Use After Christmas Cleanup as a Chance to Declutter
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- Packing up Christmas stuff is a great opportunity to declutter. I'm sharing ways I've used this time to help me let go of the stuff I don't need in my home.
aslobcomesclean.com/book
I really appreciate how you keep your channel on topic. I feel like many UA-camrs run out of stuff to say and start venturing into random content. Your method has really changed my house and even though I know what you're going to say most of the time... I still need to hear it and I still click to listen. Taking care of a home doesn't have a finish line and hearing the concepts applied again is so helpful. Thank you for your work! Merry Christmas!
"Taking care of a home doesn't have a finish line" - fantastic!!!
I thought I'd put on Dana's latest video for Christmas Eve motivation...
Me: "I should do my dishes."
Also me: "Wait, they're already done." This has *never happened before* 😂😂😂💪💪💪
The hard part for me is a good portion of my Christmas decorations were handmade (sewn, knitted, etc,) by my mom or mother-in-law. As a crafter myself, I don’t think I can ever let go of the handmade decorations. We do have a huge amount of storage space.
I did donate most of the less meaningful decorations this year. When I put things away in January, I boxed up these items and saved them until Thanksgiving ,then took them to the donation center. I sealed the boxes, so I wouldn’t be tempted to rethink any of the decisions.
I passed on some treasured handmade ornaments to our adult child and his family last year for the first Christmas in their new home. I
Are there family members or close friends you could gift some ornaments to next year? Just a thought, I know it's difficult.
I’m a crafter and I mean these things to bless the receiver not hang around forever and become a burden! Do a Marie Kondo thank them and let them move on!
I just want to share i'm proud of you. I struggled with letting go of very old family photos no one wanted, as well as other sentimental personal family related items, it's not easy! and I shop thrift and always really admire and appreciate when coming across handmade items that were donated. One can see and feel the love and care put into them and the care of their longevity.
I passed my treasured Christmas decorations to my sister-in-law, who had need of them, because we moved to another country & couldn’t take them with us. I still enjoy seeing them in her house.
I have a local Humane Society that has a thrift store. Last year when putting Christmas things away I decided to put in a bag all nice Christmas items I no longer had use for, used or wanted that could be sold the next year in the thrift store to make money for the Humane Society. I kept it all year and added other nice items, especially animal related, as I came across them. I marked on the bag "donate Nov. 2022" and on November 1, I did. I hope they made money on items people would buy in time to decorate later in November for Christmas.
Decorating my house for the season instead of the holiday has really helped me get rid of holiday clutter.
PSA: A strand of my Christmas lights stopped working over the weekend. I found that Lowe's, Home Depot and other hardware stores recycle defective lights.
Reid is the greatest editor. He always makes me smile at the end. 😊
Yes! I love to see his comments. I look for them as if they were the icing on the cake, but that analogy is off, since Dana's material is not empty calories. ;)
me too!
Since you video was short and came out before Christmas, I was motivated to declutter some of the books that I had taken off the shelves when I put the Christmas decor out a few weeks ago. I just got rid of about half of them and I’m excited to not put them all back on the shelves. I’ve enjoyed having nearly empty shelves with just a few Christmas nativities on them. Once I’m ready to take down the Christmas decorations, I may just declutter some more books as well as Christmas decor. Thanks for the motivation. 😊
Good for you!!!!
Books donated to Goodwill before Christmas gives someone a chance to purchase them.
@@brg2743 So true! I also feel it's more easy to declutter if I donate to an organisation that help people in need.
I like to decorate with plants and other natural materials (pumpkins, gourds, ears of corn, etc.) that can be composted when the season is over. That way they don't have to be stored.
Genius. Also, now I'm giggling that I should require that EVERY decoration be compostable.
What do you do with the jewel ears of corn?
