The Helix Black Friday sale is live now! Visit helixsleep.com/minimalmom to get 27% off your mattress (plus two FREE pillows) - and receive a Free Bedding Bundle with your Luxe or Elite order! Thank you Helix for sponsoring! And thank YOU for watching!! I hope you have a great Thanksgiving! - Dawn
When I'm overwhelmed with clutter, like coming home with endless items from errands, I take a split-second glance around while thinking 'what is the biggest eyesore?' I deal with that and get a big payoff. Then I do the same thing again. After a 3 or 4 rounds of that the improvement is so big I'm inspired to keep going. A variation is: after the quickest glance, 'what is the very easiest/quickest to put away properly? (there's always something) Then a couple more rounds. Another variation: 'what clutter item is furthest to the left?' Deal with it. Then deal with the next item clockwise. There must be many variations on this. The key is start with just one item for a big payoff. I even use this unloading the dishwasher 😁
Oh my how my life has changed over the last four years…… Here are a few ways 1. I don’t waste time looking for things like my keys, purse, jackets 2. In the past when we had a party my bed room would be filled with baskets from clutter around the house and it took us days to get ready. 3. When the house is a mess now I know I can get it back in order in about an hour I started having the kids help out everyone has there timer set for 8 pm. If you are home you help with a family reset. So far it is working. I now spend more time walking outside, working on puzzles, and more time then ever reading and studying the Bible. Thank you for the inspiration!
Before I Decluttered, having company over was stressful, and I usually had to spend the whole day cleaning. By the time the company came, my knees were so sore! Now somebody can stop by anytime and the house looks great… Except that I’m not very good about cleaning my floors very often. 😂
People think I'm a naturally tidy person, but our tidy organized home has been years in the making. I finally realized that less stuff was the key, not good organization (thank you, Dawn). I still don't love to clean, but I can't function in a messy or cluttered house.
I just started working as a cleaner for a company that only uses natural cleaners. They said they use a pumice stone to clean inside ovens (including the glass). As someone who has never been able to find anything other than strong oven cleaner that worked well, I was super skeptical. I tested it on my own oven and could not believe how well it worked! It was so easy! You have to make sure to keep it really wet (don't use it dry!) but that's it!
That's interesting! I find that natural things cannot be beaten. I discovered the other day that the best thing to use on the glass door of my woodburner is a bit of slightly dampened newspaper or kitchen paper dipped in some cold ash from the fireplace! The glass gets clean really well!
Hi @karenhanson4207 and @Sylvia, that's interesting! 😊 Do you have further recommendations regarding natural cleaners? Do you use natural cleaners for washing your clothes, for example? And what kind of products do you use for cleaning floors, appliances and toilets? Thank you so much in advance 😊
@@vivicadesignyes! I’m interested as well. I’ve been using a vinegar/dawn dish soap/water combo for my counters but sometimes Clorox wipes are just easier for the toilet. I’ve tried sprays and wash clothes to be more natural but it makes me less motivated to clean for some reason.
This works for me: (1)Low inventory (2)Clean a clean house (3)Five minutes matter (4)Plan a reward (eg. cup of coffee and a Minimal Mom video😊) I am delighted to say that after a couple of weeks of reducing inventory again and therefore neglecting cleaning, I can tell that based on the fact I had already got to a good place and by implementing these four things, I am going to be back on track pretty soon☺️ ❤❤❤ Thanks, Dawn, we love you too 😘
I’m a naturally tidy person, so even when my home needs a good cleaning, it LOOKS clean, which I love. But yes, the key is less stuff, and the stuff I do have needs to have a home so it’s easy to put away. I very much enjoy cleaning my house because it’s easy and takes no time at all. And a clean home is a relaxing home to me. ☺️
You make a cheerful treat every day. I am too old to be a minimalist, but it does calm me down to give away things I no longer need. I think of it as your hotel, something you want enough to be in the hotel, and still happily leave to go to a restaurant. Every couple of years, the hotel can change. You are still too young not to have all your two sets of parents stuff, or the home moves, and how long it takes to give away the parent/grandparent things, or the perfect items sold to you in your new house, and your own 60 year old toys that are in glassed view, but eventually some are wanted by family, and most for charity. You light us up, Dawn, and very kindly push us to clear out the dust! Thank you, always!❤
I am OCD and have too much stuff! I clean non stop! I have 2200 sq feet of marble flooring and buff them all the DANG time. It is like living in a mall! Married for 40 years and beyond blessed. Decluttering everything is AMAZING! Blessing my sons and daughter in-loves with things they need and everything else is gone! Stay Blessed!
I have gotten rid of sooooo much stuff, I now very much enjoy cleaning! It’s just so easy now(even with four kids!). We’re hosting thanksgiving this week, and Im not doing any special cleaning, because the house is already company ready. I love your videos, you’ve changed my life ❤
I am, for sure, a naturally messy person. I am continuing to lower my inventory and be very intentional about bringing new things in. A lot of my time is spent looking after my disabled, immune compromised husband who now has early dementia. 100% of running the household, errands, appointments, etc. falls to me. No complaints, but it slows real progress down most days. I agree about cleaning product selection individualized to your home. We are on well water with a softener, and I even get different results with the same products depending upon the season, water quality and hardness. I use lots of natural cleaners. And yes - Scrub Daddy & Mommy make me so happy! Thank you for your upbeat video Dawn!
I'm pretty naturally a clean minimalist person, but the scrub daddy really makes my heart even happier. I definitely only keep the tools/products that work. I do love the kids messes though. It may sound like a cat poster, but those messes are from the greatest blessings in my life. So corny, but true!
I have been getting rid of stuff i dont actually need over the last few months and it makes cleaning way more enjoyable! You are so right😅 The more I declutter the happier and more relaxed i feel!
Since I started watching your channel I have been on a personal journey. I have given away truck loads, van loads, car loads of stuff over the last two years and I’m still giving away. I have been constantly working to decrease my inventory. I can’t believe I had/have so much. I had two houses…a vacation house and then a home. I sold the vacation house and combined the inventory. Wow what a mistake. I will get there but oh boy. I love your channel and all you do. ❤❤❤❤
I'm a naturally untidy person who has hated cleaning my whole life and "5 minutes matters" has become my whole mantra about cleaning. I'm doing the whole house now in 1 or 2 5 minute sessions a day, and you know what? I don't hate it now, I'm not exhausted when I'm done and I don't skip a week or two (or three!). More regular cleaning means no cleaning anything that's really dirty so it's quicker and I can achieve more in 5 minutes.
