My daughter passed away in Sept. 2020. Letting go of her was the very hardest thing I have ever had to do. The second was to let go of her things. It wasn't easy. I kept legal papers, graduation certificates, jewelery, photos, and her Christmas ornaments for the memories. That's it. It took me mo ths to donate her clothing and other personal stuff. But seeing everything everyday was destroying me. Everything had a memory asso iated with it. The loss will always be there I love her I always will but happy memories are still there. I had to let go of the bad and cherish the 35 years of good ones. She suffered so during her illness. I know what a beautiful gift God gave me to be her Mom. She closed. her eyes and fell quietly asleep then breathed her last breath. I was with her at her beginning and her end and it was beautiful.

I like that you don’t suggest the “KonMari” method of decluttering. Pulling out everything can make me feel overwhelmed and anxious. I like the one item at a time method. It works and gets the same results. Thank you.

I'm a housekeeper and it makes complete sense that you have a housekeeper. And I will tell you all that not everyone that has a housekeeper is "rich". AND every one could afford a housekeeper to come once or twice a month if you didn't go shopping so much 🤣 Also, if you don't have a "white bowl" you will end up with a PILE or a bag!

My husband is delighted with you! I tend to make a mess when I'm attempting to tidy. Often I get too tired to continue and he has to remove all the stuff from the bed, the floor etc. 😂

I must say, as will as the container concept, the idea that i could declutter and organise without making a bigger mess is simply revolutionary. The making of the mess is one of the biggest reasons i didn't start, because i just can't stand the upheaval.

I've had a once-a-month housekeeper for many years. I'm a clutter person, and her visits motivate me to put things away before she arrives. While she's at the house, I take my shred to Office Depot and drop off my donations at the thrift store. Linking these errands to her visits are part of my routine now.

"When..... not if..... I get distracted." Story off my life.

The concept of not pulling everything out has literally changed my life. Ever since being a child I would pull everything out of a space with the thought of cleaning/ decluttering. I would instantly feel overwhelmed and defeated. It would take days or a week to just get everything back in my space. Between you and a few of the other wonderful woman on KZfaq I have finally been able to start getting my home under control without feeling like a failure everyday. You are so appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of my little cluttered heart.

My daughter is a "pick it out one at a time" organizer. She was overwhelmed by the amount of stuff and did not know how to start or want to start. She starting pulling one thing at a time and made great progress. Now she is talking about her next step! Those clothes that might not fit. Wooohooo! Progress!!!

I did NOT expect to learn kidnapping survival tips from this video, but I am here for it!

I feel so lucky. My daughter & I were discussing a planned declutter in April with her assistance. She mentioned we could have a "Yard Sale" ($$) in the courtyard of the Senior Complex where I live. I must have really looked at her like she was crazy because she immediately started laughing. I have decluttered a few areas in my apartment recently. As a senior with only one child, I keep the Swedish Death Cleaning method in my head all the time. I put everything I no longer need/want in a tote for my daughter to have first dips if she wants & then everything is emptied out of that tote at a community area where I live. We are both amazed & pleased that before we can go back with another load of decluttering almost EVERYTHING is gone (even stuff that I/she questioned why we didn't trash it). No second guessing/chances to reincorporate "junk" back into my life! WIN/WIN!!!

I come for the great decluttering advice from the lovely Dana and I stay for the kidnapping survival tips! 😂