@@yeeaahhzz I do have three ears of Indian corn that I have reused for several years, but once they start looking ratty, I'll shuck the kernels off the cobs and scatter them on my patio for the birds to eat, then compost the cobs. Most local nurseries and my local farmers' market carry Indian corn in the fall, so it's fairly easy and inexpensive to replace.
I did that this year when a friend and I made some Christmas garlands. She has a lot of different types of pine trees around her house. Being in Australia we also used some everlasting daisies.
love this idea, thanks @radcenter
Ok, I had to come back and say thank you, because I was packing away my decorations today, but I happened to watch you video first and it had not even occured to me to declutter my decorations! We dont have much, but I felt SO satisfied when I got it all cleaned out and packed in neatly. It's such a lightness now and I know it will be SO much easier to get them out next year. This video was excellent!
In California, there aren't basements or sufficient attic spaces but a ton of storage facilities. I guess there are enough people that can support the storage facility industry. However, most of us do not declutter enough of anything. Thats why very few park their cars in their garages and use them as storage spaces. My husband grew up in a town where a city permit was required to leave a car curbside overnight . So his parents always had their cars in garage. We do the same. If we make new decor purchases, there has to be space for us to store it. It motivates us to declutter or limits unnecessary purchases.
I actually did a big declutter with my Christmas decor as I was putting it out. Felt so good to take a bunch to donation facilities and throw a bunch of trash away. We lowered our total Christmas boxes by 2 bins and I love what I have left!
I did have a rough time with decor this year. Aging has a way of telling one, "enough." I have offered ornaments from a small tree to a granddaughter, and she's happy to take them. We will no longer decorate outside, other than the front door. In mid-70s, we just have to lessen the load. It's going to be difficult letting go, so I might just set aside tubs of items to declutter and offer them to relatives. I will enjoy seeing the items collected in someone else's home, treasured by them. Things they don't want, donated and appreciated by others.
You continue to inspire me. Thank you so, so much for being brave enough to start sharing your decluttering journey back when A Slob Comes Clean was still a "secret." And thank you---just as much---for continuing to share on this same topic. I make some progress, then I don't, then a little more progress (two steps forward, one step back, right?) I love that I can come back to one of your books (and I love that you read the audio versions, because yes, you are funny!) or one of your videos and I can see all over again that: 1) I am NOT the only one who struggles with this, and 2) I can always pick up a trash bag and begin making some noticeable progress RIGHT NOW, and not be left with a bigger mess than when I started, when I come back from whatever distraction interrupted me (and there's ALWAYS a distraction.) Thank you so much!! God bless you and your family!
I'm 72 and started giving tree stuff to my grandaughters. I have just enough for a small tree that I'm keeping.
I fully intend on decluttering as I put things away. Truthfully I have decluttered so much over the last few years that it is becoming easier and easier. I love your technique because it keeps me from over thinking...something I am very good at.
I over think everything to the point that when I’m done thinking of what I need to do, I’m to tired to start. Dana’s videos have really helped with that and I now get more done. I’ve been getting one to two bags/boxes out every week. Mostly donations or trash, but also some items to relatives that want them.
It is good to hear it gets easier. Thanks for your comment.
Last year I decided to ONLY decorate our living room mantel for big seasons, not every little holiday. And only decorate the mantel and Christmas tree at Christmas. I also decluttered a ton of little Christmas doo-dads and Christmas children's books!! Decorating is fun again, instead of overwhelming and annoying!
Righto. I have an upstairs "bonus" room that I hardly go in so why decorate.
I also only did the Christmas tree and the mantle this year. It was so much less work (and so many fewer trips out to the shed to get totes full of decor!)
Light bulb moment: the Hassle Factor! YES! 🤩
I don't put out any so it's easy to put away Love it
Dana, this all makes so much sense. You nailed it on so many points. The space that you have is the space that you have! I quote that over and over again. Great video! Reid: 🙂
I live in Michigan so the coat bit is spot on ha
A few years ago we had too many ornaments to fit on the tree and I thought about getting a second tree. Wait a minute, my tree is the container! No need to get a second tree, just weed out some ornaments. Or, full disclosure, set up a rotation system: I now use 2/3 of my ornaments each year and rotate which third stays in the box.
