Decluttering Q&A

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03.08: What do you do when a lot of clutter is caused by items not having a home, or the place where it would make sense it's already full with things that have emotional meaning to another family member?
14.38: Do you have any questions you ask yourself before deciding if something should be trash or donated?
18.03: How do you tackle all of those digital photos (sometimes thousands) stored on devices and computers?
20.59: We moved now everything is stacked in the garage and/or basement with only a wide walking path. How/where to start to be able to take it there now when there isn't a defined space yet.
25.42: Do you have a certain thought process or questions when you're out shopping to avoid cluttering with impulse buys? Do you ask your 2 decluttering questions to be more objective on what you're buying?
32.12: I don't know where to start, please help.
32.51: Better to declutter one room at a time or a little in each room?
34.07: ​​??? How to start declutter clothes if you need to loose weight but it is too slow so you need several sizes? Unloved is already donated.
37.07: Any advice about gifts you buy ahead of time... I have a ton of Christmas stacked in the corner.
38.44: My partner has ADHD so he's always leaving a debris trail so I put it in where I would look for it first because he always asks me but then he is annoyed too because it's no where he dropped it.
40.55: ?? When it comes to common areas with roommates, how should organizing those areas be handled when it seems like they don't want to put in the effort but are ok with you doing it?
42.11: how do you get over the emotional block when the space you are supposed to declutter is full of things that you need to decide if you want to keep or not.
46.03: Specific tips on decluttering with little kids?
49.48: ​​??? How did you finally decide to buy a bookshelf???
55.16: ?? head explosion (rule)- could you please explain what you meant ?
56.34: ​​I know I'm really bad about stuff shifting. Any suggestions on breaking the mental pattern of that?
59.52: ​​??? How many Deep Dive Audios did you do?

[@andie3131]

I’m recently starting to declutter and after cleaning my kids room once again that you could not walk in…. Anyway I was on brake at work(I work at famous craft and fabric store 😶and was scrolling through OfferUp when I came across a listing for a full box of beads and many other great crafting supplies that easily would’ve been over $50 or $60 even on sale lol. It was right around the corner from my work. I was just getting ready to hit the “is it available?” Button when I stopped myself and said “do you really need this?” “But me or my daughter will love this and be able to do something with it!” Then I stopped and told myself “ NO DO NOT DO IT! You just got rid of bunch of similar stuff that was almost empty and pieces were EVERYWHERE! Plus you already have similar items, even better items. So what if they’re more expensive they’re just sitting there doing nothing right now, let your 12 yo daughter use them if that’s what she asks for….” And I didn’t ask if it was available, I didn’t go get it. That was really hard for me and probably a little longer conversation with myself but I was proud of myself for recognizing and having that self control not to get it. It was a BIG step for me.

[@zanniebythesea770]

well done!

[@StarsHollow214]

Great job❤

[@susanf4857]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@greatauntlizbethg9137]

Well done! It feels wierd at first doesn't it? The first time I walked out of a thrift store with nothing coz I left the 'nearly right' and 'i could use' items behind and they didn't have any if the 3 things I was looking for felt very strange.

[@loriolsen5785]

@Greatauntlizbeth G I've done that, too! My husband took us to visit the new thrift store in our area, which I was excited to go see. Plus we had donations to drop off. (He hates shopping so he stayed in the van!) A little while later, my kids and I left the store without buying anything except candy. He was surprised! Although I went in there looking for specific items, I didn't find any that were right for me. But that's OK! We'll try again some other day!

[@grutarg2938]

Deleting a few photos is a great thing to do when you have an awkward few minutes of time, waiting in a long line for instance. You don't even need wifi.

[@temi4116]

Grutarg2938, yes! Thursday is my day to delete stuff from my phone. Sometimes, on other days, I do additional deleting from my phone as well.

