HOW to Find a Place for Everything in Your Home when Decluttering

I still can't stand the phrase "A place for everything and everything in its place!" I get it now, and I know it's true for a home that is under control, but I remember too well how much it used to confuse me. I DIDN'T have a place for everything. I now have a foolproof strategy for determining what the place should be for every last thing in my home. I'm sharing that strategy with you today.
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[@MrKitagurl]

"It needs to be in it's final resting place for it to not be clutter anymore" - dang now that's some wisdom right there.

[@samwdavis]

Everything in its place.... I have lived that life and I AM ADAMANT AGAINST THE DISORGANIZATION THAT THIS VIDEO SUPPORTS!!! This is just defending a disorganized life!!!

[@LCINMI]

⁠I think you’ve missed the whole point of her videos.

[@kathygoodwin]

Even my husband is fine with the question of where would you look for it. He hates me decluttering, but he has recently thanked me for putting stuff where he looked for it 😊 it makes the house more usable.

[@colleenfromnh5860]

Ikr!?!?! My daughter is 31!! Like wth?!? She hasn’t called me EVER!! Asking for that lock of hair. Not sure why generations before us kept it. ((Have you seen the jewelry made of hair? Yikes!!!)))

[@sofondadavis5028]

I have my 30 yr old son's teeth at least 3 or 4. I had planned to make a necklace... No thanks 👎🏾

[@PJWilleford]

​@@colleenfromnh5860 My theory is that it's a holdover from when it was harder to get photos of people. If you couldn't draw a portrait, and didn't have money to get one done of your loved ones, how were you to remember them? The baby teeth thing is a little strange, but keeping a lock of their hair makes sense, so that you can look at their hair color and think of them.

[@donniejames7013]

My Grandma had a trunk full of old pictures. There was this one picture of a woman with her children, taken as a portrait, but the baby in her arms was dead. I've seen a couple more like it since so apparently it was a thing in those days. Maybe because they had no other pictures of the child.

[@ElizabethDohertyThomas]

"Where would I go look for my 21-year-old's first baby hair?" "I...never would." 🤣😂😆 That was mic drop genius level story telling right there.

[@bookmouse2719]

My Mother kept a box with old pictures, baby shoes, and a lock of me and my Sister's hair in an envelope. It was always in the closet in the den. She was so organized and I think the cleaners she would hire only had to vacuum, dust around and once in a while clean the frig which was always kept organized and pretty clean all the time. 😢she got upset at me for having a disorganized desk in my own room and told me to wash with a small bucket and sponge to clean my own closet floor. There was never anything on the floor, all toys put away after use. all clothes folded and put in drawers or hung up. Why I became a slob I just don't know.

[@sofondadavis5028]

​@@bookmouse2719because your mom was a cleaning fanatic

[@djb1164]

👍🤣@@sofondadavis5028

[@InterwebUser-ps7ju]

I put my children’s hair and 1st birthday candle in their baby photo album that I’ll give to them when they get older.

[@wildlifegardenssydney7492]

@@bookmouse2719❤️❤️👀👀Because she did it all ( tidy ups, clean ups) for you ?or even after you did ( not getting self mastery) it so you did not see the consequences of your mess and clutter….Perhaps?

[@LadyoftheValley]

"Where is the first place I would look if I needed hair from a 21 year old?" On his head 🤪

[@huios100]

I really like this lady. She is the most real, most willing to talk about the things that real people deal with. There are hundreds of videos on KZbin about decluttering, cleaning and purging but I've never heard a more clear breakdown to fit into my own messy world of so many items with no home, especially those ones that drive me crazy. THANK YOU Dana!!! -Andy's wife, a.k.a. home manager of a family of 6

[@Sorchia56]

I just finished finding homes for everything. Fully labelled for everyone in the house and guests to keep up with. New motto: don’t put it down, put it away! I’m exhausted but excited to wake up tomorrow morning!

[@stewyward5322]

"Don't put it down; put it away." Thank you for this!! I needed a simple phrase to explain this concept to my kids and have trouble finding little Daniel-Tiger-esqe phrases that stick with them. So far the only one I've come up with that sticks is "If it's not yours, don't touch it!"

[@hannahdidear1776]

​@@stewyward5322 The Daniel Tiger phrase I made up for my toddler was, "If something falls, pick it up... And try again!" I sing it to the tune of "if something seems bad, turn it around... And find something good!"

[@nisacornforth2740]

Omg! I'm excited for you!

