How to Declutter an Overwhelming Space

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:: IN THIS VIDEO ::
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Boys' Room Original Makeover Video: • Minimalist Boys Room M...
Girls' Room Reset & Refresh Video: • I can't believe I'm sh...
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[@TheMinimalMom]

Thanks Helix for sponsoring! Go to helixsleep.com/minimalmom to get 20% off your mattress, plus two free pillows! I hope you have a great day! - Dawn

[@maribelquesada5651]

Please share Tom’s thoughts on the kids toys… my husband is not supportive at all, he could care less

[@ashandu]

Hey Dawn, thank you for the video. Where is the one for the girls' room refresh? I can't see it in the more area.

[@demita840]

Have you ever thought about using eco or sustainable containers and storage cubes rather then plastic and polyurethane which is bad for the planet and often doesn't last either. There are lots of options like wooden containers, felt containers, natural cloth containers, bamboo or other eco containers. And in the kitchen glass storage jars are great, moths can't get in to glass either.

[@christeenhenry6448]

I just LOVE your family.. All 3 Channells..The Best... I truly...❤❤❤ Need you all

[@vampcess5147]

Don't beat yourself up because the boys room is messy. As long as they are clean, fed, watered, warm and know they are loved, your doing a great job :D

[@jeshanahram264]

An hour long video of Dawn decluttering? Yes please!!!

[@amyloewen2093]

Lol right

[@marilynndesilva7620]

I didn't think Dawn had enough clutter to do an hour's worth! 😂

[@Angelica-ek5dp]

I would love to see a decluttering of the girls room, this was a great video. I love the decluttering of kids stuff in minimal homes because it’s such a hard thing to manage sometimes. Please keep these videos coming!

[@danireeves8717]

I thought the same thing!!! ❤️

[@sarahhenderson4986]

Ha! Totally thought the same thing and got excited about the length!

[@rachoony]

Thank you for showing a truly honest "before" shot! Seeing that really helped my heart today. It is refreshing to see that even experts like Dawn have kids who don't always have tidy spaces.

[@danarzechula3769]

Yes what you said!

[@corrineainley]

Yes thanks for showing us the real life before shots. You are a wonderful momma. I am so encouraged by you and your family.

[@drake238]

This is Charlene Drake - Steve us my hubby but when we got this new phone, I cannot get back into my KZbin account and I’m so upset about it because I loved having all my videos of dawn and things that I kept up with but I’m having to use my hubby‘s account for some reason I have no idea how it all goes to this. But anyway, I just wanted to call me at back to what you had said I totally agree with you, Rachel ! Yesssss! Me to!!! I was like wow it is good in a way to see this because I always thought with Dawn being a minimalist that there was only two or three things to play with in the kids room so seeing this gave me a different perspective that her kids really do still enjoy things and have fun. And it made me realize that we all find ourselves with a room in our house that gets put on hold, while other things are a priority. I appreciate as you said Don’s honesty before photos because I’m thinking well. If she can do this while teaching and talking and making a video then what in the world is my problem. Lol lol OL I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much clutter, but this is reality when you have small children I had to send this video to my daughter because they have four children and remind me so much of, her and Tom because her and her husband work well together and make a good team. Thank you Dodge for sharing, and being such an amazing inspiration.

[@drake238]

P.S. I was trying to say I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much clutter in Dawn’s house. Lol but it is truly the reality when you have snmall children or older people like myself!!! and I appreciate her being so honest and sharing it with us.

[@judyjudyjudy1841]

@rachoony....expert?

[@laurieg6142]

I love how you are respectful of your kids but you are the one responsible and in charge. Teaching them how and why is amazing too! Great video for many life lessons!

[@j.m.7056]

Yes! I don't understand why she allows the kids to live in such a mess. I get she has lots of responsibilities but kids need to be taught to take care of their belongings.

[@amybee40]

@@j.m.7056 She IS teaching them that. That's what the whole video is about. Try to keep up.

[@colleenkielczynski1696]

I like the bins and shelf. for me.

[@judyjudyjudy1841]

@laurieg6142 ......You get it, my gosh, you get it! They will pay for what they are allowing to happen. You (they, not you) pay for the bad decisions they make for a LONG TIME!!!! With one of my children I am paying for my bad decisions....I am 80 he is 62....sad, sad, sad. To turn back time & spend the time it takes to get this through to him. He was the most wonderful little boy & I failed him.

[@judyjudyjudy1841]

@@amybee40 ...she IS teaching them that? I think you are blind to the truth of this video. Do you think the boys will keep their room clean next time. Do you think they will know to keep the pieces of their toys together & picked up? Do you think she is teaching them she will pay their way out of things? Or to earn the rewards of keeping their toys taken care of.

[@AmeliaUnleashed]

“Some things have to wait their turn in life” -Dawn Love this!!!

[@bleakaf]

Absolutely. Years ago I heard how, by definition' you can only have one priority at any time. It's helped so much.

[@bernadettehawes]

Amen!