[@loriolsen5785]

Nearly 2 years ago, we moved from a 3700 sq ft house to a 2500 sq ft house. Went from 5 bedrooms to 3 bedrooms. Big change because in my old house, I had a full room for storage and a fully furnished guest room. Plus extra closets that I no longer possess in the new house. I purged a lot before the move, but I still keep purging. I've been working one room at a time. Did my kids rooms and my kitchen. Filled the closets with appropriate things and purged the excess. Mostly there with the master bedroom, but still working. Next will be my office which is a complete mess because it has boxes of papers to go through still. Arrrg! And books, so many books! My point is: I've been working hard on this for nearly 2 years, and I can see the home stretch! It takes a lot of work, but it can be done!

[@sarahk758]

I’ve been on a ‘Decluttering break’ since about two weeks before Christmas. Apparently all members of my family are ready for me to start back up (everything has been snowballing with even home maintenance and 5 min tidy time- due to kids home, snow days, sickness, etc). This morning my 5 year old started moving random stuff around all over the house. Furniture, bathroom accumulation, my husbands nightstand and mine, etc. And then it clicked- he’s overwhelmed from how much clutter has started to accumulate again. We had a sit down and talked, and I was super proud he was able to say how all the STUFF is making him feel. Pre-Declutter life, none of us realized how it effected us. So those with family or children, feeling discouraged and that they aren’t on board for minimizing- it does click eventually for them too ❤ enough essay time, and start Decluttering again time!

[@Saforra99]

That's wonderful! Not just physical-stuff progress, but emotional, verbalizing progress!

[@kimking3466]

I got rid of 3 boxes of donations over the weekend - 1 box of books to the library, 2 boxes of random stuff to the Community Thrift Shop. It took me an hour, and all the way home, I heard myself saying "one hour better". It felt really good.

[@Iamonlyadoll]

I just discovered you and your videos today because That Awkward Mom did a video about trying your cleaning routine for a month. I've been bing watching your videos all day 😅 I've already got a donation box going for my kitchen and I hit a very visible catch all area that has been a disaster for months! I love the concept of better is good. And that when my husband interrupted me I was able to stop and not have a pile of "why did I even start this project, I'm worse off than before" stuff to leave and feel yucky about. Your decluttering method is going to be life changing for me! I'm actually excited to do more tomorrow. God bless you!!!

[@vcanadian1971]

For the family downsizing… it you can afford a storage container I would rent one for a week. Get drop clothes in the backyard and empty your boxes onto the drop cloth to sort through your items… anything you want to keep put in your New home or garage. The items without a home or you don’t want anymore put into the storage container. At the end of the week have a massive yard sale or estate sale if furniture to sell. Anything left over take out to donation.

[@ashcraft555]

Decluttering game: (like a drinking game but with clutter) Throw out one item every time Dana says "blah blah blah." I finished two dressers in just this video! 😉 Thanks for these answers - the one about moving into someone else's former home was especially helpful. That emotional clutter is so hard.

[@beccismith4454]

😂👍🏼

[@vanessaandreatta9098]

Non emotional questions is what I needed all my life 😳

[@teriortiz5360]

Dana - the part about the shirt with 6 ft long sleeves made me laugh so much - you went through it so seriously, but the image of the 6 ft long factory reject sleeves still has me laughing - just put in trash!

[@HannahRainbow88]

Sounds ridiculous but I vaguely recall a shirt on a catwalk that looked like the excess sleeve length should be a straight-jacket 😂

[@Minimadaa]

I can relate to the ADHD debris trail!! The first key was taking care of my own mess like you said, I was blind to my own clutter and would focus on my partner’s. Then I worked with him to develop very simple organization… like a small storage bin that I can throw anything that belongs to him that he leaves out. That way he knows if something is not where he left it, he knows to look in his bin. It was game changing to remove the need to communicate as much over where things get put away.

[@Saforra99]

Brilliant! :)

[@beccismith4454]

What a great idea! I can feel the relief and the ease that this shift certainly made!

[@trishferrer8209]

I absolutely ADORE you and your decluttering system, and the fact that eventually it leads to automatic organization. Absolutely LOVE THIS.

[@beccismith4454]

‼️​Dana -- Spam alert!! ☝️

[@Karinkay229]

Head explosion rule - I just had an aha about this. If an item is steering me toward head explosion - get rid of it because - a next time through - It will make my head explode again. Not worth it! Yay. Also - The thrift store is my storage unit! love this. So many things are going because of this! Yay yay yay!