Another inspiring truth by video Dawn!❤ I’ve always been easily overwhelmed by clutter, so I’ve tried to keep it low. Now older me needs/wants less than ever! Love living minimally. Keeps life simple, easy & uncomplicated, even with the trials of life. My home is my sanctuary 💖
I've been a minimalist for at least 10 years, and I agree with you-I enjoy cleaning and organizing. I used to be a maximalist and consumed a lot, but I've completely decluttered my holiday decorations over the past five years. I was fine with that, but this season, I decided to decorate for Christmas. I thought it would cost a fortune. Someone suggested I check out second-hand and thrift stores, and that's exactly what I did. I set a budget of $100. Believe it or not, I got a big wreath, a set of dishes, 10 mugs, 3 trees, a nativity scene, gift wrapping, and more. After Christmas, I'll give everything away. I won't keep anything. I've absolutely no attachment to any object anymore-it's so freeing. Thank you for your channel. I greatly appreciate it.🌸😁
I do something similar. I only decorate with some kind of things inside the fireplace - something with meaning for the year, and I use the wrapped presents as part of the decoration. then I give out the presents, donate the few items used to make the decorative setting and next year it will be a different theme. I get an immense amount of satisfaction doing this, and it normally costs me under $20. This year I am doing a "Tis a gift to be simple" them, so brown wrapped parcels and pinecones etc.
@@GeoffBenge-d3k This is fun! I surprised myself by using Christmas dishes. For the first time in my life, I'm truly enjoying it. It feels special, knowing that I won't keep the items. It's like they're a treasure to be enjoyed to the fullest before they're gone.
@GeoffBenge-d3k, we do a different theme every year as well. Last year was homemade, and this year is secondhand. I keep a few core pieces that I decorate with and everyone else, there's only 8 of us, brings their contributions.
One thing I learned from you Dawn is to take some real time to troubleshoot something that isn't working. Whether a cluttered drawer or something else that is always a problem. This simple strategy has helped so much! To pause, try to identify the problem, devise a solution and treat it all like a real puzzle to solve, instead of something I am supposed to magically keep clean and organized somehow. Taking some real time for that, instead of taking 3 seconds, feeling stressed and going straight to thinking "well, I guess I'm just a messy person" and then giving up... it's such a simple but big shift. I got that from watching you do a full run through of re-organizing a drawer in one of you videos. I never saw anyone model taking real time for something like that before. It was like watching a secret being revealed haha. Kind of like learning how to do proper math. We can all do math "intuitively" up to a certain point, but beyond that, without knowing the precise steps, we get stuck. I think cleaning and organizing is like that. We all only get so far with doing "whatever" and beyond that point we need very specific steps.
You can make the Dawn power wash. 13 ounces of water 2 ounces of dawn, dishwashing liquid and 1 ounce of rubbing alcohol. You need the bottle so buy it once and make your own after
Dawn Spray is the closest thing to a miracle cleaner I've used in a very long time. Been watching your videos for several years. You are a huge inspiration ~ THANK YOU My home is very simplified now. No more boxes stored with things we never use.
Hi Dawn, you are not alone in this! I have reduced a LOT of inventory. I still have the things that I use and love, I would not be called a minimalist. BUT, I have reduced it to the point that it is really easy to tidy and to clean. I do dishes, trash, laundry daily, tidy bathrooms twice a week, and clean zone by zone weekly throughout the rest of our home. It is soooo easy.
I downsized years ago, and have maintained a limited inventory, I have no desire to shop or browse in stores. Maintaining a tidy, clean house is effortless. I’ve followed your advice and others, the system works. I’m retired, and live alone now but it worked when my kids were home. The best part is that I have more time for things I like to do.
Your sign should say "It's all Just Stuff". I have only gotten a better cleaning schedule since purging over 220,000 items in last 20 months. It was just TOO MUCH STUFF before and now, I can see the spaces that need cleaning. Before, I could not even see the all the countertops w/o taking tons of stuff and shifting it to the table (on top of all that was there.) Now, following you for theses 20 months, I have a simplified home and it is FANTASTIC❣
I'm messy too! I am in the process of getting rid of things. I need to because l can't keep up with it anymore. I ask myself where l put something and l just shake my head in disbelief that something else has fallen into a black hole!! Bless you for your encouragement! 🤗
One money tip I'd add for cleaners... Dawn power wash is really expensive watered down dish soap. I have a glass refillable cleaner bottle, put a good squirt or 2 of dish soap and fill the rest with water, if you want antibacterial added for surfaces, put rubbing alcohol in too. It works really well and dirt cheap.
Your sign should just say "keep it simple". I'm a naturally minimal/tidy person. I still go thru my home regularly to find the random things that have snuck in. It's still an upkeep. But like you, it's so much easier with low inventory. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
I noticed the same thing and then I noticed In the newer videos with dark hair Dawn has not been wearing her wedding ring. Seriously hope my suspicions are wrong. Love watching this family! ❤
@@randommam58 Well, That could be a number of reasons. I will forget to put mine on some days or not wear it if I'm cleaning. Happens all of the time. My guess is he is just busy with their rental properties and projects and doesn't have time to sit down to do videos anymore.
@ this is prerecorded from a while ago. watch the holiday gift guide or the last two with her sister Diana on her channel. Those are recent. No ring. 🤷🏻♀️
I’m a neat person with weekly chores, but I had been slow to wash dishes. Last month we adopted a senior cat who can still jump up to the kitchen counter, ha. So now I steadfastly do dishes and wipe the counters nightly. Love your videos Dawn.
I am not big on signs in my home though i enjoy them in others homes... my favorite saying though that i painted on a sign for our home was something my mom always says "where there is heart room, there is home room"... so true! We make space for what we love and feel is important... in my family's case, i grew up with 5 adopted special needs siblings in addition to my 2 biological siblings. we also regularly had any number of "misfits" sharing a meal or spending time while they recovered or found their way in life... Love people, not stuff! Having less makes room for more!