[@judyjudyjudy1841]

@@bleakaf There is NO PRIORITY more important than teaching your children the right things in life in the few short years they are with you. NOTHING! When you make wrong (bad) decisions you pay for a long, long time. I am 80 & my Son suffers my lack of teaching......I am paying for a long, long time You are so right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@cristin794]

Something that I’m realizing as I watch this video, as an American mom now living in Europe, is just how much more STUFF my kids had access to when we lived in the US. When we moved, I was bummed that things are so much more expensive here, there are fewer choices and the stores aren’t open as late or often as in the US. But the upside is that it’s just harder to acquire things - and that feels like a big piece of the inventory equation! Thanks for sharing this.

[@taramiller7928]

This same thing happened to me when I moved to Bermuda 16 years ago. I am convinced if I still lived in the US, I probably wouldn't be a minimalist.

[@Conval-wi5eh]

This. As someone who grew up and still lives in Europe, watching Dawn's and Dana's videos really let me appreciate the boundaries and friction higher prices, smaller homes and opening hours set.

[@mkkrupp2462]

Unfortunately it’s why the USA (pro rata) is responsible for the biggest greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Fossil fuel emissions are released when materials are located/mined/grown, when they are manufactured, when they are packaged, transported and even when they are discarded into landfill or burnt.

[@katiesoderling3596]

@@mkkrupp2462China actually exceeds the US by over double in million metric tons. We are the second in line so not much better but interesting that china exceeds the US by so much more. Probably because of so much industry and fewer regulations.

[@abbibrennen2549]

@@mkkrupp2462 You are talking about China, right? Because China has the largest Greenhouse gas emissions, Google it.

[@charlotteroze6451]

I love that you showed this to the world. There are a million videos of people and their perfect homes that it grants the illusion that messes don't exist for them. This makes me feel alot better (: knowing you're minimalist and still have chaotic rooms on occasion makes me feel like less of a failure, and also tells me that having toys all over the place doesn't mean they have too many 😂

[@pjfreeman4789]

I bet your boys will always remember how great the “after” version of their room felt. Probably a great lesson for them. Well done, Mom.

[@daCubanaqt]

I think it’s excellent that the boys are helping and it isn’t just mom doing the cleaning. She’s teaching them valuable life lessons by involving them.

[@viejitaaa]

I really enjoy the longer videos like this because they're nice to put on while I'm organizing. Helps keep the motivation level high for a longer period of time :)

[@lisakrings5419]

I am 58, our youngest is 33, I still don’t have that time to do the things I thought I’d do “someday”, and neither do my friends. You are SO right Dawn.

[@alicet4204]

Thank you for not letting embarrassment keep you from showing the 'before'... I honestly thought my kids' rooms are the worst possible mess. I just feel so encouraged that I'm not the only one dealing with this and that it is possible to have it clean and tidy. You're truly an inspiration and I love your videos.

[@y.villao-rodriguez4256]

While watching this video I gathered 4 bags of donations and 2 bags of trash! Like always, you are so inspiring- my favorite part of a decluttering day is sitting back and looking at my less cluttered home as a take a deep breath and sigh of relief

[@ramziasaleem5498]

It will be mu h better if North American style changes and people think twice bringing in stuff and care about our planet earth similar to how they care for a clean house, because until we don't feel contentment with less meaningful stuff and as long as there are buyers and customers, the junk producers continue to produce extra and unnecessary stuff.

[@barblogan2060]

😢😢lpopp

[@judyjudyjudy1841]

@@barblogan2060 You are so right & look how many are going to suffer for their decisions. Our beloved US is on it's way out (just like the RISE & FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE). A Country no one will ever think will take us over. I would say the way every one that is leading our Country allows all the Spanish people to enter the US illegally, they are a possibility. How ever is our taxes supposed to pay for all of the illegal immagrants? They give money to people through SSI without those people having earned or paid taxes. Every month they worry??? about paying people that have earned their Social Security....do they worry, I doubt it? There will be Countries that are the "lead Country" of the World as there were before us. No one last long because they don't do a good job of handling the lead. You & I won't suffer as much (unless we are taken over by war) because we live reality....all this is an illusion & IS going to live. These are not my predictions these are predictions from others long before us & all you have to do is read to see it happening, slowly!!!!!!! Have you seen the documentary where semi truck loads of the US over use items are dumped in other countries for them to try to make use of it? Did you know France or Italy (sorry I don't remember which) is not allow to have waste? I'm sure they do because wasteful people are NOT just in the US, but that IS the law for them? I think it's a good idea!!!!

[@jessicakraus4983]

I do the same! I listen to Dawn I get working on my stuff as well. It's so motivating!!

