I pulled my grandma's quilt out of the trash when she passed away. I couldnt bear to part with it. But after 22yrs of lugging it around, and finding places to store it (it wasnt usable), I was finally able to make a decision about it. I cut it apart, and made mini wall hanging versions for the family members who wanted them, and gave myself permission to let the rest of it go. Now I have a placemat size piece of her quilt in my sewing room. It reminds me of the good memories everytime I see it :)

I used to keep every gift from anyone who gave me something whether I liked it or not until one year my Sister was commenting on all the stuff I had and in particular a hideous candle and make fun of me for buying it until I told her she had actually gifted it to me..she didn't even remember, which made sit and think do I remember every gift I have given? No I didn't it was the most freeing moment of my life..I got rid of so much stuff and not one person has ever asked me where any gift is.

As a teacher, every year I get multiple "best teacher" gifts (at Christmas, Teacher Appreciation Week, and end-of-school). I love my students, work hard at being an excellent teacher, and am honored by their love and thoughtfulness. Years ago I felt compelled to keep the kitsch. Not anymore. 99% of it goes straight in the donate box. Parents: what teachers mostly want and need is gift cards and cash to help pay for all the room supplies they pay for from their own pocket. Or office supplies--excellent quality scissors or staplers that they use daily (but would never purchase for themselves), or Teachers-Pay-Teachers gift certificates. Consumables like food, beverages, mani-pedi, gift cards are useful as well. Think of it this way: if I have 15-20 students and 25% of them give me kitsch for only one of those occasions stated above, that's over 10 pieces of kitsch every year! And doesn't include other teacher stuff we get from family, coworkers and administrators. It gets overwhelming fast. Alternatively, seek out what your teacher does outside of school (hobby, fun, relaxation, special needs), and gift to those interests or needs instead. ❤

I had my great-grandmother' hand sewn quilt that was in terrible condition. I'd saved it from the trash, and couldn't use it for anything. Really. Then I saw a Christmas Tree skirt that had appliquéd squares of ready-made Christmas quilt with ribbons and bows as packages. The first snip was hardest, but by the end, I had made tree skirts for my Mother, sister, and me out of that raggedy, precious treasure. It lives on as a functional remembrance.

I use to collect coffee cups. Lol!! Way to many, then I started using them to repot plants to give to other people. 😊

"Stuff shifting" is different than "Repurposing." 🎯 This is brilliant, to use items in a different way, to lessen the emotional attachment to the items.

My husband used to travel for work and when he went to Australia he brought home this really special honey called “rooftop honey”. It came in a really neat jar and once we finished the jar I saved it. When cleaning out our kitchen spice cabinet we had a bunch of saved jars and unruly spices. I got rid of most of the jars, but I wanted to keep the rooftop honey one! It just so happened these jars were in proximity to our spices and some of our spices were in bags rather than containers. So I repurposed the beautiful and sentimental honey jar to house our whole cloves! Months later when my husband needed cloves, he said “I’m so glad you did that because I love seeing that jar in here reminding me of my trip to Australia!” I couldn’t believe he cared that much because he’s not sentimental, but that made me happy to repurpose it and I was so happy it meant so much to him! P.S. I got rid of the leftover jars and don’t save them anymore. Only special ones will get saved- not relish jar from a random Thursday. 💁🏻‍♀️

Fun timing. I just decided to gift myself new kitchen towels in the form of my son's old flannel blankets and burp cloths. I get to part with them slowly as my heart will allow. Yes, my son is 9. Yes, I'm crying right now. Don't judge me.

Dana… This is an old video so who knows if you’ll see this. I just want to say that watching your videos makes me feel seen like never before. I have never been able to explain my struggles with being organized to anyone. Your advice makes sense. Thank you.

I do the same thing. When my beloved cat died I buried him in my own baby blanket that my mother had saved for me until she passed away at 87 years.

