10 GENIUS Decluttering Tips from Dana K White I WISH I'd Known Sooner!!

[@1whitecottagelife770]

What made the most difference for me was to stop shopping. Period. Unless something runs out or breaks, I don't impulse buy it anymore. Also, putting all the like items together gave me a sobering experience of how much stuff I had in different areas of my house. Put all your makeup together in one place, by category and think realistically how many years it'll take you to use up what you have. After some internal crying, I gave away lots of still good products, forgave myself for wasting hundreds of dollars if not thousands, and STOPPED SHOPPING

[@Stephaniemickle]

We live in such a capitalist country in the USA that it’s disgusting how much. BUY BUY BUY. Every season every holiday every random reason or person in between. It’s a lot. I’ve gotten a big hold on my impulse controls too and try not to spend money that’s not a) benefitting me or my children or b) has no direct plan/need for. Like if I needed a new hose, I’ll buy one. But I don’t need a new hose and spray nozzle and 6 things for my garden. I just need the hose. lol like things like that are really hard to sometimes be mindful of but absolutely beneficial. I saw these cute planters in Michaels. I needed a Christmas tree, we didn’t have one at all, so we went over Black Friday and literally I wanted to buy this $5 planter so bad but I held it. Looked at it. And was like ya know what, I really don’t need this. I have pots and planters all over without plants in them. Use them first, self. lol but it makes such a difference it’s just hard when literally our world is designed for us to non stop spend ♥️

[@1whitecottagelife770]

@@Stephaniemickle I feel like we've allowed ourselves to slip into an addiction. And only once I admitted to myself that I had a problem, was I able to start changing. I'm horrified by how much stuff I brought into my house and life. If I dropped dead today, I feel like my daughter would hate me. It's exhausting, mentally and physically to go through everything and make decisions, but I'm doing it. And the shopping bug? It was hard, very hard in the beginning,but the more I broke the habit, the easier it got. I almost resent shopping now, I'm in and out and only purchase what I truly need. I've got enough stuff that is not a need, to last me years. I focus spending on relationships now. We don't take anything with us when our time is up, not even our body. I'm on a continuous journey to get rid of clutter, to the point where my house feels big

[@clairevincent5263]

It's so hard to stop buying. I've realised that shopping is preventing me from being bored or upset. How did you managed that ? (Excuse my english please)

[@1whitecottagelife770]

@@clairevincent5263 I stopped going into stores, I deleted online shopping apps.

[@kkrab123]

Shopping is also emotional for me. I often buy things just because they are pretty, and I love pretty things. Weird. Or I think something will just make me feel so much better. I also shop because I’m bored. Hate it! It is an addiction… you get a little high feeling from it.

[@mjgriffin49]

Thanks for giving Dana the credit she deserves for these ideas.

[@no_peace]

She's literally a genius. I'm so glad she decided to do this work and was able to find an audience so we can benefit from it all

[@CyndiCraven]

"It's just stuff. It doesn't have feelings." I LOVE that!!

[@SuperDrLisa]

It doesn't have feelings, but I do!

[@llamasugar5478]

I’ve decided to take pictures of sentimental things, then let some of them go. I want to make a Shutterfly book that I can look at and relive memories-which are the most important part.

[@melimoo6656]

When I first heard her comment about limiting your stuff to the containers, not expanding your Containers to accommodate the stuff was a real game changer for me! That was 5 years ago, and my house is definitely calmer and less clutter. ❤

[@no_peace]

Me too. Also i believe she's one of the people who has said to have LESS stuff than will fit. Like leave room to move things around. I never picked that up before for some reason and it made a huge difference

[@JillH419]

I’ve done that with Christmas decorations, only what fits in the wooden chest is kept, the only exception is the Christmas tree.

[@SometimesMyself]

I admit, I do like to toss stuff in a laundry basket when I’m declutterring. I do it because I can fill it with random stuff, then take it somewhere comfortable and sort through it. I know it (the laundry basket) is a quantity I can tackle in one sitting, which helpful because I otherwise feel paralyzed and avoid the job entirely. Small bites.

[@Summer_and_Rain]

I do that too. It really helps giving some item the extra thought before making an decision and because it is detain it becomes less overwhelming :)

[@mijuajua4820]

yes!!! love this tip❤ This works for me too😊

[@rebeccajordan4491]

Dana is my absolute favorite of all the declutter gurus. Her words stick with me like glue, and the Container Concept is LIFE CHANGING.

[@FancyThatwithCandice]

Agree!!!! She is amazing!!!

[@angelas.goodman9891]

I totally agree! I also have ADHD.

