I start making dinner with a sink of soapy water, as I dirty something I wash it right away and put it to drain, make the plates and put the extra in containers before we sit down ( say no to seconds lol ) then put the pots to soak in the water while we eat, when we’re done it’s pretty quick washing the last few things, dry it all and put away. It’s so much easier than trashing the kitchen and having to face it when your full and just want to relax on the sofa.
I try to do this as I cook too. Really made a difference when it comes to cleaning up after the meal! So much faster- especially as we have three kids to get ready for bed.
Anyone else find that there is no way to binge watch these videos? Or the videos from The Minimal Mom or Clutterbug? One, maybe two videos, and I have to get up and go do some de-cluttering (or dishes after this one!). I'm so happy to have found these videos and the motivation they provide. Thank you Dana!
I normally don't comment videos, because I am pretty busy mom with three small kids, so I try to save my time as much as I can. But I really wanted to thank you for this video. I got here from Clutterbug, which I've been loving for years. So it was 11 pm, I was already in bed, and I just wanted to turn on some video to fall asleep faster, I often do that. So I clicked this video ( to fall asleep) and after listening to it I went back to the kitchen and loaded my dishwasher ( in my pajamas) 😆 instead of falling to sleep. Thank you so much! We recently remodeled our kitchen. My husband is the best in the world, he bought me the kitchen I wanted- contemporary, with slide out shelves, grey cabinets with golden pulls and knobs and white marble-like quartz countertop, which makes it look gorgeous. But because of all the dishes and stuff in the kitchen you could hardly tell there's a gorgeous countertop beneath it all. And, man, I felt guilty for that, because my husband deserves to come to clean home after hard day of work. ( He never nagged me about that though, he is the best 😍) It's been a week since I watched your video, and the whole week my countertop is empty. I love it!!! Not only my kitchen is clean, it actually saves me so much time!!! I never thought it would. Unloading the dishwasher right away is like a life-saver, I never thought it could be. Now after meals I put the dishes directly into the dishwasher, and it's like doing one job instead of two. Plus my sink doesn't get gunked up every single day, so Im saving time on washing the sink ( it has racks, so washing the sink with the racks is a bit time consuming). Now I have time to do something else in the house, because my kitchen is always clean. My, I'm soooo happy 😁. Thank you again!
00:00 1 - Do the dishes 02:59 2 - Reduce the flow of paper coming into the house 03:34 3 - Declutter the dishes until they all fit inside the cabinets 06:14 4 - Store your food containers with the lids on 08:50 5 - Create a Donate spot - excellent ideas!
After listening to this dear woman read both her books, I must admit my homelife has finally started to make sense. I have gradually started doing all 5 of these things and at 74 years old I no longer dread housework. In my mind, she deserves the Homemaker Medal of Honor. (I also love the humor in her writing! Her delivery is impeccable.)
My mother always told us that if you do the dishes and make your bed, half of your housework is done. I never, ever, have dirty dishes! It drives me crazy to see dirty dishes in my sink!
I've been in my house for 27 years. For 26 of those years, my complete everyday dish set for eight was neatly stowed on a convenient shelf near the sink. Good organization, huh? Except for one thing: I never use the dinner plates, which were hogging a good portion of the real estate, while the large bowls I actually use were up above where it was awkward, even dangerous, for me to stack and unstack them. About a year ago, the light bulb lit. I moved the dinner plates somewhere else and replaced them with the large bowls. Also replaced some of the coffee cups with the mugs I prefer. NOW I'm organized, at least in that one crucial spot. Yes, little things make a big difference!
This is the very first video I’ve ever watched of yours. Cass from Clutterbug sent me and I’m typing this thru tear filled eyes. I’m not really sure why hearing you tell me to “just do the dishes” has made me so very emotional but it just makes so much sense. I think a lot of us feel completely & totally out of control and overwhelmed. The thought that just doing the dishes will put me closer to gaining back even just the smallest bit of control over my life in a time when there is so much uncertainty is just super powerful. Just bought your book & looking forward to learning more from you. ♥️
To me the kitchen is the centre of my house so when I'm cleaning or tidying I always start with my kitchen which means doing the dishes and wiping the counter tops. Doing this instantly gives me a good feeling about my house. Every time I walk thru that area I feel good. This creates a flow thru effect to clean or tidy the next room and so forth.
I think you have to tell yourself some things are non-negotiable. The only way I can keep my house clean is by going to bed with an empty dishwasher so everyone puts theirs in, in the morning. If there are clean dishes in the dishwasher, by noon my kitchen is wrecked. I have to make myself do it but when I do, my house stays clean.
I was touched by your response and wanted to reach out because you feel overwhelmed and out of control. An anxious state of mind can hold us hostage and prevent us from moving forward and getting things done. Having a solid hope for the future can help you with that. Knowing what the future holds and what you can do about it gives you some control over your life thereby relieving some anxiety. The Bible is a book of prophecy, beside other things, and tells us what the future holds. It main theme throughout is God’s Kingdom, or government, is and how we can become citizens of that government. It tells about the benefits of that Kingdom. For example, Revelation 21:3,4 says that God will turn his attention to the earth and replace the protection that he afforded Adam and Eve before they sinned. It says in vs 4 that “he will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death will be no nome, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” Since these things do not happen in heaven it is reasonable to conclude that this scripture refers to the earth. Yes, paradise will be restored and survivors will live forever. John 17:3 tells us that we need to take in vital knowledge in order to live forever. On JW.org there is a wealth of Bible based material, videos, articles, publications, an interactive on-line Bible course, and section called Select a Topic of Interest. There is always timely information such as When Was Jesus Born and How to Beat Pandemic Fatigue. I hope you take advantage and hopefully it will help with the feelings you are experiencing. This one scripture has helped me so much. It is in 1 Peter 5:6,7 -“Humble yourself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, while your throw all your anxiety upon Him because He cares for you.” With that, don’t forget to do your dishes to!
I used to feel overwhelmed, then about 10 years ago I bought a book by "Fly Lady". She is hysterical. One line in the book says something like "If the First Lady of the US came to your door asking to use the restroom, would you tell her it's out of order because you don't want her to see the mess in your house??" I think FlyLady.net will be life-changing for you. She has daily, weekly, and monthly routines that provided the structure I needed to get a handle on my home. The hardest part for me is sticking to the schedule, but when I do...I feel so much more in control of my life. Best wishes!! You can do it😊 PS - I just looked and Fly Lady has a UA-cam channel...start with her "shiny sink" video.
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you simplifying this because I’m so depressed and ADHD and behind on my cleaning that I am overwhelmed and don’t even know where to begin so I love this. Great motivator and place to start!!
I’m not exaggerating when I say that your first book has changed my life! I used to completely empty a space (cupboard, drawer, whatever) that needed decluttering, sort the contents into piles, then get distracted and the piles of stuff would become ‘normal’ and the empty space would fill up with even more stuff! 🙈 Not any more! I can’t put into words the difference you have made to our home. Thank you! 😘 (We live in the UK, or I would be at all your events!) xx
Do the dishes. Just to add to that. I was married 18 years to my first husband who died of cancer. He was a great guy but to him it was women's work. After working all day, then cooking dinner, I would usually spend the evening with him watching tv. Dreading having to do them, often at bedtime I would have to stay up later washing them with dried on food. My second husband is great, he is happy to help. Having a helper is great but that is not my point. He taught me to get them done immediately after dinner no matter what. Then they are done and we can enjoy our evening without having to dread doing that chore.
Or be “radical” and distribute the chores in your family without referring to gender. You work all day, you cook, then someone else can do the dishes, even (gasp) if he is a man.
Today - September 18, 2021 - I dropped what I was doing, took a donate box to my kitchen, took all my plastic food storage containers out of the cabinet, put their lids on them, put "just enough" back in the shelf, and put all the rest in the donate box and took it to my car. Thank you, Dana!