[@trebledown6713]

How did it go 6 months later??

[@nadineboudreaux7945]

I am 63 and my mom put my hair from my first haircut in my baby book and it’s like a pressed flower. I love it, so I did the same for my daughters. It has a place and means a lot to me. Yea, I’ll crazy like that, lol.

[@cjp2274]

Me too! Body parts don't have to be on display. That IS a bit yucky. Her first haircut locks are right in that Year 1 photo album. When we'd go thru the album it was always a laugh, because it's so silly, but it does bring back a sweet memory for me. In another couple of years or so, when I give her the albums, I bet she lets those things stay. Of course she doesn't remember the haircut or first nail clip (yes, I have a couple of those teeny tiny little crescents of nail in a teeny tiny zip lock bag) but she will remember the laughs we always had when we got to that page. Or she may just rip those two pages out entirely.

[@pattybhealthy7334]

Not crazy-it is identified, and in its own place. 😊

[@user-mr2gy6hz9n]

I have clippings from all my kids first haircuts for their scrapbooks as well. I think it's an appropriate spot for a lock of baby hair. I can't think of anouther place one could keep stuff like that though lol

[@amisklake5711]

You mean the hairs were spread out like a daisy shape, or something?

[@hollyj2925]

I love this! I have my baby hair too❤

[@fionagray9687]

Until recently, I had my long-dead mother's plaits she'd had cut off when she was 15. Finally, we had a bonfire when my brother was visiting and cast them into the flames. We replaced an embarrassing item with a beautiful, shared experience. It's taking a VERY long time to get my house under control, but it is happening.

[@ellistea1024]

That’s so cool. My husband had his own Willie Nelson ponytail (the colonial tail!). He decided to cut it off and I decided to keep it - WHY? It’s hilarious because when will I EVER ask, “If I need a ponytail of gray ringlets, where would I look for it?” So I guess I maybe should ask that question. A lot. And if I can’t answer it . . . Perhaps I should poll the grandkids if they want it, or get that bonfire going. Yes, everyone in the family goes “eeeew”.

[@marilynpeppers1356]

I have found that a bonfire is the only way I can get rid of sentimental things that I am very attached to. I can’t put the things in the stinky garbage and I can’t (99% of the time) give them to someone who won’t feel all the feels about it. So…I bless the thing and send it to God via flames. It helps me let go.💜

[@djb1164]

@@marilynpeppers1356 hmmm.... this sparks some ideas... so to speak

[@marilynpeppers1356]

@@djb1164 😁🔥💜

[@carolstewart1704]

Beautiful idea! 🥰

[@eileencella1660]

My son died and I treasure his baby hair and teeth. I am so glad I kept them.

[@lizm4557]

I laughed so hard that you held on to the hair container that you felt was gross when you first received it as a gift and then held on to it for 20 years! And when you said "Oh there's that thing again", I laughed even harder because I do that all the time! Thanks for helping me to realize my own silliness. And now I know there's a few things I can get rid of. Ha!

[@Conval-wi5eh]

That part was hysterical 😂 Realizing the absurdity of keeping baby hair as well as Dana's comment on her son's leg hairs made me cry of laughter. You could tell she never really cared for the item.The container was grimy and dirty, I already had a bad feeling about it when it was shown in the first shot, even though I wasn't able to figure out what the item was exactly.

[@castingmynet6134]

I "accidentally" clicked on your link while watching another video and making myself lunch. But I see now that God was giving me a direction to get my home in order. Thank you for sharing your inspired ideas! God bless you!

[@ibitibit]

I love how Dawn lives her minimalist life and I know I can organise my stuff as Cas describes .... But i was never able to declutter without making a bigger mess and hating myself and my home .... Your gentle & logical thinking and simple system were the missing link for me. After watching your videos, everything fell into place for me... I signed up to the Take Your House back course and did my first ADD ... IT WAS AMAZING !!! I have a long way to go to say I am below my clutter threshold, but even in few weeks I have done so much. SO THANK YOU SOOO MUCH... I now dream about sorting my house & life and then sign up to your course and learning from you and then helping people in my area in UK. Long shot, I know, but your system is working, and i want to shout about it on the roof tops ❤

[@NovasYouTubeName]

Yes yes yes! I love all three ladies but Dana saved our home and my mental health. And great job to you!

[@sarahmitchell821]

That's so sweet!

[@4Grace4Truth]

Dana's book changed my life!

