those major losses this year. I know you aren't alone in this situation - many others have and are facing it too. I'll be happy to support you in your decluttering journey ❤️
Loved the part about not feeling like you must keep all you're given. We have friends who do a lot of cruises and insist on bringing us souvenirs from every port. I've held on to everything for years but honestly, they are their memories... not ours. I'll be letting my grandchildren go through and anything they don't want will be going! Thx for the video.
That's a great observation! It's their memories. Not your own. It's awesome they were thinking of you on their trip, but a quick message to say so would be enough I'm sure. I've come to the realization that souvenirs even for my own trips are often not necessary. Thank you for being here. ❤️
Yes, despite it is so much lovely they bring you a souvenir from each travel, it can be so overwhelming... and then, all that guilt when giving away... 😢 BUT indeed, it is THEIR memories, THEIR travels 😏
Love your tips. Today I am decluttering some fall decor items. When the decorations are out I find it's a great time for parting with items that I no longer display. I put less and less stuff out, so I will declutter many items. Keeping just my absolute favourites.
smart! I've been doing the same, and then do another check when putting them back away. I am with you, putting out less every year and letting the favourites shine 🍁😊
Thank you! My neighbour is a teacher with two sons. So the clothing is being used by multiple kids. She even passed on hikers to my son just before September so we didn't need to buy any. My son is excited to wear the hand-me-downs because the older boys are "cool" 😎. ☺️
Continuing my daily declutter of at least 1 item a day. Today I have only a couple of pieces of garbage I took from my purse, some days are like that 😊 I’ll be trying to find a few more things this evening
Great ideas thank you. I live in a rural area and my mail is delivered to my mailbox at the end of my drive way. When I pick it up I go through it right away and throw any publicity I am not interested in in my recycling bin on my way by so it doesn’t even get in the house. When I purge I make sure to put the bags in my car right away so I don’t get second thoughts. Thanks for sharing and have a good day.😊❤
@@paulinegagne-bertrand9871 I'm glad that resonated with you. I think I'm guilty in the past of believing that if I couldn't do the whole project at once....I should wait until the "perfect time" and that day rarely arrived. Slow and steady is still progress. ❤️
I keep bag in my bedroom and in the basement. Right now I'm "decluttering" photographs of my family. Today I was able to give my brother all the pictures of only him and my parents ( a ton as my father took a lot of pictures). I continue to box up photographs for my other siblings and hope to scan community photos. I think permission to let go is correct. My husband said that he does love our home because it is clutter free. He grew up with a lot of tea cups and knick knacks. Nice video. I also follow Diane from Denmark. She declutters too. Diane also put some items on probation to think about. Joan
Wow Joan! Pat yourself on the back! I know how much work all that entailed. Good for you for tackling photos. It can be a tough project to get started on. ❤
Yes, I've seen her videos! She's sweet! I think it's smart to do "probation" or a "maybe box" or anything that sort of puts the items out of sight or access to see if you actually miss them. ☺️
👏👍 "integrate decluttering in daily routine work", always "scanning" closet, cabinets, shelves and so on. Talking and integrate family members in the process... 😃🤣 For myself I can only speak about my husband 😱 Di.ffi.cult 🥴 so... I use the advice, read in a comment on the very sympathic channel Seve-Sunny Kind Journey: 1 thing comes in, TWO things go out for all these stained, not-worn shoes and so on of my husband. We talk often about decluttering and he said, he would be some "paralized" to let go. On the other side he appreciates a lot an airy and tidy home. For myself I appreciate that he lets me do 😉 (I observe of course very intensively what he actually wears, uses, reads and what not). For the Lego bin: I would have given the Legos away BUT kept the bin (without the lid), drilled holes in the bottom and used it as a plant pot in the garden 🙂 Thank YOU for all your work on this channel beside your main job and your housekeeping, wife and mom work 👏💐
@@veroniquefricke9219 Thank you for sharing about yourself and your own experiences. I definitely have benefitted in the past from subscribing to the idea of "one in and 10 out" for my clutter 😂. I can share my own ideas and experiences, but everyone will have what works best for their families. It sounds like your husband appreciates your help. 😊❤️
Not all decluttering has to be a major project.
A great way to get started or even just maintain your progress is to build some decluttering friendly habits into your daily life.
I'll share a few of my go-tos
And be sure to share YOUR OWN decluttering ideas in the comments!
First things first!
1) Make sure you have a sturdy dedicated donation box or donation drop zone in your home.
I promise this will save you so much time in the long run.
Here's a great tip from my friend Janeen -
She has a dedicated drop zone in her garage where she stores all her donations as she declutters throughout her week.
She then invites her friends to "shop" this area.
Before the clutter is taken away for donation.