I'm on day 9 of Dana's 28-day program, and I am loving what I see happening in my house! I've been focusing on doing my dishes and sweeping my kitchen floor thus far, which is marvelous, BUT both of my bathrooms are now sparkling clean and my dining room is decluttered and clean. I'm thrilled. The first day-day 1-it took me 40 minutes to do my dishes. The second day: 4 minutes! (My twins just headed off to college this year, so I am a new empty nester.)
an empty nester how many dishes could you have used 40 minutes u must have cleaned the kitchen I recycle but one of the luxuries that I have is I buy paper plates but there are 10 of us in my house so it saves me so much work👍🏻
Storing plastic food containers with lids on changes everything! A benefit I found is that less food goes to waste! When I run out of leftovers container, I know it's time to stop cooking meals and we can have a leftover night. Since I'm limited on containers I know we have to serve/eat leftovers for lunch within a few days so I have a container for more leftovers. Just today I was re-evaluating my glass containers and found a Pyrex bowl that I haven't used in years, and a glass lid that fits nothing I own! Those went in my Donate Box. Having a dedicated Donate Box changes everything, too! This year is the first time in my life I've actually donated anything, ever, instead of just dumping it in the trash and it going in a landfill!
😂 Over the last few years, my dad started reading a lot of books. Come to find out, he was just throwing them away after he got done with them! My never-pitch-anything mom couldn’t have that and started a huge pile and gave them to people. I thought it was hilarious (for lack of a better word) that the solution was to throw them away and not take them to goodwill or something! 🤦🏼♀️
That is awesome! I listened to decluttering at the speed of life. I got the audiobook from the library. I read the other one as an ebook from the library. I listen to her podcast and have joined her patreon community. The change in my home, and me, is amazing
I've been exhausted and sitting on the sofa watching UA-cam videos. I just watched this video and before it was even 1/2 way through, I was up and moving 😃 Thank You!!!!! 💖
I think this is the third or fourth video of yours that I've watched, and I subscribed. Out of all the decluttering videos I've watched in my life -- and that's a lot of videos -- your videos are the most helpful, practical, and inspiring I've ever seen.
Rewatching this months later, Dishes math is Real but so is LAUNDRY MATH! Now I know that when all of my clothes are clean, they don't fit in drawers & closet! Now I've got the declutter & donate bug!😁🐞
I have been in a motivational slump for longer than I care to mention. So stuck. So MUCH to do. Along comes Dana in my algorithms and says, from three years ago, "Just wash your dishes" I have done the dishes. Tomorrow I will do them again Thank you x
Ok,, I got Do your dishes. That made sense. But the other four could not possibly have a big impact…. Or so I thought until I introduced them one at a time. After a month, my best friend said, I am so glad you finally broke down and hired a cleaner. Been following your recommendations for over a year. The impact was mind boggling! Thank you, Dana
Love the dishes math!! So true, not only because of the countertop shuffle, but also because it takes a lot more to scrub through days-old schmoo than that day's.
I thought I was pretty organized but some how always had mismatched containers. Then I learned from Dawn that she puts the lids on. Wow that really does work. One cute wire basket holds them all.
I've been focussing on doing the dishes and the laundry, and it has been amazing how I now see little things that I can let go without any guilt or stress of 'what if'. My daily mantra at the moment:"Do the dishes; do the laundry..." 😁
So true! When I feel overwhelmed, I set a goal to just do dishes and laundry, and one other thing. Then, at least I've done something! It is unrealistic for me personally to set the goal of having every single dish dried and put away. My routine is to have the dishwasher loaded to run at night, and have everything else hand washed and in the drying rack to put away next day. Same with laundry. I do one load a day and it rarely gets overwhelming. No matter what, there is new laundry to wash every day, so it is unrealistic to ever try to get all laundry clean at once. Putting that type of pressure on oneself is what causes people to lose their temper and say nasty things to whoever creates the first piece of dirty laundry after everything is clean.
When my kids were little, each night before going to bed, I’d start the dishes and a load of laundry, and move the laundry that had been in the washer into the drier. I felt so good going to sleep while my work was getting done! First thing in the morning, I’d move the laundry into the drier, and put another load into the washer.
I have stored my containers with the lids on for years as well. My challenge is that my octogenarian mother now lives with me and we argue endlessly about the amount of space I waste. Of course, de-cluttering is a totally foreign concept to her so she "needs" more space. Getting rid of anything is a battle!
I resisted and paid the price. Two of the 11 cup pyrex containers I was using every week got STUCK and I mean stuck. Ironically I was worried that the containers I use for company and the holidays would have to be sacrificed. They actually all fit. I just have to keep the large seasonal ones in the back. It took the slap in the face to realize it wasn't going to have a drawback. Although i was prepared to get rid of the circular containers if need be. But km glad to have them for things that need to be stirred or for soups etc.
Same! I moved my outdoor recycle bin so it's within arms' length of the fence to the backyard. I check the mail and immediately walk down to the other end of the driveway to toss everything that doesn't need to come inside.
Dana, I am listening to both of your books, AGAIN, and they are changing my life AGAIN. You speak my language like no one else. Thank you. I love you. I thank God for you in my prayers. I'm not even kidding.
I'm self employed, and I have recently found it really helps me to have an equivalent of "do your dishes" for my workshop. In my case, it's "clear your work bench". I do that by looking for trash and easy stuff (tools, materials for the last one or two or five jobs I've been working on), and most of the time that's everything. Sometimes the next one or two jobs, or ongoing long projects are in between, but that allows me to actually see those and take stock of them. It has helped make my work so much less stressful ! Not to mention that most of the time my dishes are more or less done as well in my home. Thanks for all you do.
My memory of my grandmas home is that there were always lots of people about and after a meal before ANYTHING ELSE the dishes and clean up were done. Then we all relaxed. I have no memory of mess or disorder in that house dispite all the visitors. It never felt stiff or formal in that home. All were relaxed, but it was simply dishes first. It was never spoken just done.
I've always been a do the dishes kind of person, but the bane of my existence was the few dishes that accumulated after supper when I did my last wash. So, there would be a small pile in my sink in the morning. I also hand wash, so the dishes dripped dry after I washed them. Before I could wash again, I had to clear the drainer. When you say do the dishes, it also means- put them away. You never quite get them all away at the same time if you have some draining and more to wash. It has been a game changer for me to dry them after I wash. The sink is empty when I wake up the next morning!!!
I always get a small amount of things in the sink after my nightly washing up. Now I've designed an one-two punch. I do the regular washing up and my husband does anything that's left over. He's happy because his pile is much smaller and I'm happy that I've gotten rid of the small leftover pile.
I am fascinated by the amount of dishes she had. There were not enough cabinets to store all the clean dishes, but where were all the dirty dishes stored until she ran out? I'm guessing its much like me and my clothes. Not all of my clothes are allowed to be clean at the same time, because there is not a sufficent away place. The clean laundry bin is a holding zone. The dirty clothes bin is a holding zone. The pile of worn once and can be worn again clothes is a holding zone. Why am I holding on to so many things? The idea of declutter dishes until they all fit in the cabinet also applies to clothes in the closet, socks in the drawer, toys in the toy bin, books on the bookshelf, etc... Oof.
SUMMARY: 1:10 PUT things (back) in their PROPER PLACE. Keep on top of tasks, don't procrastinate. e.g. Wash dishes everyday, don't let them pile up. 2:59 REDUCE intake of PAPER by switching to: electronic billing/notifications and discarding junk mail immediately. 2:43 DISCARD kitchen items that do not fit in the cabinets 6:17 Store food containers with the lids on to save time and reduce avalanches. 8:53 Create a "donate" spot to temporarily store usable items that no longer serve a purpose in your life.
I have your books and loved them read them twice... ahh I love cas from clutter bug,and minimal mum wow you guys are all friends. I feel like I'm in the cool club xx
Thank you for this video, I actually enjoy decluttering and have never done it the standard 'drag it all out' way. The first time I saw a video of yours, I saw you NOT dragging everything out and you said do the dishes, I was hooked. Even on my bad days, the days that I can barely function, I still manage to do the dishes.
I take hangars into the laundry room and hang things up right out of the dryer. Rest goes into a laundry basket, taken into the bedrooms and gets folded right into the drawers. Done!
I do all the things you mentioned. I have another one that was a game-changer for me. If you have a dishwasher empty it first thing in the morning. I still hate doing it but the reward is I have a cup of coffee waiting for me when I finish this onerous task. Then I have a place to put dirty dishes all day to keep the kitchen tidy. I don’t like getting up in the morning so I am still half asleep while I am doing it and that helps me stay numb to it.