[@AmythefirstA]

They're a great team, aren't they? 😊

[@tashaankerstein5715]

My husband finally got on the decluttering train after a year of convincing. Now he was totally able to justify buying a new drone(man toy) because he had a home planned and he took one of my containers to store it in before I had even asked. I couldn't even get mad. Lol! Damn him for learning and using it against me. And the drone is pretty neat too.

[@Ghost-lt4sf]

“whoever gave it to me, thank you very much. I totally remember, I just didn’t wanna talk about it on video” 🤣🤣🤣 lmao

[@no_peace]

"this is meaningful... Not meaningful enough for me to remember you" 😂

[@deannareames1396]

I love the question “where would I look for this?”. It takes the hassle of a scavenger hunt out when you do need something. Love the concept.

[@lisam5744]

When I find random stuff on the bar in my kitchen, I now ask myself where it's home is and take it there now. Sometimes the little cute phrases (a place for everything or one in and one out) really help me when I get stuck. Another phrase I've found helpful is 'Why do I even have this?' LOL Those items usually end up tossed.

[@no_peace]

Thank you Dana. People always flippantly said "just clean a little as you go" which is similarly irritating. I got rid of a bunch of stuff and accommodated my disabilities and now I clean a tiny bit as I go. It's way easier than it ever was before, I was cleaning 20 hours a week. They never say what you have to do to get to the position of cleaning a little as you go, or having a place for everything. It's not helpful to spout quotes

[@itchysheets1222]

I think you are me, but in the future, I feel like I’m wasting so much of my life cleaning instead of enjoying my life or making things easier for myself. Something is wrong with me, nobody has bothered to find out what, but I know I need to get rid of much more to get where you are. Your point about cleaning 20 hours a week hit me.

[@no_peace]

​​@@itchysheets1222 I'm sorry I didn't see this! No one ever believed that I worked that much lol. Because it didn't fix anything. I kept working so hard and got nowhere. It was terrible. I wish I had understood earlier. I kept getting rid of stuff (as more stuff came in) but i never got to the summit. There's a point (clutter threshold!) where everything gets easier but i always ran out of steam before that. I didn't realize if I had gone just a little further and made a couple tweaks, things would change. I needed to get rid of stuff in general, of course, but i especially needed to get rid of stuff that took a lot of time to clean or maintain, like hand-wash items or clothes that couldn't go in the dryer. Once i got over the summit decluttering my dishes, keeping the dishes done and counter clear got SO MUCH EASIER. And I didn't get rid of THAT much, I thought I had to get to the point of being a minimalist to be able to manage my stuff, which was also discouraging. But i didn't! I just needed to do a little more and make a few replacements. Like i got coffee tumblers that can go in the dishwasher lol. Now that i do dishes every day (it takes 10 min!), i don't have to have 8 dishwasher-safe coffee cups. I can have 2. But truly once i got below my clutter threshold it was like the skies opened up, i knew very quickly that it had worked. One of the biggest things I think was getting rid of stuff in one small area. In the past I had kept getting rid of stuff all over and then moving to a new spot when it got hard. Dishes were taking soooo much of my time so I got rid of dishes. I kept focusing on dishes dishes dishes until i beat them lol. I watched everything get easier and was like OHHHHHHHH! So after that, what I learned let me be able to work on decluttering my clothes (and replacing difficult ones) more effectively. Laundry got way easier after I worked on my clothes, so then i was even quicker (and more ruthless) working on my bathroom. I'm still not totally done but like 90% of my house is functional and like, normal. We literally couldn't let maintenance in before, unless we cleaned for 2 weeks, and then it fell apart 2 days later. Now we just have to tidy up a little to let people in. I am so grateful to Dana and other authors/creators. But especially Dana! I'm hoping this is encouraging not annoying lol. ❤

[@Aliantha39]

Thanks so much for addressing the underlying problem of "a place for everything..." How to make a place! And, also, thank you for showing dust-covered items you'd unearthed from somewhere. Most KZbinrs make me feel like I live in the only house where it looks like we have permanent Halloween decorations up - cobwebs, dust, etc. I totally agree with you about the human hair reliquary - those type things gross me out, too.

