3 Easy Steps to CLEAR COUNTERS

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you so much for watching! 3 Simple Steps to Overcome Flat Surface Clutter. Find the free printable here: www.theminimalmom.com/pl/2148213616 Learn more about the Teux App here: teuxdeux.com/minimalmom The video where I explain how I use Teux Deux: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4vdeGuQqMRlo5Isi=VF8hFcIaiZLD2Ji5 I hope you have a great day! - Dawn

[@izabelarobinson3639]

Do you also have a link for the to do app that you mentioned? Thanks so much this is amazing 🤩

[@rachelday1803]

I was looking as well!

[@TheMinimalMom]

@@izabelarobinson3639 I knew I was forgetting something! Here you are: teuxdeux.com/minimalmom

[@TheMinimalMom]

@@rachelday1803 Here you are! teuxdeux.com/minimalmom

[@izabelarobinson3639]

Thanks so much! 👍🏻😀

[@kakylong2]

Dawn, The other day, I cleaned off the kitchen counter & my Hubby said wow the kitchen looks great. He & I were talking last wk & he actually said 5 minutes matter. I asked him where he heard that & he said that "Justin Case" lady. 😅 He is listening when I play your videos. Keep up the great videos. 😊

[@janetsandham7058]

Lol funny u should say ur hubby listens So does mine He be sat there quiet ,or watching TV Playing a game and suddenly he comes out with U watching so an so , Or hey that sounded good Good idea that , Shows they Do hear us when we ask them do somthing lol

[@kakylong2]

Absolutely. My Hubby recognizes Dawn, Tom, Cas & a couple more crafters voices. 😅

[@daughterofmyabba]

Haha Justin case lady 😂

[@lynnharr3911]

Just when I'm about to give up, Dawn comes to the rescue.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Lol, this is the best!!!!

[@alisien6227]

Dawn, I'm a recent subscriber and I've been decluttering my home like crazy since the holidays. Ive always been tidy and a bit of a minimalist at heart, but being pregnant with my 4th kid with a 4, a 3 and a one year old at home had me feeling like I was drowning and sort of surviving. Anyways, today my husband thanked me for everything I had been doing to declutter our home (he grew up with hoarders for parents) and commented on how much easier everything is. We even noticed this past week, while everyone was sick with the flu, that picking up the toys and doing the dishes weren't a burden to us. Thank you so much for the inspiration to finally saying to heck with all this unnecessary crap 😂 I know I'm not finished with this journey but it has already been worth it and has brought so much peace to our home.

[@dreamer6943]

I hope I can do this eventually

[@NovasYouTubeName]

So wonderful, great job and thanks for sharing ❤

[@tgayer1]

Way to go! Blessings to you and your family!

[@hopefirst3716]

@@dreamer6943you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. just be happy. ❤

[@daisybuchanan5378]

What a wonderful gift to your whole family. Congratulations on your newest baby.

[@Megan-nk2hk]

You help me throw so many things out! I just always repeat, “You have permission”! Thank you for giving us permission Dawn!!

[@erinespinosa9739]

Dawn I just want to let you know that you and Cass literally changed my life! I started watching your guy's videos about 5 years ago. Did not take action for months, but got really excited. I was literally like that women's kitchen you did, who's house looked great. My house is 4000 sq ft and EVERY closet, drawer, cupboard, under beds .. was jam packed with garbage,junk, nothing had a home...... We have a s cond garage that was floor to ceiling and you had to climb mountains to get to anything! I have spent 4 years, got rid of about 50-60 percent of all of our belongings. I have a confession to make though: My ADHD brain just can't get my house beautifully organized, so I have hired an organizer to work with me for 30 hours,! Don't judge me!

[@elleg2851]

Great job!!!!!❤

[@toddylu6869]

But you have learned your limitation… that’s huge!! I discovered after trying bins in the cabinet and bins in The fridge…I just don’t like them. To me they corral clutter…but that is me. I have tried to put our bread goods in a basket on the kitchen counter. My husband says he hates it… I don’t know why but I have to respect it because he lives here too. He is a cricket in his garage though. I’m a ladybug. When I decluttered 2 years ago he said I went “ scorched Earth” getting rid of stuff. We only have a king bed and two small night stands in the bedroom… I got rid of a chest of drawers, armoire and dresser. I use our closets and drawers in The bathroom. I still have a way to go but it is better having no clutter on the bathroom counter, hand soap only and the occasional seasonal decor.