[@LillianOglethorpe]

@@ramziasaleem5498Yes! Makes me think of 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NIV) “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” I think it’s about perspective and pausing to appreciate what have that we truly need, and then see the blessing in what we have beyond that. It makes me take a step back and ask myself, “If I never obtained another thing (besides food/essentials for physically staying alive), could I make it with nothing more than what’s in here now?” (Of course if there are growing children, there has to be some new clothing/practical stuff.) Having that passage in front of my face (like I literally posted it on my fridge for over a year) has helped me have a more contented, positive mindset in life overall. I have to work to couple that with thankfulness for ‘negative things’ because it helps my attitude about them too. I could complain about all the dishes I have to wash, or I can be thankful for having them to do, because it means I ate last night. It’s an ongoing work to renew my mind. Finding The Minimal Mom has been another building block for that. 😊

[@laelakarimi]

I'm a 34 year old recovering hoarder, and have been hoarding my entire life since I can remember. I was very much like your younger son. This may not be the case for him...however, you may want to allow him to be more hands on with what is going in the black trashbags, and be careful about not tossing things while he's not looking. I can tell you that that exact action (someone throwing something away that I'm not aware of), causes me to grip onto things even more. When my parents, or even significant other tossed things without my knowledge, there was a severe sense of fear, loss of control, panic, and anxiety. Thus, making me want to hold onto everything else even tighter. Again, I don't know your son as much as you do...just something to keep in mind that throwing away someone's things with hoarding disorder, without their knowledge, can be a huge trigger and make it worse.

[@TexJudy]

"The future doesn't bring more time, capacity, energy" ....just what I needed to hear today!

[@KlingonPrincess]

It strikes me how nice for both boys to grow up in a simplified house. Corbin can rest easy in a clean environment and Gage has room to have his special things accessable. It shows how your lifestyle works for different family members

[@dpauline4482]

Yes! I love the idea of the kids having boxes for special items. I remember so many times in my childhood having special items get lost in piles of stuff that by the time they were found again they were ripped, destroyed, or mistaken as trash and thrown away.

[@judyjudyjudy1841]

@klingonprincess9332...... Wasteful..... I wonder if the 3 teens that tore up a young mans truck & destroyed his flag he was flying & laughed & smerked all the way through their trial on Judge Judy were raised the sam. Getting paid to give up toys & gifts given to them. To let their beautiful room in a beautiful home get trashed with toys played with & not taken care of. Not being taught to how to care for their toys or respect anything. The years that we have with our children fly by so fast that we hardly have time to get it across to "how to live with the world" without wasting time NOT TEACHING them is sad! It is our job, as their parent, to teach them.....NOTHING is more important, nothing. And you think this is right. People pay for years for the bad decisions they make.

[@abundantlife8396]

judyjudyjudy1841 Oh my, I wish you could get some help for yourself. I know you won’t see this, but you have SO much regret in how you raised your son -you were 18!-cut yourself some slack. 😕

[@kimc.85]

I needed this today!!! I’ve been following you for years, and have gained so much peace as I’ve decluttered our home. Thank you for inspiring and motivating through positive content. Also, thank you for showing the “before”. It’s a good reminder for us moms that we aren’t alone in the decluttering, categorizing, organizing, (or throwing away) of a million tiny treasures 😂

[@LeeannMorrisHouseofStitches]

12am

[@shannonmorrison457]

Such a better approach then yelling at kids to clean their room when they have too much to manage. I love that you don't tell your kids that they can't have stuff. You are really gifted at this Dawn:)

[@laury-pf5qc]

Hi Dawn, my family is already very minimal but I still love watching your channel because it continues to remind me how great it truly is. Your videos are so calming and enjoyable and I look forward to them every Wednesday. Thank you. From Queensland Australia.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you so much Laury, I greatly appreciate this!!!

[@seaspeaktome9167]

Same over here!

[@lisafitzpatrick885]

Funny so r we. It's very calming watching her I agree

[@leisaross9782]

I agree and I am in Qld Australia too!

[@georgianicoll4786]

Another Queenslander here! Agree also!

[@connied8507]

This brings back memories of when my kids were small. Once a year the birthday fairy would clean their room and the rest of the year I closed the door. Now that they are grown both are minimalists.

[@danarzechula3769]

Haha poor birthday fairy

[@annsteffes10]

I love that you say "it just hasn't been made a priority" that is so true. I think so many people just get down on themselves and think they are the worst mom, or wife due to a messy space. I hear this all the time in my decluttering group.

[@theelaavar]

I LOVE that you are letting us see their messy room. If your kid's room can get this way, then we can see that it's not us being negligent, it's just life in a real family!! You really are awesome!! ❤️🥰

[@christineschmidt4337]

No judgment here, my girl's room looks just like this mostof the time, only the girl version. But what is sobering is that it can get this bad in your minimalist home. I have to wonder what hope there is for the rest of us. 🤣 But I did a giant cleanup in their room last week and they helped purge a ton of stuff and anything that I didn't think was adding value to their lives I put in bins in the attic to see if they are missed. A blissful, peaceful, space for awhile at least.😊

[@kirstinwilcoxson3104]

My son wants to hang on to everything. So we do what I call, “a reverse yard sale”. If he fills a box of items he no longer wants, I pay him $10. This way he is able to give up items he really doesn’t want in exchange for money that he can use to purchase things he wants and will use now. It is hard when kids grow and their hobbies change. This is a good way of teaching kids to let go of things they think they need to hold onto. Whenever my son gives up a box, I always exclaim, now we have more space! Therefor teaching about the value of having space rather than holding onto items no longer needed.