[@Chaundradickinson]

Start with the TRASH is AMAZING for email.

[@lisamoss7632]

I hate dealing with email. 😳 How do you do it?

[@sabine1252]

I love to listen to these video's or the podcasts during my journey of decluttering. I already donate a lot of stuf. When we moved here 25 years ago, it was a really big place in comparising to our previous one. And family liked to 'dump' stuf in our house, because we have the space to store it. Now I'm trying to get rid of all the stuff thats not mine, i don't like, and its going really great. One item at a time. The attic is the real problem. So I'm doing one sort of clutter at a time. This weekend I took down 3 containers full of stuff that was placed there 25 years ago. We never looked through them. Mostly Paperclutter. I ended up with one shoebox of sentimental items that we really want to keep. The rest of it went to recycle. I'm so proud. Yesterday I went through all the bordgames. We love bordgames. But with the container concept I managed to get rid of around 15 of them. This is the way for me. It really works.

[@Saforra99]

Wow! well done + how encouraging to be making such monumental progress :)

[@joycemitchell2092]

Dana, I’m so happy that you are doing these LIVE’s!! I Love them and something new clicks each time! Thank you!!

[@sarahdingeldein6129]

I totally remember the episode of the show you referred to! Sister Denise swore she could replicate an expensive shirt Theo wanted, but it turned out to be a disaster.

[@mariepeluso2607]

Lol yes that took me back….it was a Gordon Gartrail (sp?) shirt. Lol

[@MsArtistwannabe]

Thank you. I was decluttering two small bathroom shelves while listening to you. I can’t believe how I labored over decisions. But, I did let go of a small trash bag of items. It took the full hour. I really thought it would only take ten to fifteen minutes.

[@astrongmama]

I was thinking of Theo's shirt before you said it. I love that so much.

[@SassySue67]

If I went by the length of sleeves to decide to get rid of shirts I’d be donating most of mine. I have very short arms.😂

[@ginamcdonald7854]

Since I’ve been reading your books, listening to these Q & A’s, and being a member of Take Back Your Home, I’ve made lots of progress. I also have more money in my pocket because I don’t buy as much if I go shopping with friends. The questions run through my mind every time there’s a decision to be made on a purchase. Most of the time I don’t want to stress over what to get rid of at home in order to get something new! Thank you Dana!!!

[@seanagarrow7488]

Dana’s “Container Concept” is the GOAT! Lol!…& to get to “containing” it all takes her 5 steps (more goat stuff😊)…

[@katsspace4688]

Lol…totally agree. The container concept and the 5 steps are absolutely the GOAT🙌🙌🙌

[@mariahwilson6505]

One of my favourite DKW principles is the Head Explosion rule 😅 (55:19)

[@cmallard8399]

Just heard about the ice storm sweeping across Texas. Stay safe👍 I watch you on KZbin every week and have found your advice with your brain very helpful to my brain. I hoard collections which is hard to figure out what to let go of to make the house a home again..

[@donnaminarik5581]

Good morning sunshine 🌞 thank you so much you have changed my daily life! I do my dishes!

[@beccismith4454]

Yay!!! Doing the dishes is such a wonderful habit! I didn’t yesterday, and it was odd to have things hardened on when I did them this afternoon :-D

[@sarahgonzales2104]

At 43:14 : “what would I get rid of in order to make space for this” THIS is the biggest issue. Because, if you couple this with ADHD and depression and any other lovely struggle, you’ll end up being ridiculously sidetracked trying to find the thing to get rid of to make the “space” for the item to keep; sometimes resulting in now bringing that item removed to IT’S correct space, only to find that space has too much there too. This is the HUGE hang up I am almost positive that many of us are dealing with and there is no simple answer. Sure, the easiest solution is “umm hello, just get rid of all that crap in the space!” But, we all know if it were that straightforward for us, we wouldn’t be struggling to begin with… So, realistically; how do you do what you’re advising, without complete sidetracking and getting overwhelmed? 😔

[@JaneH3675]

Does anyone actually need so much stuff to feel they have enriched lives? I guarantee you, in a life and death situation not one item you own would mean anything to you. Thinking like this put a better perspective on my decluttering journey. Also, how much time, effort, and energy do I have to spend on managing what I own?