[@tknows470]

I love her and Clutterbug Me (Cassandra Aarsen)!

[@no_peace]

I'm AuDHD and there aren't very many people who understand the needs of people like me. They give bad advice that makes it worse for a lot of us. They don't understand the underlying issues. But she gets it. Also a lot of creators/authors focus on other stuff, like abandoning shame or whatever. That's awesome for people who need that, seriously, not sarcastic. But it is of no use to me, i just need practical day to day mechanical how to advice. It's a (non-emotional) disability issue for me and what she says addresses a huge percentage of the disability issues. Not all of them lol. Just a ton.

[@no_peace]

I have a few other people and resources who made this all come together for me but I have to mention that Dawn the minimal mom helped me so much too. She is "naturally messy" too. She gets it and her delivery doesn't set off my nervous system. But most of all the tactics she shares are practical and you can generalize them. It isn't "600 things to get rid of." It's like "the things in your house are a silent to do list" or "everything in your house is inventory you have to manage." She also talks about cognitive load too which is especially important for disabled people. These are concepts that apply to everything, unlike a lot of "get rid of anything you haven't used in a year." It's like being taught how to season a recipe instead of being taught 3 recipes. If you know what I mean

[@SassySue67]

Love Dana K White. Her tips are so helpful. Kudos to you for mentioning her and her strategies. Your pupper on the bed snoozing is adorable.

[@sherry1547]

Before the school year I take all of daughter's clothes out of her closet, separate them into jeans, pants, skirts, shorts..... Then I do the same thing with all of her shirts, sweaters, and other tops. I match them up into outfits, and if something doesn't have a mate to it, that's what we shop for. I do the same thing with my son's clothing. I save tons on buying totally new, and all these other clothes are still in fantastic shape.

[@wendylang2360]

I like to do this with my wardrobe before I go to buy second hand clothing - having a mix&match wardrobe is great & extends the seasons that clothes will be worn -example: a simple summer top will be worn into 🍂Autumn if you have a cardigan that compliments it, or a pretty coloured t-shirt worn under a button up blouse that you wear unbuttoned. It is amazing how you can actually find something of the colour you want, that you won't find in the stores because it is not this season's colour.

[@deliarealtor]

Cleaned my garage one day, took everything out and put it in groups of what each item was for (auto, lawn, trash, etc.) took me 6 hours but was totally worth it, now the garage is organized and I can park the car in there.

[@adz5bneweng589]

Love Dana K White! And she has a great sense of humor too.

[@nogames8982]

One of the most helpful things I started doing was putting an empty box in a corner of my house. And whenever I came across an object that I wanted to donate to Goodwill, it went in that box. When the box is full, I take it to Goodwill. And put another box in the corner. It has worked so well it's amazing. And I make a rule that I never take anything back out of that box. I never look at the object again. I highly recommend this technique.

[@Phlowermom]

I distinctly remember my dad going into to my sisters shared room early one morning and telling them that he would be home at 6:00pm. As soon as he changed out of uniform he would be in here with big garbage bags from the messhall and ANYTHING left on the floor or under the beds or shoved in a closet or not put away WHERE IT BELONGS would go into the bags, back to the base and into the big trash bins where it would go away forever!! And then he left for work and the frenzy began!! That was a fun day for my nine year old self!! My room was spotless!!

[@Alice-s6g8s]

😂

[@macprincess2]

Omg how long did it take you to do?

[@bethanygrey]

My mom did this one day-but we didn’t believe her and didn’t clean up. So that day she threw away almost all our stuff! 😆

[@lucystrider728]

Anyone else see some of the holiday movies through new eyes when you see the extensive shopping, gift giving and expectations, and high inventory decorations that must take up a room the rest of the year when stored? I have scaled way down on decor and have gone to giving (and getting)nearly all consumable gifts. Still festive, but much less waste, clutter, storage needed, money spent, and stress of figuring out what to give. So much simpler, and prevents clutter before it gets in your house.

[@Jennifer-nz2ss]

I can watch those movies now and enjoy their decorations, but I don't want my own apt filled up with decor! Then where do i store it all. I don't want to rent a storage locker for decor!! I do put decor out, but I don't put it up on everything. Plus I feel it's kinda tacky to put up so much decor your house looks like a dept Store. I can enjoy it in the stores then go on home. My apt is decorated nicely, just not exploding with stuff anymore. I've stopped buying it!!

[@johncarter4411]

Consumable gifts, that is a great idea.