[@lauragreen4899]

I appreciate the fact that you are ok with throwing away the little bits and pieces. The only thing I would do differently is keep the Legos in a zip bag. Great video.

[@ahatch7534]

Absolutely. Legos and Duplos should go in a Ziploc in the “time will tell” for donation!

[@pennylilley6183]

Legos are expensive 😮

[@nicholetteburris3925]

I always have a little ziplock for Lego. It's the tiny toy that never gets thrown. Lol.

[@ImaaniMoz]

I came here to look for a comment about the Lego's. Them getting thrown away made me so sad 😭

[@natalieeubank4533]

@@ImaaniMoz they are just things….

[@bernadettehawes]

Dawn, as someone who struggles with making decisions, downsizing to a small apartment and not being able to afford replacing all furniture, I’ve been overwhelmed. I have a cubbyhole that looks like this and worse. So thank you for showing this mess. To actually help those that need it, that’s what we need to see and some of the process of how to tackle it bit by bit. This is what gives hope. That no matter how difficult it is at the outset, THERE IS HOPE!!! So a huge THANK YOU for your vulnerability and willingness to share.

[@michelletaylor1900]

You can be happy in any size space especially a cubbyhole. That is what she has taught all along. Peace of mind is worth much.

[@fromheadtofood]

Thank you Dawn for changing our lives for the better!

[@silvertab2002]

Dawn, I love when you show videos like this- it shows you're not perfect and you're like us. It allows for us to know that we are all doing are best and also that we can achieve our goals/minimalism. Thank you!

[@corrineainley]

Yes I have been watching your videos for 4 years and my son has learned along side me. Thanks for being a real momma!

[@tracey1782]

It’s definitely easier to relate to someone when they show that they’re not always perfect. It’s so realistic and I appreciate that

[@PowerToolsWithThread]

I love how you described how to handle a person who is so emotionally attached to everything! My husband is this way. He's a 'Butterfly' and everything is a 'tradition' or a memory and has significance for him. And he's 62! You are so right about the container concept as the boundary. I've done this throughout the house, but his garage is another story. Tom is younger so he's more receptive to the method, but not mine. Inside the house, I go through his containers every 6-8 months and declutter (I don't clean or organize) and don't tell him. He has a clear bin on the kitchen counter that is his and he's supposed to drop his wallet, keys, business cards, etc. Inevitably, in 6 months it's overflowing and I'll purge about half. He can't really tell because he doesn't truly know what's in there, but my decluttering threshold is met and he's happy too because he still thinks he has everything. It's deceptive I know, but who really has to keep expired losing lottery tickets???

[@kayleedickenson2510]

I loved watching this! Your boys reminded me so much of my boys when they were young. My heart was so happy watching Gage slither along his mattress cleaning the wall above his bed! Corbin is such a hard worker, I loved cleaning at his age too! I have used many of the same techniques with my 8 children. Thank you for your inspiring videos and encouragement to keep our lives decluttered. It feels like hanging out with a best friend watching your videos!

[@donotneedtoknow7541]

This is the sort of space I have to declutter/clean/organize. 😔 I'm so proud of you working through all those misc toy bins!

[@ValerieCorey-lo9ed]

Highly recommend mattress pads to keep the mattresses free of sweat and grime. So much easier to wash the pads then to attempt to clean the mattress, which most never do. I have two pads on our bed because my husband sweats so much; otherwise our mattress would be permanently stained. Wonderful insight. Thanks much for sharing so much!

[@annabarclay7321]

Yes I 100 percent degree! I love my ghost mattress protector. Obviously I don’t wet by bed as a grown up but I swear mattresses get funky anyway. Mine still looks brand new because of our mattress cover

[@j.m.7056]

Yes!!!

[@stst77]

You seem like such a kind mother with such sweet sons. It’s very nice to see such a lovely family. It’s also nice to see a real family that gets messes.

[@simpledeliciousfoodie3476]

It is so nice seeing a real life boys room, nice to know my kids aren't the only ones who end up in rooms like this. Its difficult to even think in there, once we are all done everything is so much nicer! Glad you are human too.

[@natashakarek9419]

Dawn, thank you for telling me I am not a bad mom! All three of our kids rooms get so messy! I was like why can’t we keep them clean like everyone else🤦🏻‍♀️ I love how real you are!

[@ashleysutton8546]

Thanks for sharing. I needed to not feel guilty about some of our clutter. Life is so busy. This really motivated me!

[@reneeprasil6153]

For the folks who are looking at this and negatively judging mom-remember that children need an example AND some help in getting the task done sometimes. Kids learn by example, and the example of 'helping others' is as important as 'keeping things clean'. Functional families work together, teaching and learning. We adults STILL are put together this way-as evidenced by those of us who are being helped by watching these videos and decluttering with her.