Also, if you ever set a timer for how long it takes to unload the dishwasher, you’ll discover it only takes 4 to 5 min. If even that! You can stand to do almost Anything for under 5 min!
Yes! This was a game changer for me when I finally figured it out. For us, emptying the dishwasher after breakfast is the kid’s morning chore. One does plastic, one does glass, the other does silverware. And of course we rotate the days for those so there’s no fighting. Takes two minutes now that they’re good at it.
I decluttered my pans, utensils, and dishes. It took a surprisingly short amount of time and it feels much better to use my kitchen now. Thank you!!!!!
I've started recently to make sure to stack the dishwasher and wash the dishes, clean the counter and all that stuff prior to going to bed at night; it makes a HUGE difference when you wake up each morning and head for the coffee pot. It's like AAAAAaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh. Lol! Love your advice and am so proud of you.
Such a relief to read the comments and realise I'm not the only one feeling like having the dishes done makes me feel more in controle. I still mess up sometimes and don't do them and then I feel overwhelmed again right away. It takes a while before something becomes a habit.
I listen to you so much while cleaning that hearing it, makes my brain thing its time to get up and get started! hahah Watching a video has jumbled my brain! Thanks for making my house look "similar" to normal peoples!!! I am HUGE fan of your journey! If y'all haven't listened to her podcast, DO IT!!! It has changed the way my brain works!
I don't store my containers the way you do, but I did go through my containers and got rid of the cracked ones along with a lid for each one. This cut down on the things I had and made my system much neater. I use the largest containers to store lids and I stack the containers together. I also have started to put the things like cottage cheese containers, margarine containers, etc. in the recycle bin. If I have some large ones for some reason, I'll use them to give my neighbors some of my homemade spaghetti sauce for instance. This means they don't have to return the container.
Dishes math? Who knew! Dawn from over at The Minimal Mom suggested you and I am so glad she did! I can't wait to hear more from you. Thanks for taking the time to put this out there.
I wish I had found you two yrs ago when this video came out; my house would be so much less clutteted than it is right now. I just got off the phone with Barnes & Noble; ordered both your books. " Decluttering at the Speed of Light" was on sale so I saved a couple dollars, plus there is free shipping. I can hardly wait to get them and start the decluttering victory dance as I go from room to room making a positive change in my home. I am in the mood for changing my life. I just lost 1/3 of the 90 pounds I set the goal to lose starting Jan 2021. I turned 69 in May and there are a lot of personal goals I need to set so they will happen. After I Read your books I will know if I need to purchase the course that you and Cass and Dawn have recently offered for sale. Thank you for your videos!!!
i have been married 37 years and i never ever thought to store the plastics with the lids on!!! The is earth shattering wooooow ha im off to the cupboard.......thank you
For food storage containers, i stack the containers inside each other and all lids go in a square container organized by size, smallest to largest Love storing them this way, i never have a problem finding a lid for any container. Of course, to each her onw. Thank you for sharing, this is helpful!.
Mary, this is how I’ve done it for years as well. It works very well for me. I never have a problem finding what I need and everything fits neatly in one drawer.
Food storage containers - an alternative for those with less storage space. I threw out my containers and bought new, all matching except for their depth. Four sizes, quarter litre, half, etc. And the lids fit all of them! That's vital. I stack about 50 of them in a tiny space and always have what I want, instantly. They are cheap takeaway boxes and occasionally get thrown away, but I have plenty of spares that match. If any food doesn't fit, say it needs a large bowl, I use one of my Pyrex cooking bowls - with its own lid, or a stretchy silicone lid, or cling film as a last resort. That way, I'm not storing a large plastic storage bowl ready for the rare occasions when I need it. Bonus - my matching boxes stack firmly in the freezer or fridge, taking far less space. I would never store containers with lids on because of the danger of unseen mould, but I enjoyed your other tips! Thank you.
We use a tall wastebasket in a bathroom cupboard intended for laundry and when that’s full we take a trip to the donation location. When we have laundry we take it to a basket near the washer which is in the next room.
Because of this lockdown, we don’t eat out AT ALL anymore. Hubby and I are running the dishwasher just about every other day and I’m always hand washing my nicer pots and pans. But we’ve gotten into a great rythym!
I put “did the dishes” on a habit tracker app and it turns out my fave dishes balance is 2x per day. It goes so fast that way and is totally reasonable. I use the app Done but there are plenty... it helped me start the habit until I was in the groove. Now I can’t go more than 1 day without doing them b/c of dishes math. Week 2-3 really put it in perspective. Yes yes yes with lids on storage!
Lids on !, yes! I started doing this about ten years ago. Another helpful tip is having a set of stretch silicone tops that fit over ramekins, cereal bowls, serving bowls, and mixing bowls. This eliminates the need to have a lot of storage containers.
That made me laugh - some people just can’t imagine having more dishes than fit in their cupboard - this is not the channel for you. 😂😂 I’m looking over on my dining room counter and it’s stacked with bowls, casserole dishes, platters, etc. because I don’t have room in my dining room cupboards. 🤯
We live in a condo (small space) so we have a closet downstairs that we designate as “the annex” where we put the overflow from the kitchen: serving dishes, special use pans, etc.
I was astounded at the huge difference these five practices made in my life!! Tried them six months ago. And they inspired me to do even more. Life changing us not too strong a term!
Until I re-watch one of your videos I forget how much you make me laugh! Love you and your sense of humor, Dana! Thank you for all of your advice - you are the only one who has actually helped me!
Dana, I'm so excited to see that you have videos on UA-cam! I just want to tell you how much I appreciate and admire you!! In the past, I read SO many articles and books and listened to so many professionals to help me declutter and / or organize, but they all fell short. Then I "read" both of your books (via audiobooks) and they absolutely changed my way of thinking and, ultimately, changed my life!! Your well-laid-out procedures to declutter and your concept of "containers" were exactly what I needed. Sending you big thanks ... and now I'll check out the rest of your videos!!
Growing up, NO one was allowed to go to bed if there was dishes in the sink. My Mom never worked hard on housework. She did her laundry and cleaned her house the same day, once a week. Bathroom got sprayed with Clorox, wait 30 minutes rinse, no scrubbing necessary, every morning. You don’t need a lot of cleaning supplies, all you need is...Clorox, vinegar, alcohol, Bon Ami, laundry soap, dryer sheets. You got stink clothes, 1 cup of vinegar in your wash. Bon Ami is the best cleanser for stubborn stains/grease. Do not use plastic containers, use glass. Glass has multiple uses. People who like to display nik naks, use nice serving bowls, platters, things that has uses for. Do not make a donate spot in your house, put a bin in the trunk of your car, you can donate immediately without being tempted to take it back. When trying to declutter your home, do it with a friend. They will help you get rid of your junk, because they’re looking at it differently than you.
THANK YOU Dana! I have enjoyed your videos ever since I found “Noni.” I can’t say I have faithfully followed your advice all this time, but I am always encouraged and entertained when watching. This year I have been working on doing my dishes every day. There are just three of us here, so it doesn’t take long, and I’ve only used the dishwasher maybe twice because there’s usually so few items to clean, and doing them by hand goes really quick. It’s so nice to get up in the morning and be able to use my favorite cup for coffee every day!
I’ve recently listed to a couple of your books on audible. I love them! I love your style. I also really like that you’ve narrated your own books. Life has been crazy with four kids. I got lax on doing dishes daily. So I’ve been focusing on doing those dishes every day, and it really does make a huge difference.
Oh my! I really saw myself in this one. Yes, I keep using more dishes (and silverware!) rather than washing every day and then when I am totally out of dishes and silverware, I finally break down and wash them all. Huge job at that point. Thanks, Dana.
