Declutter With Me || 2023 Edition || Basement Storage One

[@poodlegirl55]

We retired to a smaller house with no basement and I decided I didn't want to store things any more. I've spent my whole life cleaning garages, attics and basements. I sold all the bins and pared way down and it feels so good. It has been 5 years.

[@donnaw1306]

I just saw this quote today and it is exactly what I am striving for in my life. Decluttering things I do not want or need. I am so tired of constantly moving things to clean around them. I really want everything to have a place and a place that is simple to get to and from. "My goal is no longer to get more done, but rather to have less to do". 2023 motto. Have a wonderful day and happy decluttering!

[@juliebrooke6099]

Eleven minutes intro of you trying to psyche yourself up to get started. So relatable.

[@eleanorhuskins3869]

Have been watching you for years. You are beautiful, and have such courage. You are definitely one of my go to KZbinrs when I am having a rough day. Thank you for all you do. Love to you and your family from up north Nova Scotia, Canada.

[@brendacurtis7188]

I recall you moved the Xmas boxes out from under the staircase because of mold and mildew. You took the door off and put down skids to lift the boxes off the floor. 😊

[@angeloverturff7323]

There is a thing called "Damp Rid" that I used in a closet that was built under my stairway. It absorbs moisture and worked great. I live in Texas where the humidity is high and that room had a lot of moisture in it. Love this video, you are a riot!

[@mygreatchallenge]

I just bought two big ones, one for each room

[@grogers511]

I use Damp Rid at our Lake House. Works great!

[@marshagaravaglia8149]

Sophia, I have been binge watching your channel for about a month! I just love your personality ❤

[@rebeccalesher9388]

By the looks of the moisture on the items you took out of the little room please put the dehumidifier near there so the items don’t get moldy. I had closed bins in my crawl space and almost everything smelled moldy and was moldy. Had to get rid of many many things. Such heartache and waste.

[@debrtx]

Great progress! You have probably already thought of utilizing the empty plastic bins with lids to replace cardboard boxes that contain objects or clothes. Plastic bins with lids better alternative than cardboard boxes. My challenge is a bedroom that used used be my son's, but he moved out a few years ago. I have plans to transform the room but it constantly becomes a catch all. The challenge seems to be the more empty spaces we have, the more we fill them up. Sometimes I think I should put the yellow caution tape across the door. Have a great day.

[@Amy-jc5mo]

All of your decluttering videos are the most encouraging and motivating for me, of any other KZbinr I watch. I especially love how you show your thought process and talk with us as you are decluttering. Thanks for all your inspiration and hard work!

[@Yvonneb_]

I would flatpack some of the boxes and put them in those plastic totes, it would keep them neater. xx

[@michelel965]

Been avoiding the attic!! My hubby wants to declutter and donate the whole thing in one go and end up not having anything in the attic since we are getting older. Sooooo that means I have to purge in the house to have room for stuff in attic I want to keep.

[@jdawg414]

My fave declutter/ re-orgs are basements and garages. Love it!

[@wendyinegbenedo1307]

I never miss an episode on your channel.🥰

[@verawilkerson6734]

I have almost finished decluttering my house and will be able to move on to other areas. When I bought my small farm with a small house (under 1,000 square feet) 12 years ago, I put dozens of bins and boxes of stuff in a large quonset hut on the property along with horse tack and stuff that would not fit in the barn. So much stuff that there is barely room for the tractor and riding mower and some tools in it. Almost everything is still moldering there. Starting this week I will be decluttering it and because it has been there so long, most will probably go to the dump. I am hoping to get it all done within 30 days. Then I can begin emptying 2 climate controlled storage units full of stuff from my sister's house after she passed away 9 years ago. I can't believe it has been there so long. It has cost so much money and I honestly don't remember what most of it is anymore. Will probably donate 90% of it. I decided not to add on a master suite, so I don't need the bedroom furniture and could have bought new furniture for far less than it has cost to store it. I will still have to sort thru all the boxes and bins and hire someone to do the heavy lifting. I couldn't get this done while still working and due to health problems after retiring did not get to it until now.

[@mygreatchallenge]

It is never too late and I am glad you are reclaiming your space.

[@taramiller7928]

How many of us would love to see Scott declutter his books? I really think you should see if he would film that! It would be great!

[@briteddy9759]

Fortunately, Sophia has set a good example by respecting her family members’ property and not decluttered for them. It would be disrespectful to demand that Scott declutters his books on camera.