I remember that Oprah episode. I have a cleaner come in once a fortnight too, she just does the dusting, mopping, and deep vacuuming. Same thing I love about it, it motivates me to have my entire house picked up, put away, organized, and everything else cleaned. It's like spring cleaning every 2 weeks! And it is SOOOO nice!! Now that I HAVE to get it done, It. Gets. Done! And I have worked out the best system, and because I'm used to it now, it only takes about an hour, broken down over a day. ONE DAY, every 2 weeks, not 2 weeks every 6 months! My reasoning is; our great, great grandmothers had servants, or other help, they couldn't do it all by themselves, why do we think we should have to? Now, I take my hat off to mums who can, but I don't know how. I am a stay at home mum with 2 kids who have special needs, and I suffer with chronic fatigue syndrome, I. Just. Can't. It took me the longest time to recognize and accept that, but now that I have, and I made the hard decision to remedy the situation, I am so much more relaxed and happy! My house is a relaxing, peaceful haven, and most importantly, I can give my kids so much more of the time and attention that they need. I'm rarely missing meetings and appointments now, and my anxiety is way down! It's self preservation, self care, survival if I'm really honest. And if anyone wants to judge me, cool, good for them, I really can't afford to care, sorry, not sorry. We all want to do what's best for our families, and this just happens to be what it looks like for me.

A housekeeper is totally worth it. I work full time and my down time is important to me. I don't want to scrub toilets. She doesn't declutter or take care of the daily cleaning, so I'm still managing my house. I just get a helping hand every now and then!

“Never go to the second location!!” You had me laughing SO. HARD. Thank You for these memorable lines and sense of humor in what can be an emotional and truly joyless process sometimes. When you have me laughing, you have me moving!! You have become a voice for good in my head! God Bless!!! 😂😂😂😂🙌🏻🙌🏻

We are moving house and are very locked down here in Ireland. We are downsizing big time. We've been told, "oh you'll never get rid of that big sofa and you'll never get rid of the piano and you'll need to get a big skip and break everything up. Two visitors to the house want the piano. We put the sofa out on the kerb. A few hours later it was taken. I had a lot of good clothes to donate but the charity shops are all closed. A friend, who looks after the needy, called to the house yesterday and took the clothes. A lot more has been taken from kerb. Amazing! 😊

Your videos have really been helping me. I will admit I am piling up things on my craft table to sort to a certain extent but launching it all to proper place, donation box or trash. Best trash item was cardboard I was holding onto 5 small boxes of saved cardboard to use in craft projects "someday". In 12 years of retirement, "someday" never came about. And I'm relieved to get rid of it all. That rule of is it affordable to replace when you find you need it in the future has really been enlightening. Can't believe how much scotch tape was around my apartment and I haven't used any in years! You are a blessing!

I always believe the places I give my stuff to knows best what to do with it. Hence, if they want to file 13 it, that is their choice. If they want to keep and sell it, that is their choice too. You truly will be paralyzed if you fret about what things you donate will be treated properly. I have had to harden my view about donated things to know that A. My home is better off without it, B. I am better suited to not have it around, and C. The Donation Center knows best what to do with it after I drop it off. Very true that if you do not harden yourself on donated items, you will have a much tougher time with the whole process.

I recently figured out where my happy spot is on the "clutter threshold/mininalism" continuum -- it is getting my inventory down to what I can remember that I own. If I can look at a cabinet or a bin, and know what things are in it, I am happy.

I put stuff on my curb to bless my neighbors and we like watching people grab free stuff.

"Take it there right now!" "Where would I look for this if I needed it?" So logical and simple. Totally works for me. Thank you. 💜

So happy 😁 because to find someone like me. Finally, people will believe me that a place can improve without throwing 75% of stuff out like in the homemaker shows which let's me real are home remodeling shows. I cleared out my sister's place when she was sick and I only threw out 3 candy wrappers and my sister said, "You're like a magician! She was like how do you do what you do?" I was like, "It wasn't any work because all I did was put everything away." Yeah, it wasn't any work because it was done with love to support my sister while she was feeling under the weather.

All that thinking process takes 2 seconds in my brain, but it's still interesting to hear you talking about it. So even so I'm totally opposite to you and other people who struggle to manage their households clutterwise, I'm thankful for your efforts to help other people 🌹 Another concept when you declutter: Justin Case is your enemy.

“...so I gotta wait until...my kids have graduated from high school” 🤣 - right, that’s the reasoning that you are rescuing us from. TY ❤️

Everything is in complete lockdown here and I’m downsizing from a house to an apartment in 2 weeks so waiting is not an option. I used Facebook marketplace to get rid of everything. I’m down to the last couple of boxes 😊 and I’ve literally let go of thousands of items!