What a timeless and classic message! I own about 8 leftover lidded containers that happen to be glass-two large, 2 medium, 4 small. When they are all used in the fridge and I need a “new” one, I go look in the fridge for the one(s) that are filled with food and need to be cleaned out, eaten, or tossed. I wash it right then, and use it for the newer food storage. This also solves the refrigerator overflowing with bad food overwhelm with too many containers in it, and helps me limit food waste. So the refrigerator is also a container??? Hmmmmm. 😊
Love the point about keeping only the dishes that fit in your container/cabinet. If you're worried about having enough for guests or specific needs (serving platters, etc), borrow them. When someone asks, "What can I bring?" you can ask if they'll bring a chip & dip server or an ice bucket or whatever. Then you don't have to store it for 364 days a year to use it once. In my family, we have one chip & dip server, and it lives at my MIL's because she has room in her container :)
My mother would never go to bed without having the dishes done. I do the same as soon as dinner is done I immediately do the dishes. I let them air dry for a half hour then go back and put them away. I have a dish washer but still do them by hand. (just 2 of us)
I had to discover doing the dishes daily on my own, but because that was the first thing you emphasised in your book, I knew I had found a kindred spirit. Love your books, and I look forward to exploring all your blogs and content!
I found your website through Pinterest, and then I found your UA-cam channel. I’m obsessed! I love your podcasts and I love your videos. Everything that you say, just clicks. Thank you for taking the time to help people with this. Lol, it really is an issue. Much love ❤️
I have been storing my food containers with the lids on for years! Before I was always losing lids and spending time trying to match them up. Now I just grab them when I need them. Perfect!
Dana, You are good! Thank you! I just said to myself I'm going to get rid of some of my glassware I do not use on a regular basis. Now, I can do it with ease.
Me too! I'm struggling a bit with things I don't use now because of the pandemic that I will probably need once things open up. I'm talking about travel containers. Perhaps I will keep my favorites of those in a bin down cellar and we think later. The good ones are kind of expensive and I don't want to have to repurchase them.
This is soooooooo true!!! And I think it holds true for clothing as well. That snowball effect of thinking we need more clothes because everything we usually wear is dirty so we buy more... so we wash clothes less... and so on!
Thanks!!! just do the dishes... yes!!! Huge game changer!!! :) I have been following Dawn the Minimal Mom for 2 years...glad she has introduced me to you and the ClutterBug!
Do the dishes is the best advice. I'm following the plan in 28 days to hope for your home and it is easy to follow and my kitchen is in good shape a week in. Thank you Dana.
This was the first video I’ve ever watched of yours, and I’m so happy UA-cam suggested tour channel! For one I love your sassiness 😂😆 youre my people! For two, you remind me of my aunt Kim- she passed away from breast cancer a few years ago and your mannerisms just remind me of her so much. You feel like a friend! Thanks so much for sharing and I love all of these tips! I’m on a mission, I’ve been decluttering for months and it honestly feels so freeing! Thanks again for the video!
The kitchen....I love cooking when theres no dishes. All the pans are available for use. I dont have to dig for items. I have two dish sets in its own cabinet. Ive stopped buying plastic dishes and cups. I dont even buy paper plates to help me caught up. I dont buy paper towels. I have a bucket under the sink of clean rags. I have a designated coffee station. The cabinet above with all the mugs and coffee travel cups. I like to open it just to stare at it. Just my keriug with the kpods on the counter. The drawer just below, my husband's tea drawer.
oh my goodness thank you so much for this!!! I think somewhere I subconsciously knew but hearing it out loud helps me understand why/how I get so overwhelmed when I go to clean a room . The clutter is out of control!
I've done a lot this past year to fix my home thankfully I have found channels like yours and the minimal Mom. It has helped me so much! When I heard your first tip, do the dishes, I thought well duh. I do the dishes every night right? Well apparently it wasn't enough. Now it's my mantra after EVERY meal. And I was shocked at how much it has made a difference in the feel of my home and on my stress. Seriously DO THE DISHES! Best advice even for someone who thinks they are getting it all together. 🙄
I have each person wash out their own plates and then I take the big stuff. It’s super helpful. Wish I would have seen your tips earlier. I got rid of soooo much, now I just borrow what I need now. You have great tips for real moms which is nice and practical. I need the donate spot for sure!
Hi :) quite an old video but advices totally useful, with no limit on time :) thanks ;) result : I ran in the kitchen to do the dishes ;) and ran to create a bigger donate spot :) i have already one. but in different places. but the idea of a really dedicated spot for. it is really creating the distance already out of the house places. thanks from France ;) (sorry if my English might be incorrect ;)
I have been working on Decluttering for ages.. I am getting better and the home is looking better. I promise, it has been taking me ages, but it is better in the last 6 months than it has in months. I am a recovering Cancer survivor. That really took the wind out of my sails. That was 5 years ago... it is taking me a long time to pull my self together. And that is OK... it will be all OK. I have purged my kitchen, and closet and dresser. I have more to do but I am feeling pretty good right now. It is all good. And I will be far more successful in the near future.
I believe I learned the plastic container trick from one of your audio books quite some time ago and it really is a game changer in terms of getting rid of excess things that you really don't need and living within the space you have.
I absolutely do this with clothes... when my clothes were ALL clean there was not room in my closets and dressers...I actually HAD to leave clothes on the floor! Then I was mad my room was always messy and tons of laundry!! Now I have decluttered and my clothes all fit!
Heard about your book from the Minimal Mom...purchased and enjoy your tips! Biggest game changer so far is storing lids on containers, love it! Thank you
You changed my life in so many wonderful ways! Not the least of which is storing the food containers WITH THE LIDS ON is a miraculous cure for the disaster corner cupboard!!
I start making dinner with a sink of soapy water, as I dirty something I wash it right away and put it to drain, make the plates and put the extra in containers before we sit down ( say no to seconds lol ) then put the pots to soak in the water while we eat, when we’re done it’s pretty quick washing the last few things, dry it all and put away. It’s so much easier than trashing the kitchen and having to face it when your full and just want to relax on the sofa.
I try to do this as I cook too. Really made a difference when it comes to cleaning up after the meal! So much faster- especially as we have three kids to get ready for bed.
Genius! I mean I clean as I go but putting extra in containers and soaking pots etc takes it even farther.
My serving dishes are glass pyrex with lids which are also my fridge storage dishes as I don't even own plastic
Great advice! I will try this today!!
This is genius
Anyone else find that there is no way to binge watch these videos? Or the videos from The Minimal Mom or Clutterbug? One, maybe two videos, and I have to get up and go do some de-cluttering (or dishes after this one!). I'm so happy to have found these videos and the motivation they provide. Thank you Dana!
I can binge watch, unfortunately, lol!
🤣 I can't binge, either, especially when I watch Kallie over on But First, Coffee. All of these ladies are so awesome!!
I listen while cleaning lol
Only when i watch late at night 😂. During the day i want to start decluttering immidiately,😅. The thriftstore loves me by now i guess 😂
I binge listen while working
I normally don't comment videos, because I am pretty busy mom with three small kids, so I try to save my time as much as I can. But I really wanted to thank you for this video. I got here from Clutterbug, which I've been loving for years. So it was 11 pm, I was already in bed, and I just wanted to turn on some video to fall asleep faster, I often do that. So I clicked this video ( to fall asleep) and after listening to it I went back to the kitchen and loaded my dishwasher ( in my pajamas) 😆 instead of falling to sleep. Thank you so much! We recently remodeled our kitchen. My husband is the best in the world, he bought me the kitchen I wanted- contemporary, with slide out shelves, grey cabinets with golden pulls and knobs and white marble-like quartz countertop, which makes it look gorgeous. But because of all the dishes and stuff in the kitchen you could hardly tell there's a gorgeous countertop beneath it all. And, man, I felt guilty for that, because my husband deserves to come to clean home after hard day of work. ( He never nagged me about that though, he is the best 😍) It's been a week since I watched your video, and the whole week my countertop is empty. I love it!!! Not only my kitchen is clean, it actually saves me so much time!!! I never thought it would. Unloading the dishwasher right away is like a life-saver, I never thought it could be. Now after meals I put the dishes directly into the dishwasher, and it's like doing one job instead of two. Plus my sink doesn't get gunked up every single day, so Im saving time on washing the sink ( it has racks, so washing the sink with the racks is a bit time consuming). Now I have time to do something else in the house, because my kitchen is always clean. My, I'm soooo happy 😁. Thank you again!