[@taramiller7928]

@@briteddy9759 that is in no way what I said. If you look at the comment it says see if he would do that not force him to do that. Good grief.

[@taramiller7928]

@@briteddy9759 also, Sophia has never implied that Scott doesn't want to declutter his stuff. She has said multiple times you don't declutter other people's stuff or force them to get rid of stuff. I totally agree with that. If this is a case of where someone is refusing to even take a look thru their stuff then my apologies for not underatanding that!

[@wendyinegbenedo1307]

Put the planks in the garage for now. When you build shelves, you will have what you need already available.😍

[@lorenet.2182]

Years ago I created an inventory book. As I put away the Christmas stuff I numbered the boxes and noted what was in each box. It makes things so easy. And I can tell the guys to go pull Christmas box #4. I put labels on every side plus the top!!

[@robinsnell7249]

After 3 years!!! We finally got through our storage unit and Apollo much has gone. Thank you Sophia for all your motivation!! Another great job.

[@CreativeHomescaping]

Yes, in the past you definitely had the seasonal decor in the under the stairs area 😊

[@AZHITW]

My Christmas closet is organized, I have a Christmas closet my late partner built for me, but I need to go clean my side-by-side freezer, I did the refrigerator side yesterday. Thanks for the kick in the butt to do something constructive instead of watching KZbin videos all day. I remember that bunny, don't remember if you decluttered it.

[@moniquefuselier7711]

It sounds odd to say about someone I don't know in real life, but I was do proud of you for persisting through this task! It was plain how much you were dreading this task, but you DID it! Great job!

[@janeturner9192]

8 bins! 8 bins that I emptied when I went through all of my Christmas decor! Did a donate, give to the kids and threw away 2 contractor bags of broken or damaged ornaments, decor etc. To say it was liberating is an understatement. Had 10 large bins gone and a handful of smaller ones when it was said and done. Did just my stuff! Now it is Hubbies turn! The process took me over 4 days but what a difference it made in the basement. We have open shelves now!

[@mygreatchallenge]

I did most of my Christmas decluttering a few years ago and every year let go of more though I buy new stuff too

[@abunchahooey]

Maybe breakdown all your shipping boxes, and file them in bins- small, medium, large? I love that snowman cookie jar, it’s darling.

[@mkinder9557]

That snowman cookie jar would be a wonderful gift for one of the boys when they are out on their own from great grandma! I can hear them telling their kiddos “this was a gift from your great great grandma! We put special treats in it!” ❤️❤️❤️

[@bethstratton3391]

Well done Sophia for getting the job done! I think that storing your decor boxes in there is such a good use of that space. I remember decluttering my attic loft, which was a very messy storage space, ten years ago. I felt exactly like you did in this video and had procrastinated too long, but after two days of sorting and reorganising, all it stores now are boxes for tech items or computers that I’ve kept to repack things in just incase we ever downsize to a smaller house in the future (10 empty boxes in all). Now, whenever I think about putting off doing something, I just remember the saying “Procrastination is the thief of Joy” and I just get on with doing things.

[@barbarababak2697]

Breakdown the boxes for better storage

[@angelacimmino1102]

A lot of that stuff can be stored in the garage or on the curb once and for all. Rip the bandaid off, Sophia. You can do it!

[@vickylongcrier2376]

My quilt studio ended up my dumping ground and I could kick myself for that! It messed up my mind and stopped my quilting creativity…😢 I am getting it done and you have helped me get my act together! I have a new Longarm and have only done 1 little quilt since getting it. That is shameful! Thanks for your help inspiring me to get busy and back to doing the quilting I love!

[@Ladythyme]

OMG you remind me of me with the Holiday decor…. When I moved I had 27 bins of holiday decor….all Seasons…All holidays…. It was hard decluttering it…. So much of it was sentimental…from my mom…my mother in law… my own gatherings over time… memories from my kids when they were little…stuff sat in our basement for a couple of years… just couldn’t touch it…didn’t use most of it but I just couldn’t part with it….finally I made a pack with myself and I forced myself to part with most of it. But for everything I parted with I took a picture, had them printed and put them in an album so at least I still kind of have all of those things but gave up the bulk. Down to 7 bins now 😊

[@marneybonk2765]

Such a great job!!!! Well done Sophia!!! 😊❤️

[@kandycebeeks7056]

I know you did declutter the snowman mug years back. I want to say you did declutter the bunny tray. I’ve watched you since the very beginning….I remember that basement from the start👍

[@joycemoody9246]

This has been SO motivating!!! Thank you!!! We had a moisture problem in our old house’s basement. My husband painted “dry-lock” paint on the cinder block walls and it helped a lot. I love how relatable, normal and adorable you are! 😊❤️

[@mygreatchallenge]

That is my next step once I have decluttered everything.