It's genius and very effective!
2) Protect your space.
Protecting your home from clutter creep is important.
And I'm not just talking about curbing your shopping habits - you'd be surprised how clutter can sneak in.
Here are a few examples:
Paper
Paper of all kinds gets conveniently mailed to us when we didn't ask for it.
Sign up for paperless everything. From bills to notices.
And then either recycle or shred immediately any mail or other paper clutter
Don't let the paper linger... because you know what will happen. Clutter attracts clutter.
Unexpected arrivals
Well meaning Family & friends dropping off THEIR clutter or gifts you'll "love".
Keep what you actually want and donate or pass on the rest.
Don't let feelings of guilt keep clutter in your home using up valuable real estate.
I'm giving you permission today.
Hand me downs
We are the grateful recipients of hand-me-downs from the boys next door.
Every now and again, a bag of goodies lands on our doorstep....to my son's delight!
I've learned over the years that hand-me-downs can be both useful and can be clutter at the same time.
I used to keep EVERYTHING we were given.
Over time, I realized that this didn't make sense.
My son has clothing and texture preferences.
By holding on to items he definitely wouldn't wear...
I was just storing clutter.
Now I have a system in place to deal with the hand-me-downs effectively.
I sort the hand me downs immediately - into clothing that we're keeping and items we'll be passing on.
And then I check his current wardrobe for anything else that can go...like clothing he hasn't been wearing or items that are too small)
My son is perfectly ok with me decluttering his clothing.
I then walk the hand-me-downs to the home of a younger boy in the neighborhood.
3) Build decluttering into your cleaning routine.
These are a few ways I do it -
When I'm emptying the dishwasher - I do a quick scan as I'm putting things away for items I never use, broken dishes, or duplicates.
This doesn't mean I'm emptying all my cupboards and drawers and doing a full kitchen declutter
I'm just taking a few minutes to take an extra look.
When I'm putting away the laundry - I quickly check my closet for items I know I haven't worn in ages.
Or when I'm folding I set aside clothing that I know my son has outgrown - so it's ready to go and not continuing to clutter up his space.
Even if you only pull out one or two items - that all adds up!
Any progress is better than no progress.
4) Build conversations about decluttering into regular life.
Follow ideas like the "one in and one out rule"....but find a way to talk about it with those you live with.
Teaching them about intentional spending and wants versus needs will help tame the clutter monster.
My daughter knows that if she buys something new, something else has to go. Like any preteen, she likes going to the mall - but she doesn't buy randomly. Before she leaves, she lets me know what's on her shopping list.
This gives her the opportunity to learn first hand about intentional spending and not buying things just because they're cute.
That's a valuable life lesson on clutter maintenance that she can bring into adulthood.
5) Listen to yourself. Sometimes you'll be excited to take on more and other times you'll need a break.
One of the best motivators for decluttering is your own progress. Take pictures or go back and look at your old Decluttering projects and pat yourself on the back.
Decluttering isn't a race - it's a marathon. Take your time. Progress is progress.
Thank you for being here. Let me know in the comments what you're decluttering today. ❤️
Bonus tip:
Immediately put any items you find into your donation box so they don't sneak back into the cupboards. I swear clutter has legs of its own.
@@simply.clutterfree SO right 👍😊
So much to declutter! My husband and I have had 3 parents pass away this year so we have some of their things as well as our own to pare down. I am starting in closets today.
So excited to find a new to me channel on decluttering- looking forward to many more videos from you!
@@mountaingarden8823 Thank you so much for being here. I appreciate it. I'm sorry to hear you've had those major losses this year. I know you aren't alone in this situation - many others have and are facing it too. I'll be happy to support you in your decluttering journey ❤️
Loved the part about not feeling like you must keep all you're given. We have friends who do a lot of cruises and insist on bringing us souvenirs from every port. I've held on to everything for years but honestly, they are their memories... not ours. I'll be letting my grandchildren go through and anything they don't want will be going! Thx for the video.
That's a great observation! It's their memories. Not your own. It's awesome they were thinking of you on their trip, but a quick message to say so would be enough I'm sure. I've come to the realization that souvenirs even for my own trips are often not necessary. Thank you for being here. ❤️
Yes, despite it is so much lovely they bring you a souvenir from each travel, it can be so overwhelming... and then, all that guilt when giving away... 😢 BUT indeed, it is THEIR memories, THEIR travels 😏
@@veroniquefricke9219 You're right, it can become overwhelming even though the thought is lovely. ❤️
Love your tips. Today I am decluttering some fall decor items. When the decorations are out I find it's a great time for parting with items that I no longer display. I put less and less stuff out, so I will declutter many items. Keeping just my absolute favourites.
smart! I've been doing the same, and then do another check when putting them back away. I am with you, putting out less every year and letting the favourites shine 🍁😊
Love your tips!! You're so motivational.