When my mom passed away, we had to go thru her things and figure out what to do with them. This has motivated my decluttering and downsizing! I want to lessen that task for my kids! A task of love!🤗

Anyone who remembers The Brady Bunch knows Alice the housekeeper/cleaner/cook. For us older folks, there was Hazel. Until the recessions of the 1970s & 80s being a housekeeper was an important job for many Americans. How in the world we let that part of our culture slip away I will never understand. That’s why, imho, the Supermoms of the 1980s became the chronic fatigue & fibromyalgia cases of the 1990s. The first time I had someone come to clean my house, I sat down and cried tears of joy. Literally. Then I walked around my clean house mumbling, “thank you, thank you.” 🙏🏻

Never move to a second location. That's where bad things happen 😂. So true. Dark analogy but effective. Thanks. That will stick. Thanks for making videos lately.

I absolutely loved this video. You explain your processes so clearly. What is great about your collab with other declutterers like the Minimal Mom and Cas is that you have different methods and different but similar goals. We are not all clones of each other. For example, you mentioned your goal of getting down to your clutter threshold and that you are not a minimalist. Dawn of the Minimal Mom may be more of a minimalist- but her goal is similar: it's just that to get down to her clutter threshold so she can cope, she needs to get rid of more stuff than you do. This is so important! I am a pretty long way from being a minimalist, but I have been thinking about your container concept a lot. That is something I can relate to. So thanks for all your words of wisdom, Dana! Keep up the videos as often as you are able!

I work at a hospital and was *thinking* about donating my bird magazines so people could enjoy something nice to look at as they wait for their testing appts. (I was keeping them for reference photos for all that painting I was going to do one day... ) Then covid hit and they threw away ALL the magazines out of all the waiting rooms. Boy, I would've been so upset if I had brought them in and they threw them away! They're one thing I'm glad I hung on to... I guess I wasn't really ready to let them go after all!

Don’t worry about what happens to your stuff!! Just donate!

YES!!!! Just because a person is or wants to declutter, it does Not make them a minimalist. Everything needs a home! Thanks for clarifying this. Too many people jump on the fad of the moment bandwagon and go to the extreme and expect everyone else to follow

👍 Thanks Dana. I really appreciate your feedback. I’m creative and I analyze everything to death. I need all of you input I can get. Yes I bought the Take Your House Back, and when I can afford it I will buy your books. I’m glad you said one of them deals with grief. I really need that. I know you probably get tired of answering the same questions over and over and if people took the course they would understand you a bit more. I watch you because, even though you have never me , you get me. I’m very appreciative of every one of your videos because I know that’s a lot of work and planning, filing, editing, posting and whatever goes along with that. So Thank You You always deserve a big thumbs up 👍 and I give you one every time.

I tried your declutter without a mess from watching dawn at minimal mom try it and...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! It really works and saves me all that frustration I usually have in decluttering and then having to clean up the leftover mess after.

I have a big box of winter clothes I want to bring to a consignment shop. But I’d have to store them until next fall when they accept winter items. Listening to you -I’m taking them to donate tomorrow and getting them out of my house. No second location!

I love the thinking process to declutter one item at a time.

SPOT ON!! Better in a landfill than in your home, I say! When you think about it, items go to waste one way or the other. You do have to just let it go and stop thinking so hard. You cannot control whether or not people enjoy your donations....or whether they are always being disposed of in the most perfect way. Because there is no "perfect" scenario. Just get it out, be generous to others, and be more mindful in the future of how and what you buy :)

Loved the the comment about you not being a minimalist. My husband has had this fear since I have started this journey. I am glad he heard this video. He smiled. I keep reassuring him that’s not my goal. In time I will find a happy medium for us. Thank you for helping me get my mental health back by teaching me how to get my house in order.