[@NovasYouTubeName]

Hey I need the actual person in my house to help me too!! I’m still proud of what I’ve done and you should be too!❤

[@no_peace]

Me too, but Dawn and Dana have helped me the most, because of my thinking style. Like literally changed my life

[@hp-cs7mx]

Oh that is such an excellent idea for you! I’m working on finding homes for things I want and need and getting rid of the rest.

[@rachelskirts]

I've been an Inbox Zero girlie for a long time, and I used to put all of my still-relevant emails in one folder to get them out of the way. But after watching your videos, I've split that folder into "Things to Do" and "Time Will Tell" folders instead, and omg, game-changer! Keeping the important tasks away from the kinda-wanna-do-this-someday tasks is so helpful!

[@k26kv31]

We found that labeling those small bags of extra nut and bolts with a sharpie before tossing them into a drawer help to identify them later. We also label all black chargers with a silver sharpie so we know what they go to. Love all of your tips and tricks!

[@selmadebeer7272]

We call ours the Tiddly Bits Draw 😊

[@skyedaisy4007]

Thanks Dawn ! Bonus tip :)) put the whole tray with napkins salt and pepper etc on a shelf in the pantry and just bring out when needed and then so easy to put all away in one go and no clutter on worktop.

[@tangomango5360]

For me, it’s “out of sight out of mind”. I think that’s why I leave a lot of stuff on the counter. But then, it’s a constant reminder to clean up which makes me tired, just looking at all my clutter. 😢❤

[@elaineashley1958]

I bought Kallie’s (But First Coffee) planner and for the first time feel like I am getting tasks done on my to do list. The planner is in clear sight but all the other stuff is not. I’m not forgetting important things even though they are not out in the open.

[@daisybuchanan5378]

I’m a person that needs it to be in my face- so my to do and time will tell baskets are clear and at eye level in my pantry. Recycling bin below on the floor, checkbook, envelope and stamps close at hand. I make myself address three items daily, but usually as soon as I bring in the mail I take care of anything to do right then. This is such a triumph for me as a former procrastinator. It feels great. Thanks to Dawn.

[@lauriepowell3959]

@12:02. Dawn It freaks me out every time I see that NAKED plug outlet in your cabinet! Please put a regular cover/plate on it. Because 1)Everything else in there looks perfect 2) I am afraid that somehow it might cause a fire or shock if your papers or metal baskets hit it. Thanks! I appreciate all you do for us. ❤️ Now, back to my decluttering. 👍

[@rebeccalacy2792]

The bonus tip hit the nail on the head. We have a peninsula in our kitchen. I keep a fruit bowl there. Guess what it collects, every single thing that has a home within 5 steps of it! Pens? The drawer right below it, command hooks the closet across from the counter, to do paper work that goes in a basket on the fridge 5 steps behind. The fruit bowl disappears tonight when I get home 😂😂

[@fabienneroure9995]

😅That's exactly what happened in our home as well so the fruit bowl is long gone!😂

[@rebeccalacy2792]

I’m glad it’s not just me! Mean while the apples and bananas rotting underneath because no one even knows they’re there. 😂😂

[@lisachubrilo]

Where are u putting the fruit?

[@rebeccalacy2792]

I normally keep apples in the fridge anyway so just bananas so I moved them to a spot on the kitchen table that has a bowl thing but it doesn’t accumulate clutter like the peninsula

[@rebeccalacy2792]

I normally keep apples in the fridge anyway so just bananas so I moved them to a spot on the kitchen table that has a bowl thing but it doesn’t accumulate clutter like the peninsula

[@axthelmsr]

Great advice! When you leave items out to see because they are important, you end up seeing nothing because it’s all piled together. I used to struggle with this for years! A tip I would add to your awesome advice is to dedicate one day to addressing your items. For me, it’s bills. I have to address bills every Tuesday. That consistent time takes away the fear that if u put something away I’ll forget about it.