[@shannonstewart7087]

Hi Sophia I'm a new subscriber and I wanna let you know you have motivated me to declutter and spring clean. I love stuff just like you do and I love books as well. I just went through all my books today and got rid of 2 boxes today. Still have a bunch that I'm keeping but feel accomplished. I also organized my closet today. Thanks for your inspiration.

[@mygreatchallenge]

Awesome, Shannon. Don't you stop now!

[@shannonstewart7087]

@@mygreatchallenge oh I won't. I find something everyday to clean,declutter and/or organize. Thank you again for inspiring me to get off my butt and get these things done. I'm on your 2023 decluttering/organizing journey with you😁

[@kathyhegert4152]

Great job!

[@melindaonamission9511]

Ugh it's my office believe it or not. It's a dumping ground for everything I'm going to do one day! Stuff to sell, projectts, etc etc!

[@patriciaconiglio6717]

You are making great progress. I too save cardboard boxes because my younger son and daughter in law live in Japan and I am always mailing them things. I have found, for me, that the boxes take up too much space so I flatten them and put them into one large box that fits my storage space. We are going to be in our house 48 years in May and I ended up with my unfinished side of the basement with bags and bags of delayed decisions, junk and only God knows what. Last year we had our unfinished half of the basement made into a dining room and storage area in the 1/4 part where the furnace, water heater, washer, dryer sink area is. I have made very good progress decluttering but I still have more work to do which I don’t want to do. Haha

[@kimberlyrichter9504]

I am loving your videos! Thank you.

[@sarahcooper5437]

Yay! Way to go Sophia 💪 🎉Just do it and don’t think! You did amazing. 😊

[@introvert22]

I'm sure your project will turn out great.

[@iamwhoiamd7056]

Take the stair treads out and use the wood for your house and create a bigger room and maybe put shelves into it and a light and make a sign for the door that says organized storage 2023.

[@mygreatchallenge]

I don't understand what you mean by taking the stair treads out to make a bigger room.

[@melissaspencer632]

Great job on this big project!

[@mygreatchallenge]

Thanks a bunch!

[@cherylcoolidge8249]

You make me laugh and I cant stop You are so adorable!

[@jennyjenkins877]

More work means more content for us to watch! 😄

[@connieverbeck1110]

Sophie you are so amazing and inspiring!! Thx. You have me hepped me to declutter my books and more!! Has to be a couple days, but I’m so motivated. Thank you so much! It’s been about an least 5 years, and you know hat have ended. I want my books to all be on shelves again. I love that feeling! Lol.

[@c.jakubowski6549]

We are pulling for you Sophia!!! 💪

[@bonessam9618]

I have learned the hard way to never ever leave stuff, especially sentimental or expensive stuff, in an unfinished basement. I've had things ruined, and I had to throw them out, especially anything porous. I even had cardboard boxes that, when moved, bothered my throat...maybe mold spores??

[@patrickohara1]

As we decluttered our Christmas things I made an effort to get rid of the extra large storage boxes as they are getting harder to handle as we are getting older. ☺️

[@mariainmaryland9829]

Yes you those bins under the stairs before and moved it to that room.

[@debsdotsdashesdoodlesdreams]

yes you used to store your decor under the stairs x

[@gladysanderson1351]

great change there! Inspiring!

[@brendadunston9895]

Hi Sophia! You are inspiring me. I don't have a basement so I'm counting the yardwork, trimming and cutting branches as decluttering. Especially since the garbage bin is full now... 💜

[@MyFreshRose]

I’d keep that snowman for when your boys are older. You could give it to them or if they decide to have kids you could put treats in it for when their kids come over. Keeps it in the family.

[@donnav]

I remember when the seasonal decor was in the boiler room 😊

[@mygreatchallenge]

Was it?

[@jessicaevens9679]

Me too!

[@craglabrake6802]

Sophia thank you, I would like to say a big thank you to you! You motivate me and others when we also don't feel like decluttering and cleaning! Thank you again!