I like that-- the tree is the container!
That’s what I do. Tag the box with year used. Tag for the next year too. Stared this 2 years ago. I like it. Still all contained in my Christmas shelving unit.
I do the same. Rotating ornaments from each year. One year those we bought first year of marriage, the next year those homemade(kids) ornaments. Then last my matching tree of cardinals. I have a pencil tree so storage of this many is not an issue.
I love holiday decor and have tried to declutter items whenever I buy new ones. This week I decluttered some red berry garland that I hadn't used in a few years. One less box to take up space. Yay!
After Christmas last year, we decluttered Christmas decorations. While we left our tree up and decorations out, the ones not used, old strands of lights that didn't work, and cruddy ornaments were tossed. It was so much easier this year to decorate. Plan to do it again this year. The decluttering of Christmas stuff led to hallway closet and from there it went on all year. We still have a ways to go, but it is getting better.
Karen here. Getting a generic wreath for my front door. Getting butterflies to put on for Spring and summer. Fall/Winter are pinecones with red berries. Christmas a bow. That way I can do without flowers near the door.
I found this video after taking down my Christmas decor...this is how much Dana, Dawn and Cass have influenced me. I wondered to myself if I can put it all in one rubber maid box. Challenge accepted. First got rid of anything broken, if I didn't use it the last 2 Christmas, donate. Then I took off one ornament at a time, if I felt 'meh' donation it went. I also used the stockings instead of boxes to wrap some stuff and the tree skirt to wrap the angel and wreath. It all fit! This video was great!
Watching this video as 2024 Christmas holiday time quickly approaches. I started 3 Christmases ago to declutter. I have gone from 42 bins ( large) of Christmas to two plus the now 4 ft tree. ( did have two 7 ft trees ). Gave away over 40 nativity sets, let my grown kids take all the ornaments they wanted then my husband and I sat down and chose 12 each of ones we loved. I feel free and last Christmas was so easy and this year will be the best. Two bins went last January. Your container method has given me a much needed boundary. Thank you.
I realized (when decorating for Christmas last year) that there are SO MANY decorations/ornaments we haven't used in years, for one reason or another. Mostly because we have 4 very energetic cats. Some very sentimental decorations/ornaments I don't want to risk being destroyed by the little furry beasts. Others are just plain dangerous (or tempting) for cats/dogs. So... I started with the BOTTOM boxes of winter/holiday/seasonal/Christmas decorations in my storage area, and evaluated what I wasn't using and WHY. Everything I wasn't attached to, and was fragile/unsafe for pets, went into the Yard Sale / Donation box (and broken/damaged stuff went into the trash of course). Because I realized something else along the way - I will probably ALWAYS have pets, as they bring such joy to our lives - and they're more important than a glass Christmas Tree Topper that I have used a total of ONE time, 10 years ago, or the little tabletop tinsel Tree we've been using but they've been chewing on, and the beautiful but bulky plush St Nicholas that has gotten mistaken as a chew toy by our friends' dog. I am prioritizing our life and those we share it with. Now as I am putting this year's décor away, I will sort the "didn't put out for sentimental reasons" items into one long-term-storage container (basically a "holiday Memory Box"), and the rest of the (minimized) "durable" décor will go into the other container, to be used every year.
So, here's my approach for this year's holiday/decoration clean-up:
1. Trash the old/broken/damaged
2. Donate (cuz cats) the dangerous/fragile/non-sentimental ones
3. Sort/store what's left that we LOVE into two boxes:
3a. Sentimental/delicate/need to be protected (memory box)
3b. simplified stuff we actually use for holiday/Christmas.
Actually, I was relieved and thankful it was so easy this year to decorate. The reason for this great feeling is that followed your advice last year to declutter and manage my holiday items. I had less to pull out and there were only items I wanted to use. Thank you Dana 👍
I am limited to 3 Christmas containers. The container concept has really helped me.