[@pam81161]

I hmgive experience like mini-golf or tour vouchers or gas gift 😢cards or restaurant gift cards or discount vouchers. That way I know they will be used without creating clutter fot others.

[@llamasugar5478]

@@pam81161Yes! I made mine really professional (because I enjoyed that) and gave my 27-year-old coupons for some new experiences. And for some familiar ones we really enjoy together. I love consumable gifts! Or if someone wants to make a donation to a charity for me, I love that, too!

[@g.flesch9731]

Every holiday marketing is telling us to buy. Christmas is the worst. If you celebrate Christmas, you already have decorations. Now they are selling holiday themed clothes even for kids. Your child does not need holiday specific clothes. By January, those clothes are not wearable. Same with other holiday stuff. There is a constant holiday push to force buying. Resist. Except for kids, give something that is disposable. No one wants your idea of decore. Buy less. If you have a walk-in closet stuffed with clothes, you have too many clothes. Find a thrift store & donate. Get off the treadmill of buying to just buy another shiny thing. Stop buying plastic junk.

[@JKatherineDurham]

Dana K White and you and Dawn from minimal mom and Cass from clutterbug are all fantastic and inspirational. It makes me so happy when you ladies support each other and introduce people to each other. You're fighting against clutter together.

[@tamadonnat.299]

Same ones I watch as well!

[@HeronCoyote1234]

Don’t forget Kallie from But First, Coffee. She’s got some great ideas as well.

[@JKatherineDurham]

@progressiveheart8333 oh yes yes we cannot forget to include her.

[@Hmy8799]

All my peeps!!! Including our girl from ¡But First, Café Olé!

[@evelynlee3323]

These three lovely ladies have got it going on!!! They are such a great source of motivation. They each bring their special gifts to share.

[@bellaluce7088]

This was great! Thank you! 😃 My summary: - “Less and better” are more effective goals than “finished and done.” - Start with a highly visible area (vs. a closet) so you get encouragement every time you walk by it and see progress. : - ) - Stop stuff shuffling. (Instead get things out of the house, or assign a home for them.) - Ask, “Where would I look for this first?” and put it there. If you wouldn’t look for it, let it go. - Pull only one item out at a time and complete the cycle-if trash, throw away; if it has a home, take it there immediately (or assign one---it doesn’t have to be perfect). (Prevents having a huge pile to put away at the end when you're out of time or already burned out.) - Start by removing trash. It makes a difference instantly and provides encouragement. : - ) - Once you’ve decluttered your bathroom completely, put things away every day to prevent chaos returning. ; - ) - Use decluttering supplies that help you: an opaque trash bag so you (and others) don’t second-guess decisions; a donatable donation box or bag so you don’t have to handle things again. - If you can’t reach bottom/back of washing machine, use salad tongs to grab items. - Use the container concept to determine maximum inventory (applies to drawers, closets, and whole house). If something doesn’t fit, use the one-in, one-out principle. ❤❤

[@FancyThatwithCandice]

Spot on!!!!

[@bellaluce7088]

@@FancyThatwithCandice : - )

[@klmjtr]

Omg thank you! 🙏🏼

[@brendatomlinson]

Excellent summary!

[@knoklue01]

All of Dana’s tips right in this comment!

[@1whitecottagelife770]

Oh, and one more thing that I learned through personal experience, is that you need to remove the decluttered items immediately from your home, or else they have a tendency to magically end up back in your closet

[@teriw56]

Black bag is awesome

[@1whitecottagelife770]

@@teriw56 might be, but it's no match for me if I start getting the urge to double check my decisions... it's best to remove the bag with stuff from your house asap.

[@no_peace]

​@@1whitecottagelife770i can't let bags go. They never get out of the house right away but they DO always end up with something in them that isn't supposed to be there. So I do have to check them if they aren't perfectly closed immediately. Even if I use a bag for 2 days of decluttering i still have to check it on the second day because someone will put garbage or other stuff in bags like that. It's better in my house to use boxes

[@natalieeubank4533]

I don’t, my declutter spot is the corner of my front closet the kids know where all the stuff they don’t want goes then when every Tuesday comes I drop it off at my church’s Samaritan room

[@ellenhofer3343]

Once something goes in the whote or black garbage bag, my rule is to not look in it. And, I don't

[@sarahlennox8963]

I watched something that said, "Throw those old birthday cards away!!!" And it changed my life 😂😂😂 I had hundreds and hundreds of cards because I was so deeply appreciative when someone gave me a card, I couldn't bare to part with it... But now, I realise it's important to hold to the memory, not the physical thing. Remember their kindness, take in the moment. But let the card go, baby 😂😂😂

[@Amy_Stanmore]

It's even 10x better when you say I really love the cards you send but I don't really need them anymore. I would prefer if you just give me a quick call that week instead.