00:00 1 - Do the dishes
02:59 2 - Reduce the flow of paper coming into the house
03:34 3 - Declutter the dishes until they all fit inside the cabinets
06:14 4 - Store your food containers with the lids on
08:50 5 - Create a Donate spot - excellent ideas!
This is so helpful.
Thank you 😊
👏👏👏👏thank you!!
Thank you!
Thanks
After listening to this dear woman read both her books, I must admit my homelife has finally started to make sense. I have gradually started doing all 5 of these things and at 74 years old I no longer dread housework. In my mind, she deserves the Homemaker Medal of Honor. (I also love the humor in her writing! Her delivery is impeccable.)
My mother always told us that if you do the dishes and make your bed, half of your housework is done. I never, ever, have dirty dishes! It drives me crazy to see dirty dishes in my sink!
After storing my containers with the lids on, I made cookies and filled up the containers that didn't fit and gave them away.
💜
Great idea!
Me too!
What a lovely idea!
💜👏
This lady is brilliant. Everything she says resonates 100%. She talks fast because she doesn't want to waste our time--I LOVE that!!!
I've been in my house for 27 years. For 26 of those years, my complete everyday dish set for eight was neatly stowed on a convenient shelf near the sink. Good organization, huh? Except for one thing: I never use the dinner plates, which were hogging a good portion of the real estate, while the large bowls I actually use were up above where it was awkward, even dangerous, for me to stack and unstack them. About a year ago, the light bulb lit. I moved the dinner plates somewhere else and replaced them with the large bowls. Also replaced some of the coffee cups with the mugs I prefer. NOW I'm organized, at least in that one crucial spot. Yes, little things make a big difference!
This is the very first video I’ve ever watched of yours. Cass from Clutterbug sent me and I’m typing this thru tear filled eyes. I’m not really sure why hearing you tell me to “just do the dishes” has made me so very emotional but it just makes so much sense.
I think a lot of us feel completely & totally out of control and overwhelmed. The thought that just doing the dishes will put me closer to gaining back even just the smallest bit of control over my life in a time when there is so much uncertainty is just super powerful. Just bought your book & looking forward to learning more from you. ♥️
To me the kitchen is the centre of my house so when I'm cleaning or tidying I always start with my kitchen which means doing the dishes and wiping the counter tops. Doing this instantly gives me a good feeling about my house. Every time I walk thru that area I feel good. This creates a flow thru effect to clean or tidy the next room and so forth.
I think you have to tell yourself some things are non-negotiable. The only way I can keep my house clean is by going to bed with an empty dishwasher so everyone puts theirs in, in the morning. If there are clean dishes in the dishwasher, by noon my kitchen is wrecked. I have to make myself do it but when I do, my house stays clean.
I was touched by your response and wanted to reach out because you feel overwhelmed and out of control. An anxious state of mind can hold us hostage and prevent us from moving forward and getting things done. Having a solid hope for the future can help you with that. Knowing what the future holds and what you can do about it gives you some control over your life thereby relieving some anxiety. The Bible is a book of prophecy, beside other things, and tells us what the future holds. It main theme throughout is God’s Kingdom, or government, is and how we can become citizens of that government. It tells about the benefits of that Kingdom. For example, Revelation 21:3,4 says that God will turn his attention to the earth and replace the protection that he afforded Adam and Eve before they sinned. It says in vs 4 that “he will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death will be no nome, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” Since these things do not happen in heaven it is reasonable to conclude that this scripture refers to the earth. Yes, paradise will be restored and survivors will live forever. John 17:3 tells us that we need to take in vital knowledge in order to live forever. On JW.org there is a wealth of Bible based material, videos, articles, publications, an interactive on-line Bible course, and section called Select a Topic of Interest. There is always timely information such as When Was Jesus Born and How to Beat Pandemic Fatigue. I hope you take advantage and hopefully it will help with the feelings you are experiencing. This one scripture has helped me so much. It is in 1 Peter 5:6,7 -“Humble yourself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, while your throw all your anxiety upon Him because He cares for you.” With that, don’t forget to do your dishes to!
I used to feel overwhelmed, then about 10 years ago I bought a book by "Fly Lady".
She is hysterical. One line in the book says something like "If the First Lady of the US came to your door asking to use the restroom, would you tell her it's out of order because you don't want her to see the mess in your house??"
I think FlyLady.net will be life-changing for you. She has daily, weekly, and monthly routines that provided the structure I needed to get a handle on my home. The hardest part for me is sticking to the schedule, but when I do...I feel so much more in control of my life.
Best wishes!! You can do it😊
PS - I just looked and Fly Lady has a UA-cam channel...start with her "shiny sink" video.
I just wanted to reach out because I hear the anxiety in your post. Feel free to contact me if you need a little support..
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate you simplifying this because I’m so depressed and ADHD and behind on my cleaning that I am overwhelmed and don’t even know where to begin so I love this. Great motivator and place to start!!
@I I "Never leave the room empty-handed" is a great tip!
I’m not exaggerating when I say that your first book has changed my life! I used to completely empty a space (cupboard, drawer, whatever) that needed decluttering, sort the contents into piles, then get distracted and the piles of stuff would become ‘normal’ and the empty space would fill up with even more stuff! 🙈 Not any more! I can’t put into words the difference you have made to our home. Thank you! 😘 (We live in the UK, or I would be at all your events!) xx
Do the dishes. Just to add to that. I was married 18 years to my first husband who died of cancer. He was a great guy but to him it was women's work. After working all day, then cooking dinner, I would usually spend the evening with him watching tv. Dreading having to do them, often at bedtime I would have to stay up later washing them with dried on food. My second husband is great, he is happy to help. Having a helper is great but that is not my point. He taught me to get them done immediately after dinner no matter what. Then they are done and we can enjoy our evening without having to dread doing that chore.
@@rebeccarendle3706 Exactly. Very well said.
Or be “radical” and distribute the chores in your family without referring to gender. You work all day, you cook, then someone else can do the dishes, even (gasp) if he is a man.
@@BetaniaAllen I guess I didnt mention, my husband helps with the dishes, cleans the bathrooms and does his share of the housework
I have four kids. Two help with supper preparation, the two other do the dishes. Problem solved!
My husband has got me in the habit of having a clean sink before we go to bed! We both get the kitchen clean within 15-20 minutes after eating!
Oh my stars! Someone that can share that doesn't naturally love cleaning & organizing! She speaks my language! Just bought her book!
Yeah. Try also CleanMySpace. The woman who made the company hates cleaning
Do your dishes. Love it 😊 I feel making my bed when I first get up helps start me off in a “I can do it!” mode.
Today - September 18, 2021 - I dropped what I was doing, took a donate box to my kitchen, took all my plastic food storage containers out of the cabinet, put their lids on them, put "just enough" back in the shelf, and put all the rest in the donate box and took it to my car. Thank you, Dana!
I'm on day 9 of Dana's 28-day program, and I am loving what I see happening in my house! I've been focusing on doing my dishes and sweeping my kitchen floor thus far, which is marvelous, BUT both of my bathrooms are now sparkling clean and my dining room is decluttered and clean. I'm thrilled. The first day-day 1-it took me 40 minutes to do my dishes. The second day: 4 minutes! (My twins just headed off to college this year, so I am a new empty nester.)
40 min isn't that bad!
an empty nester how many dishes could you have used
40 minutes u must have cleaned the kitchen
I recycle but one of the luxuries that I have is I buy paper plates but there are 10 of us in my house so it saves me so much work👍🏻
Came to your channel through Dawn at the Minimal Mom channel. You are so awesome and motivating!!!
That’s how I got here too! I love Dawn!
I got here through Dawn too. 🙂🙋♀️
Me too!
I go to buy your books. Only Amazon. Not in Netherlands as a book. I don't have a creditcard and i don't want one. But i really want your books.
SAME !
Storing plastic food containers with lids on changes everything! A benefit I found is that less food goes to waste! When I run out of leftovers container, I know it's time to stop cooking meals and we can have a leftover night. Since I'm limited on containers I know we have to serve/eat leftovers for lunch within a few days so I have a container for more leftovers.