That’s interesting that holiday decorations was the worst offender! Very helpful, and for the reason you stated sounds very realistic, hey I just have to buy this and set it out, no problem!
For the past few years, I've put up an undecorated tree. The first one had berries and pine cones and light snow, and was pre-lit. Our newest one is a 3' pre-lit tree in a metal tub - very country looking. I could cover the metal tub with a formal skirt and decorate it, but I've liked the way it looks. (It's a high-quality tree). I set it up on a table, and closed the blinds up to the bottom of the tree (taped them closed with scotch tape), leaving half the blinds slightly open. From the street, you can only see from the bottom of the tree to the top, and it looks like you're only seeing the top half of a much larger tree.
Thank you for sharing all you do. It has helped me in my decluttering journey. I have gotten rid of so much stuff and anxious to get back to decluttering after the holidays! Merry Christmas to you and your family ❤
Ornaments 😭😭😱
Super hard to get rid of and I've got way too many. Purchased in Germany while living there, from my mom who had now died, dated for my kids, gifted white house collection(20 yrs), marriage, 1st's, lasts etc. It's such a tangled emotional mess for me that I just keep it all.
Still a long way to go with Christmas items, however I surprised myself this year in Oct and got rid of alot. A dog rescue always has a sale and ask for donations, and since it was something I cared about made it easy to do. Love all your videos.
I only decorate for autumn/Thanksgiving and then Christmas. It's my favorite time of year and having special items out only 3 months of the year really helps me appreciate them all the more. Great tips as always! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and says safe in the crazy weather affectiing most of the country.
I had been thinking about decluttering some of the decorations I didn't put up this year. This video put an 'oh yes I will' to that thought.
Hope your son's year is going well. Love this year long series.
My sister has a system where (with the exception of the tree) instead of adding extra things to her house for the holidays she simply swaps out things she already has for a Christmas alternative e.g. towels rugs, place mats etc. Means her house is decorated but not cluttered and everything has a purpose. Xx
Thank you Dana! Reid, you are hysterical! Nadolig llawen from Wales, UK XX
Much love! Your vids are my motivation to get moving & comfort that I’m not so different from others. Thank you!
Last year I did a complete rethink of my Christmas decor, because I wanted to condense down to just one large tub. Setting myself a finite space really helped making decisions. I applied the same principle when decluttering treasures. I decided to move from two large display cabinets, down to one. I now know that my treasures are just that, rather than knickknacks.
Merry Xmas to You and Reid and the Family.
After following you for over a year now I can honestly say this year was the first year it was super easy to decorate and I’m not worried about the pack up on 31 December.
I had one box of decorations, one wreath bag, one large Christmas tree for my lounge room, and a small table tree for my office. Two trips to my storage area. That’s it. 😊 🎄
I am truly jealous! It's so difficult for me to declutter, but it must be done!
@@terryruiz7417 I know. I’ve been there. Some things are still more difficult for me to part with. It certainly takes practice. Wishing you all the best with it.
@@terryruiz7417 I hear you. Keep at it. Start with the "duh" stuff.
I have 3 bins of seasonal decorations, split between fall and Christmas. I can probably fit it into 2, but still, the first season I decorated for after beginning to date my husband, I was stressed by the fact that he would be inheriting it. We are also having a baby in February, and moving into a home in the summer, fingers crossed. This is my motivation to downsize it right after Christmas so it's no longer a burden to me. Our storage closet is outside and too small to go through it all easily. Time for some items to go!
So proud of myself. I did this yesterday, and decluttered stuff as I went. The one tote I have for Christmas is less full than when I brought it out for decorating. It was a little early to take things down and so I’m a little sad about that, but it was convenient because the place where it is stored was being reorganised. It made sense to put it away on Boxing Day this year
Starting last year (since I began watching you!) I donated most of it to goodwill after Christmas and bought a few new items at goodwill and Dollar Tree. I can donate again! I’m kinda unique in not having a tree, sentimental ornaments, or kids. I don’t decorate for any other holidays.