[@trishahutchinson3485]

I LOVE Dana K White! Cass from Clutterbug and Dawn from The Minimal Mom are great as well!

[@FancyThatwithCandice]

They are all AMAZING!

[@stowie7733]

Dana’s tip on giving everything in your house a home was my “AHA” moment. In the process of going through my first decluttering process, I found so many duplicates of too many items. I also like her decluttering without making a bigger mess process. I know I have reduced my household items by 50%.

[@hamothemagnif8529]

A guy named Dave Crenshaw says, “everything has a home, and there are no visitors” for his quick clean up exercise.

[@kelliwhittaker7502]

If I look for something and it’s not in the first place I look, I remember that spot and continue to look for it until I find it. Then when I’m done using it, I return it to the first place I looked and say to myself, “This is where you will be when I come back to you.” It works…most of the time ☺️

[@leahnewyork]

love this insight

[@joycebates6411]

Yes! Clutter shuffling! I have shuffled clutter for decades!

[@maryb-h980]

Hi Candice, I'm so glad for you that you found Dana! She was the one who got me into decluttering at 68, for the first time in my life! Be blessed mxxx

[@LaHermitess]

Thank you for such a clear and concise summary of Dana's major decluttering and organizing suggestions. I discovered her by chance about 10 months ago and have never looked back as there was finally a method to improving my environment that I could actually connect with. As someone to whom everything individually sparked joy, who could never get past the 'empty the entire drawer/closet,/room portion that most organizers begin with, and who would lose energy, interest and motivation long before getting through the organize & replace portion of the process... she was a breath of fresh air. Not only do I now get some otherwise studiously avoided exercise when immediately taking things to where they belong, but being able to stop at any point (even after dealing with a single item) and know you have actually slightly improved your home is a major motivator. Recognizing the logic of her container theory was embarrassingly obvious but so easy a concept to understand and apply. I am not a declutter by nature (and not sure that I want to be) but I am an organizer and have made huge inroads in controlling my belongings as they gradually diminish by attrition. Although her videos give terrific advice, she does have a definite style, so to have access to her books and your presentation of her tips makes for a fantastic option to supplement her own videos.

[@JessicaSmith-gd1fu]

I agree with the black bag concept but if you don't have any, use what you have and immediately put it in the trunk of your car. Put a sticky note on the dash to remind you to either donate or dump. My daughter-in-law had albums specifically for each child. During the year their artwork would go in a box. At the end of the year, she and a child would go through their box and choose what went in the album. All the rest would be tossed.

[@sherry1547]

I wish I could have kept all of my kids art projects. But, I placed them all in a row and took pictures of them. That way we could still see them for the beautiful artwork that they were.

[@wendylang2360]

I like the sticky note idea. So much better than getting back to the car with a trolley full of groceries, to discover the boot is already full of stuff!

[@DFBurgermeister]

Love your videos! I discovered Dana K White about 3 years ago and still use her methods today. Her container ‘rule’ is what has kept me from returning to my old ways.

[@HeronCoyote1234]

My best friend needed his very cluttered office cleaned quickly as he was starting a new job, wfh, telehealth, a few days after Thanksgiving. The first thing we did was get rid of the actual trash. Between papers and thingamabobs just laying all over, that step alone made a huge difference.

[@JudyFitch-g4f]

Dana K. White is so helpful. I agree with you about pulling everything out being so overwhelming. I started with my bedroom closet, and pulled everything out. Wasn’t sure if I could get it finished before I needed to fix dinner! lol. I am glad I found others who had different ways of declutterring! I enjoy your videos so much! Thank you for being so inspirational!

[@Wiseowlbudgets]

I have just listened to her book "decluttering at the speed of life" twice, back to back and it has literally blown me away how motivating I found it and How much I got done while listening. The container concept is fantastic. I'm in the season of life now that means for our family this method is very effective!

[@constantinprayer757]

Living in Trinidad without dryer and diswasher Dana is the best in all the decluttering annd home management gurus. The easiest most sensible strategies that Anyone can do in anytime. Life changing

[@thechickincharge1073]

Stuff shifting!!😳😬YEP. 41 years of marriage and I have become a master at fooling myself into thinking I have decluttered by simply repackaging my things (getting rid of maybe one to every ten items, maybe) and putting them into a less used space or closet so that my most used are better utilized. I have adult kids that move back home with their things in tow and I inherit an abundance of extra everything! I am currently dealing with this very issue! I am going to be ruthless with some areas this month!! Taking notes on your video to keep me inspired!!