I really appreciate your channel and you always make some very good points. i could never be as minimal as your family, nor would I want to. I do aporeciate the points you make about the "buy, buy, buy attitude that infuses our lives" so it is great that I am able to pick and choose those suggestions that I can incorporate into my home and life. While most of the time I don't mind cleaning , I will never, never, never ever enjoy cleaning. I do believe that everything should have a place and everything should be put away as soon as one is finished using it, so clutter around the house is reduced. Music snd candle are great ideas. Sometimes a timer works really well for me. I really like your idea from going from the floor up - never thought of thst concept. i have reduced my cleaning products and what you said about the products makes so much sense!!! My ensuite bathroom actally gets a deep clean everyday as it is very small and only takes me 5-7 min.each day and that makes feel good everytime I use it. Thank you. Looking forward to the next video. 😊
I’ll share my sign with you: Simplicity is Success …. Enjoy . I appreciate the content that you create, thank you for sharing and helping so many people.
As you were talking, and putting away something simple like scissors, I was thinking about how many pairs of scissors i have in my house! And how much stuff in my "junk drawer"! Yikes! I have a long way to go, but i want cleaning to be easier, so I'm definitely ready to begin the journey of a 1000 miles that begins with a single step!
I always have to listen to your videos when I want to motivate myself to keep the house clean. I got so busy with work since last week, and my house is a mess with the help of my 5 yr old, I need to keep watching your videos to get myself to clean the house again 😢
Having limited space aka small house makes you stay organized. I’m constantly giving away reorganizing cleaning. I guess I loved cleaning organizing so much I’ve done it for over 30 years for a paycheck. Your such a needed voice to us all. Thank you.
i was a very very messy person growing up and my mom never even taught me HOW to clean. once i got into my nesting phase of pregnancy with my son, i became obsessed with cleaning and organizing. i have lost my obsession since then, but i do still loooove a clean home and sometimes still love the process lol
I never thought I’d be leaving a comment of gratitude on a channel about minimalism! But, thank you, Dawn - your videos have inspired and encouraged me and I’m beginning to see glimpses of my tidy home emerging from the clutter 🙏
Cleaning has become a lot easier and more enjoyable now that our home is decluttered!! I know the difference between tidying...organizing...cleaning...decluttering...I have a good balance of all 4 I find I am more productive if I focus on 1 of those 4 tasks at a time Focusing on 1 task at a time gives you more focus and therfore things get done at a faster pace!!
Hi Dawn, I'm a naturally clean person, but when I don't feel well (physically or my body hurts a lot from the rheumatic deseases I have) I eat more 😢 and it's more difficult to let things in the shops. Last few weeks I decluttered enormesly and it's so great. There was more to declutter in my little appartment than I thought. Feel great about it. Now have to deal with the candy crush 🙄🤓 but that is difficult in these dark days before end of the year, the weather here in the Netherlands is grey and rainy and cold. But HEADS UP AND GO WITH THE FLOW! Thank you Dawn, for being you 🙏⚘🫂🕯 Anjo 👋👋👋
I've had bags of donations picked up every month or so for years now - in the beginning it was much more frequent and involved me making trips to drop off as well. Now I just maintain the inventory, and anything that needs to go...just goes! If I'm feeling like we still have too much, I schedule a pickup for 1-3 bags and start hunting for stuff to fill them!
Hi Dawn! That pink grapefruit Method cleaner is AMAZING. I've tried over cleaners, other scents and I finally realized I need to STOP BUYING anything else -- I love the scent of that one and it works well so I actually enjoy using it!
I think that caring for our homes, whether it be decluttering, organizing cleaning and working towards being minimalist in order to maintain all of these things well for our family is blessing our family. I don’t think we need to be necessarily thankful for the mess either
Dawn have you been told you have a gift of Exhortation! 😊 the encouragement and imploring to keep on going with Simplifying your home is so good and needed for me as the Christmas festivities come full speed ahead. Hobby lobby quote for you: simply lovely home vibes
Lovely, happy video. You are a pleasure to watch and listen to. I am loving my home more as I get rid of the stuff. It is great to not feel overwhelmed. I don’t want to throw the dishes out the window any more.
Cleaning the rental whenever you move out I have never connected to you more dawn! 😂😂😂😂 We would always empty it usually my mom would help me clean it... And then I think wow this place actually wasn't that bad with both the space and room and it's so clean now. 🤦♀️
Dawn, great inspiring video. It is late here but I want to clean my home tomorrow and declutter first! Two things. I can't listen to podcasts either when I am cleaning because I can't focus on them if I am doing something else! You are the first youtuber that has said the same so thank you! Second thing - and you are the first person apart from my daughter I have told this - I have discovered that ordinary cotton facecloths (we call them flannels in UK) make the best washing up cloths for my dishes! They have a really good grip, are strong , absorbent and great for cleaning out burnt-on saucepans, dry nicely, easy to toss in the laundry afterwards, great for cleaning out the sink and surfaces/spills too, and the best part is that they are 100% cotton so good for the environment instead of all the other fancy products out there! It simplifies the cleaning inventory too. It would be great if you could try the facecloth for dishes and see what you think! It was one day a few months ago when I didn't have a clean dishcloth or sponge so I thought 'what can I use instead?' I was sorting the clean laundry and saw a facecloth/flannel and thought I would give it a try - since then it is all I ever use for my dishes and sink! I have bought a couple of pretty new ones and keep them just for the dishes. :)
Yes Sylvia, I’ve used flannels as my kitchen dish cloths for decades. So absorbent . I can’t stand using anything else. I use a fresh one every day and wash in the machine with my towels. Now you said about the pretty ones, I want to buy a couple and brighten up my sink 😊. Also, I don’t buy the really thick ones, prefer a thinner flannel. 💁🏼♀️
I'm a minimalist. I decided, after encountering a silverfish in my stuff, that I was going to rehome important things to gasket bins from Walmart to keep it safe from bugs and dust. It feels sooo good knowing that the things I do value are safe.
Good tips. I’ll have to stick with some of these. Yesterday I put away 2-3 loads of laundry & am still feeling the reward as tonight it didn’t take long to tidy up my bedroom :)
Ok Dawn, I was ready to take a nap and put off tidying up until later, but I started watching your video. Now I'm up, vowing to clear off the kitchen table. 😁
Thank you so much for showing the maybe not so perfect moments at your home -counters, etc. Makes it ❤realistic and makes me feel like I can do this! God bless you
i have always been clean but i live with others that are not as clean but i have minimalized my stuff and it helped to allow me so areas in the house that are easier to clean.