[@monicataylor9977]

Dawn you are an amazing coach for all.of us. As I was decluttering some boxes the other day, you were in my brain talking about flat surfaces and it hit me: couches and beds are flat surfaces...we need to declutter ourselves off those surfaces when we have time to get something else done! Like you say 5 minutes can make a big difference. Thank you for everything you do to help us keep up.our homes.

[@KlingonPrincess]

Declutter myself from the bed... Love it! 🌻🍄

[@annw1395]

Clever!

[@ThomasOwenM]

Love your videos. Starting a decluttering journey with my wife. But as a guy that missing outlet cover is morestressful than clutter to me.

[@NLY1WAY4U]

Haha! Yes, that got me too...unfinished business!

[@juliegauchay4219]

I wish I could hire you to come walk me thru my paper clutter so you could advise me on what I need to keep and what's okay to get rid of! Meanwhile, it's been a year since we moved, and in going through our boxes, it's been so freeing to say, "I haven't needed or missed this in the past year. It can go!" Just today, I let go of the flowers from my wedding cake that have been in shoe boxes for over 25 years and donated my white heels that I wore that day and have never worn again. It feels so good! Thanks for all your great advice, Dawn. It's helped me SO MUCH.

[@janego2018]

Organize365 offers paper retreats doing exactly that. They not only walk you through what paper needs to be kept and what can be shredded, but also how to organize and keep it so that it's easy to reference it. I highly recommend!

[@daisybuchanan5378]

Last week I took a laundry basket worth of receipts and tax returns that were older than 7 years to be shredded, and I routinely let go of instructions manuals. They’re all online. Bank statements are online too, it helps to switch to paperless.

[@daisybuchanan5378]

My napkins are off the table now - I found drawer space in the wooden spoon and spatula drawer. Salt & pepper on stove. Dawn, I’m on about level 4 of decluttering like an onion, and it gets easier and easier. Our home and my mind are so much more peaceful. Having open space in both is more valuable than stuff. Thank-you !

[@takethatfan1]

I loved this system. I got my table cleared off in 10 min. I have been decluttering my apartment and storage room. I play your videos while I do this and it has been so much help. My hardest thing to get rid of was all my daughter's art/school work. I had 20 finger paint pictures and they looked the same LOL So I kept 2 or 3 and let the rest go.

[@karendevine7074]

Thank you for such great ideas. One habit I’ve been doing for awhile now is when I carry the mail in, I stop by the recycling bin in our garage and discard junk mail right away so it doesn’t even enter the house. I toss catalogs because everything we need can be purchased online. And, I open all the rest of the mail and put it in its home right away. These simple things I do everyday insures that we never have a lot of paper clutter in the first place.

[@SR-je2ri]

Time will tell basket is a game changer!

[@monicacreates]

Wjen I first heard you talk about a time will tell basket for papers I loved it and started one right away and had it for a few months. But since I hardly ever looked at the things in it I let go of that system and now I just deal with things right away, which in most cases means it get throughn away directly. It's great!

[@chaoscoordinator9618]

You said very quickly. "There's no reason to keep old to-do list" And it just clicked in my head like I have a notebook that has tons of old to-do lists and sometimes I end up going back on them and pulling from them the things that I didn't do to make a new list. And that's super toxic. If it's not important enough to think about right now , it's probably not important enough to write down now

[@DontDooTooMuch]

Omg I do the same too. I thought it was helping my brain declutter so I wouldn't have to think about it anymore.

[@HannahRainbow88]

I like keeping my lists on my dry-erase board. I erase items as I do them, it saves a tonne of paper, and I literally get a visible "clean slate" some days - it's oddly rewarding 🤭

[@judyedwards7597]

Flat surfaces are LAVA 🌋 I needed this video so much! Thank you!

[@MyFocusVaries]

Thanks for the tips! The best kitchen design decision we made pretty much solved paper clutter--putting our office in the kitchen eating area (we have a dining room and don't see the point of 2 eating spaces), so the filing cabinet and shredder are in the heart of our living space. Because mail was dealt with right there, filled, shredded etc, and receipts etc could be filed right away. Moving it from the bedroom--mere steps away, made all the difference. There's space in the cabinet for "time will tell" and a "to do" folder at the front. Ideally, the office space is behind closet doors or a curtain since a shredder and file cabinet aren't that pretty 😊.