[@mygreatchallenge]

You are so welcome!

[@craglabrake6802]

@@mygreatchallenge 😊🙂

[@christinedisneyqueen5746]

I love this…very inspiring! 😊 I am the Queen of Procrastination, so I know how you felt in the beginning of the video! 😆

[@immiegee]

Use the empty bins for your stuff instead of the cardboard boxes. Irma from the Netherlands

[@jennifersershen927]

Great job and looked like hard work; you definitely are motivating me. Like you said just do it!

[@junemccartan8066]

The other side would be a great -lace for your Christmas stuff Sophia your for real and it is not staged others make a mess and it doesn’t go into other rooms I don’t know how they do that I have been with you from the beginning and you are the real deal

[@marieke4727]

Your hair Sophia, so beautiful

[@JOHANNA-qd6iz]

You could put a vent in the door and rehang the door to make it look finished, better than the curtain. You once had the Christmas boxes under the stairs. Now that its cleared out I would have put the boxes back nicely as it will be easier to get to that pulling the sofa out each time you want to get to the boxes.

[@karenswidzinski6071]

I DO remember the little bunny stand, but darned if I can remember what you did with it. It was cute!

[@mygreatchallenge]

I think I decluttered it. It was in the China buffet for some time.

[@JOHANNA-qd6iz]

You could put a vent in the door and rehang the door to make it look finished, better than the curtain. You once had the Christmas boxes under the stairs.

[@carolann5048]

I keeps few empty tubs. As a donateable donate box the books thst you are donating. Put them in a tub donate it all

[@amandamatthews7487]

Hi Sophia. Yes you did have the decor under the stairs previously. 😵

[@simplyfreedom171]

I love that you are moving something you need access to often to a more accessible space. Christmas is only accessed twice per year, so it doesn't need to be as easy to get to. I would caution combined those three memorabilia bins with Christmas. I know your family often helps move those boxes for you each season, I don't want to see you find them stashed way back under the stairs, unable to find or worse...getting too much moisture! I hope you can find another spot. I also love that you are going to create a very accessible space for packing materials. I have found doing eBay that I do need to limit how much I store at any one time. Keep several of the common boxes you use but not too many and definitely one of the odd/big/small sizes.

[@teresaryan4956]

Love your decluttering videos, they are always get me decluttering. Thank you xx

[@vanessaholland5059]

I believe in you even though you've come along way with decluttering your stuff.

[@Joy-zp5lv]

That is a great solution. Makes much more sense. Did you leave some space between the wall and the boxes for ventilation? Greetings from Germany ♥

[@nancypeteja6560]

I love that you are making your house more efficient for you! Your decision to keep the snowman made me happy...I would keep him too!!! Are you sure the space is not humid anymore?? You are so inspiring! TFS. 😊👍❤

[@mygreatchallenge]

I put some damp rid I. There and plan on. Sealing the walls

[@JuliaLina83]

Effectivement, je crois que les décorations étaient sous l'escalier et que c'est à ce moment là que tu as tout installé dans la pièce où il y a les étagères de bricolage maintenant, puis sous l'escalier il y a eu des fauteuils que Scott voulait garder et que tu as oublié que tu avais gardés !? So many videos in the basement 😂😂😂 I can't remember as much as I used to

[@virginiascheidel4362]

Won’t the temperature change affect some of your Christmas decor. Under the stairs. Looks like some water damage

[@juliefranc7443]

Sophia -- even if you use the room as a family room it is still a basement. A basement is the floor of a building which is partly or entirely below ground level. Good grief people, it's her house, she can call the room whatever the heck she wants to and in this case, she's actually 100% correct.

[@iamwhoiamd7056]

I used to have areas like that. But so much has happened to me and my family since Jan 02,2022 so now we rent and we barely have stuff anymore.

[@mygreatchallenge]

I am sorry you had hard times and hope things improve.

[@gloriaelswood8762]

We have lived in our 1000 sq ft home for 60 years. I had one storage room downstairs. I decided two years ago to put in a bathroom! No storage! I have stuff under beds and stuffed in tops of closets! Ugh! We did make shelves that attach to our stairs and they stair step from the top to the bottom the bottom one is really deep!