[@amydennis5978]

Thank you for showing that even the most simplified of homes needs a big declutter sometimes! I’ve been feeling discouraged as the clutter has crept back in after previous major simplification but this video has encouraged me tremendously! Thank you!

[@lovinglife3954]

Corbin is so adorable and such a good sport! I love that he said "I love cleaning" with so much enthusiasm.

[@thebraveturtle]

Dawn, I can't tell you how grateful I am for you and your willingness to post videos like this showing your life and explaining your decluttering process. God has used you to positively impact me and all those around me. You've taught me that, when we eliminate the excess in our lives, we have the FREEDOM and extra CAPACITY to LOVE and SERVE others more! Thank you so much! I pray God blesses you and your family and helps you during this busy season.

[@Jessica_Jones]

Amen! Same here...as I have gotten further along in this journey, the increasing ability to "say yes" to such things has been such a blessing! ❤

[@pamwood3956]

Corbin is such a good cleaner!! His future wife is going to be very lucky and appreciative! Great job in raising such good kids Dawn and Tom!! Seeing Tom helping the boys with their bed making is awesome! He's so tall that he makes it look so easy.

[@amybee40]

LOL, I was afraid Tom would bump his head on that sloped ceiling!

[@pamwood3956]

@@amybee40 me too 😄

[@lisadixon5886]

Love your honesty in showing your before photos! Great tips and motivation, Thank you!

[@christisjoypinson5599]

The excitement I feel when I look at the timer and it's over an hour... 🥳🎉🙌🎈🥳🎉🙌🎈🥳🎉🙌🎈🥳 (This is also PERFECT timing because I am quite literally in the process of decluttering and reorganizing my DVDs as we speak! Thank you and God bless you, Dawn and family!!! 😄🙌)

[@sarahhenderson4986]

Agreed on the video length!!

[@jaminova_1969]

This lady is like a mind reader!

[@rebeccabarrett7522]

Ive been trying some of your techniques for around my house (going very slowly 😂). My mindset at first was "no way.. thats not gonna work". Ive now gotten to the place in my life where ive stopped questioning you 😆 I just trust it works and strive to change more in my house and become happier after. Mom of 5 kids under 6years ❤

[@tonyagrimm1024]

I love this video, as we are just starting to declutter and trying to get things down. The kids rooms are the worst! This was encouraging to know that even though you are a minimalist kids rooms can still be a struggle it made the video seem real and authentic so thank you for sharing all the tips and tricks.

[@626dchful]

I wholeheartedly agree on everything you said about kids being "bored". That's exactly how it goes at our house too! It often requires being "bored" before their creativity kicks in. Having been taught this at a young age, they have learned how to hone in on their creativity as they have gotten older. It's now to the point that their free time is never enough for all the stuff they could do!

[@stephandozzie]

Perfect timing! I'm about the launch into an hour declutter to get ready to head to the consignment shop tomorrow! I'm really enjoying watching people who are already minimalist continue decluttering their homes.

[@vickitucker9930]

I love your boys - they are both so cute and so sweet. And you are so great with them, Dawn. What an awesome mom you are. Your philosophy on how few toys they really need is so right on. I only wish I had learned these principles years ago when I was raising a family. Keep on doing what you’re doing…we all learn and get inspired by you.

[@cv7357]

MOTIVATING!!!! Reading through a few comments I saw a lot of people were freaking out about the LEGO dumping. Well, this is what makes Dawn able to have this channel... she's different than most & this makes her able to teach! She's grown her decluttering muscles & can now be our personal trainer on using our "let it go" muscles. Some of us, myself included, find way too many excuses to save things, for donation or whatever. But honestly I found this vid very motivating & went right into our LEGO area & got rid of pieces that wouldn't be used anymore by my grands because they were odd pieces that only worked for certain things but saved anyway. Felt very liberating! I thank you Dawn for being my personal trainer. Also, praying that you aren't discouraged by some of the comments💜💪🙏. Keep up the great work!

[@PookysMom6]

Tossing Legos?! 😨 Those are a never toss item here 😂 (They are expensive, and maintain their value if we decide to sell them later -- even when they are not in sets/are in bulk) ETA: FWIW, my comment wasn't to throw Dawn under the bus! I was just shocked that people actually throw away Legos! We could never do that intentionally in our house 🤣

[@veronikam3836]

I agree! I found it really hard to watch - and I don't even like legos. :-D

[@jenniferdesrosiers2585]

​@@veronikam3836 Same. It is so easy to pull out the Legos and so worth the two extra minutes it would take to put them in their own bag or box. I can't watch them all go in a trash bag. 🫤

[@helengesell2668]

My kids are 33 and 31, and they still pull out the Lego bin and build stuff...lol

[@veronikam3836]

@@divergentdyes You could still donate them. Also, Dawn's kids still play with legos, so I really don't see why tossing them makes any sense - except that it may be a little easier in the moment of cleaning up. But it wouldn't be that much more work to put them in a extra bin...