[@auntyv]

It took me until I turned 64 to figure out that happiness is a choice, and buying things does nothing for my happiness, never has and never will. Now, as you say, if you run out and you need it, buy it. If it breaks and you can't fix it, then consider replacing it. After all, we do not sit back in a idle moment and think about the things we have BOUGHT. We do sit back and think about the things we have done, places we have gone, and people we have known, and we can do that until the moment we die. Material things don't satisfy in the long run and are easily forgotten.

[@berits.2346]

True. But while you're getting older, surrounding yourself with pretty stuff is okay, too.

[@1whitecottagelife770]

Only clothes I took out of my closet and moved to a different closet are some pieces that don't fit me anymore, but I decided that if they still don't fit in a year then I'll donate them.

[@Summer_and_Rain]

Trash tossing and the container principle is the best day-to-day tips :)

[@MountainBabyRoses]

Dealing with "relocated items" this is why i love the kids helping me! They are my runners. They put it in the place where it needs to go instead of me sitting with 5 piles around me that inevitably end up playing the clutter shuffle.

[@barbkandel777]

Candice, I love Dana K White and you explained her decluttering tips so well, in this video. Her systems work, especially for those who are totally overwhelmed. You knocked it out of the park with this video! Her Container Concept is pure gold!!!! Great video!

[@julietannOsfan1972]

Great tips. I especially agree about decluttering gradually, rather than all in one day. I’ve forgotten how many times I’ve started to declutter a room, got bored & overwhelmed & put the whole lot back where they were. By the way, your dog is so cute.

[@Jules4Hymn]

Millennial mom has a "get ready" container for getting ready in the morning. It has been a game changer for me. Love Dana's decluttering methods! Dawn, Dana, and Cass - best trio on the internet!

[@geniune111]

Oh I jus forgot that i came for decluttering tips ... Your puppy is soo cute & sleeping peacefully that it took all my attention.

[@thesehandsart]

Dana is AMAZING!

[@RondaFouch]

She the best

[@talithakoum1266]

We waste soooo much money on stuff we don’t need. If I could go back to my younger self as much as I loved decorating my homes I’d keep it as simple as possible and I’d find other things to do to quench my creativity. ❤️

[@pam81161]

I saw one of Dana K. White's videos a couple of days ago and was blown away by how simple her 5 steps to decluttering are. I nevee had a clue...never been taught this wisdom of decluttering. My family are mostly hoarders, so I apparently inherited this hoarder gene from birth. But, no more. I am putting Dana's 5 rules to use this weekend after a funeral and doctor appointments are done.

[@mnmo4bb]

My two year old is loving watching her dog on the bed in the background!

[@janethunt4037]

I love that you spent 5 minutes a day on your closet. It is my last frontier. I've decluttered my house, but not my clothes. This will get me through it. Your puppy on the bed is so cute!!!!! Make sure you hug him every day.

[@helen1859]

Another great video ❤ having decluttered loads of my stuff, I do 'sweeps ' now of small areas . It's a process. My home is still nice and cosy despite letting go of so much. My books are the hardest and I've kept my favourite ones I re-read. Xx

[@ninak8506]

Love Dana K White! She's genius. I have laundry tongs & use the container concept now. Keep chipping away it. It's way too overwhelming to tackle all at once.

[@barbkandel777]

Really learn and understand Dana's Container Concept. It is pure gold and changes everything!!!! :)

[@loritr]

I don't remember which organizer influencer said this. But it changed my life..." progress over perfection". I repeat this daily to myself and it helps so much

[@sherrymerritt6931]

That’s Flylady!

[@lynnleipold2617]

Your puppy dog is just adorable!

[@PowerfulMoneyHabits]

I scanned my son’s artwork and made 2 mini books from them. Pre-l and elementary. It made great xmas gifts for gmas and then afterwards, I threw everything out. No more paper!

[@Louloufandancer]

Love this idea ❤

[@donnabrooks5896]

I always try to keep at least a couple of boxes in my house. I find that if I don’t have a box to put yard sale or donation items in, I use that as a reason not to declutter. Now I keep at least one box set aside so that as soon as I realize that I don’t want something, I deal with it right then by putting it in the box.

[@michellechouinard4958]

I feel like the pantry IS a highly visible spot in your house. You go in there multiple times per day (mine even stays open for half the day) and it just feels so good to be able to know what food you have, and how much.