Again....Great advice....When one becomes too “Concerned”....About what happens to personal donated items....You are getting into more of a unhealthy mental situation that can escalate....( I have a family member....Well....3 storage units later)....Donation Centers are a blessing....Dana....You are great

I am grateful that you are a patient teacher, and so willing to keep repeating your message so that it can sink in over time for the rest of us! I love hearing answers to recent questions and references to your other recent videos (Hairy Brads, HA!). It would be great to see new videos every month! I'm not sure how You Tube settings work, but there was an ad every 3.5 minutes throughout this video. It was frequent enough that it made it hard to enjoy and absorb your content. That's my ONLY complaint, less of that and more of YOU!

I'm so glad you answered the question about why you keep the white bowl, that makes a lot of sense! And the cleaning lady comes to actually CLEAN, not declutter your stuff. Makes total sense. I have read so many decluttering books, but seriously your method is the only one that has worked for me. It does NOT have to get worse before it gets better!! Thank you!!

Thank you, Dana, for checking in with us. We're all feeling a bit isolated. Hearing from you is a mood enhancer for me. I'm grateful.

Lol! I always had to race around and “clean” before my house cleaner came😂 I worked FT+ and was overwhelmed with house work. Same with me- twice a month and she did floors, kitchen and bathrooms. Huge weight off my shoulders! Very grateful for their help (had several over the years). I knew by Thurs night every other week, I’d have to have everything picked up and ready for Fri morning when she came. Held me somewhat accountable.

I think it's a shame that you have to explain why you have a cleaner if you can afford it you go girl and I love your podcast thank you for doing them

The very best thing cripples me, so I just donate to the thrift store by my favorite grocery store. Instead of figuring out the perfect way to donate my wedding dress, donating it there felt okay. I thanked them for taking my junk by giving them my good clutter.

Good for you having a cleaner you should never have to explain. When I was working full time and going to grad school I had a cleaner it was wonderful. Only got grief from the males I knew.

I totally agree! I had to go through my mom’s stuff When she died unexpectedly - I didn’t have time to find perfect homes for everything and I ended up putting a lot of good stuff at the curb. I didn’t even have time to take it to the charity stores. The house was sold and the stuff had to go. I have been at that same point with my own stuff a few times and I have to realize it’s more important to get the stuff out of here so I can function better, even if I have to throw good stuff away. There are people who cruise the neighborhoods on big trash days, and they often pick up all my stuff before the trash truck comes by!

I have never felt better than when I'm able to bless others with things I'm no longer using. The people are grateful & so happy especially during these times.

Decluttering without making a mess is BRILLIANT, Dana. 🥰

Love the way you teach us to declutter. I fell much better NOT making a bigger mess..and make progress. Thanks..

I would totally pay for housekeeper to do the deep cleaning.It’s great that you’ve been able to build your business to the point that you can hire help.Goals!

I listened to your book "Decluttering at the Speed of Life" in January of 2019, and it was truly life changing. You made it so simple to get started. I never felt like a failure during the process because your process is so easy to understand. I LOVE your sense of humor, you are fantastic!😊

Not taking everything out was such a game changer for me. I personally refuse the word minimalist because it seems to attract judgement. My fails up until now were trying to do the best with stuff and micro organizing when my brain is not wired that way. Love your books and your sense of humour!

I truly appreciate you! My brain works this way. I am decluttering. When our house cleaner arrives every other week, I have to have everything picked up or she is not able to clean what I need her to. I am not a minimalist and I do not want to be. I like my stuff. But, I collected too much stuff and could not enjoy it anymore. I have been able to tackle decluttering without tons of stress by NOT making a bigger mess. I have found a local corner store in a disadvantage area I am able to take donations to. I can't take truckloads, but I am able to drop off a bag or 2 at a time. I promised them I would only bring items in good shape. I throw out the rest. This works for me since that is how I am decluttering while working full time, maintaining the daily household tasks and living life. I found you through Cas and joined the House group. I am grateful for your strategies!

I have just recently found you and I am really hooked. You lit a fire in me and I have already cleaned a closet that was so full you could not open the door. There are five yard bags full ready to go in the garage. I put a bag in the bin once a week because they are too big to do all at once. I have needed you for so long and now I have you! Thank you!!!!!!