[@olivemaycards]

She usually says to look for something easy that’s either trash or an obvious donation because that will take you back to the place you started where the donate box and trash bag still are. Finding just enough trash/donation to make space for the thing you’re trying to fit into it’s proper place, then going back to where you started.

[@mediumt7741]

Your videos and podcasts are really helping me. I have been an overthinker and your strategies are the only way I have been able to make any progress with clutter! I am starting to see some (very minor) changes but they have lasted for a few weeks which makes me think it will work. Your experience and empathy are so helpful! Thanks Dana.

[@ornellazamboni1623]

Correct!!! Thank you for repeating and repeating and repeating. And again. And thank you again. Sort of clicking here... 😉

[@ClassroomJoy]

I know this has nothing to do with decluttering, but your lighting looks fantastic 😊

[@JaneH3675]

I can really relate to the digital clutter! Hundreds of pics never to see the inside of a photo album. I'm nearly 60 and that stuff makes my head explode! Too many to sort through and decide what I want to actually print. I'm old fashioned and prefer to sit and look in the album. When my kids were little I sent film off to be printed and sent pictures to my parents. I didn't overwhelm them with the negatives that they would have to sort through and print for themselves. As we get older things like that get overwhelming. I wish my kids would just print out a few pictures of my grandkids and send them to me. A few printed snapshots mean so much more to me than a thousand digital photos.

[@StarsHollow214]

Same thing here. I asked my daughter who was visiting this weekend if she would get me a print of the grandkids I could frame. I have a digital frame but I just really miss putting photos in actual old school frames.

[@katie7748]

I want to print them out but going through them is so TEDIOUS. And they never turn out right. Dark and/or fuzzy. I miss the old days. Point, click, drop off, pick up later that day.

[@greatauntlizbethg9137]

Can you ask your kids to pick 3 and print them for u, perhaps for birthday/Christmas. Some adult kids need to be slapped in the face with a fish to see the reducing capacity of their parents.

[@Saforra99]

We have sorted + printed out books to have physical albums, because I too appreciate that. It always takes a long time, but I really enjoy looking through the albums. I wonder if you could ask your kids for that for Christmas/birthday/Easter/some holiday or just because? With a specific date/reason to print, maybe that would be useful? And if there are truly so many, then you could even add the caveat "They don't have to be the absolute cutest/best photos from the past year(s), but just find the first 5 or 6 pretty cute ones, print them and I will treasure them" :D Good luck!

[@JaneH3675]

@@Saforra99 Thank you. That's a great idea. One of my daughters in law actually did that for me. Means so much!

[@HannahRainbow88]

Before shopping I write a list of things I need (having learned to avoid what I've got rid of before). Then at the store I say: "When will I use it and where will I store it?" I also bear in mind if it's an item I can buy cheap, OR a "workhorse" piece I'll buy higher quality so it lasts longer. Don't get tricked by false economy eg. 10 "cheap" ones ending up costing more than 1 quality piece that lasts as long(/er).

[@Chicken_Mama_85]

My mom and I are currently decluttering and organizing photos. Starting with digital so the physical ones have a place to go when we scan them. We’re just using the folders in our computers and organizing by date (decade for ones we’re not sure of, and down to the month for more recent photos). It really helps because when you look for a photo you usually know approximately when it was. There’s a KZbinr that has lots of great videos for this too called Pixologie. I definitely agree with Dana…just start deleting the obvious trash and it makes things much easier. I even made separate folders for things like house, medical, garden,financial etc so my random photos are now separate from our family photos.

[@kayelle8005]

Good morning from Australia. Enjoying this video with breakfast. I’ve been decluttering a space per day. Keep finding “good” boxes and “good” jars. Repurposing some, donating some, trashing others.