I love to see another view of your new house, Dana. Great, encouraging video. I've only ever done extra decor at Christmas, every year less so. G Ire
Merry Christmas to you & your family, Dana!!! ❤🎄🕊 Thank you for a great year of motivation, encouragement & inspiration!!! 🤗🙏🏻
Love this. I’m down to 2 Christmas boxes!
Great video! I needed this encouragement!!! I’ll be decluttering Cmas decor and I’m going to use this for the after Cmas toys for my kids as well. If the new toy is container worthy then we have to donate something to make it fit! You are the best! Wishing you a great Christmas!
lol I love you, I lol so much watching. Thank you so much. I am a maximalist... with adah and uh yeah.. I decorate for Halloween and Yule!!! Happy holidays to all!!!
I decluttered when I took things out to decorate. And I'm really excited about deuttering even more when I pack Christmas back up. In fact, im going to declutter the shed next! ( pray for me, haha!) I love the part of your video where you mentioned knowing you're going to declutter and finding things to get rid of on the fly! 👏👏👏🙌
My husband agreed to this which is a HUGE surprise as he and I BOTH LOVE decorating for Christmas. We'll see what happens. This was definitely motivational. Thanks and Merry Christmas!
We just undecorated the Christmas tree this evening--and probably 1/3 of what was in the ornament tote (a bunch of fragile glass balls) has never been put on the tree. I keep holding onto them for when my daughter is old enough that they won't all be broken by the end of Christmas.
Used the pre-christmas time to declutter a bit (mostly trash) and started a memory box. Your no mess decluttering and container method helps a lot. Thanks.💖
I live in Michigan. Sooo many "seasons" = sooo many coats/hats/shoes/boots.
On one side of our double fireplace, I have a wreath that I change out minimal decorations for each holiday. Christmas is another story, but I'm workin' on it !
Thank you! Merry Christmas Dana!
Great inspiration as I begin to put away our Christmas decorations soon. I decluttered as I put decorations out but there are items I didn’t use left in the tubs that need to go. Thanks for this video!
I know for me, I used to buy Xmas decorations for my fantasy self that was going to have a magazine-worthy house, but then I never had the time or drive to put it all out. I still decorate a lot, but those things are the items that I especially love.
Could we plz see your new house? Maybe even your Christmas-decorated house?
❤❤❤ Thank you! Great advice!
I decluttered a large box of Christmas ornaments while listening to this. I’ve never used them. I’ve always dreamed of having and decorating 2 trees. That has never happened. I’m almost ready to let that dream die. Not quite. I still have an extra large box of ornaments to purge. After meditating on this, I will probably let them go after Christmas. It took so long to decorate one tree. I’m not sure why I’ve dreamed of doing it twice, but I do.
I so love this concept, it works so well.
I actually ordered a bag that size and and it is an awesome bag. As much as it's an awesome bag for me because I have a muscle disorder it was too hard for me to move around so I gave it to my daughter! She is ecstatic! I ended up buying the smaller one where the trays with handles pull out the ornaments because my hands get floppy at times. I bought the smaller ones it's easier for me to handle and I figured if I have to get a second one sometime I would do that. I am so thankful for
you and take your house back course I've gotten rid of so much Christmas stuff. This year has been different In fact I'm trying to walk through Christmas right now realizing I might have given away my one tote I did not want to. It was the few items I wanted to keep. It had my Christmas stocking from when I was young. The Swedish horse my mom made the couple items I really wanted to keep. But I'm realizing Christmas is still going to be great !! But we can't find the tote after I did the major declutter. Dana thank you for all that you share and I always think that container concept. I will tell you pulling my Christmas stuff out this year was so nice I went from eight totes down to one. That was just my inside totes. And I got rid of so much in the garage. I was just realizing that tote I could have combined everything in one tote instead of having two. Lol I already gave it to my daughter. Is sometimes even though they're smaller does that give you too much to have to remember? Or inventory. Last year I purchased the take your house back course for myself and it was the best gift I gave myself. I'm so thankful I can listen to your podcast I can listen to UA-cam I can listen to things while I work on making things more container Worthy. Merry Christmas Dana thank you thank you
I LOVE YOUR HOUSE FRIEND!!! BEAUTIFUL view. Merry Christmas and many blessings upon from the Lord. ❤️💚❤️
My problem is I have too much space. Ugh
But I am going to work on this and have started. Thanks for your input.