[@jillrector8568]

It almost seems like the under stairs closet walls need water proofing. Might be the weeping tile not doing it’s job

[@MsArtistwannabe]

That is a real workout. All that heavy lifting and shifting. Is there some kind of sealant to put on the concrete wall to block out some of the moisture.

[@mygreatchallenge]

Sure. I have to get some but eventually that is the plan. To seal it and the floor too

[@liseroth3911]

Your thumbnail reminds me of princess Leah saying, Obie wan kenobie, your’e our only hope! 😂❤

[@MsArtistwannabe]

I would ask the boys if they might be interested in the cookie jar. It’s adorable. Might be a good memory for them.

[@stephanieremsen8564]

This was really motivating. It’s so hard to tackle those UNglamorous projects. Also, I just wanted to add that you look great, Sophia!

[@joycemarsh2743]

Sofia you are so pretty today ❤

[@mygreatchallenge]

Thank you!!!

[@christinamarquez9199]

How about when you remodel Willy’s room. You never know. Wood is still expensive. But whatever you end up doing it will all work out! 😊

[@melindaanne6036]

Great job in decluttering your home! I love the colour of the gray paint. Do you remember the name and brand?

[@mygreatchallenge]

Gentle Rain by Behr

[@melindaanne6036]

@@mygreatchallenge Thank you!

[@christineshultz7615]

You could take the 8 bins of bb cards to a sports shop that buys cards. Might be some good ones.

[@Mysticsoul77]

I don't remember, have your tried the KonMari decluttering system yet? Did you have the bunny platter with your other platters?

[@mygreatchallenge]

I read the book and hated it. So there is that.

[@Mysticsoul77]

@@mygreatchallenge I listen to the autiobook to help me sleep actually

[@Aplumgirl]

Sophia wood is sooo expensive. Didn't you make a stand area behind those studs for spare wood?

[@mygreatchallenge]

They re full

[@gailrowe7191]

They were also in the boiler room at one point! Xx

[@NeenerT56]

i am amazed!!!

[@shurryma]

What about painting under the stairs? Little point of doing it besides a fresh coat bring a fresh feeling..

[@mygreatchallenge]

I have to seal and paint. I am in decluttering mode right now, once I am done I will tackle all the repair projects

[@shurryma]

@@mygreatchallenge oh! Right on 💪

[@JacquelineLP]

You did good sophia! 🥳

[@Olivegarden04]

Oh dear if i were you id start to cry 🤣🤣🤣

[@Stephanie-lg1cm]

When you’ve cleared a space out I think you should nail up the door to stop you filling it again. 😂 When I have a donation box, I take it right out and put it in my car, where it sits, annoying me until I get it donated. We’re not into seasonal decor in the UK, the exception being Christmas, so we don’t have the problem of storing it.

[@wonderingsanna]

Hi Sophia! The christmas items for donate, didn´t you save those since you can´t donate seasonal things other than jjust before that specific holiday?

[@tonibergquist61]

I remember her saying that too!

[@jillrector8568]

Will you enjoy your collections being moved to the basement when you never sit down there in evenings.

[@livingweirdestherc6644]

Our Christmas decor is in my bedroom closet lol

[@flipsforfun6116]

Can you use them for shelves in the cold room for boxes

[@flipsforfun6116]

The wood

[@carriebelcher8644]

Wow great space you’ve got!! And good job!

[@isabellerininger6249]

Oooh, I wish I could find those bins with blue flap lids again… all the new ones are $20+ each and poor quality, it’s wild. 👍

[@twylasmom]

My garage and basement is my BAD ROOMS/AREAS!!! The problem with the basement is that I have an old hideabed that weighs a ton, so I think I will have to hire someone to get rid of it. Me and my husband put it down there for the kids to have a play area probably about 20 years ago. Well now they are grown and we are to old to move that thing by ourselves. The garage is just something that gets cluttered during the winter. I do try to get it picked up when it gets warmer.

[@katnuccio85]

Some brawny teens would love some cash.

[@lauramitchell6725]

Or get your own kids to move it out.🤨

[@Poketfullofvintage]

Definitely an inspiration..looking good there!

[@pameehanson3866]

You are after my own heart! I often feel like this and try everything to convince myself I can do this. I have loved your 2023 declutter project. My issue is decluttering and making a long distance move. I feel like walking out the door and running away. LOL Thanks for the inspiration

[@melaniekennerley6401]

Me too! I'm procrastinating. Just don't have it in me to start the process, especially with my back & hip problem.