@@flamingosinwonderland3605 Thank you !!! 💖
Great tips; I love how you and your neighbors pass on clothing for the boys. Great idea.
Thank you ☺️❤️
I love the hand-me-down chain you have. Thoughtful and frugal.
Thank you! My neighbour is a teacher with two sons. So the clothing is being used by multiple kids. She even passed on hikers to my son just before September so we didn't need to buy any. My son is excited to wear the hand-me-downs because the older boys are "cool" 😎. ☺️
Continuing my daily declutter of at least 1 item a day. Today I have only a couple of pieces of garbage I took from my purse, some days are like that 😊
I’ll be trying to find a few more things this evening
Having a plan is a major piece of the clutter puzzle! Good stuff! ☺️❤️
These little declutters really make a difference! Thanks for the inspiration..
@@dianeyoung8068 Thank you! I appreciate you being here ❤️
I loved this video.
@@PamHaynes-oo3ck Yay! Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate the feedback ❤️
Sam, this is a great video. Enjoyed it tremendously.
Wow! Thank you so much ❤️☺️
Great ideas thank you. I live in a rural area and my mail is delivered to my mailbox at the end of my drive way. When I pick it up I go through it right away and throw any publicity I am not interested in in my recycling bin on my way by so it doesn’t even get in the house. When I purge I make sure to put the bags in my car right away so I don’t get second thoughts. Thanks for sharing and have a good day.😊❤
I love hearing this! Thank you for sharing your tips! Great habits to keep your home from filling with clutter ☺️❤️
@@simply.clutterfree I liked hearing when said you said that decluttering doesn’t need to be a major project. Some people need to hear this, even me.
@@paulinegagne-bertrand9871 I'm glad that resonated with you. I think I'm guilty in the past of believing that if I couldn't do the whole project at once....I should wait until the "perfect time" and that day rarely arrived. Slow and steady is still progress. ❤️
Such great advice!
Thank you! A few things I've picked up along the way ❤️
It's always good to see you 😊. Thank you for all you do to help us 😍. Good point about clutter attracts clutter.
@@PamHaynes-oo3ck Thank you so much. I appreciate you ☺️❤️
I keep bag in my bedroom and in the basement. Right now I'm "decluttering" photographs of my family. Today I was able to give my brother all the pictures of only him and my parents ( a ton as my father took a lot of pictures). I continue to box up photographs for my other siblings and hope to scan community photos. I think permission to let go is correct. My husband said that he does love our home because it is clutter free. He grew up with a lot of tea cups and knick knacks. Nice video. I also follow Diane from Denmark. She declutters too. Diane also put some items on probation to think about. Joan
Wow Joan! Pat yourself on the back! I know how much work all that entailed. Good for you for tackling photos. It can be a tough project to get started on. ❤
Yes, I've seen her videos! She's sweet! I think it's smart to do "probation" or a "maybe box" or anything that sort of puts the items out of sight or access to see if you actually miss them. ☺️
Have a happy day ! How old are you
👏👍 "integrate decluttering in daily routine work", always "scanning" closet, cabinets, shelves and so on.
Talking and integrate family members in the process... 😃🤣 For myself I can only speak about my husband 😱 Di.ffi.cult 🥴 so... I use the advice, read in a comment on the very sympathic channel Seve-Sunny Kind Journey: 1 thing comes in, TWO things go out for all these stained, not-worn shoes and so on of my husband. We talk often about decluttering and he said, he would be some "paralized" to let go. On the other side he appreciates a lot an airy and tidy home. For myself I appreciate that he lets me do 😉 (I observe of course very intensively what he actually wears, uses, reads and what not).
For the Lego bin: I would have given the Legos away BUT kept the bin (without the lid), drilled holes in the bottom and used it as a plant pot in the garden 🙂
Thank YOU for all your work on this channel beside your main job and your housekeeping, wife and mom work 👏💐
@@veroniquefricke9219 Thank you for sharing about yourself and your own experiences. I definitely have benefitted in the past from subscribing to the idea of "one in and 10 out" for my clutter 😂. I can share my own ideas and experiences, but everyone will have what works best for their families. It sounds like your husband appreciates your help. 😊❤️
@@veroniquefricke9219 That's a creative idea for the bin. It was needed where it landed so I was ok to pass it on. 😊❤️
And thank you for your lovely compliment. I really enjoy sharing ideas and interacting with everyone so it's a labour of love 💖
@@simply.clutterfree 😃 Of course a bin may also stays a bin 😉
@@veroniquefricke9219 😂❤️