[@angela_flute52689]

Yeah, that was irresponsible. She talks about how throwing things away is supposed to just be a one-time thing as you start decluttering when you just can't handle stuff, but she finds excuses to throw stuff away way more than that and she's been living minimally for years. To me that's not only wasteful, but it's cheating. She said she wanted a fresh start, but she hadn't been up there in a while--it was her kids' room and wasn't bothering her the whole time, so it's unfair to them to throw those away. Plus there's a bunch of strange-shaped LEGO pieces that perform roles other pieces can't when you're building stuff (which she would know if she paid attention to how her kids build), and I bet some of those were in the pile she tossed and her kids will miss them. I would bet that since those LEGOs were up in her kids' room in a bin where they didn't belong, it's probably because they built something with them (which has since come apart), so that shows that those were pieces they needed and wanted. Even if she does need to throw them away, she should at least check if they're the type of plastic that can be recycled. She can say "we really try not to be wasteful anymore" (33:57) but actions speak louder than words, especially when her last several videos have really been trying to convince people to throw away perfectly good stuff instead of finding appropriate places to send them.

[@toddandcaroljarvis]

I’m tackling one portion of my office today and the structured methodology was EXACTLY what I needed to motivate me! Dawn, I love that you are so real and relatable! I love the combination of practical tips, glimpses into your precious family life and the psychology behind why we should simplify and why we struggle with it. Keep the videos coming! ❤ from toasty Texas

[@kaywilliams1065]

I've been watching your videos for a long time now, and I feel like your decluttering the kids stuff today actually is encouraging Me to declutter that same way on my Own stuff. Thank you!!!

[@trinaolson7131]

Thank you for this! I don't have kids and it still motivated me to get up and declutter while I watched the video. All the tips apply to things like craft supplies and home office stuff as well!

[@shannonmcmullen3916]

This video is kind of like a tutorial on decluttering...so helpful!!! Thank you Dawn!!! 🥰 I know i haven't been around kids for a while but I have never seen a child loving cleaning...lol!!! Corbin is such a special guy!!! As are your other children too!!! This just blew me away, in a good way!!! Dawn and Tom your family is a breath of fresh air!!! 🥰

[@elizabethgoehring6260]

This video makes me so happy. I love that the lifestyle you advocate comes from an authentic life (with its real-life messes). I love that it is attainable (no matter the mess you start with). I love that your boys helped out. I learned some good ideas! Thank you, Dawn.

[@annaread3829]

The fact that you are real and show your real messes are so helpful! We have all see the “influencers” with picture perfect houses that none of us can relate to!!! Thanks for being honest!

[@marysusa6985]

Wonderful of you to not shame your children for their messes. I wasn't so lucky and it followed me for many years as guilt and shame. You're a great mom in general.

[@Jen39x]

Even adults can loosen their attachment to items left in boxes. It may take a little longer but it is so much easier for me to realize I’ve not opened that box in a couple years and tell myself its going to have to be something pretty special to justify keeping anything from the box. I’m going through stuff that I moved a couple years ago. Or pack it up and leave it for a year or two. It’s amazing.

[@patshomecraft5963]

Hi, Dawn!! Love your channel so much! You have truly changed my life and train of thought concerning our home and possessions. For the absolute positive!! Thanks for showing how you are just as human as we are with the mess that creeps up on us all. Please share more organization videos with us!!! Love you and take care, sweet lady!

[@mrskerry8111]

Daw what stood out to me in this video is how encouraging you are to your boys. You build them up. I think it is beautiful and a great blessing to them. Well done.

[@christinerakela1306]

Have been watching you since the beginning, and have to say this was one of my favorites. You are not just the Minimal Mom, you are the AMAZING mom! Also loving everything on your builds on Rusty Judgment! Thanks for brightening my afternoon.

[@sarahnichols4253]

Time will tell box is brilliant! I'm about to declutter my girls rooms and I'm definitely doing this.

[@kristinaali2050]

Oh my word 🤯 1 whole hour?! I loved it! Thank you for sharing really in depth of the process of decluttering.

[@ErinNDo]

Aww Dawn thank you for this awesome video on overwhelming spaces and talking through stuff with kids that are sentimental . And I love how you said ,”start at the bottom of that treasure box. “ I think I heard you for “the first time” though I’ve heard you say “kids play best with less,”it just hit me differently. As you talked about how creativity lays right behind bordom and a cluttered environment is conducive to that not being able to play. Describing the room with what and how much was in there was super eye opening to me. Tape, boxes snd SPACE. As you talked about how overwhelming spaces are for kids ,are also overwhelming for us, helped me think about my kids view of the art room. My daughters do art every .single .day .and it can get very messy quickly. One of my daughters, is extra sentimental ,and will pile things on her desk and then she can’t even use her desk. I’ve asked her to clean it up over the course of the last couple weeks and she says “it’s too much ,I can’t do it. “She wanted a goal to earn some thing but because the space on her desk was so overwhelming she can’t even get going on her goal. I’m now seeing that I need to just start and do enough where then it ❤is manageable and she can start helping. If I can clear off even half of the stuff, it might get her going as well. And I could put your video on to body double! By the way, that totally works! I was shocked.