Just today I was re-evaluating my glass containers and found a Pyrex bowl that I haven't used in years, and a glass lid that fits nothing I own! Those went in my Donate Box. Having a dedicated Donate Box changes everything, too! This year is the first time in my life I've actually donated anything, ever, instead of just dumping it in the trash and it going in a landfill!
That's great you are donating now 👏💕
😂 Over the last few years, my dad started reading a lot of books. Come to find out, he was just throwing them away after he got done with them! My never-pitch-anything mom couldn’t have that and started a huge pile and gave them to people. I thought it was hilarious (for lack of a better word) that the solution was to throw them away and not take them to goodwill or something! 🤦🏼♀️
I HAD to pause this mid-way and go to my dishes. :)
That is awesome! I listened to decluttering at the speed of life. I got the audiobook from the library. I read the other one as an ebook from the library. I listen to her podcast and have joined her patreon community. The change in my home, and me, is amazing
Lol 😆 I was thinking of doing the same but decided to finish the video 😁
it's 3 am for me right now and I'm considering it... but I live in an apartment so I might just do them in the morning.
Truth!♡
😂🤣😂🤣
Thank you for being a cheerleader to those of us that struggle with the little things.
I've been exhausted and sitting on the sofa watching UA-cam videos.
I just watched this video and before it was even 1/2 way through, I was up and moving 😃 Thank You!!!!! 💖
I think this is the third or fourth video of yours that I've watched, and I subscribed. Out of all the decluttering videos I've watched in my life -- and that's a lot of videos -- your videos are the most helpful, practical, and inspiring I've ever seen.
Rewatching this months later, Dishes math is Real but so is LAUNDRY MATH! Now I know that when all of my clothes are clean, they don't fit in drawers & closet! Now I've got the declutter & donate bug!😁🐞
I have been in a motivational slump for longer than I care to mention. So stuck. So MUCH to do.
Along comes Dana in my algorithms and says, from three years ago, "Just wash your dishes"
I have done the dishes. Tomorrow I will do them again
Thank you x
Ok,, I got Do your dishes. That made sense. But the other four could not possibly have a big impact…. Or so I thought until I introduced them one at a time. After a month, my best friend said, I am so glad you finally broke down and hired a cleaner. Been following your recommendations for over a year. The impact was mind boggling! Thank you, Dana
Love the dishes math!! So true, not only because of the countertop shuffle, but also because it takes a lot more to scrub through days-old schmoo than that day's.
Exactly!
The containers with the lid on IS IN FACT A GAME CHANGER!!!!!
I agree, been doing this for a couple of years now.
*Yes!* I've seen it that way in my mother in law's pantry...
♥️
_I will opt to go this route!_
I thought I was pretty organized but some how always had mismatched containers. Then I learned from Dawn that she puts the lids on. Wow that really does work. One cute wire basket holds them all.
I've been focussing on doing the dishes and the laundry, and it has been amazing how I now see little things that I can let go without any guilt or stress of 'what if'. My daily mantra at the moment:"Do the dishes; do the laundry..." 😁
So very true! Now that I'm keeping my laundry up, I realize I have way way way too many towels!
So true! When I feel overwhelmed, I set a goal to just do dishes and laundry, and one other thing. Then, at least I've done something! It is unrealistic for me personally to set the goal of having every single dish dried and put away. My routine is to have the dishwasher loaded to run at night, and have everything else hand washed and in the drying rack to put away next day. Same with laundry. I do one load a day and it rarely gets overwhelming. No matter what, there is new laundry to wash every day, so it is unrealistic to ever try to get all laundry clean at once. Putting that type of pressure on oneself is what causes people to lose their temper and say nasty things to whoever creates the first piece of dirty laundry after everything is clean.
When my kids were little, each night before going to bed, I’d start the dishes and a load of laundry, and move the laundry that had been in the washer into the drier. I felt so good going to sleep while my work was getting done! First thing in the morning, I’d move the laundry into the drier, and put another load into the washer.
I have been storing my left over containers with lids on for years with a little guilt but I am glad to be validated by you. It is so much easier
I have stored my containers with the lids on for years as well. My challenge is that my octogenarian mother now lives with me and we argue endlessly about the amount of space I waste. Of course, de-cluttering is a totally foreign concept to her so she "needs" more space. Getting rid of anything is a battle!
Me too
I resisted and paid the price. Two of the 11 cup pyrex containers I was using every week got STUCK and I mean stuck.
Ironically I was worried that the containers I use for company and the holidays would have to be sacrificed. They actually all fit. I just have to keep the large seasonal ones in the back. It took the slap in the face to realize it wasn't going to have a drawback. Although i was prepared to get rid of the circular containers if need be. But km glad to have them for things that need to be stirred or for soups etc.
Paper clutter - I go from my mailbox directly to the recycle tote and drop in what I can right then before it even comes in the house.
Yes! My PO now has a recycling bin next to my PO Box!
Same! I moved my outdoor recycle bin so it's within arms' length of the fence to the backyard. I check the mail and immediately walk down to the other end of the driveway to toss everything that doesn't need to come inside.
Dana, I am listening to both of your books, AGAIN, and they are changing my life AGAIN. You speak my language like no one else. Thank you. I love you. I thank God for you in my prayers. I'm not even kidding.
Me too!! ❤
I'm self employed, and I have recently found it really helps me to have an equivalent of "do your dishes" for my workshop. In my case, it's "clear your work bench". I do that by looking for trash and easy stuff (tools, materials for the last one or two or five jobs I've been working on), and most of the time that's everything. Sometimes the next one or two jobs, or ongoing long projects are in between, but that allows me to actually see those and take stock of them. It has helped make my work so much less stressful ! Not to mention that most of the time my dishes are more or less done as well in my home. Thanks for all you do.
My memory of my grandmas home is that there were always lots of people about and after a meal before ANYTHING ELSE the dishes and clean up were done. Then we all relaxed. I have no memory of mess or disorder in that house dispite all the visitors. It never felt stiff or formal in that home. All were relaxed, but it was simply dishes first. It was never spoken just done.
Going to try the plastic storage with lids on today. This is my second time watching this video. Thank you!
it does make a very big dfference... otherwise they split up and breed like odd socks.
I've always been a do the dishes kind of person, but the bane of my existence was the few dishes that accumulated after supper when I did my last wash. So, there would be a small pile in my sink in the morning.
I also hand wash, so the dishes dripped dry after I washed them. Before I could wash again, I had to clear the drainer. When you say do the dishes, it also means- put them away. You never quite get them all away at the same time if you have some draining and more to wash. It has been a game changer for me to dry them after I wash. The sink is empty when I wake up the next morning!!!
Prreeefect I do the same ,don't leave even a spoon on or in the sink ,clean up while cooking when cooking is done. Time saved us priceless.
I always get a small amount of things in the sink after my nightly washing up. Now I've designed an one-two punch. I do the regular washing up and my husband does anything that's left over. He's happy because his pile is much smaller and I'm happy that I've gotten rid of the small leftover pile.
@@ammumeme5789 that’s a great idea! They say we need to be better at sharing our responsibilities and that is a perfect way to share.
I am fascinated by the amount of dishes she had. There were not enough cabinets to store all the clean dishes, but where were all the dirty dishes stored until she ran out? I'm guessing its much like me and my clothes. Not all of my clothes are allowed to be clean at the same time, because there is not a sufficent away place. The clean laundry bin is a holding zone. The dirty clothes bin is a holding zone. The pile of worn once and can be worn again clothes is a holding zone. Why am I holding on to so many things? The idea of declutter dishes until they all fit in the cabinet also applies to clothes in the closet, socks in the drawer, toys in the toy bin, books on the bookshelf, etc... Oof.
SUMMARY:
1:10 PUT things (back) in their PROPER PLACE.
Keep on top of tasks, don't procrastinate.
e.g. Wash dishes everyday, don't let them pile up.
2:59 REDUCE intake of PAPER by switching to:
electronic billing/notifications and discarding junk mail immediately.
2:43 DISCARD kitchen items that do not fit in the cabinets
6:17 Store food containers with the lids on to save time and reduce avalanches.
8:53 Create a "donate" spot to temporarily store usable items that no longer serve a purpose in your life.