Windex multi surface is my one cleaner I use for everything! The Dawn Power wash is basically, water, 2 tbsp dawn dish soap and 2 tbsps of dishwasher rinse aid. DIY your own for much cheaper using the same bottle :)
Fyi, the rinse aide is horribly bad for us for some reason. Can't even remember now. I'm no extremely green person but it stood out that bad, in case you want to check into it.
Dawn, I would like to congratulate you on the presteen bathroom floor! ❤❤❤My goodness, there's hardly anything to sweep!🎉 I used to think I'm in the clean person category, but lately, I've been losing the battle...😢
Former neat and clean person. Until I got custody of 2 grandchildren. Still clean, but really messy. Really working on it, with the help of Take Your House Back course. I now have chore charts for myself and the kids. So far so good. The girl at Goodwill even said, You again? 😂
Walking On Sunshine is my go to tune. I can’t do anything with TV on 😂 I love your upbeat videos ❤ Your personality and kind words always inspire me ❤❤❤
I just love your home. It’s simple and clean and not cluttered with a bunch of excess. Are you guys planning to remodel your kitchen or am I thinking of another UA-camr? Anyway, I think your home is lovely. 💕
I love your videos Dawn, they are so relatable to me. I grew up in a messy house, learned to love cleaning and tidying up when living alone but now I live with my husband who is not able to declutter and let go of stuff. 80% of our stuff belongs to him and I have so much trouble keeping our house clean, especially now with a toddler. Any advice on how to handle this situation with a messy partner/SO? Highly appreciate it!
My least favorite job is doing dishes, so I splurge on Mrs. Meyers dish soap in my favorite scent, "rain." I get that some people just don't want to be more minimal, but I will never understand the moms of young kids that spend so much time having to pick up, re-organize and sometimes even clean the play kitchens. I just don't get it. I only want one kitchen to have to clean up!
Great episode! I especially love getting the whole family (husband, too) in cleaning and tidying - working along side others (I think you call it "body doubling") helps so much. And, can we call agree that cleaning, cooking, and tidying are basic life skills, NOT gender roles? Maybe your sign can be "Many hands make light work"
I also have a mop bucket like that, but the dirty water mixes with the clean water. A tip is to place a small bucket in the open section and fill it with clean water. This way, the clean water stays separate from the dirty water. Otherwise, mopping is pointless because you're just mopping with dirty water again.
I've always used the Dawn spray but until I saw you use it on the grease that gets on our cabinets I now use it everywhere! It just didn't occur to me to use it other places 😂 so thank you!
I don't love cleaning, but I love having a clean home. So it's worth it! And yes, a few minutes here or there ALWAYS makes a difference, but especially helps keep a clean space stay clean.
Same! I am a naturally more tidy person, but when it comes to cleaning, I do not enjoy it. I have done several rounds of decluttering and have gotten rid of van fulls and van fulls of items over the past few years. I think I'm due to go through things again, though, because I feel like the inventory has made a come back in our home despite my best efforts!
Thank you for this. Great tips. I always use well known products, like Fairy & Flash etc. (I’m in the UK) Fairy is thee best washing up liquid & I won’t use any other brand. Just curious, do you keep to a cleaning schedule, like dusting on a Monday, hoovering on a Tuesday etc? If so, please could you share it with us? Have a lovely Thanksgiving. x
My family was naturally messy which made me very clean as a result. I worked as a maid when I was saving for school. We charged less for houses we cleaned every week because we knew they would be very easy to clean. We charged a lot for one-time cleaning houses because we knew they would be difficult. We even did spring cleans where we washed the walls etc. it was actually satisfying to see the nicotine come sheeting off the walls (it was the early 90s and there were loads of indoor smokers). But nothing hammered home the concept of “if you clean every week your house will be both cleaner and easier to clean” than that experience. It also taught some good cleaning tips. I have cleaned my bathrooms weekly since that experience.
The Helix Black Friday sale is live now! Visit helixsleep.com/minimalmom to get 27% off your mattress (plus two FREE pillows) - and receive a Free Bedding Bundle with your Luxe or Elite order! Thank you Helix for sponsoring! And thank YOU for watching!! I hope you have a great Thanksgiving! - Dawn
When I'm overwhelmed with clutter, like coming home with endless items from errands, I take a split-second glance around while thinking 'what is the biggest eyesore?' I deal with that and get a big payoff. Then I do the same thing again. After a 3 or 4 rounds of that the improvement is so big I'm inspired to keep going. A variation is: after the quickest glance, 'what is the very easiest/quickest to put away properly? (there's always something) Then a couple more rounds. Another variation: 'what clutter item is furthest to the left?' Deal with it. Then deal with the next item clockwise. There must be many variations on this. The key is start with just one item for a big payoff. I even use this unloading the dishwasher 😁
Well said! I decide “what” is bothering me the most! Then I just get it over with.
That's awesome!
That is brilliant!!🎉 👏👏👏
Yes!! I’ll stand in the doorway of the room and scan from one side to the other to see what stands out the most, and start there!
Oh my how my life has changed over the last four years…… Here are a few ways
1. I don’t waste time looking for things like my keys, purse, jackets
2. In the past when we had a party my bed room would be filled with baskets from clutter around the house and it took us days to get ready.
3. When the house is a mess now I know I can get it back in order in about an hour
I started having the kids help out everyone has there timer set for 8 pm. If you are home you help with a family reset. So far it is working.
I now spend more time walking outside, working on puzzles, and more time then ever reading and studying the Bible. Thank you for the inspiration!
Before I Decluttered, having company over was stressful, and I usually had to spend the whole day cleaning. By the time the company came, my knees were so sore! Now somebody can stop by anytime and the house looks great… Except that I’m not very good about cleaning my floors very often. 😂
People think I'm a naturally tidy person, but our tidy organized home has been years in the making. I finally realized that less stuff was the key, not good organization (thank you, Dawn). I still don't love to clean, but I can't function in a messy or cluttered house.
Same here! So thankful for Dawn!