[@mrsmrich1]

I really appreciate that you show real life. Stuff always accumulates, messes are always happening and decluttering never really ends. Thanks for being so transparent.❤

[@crybebebunny]

Thank you for sharing ❣️ Showing the truth about how messy children's bedrooms can become. You are definitely not a bad mom. You are allowing them to become young adults and tidy their rooms on their own. Yes, we need to help them reset, too. Sometimes, we just don't reset because we become very busy with life.

[@anniecando]

Another fantastic video!! Thanks Dawn. When you said you hoped we had a memory bin I laughed...my storage unit is currently my memory bin. But I'm getting there and slowly clearing it all. You are my inspiration and I have so much gratitude for you. We love you too x

[@bjgoels]

I enjoy the episodes where you talk through your selection process, whether it's your own belongings or your children's. I may not have the same items as you do or not the same feelings toward the stuff I do, BUT your explanation (or thinking) process makes me consider my own belongs and whether I still need/want something. Thank you for that.

[@natasabobinec9413]

I really needed this, as I plan to declutter my kid's room. Thank you so much for your great videos and advise! So inspiring! You are so kind and your family is lovley! Love and hugs from Croatia, Europe! 💗

[@dawnnavarra3286]

We have come so far watching, listening and implementing your strategies. I’m so thankful for you. *I’m not a bad mom. This just wasn’t a priority and some things have to wait their turn. I’m paraphrasing, but this is genius!! We cleaned and Decluttering my 12 year old son’s room last year. It’s time again. One thing that struck me is he couldn’t care less about the cost of things. He cared about if they meant something to him or if he enjoyed playing with them. I tried to encourage him to keep certain things and he said, “Mom I don’t want you to get rid of things that mean do much to you. Do you want to put that in your room so you can keep it?” WOW! That was eye opening.

[@christinae30]

So lovely! I'm impressed by both of you🌻🌻

[@DomesticKrys]

I was here for the remodel! I can't remember if I found you in 2019 or 2020 but I'm SO THANKFUL!!! I've been in the TYHB Course and it helped me move out of 2 homes and manage the one we built in a way that I never thought possible! Thank you SO much for sharing your trials & triumphs with us!

[@christinaventurini3129]

This was a great video! Thank you for showing us the reality of what happens in the kids' room when there is too much inventory. (Been there!) I appreciated that you showed us process of sorting through their stuff and getting it back under control. It can feel overwhelming and lonely in the midst of all the little pieces and the seemingly endless stuff, and you showed us we are not alone. Thank you!😀

[@crystalyutzy9670]

I love these long videos! I like to put them on in the background while I clean/declutter. I also like hearing your process on all of the little decisions.

[@ElisabetTX]

Thank you for sharing this! Love seeing these very real life common videos.

[@leanneg4040]

We had a lot of lego dumped in a drawer, never played with. I removed about 60% and now they fit in one clear, clip lid box - they are now the most popular toy we have!

[@hc1372]

I love how "messy" their room is! I say this out of love because my kids' room is absolutely a disaster. It gives me hope the Minimal Mom even has kids who make messes!🥰 I especially love that you said it just hasn't been a priority. Amen! Moms have so much on their plates and we can't do it all at once. Watching you work with them just warms my heart. All the tips are super helpful! Thank you Dawn.❤

[@cynthiamantzouranis7134]

Thanks for being real❤ I have been perpetually decluttering for years. As life happens it brings new things in. You are a great mom and a great role model of REAL minimalism.

[@kimstube7244]

THANK YOU FOR NOT BEING PERFECT!!! ❤️Such a relief. I’m trying, Dawn, and you just made me feel a lot better. I am not a naturally tidy, organized person either. I say our house is a public service to make other people feel good about their houses. 😉

[@sarahvold4009]

Uuuuuum an hour? I thought it said 10 minutes😮 best surprise this week! I love her longer videos so I can use it for motivation to clean and declutter along side!

[@aenigmatica8]

I love how your kids participate in the decluttering and cleaning and don’t seem upset about it!!

[@joannaaffrunti1446]

You are a great mom! You do you! I love that ♥️ The fact that you are not doing it, but having the boys do it with you! What a great teaching moment! On our journey, life is full of lessons!

[@TheSilverLining22]

I loved his little “ Yeah!” When you asked if you are still a good mom even tho the water was dirty from the bedding 😄

[@amymchiang]

Thank you for sharing this! This makes me feel so much better about my kids' rooms. I hate constantly getting on their cases about tidying up their rooms- because I feel like everyone else I see (online) has more tidy rooms- so this is such a relief to me to know that our kids are normal and we can still tackle the mess when we can even if it's not perfect all the time.

[@j.m.7056]

Limits and consequences work over time! Hope this helps you.

[@hollybeckermeyer7072]

Love this! You are one of my motivators Dawn. Thank you 🤩💗 I recently have started unloading my house and cutting way back on inventory. I used to have piles of clothes, I bet I gave away 80% worth. I can actually function for the first time in the clothing department. Incredible. I learned this from watching your videos. Thank you thank you thank you for all the tips, advice and real life showing us (me!) a new way of thinking and living. I have a lot of before and after pictures to remind myself how far I have come. We live in a single wide mobile home. 2 kids, husband, myself, 3 cats and a dog.