[@allsquaredup9717]

What’s cool about keeping our kitchen table clean from random items and that we only use it for eating, is if we need to remember to bring something with us the next day or something really needs to stand out, since the table is always clear, it stands out like a sore thumb. “Oh right, I NEED to drop this off at the post office” “I HAVE to call the vet to reorder this prescription.” It’s like the table is the To Do List for super important things. 😏

[@chiarad4080]

I do that too ! So helpful !

[@easypeasy2324]

Thank you, Dawn!!! I LOVE having my surfaces cleared! If I don't have time to do anything else, I will get the surfaces cleared off and it brings me so much peace!

[@jenAKnND]

Great idea even if you don’t have time for anything else. I never thought of it that way!

[@sunflowerbrown5823]

Oh boy the clutter catcher really hit home. I've been watching a family member place things around a rustic wooden trough centerpiece on the kitchen table. Each little object is neatly propped up against the trough as to give it the appearance of an altar. ;-) It's like it gives the person a physical boundary to anchor things to? I'll "redecorate" tomorrow and see what happens! Thanks for sharing that!

[@katefree9539]

I can't thank you enough! I am a very organized person. When I worked, my desk and files were immaculate. However, at home, fear builds up, dread, and procrastination follows. It's fear of bills, and believe it or not, fear of forgetting things. How that translates into procrastination doesn't make sense to me. You help me so much!!! My body is broken, and I am limited in physical ability. So much of what you have taught has been lifesaving. May God bless you 🙏 ❤️

[@daisybuchanan5378]

Such an accurate description- I agree. Fear, dread, delay. But clearing it up and handling it brings peace.

[@dreamer6943]

This is the final piece in the jigsaw of why I can't ever fully tidy the table. I need 3 trays. One for life admin tasks. One for catalogues. One for the book and magazine I'm currently reading. Thank you!

[@elaineashley1958]

I have my catalogues in a basket on top of fridge. By the time I get around to looking at them the sale has ended 🤣 which saves me money in the end.

[@skhend6310]

This is life-changing. I have fought kitchen table clutter for all my life. Thank you! I am in the middle of this video and have already shared with 2 friends.

[@janetpayne6092]

"...a kindness to your brain".❤ Love this! Thank you so much for your practical help and guidance!!!🥰🙏💕

[@bblove3219]

Great video. I watched it twice to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

[@daphblue]

I laughed when you said “what you perceive to be scary.” What’s scary is my husband moving our filing cabinet up to the scary attic. Please don’t make me go up there every time I have to file a paper 😱

[@ChristineCos-x4p]

Dawn, this was exactly the video I needed for the mounds of paper clutter that has amassed on my table. I immediately found the bins you bought at Walmart and added them to my food order. I have a label maker, so I will label them accordingly and begin sorting them into these three categories. I used to sort by what the paper was for...bank statements, taxes, etc. Now I know that I can do that after everything else has either been recycled or put back in its place. I won't have to be as overwhelmed as I have been in the past. The challenge will be keeping on top of it regularly! Thanks so much for all you do! Blessings!

[@AZHITW]

I deal with my "to do" items immediately because I'm old and forgetful; bills come in I pay them immediately, place a post-it-note on the envelope with the due date, and I mail it one week before it's due. Luckily all my bills come in within a four-day span and all are due the first week of the month so it's a routine easily remembered. I have a paper shredder in the garage, so junk mail doesn't make it into the house.

[@lormor460]

I needed you back in my younger years so much! I had a basket that held everything and I would eventually go through it but it would fill up again. Back then, I wasn’t good about getting rid of anything 😮😮. But you have certainly helped me in my current (older 😅) years!

[@mhtammi]

One of the things you talk about is that we have different seasons in our lives. When I’m tidying up I now ask myself what works for the season of life I am on now.

[@jackiecurley7007]

Hi Dawn. Your videos are so helpful. I almost feel like you’re my mom. 😊 I’m living in my parents house that has accumulated so much stuff of the last 50 yrs. Working on main floor and basement. Need to tackle the attic soon. Thx again for all the inspiration and tips.