[@Jessica_Jones]

Oh man, I know! Until more recently as I've gotten so close to my clutter threshold (which is finally allowing me to dust regularly for the first time in my life), I would see design inspiration or fancy videos and be like, "Uhh, does no one else have dust and spiders?? That shelf/those baskets/that curtain stresses me out just looking at them!" 😆

[@kamicrum4408]

Agreed place for everything& everything it it place ARRGGHH!!😡 😱

[@evasochocki5209]

Thanks to you, I am now at the point where I can say I'm about 99% decluttered. I just donated 5 boxes of stuff this morning,and that should be it for quite a while. This video is perfect timing because last night I said, now all I need to do is organize what's left. And I now have plenty of space to do that.😊

[@debbiedebbie9473]

Good for you. Good job.👍❤

[@vivianhudacek1556]

You crack me up! Also, I recently came across teeth my daughter, now grown & with her own kids, had kept. The teeth belonged to the CAT-long deceased! 🤪😂🤣 And I still have my own ponytail my mom kept from my first big haircut-when I was about 5 years old. I’m now 72!😂🤪😂🤣🤪

[@Mushkiepotamus]

YOU HAVE CHANGED MY HOME AND MY LIFE!!!

[@bernadettejs3889]

❤❤❤❤

[@mariaolker]

Yes to being grossed out by stuff. I just came across a ring box full of my kids teeth. Why would I ever need that? I threw it away.

[@RDmary84]

You could clone your children!

[@kell_checks_in]

Dude!? That was probably $1.75 in Tooth Fairy dividends! You could have turned those in!

[@stephaniephelps3770]

Same 🙌🏻😂🤣

[@stephaniephelps3770]

AND when I told the oldest two that I had thrown their teeth away, they both looked at me like I have two heads while wondering WHY I kept those to begin with😂🤣

[@idid138]

I come across the teeth or hair & yes it's a bit gross. The Victorian area loved to do stuff with the hair. Our town museum had the creepiest display of old hair art. The thing is the hair loses it's luster & is kinda depressing.

[@hex310]

"You Don't Know What You Don't Know Until You Know" is another quote that is used easily. (thanks, Socrates) Thank you for showing me what I didn't know, and now that I know, I can take one more step in getting better at decluttering. Thank You!

[@reginaeudy9249]

I still have hair from my daughter's first haircut (she's 24 now). I really only saved it because everyone said you should keep it. Never really liked it and I'm going to get rid of it now! Not sure why watching this felt like I had permission now, but thank you! You're videos are the most helpful. Thank you!

[@outlawonadventure]

My kids are grown and I took all their childhood mementos like hair, baby books, and pics that I collected over the years and gave it all to them last year to do with as they please

[@traceynomatterwhat383]

I have a curl of my hair that my Mom saved along with my first shoes. I’m now 54, and Mom passed away on Easter 2023. Think I may let it go now 😘🙌🏼

[@karyncarpenter1542]

I found my husband's baby hair in a random envelope. Showed it to him, he said EWWWW and "bring it there now" was the garbage! Permission granted! I know there are teeth someplace too...... lord help me!

[@Iquey]

​@@karyncarpenter1542probably best to compost things like hair and baby teeth. For reasons of either witchcraft or identity theft.

[@timekabolden5309]

Give it to her. And let her let it go. 😂😂

[@RobinRPeterson]

Can I throw out my 57-year-old husband’s bronzed baby shoes?😂 yes, your future daughter-in-law thanks you.

[@StitchinGranny]

Dana I appreciate you so much! Last fall I lost my husband and recently retired. I am in the process of downsizing years of clutter from raising a large family and enjoying many hobbies for a future move to a smaller place. Your videos always motivate me that I can do this and I love your honesty and sense of humor. Thank you so very much!💗🙏

[@TheJudyJS]

Me too!

[@debmoore629]

It’s so hard to get rid of things in a craft room! I need that for something I might make later…really trying to not bring more things in unless I absolutely have a project in progress. It’s going to be hard to move to a smaller place in the future.

[@cjp2274]

It IS hard to declutter crafts. Especially now when things cost SO much more. I've let a lot of hobbies go. Lots of things I wanted to use for future projects. I relate to a previous post about rocks! It was painful. (It feels silly to feel like that, too!) And I should let my yarn go, too. There's quite a bit of it. But I WANT to pick up crocheting again - I'm a complete beginner - and replacing the supplies would be SO expensive. But this is not my season for crocheting. So when my house is finally 95% decluttered, I'll relegate it to a "wait and see" box for a year. Then I'll either be crocheting again or it will be going away.