[@mama_j5041]

My 11 yr old son and I watched about half of this together. He's very sentimental and tends to hold onto everything! This was super motivating to him. Thank you!

[@sonjawinkler6023]

Hello Dawn!🙋🏻‍♀️I'm so happy! A new video! You have changed my live! I am forever grateful! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK, IT'S A TRUE GIFT!🎁

[@JuliaK-H]

This is awesome and such a good reminder to let stuff go. ❤️ Thank you for showing honestly how even in your house things sometimes clutter up and how to talk yourself gently through it. The guilt and shame can so easily take over! Watching this video I'm so motivated to tackle our kids room and make some executive decisions. PS I don't think I can bin Legos though, I find them so expensive 😂

[@janetmorgan9728]

Hey I just wanted to let you know this video encourages me so much. You are so inspiring when we see all the beautiful clean rooms in your regular content but seeing you tackle a space that had slipped back into disarray makes me feel better about when this happens in my own home. It makes me feel empowered to get back on top of things... not that I have simply failed. Thank you!!!

[@cpoore949]

Thank you for the honest look at your house! The small toy parts drive me crazy and I thought it was just me struggling with organizing them to the point of tossing them. I saw a lot of me/my house in this process. Super inspiring!

[@cindyneri579]

Dawn! I just realized how much impact you’ve had on my psyche! I was watching another kitchen Declutter video and the lady put all of her plastic storage containers back in the cupboard like all nested and not paired and I lost my mind 😂😂😂😂. I once thought that pairing a container with its lid was INSANE and now I’m incapable of doing it any other way 😂

[@brittneykang1015]

Thank you for not only sharing decluttering tips but also healthy mindsets. I am on Day 21 of the minimalist game thanks to you. Three of my friends are out and I’ve got one friend still going strong with me. My hubs said “once you clear the space it’s just going to fill back up” and I was able to tell him “that’s okay, and normal. It’s impossible to declutter once and expect it to stay that way forever!” and he hasn’t said anything negative about it since and even helped me declutter today. It’s absolutely changed my home and my mood ❤ thank you!

[@hollyallen892]

You’re such a sweet mama. Thank you for sharing your journey and expertise with us. Very inspiring!!! I play your videos in the background while I’m working on bring more peace into our home. Thank you.❤

[@missysroblox2273]

Thank you Dawn for being so relatable! I feel your laughter and laugh along with you. I watch your videos and they keep me motivated and engaged. Thank you so much x

[@maryschweitzer-li3tc]

Love the new haircut!! Thanks for this video and the last. My kids rooms were alway such a mess and I keep thinking that I was such a bad mother. But I wasn’t! I just prioritized and had no more bandwidth for anything else. Thanks for helping me understand and now I am heading to minimalism!

[@GabrielleGeorge]

I am only about 18 minutes into this video but I can relate to it so much! I am a boy mom with two different personalities as well. We have instituted these principles over the past two years and they definitely work! Not trying to sound dramatic but this has been life changing.

[@abigayleestep8076]

I enjoy your videos and appreciate new ideas for keeping things tidy and simple. When my kids were smaller we always said "Little attentions often"...that way we never had to deep clean as you showed here. This also helped my kids learn to take care of their things...putting things away after they were done...keeping Legos in one place, books in another and games/puzzles back in boxes to use later. Once a week they would 'reset' their rooms. They didn't have as much as you showed here but they appreciated what they had and took care of it. Since they learned to take care of their things, I didn't have to be the one to discard because they did when they outgrew, etc. This kept my kids from secretly resenting me decluttering their things and taught them responsibility at a young age. their rooms weren't perfect but they took pride in them. :)

[@oliviarucker5013]

I LOVE these long videos where you walk through decluttering. These, along with your tidying videos, are the best!

[@Pinkfong2]

I started downsizing my home with you and found Cas and Dana. What a treasure you girls have been in helping me apply methods where I was stuck. Even watching about toys I pass on to my daughter. Thank God I didn’t deal with Legos, Barbie was enough. You guys could be decluttering anything but it’s the methods you apply that can help anyone. And when you retire, no, you do not have more time. Your busy with other things. No idea why it’s called retirement.

[@RoughWoodsFarmhouse]

This is exactly the video I needed! 🙌🏻❤️😂 My kids rooms look near identical to this. It’s just been a busy season! And I’m super pregnant! And their rooms are on the 2nd floor! So there’s that 😂 Thank you Dawn! Lots of love from Wisconsin ❤️

[@MBXGill]

Excused! 😂😂

[@amnakhatoon7028]

Thank you again Dawn. I am on the journey towards minimalism and less inventory in our house. I always learn something new from your videos. I loved your quote 'our kids have more toys than hours in the day!" such an important aspect and helped me let go of even more toys this time :)