[@sharonlievens1076]

Dawn, thank you so much for this video. I have been watching your videos for a while now and I’ve gotten so much cleaned out of my house. Tonight I saw your video and thought yeah I remember her talking about that before and almost didn’t watch it. But I’m so glad I did because it gave me the motivation to get up and clean off several places in my home. It feels so good. Thanks for all you do.

[@jamiecorisis6122]

Could you do a video on ‘finally getting around to the Time Will Tell Bins around the house’ ?

[@briannab5296]

Yes!

[@shelleynorthrop9276]

Thank you for this video! I love how you walked us through this in real time. Another reminder that it's not as bad as you build it up to be in your mind. My husband's "drop zone" in our kitchen is the worst. Anything we don't want to deal with ends up there. I did this method today and it took all of 5 minutes to clear out! I also rethought my paper file system in our kitchen. It was taking up too much space so I changed it from a horizontal system to a vertical one. Don't know why I hadn't thought of it before. Love these videos, thanks!

[@JenMidwestMama]

Thanks again Dawn! Surface Clutter (mostly things I need to sit down and go through) is my big issue! I cannot seem to conquer it! Im looking around my kitchen/living room right now and sadly stuff on my kitchen table, stuff on my island, stuff on my counters and stuff on the side table that is right next to my computer here. ACK!!!! I keep praying that one day I will be able to finally get ahold of all this! (my husband would be so very happy has he hates my "piles".). lol. God bless you!

[@pamelameyer4277]

You are just awesome Dawn. Your mom must be so proud ❤❤❤

[@chsage6630]

I love turning on your videos and decluttering and organizing. It is so therapeutic! ❤

[@cynthiaslebodnik6945]

Clutter! A bad word, but actually realistic. I agree with one of your other comments that my husband piles things like magazines and catalogs. I throw away unless it goes to my office, which is a basket. I need to work on my craft room because maybe I'm working on a project. Thanks for reminding us that clutter clears our mind as well as our homes.

[@danielleleger629]

I don’t keep manuals, they are all available online. The only ones I keep are for large as appliances that would transfer if we sold our house. Those are all kept in a binder together.

[@liap1293]

This is a very timely video! I'm about to go through my 2023 box of papers. Making labeled piles (trash, to do, has a home, etc) will make this task so much easier for me. Thank you, Dawn.

[@no_peace]

I'm disabled so I have to have stuff visible/accessible on the counters. Plus I don't have enough space to put the stuff in other places. But I've gotten around the clutter part by having everything contained in trays. When I'm cleaning or tidying up I can ignore anything in the trays and just look at the counter or table. But also like yesterday, a family member told me that they looked at the basket that holds cleaning supplies, noticed there was something missing, went and looked for what goes there, found it and put it back lol. I'm trying to give everything a permanent home for exactly this reason If we start to put pens in the containers, it usually means we need a pen container in that area. I have been putting small jars in the little baskets i use, to hold scissors, pens, that type of thing It would be cool to have totally clear spaces but it's just not doable here. Just sharing this modification in case anyone else needs an idea to try, because I've spent so many years trying to figure it out and don't want other people to have to waste so much time

[@evecv9569]

Great Video! For receipts and other documents that we need to keep for taxes, etc. I would suggest having a small scanner and scanning them and getting rid of the paper version because the receipts are made of thermal paper and the data will vanish.

[@patriciamartin56]

Dawn, your videos are the best. You have so many different approaches to organization and decluttering, and always something new to learn. You have helped me to make my home into a happier place. Thank you!

[@daniellevilloria227]

Dawn, your paper systems have helped us so much over the years, but we need help with cords!!! Charging cords, power cords, bricks, and cord storage. Something that kids can upkeep too! 😵‍💫 PLEASE send help! Any ideas would be welcome!

[@lrhudy93]

Agree!! Plus, old phones/ computers with photos/ videos on them. What to do with those??