I have a lot of pretty dishes and silver serving ware from my mom, grandmothers, and aunts and my husband's mom, grandmothers and aunts too. We just decided to use it and enjoy it. I've lost two sugar bowls (favorites) but I have such joy that we enjoyed them for years. And, when my children broke them, they felt bad but I got to tell them that it's OK, accidents happen but we sure got to enjoy them while we used them. :)

I have my grandmother's hexagon handmade quilt that is fragile, sitting in the cedar chest for 30 years. I draped it over our headboard and is a comforting reminder everyday.

This last month I was working on taking my wedding bouquet from a marriage I’m no longer in and tried repurposing it into a resin pyramid. After getting about halfway done I sorta lost my steam. I pulled it out to see how it was coming along and I apparently put too much glitter in it to see the flowers. However, doing as much as I did allowed me to process a few of the emotions and I was no longer attached to it the way I was before. I was able to not only toss the partial resin creation, but the rest of the bouquet as well. It was so freeing. I thought I wanted to remember the wedding day through the bouquet because that was a good day even if the marriage wasn’t. It’s amazing how true this is what you are saying about repurposing something and no longer feeling the attachment. Thank you for sharing your experiences so I know I’m not alone. :)

I use my baby receiving blankets as hair towels. They're the perfect size. I've used them for 20 years! They are litterally shredding thrmselves so i have had to ceremoniously wrap them in paper and burn them in my wood stove. I couldn't bear to think of them in a landfill 😢.

Suggestion: Before “getting rid of” or “ repurposing an item,” take a picture and think about cutting a piece out of the item and make into a bookmark 🔖 by gluing to paper and write on the back whatever reminds you where it came from; then laminate it. You can look at the item daily if you also put such pics printed out in a multi-picture frame on your wall. My favorite pics of my family are in a multi-frame pic on the wall where I can see them.

I don’t know how you aren’t more popular. I really had to learn that being organized and declutter is VASTLY different. It’s like engineers vs architects! Learning to not make bigger messes and learning to set a “container” limit is the biggest thing I’ve learned from you. Thank you for your amazing and realistic help.

My mom collected EVERYTHING! Collector’s plates, seashells, eggs, mice, cardinals, Santas, baskets, Little Orphan Annie memorabilia…the list goes on and on. She also loved flowers and gardening and was that crazy old lady who started taking tap lessons and picking up the harmonica at age 75. She was a world class chocoholic. She also delivered Meals on Wheels and tutored kids in reading and was a cutthroat Skip-Bo player and LOVED the Utah Jazz basketball team. And so much more - she was delightfully nuts! When she died, the world was just a little less bright and fun, and I wanted to keep everything she ever owned or touched. What I settled for was one of her pretty baskets (wide and shallow) filled with a small representation of each of her crazy collections and interests. One of her gardening gloves with a ceramic cardinal and a cute China mouse sitting on it. A small Toblerone candy bar and a pair of metal taps from her dance shoes. A preserved rose from her garden and a China egg from her shelf. A shell, a harmonica, a pair of her glasses, a packet of cherry koolaid (her passion), a word search puzzle book she’d worked in and the pencil she used last, a small set of scriptures, with a couple of thank you letters from her literacy students tucked in the pages. An Annie doll and a tiny piece of the painted China she loved. A Utah Jazz beanie bear and a couple of Skip-bo cards. And more. It sounds like a lot, but it’s just one basket (maybe breadbox sized) with this collection of trinkets that lets me remember the many things that made her the funny, crazy, kind, loving weirdo she was without letting her possessions overwhelm me.

Oh wow! I started doing something similar to this with some kitchen cups/glasses/mugs. They said "handwash only". I don't handwash unless the dishwasher is broken. I don't have the time! I finally just started putting those items in the dishwasher. If they get destroyed, so be it. I'm a teacher and get mugs and glasses like they're going out of style. When it finally breaks from not being handwashed, I'm good with that. I've used it. It's fulfilled it's purpose. Time to part ways and say goodbye.

Not only did you re-purpose your comforter, but you gave your puppies something that has your scent on it, which they will absolutely love. You couldn't give them anything better for them and it is healthier for you and; good girl.