I just started working as a cleaner for a company that only uses natural cleaners. They said they use a pumice stone to clean inside ovens (including the glass). As someone who has never been able to find anything other than strong oven cleaner that worked well, I was super skeptical. I tested it on my own oven and could not believe how well it worked! It was so easy! You have to make sure to keep it really wet (don't use it dry!) but that's it!
That's interesting! I find that natural things cannot be beaten. I discovered the other day that the best thing to use on the glass door of my woodburner is a bit of slightly dampened newspaper or kitchen paper dipped in some cold ash from the fireplace! The glass gets clean really well!
Hi @karenhanson4207 and @Sylvia, that's interesting! 😊 Do you have further recommendations regarding natural cleaners? Do you use natural cleaners for washing your clothes, for example? And what kind of products do you use for cleaning floors, appliances and toilets? Thank you so much in advance 😊
@@vivicadesignyes! I’m interested as well. I’ve been using a vinegar/dawn dish soap/water combo for my counters but sometimes Clorox wipes are just easier for the toilet. I’ve tried sprays and wash clothes to be more natural but it makes me less motivated to clean for some reason.
This works for me:
(1)Low inventory
(2)Clean a clean house
(3)Five minutes matter
(4)Plan a reward (eg. cup of coffee and a Minimal Mom video😊)
I am delighted to say that after a couple of weeks of reducing inventory again and therefore neglecting cleaning, I can tell that based on the fact I had already got to a good place and by implementing these four things, I am going to be back on track pretty soon☺️
❤❤❤ Thanks, Dawn, we love you too 😘
I’m a naturally tidy person, so even when my home needs a good cleaning, it LOOKS clean, which I love. But yes, the key is less stuff, and the stuff I do have needs to have a home so it’s easy to put away. I very much enjoy cleaning my house because it’s easy and takes no time at all. And a clean home is a relaxing home to me. ☺️
Dawn, we love YOU and are so so thankful for YOU. You have changed our lives.
Seriously true 😊❤️❤️❤️
Amen to that!
You make a cheerful treat every day. I am too old to be a minimalist, but it does calm me down to give away things I no longer need. I think of it as your hotel, something you want enough to be in the hotel, and still happily leave to go to a restaurant. Every couple of years, the hotel can change. You are still too young not to have all your two sets of parents stuff, or the home moves, and how long it takes to give away the parent/grandparent things, or the perfect items sold to you in your new house, and your own 60 year old toys that are in glassed view, but eventually some are wanted by family, and most for charity. You light us up, Dawn, and very kindly push us to clear out the dust! Thank you, always!❤
I am OCD and have too much stuff! I clean non stop! I have 2200 sq feet of marble flooring and buff them all the DANG time. It is like living in a mall! Married for 40 years and beyond blessed. Decluttering everything is AMAZING! Blessing my sons and daughter in-loves with things they need and everything else is gone! Stay Blessed!
I have gotten rid of sooooo much stuff, I now very much enjoy cleaning! It’s just so easy now(even with four kids!). We’re hosting thanksgiving this week, and Im not doing any special cleaning, because the house is already company ready.
I love your videos, you’ve changed my life ❤
I am, for sure, a naturally messy person. I am continuing to lower my inventory and be very intentional about bringing new things in. A lot of my time is spent looking after my disabled, immune compromised husband who now has early dementia. 100% of running the household, errands, appointments, etc. falls to me. No complaints, but it slows real progress down most days. I agree about cleaning product selection individualized to your home. We are on well water with a softener, and I even get different results with the same products depending upon the season, water quality and hardness. I use lots of natural cleaners. And yes - Scrub Daddy & Mommy make me so happy! Thank you for your upbeat video Dawn!
I'm pretty naturally a clean minimalist person, but the scrub daddy really makes my heart even happier. I definitely only keep the tools/products that work. I do love the kids messes though. It may sound like a cat poster, but those messes are from the greatest blessings in my life. So corny, but true!
‘Less is more’ is a good saying for a minimalist.
Dawn's sign: Minimal Stuff, Abundant Blessings
I have been getting rid of stuff i dont actually need over the last few months and it makes cleaning way more enjoyable! You are so right😅 The more I declutter the happier and more relaxed i feel!
Since I started watching your channel I have been on a personal journey. I have given away truck loads, van loads, car loads of stuff over the last two years and I’m still giving away. I have been constantly working to decrease my inventory. I can’t believe I had/have so much. I had two houses…a vacation house and then a home. I sold the vacation house and combined the inventory. Wow what a mistake. I will get there but oh boy. I love your channel and all you do. ❤❤❤❤
I'm a naturally untidy person who has hated cleaning my whole life and "5 minutes matters" has become my whole mantra about cleaning. I'm doing the whole house now in 1 or 2 5 minute sessions a day, and you know what? I don't hate it now, I'm not exhausted when I'm done and I don't skip a week or two (or three!). More regular cleaning means no cleaning anything that's really dirty so it's quicker and I can achieve more in 5 minutes.
Another inspiring truth by video Dawn!❤ I’ve always been easily overwhelmed by clutter, so I’ve tried to keep it low. Now older me needs/wants less than ever! Love living minimally. Keeps life simple, easy & uncomplicated, even with the trials of life. My home is my sanctuary 💖
I've been a minimalist for at least 10 years, and I agree with you-I enjoy cleaning and organizing. I used to be a maximalist and consumed a lot, but I've completely decluttered my holiday decorations over the past five years. I was fine with that, but this season, I decided to decorate for Christmas. I thought it would cost a fortune.
Someone suggested I check out second-hand and thrift stores, and that's exactly what I did. I set a budget of $100. Believe it or not, I got a big wreath, a set of dishes, 10 mugs, 3 trees, a nativity scene, gift wrapping, and more. After Christmas, I'll give everything away. I won't keep anything. I've absolutely no attachment to any object anymore-it's so freeing. Thank you for your channel. I greatly appreciate it.🌸😁
I do something similar. I only decorate with some kind of things inside the fireplace - something with meaning for the year, and I use the wrapped presents as part of the decoration. then I give out the presents, donate the few items used to make the decorative setting and next year it will be a different theme. I get an immense amount of satisfaction doing this, and it normally costs me under $20. This year I am doing a "Tis a gift to be simple" them, so brown wrapped parcels and pinecones etc.