[@danaplate6459]

I also love Dana K. White! Her other book "Decluttering At the Speed of Life" is also a helpful resource. Because of her, my donations go into brown large grocery store bags - no need to do a second look thru and transfer before donating. Great video! Always rooting for you!!!! Dana (another onel) Charlotte, NC

[@Stephaniemickle]

The perfectionism of decluttering makes the whole “minimalist lifestyle” so overwhelming for me. I’m adhd and literally, can’t do it. This is also my own fault I know, I can’t expect to declutter, clean, and organize all at once but that’s forever what my brain wants to do. So I get stuck, like I’ll start my dishes, and then look at my stove like oh that needs to be cleaned, now I’m cleaning my stove and my dishes are half done and I’m getting rid of things slowly, but I’m a clutter shuffler too. I don’t know why it’s not more encouraged to do it with a friend. Mirroring is a very common help to people. Grab a friend, grab your husbands, boyfriends, whatever. Have them help. It’s not ALL on the woman/mother of the household.

[@cynthiaewing6584]

Been there Took years to dig out & still have quite a way to go… I WILL NOT STOP I WILL PRESS ON &&&&& NOONE WILL EVER AGAIN CAUSE ME TO FEEL DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THEIR GASLIGHTING!!! AMEN!! SELAH!!!

[@rebeccamyers805]

I relate!!!I’ve been downsizing for 4 years since my husband died. I’m in the middle of unpacking after purchasing a mobile home. I’m still getting rid of stuff!! It is so much❤ hang in there girl!! I get it . I’m bouncing around different rooms not getting much done. I’ve ended up with a bigger pile!! It’s a long process. 😊❤

[@ashleyb6258]

Yes! I’m there too.

[@HeronCoyote1234]

My best friend has ADHD, so I’ve been helping him declutter/organize the house. He surprised me (his idea 100%) Thanksgiving morning by decluttering the kitchen counters on either side of the stove before we started on the turkey. It made cooking and clean up SO much easier. We’ve managed to keep the surfaces clear for a week now. I cleared the counter on the sink side this morning. Practice, not perfection.

[@Wendy-WackyWomanCreations]

Watch (or read her books) A Slob Comes Clean, Dana K White. It will change your life

[@antiquesrestoration3874]

Dana is a genius. Her process is unlike anything else out there and works for anyone at any time. She is such a delight and her attitude, compassion, and understanding is unrivaled.

[@Homelifelearning]

Danas book decluttering at the speed of life was amazing for me, it got into my head that you dont have to do it all at once.

[@rebeccaarcher5139]

My big shocker moment was the "start where you just finished...go BACK and spiff up what you just did last time!" I think, in my head, it was "done" and so time to move on! But life happens, and the beautiful spot I had made was all messy again. I would get so discouraged. But putting that into the plan..keep Spot 1 tidy with a 5 minute pick-up before moving on to Spot 2...that was a game changer for me! (Seemed like a no brainer, but I needed someone to tell me.)

[@SummaGirl1347]

Amazon Addict here: What finally did it for me was: Watching my bank balance go up during the months when I put myself on a spending diet. Asking myself: If I were at the store today, would I buy this again? If not - it could go. Realizing how many people had nothing and could actually put my stuff to use. This really helped in decluttering my kitchen. Realizing the I had wasted the money when I bought it, not when I gave it away.

[@BendviewFarm-dq4sp]

I love Dana and have been learning from her for years. She is awesome! My house is like night & day - and I’ve been able to help my Mom declutter a couple rooms!

[@deannajuhl8347]

I like to limit my stuff from the kids to file folders in the 4 drawer file cabinet. We had 4 grandchildren who moved in with us when their parents divorced. Mom was truly busy and had a hard time keeping track of her own stuff. So Granma did. When each of them graduated from high school and was preparing for their open house, I gave them their folders and they could pick and choose anything they wanted to display. None of it could come back to Granma's file cabinet however. They had to absorb the stuff into their own keepsake stuff. Most of it went into file 13, I believe, but was fun to reminisce about this and that when they were getting ready to say goodby to 13 years in the same school. (small country school with the same kids k thru 12)

[@kathystearns9012]

I started with hidden spaces too because it was eating my brain. I was encouraged every time I opened those spaces to use items and to put them away - because those spaces made life easier 😊

[@nogames8982]

I bought some nice wooden hangers. And I only allow myself to have enough shirts, etc. that fit on the hangers. That's a really good way to limit how many items of clothing you own. I have one curio cabinet and one corner shelf and that's where knickknacks go. Again self-limiting. So I have had to get rid of things that don't fit into those spaces

[@mjs4663]

I'm doing this too. I don't really have a lot of clothes in the first place though. So I plan to have a small bin above my closet with out of season clothes. 10 hangers for dresses or nicer clothes. And a few items that are just easier in my dresser like t-shirts, shorts and underwear. I would hang them too, but I have a gorgeous French provincial dresser that I share, and I want to use it.