Thanks to you, I was able to get rid of my wedding dress- which my daughter was not interested in, and it was yellowing - thank you! and the two dolls that, again, my daughter didn't want- I freely gave them to the thrift store. My daughter helped me with the dolls- which shop to give them to- the one that would treat them with the most respect. I never ever felt free-er than letting those three things go!!!

I'm a recovering hoarder, mother of two. A hoarder specialist brought me to you. I can't thank you enough. I can't afford your book, but I'm a definite fan! I just don't want my kids to grow up thinking clutter is normal. I want them to develop healthy cleaning habits.

I love this! My main issue with decluttering is I'm always either attached to the items or I feel like I'm wasting stuff, I will have to try this.

I've done this for so many years with so many items. I can really relate. I recently discovered that this practice doesn't only help the decluttering owner softly detach from the item through an extra transition, but it also lengthens the life-cycle of the item itself. The less transformation an object requires in between uses and the more uses it can have, the less energy it will consume during its lifetime. This is good waste management and one of the most important principles as we transition towards a more circular economy. --- PS: I love your content. You are amazing. I love watching decluttering / cleaning / organizing / decorating videos, but I had never found somebody who could so effectively addresses anxiety. Thank you for keeping it real!

Seriously, I'm listening to your Declutter book and OMG am I a reincarnation of you?? Is that seriously possible?! It must be because everything you are saying applies to my life...I'm only on chapter 4 and it's 100% accurate. I'm a clutter mess and I found your book by the grace of God because I have 3 weeks off for Christmas break and my plan was to declutter my mess. I'm so so so so so happy I found your book!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just had to tell you this, after listening to your book this past weekend and feeling like it’s the only decluttering book that gets me, I looked you up here and this is the first video I watched. Now, we are moving, have six kids and lots of hobbies but I had a shredded threadbare baby quilt my best friend made for my oldest (who is 22) that I couldn’t part with. I watched this video and it made sense, and I naturally thought of that baby quilt but we don’t have a dog and it’s not suitable for rags so I was still torn over what to do. Not even an hour after watching this video, grandma arrived for a week’s visit and announced she might have to go out again because she brought her dog and crate but forgot all his bedding. So now my sentimental baby quilt is at the bottom of a dog crate and i keep laughing about the timing of it all 😆🤣

I have a old barbie house from my childhood that actually made me sad but I couldn't get rid of it. My daughter already has a new barbie house so I decided to repaint the house more neutral colors and changed it from barbies house to Ken's house. I actually like the house again and it no longer makes me sad.

When my daughters were infants I used flannel burp clothes that I had made and machine embroidered around the edges. They were soft and functional and I loved them. Now they make wonderful dust cloths that make me smile. 😊

My boys have fought over a baby blanket my grandma made for them, 16 & 17 years ago. She made two but it ended up the older used the younger's and when they slowly disintegrated, I allowed my son to keep a square of "his" but the larger of the two was still usable. When our dog passed last month, it was no question as to who got the blanket. Thank you for the idea years ago when I heard it on the podcast.

Repurposing really helps me declutter. Using old clothes for rags, pillow covers, curtains and tieing up tomato plants still is using them.

I had a blanket that was slightly unraveling, but couldn't let go of for sentimental reasons. When our yellow lab passed away, I wrapped her body in the blanket. That blanket was special to me, but I was grieving so hard, I thought she needed it more than I. It was my way of letting go I guess.

This video made me smile. When cleaning out a closet, I stumbled on my children's baby blankets.(they are 18, 16, and 14 and don't remember or care about them ) I literally teared up at the thought of removing them from our house. Where are they now? In our beloved ferrets cage...where when I wash and fold them, I get to re live the memory of when they were tiny, and needed their blankees :) sometimes you just can't part with something from your babies past!!! But it can be useful!!!!