@@GeoffBenge-d3k This is fun! I surprised myself by using Christmas dishes. For the first time in my life, I'm truly enjoying it. It feels special, knowing that I won't keep the items. It's like they're a treasure to be enjoyed to the fullest before they're gone.
@GeoffBenge-d3k, we do a different theme every year as well. Last year was homemade, and this year is secondhand. I keep a few core pieces that I decorate with and everyone else, there's only 8 of us, brings their contributions.
Why don't you keep it for next Christmas? What if you want to decorate for next Christmas?
What I do is I have two large Christmas totes. What fits in the totes I keep. I go through each yr when I pull it out. Been doing this for years.
One thing I learned from you Dawn is to take some real time to troubleshoot something that isn't working. Whether a cluttered drawer or something else that is always a problem. This simple strategy has helped so much! To pause, try to identify the problem, devise a solution and treat it all like a real puzzle to solve, instead of something I am supposed to magically keep clean and organized somehow. Taking some real time for that, instead of taking 3 seconds, feeling stressed and going straight to thinking "well, I guess I'm just a messy person" and then giving up... it's such a simple but big shift. I got that from watching you do a full run through of re-organizing a drawer in one of you videos. I never saw anyone model taking real time for something like that before. It was like watching a secret being revealed haha. Kind of like learning how to do proper math. We can all do math "intuitively" up to a certain point, but beyond that, without knowing the precise steps, we get stuck. I think cleaning and organizing is like that. We all only get so far with doing "whatever" and beyond that point we need very specific steps.
You can make the Dawn power wash. 13 ounces of water 2 ounces of dawn, dishwashing liquid and 1 ounce of rubbing alcohol. You need the bottle so buy it once and make your own after
Yes! I’ve been doing this for months!
Dawn Spray is the closest thing to a miracle cleaner I've used in a very long time.
Been watching your videos for several years. You are a huge inspiration ~ THANK YOU
My home is very simplified now. No more boxes stored with things we never use.
"Less Stuff, More Peace"
It would be funny to buy a sign that said this... Thereby increasing the amount of stuff you have 😂😂😂
Hi Dawn, you are not alone in this! I have reduced a LOT of inventory. I still have the things that I use and love, I would not be called a minimalist. BUT, I have reduced it to the point that it is really easy to tidy and to clean. I do dishes, trash, laundry daily, tidy bathrooms twice a week, and clean zone by zone weekly throughout the rest of our home. It is soooo easy.
I downsized years ago, and have maintained a limited inventory, I have no desire to shop or browse in stores. Maintaining a tidy, clean house is effortless. I’ve followed your advice and others, the system works. I’m retired, and live alone now but it worked when my kids were home. The best part is that I have more time for things I like to do.
Your sign should say "It's all Just Stuff". I have only gotten a better cleaning schedule since purging over 220,000 items in last 20 months. It was just TOO MUCH STUFF before and now, I can see the spaces that need cleaning. Before, I could not even see the all the countertops w/o taking tons of stuff and shifting it to the table (on top of all that was there.) Now, following you for theses 20 months, I have a simplified home and it is FANTASTIC❣
As soon as I saw that number I knew it was you Madonna. 😊 you are a Rockstar.
You are such a joy to listen to. Thank you for the motivation to continue on my journey towards a less cluttered and therefore less stressful life.
I'm messy too! I am in the process of getting rid of things. I need to because l can't keep up with it anymore. I ask myself where l put something and l just shake my head in disbelief that something else has fallen into a black hole!! Bless you for your encouragement! 🤗
One money tip I'd add for cleaners... Dawn power wash is really expensive watered down dish soap. I have a glass refillable cleaner bottle, put a good squirt or 2 of dish soap and fill the rest with water, if you want antibacterial added for surfaces, put rubbing alcohol in too. It works really well and dirt cheap.
Less Things,
Happiness Brings
Your sign should just say "keep it simple".
I'm a naturally minimal/tidy person. I still go thru my home regularly to find the random things that have snuck in. It's still an upkeep. But like you, it's so much easier with low inventory.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Dawn, how is Tom? I know he’s very busy with all the houses and projects, but miss seeing you both in your videos and his.
I was just thinking that it had been a long time since he had made an appearance.
I noticed the same thing and then I noticed In the newer videos with dark hair Dawn has not been wearing her wedding ring. Seriously hope my suspicions are wrong. Love watching this family! ❤
@@randommam58 your comment is so strange. She has her ring on in this exact video. Just trying to cause trouble?
@@randommam58 Well, That could be a number of reasons. I will forget to put mine on some days or not wear it if I'm cleaning. Happens all of the time. My guess is he is just busy with their rental properties and projects and doesn't have time to sit down to do videos anymore.
@ this is prerecorded from a while ago. watch the holiday gift guide or the last two with her sister Diana on her channel. Those are recent. No ring. 🤷🏻♀️
I love you too ❤. I have 'hush' my home as I journey with cancer treatment. I am truly grateful for low inventory & peace & serenity. 🙏💕🌿
Less Mess, Less Stress!
I’m a neat person with weekly chores, but I had been slow to wash dishes. Last month we adopted a senior cat who can still jump up to the kitchen counter, ha. So now I steadfastly do dishes and wipe the counters nightly. Love your videos Dawn.
Yes no matter how old they are, they still jump! On everything! 😂
You're awesome ❤❤❤
I am not big on signs in my home though i enjoy them in others homes... my favorite saying though that i painted on a sign for our home was something my mom always says "where there is heart room, there is home room"... so true! We make space for what we love and feel is important... in my family's case, i grew up with 5 adopted special needs siblings in addition to my 2 biological siblings. we also regularly had any number of "misfits" sharing a meal or spending time while they recovered or found their way in life... Love people, not stuff!
Having less makes room for more!
I really appreciate your channel and you always make some very good points. i could never be as minimal as your family, nor would I want to. I do aporeciate the points you make about the "buy, buy, buy attitude that infuses our lives" so it is great that I am able to pick and choose those suggestions that I can incorporate into my home and life. While most of the time I don't mind cleaning , I will never, never, never ever enjoy cleaning. I do believe that everything should have a place and everything should be put away as soon as one is finished using it, so clutter around the house is reduced. Music snd candle are great ideas. Sometimes a timer works really well for me. I really like your idea from going from the floor up - never thought of thst concept. i have reduced my cleaning products and what you said about the products makes so much sense!!! My ensuite bathroom actally gets a deep clean everyday as it is very small and only takes me 5-7 min.each day and that makes feel good everytime I use it. Thank you. Looking forward to the next video. 😊
I’ll share my sign with you: Simplicity is Success …. Enjoy . I appreciate the content that you create, thank you for sharing and helping so many people.