I recommend Decluttering at the Speed of Life personally as the first book of hers to read. I put the audiobook on probably every three months just to keep it all fresh. Plus she's hilarious! I have remembered that from Oprah since she did that show, too!! Never equated it to decluttering but it works with it , too.

I love the container method!! I first did my bedroom and closet - mind blowing. It is a continual process so it just keeps getting better. I have done every space in my house. Thank you! Genius!!!

Abolsutely agree with the house cleaning! My husband jokes that I have to clean so that the house can be cleaned - but it forces me to keep order and allows me to do other things after working a full time job and maintaining our home!

Love you channel! Your videos are always so practical and informative. My opinion on the donations...Nearly everything we (ie everyone currently on the planet) now owns will at some point end up as trash. That’s the hard reality. Whether it’s next week or 50 or 60 (or more) years from now. So we can ease up in the guilt of where it goes once it leaves out house. The trick is to then minimize the new stuff that we acquire once we declutter.

You are so right about having a housekeeper keeping you on track with decluttering and daily upkeep!

The more I listen to you, the more I believe we have the same brain. Thank you for speaking my mess-language!

Your words on "idealism" really resonate with me. I hold onto SO much because I am waiting to get it to the perfect place/person so that it can be put to the "best" use possible.

OMG! I can so much relate to donating/getting rid of the stuffs responsibly. And the mental paralysis because of so many places are specialized to receiving only certain type of items

loved this... it will all be in some kind of landfill at one point; take it to the landfill or be the landfill.

I'm glad you have continued making videos. They are great.

Re- the house cleaner. I’m always telling my husband “oh c’mon, we aren’t even cleaning the house, we are still only tidying it so that we can clean!”

OMGsh, sooo glad to hear you have a cleaner! I recently decided to get my apartment in order then hire someone to hang all my decor I have stacked in corners that I love and have someone come in and clean every two weeks. I work full time plus overtime and a side hustle. Plus I have a couple needy little dogs and want to get back to having an active social life again. I absolutely NEED someone to come clean to keep me feeling fresh, less anxious and depressed and for accountability in keeping things picked up too. So I’m watching several of you and felt a bit overwhelmed and decided that yes, I can do this, but I really need the help still.

Ahhhh real talk Dana! I’m glad the way you explained simply that you have a house cleaner. You deserve ~😀❣️

Reading "Decluttering at the Speed of Life". It is so helpful! Thank you!

If people are concerned with who and where to donate! Donate to a church who accepts these items, or crisis center or the senior center in your area! There are lots of donation sites that need your items to help families!

Thanks for posting! I have learned so much! My whole house looks different because of your wisdom!

Dana, I have just taken your wonderful course (still re-watching the videos) and I have both of your books. I can't believe the difference all that is making in my home, even though I am my husband's full time caregiver. You have given me such hope. I wanted to say also, that I actually used your de-clutter without making a mess strategy on my paperwork too and I've gone all through the old stuff. Can't believe it myself. Thank you.

I have learned so much from you and had sooo many ah ha! moments listening to you! I have ALL the organizing and decluttering guru’s books and YOU have been the only one who HELPED me!

I don't need a bigger mess so I'm going to try this as well. Thanks, Dana!

Thanks Dana for posting! I can’t wait till next week. Your “container concept” has absolutely changed my life. Thank you! Blessings! ❤️

💯 on the cleaner! I work full time, do all the cooking and most of the cleaning with two littles! I am still on my declutter journey! Having a cleaner keeps my accountable and its worth every penny!

I'm loving your video's Dana. I've been helping my mother some. I've been asking her your questions ...and explaining and using the container concept with her on her "full but nice 3 bedroom home. and other things from the course...eventually when that time comes I will be the one to decide about all her things so we are doing some of it now. She is loving it.

Thanks for posting! Totally agree that clutter/non-clutter threshold is what works for each of us. Love it!