[@sandralobato7725]

*laughs! I'm a scientist, and I would probably have kept the hair, just to experiment on whether dna changes over a span of 20 years. But individual weirdnesses aside: I really appreciate that you have built up your decision muscles like that. You're very clear on what you want and what you don't want. You were honest with yourself. After 20 years! That gives me hope. I can get there too. And most importantly: I love how you break things down! Thank you for this.

[@lauraeriksson6616]

I kept a tiny bag of the baby hair too :) but I did finally throw out the baby teeth haha.

[@nikkijanes4756]

That phrase also made me feel completely lost. I don't know where any of this stuff is "supposed " to go. Since listening to you though - one thing I love now us that it is ok that tweezers live in the pen container in the kitchen and that the toe nail clippers can be on the top shelf in the kitchen where all the medicine is

[@SassySue67]

Yes, if that is where you would look for those items first then that’s where they belong.

[@jcav7]

I keep random items in strange places because that’s where I’d use them, or where I need them to be.

[@ei_maj]

​@@jcav7same, I think ease is the best concept, but as long as it's in a drawer, cabinet, closet or container slightly out of sight, that's the goal. (For me, at least)

[@bityew]

Out of soooo many brilliant videos about your process, this may be the most brilliant of all! Thank you for sharing your examples and insights in such a clear, humorous, and USEFUL way.

[@evasochocki5209]

I agree

[@temi4116]

Nice compliment to a FOR REAL PERSON, ,Dana. Im learning so much from her.

[@annblachly8068]

I never thought I could declutter my yarn stash, but it was simply TOO MUCH for me. A niece crochets prolifically, so I asked if she'd like to go through my stash. Yup. I even panicked a little (well, maybe a lot) realizing what I'd just offered. Now it all fits in my bins with a few empty ones I can use in the sewing room to organize or just get out of the way so I can sew. And then declutter from my easy chair into trash, donate and take it there now. And having gone through it prior to her visit to sort out the yarn types that she mentioned she uses, I can breathe a little easier knowing what remains. When she's gone through the three full kitchen trash bags or just needs more colors, she's welcome to more. I even sent her home with a free-standing coat rack and zippered closet 'shelves' to keep the yarn visible and clean from pet hair. I have plenty to keep me busy for years longer than the remainder of my years even if I live15-20 more years. I doubt even 15, but Yahwah knows.

[@victoriaoliver9958]

Your sequence of questions helped me help my husband declutter and organize his large bedside table the other day. I had him just sit on the chair while I held things up and we decided where he'd look for them first. And the things we knew would be more stressful were saved for the end. Thank you for a painless process! ❤

[@spiritbirdstudio2617]

I want to thank you for all of these videos. I want to thank you for your honesty and for the way that you’ve shared your life and your interests and your struggles. I am in the process of sorting through four generations of belongings in my home and in my parents home. It is a lot to process. Being able to watch your videos and listen to your voice and your experience has given me tools to use, valuable information and encouragement. When I get stalled I listen to your videos and they help get me going again. Thank you Dana, are a lifeline during this process. 💖

[@guestguest747]

Me too (decades of my family's stuff, and they're all deceased), and I have a bad attitude about it. I guess the good news is I'm still living, but I really don't want to do all this decluttering on my own. Good luck to you and me both!

[@no_peace]

It's so awesome and I'm so thankful. "Naturally organized" people don't get it. I'm AuDHD and creative in a way that I can make something from any old thing. Like more than one jar of rocks in this house. Yes they spark joy, yes I will use them

[@Kokomi_is_my_main]

I’m someone’s daughter in law and I can assure you that I would appreciate my MIL decluttering my husband’s hair😊😊😊

[@skhjs9246]

I think you just fixed my junk drawer problem! Things should only go in the junk drawer if that is the first place I would look. Which means I can put a container in there for batteries, one for safety pins, and so one. Everything else has a different designated home! I’m excited to tackle that drawer tonight!

[@anyat686]

I dont know how many times I quoted you today 😂😂 Even in work today. “ if you were looking for one of these, would it ever occur to you that you already have one” 🤣 Needless to say, we are having a massive clear-out!!

[@granitemoss1451]

I don't think I have baby hair from my 3 anymore but this week I sorted through the giant tote plus a smaller tote of baby clothes and whittled it down to just the smaller tote. Using the container concept and embracing the idea that the smaller tote was my space to keep my favorite outfits and such from all 3 really made it easier. I am happy with what I kept and THRILLED to no longer have baby clothes taking up so much space in our basement.