As you were talking, and putting away something simple like scissors, I was thinking about how many pairs of scissors i have in my house! And how much stuff in my "junk drawer"! Yikes! I have a long way to go, but i want cleaning to be easier, so I'm definitely ready to begin the journey of a 1000 miles that begins with a single step!
I love your ideas on getting the kids involved in helping keep the house together!
I always have to listen to your videos when I want to motivate myself to keep the house clean. I got so busy with work since last week, and my house is a mess with the help of my 5 yr old, I need to keep watching your videos to get myself to clean the house again 😢
I've been following you for years and I am very grateful for your advice. I love my house now.
Having limited space aka small house makes you stay organized. I’m constantly giving away reorganizing cleaning. I guess I loved cleaning organizing so much I’ve done it for over 30 years for a paycheck. Your such a needed voice to us all. Thank you.
I too have been cleaning for thirty years & still enjoy it & feel a sense of accomplishment every day!
@ thank you Kristine. Those clients just can’t let’s us go huh. It’s a great job for moms with kids in school.
i was a very very messy person growing up and my mom never even taught me HOW to clean. once i got into my nesting phase of pregnancy with my son, i became obsessed with cleaning and organizing. i have lost my obsession since then, but i do still loooove a clean home and sometimes still love the process lol
I find cleaning to be a wonderful and rewarding and meaningful thing
I never thought I’d be leaving a comment of gratitude on a channel about minimalism! But, thank you, Dawn - your videos have inspired and encouraged me and I’m beginning to see glimpses of my tidy home emerging from the clutter 🙏
I totally agree with simplifying, less inventory = less cleaning. I had to experience this to believe it. Thanks for your help.
Yes, never put/store stuff on the floor. Huge!! I agree!
Cleaning has become a lot easier and more enjoyable now that our home is decluttered!!
I know the difference between tidying...organizing...cleaning...decluttering...I have a good balance of all 4
I find I am more productive if I focus on 1 of those 4 tasks at a time
Focusing on 1 task at a time gives you more focus and therfore things get done at a faster pace!!
I have a habit of setting timers for cleaning now because you suggested it. It always keeps me motivated and helps me get done faster!
The sponge daddy cut in half (thickness) was the best idea I have found. Much easier to use and hold
Hi Dawn, I'm a naturally clean person, but when I don't feel well (physically or my body hurts a lot from the rheumatic deseases I have) I eat more 😢 and it's more difficult to let things in the shops.
Last few weeks I decluttered enormesly and it's so great. There was more to declutter in my little appartment than I thought. Feel great about it.
Now have to deal with the candy crush 🙄🤓 but that is difficult in these dark days before end of the year, the weather here in the Netherlands is grey and rainy and cold.
But HEADS UP AND GO WITH THE FLOW!
Thank you Dawn, for being you 🙏⚘🫂🕯 Anjo 👋👋👋
I love the neuropsychology you add to your cleaning tips!!! 🧽
I've had bags of donations picked up every month or so for years now - in the beginning it was much more frequent and involved me making trips to drop off as well. Now I just maintain the inventory, and anything that needs to go...just goes! If I'm feeling like we still have too much, I schedule a pickup for 1-3 bags and start hunting for stuff to fill them!
Cleaned my bathroom that I've putting off while listening to this. I only had one cleaner and just made it work
I am on the way....I have gotten rid of a LOT but still working on it! But I my it's so much easier to keep it under control! Everything has a place!!
Hi Dawn! That pink grapefruit Method cleaner is AMAZING. I've tried over cleaners, other scents and I finally realized I need to STOP BUYING anything else -- I love the scent of that one and it works well so I actually enjoy using it!
I think that caring for our homes, whether it be decluttering, organizing cleaning and working towards being minimalist in order to maintain all of these things well for our family is blessing our family. I don’t think we need to be necessarily thankful for the mess either
You said it yourself Dawn
Simple is the best!
Dawn, your sign: "We were not meant for the things of this world."
Thank you so much for your content and sharing your expertise with us
Dawn have you been told you have a gift of Exhortation! 😊 the encouragement and imploring to keep on going with Simplifying your home is so good and needed for me as the Christmas festivities come full speed ahead.
Hobby lobby quote for you: simply lovely home vibes
Lovely, happy video. You are a pleasure to watch and listen to. I am loving my home more as I get rid of the stuff. It is great to not feel overwhelmed. I don’t want to throw the dishes out the window any more.
I love all the blue in your house!
Cleaning the rental whenever you move out I have never connected to you more dawn! 😂😂😂😂 We would always empty it usually my mom would help me clean it... And then I think wow this place actually wasn't that bad with both the space and room and it's so clean now. 🤦♀️
Thank you, Dawn! This video got me off my couch and my bathrooms are now clean. Not the showers… but the bathrooms.. it’s a start. 😂
Dawn, great inspiring video. It is late here but I want to clean my home tomorrow and declutter first! Two things. I can't listen to podcasts either when I am cleaning because I can't focus on them if I am doing something else! You are the first youtuber that has said the same so thank you! Second thing - and you are the first person apart from my daughter I have told this - I have discovered that ordinary cotton facecloths (we call them flannels in UK) make the best washing up cloths for my dishes! They have a really good grip, are strong , absorbent and great for cleaning out burnt-on saucepans, dry nicely, easy to toss in the laundry afterwards, great for cleaning out the sink and surfaces/spills too, and the best part is that they are 100% cotton so good for the environment instead of all the other fancy products out there! It simplifies the cleaning inventory too. It would be great if you could try the facecloth for dishes and see what you think! It was one day a few months ago when I didn't have a clean dishcloth or sponge so I thought 'what can I use instead?' I was sorting the clean laundry and saw a facecloth/flannel and thought I would give it a try - since then it is all I ever use for my dishes and sink! I have bought a couple of pretty new ones and keep them just for the dishes. :)
Yes Sylvia, I’ve used flannels as my kitchen dish cloths for decades. So absorbent . I can’t stand using anything else. I use a fresh one every day and wash in the machine with my towels. Now you said about the pretty ones, I want to buy a couple and brighten up my sink 😊. Also, I don’t buy the really thick ones, prefer a thinner flannel. 💁🏼♀️
I have heard it is best to clean from top to bottom. Because as you're cleaning crumbs and such fall to the floor.