Great way to reuse before discarding, best for the environment

I have a plethora of doilies made by my mother and grandmother. Some of them just happen to be orange or a variegated yellow and orange. I saw someone making pumpkins at Halloween from old doilies. You just gather the edges with a running stitch, stuff with polyfil and close it up by pulling the stitching, then take a few stitches to tack in place. You can make a stem from a stick, if you like. I think that's a pretty good repurpose.

I can SO relate! I’m almost 70, & I still have school stuff from my own grade school days-& more. You & I are clearly related.

Yes! Repurposing, especially sentimental things like your comforter, is a win-win.

This is very timely. Thinking of taking all of my mom's coffee cups and making a "memorial" mosaic from them.😁

I saw a quilt square mounted on an open picture frame. I thought what a wonderful way to display an old family heirloom that is tattered and not useful as a quilt anymore. My wife put her most special quilts and baby blankets/ embroidered burp cloths on a ladder in our room. Now she can be reminded everyday of those precious things and actually use the quilts when needed. They aren’t shoved away in a closet or drawer not being appreciated.

Your decluttering process makes more sense than any that I have seen and certainly resonates with me. I have the problem of buying "projects" as I hate for things to end up in a landfill. Some of these projects have sat in my garage or basement for years and I finally realized that sitting there as an unfinished project is creating clutter. I have donated furniture and now before buying anything, I have a clear plan for what and WHEN I will work with it. If it isn't immediate, then I don't purchase it. My father had an old watchmaking cabinet. I put it down at my warehouse (I own a small business) as I didn't have room for it and neither did my siblings. My thought was to let it sit there until I could process it emotionally. What I did instead was to bring it home and use it for a wine cabinet/storage cabinet for extra napkins, dishes glasses etc. and got rid of 2 other non sentimental pieces of furniture so that I could make room. So I am looking at some of my long time furniture and giving to friends or donating in order to have the pieces that I love.

I do this with worn out kids shirts. It's funny how even kids clothes that are too worn out to donate have sentiment. You explain it so well, the emotional attachment part. We have a cloth nose wipe stash (think small handkerchiefs). If there is a shirt or soft pants that was beloved but worn out, it can be cut into cloth wipes. Then the kids and I don't feel bad that we are just tossing out a shirt they loved, but we are repurposing it and then it gets tossed easily when it wears out. We use them for nose wipes, diapering, face washing, wash cloths, sticky hands, etc. Plus cloth wipes are super useful for colds or allergies when you are wiping noses often, because they are much softer than tissues. We just toss them in the laundry when I am washing towels or diapers. It also creates less waste. Win win!

This is such an amazing idea. Change the identity of something so that we’re able to lessen our attachment to a thing. This reminds me of a political strategy utilized in our culture today.

You speak to my soul. Binge watching. Thank you. I have major attachment issues

I've been stuck on sentimental old stuff I don't want to keep but find it hard to give up. It really helps to hear you struggle over a similar issue. Thank you. Also, I moved only my "good" stuff overseas, and only had the "good" dishes in my new location. My first reaction was to go buy "bad" dishes from the $ Store to use everyday. But I forced myself to just use the good stuff I had. Now my meals always feel special (despite my cooking), and I love all my beautiful dishware!

You also got the plus of not BUYing another thing for dog bedding that you would also eventually have to declutter. I'm also using an old t-shirt quilt for dog bedding and happy to see it being purposeful. 😊

Basically the smartest idea I have ever heard on the subject!!!!

The way you explain this is genius! Transitional use. Potentially life changing!