DUH Donations = Donate Us, Honey. 😉
I decluttered some Christmas stuff last year. This year we only put up a small tree, I almost got rid of 4 boxes of bulbs. Put was concerned if I would regret it next year when we will put up the big tree for our turn at hosting
Christmas.
great reminder, thank you! Happy holidays, Dana!
Ooh, Hassel Factor. Gonna use that.
So good. Wondering if I'm gonna end up sending back the second ornament container I ordered. Hmmmm stay tuned...
Merry Christmas, hon!
Thank you...Merry Christmas..Happy Holidays 🙏
Thank you, Dana!
I bought an ornament container this year (arrives Friday). I have decided to limit my other seasonal decor to a table runner and a few placemats used atop an end table etc. very simple. Very minimal. Just a pop of seasonal color.
Do you know the paint brand and color of your kitchen? I really like it and I’m looking for a green for our living room.
I am doing Christmas stuff after. I’m doe. With Christmas and think it will be easier
THANKYOU
I pack Christmas by each room. Then I can pull out all or as few boxes or rooms to decorate.
April 2024 - Omg my boxes of Christmas stuff are still waiting to up into the attic. 🙈🙉🙊
Dana, I am wondering if you decorate for Halloween or any other holiday. I decorate for Christmas, then winter, then Valentine's Day, then St. Patrick's day, then Easter, then the patriotic holidays (which I keep out until Labor Day) Then comes fall decorating, Thanksgiving decor, and then I'm back to Christmas! Wow!
In the video, around 3:18, she talks about only seasonally decorating for Christmas.
My Mom decorated for every holiday too, and guess who inherited it all. Her favorite was Christmas, but I just can’t handle managing it all. I kept two - three items for each holiday and about twenty of her Christmas items. Offered most to other family members and whatever they didn’t take was donated for someone else to enjoy as much as she did. Merry Christmas 🎄
My goal every year when packing x-mas decorations away is, what can I get rid of.
But I also really dislike many decoration, so may be it's just me.
I would love to declutter and organize, but unfortunately I am married to a hoarder, and it is ruining our quality of life. I have tried and tried to clean and organize, but he is a constant undertow against me. I long for cleanliness and order, but starting to feel hopeless about it.
What advice is there for this situation?
I had a friend who is married to a guy who fixes computers. It was taking over the whole house - kid's bedroom, kitchen, hallway. She drew the line at the lounge room - it was her sanctuary. Could you do the same? Claim a room as yours? (Eventually he bought a workshop and it all moved there.)
I know I have Christmas items including 2 small trees to declutter however as an ex-charity shop helper I know they do not appreciate them at this time of year as they need to store for12 months , As I have just the space I have decided to make a container of them and next Christmas hand them in November ..Getting declutter out of the house is the hardest for me . I use public transport and only when can offer a bigger group of smaller items can I get someone to collect them..
Do you have a link to the ornament boxes? Ty.
I've been reducing my holiday decor for the last 2 years as the holidays come around. Maybe I also should limit it to Christmas only. I need to stop watching "decorate with me" type videos ! Merry Christmas to you 🎄
Only if it is a burden. If you enjoy it, keep doing it.
👏💪💗💐
Instead of lives on Tuesday you're doing shows with the library?