[@suzy1676]

Highly recommend listening to Dana K. White's books. They are amazing and so relatable! ❤😊

[@StephieGsrEvolution]

Does she do the audio herself for them?

[@ruth4114]

I love it when I see videos of ladies supporting each other. I enjoy your videos and also love all the ladies out there trying to help us with decluttering our homes. Thank you all.❤

[@ToniBergquist]

Dana’s “No Mess” Decluttering Method has completely changed my overwhelm to doable! I love that I can declutter a space and not have a pile to clean up when I’m tired.

[@elsh332]

Im not buying anything this year that hasn't run out that i need or broken that i rely on. I believe this will be the first and most important step towards being able to manage my home better.

[@deloreshall5459]

Great video. Just decluttered my hall closet. Been wanting to do for a while. Took emotions out. Got rid of lot of stuff. Actually found hand held shark vacuum forgot I had. So happy. Great find to vacuum out my vents.🕺💃😄

[@fundamonium]

Your dog made this video ❤ so cute

[@treluvstrees999]

“ Less and better!” I have just started embracing this concept and it removes the anxiety! Left foot, right foot, one step at a time

[@candacehaley1469]

Oh my word! Tongs to get stuff out of the washer. I was worried about getting a top loader, and my sister leaves stuff until her husband gets home. Now we can finish our laundry!

[@sharondesfor5151]

I recently moved, the new house has an HE top loader. I hate it so much. What possessed designers to make the machine utterly inaccessible to anyone under 6' tall? I have a step stool beside it, so I can reach the bottom of the tub. Stupid, annoying, and I can't wait for it to break. Grr. Also, how is it more efficient to use half the water and twice the electricity? No, seriously, what's the rationale? I've never heard.

[@AuDHD_Mom]

Reading her book, Decluttering at the Speed of Life, really helped me shift my perspective!

[@jessicaquiroz7178]

I love her container concept. I’ve been trying to use that a lot when I’m decluttering.

[@UllaMarieMears]

You give me hope, thanks. I will immediately declutter some space in my house. One thing at a time. It's good enough. I really love listening to you. A new video so soon, that was a nice ❤surprise. I think you are both brave and generous for sharing your experiences with us, again and again. I admire you.

[@karensamuels390]

I just spent another 2 hours discarding photos. Omg. I have a lot to go but it must be done. Why did I take a photo of every single scrimmage, huddle, backs of heads etc of my sons??? Well, lots are going for shredding. Prob have 20 pound to take from this session alone.

[@elifm2271]

Huge piles of stuff to declutter is my last few months and i am so tired of it and so my family! It really does not empower you during the process, exact opposite! I find your video really useful. Thanks!

[@susanoutler1724]

🤗❤️✨… I love your enthusiasm! Something is always better than nothing!…

[@Vestalbullet]

This is so good! Thank you! Being a military spouse and moving to often, I have become a relocation professional. 23 years of moving and dealing with health issues, I have ended up with so much stuff! I’m so good at just packing stuff up and setting it aside to sort through another day.

[@labradorite8256]

To be fair on yourself, moving is a huge burden. I hope that stage is over.

[@laurat7324]

That pup on the bed ❤

[@suzy1676]

Great job! DKW is my hero! I hate having piles of things to deal with after all the work of decluttering a space!

[@terryruiz7417]

I'm a huge fan of Dana's. Her method makes sense, and, it works!

[@cassielefeber9123]

Great tips! I try to remind myself that anything worth doing is worth doing partially/imperfectly

[@christined2495]

Love Candice, and Dawn (minimal mom) it is 6 years for me that all I own is what I love and need, I Can’t imagine living any other way

[@AuDHD_Mom]

I took a screenshot of the first point, because it was so pretty with the plant leaves behind the letters. Kind of bummed you didn't do that with all the points!

[@conniebeane6164]

Dana's a genius!!!! Her method is the only one that has ever worked for me. Understanding that "decluttering" is a constant process rather than the finish line is the key to staying motivated.

[@kathym6603]

You have motivated me to get started and work under your instructions. You make it seem enjoyable to make more space and get rid of distractions.

[@s.a.6082]

Dana is absolutely fabulous!! She’s also so compassionate and relatable.