I've been a collector all my life but didn't realize it for years. Now I chose things more carefully. Right now I'm keeping my mother's brooches in shadow boxes, just the special ones so I don't have to keep them all. She passed away last year so I'm going to have her memories in my head and my life

This is amazing advise. I AM paralyzed by sentiment. Thank you! 😊

I had a little red metal toy sewing machine. I thought I could repurpose it as a decor item somewhere else in my house. It didn’t really fit in any room so I placed it in a spot where I saw it often, on the bathroom countertop. After two days of sitting there I thought, “it doesn’t go with anything in here!” So I put it in the black bag and donated it! I know someone who has a sewing room or likes retro toys n can use this in their decor and enjoy it. That made me happy! I love your show! I just subscribed! 😊

This is so true, after having kids (mine are still three under 5) I found out very little "sentimental" stuff I held on to was truly precious. Once a toddler ransacks the back of every nook and cranny in your home, you come to find out that a lot of what they ruined was pointless to hold onto for years anyways and I kind of found relief every time she tore something up. From that lesson, I've started asking myself this question.... If this [fill in the blank] broke/was ruined/burned up in a fire/got lost how would I honestly feel, how easy would it be to replace it? And then I reassure myself that if I need something like it, I can borrow/buy it for a lot less stress than the amount of stress it caused by keeping it crammed it into my space.

This is brilliant! I have never heard this concept but it makes such sense!!!

Old flat sheets make great drop cloths for painting etc. :)

This was so good. Dana is more helpful to me than anyone else who gives advice. I don't have to fight with guilt, when I follow her advice. She and I think so much alike. I still use my childrens' crib sheets to cover my ironing board. They wear like iron. My children are in their 40's. I also use them on the head rest area of my livingroom chair. I also use my grandson's baby bath towels for the headrest. I used my childrens' diapers for dusters and rags years ago. I used diapers

I am a very emotional person, and want to keep everything. I am looking forward to watching your channel.

Just found you thanks to Dawn from the Minimal Mom! So excited! I'm a mom of 5 beautiful kiddos, ages 11-2, and I have a hard time parting with baby clothes. I decided to let my daughter have a few infant clothes for her larger dolls. And I only keep one special outfit that they wore for Easter or Christmas that we have pictures of them in, and I put them in their memory box, along with a copy of that picture. When they get married someday I will gift them their boxes so they can enjoy looking through them and see that outfit and be amazed at how tiny they once were. 😊

I learned to sew at age 7. I made all my clothes until I was 40. I broke my shoulder in a ski lift fall. The long agonizing months of healing and therapy gave me excuse to eat too much comfort food and very soon none of my clothes fit. I found it easier to buy thrift store clothes. So being compulsive, I ripped all my former clothes into 1 inch wide strips and crocheted them into place mats and bath rugs. It was easy to toss them when they became stained or filthy.

I'm glad I stumbled(KZfaq recommended)onto this video. I'm trying to downsize. I started in my kitchen. Ive been following minimal living "rules". Don't want to be a minimalist. Just lighten the load. I originally started just before quarenteen. I put stuff in lidded boxes. A month after, didn't go through them to use, I took the covered boxes to a charity. I honestly didn't know what I was donating. Normally, that would have been agonizing to me. As the guy took the stuff out of the bin, my mind was saying "I'm donating that?". Frankly, it was incredibly liberating. Now, round 2. I have bedding I've had since early in my marriage. The bed spread has seen better days. Its ugly too.Haven't used it in years. Actually a decade or more. I've been married for 32 years. I really want to donate it to a local rescue with some towels. Now, I believe I can separate the sentimental emotions out of it. That's what was holding me back. About baby things.. The military helped with that. In 1998, son was 5. My husband was about to transfer. It looked like we were moving to Hawaii. Had to sell or get rid of a lot of stuff. Even sold our house. Kept nothing of my son's baby stuff. All but a couple of handmade blankets. Me and darn blankets. Lol Oh, we never moved to Hawaii. We stayed in Washington state for anither 4 years till he retired. My reused item is a k-cup holder. I use it for craft pain bottles.

It's called recycling. This is a brilliant way to let something go. I'll have to try this method because I have too many items I'm attached to. Thank you for the great idea.

My husband has this glass mug that he got from work as a 'thank you' for a project. He used it til it got a chip in the top and was push to the back of the cupboard....way in the back. I was decluttering the cupboard and asked if he still had feelings for this mug. Yes. Okay congrats you have a new place to put your pens. And donated the impersonal dollarama plastic pen holder. Yes! This can work. Cheers from Ottawa, Canada for the repurposing idea.