I have your books and loved them read them twice... ahh I love cas from clutter bug,and minimal mum wow you guys are all friends. I feel like I'm in the cool club xx
Thank you for this video, I actually enjoy decluttering and have never done it the standard 'drag it all out' way. The first time I saw a video of yours, I saw you NOT dragging everything out and you said do the dishes, I was hooked. Even on my bad days, the days that I can barely function, I still manage to do the dishes.
I take hangars into the laundry room and hang things up right out of the dryer. Rest goes into a laundry basket, taken into the bedrooms and gets folded right into the drawers. Done!
Ok, I never thought of this one- To take the clothes fresh from the dryer and fold directly into the drawers sounds like a huge time saver!
That is helpful! Thank you!
I do all the things you mentioned. I have another one that was a game-changer for me. If you have a dishwasher empty it first thing in the morning. I still hate doing it but the reward is I have a cup of coffee waiting for me when I finish this onerous task. Then I have a place to put dirty dishes all day to keep the kitchen tidy. I don’t like getting up in the morning so I am still half asleep while I am doing it and that helps me stay numb to it.
Also, if you ever set a timer for how long it takes to unload the dishwasher, you’ll discover it only takes 4 to 5 min. If even that! You can stand to do almost Anything for under 5 min!
Yes! This was a game changer for me when I finally figured it out. For us, emptying the dishwasher after breakfast is the kid’s morning chore. One does plastic, one does glass, the other does silverware. And of course we rotate the days for those so there’s no fighting. Takes two minutes now that they’re good at it.
I decluttered my pans, utensils, and dishes. It took a surprisingly short amount of time and it feels much better to use my kitchen now. Thank you!!!!!
I've started recently to make sure to stack the dishwasher and wash the dishes, clean the counter and all that stuff prior to going to bed at night; it makes a HUGE difference when you wake up each morning and head for the coffee pot. It's like AAAAAaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh. Lol! Love your advice and am so proud of you.
Your teaching is so great! A little funny with realism in your teaching has made this so easy. You have been life changing!!
Such a relief to read the comments and realise I'm not the only one feeling like having the dishes done makes me feel more in controle. I still mess up sometimes and don't do them and then I feel overwhelmed again right away. It takes a while before something becomes a habit.
The part where you say, “...this is not the channel for you...”. 😂😂😂
🤣🤣🤣
Yes! That made me laugh!
I watched that part several times -- she's so funny!
I listen to you so much while cleaning that hearing it, makes my brain thing its time to get up and get started! hahah Watching a video has jumbled my brain! Thanks for making my house look "similar" to normal peoples!!! I am HUGE fan of your journey! If y'all haven't listened to her podcast, DO IT!!! It has changed the way my brain works!
I don't store my containers the way you do, but I did go through my containers and got rid of the cracked ones along with a lid for each one. This cut down on the things I had and made my system much neater. I use the largest containers to store lids and I stack the containers together. I also have started to put the things like cottage cheese containers, margarine containers, etc. in the recycle bin. If I have some large ones for some reason, I'll use them to give my neighbors some of my homemade spaghetti sauce for instance. This means they don't have to return the container.
Dishes math? Who knew! Dawn from over at The Minimal Mom suggested you and I am so glad she did! I can't wait to hear more from you. Thanks for taking the time to put this out there.
Getting rid of dishes helped SO much.
I wish I had found you two yrs ago when this video came out; my house would be so much less clutteted than it is right now. I just got off the phone with Barnes & Noble; ordered both your books. " Decluttering at the Speed of Light" was on sale so I saved a couple dollars, plus there is free shipping. I can hardly wait to get them and start the decluttering victory dance as I go from room to room making a positive change in my home. I am in the mood for changing my life. I just lost 1/3 of the 90 pounds I set the goal to lose starting Jan 2021. I turned 69 in May and there are a lot of personal goals I need to set so they will happen. After I Read your books I will know if I need to purchase the course that you and Cass and Dawn have recently offered for sale. Thank you for your videos!!!
i have been married 37 years and i never ever thought to store the plastics with the lids on!!! The is earth shattering wooooow ha im off to the cupboard.......thank you
For food storage containers, i stack the containers inside each other and all lids go in a square container organized by size, smallest to largest Love storing them this way, i never have a problem finding a lid for any container. Of course, to each her onw. Thank you for sharing, this is helpful!.
Mary, this is how I’ve done it for years as well. It works very well for me. I never have a problem finding what I need and everything fits neatly in one drawer.
Food storage containers - an alternative for those with less storage space.
I threw out my containers and bought new, all matching except for their depth. Four sizes, quarter litre, half, etc. And the lids fit all of them! That's vital.
I stack about 50 of them in a tiny space and always have what I want, instantly. They are cheap takeaway boxes and occasionally get thrown away, but I have plenty of spares that match.
If any food doesn't fit, say it needs a large bowl, I use one of my Pyrex cooking bowls - with its own lid, or a stretchy silicone lid, or cling film as a last resort. That way, I'm not storing a large plastic storage bowl ready for the rare occasions when I need it.
Bonus - my matching boxes stack firmly in the freezer or fridge, taking far less space.
I would never store containers with lids on because of the danger of unseen mould, but I enjoyed your other tips! Thank you.
The donate spot is pure genius! I'm going to start that right now!
Just wondering, did you start a donate spot?
We use a tall wastebasket in a bathroom cupboard intended for laundry and when that’s full we take a trip to the donation location. When we have laundry we take it to a basket near the washer which is in the next room.
I’ve done the donation spot for years. It really helps.
Because of this lockdown, we don’t eat out AT ALL anymore. Hubby and I are running the dishwasher just about every other day and I’m always hand washing my nicer pots and pans. But we’ve gotten into a great rythym!
I put “did the dishes” on a habit tracker app and it turns out my fave dishes balance is 2x per day. It goes so fast that way and is totally reasonable. I use the app Done but there are plenty... it helped me start the habit until I was in the groove. Now I can’t go more than 1 day without doing them b/c of dishes math. Week 2-3 really put it in perspective. Yes yes yes with lids on storage!
Which app is that? Just curious.
Lids on !, yes! I started doing this about ten years ago. Another helpful tip is having a set of stretch silicone tops that fit over ramekins, cereal bowls, serving bowls, and mixing bowls. This eliminates the need to have a lot of storage containers.
Doing the dishes first really does help, BUT I loathe them even if it's only a couple. The first step is always the hardest.
So do I...sigh
That made me laugh - some people just can’t imagine having more dishes than fit in their cupboard - this is not the channel for you. 😂😂 I’m looking over on my dining room counter and it’s stacked with bowls, casserole dishes, platters, etc. because I don’t have room in my dining room cupboards. 🤯
When I started with her process I had to face exactly that. My dishes didn’t all fit in the cupboard if they were all clean.
We live in a condo (small space) so we have a closet downstairs that we designate as “the annex” where we put the overflow from the kitchen: serving dishes, special use pans, etc.
You have dining room cupboards? !!! LOL - I can't even imagine that!
I was astounded at the huge difference these five practices made in my life!! Tried them six months ago. And they inspired me to do even more. Life changing us not too strong a term!
Until I re-watch one of your videos I forget how much you make me laugh! Love you and your sense of humor, Dana! Thank you for all of your advice - you are the only one who has actually helped me!
Dana, I'm so excited to see that you have videos on UA-cam! I just want to tell you how much I appreciate and admire you!! In the past, I read SO many articles and books and listened to so many professionals to help me declutter and / or organize, but they all fell short. Then I "read" both of your books (via audiobooks) and they absolutely changed my way of thinking and, ultimately, changed my life!! Your well-laid-out procedures to declutter and your concept of "containers" were exactly what I needed. Sending you big thanks ... and now I'll check out the rest of your videos!!
Growing up, NO one was allowed to go to bed if there was dishes in the sink. My Mom never worked hard on housework. She did her laundry and cleaned her house the same day, once a week. Bathroom got sprayed with Clorox, wait 30 minutes rinse, no scrubbing necessary, every morning. You don’t need a lot of cleaning supplies, all you need is...Clorox, vinegar, alcohol, Bon Ami, laundry soap, dryer sheets. You got stink clothes, 1 cup of vinegar in your wash. Bon Ami is the best cleanser for stubborn stains/grease. Do not use plastic containers, use glass. Glass has multiple uses. People who like to display nik naks, use nice serving bowls, platters, things that has uses for. Do not make a donate spot in your house, put a bin in the trunk of your car, you can donate immediately without being tempted to take it back. When trying to declutter your home, do it with a friend. They will help you get rid of your junk, because they’re looking at it differently than you.