[@honorbailey]

You are a genius!what a practical common sense solution to sort out the surface paper clutter….a Tidy A4 clear flat box that can be kept in drawer…so simple!but so brilliant!I have struggled with the kitchen surface paper clutter every week….thank you for this great video ⭐️💐🌟

[@hayleebaird-lira5558]

Our dishwasher broke and flooded our kitchen overnight just before Thanksgiving. We’re in the midst of a huge insurance claim from all the water damage. We lost all of our lower cabinets, flooring, and have been living for 2 months with just our appliances, a temporary sink, and two folding tables in our kitchen. I cannot wait to get our kitchen put back together and get back to using these systems! The clutter has been so so stressful having to have everything out on tables (dish rack, silverware tray, microwave, etc). My biggest struggle is getting distracted when I clean one surface, go to put something in its home in another room and find another cluttered flat surface and start working on that as well. With 3 kids 8,4,2 it’s never ending!

[@charmingintrovert3240]

Most every time I watch Dawn I end up feeling stressed out and my heart beats faster. Not because of the topic, as I love living minimally. But because she talks so fast and frenzied! Please Dawn, take a deep breath and slowdown the rate of your speech. I feel like I have been pulled through a stressful workout after watching and crave a slow simple living video so I can recover.

[@atroy1983]

Then just don’t watch?

[@brandyforras6308]

You can adjust the playback speed of the video to a pace that is more comfortable for you, just as talking fast with excitement and enthusiasm is comfortable for Dawn as well as inspiring for many. Just click on the gear icon at the top right of your screen to adjust your playback speed.

[@noracomeau2986]

Thank you for addressing why stacking paper on a horizontal surface doesn't work as a visual reminder! I have problems with focus, likely undiagnosed ADD- and this is what I have been doing for years. It finally took hearing someone SAY it for me to give myself permission to help myself develop different habits/systems that are geared to the way my mind works, instead of beating myself up for my failures. This is HUGE for this 69-year-old woman. Thank you so much.

[@samharris3770]

Hi! So I’m here to mention another “thing” that may suit you. It has helped me sooo much. It is called the ReMarkable. It is a digital notebook! I used to have dozens-DOZENS of notebooks and papery things and lists and whatnot. The Remarkable let me get rid of that excess. Only occasionally do I still want a piece of paper (like if I’m going to put something on the fridge) but otherwise I have no hang ups about the remarkable yet. It’s a cool item if you think you want to get rid of your notebooks and have all your paper things in one place 🤷‍♀️ I love your channel! Thank you for your effort to help us!

[@jamiekillian4965]

2 things! I had this soap dispenser that I kept moving around and kept moving it around and finally I thought what would Dawn do and I got rid of it! 2nd my college professor explained entropy to us this way, that clutter collects clutter.

[@crystalrainbow19]

A “clutter catcher”. Brilliant! Such a fantastic video. I’m definitely going to use this method next time I have a pile of paper clutter.

[@elaineashley1958]

I’m hoping I can get my husband on board with this. He is a visual organizer and wants his to do pile on his desk, medicines on the counter, etc. 🤞🏼

[@katemurphy4326]

Love this and all your videos, Dawn! You have helped me so much, especially with paper, bathroom and kitchen clutter. When we redesigned our home recently to age in place, I made sure that our breakfast are became the office. My mother-in-law's beautiful writing desk is next to the gorgeous bay window. An antique table from my grandmother, with an attractive vinyl tablecloth covers the file bins underneath. I made sure the new kitchen island has a cabinet with a drawer for "stuff." Smaller file bins go in this cabinet (household manuals, contracts and receipts, this year's folder for receipts/taxes/medical, etc. The drawer holds extra pens, scissors, tape, and a place for keys and my husband's wallet. Dawn: as you can tell, we have a lot of file bins, especially since my father passed and I took over my mother's finances. Can you talk a little more about a sensible file system? Also, do you still use the "Sunday basket" system for which you showed a picture?

[@rebeccaross1715]

I’m leading a Decluttering by Faith group at my church and it would be great if you could put all the free printables that you offer up on your website. I watch all of your videos, but that would help to have a central place to find them all. Thank you so much for everything!!!

[@carolgeorge6409]

Rebeeca I too would love all the free sheets in one place. Also wish our church would had a Declutter group . It Would help so many family’s ♥️

[@ashleygregory5222]

"Where do catalogs go in your home?" Me: *answering out loud* "the trash!" 😂

[@user-3l1]

I thought the same

[@psymompa]

They don't even enter the home. I sort mail in the garage and 95% goes straight to the recycle bin.