I can see how this strategy would work! It makes perfect sense! Thanks for sharing!

This was very helpful. As I am now retired, decluttering is getting easier. I’m realizing I don’t need as much to be happy. Although, some items are sooo tough to part with. Thank you for sharing. 💜

What a great idea! I have an old tatted sweater of my mother's that I wore for years. It got so full of holes that it just looked awful but I would still wear it around the house. I finally gave it to my cat as something to sleep on, which made it easier to get rid of the sweater eventually. 😍

In a shift to minimalize belongings, I kept # UseWhatYouHave in mind for this past year. Now, listening to your insight covered me in a "blanket" of confirmation, and has encouraged me to # UseUpWhat I Have. Glad there is ~you~ in this slice of history!

I’ve watched this a few times and each time, I think about how wonderful and valuable this tip is! Great thinking and examples!

I have a box of nightgowns that was getting too full. I only wear nightgowns during postpartum recovery, and I had just gone an entire recovery without reaching for a particular sleeveless gown, because it wasn't good for breastfeeding in. But it's the gown I was wearing when I gave birth to my daughter five years ago. I thought about sewing it into something new, but the fabric was in bad shape. Then I had an idea: I cut it in half so that each half had one armhole, so they could serve as bibs! The armholes became neckholes! Then I cut what was leftover into grub rags. So now I can enjoy the memory for a while longer. But really, my daughter's memorable birth will always be with me, even without an artifact. ❤

thank you for this; this helped me figure out a "noteworthy" way to repurpose cared-for pj's that could no longer be used. a friend had suggested i donate the bunch to an animal shelter, but i could not stomach the idea of that--until my neice got a new fur-baby. it was easier to let go of the soft-jammies, when i knew it would bring relief and comfort and cleanliness to chae, her babies, and her abode.

Girl, you are just plain brilliant. I knew it when I read your books and you prove it here too!

Dana, I have both of your books and they are helping a TON! I've tried other decluttering approaches that also come from books but not one has helped nearly like yours. Thank you SO much!!!

Yes things go through multiple uses, to enable me to throw them away. Towels and linens get threadbare then the dog gets to have them then they can go. I do also put very sentimental things in a box seal it and pop a date on it. When I see that date on a box has passed, without opening it I throw it away. I know it's not fully getting rid of it right away, but it helps me know I have appreciated the item, and if I haven't gone and taken it out again I obviously don't need or want it anymore.

This is awesome! Thank you for sharing this because I feel like I have decluttered down to the stuff that is sentimental, and those things can be hard!

I’m working on taking the emotion out of my decluttering, so that I can actually declutter. 🙃 I’m going to make a conscious effort to think outside the box and perhaps repurpose some items!

This was EXTREMELY helpful. I have some antique salt dishes (very small) that were my grandmother's. We seriously have never put salt and the little spoons in them on the table. BUT, I have one in my kitchen and another in my bedroom for holding my rings. I'm going to check with some other relatives to see if they want the other ones.

Loved the “Decluttering at the Speed of Life” book. Fabulous! Life changing. I love my house now! Ty ty ty ☺️

I have a paralyzing inability to get started. It is so weird. I'm an intelligent, educated, weirdo!! I am an RN. I don't have this problem on the nursing floor. I get after it and take care of all the multitude of problems each day hands me. Why can't I do that in my home??? It literally baffles me.

You really rock! Your clutter journey is so similar to mine that I find myself in your story all the time. Grew up in a messy house and have maintained that as a sentimental living altar to my family. I have read and have an untold number of how to get organized and how to psych yourself out of clutter books. Yours is the first one that has made enough sense to get the job done. Thanks so much for sharing your inside view. Linda in Indianapolis

Thankyou. Video is gold for emotional people with even a normal amout of stuff.

Great life lesson here, Dana. Thanks! Glad to see you again.

I can’t wait to walk through the house and see what I can repurpose. What a great plan to detach from the sentimental emotions. Love it.