[@lisalinder2697]

I love Dena K White! And I really love your channel too😊 I cannot agree, more suggestion to use tongs in the laundry room. I am 4’10” and I bruised my ribs trying to get laundry out of the bottom of a washing machinetub. I wish I’d thought of this idea then.😮😂

[@FrattandChelsea]

I LOVE DANA!!!! I repeat her "Better is BETTER!!!" and "Take it there NOW!" ALL THE TIME! Also, because of her I got rid of the Chair of Doom in my bedroom and I've never looked back! She's AWESOME 🥰

[@wannaduckfin]

When I saw the Marie Condo method of dumping everything I KNEW it wasn't for me! Gave me knots in my stomach. I love Dana's systematic step by step process. No overwhelm! 🎉

[@papermason]

I declutter using a very simplified Konmari-- 3 times. It did actually work well for me, I had tons of stuff. I was able to think about it. KM takes time, and can be emotionally exhausting even for a hour. I don't follow rules, I just try to be honest with myself.

[@ThankfulQue]

"Wish I'd Known" - thank you for that. Seriously. Grammar is becoming a lost art and I am truly thankful for the proper tense used here. No kidding. It renews my faith. Happy New Year!

[@NJHeart2Heart]

Dana K White loyalist here! Glad to see another coming into the "light" :)

[@buddyneher9359]

Yes, Dana is the GOAT! and she is my guru. I like your phrase too, though - "clutter shuffling". Yup!

[@bitrudder3792]

for about eight dollars, I found one of those grabbers with a long handle meant for elderly people. It was at one of those harbor freight/tractor supply kind of stores. I got it to grab lightweight things from a high shelf so I wouldn't need to go grab the stepladder. It works really well when a piece of clothing falls between the washer and dryer or behind them. I'll let needs is a hook to hang on the wall in an unobtrusive place close to where you use it the most often.

[@Coffee-Makeup-Stationary]

Oh my gosh! Candice! I cannot believe I stumbled upon your video!! I searched for decluttering and organizing videos and found you. Again! I watched you back in the days of yore when you did make up reviews and things like that. I still watch makeup videos, but I’m in a decluttering and organizing season of life- thus I find you again! My husband and I are empty nesters now, we downsized / upgraded to a condo up the street from where we raised our kids. Less space feels refreshing. (We’ve been here 3 years this July) and we are still learning our space and how we organize is ever changing. Nice to see you and very happy to subscribe to this channel. 🥰🤩

[@laurieclarkson9180]

First time I saw Dana was on Mel Robbins' channel and I had two "A-ha moments"...The thing that blew my mind-- I did not know that these people existed. I mean, I knew messy people existed (I can be messy sometimes) but when Dana started talking about how her brain works, it helped me understand better why my sister and i (for example) will argue whenever we organize/clean her house. I thought "wow, people DON'T understand the container concept? People actually don't know what they have unless it's out where they can see it? They don't keep all of their like items, with like items?!?!" It helped me understand that my sister's brain works differently. These things that are simple concepts to me, are a big struggle for her. Which led to my second A-ha..We've all heard that we have "gifts" that we should share with the world..Finding your purpose can be linked to your talents--things that you do better than most, things that you like that others hate, or things that come easy to you that others struggle with. We often sit there thinking we don't have gifts "I don't know how to sing like Beyonce" or "I don't know how to paint like Wyeth" or whatever, but truth is, we usually don't know what our gifts are because they are such normal qualities to us, that we think everyone just does the same or thinks like we do. So for naturally organized people, you could really help others! And for people who are like Dana, Ed Mylett says "You are qualified to help the person you used to be. No one else is going to understand them the way that you do" and that is what is such a blessing about Dana! We organized folks can only help so far, but Dana really understands how their brains work! Great video!

[@carolemmons9676]

Some great motivation! Tip for saving your childs drawings, memories etc. I save my grandchildren's lovely works of art digitally! I hang them up for a few months then I photo scan them (or just cell phone picture) with which child created the masterpiece and the date. Created a digital folder for each child. This way I can view at anytime and also see their creativeness grow.

[@no_peace]

I love Dana so much. I worked on an area that i used most often even though it wasn't all visible. I needed my dish cupboards decluttered more than my entryway because it made it easier to do dishes

[@MrsPink64]

I’m a Dana K White junkie 😄. Thanks for the different angles of her routines.

[@sandygarcia8972]

Like that term clutter blind.. love love love Dana!🌲😘🌲

[@lydiacalderon1124]

Great job in describing Dana's process and the benefit of doing it that way. 🎉