[@beccismith4454]

Hello from Europe, just watched this over supper on Thursday evening! I can relate to that… I have actually gotten rid of some jars and containers that I have been keeping, and I have a couple of friends who like making jams etc. and are sometimes looking for small glass jars especially, and so I have some put aside for when I see you one of those friends again… And I keep some because I’d like to put spices or nuts and seeds or dried berries for example in them, and I have a few extras for such usage, or even for putting leftovers in the fridge in! I choose wide-mouthed jars sometimes over Tupperware kind of things.

[@kayelle8005]

@@beccismith4454 yes! That’s what I’d been doing. Savings jars for friends that make jams but I live in a different city now and the jars for nuts and seeds I have to remind myself I have enough. It’s funny how simple things can still have attachments. Like Dawn I can see value in everything. I’m decluttering a space a day and it’s so interesting what thoughts come up.

[@LisaSmith3663]

Thank you for doing this Q and A's they are helping me stay focused. I've been thinking I had a 3,000 piece puzzle and I keep saying I don't know where to start and realize I have about 2,500 pieces put together and only about 500 to go.

[@debbiev.1311]

Grateful for the replay once again!! 🙏🏻❤🤪

[@pinkroses135]

Love your practical approach

[@momminator98]

Haha!!! The shirt that Denise made for Theo 🤣. It didn't take me a fraction of a second to know exactly what you were referring to. We are sooo from the same generation. I'm a Texan too. I relate to you on so many levels.p

[@shibolinemress8913]

Regarding clothes, I usually ask myself: "Would you buy this in its current condition, if you saw it in a shop?" If the answer is yes, I donate it. If it has a flaw but can be repaired, I'll try to fix and keep it. (I've never felt comfortable giving away things that aren't in mint condition.) If it can't be easily repaired, I'll turn it into something else (quilt, pet toys, pillow case, etc.), or just take it to the rag collection for recycling. I know this is not for everyone, and probably too many decisions for most people, but I just thought I'd put it out there. 😊❤

[@stephanied6711]

❤❤ your lives and your take back your course worth every penny

[@karenshoppell5197]

😂😂😂 Oh my gosh!! The handmade sweater for Theo! Hilarious!! 😂😂😂😂

[@rhondabray8948]

I remember the Cosby episode about the shirt😂

[@beachprints]

I remember when Denise made the t-shirt for Theo. I loved that show.

[@deniseharwood9521]

I'm in line to get your books through Libby, there is a 10-18 week wait time (depending on book/audio).

[@HannahMitchell-Art]

Yes come to New Zealand! I live in the North, lots of fabulous forest and beaches (I actually have a KZbin about places to visit in barefeet if you want to day dream 😍)

[@DanaKWhite]

I went to the North Island in my 20s! One of my favorite vacations. It’s so beautiful!

[@heylana719]

Yes yes yes, I need to hear stuff from several angles to really internalise it. Thank you Dana for understanding ❤

[@gc6340]

I relate. I see pictures posted of donations and I usually say I'd like that. Lol.

[@Elizabeth-490]

Digital photo answer- genius!! Thank you!!

[@aksez2u]

Regarding the lady with the long-armed shirt and donations: I feel like we should shift our thinking about thrift stores a little bit. They serve a more important function in our society than they get credit for - dealing with the things we don't want. Don't overthink it, just give them the stuff and let THEM decide if it's not appropriate. Of course I wouldn't donate something very dirty or garbagy, but most items will have value to someone.

[@beccismith4454]

I agree. And for another person, they might really be looking for something with long arms, or like being able to fold them up a couple of times etc. Or enjoy being crafty and cutting the arms off to make something else… :-)

[@aksez2u]

@@beccismith4454 I'm tall and would love to find shirts with extra long arms! 😁

[@grutarg2938]

Yeah, let the donation center decide what is trash. You can always call them or check their website for some guidelines. I once tried to donate some chairs that were a bit rusty and they said they couldn't take them, but the scrap metal drop-off was just up the road. They were very kind about it and didn't make me feel bad.

[@alannaburg]

Thrift stores here have gone up in price a lot. Very frustrating for when I actually need something.