Good for you on making your comforter over for the dogs. The dogs will love them because they will have your scent on them. Good way to recycle. I have always done stuff like that. It is a way to keep your household costs down, and by the time you toss it, it is going to be something you WANT to toss, because it has no other uses.

I had a favorite pair of flannel PJ bottoms and I still wore them even tho they were ripped all over. Instead of throwing them away, I cut them up and used them for cleaning rags, then have been able to throw the cleaning rags away when they are no longer useful

Can totally relate to this. Getting rid of things just for the sake of it feels so wasteful. Was just thing of making new cat bedding out of an old comforter myself.

This is genius! I've known about using this rather than just storing, such as pretty linens, but this goes just a step further. Wow! I'm so glad you're willing to share your insights and knowledge, it sure blesses the rest of us.

Stuff shifting... an ah-ha moment

I love, love, love this!! Such a helpful way to view getting rid of stuff when you're attached to it. Thank you. I know someone who also really needs to hear this and I'm going to pass it on. Dont be gone to long or we will miss you. Lol❤

This may sound terrible. I am trying to use and enjoy special things that before I wanted to save and preserve such as Afghan blankets crocheted by family and friends and other handmade gifts from family. Some of the people have passed away, but I believe they would have wanted me to use them up and enjoy them. I have “used up” one quilt, but it had a good long life.

Thank you so much for talking about sentimental attachment to items in such a personal way. Sometimes I feel the decluttering advice out there doesn't realize the complicated, paralyzing, irrational emotions around certain possessions. Your videos on this topic are helping me make important mental and emotional shifts towards my possessions and living space.

I found you just a few hours ago and I am so thankful to God! I was feeling overwhelmed with clutter and did a quick search for books on decluttering and chose yours! I already feel inspired and empowered! Thank you so much! 😊

Thank you! I have so many sentimental items and this will really help.

When decluttering the baking shelf in my kitchen cupboard, I realized I had 5 loaf pans. I will never bake 5 loaves of anything simultaneously. So I repurposed two of my mom's aluminum loaf pans as organizing bins for my underwear drawer. Then I repurposed a gifted stoneware loaf pan to house packets of rice in my pantry cupboard. I had been looking for a bin that was heavy enough not to tip over when full. Voilà! That's three things I didn't need to buy, and the shelf that holds my baking pans is no longer overfilled. If I ever need to get rid of my underwear or rice bins, I won't be quite as attached to them.

Dana, this was amazingly helpful, and I so appreciate you!

Currently collecting t-shirts to turn into a quilt. My husband and I both seem to have emotional attachment to old T-shirts. I figured we can have one useful quilt made up of them and free up probably multiple drawers of shirts.

Dana it is so good to have someone who thinks like me and understands. I have a hard time in letting things go. I am overwhelmed but maybe one day I will get farther along than now. Thank you so much for helping us.

These are GREAT ideas! Thank you. :) I am GLAD that I am not the only one who has this struggle.

Thank you sooo much!!! I was struggling with the attachment emotions also. This makes so much sense!

Just found you through Dawn from the Minimal Mom. I can't thank you both for so many wonderful ideas to declutter my home. I have made big progress, but still have emotional issues with other things and your idea of repurposing really does help!

It served its purpose fully and it “lived its life” sometimes things need to live somewhere else with someone else to enjoy or have its purpose filled

I purchased your book and I read its entirety. Thank you for writing this book and sharing what works for you to overcome decluttering hurdles.

I've heard of taking pictures of the precious items before donating them or discarding them. Pictures don't take up space but seeing those items do give me the "feels".

This was a REALLY good one, Dana! Thank you!

That is a great way to do it. My mom was big on keeping things like baby and child clothes, her old clothes too. I grew up with a keeper, so it is hard to let go. What I like to do with cups/mugs that I don't use for drinking is to use them for pen/letter opener/scissors holders.

It is re purposing which is good! Great idea, and I will try it. Thank you so much.