[@kellyn1977]

With regard to your bonus tip and the tray you used to illustrate it: I have an equivalent tray in my kitchen. It has different items but it’s the exact same concept. I have so much empty space in my kitchen that I am able to pick the whole tray up and put it in a cabinet when I am done in the kitchen. My lunches tend to be so simple that I do not need to use said tray, so this means that the tray lives in the cabinet. I pull it out when I move into the kitchen to prep dinner and then put it away when I am cleaning up after dinner.

[@YourPinayMomma]

This is more than true! I recently cleared out my 'supposedly' baking area. And I've gone back to not buying bread for the whole month of January! Less excuses, more reasons to do things properly. 🥰 Thank you for all you do!

[@elleg2851]

Went thru my piles of paper and got my coffee grinder into a cabinet that i had decluttered right above where i would use it! Omg so satisfying!!!! Thanku 🌼 Dawn❤

[@ruthemck8512]

❤ ok Dawn, hands down to you this is a great video. So practical & a real source of direction. Have to give it to you. Well done!👍😊 Will listen to this again on repeat to catch it all. There is so much here.

[@annyg1757]

It’s the way you explain things…🥰. Thanks.

[@pinkroses135]

9:49 the warmth of this shot is beautiful 🌅

[@sarinilsson1054]

It is so interesting for me to learn how that clutter happens😀. I have not ever had that and I never saw that at my parents or grandparents so I have wondered about that at some friends houses but I never dared to ask 😅. (My clutter is invisible behind doors or in drawers😅😂) and thanks to you it is much less of it now❤

[@jinglesh1398]

We love and appreciate you too Dawn❤

[@oatssettle846]

I am in Minnesota and we have absolutely no snow on the ground!!! I love it❣ Grass is starting to think about greening up, and the birdies are singing away. This is the ebd of January. In Minnesota!!! Crazy!!!

[@lwangelsbg]

Thank you for all the great guidance in this video. Where i get stuck is being in an apartment that doesn't have all this space to clear the counters. So, I keep the open space of the counter cleared most of the time. I wish I could do what you say for everything off the counters. I'm sure I would love it. When you talk about how it affects our brains, I'm like, "Lord, what if there's nothing I can do about it, can that part just be healed by You Lord so it won't bother me or affect my brain like Dawns sharing?" I pray so. Can you share on this struggle Dawn? (We used to be just 2 in our apartment, and now have our 7 year old granddaughter with us also since October.❤) 🤷‍♀️

[@JanelleA.]

Thank you, Dawn, for yet another helpful video. 😊 Dawn, I would love to hear how you manage your shopping/errands (and lists for the same). What do you do when you realize that you need ketchup or you need toothpaste? Where / how do you keep track of that information? Do you schedule one shopping trip 🛒, when you head out of the house & do all of your shopping/errand running? How might you handle the scenario when you unexpectedly find yourself at a store where you would normally buy things, but you don't have the shopping list because it's at home? (This happens to me! It's because when I run out of ketchup (when I'm cooking) I quickly jot the needed item on a (paper) shopping list, which isn't with me every time I walk out the door.) Bottom line, I'd appreciate hearing how you manage the process of realizing that you're out of something to the point you've replenished the items.

[@brirose230]

This is exactly what I need! Surface and paper clutter are my biggest issue. I often clear it all completely, love how it looks and swear it will never happen again. But then it always does 😒

[@elaineashley1958]

Tackled a paper pile while listening and found all the medical stuff I thought had to be filed could be tossed! 🥳

[@chrtycpr]

So true about the tray on the counter! We have one and it just constantly collects stuff in and around it, no matter how hard I try to keep it neat.

[@maddytcam6660]

Listened to this video while puzzling but I need to rewatch it while going through my papers. I think I finally found a video to motivate me to address papers! Thank you😊

[@GraceRichmond]

"Now, I don't want to brag....But I do have a home for to do items 😏" 😂😂

[@schnder1]

I thought that was cute. Dawn certainly deserves to brag after creating wonderful habits and inspiring the rest of us.