THANK YOU Dana! I have enjoyed your videos ever since I found “Noni.” I can’t say I have faithfully followed your advice all this time, but I am always encouraged and entertained when watching. This year I have been working on doing my dishes every day. There are just three of us here, so it doesn’t take long, and I’ve only used the dishwasher maybe twice because there’s usually so few items to clean, and doing them by hand goes really quick. It’s so nice to get up in the morning and be able to use my favorite cup for coffee every day!
I’ve recently listed to a couple of your books on audible. I love them! I love your style. I also really like that you’ve narrated your own books. Life has been crazy with four kids. I got lax on doing dishes daily. So I’ve been focusing on doing those dishes every day, and it really does make a huge difference.
Oh my! I really saw myself in this one. Yes, I keep using more dishes (and silverware!) rather than washing every day and then when I am totally out of dishes and silverware, I finally break down and wash them all. Huge job at that point. Thanks, Dana.
What a timeless and classic message! I own about 8 leftover lidded containers that happen to be glass-two large, 2 medium, 4 small. When they are all used in the fridge and I need a “new” one, I go look in the fridge for the one(s) that are filled with food and need to be cleaned out, eaten, or tossed. I wash it right then, and use it for the newer food storage. This also solves the refrigerator overflowing with bad food overwhelm with too many containers in it, and helps me limit food waste. So the refrigerator is also a container??? Hmmmmm. 😊
Love the point about keeping only the dishes that fit in your container/cabinet. If you're worried about having enough for guests or specific needs (serving platters, etc), borrow them. When someone asks, "What can I bring?" you can ask if they'll bring a chip & dip server or an ice bucket or whatever. Then you don't have to store it for 364 days a year to use it once. In my family, we have one chip & dip server, and it lives at my MIL's because she has room in her container :)
My mother would never go to bed without having the dishes done. I do the same as soon as dinner is done I immediately do the dishes. I let them air dry for a half hour then go back and put them away. I have a dish washer but still do them by hand. (just 2 of us)
I had to discover doing the dishes daily on my own, but because that was the first thing you emphasised in your book, I knew I had found a kindred spirit. Love your books, and I look forward to exploring all your blogs and content!
I found your website through Pinterest, and then I found your UA-cam channel. I’m obsessed! I love your podcasts and I love your videos. Everything that you say, just clicks. Thank you for taking the time to help people with this. Lol, it really is an issue. Much love ❤️
I am coming from Cass's channel and Dana, you are the person I needed in my life now!!
New sub here. Where have you been my whole life? I'm going to store containers with the lids right now! Brilliantly simple.
Obvi DKW is a genius for "The Overwhelm"! Declutter the _____ until they all fit into the "Container"!! Love 💘 it!! What a "CONTAINER CONCEPT" ! 💡
I love your sense of humor.
Love the donate spot idea as well
Food storage containers stored with the lid on was definitely a game changer. Never going back!
I have been storing my food containers with the lids on for years! Before I was always losing lids and spending time trying to match them up. Now I just grab them when I need them. Perfect!
I've come over from Clutter Bug and know I'm going to enjoy your videos!
Storing the food containers with the lids on is revolutionary and it makes the cabinet look nice when you open the cupboard door.
Dana ... I did it! I organized my leftovers containers and with the lids on ... gosh it looks so good... thank you for the advice!
Dana,
You are good! Thank you! I just said to myself I'm going to get rid of some of my glassware I do not use on a regular basis. Now, I can do it with ease.
Me too! I'm struggling a bit with things I don't use now because of the pandemic that I will probably need once things open up. I'm talking about travel containers. Perhaps I will keep my favorites of those in a bin down cellar and we think later. The good ones are kind of expensive and I don't want to have to repurchase them.
This is soooooooo true!!! And I think it holds true for clothing as well. That snowball effect of thinking we need more clothes because everything we usually wear is dirty so we buy more... so we wash clothes less... and so on!
Thanks!!!
just do the dishes... yes!!! Huge game changer!!! :) I have been following Dawn the Minimal Mom for 2 years...glad she has introduced me to you and the ClutterBug!
Do the dishes is the best advice. I'm following the plan in 28 days to hope for your home and it is easy to follow and my kitchen is in good shape a week in. Thank you Dana.
This was the first video I’ve ever watched of yours, and I’m so happy UA-cam suggested tour channel! For one I love your sassiness 😂😆 youre my people! For two, you remind me of my aunt Kim- she passed away from breast cancer a few years ago and your mannerisms just remind me of her so much. You feel like a friend! Thanks so much for sharing and I love all of these tips! I’m on a mission, I’ve been decluttering for months and it honestly feels so freeing! Thanks again for the video!
The kitchen....I love cooking when theres no dishes. All the pans are available for use. I dont have to dig for items. I have two dish sets in its own cabinet. Ive stopped buying plastic dishes and cups. I dont even buy paper plates to help me caught up. I dont buy paper towels. I have a bucket under the sink of clean rags. I have a designated coffee station. The cabinet above with all the mugs and coffee travel cups. I like to open it just to stare at it. Just my keriug with the kpods on the counter. The drawer just below, my husband's tea drawer.
I love cooking in a clean kitchen too. Then there are more dishes...sigh
I agree. Once the kitchen sink is empty the kitchen looks better and so stress relieving.
oh my goodness thank you so much for this!!! I think somewhere I subconsciously knew but hearing it out loud helps me understand why/how I get so overwhelmed when I go to clean a room . The clutter is out of control!
I've done a lot this past year to fix my home thankfully I have found channels like yours and the minimal Mom. It has helped me so much! When I heard your first tip, do the dishes, I thought well duh. I do the dishes every night right? Well apparently it wasn't enough. Now it's my mantra after EVERY meal. And I was shocked at how much it has made a difference in the feel of my home and on my stress. Seriously DO THE DISHES! Best advice even for someone who thinks they are getting it all together. 🙄
I have each person wash out their own plates and then I take the big stuff. It’s super helpful. Wish I would have seen your tips earlier. I got rid of soooo much, now I just borrow what I need now. You have great tips for real moms which is nice and practical. I need the donate spot for sure!
Hi :) quite an old video but advices totally useful, with no limit on time :) thanks ;) result : I ran in the kitchen to do the dishes ;) and ran to create a bigger donate spot :) i have already one. but in different places. but the idea of a really dedicated spot for. it is really creating the distance already out of the house places. thanks from France ;) (sorry if my English might be incorrect ;)
I have been working on Decluttering for ages.. I am getting better and the home is looking better. I promise, it has been taking me ages, but it is better in the last 6 months than it has in months. I am a recovering Cancer survivor. That really took the wind out of my sails. That was 5 years ago... it is taking me a long time to pull my self together. And that is OK... it will be all OK. I have purged my kitchen, and closet and dresser. I have more to do but I am feeling pretty good right now. It is all good. And I will be far more successful in the near future.
Glad you are a cancer survivor. That's wonderful! Puts it all in perspective.
I believe I learned the plastic container trick from one of your audio books quite some time ago and it really is a game changer in terms of getting rid of excess things that you really don't need and living within the space you have.
I absolutely do this with clothes... when my clothes were ALL clean there was not room in my closets and dressers...I actually HAD to leave clothes on the floor! Then I was mad my room was always messy and tons of laundry!! Now I have decluttered and my clothes all fit!
Heard about your book from the Minimal Mom...purchased and enjoy your tips! Biggest game changer so far is storing lids on containers, love it! Thank you
You changed my life in so many wonderful ways! Not the least of which is storing the food containers WITH THE LIDS ON is a miraculous cure for the disaster corner cupboard!!
I do all these things expect for the donate spot....I'd never thought of that. What a brilliant, brilliant idea. Thank you 😊
Hi Dana, doing the dishes is so helpful. It’s just nice coming down to a clean clutterfree kitchen in the morning.