The blue duster is a game changer!!!! Highly recommend it! Even my kiddos love it.
I can’t live without Dawn dish soap !! Nope it’s the best.. even for stains on clothes !!!
I'm a minimalist. I decided, after encountering a silverfish in my stuff, that I was going to rehome important things to gasket bins from Walmart to keep it safe from bugs and dust. It feels sooo good knowing that the things I do value are safe.
Good tips. I’ll have to stick with some of these. Yesterday I put away 2-3 loads of laundry & am still feeling the reward as tonight it didn’t take long to tidy up my bedroom :)
Ok Dawn, I was ready to take a nap and put off tidying up until later, but I started watching your video. Now I'm up, vowing to clear off the kitchen table. 😁
Thank you so much for showing the maybe not so perfect moments at your home -counters, etc. Makes it ❤realistic and makes me feel like I can do this! God bless you
Thank you Dawn! Another inspiring video. I always love listening to you 🤗
This video is perfect for this time of year when we are tempted to buy, buy, buy! 🎄Thanks for the reminder to keep the inventory small!
Thank you for the reminder to focus on reducing inventory. Great timing with Black Friday approaching. Happy Thanksgiving 🤎
i have always been clean but i live with others that are not as clean but i have minimalized my stuff and it helped to allow me so areas in the house that are easier to clean.
Your Hobby Lobby sign would say "Decluttered home = decluttered mind"
Windex multi surface is my one cleaner I use for everything! The Dawn Power wash is basically, water, 2 tbsp dawn dish soap and 2 tbsps of dishwasher rinse aid. DIY your own for much cheaper using the same bottle :)
Fyi, the rinse aide is horribly bad for us for some reason. Can't even remember now. I'm no extremely green person but it stood out that bad, in case you want to check into it.
I have a sign in our laundry room: “Live Simply, Remain Grateful.”
Dawn, I would like to congratulate you on the presteen bathroom floor! ❤❤❤My goodness, there's hardly anything to sweep!🎉 I used to think I'm in the clean person category, but lately, I've been losing the battle...😢
The magic’s in the motion, not the potion! ❤🎉❤🎉❤🎉
Former neat and clean person. Until I got custody of 2 grandchildren. Still clean, but really messy. Really working on it, with the help of Take Your House Back course. I now have chore charts for myself and the kids. So far so good. The girl at Goodwill even said, You again? 😂
Walking On Sunshine is my go to tune. I can’t do anything with TV on 😂
I love your upbeat videos ❤
Your personality and kind words always inspire me ❤❤❤
I just love your home. It’s simple and clean and not cluttered with a bunch of excess. Are you guys planning to remodel your kitchen or am I thinking of another UA-camr? Anyway, I think your home is lovely. 💕
I love your videos Dawn, they are so relatable to me. I grew up in a messy house, learned to love cleaning and tidying up when living alone but now I live with my husband who is not able to declutter and let go of stuff. 80% of our stuff belongs to him and I have so much trouble keeping our house clean, especially now with a toddler. Any advice on how to handle this situation with a messy partner/SO? Highly appreciate it!
My least favorite job is doing dishes, so I splurge on Mrs. Meyers dish soap in my favorite scent, "rain." I get that some people just don't want to be more minimal, but I will never understand the moms of young kids that spend so much time having to pick up, re-organize and sometimes even clean the play kitchens. I just don't get it. I only want one kitchen to have to clean up!
Great episode! I especially love getting the whole family (husband, too) in cleaning and tidying - working along side others (I think you call it "body doubling") helps so much. And, can we call agree that cleaning, cooking, and tidying are basic life skills, NOT gender roles? Maybe your sign can be "Many hands make light work"
I also have a mop bucket like that, but the dirty water mixes with the clean water. A tip is to place a small bucket in the open section and fill it with clean water. This way, the clean water stays separate from the dirty water. Otherwise, mopping is pointless because you're just mopping with dirty water again.
I think the secret is: employ a cleaner. Of course I would enjoy cleaning more if I had an employed cleaner to help with my house!
Your HL sign is invisible because you would not be hanging it up 😅 but it’s Five Minutes Matters
I've always used the Dawn spray but until I saw you use it on the grease that gets on our cabinets I now use it everywhere! It just didn't occur to me to use it other places 😂 so thank you!
I don't love cleaning, but I love having a clean home. So it's worth it! And yes, a few minutes here or there ALWAYS makes a difference, but especially helps keep a clean space stay clean.
Indeed!!!
I feel the same!
Same! I am a naturally more tidy person, but when it comes to cleaning, I do not enjoy it. I have done several rounds of decluttering and have gotten rid of van fulls and van fulls of items over the past few years. I think I'm due to go through things again, though, because I feel like the inventory has made a come back in our home despite my best efforts!
Agree 100%
Less Stuff, More Freedom
Thank you for this. Great tips.
I always use well known products, like Fairy & Flash etc. (I’m in the UK)
Fairy is thee best washing up liquid & I won’t use any other brand.
Just curious, do you keep to a cleaning schedule, like dusting on a Monday, hoovering on a Tuesday etc? If so, please could you share it with us?
Have a lovely Thanksgiving. x
“Blessed by less” should be your sign 😊
We know what you’re going to say, but we still watch! You always have a new thing to throw in too :)
Because of Dawn I have the blue duster thing, Dawn Powerwash, and the Helix mattress. All are great. :)
My family was naturally messy which made me very clean as a result. I worked as a maid when I was saving for school. We charged less for houses we cleaned every week because we knew they would be very easy to clean. We charged a lot for one-time cleaning houses because we knew they would be difficult. We even did spring cleans where we washed the walls etc. it was actually satisfying to see the nicotine come sheeting off the walls (it was the early 90s and there were loads of indoor smokers). But nothing hammered home the concept of “if you clean every week your house will be both cleaner and easier to clean” than that experience. It also taught some good cleaning tips. I have cleaned my bathrooms weekly since that experience.