I typically don’t remove everything at once, but when I decluttered our pantry I did. We’re empty-nesters so the only reason I would get pulled away is because I got lazy and didn’t want to finish. This way I was forced to do the whole thing at once! 😉

I love Freecycle. There is probably one in almost every area. It's all done online and it is remarkable what people post. You can post to give away or needing something. Helped immensely with my decluttering

omg I love how you liken decluttering and being kidnapped!! Don't be taken to the second location!! So funny and true!

Thank you so much for addressing my surprise that you didn't get rid of the white bowl. That makes perfect sense to me now. 🙂🙂🙂

Thank you again Dana! I used your method this weekend and I am so delighted with the outcome. I shared this video in the comments of my Facebook post with photos of my success. 💜

thank you Dana, I cannot tell you how much I thank you. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great tip! In Germany as well as in the UK people are super grateful if you just „donate“ items for free on eBay or Facebook marketplace. Make bundles with the same size and they will be picked up by people from your house within 5 minutes after posting.

I think one of the MOST helpful tips from you is to put things where they go RIGHT NOW. I am such a procrastinator that I will just keep shuffling items around. I have had a binder sitting on my counter for almost a month now that came out of my basement (where I know I have moved it around several times) that needs to go back to church. I have been to church TWICE this week and totally forgot to grab the binder. So, this morning as I was dealing with the ever-present counter clutter, I decided to put it in my van. That way if I remember it while I am at church, it's in the van where I can grab it, and not at home on my counter. Akso love LESS = SUCCESS. I have been saying that to myself all weekend.

Oooh, a cliff-hanger! Can't wait for next week! :-D Not sure how you do it, Dana, but even though I've read and re-read both your books with love and gratitude and joy and attention, and am in your fabulous course, and look at your old videos etc. etc. -- you still have more to teach and demonstrate, and still say things that make me go AHA!! Thank you a thousand times!

Craigslist free list, community activists giving to those who are in need...my once a year tree pruner takes whatever good stuff I have to fire victims in Northern California. Some people are taking clothing to people at the southern border. Look for people who need what you want to get out. I give (easy to eat) pantry clearing items to homeless folks... Moving things to 2nd location has left every room full of stuff...thank you for encouragement to go forward. Home is not ready for a cleaner to come in, but I would love that!

You are seriously the best. Your method has completely changed how I declutter, as our thought processes are so similar it’s scary. 😂 I read Decluttering at the Speed of Life in a flash and then immediately started reading it again when I finished it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

I really needed this today! And making me laugh about the kidnapping analogy! I really appreciate your down to earth way of decluttering.

Love the videos. And love that your house is lived in and you are real. And I really enjoy learning from you

This idea has helped me so much.Make a decision not a big pile of decisions for later.It allows you to make progress by building decision making around your stuff.

You have helped me start. You encourage me to continue. When I master it I can stop watching. I will never master it cause its on going. Keep up the good work. God has given you knowledge you have used well.

I so agree with you about not pulling everything out. My distractions usually come three minutes after I’ve begun something. 🤦🏻‍♀️

This is actually my most favorite video yet, Dana. Well thought out, clear and thorough explanation of your method. And yes, it works!

Love that you’re on KZfaq more now👍

I needed this video. I’m really struggling with actually getting things out of my house because I want to know they’ll make it to the best place. I end up with just bags and boxes of donations that inevitably get mixed back in with the stuff I’m keeping. It’s an endless cycle. I need to just let stuff go

I used your donatable box method & loved it. I just got out of lockdown ( since before Christmas) & was finally able to take the boxes to the donation center! I feel so much better with less stuff to look after.

I like seeing the doggos in the background. And yes, agreed about the second location (for kidnapping, if not always for decluttering - my brain works a bit differently)

I can't stop watching your videos -- you totally crack me up, and I think we share a brain. I'm beginning to embrace some of your basics, and making some progress. Last night I watched your video about "containers" with the pens and the glass jars. When you said the shelf was too full, I thought 'She needs more shelves!" LOL