[@stephanied6711]

Definitely in my area too

[@katie7748]

Yep. Thanks, inflation!

[@helenrayner6117]

We'd love to have you come and visit us in New Zealand Dana! You can stay at my place in Auckland - thanks to you I've cleared out a whole bunch of stuff and am hoping my house will stay under control from now on.

[@victoriaoliver9958]

Lol...totally got the Cosby Show reference! 😂

[@lauradenison4079]

Soooooo Funny I knew Tom Brady was the Goat but I had no idea it wasn’t just a nick name and it actually meant something lol I’m listening to your book now!!! And making progress

[@ruth1996]

In that first question I wonder if firstshe has prayed for wisdom and then approached her husband ask could it be possible to get a storage unit for all this extra stuff that way if there's anything you want to look at to see or to use you can easily access it from the storage and it would make it so much easier for me to make this our home I would be so happy and I believe you would be too we could do it for trial basis of time you choose

[@JaneH3675]

When my husband's mother passed away and we moved into her home we spent 2 months decluttering and boxing up stuff for donations, and most of it went into storage. It was a big help to put most of it in storage. You can't fit 2 households into 1.. and a woman has got to feel the house is her home, not her mother's home, or her mother in law's home.

[@carlalund3250]

This hit home. Literally. ❤

[@Andi.Plans2]

I need to know how to declutter in one spot (craft stuff) because I don’t know the answer to question 1 and don’t know where to put things! Decluttering other parts of my home is WAY WAY easier!!!!😅

[@robinsouthern9904]

When in doubt about to trash or donate the shirt, donate and let the charity decide to resale or trash.

[@rpkent953]

[@aliciataylor7946]

Gordon Gartrell! 😄

[@kennethbailey9853]

THANKYOU

[@BLK2000]

Just missed you.....catch up time :)

[@loriennyanzi1290]

Do you all get rid of boxes the item came in? I have a hard time putting those boxes in the trash. I'm not taking the dog crate back, that we purchased last year. I just purchased a portable back massager, I'm pretty positive I'm keeping it.

[@karincelliers9128]

What do you do with bottles of stuff that you don’t like. You used it a couple of times but didn’t like the smell or feel on your skin.

[@fabienneclavier5984]

Donate them to friends/family. If noone likes them, just get rid of them (you would have to toss them at some point anyway, since they will go bad). Just don’t keep things that have no use.

[@misselizabeth269]

I literally just chucked out a ton of bath &body stuff that was a gift...the person who gave it to me didn't know I don't use it, and I couldn't give it away, because my closer people also use all-natural products. I felt guilty for a second, but then the clutter was gone and I felt better! 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@pidginprepper8087]

When I’m searching for something……My husband says “it’s right where you left it!”😩

[@snowy_iris9640]

1700 sq ft is equivalent to 158 sq meters. Just an FYI.

[@mouselovinlady]

Average UK home size is 818 sq ft so 1700 sq ft still sounds pretty big to us!

[@kimmeeks6766]

❤❤❤

[@GenderlessSpoonie]

I’ve scrolled through a lot of the comments and I don’t see any recommendations for photo digitizing/scanning apps yet. Anybody have any suggestions?

[@jillstover8782]

Tom Brady

[@tiabarrett7816]

How funny about the timing of teenagers... 😅

[@Serena.Hope.Eternal]

🕊

[@gw22]

Too many commercials. I tried to listen to the video while I worked in my home. Every 5 - 10 minutes you have to come back to the video and skip the commercials or listen to commercials that go on for an hour. Very inconsiderate of your viewers.

[@sweetsanddandy8639]

That's KZbin, not Dana.

[@gw22]

@@sweetsanddandy8639 You Tube shame on you...........

[@sweetsanddandy8639]

@@gw22 Keeps the platform free of charge!

[@gw22]

@@sweetsanddandy8639 There's something more too it, I watch multiple sites. Many have no commercials over 1-2 minutes and some not at all. It has something to do with reimbursement. In either case, I'll make note of it and skip this one next time.

[@suzannebissell5894]

Pay for You Tube premium if you don’t want commercials!