[@hoflandmm]

I thought that was kind of charming too lol

[@highenergyjenny]

Dawn you are awesome and so much help. I would just mention that things like that charger block can go to a place that does electronic recycling, which keeps bad stuff out of landfills and water etc. Not everyone has access, but if people do, highly recommend collecting broken or unused electronics and recycling if they can

[@elizabethgridley8587]

The bonus tip! This just might be the fix I’ve been looking for on a counter in my kitchen that keeps collecting clutter from everyone. Can’t wait to try it!

[@cindytaffner3043]

Thank you again for wonderful tips! As another member mentioned, I can always count on you to make decluttering fun and simple.

[@ninnymuggins5159]

Thank you so much, Dawn

[@JoyfulLandFarm]

I love this, Dawn! I can definitely share tips and steps to reduce the influx of junk mail. I've been working on it for over a decade and most days our postal carrier doesn't stop at my house. Thanks for all your hard work and amazing tips - you're such a wonderful inspiration!

[@marylut6077]

Dawn, you are so right that important stuff on bottom of pile never gets dealt with. I want shredder and file cabinet in kitchen where we enter house from garage, but there isn’t space.

[@quemino]

İ CAN imagine a world with no surface clutter...thanks to you my counters have been clear for years! ❤

[@theresacurrin6395]

Love this ❤. Counter clutter is my weakness. My mantra now is “put it up, not down”! Thank you Dawn 😘👏👏👏

[@barbara31655]

I have downloaded all the manuals I could find for my appliances, etc. Then I have a file on my computer where I keep all those files. That way I can still easily refer back to the information without having to file and store the actual paper book. The only caveat to that is the manuals that came with items that I would pass on if or whenever I sold my home. Those manuals etc are in a file called "Homeowner Info". When the time comes I can just grab that folder and leave it for the next person.

[@flourishbymichelle]

You are amazing. Thank you for sharing with us!!! We love clean counters and i can see where i need to make some improvements, esprcially in my office with all the paper clutter!!!

[@Smallworld2024]

Ty ty ty ❤ i’ll keep saying that you’ve changed my life and i will always remember and feel appreciated to you ❤

[@christineskeen7252]

After remodeling our kitchen, I created a binder of all my appliance manuals. It was so helpful to reference them when I wanted to use some option they have and to know right where to find it. I enjoy your videos.

[@danicegewiss862]

I have a small compost bucket I keep on my counter for a 1x a day trip to my garden, container for paper trash, and a container for regular trash. Once that is taken care of, the rest is easy.

[@JV-ys8fd]

You'd be so proud to know that I decluttered things that were "useful" but I hadn't used them in over a year, I thought Dawn would tell me to get rid of it, so it's gone. 😊

[@shellyjay8954]

In my kitchen on the counter I need my coffee maker, air fryer, knife block, utensil crock and acrylic cutting board next to stove. I also have one decorative artificial plant. All looks inviting. I keep everything else off.

[@joshk2598]

Here’s a tip to save time reviewing the “time will tell” box. Take a bright colored manilla folder and write “Once a month” in big letters on the side. Put that face up in the box below everything else. When you review each week, only review things above this folder. Put anything that can wait til next month below it. Once a month, review the entire box. Optionally, add one for the season. Bonus tip: Keep greeting cards from friends and family in this box to spark a little joy when you review it.

[@flohough1870]

I love the idea of a "Time Will Tell" bin. So many times you keep something, only to look at it weeks later and think "why did I keep this?"

[@mariannerady1137]

I have paper piles everywhere, most of them are of the 'too inconvenient to put back' ones. And I have don't have a home piles as well. I love your practical advice as always, Thanks so much!

[@ruthstagnitta274]

Thankful for your life and many life changing tips God Bless you abundantly

[@janetstraw191]

Dawn, Thank you! You are such a good teacher!! 👍🥰💕

[@vanessasteven1100]

Thank you soo much ,I watched this video last night and then this morning I tackled my kitchen work surface and I used your three pile system and it worked so well ❤ Was hoping to attach a photo to this message but I can't work out how to do that 🤦‍♀️🤣

[@sarahfrancescutti9873]

Great tip about putting our action items into our to do list! So obvious now that you say it but I have been missing this step!

[@spunkysagittarius87]

Thank you for giving a name to the piles! That helps! I try to sort into too many categories and then don’t finish and pile them up again. So I can tackle it one step at a time. 😊