[@teresasvk2443]

Asking the question: "Where would i look for it?" Is revolutionary for me, you just blew my mind. Thx so much....therez a lot of work ahead of me 😢 wish me luck

[@ceralith942]

Keeping sentimental and "useful" items is my mom's downfall. It has been a journey undoing the poverty mindset passed down in my family over the generations. Thank you for pointing out that we don't need to keep something just because it may be useful, expected, or a gift we don't even want.

[@seventiesmom8045]

Absolutely love this, Dana. It makes so much sense. Love that you use real examples, I find myself looking around the room I'm in and thinking, oh, that needs a place, that needs a place, and why do I even have this? Very inspiring! One thing at a time. Oh, and I love the faces you make, you're so real :) Thank you for this, I'm always learning.

[@ninacox6865]

I call it my follow through. When I need to take things and out up I would usually dump it somewhere for later. Double the trouble. When I’m doing things now if I’m tempted to put it down somewhere I say follow through. It really helps. Thank you

[@evasochocki5209]

Great idea😊

[@grutarg2938]

Follow through is a good phrase because it applies to more situations than just stuff - like emails.

[@wonderwend1]

She calls them Procrasti-piles I believe. Those piles just then merge into other piles

[@estiefranks6468]

I found my father-in-law’s false teeth in MY car. He passed away, my MIL didn’t know what to do with them so she gave them to my husband who didn’t know what to do with them so he just put them in the car. Until one day I was cleaning and found them. No question I was the one that threw them away! THAT was a gross find.

[@onetuliptree]

I like how they found a place to let go of dad's things and didn't bring it in the house! 😥😂

[@kirstenc122]

This made me laugh so much, thanks 😂

[@suredeydo]

Im surprised its not called "Decluttering at the speed of White" 😂

[@StarrREVA]

Every time I watch one of these videos, I end up putting something in the donate bag that I was trying to decide where to put it because it was so cute. Thanks.

[@Shmu22]

I had tiny ziploc type bags with some of my kids hair (just a curl) ... when I made their baby scrapbooks it went on a page about their first hair cut. I think it's cute. Also found a film container with a bunch of one kids baby teeth ... not sure which kid, no one wanted them and who would anyway ... that got thrown out.

[@aksez2u]

I think that's what I'm going to do - keep the hair, throw out the teeth 🤢

[@loramcclamrock5549]

teeth are just gross

[@christa6048]

I have a "Treasure Box" where I keep things like first haircut hair, baby teeth, other little things that my kids have made or written or given to me. I keep weird stuff from my kids but it all fits in one container, and I am the only one who would look for it or even want it. I have absolutely no issue with anyone else throwing something away that grosses them out or whatever. We all get to pick what we want to keep and what we get rid of. Thank you Dana for giving us all permission to chuck things!

[@cindy844]

9:08 I almost spit out my coffee 🤣🤣

[@debbiev.1311]

SO HELPFUL...those random things that never had a home are finding them!! ❤️🤗

[@Debbie-Savings]

Dana, I totally get what you’re saying about your grown kid’s hair! Lol I have both of my grown kid’s hair “somewhere” in sandwich bags with their name and the date I cut their hair. I’ve just not came across it yet. 🤦🏼‍♀️ This is an excellent video that really helps us think 🤔 what’s really important and what is NOT!

[@djb1164]

Someone probably already said this, but I can understand the hair thing. When you're sort of expected to like something, treasure it, keep it forever, but you don't really have those feelings about it, it's hard to let it go because of the guilt. Right now, I'm dealing with this with my Dad's paintings. I love my deceased Dad. I was there when he painted his first painting as a middle-aged adult who was so excited to finally be able to begin his dream of painting. He painted A LOT. He loved it. He gave paintings to us kids, especially to me. Now, the cold brutal truth is, they are sweet, but...artistically they're... well. if they weren't my Dad's they wouldn't be on my walls. And like your hair thing, I just don't want them on my walls anymore. but how am I supposed to "get rid of" my dad's paintings? I spent seven years taking care of my widowed mother in her cancer battle, and now I have fulfilled that role, as she's now joined Dad. I want my home to be what I choose, for the first time in my life. To be living alone, no one else's preferences to consider, I can finally acknowledge my own preferences, but the guilt... I'm stuck.

[@txknitnurse]

Wow, your story has helped me tremendously. It’s ok to let go of things I don’t really like but I keep because it belonged to my parents or grandparents. I also cared for my parents when they were sick and at end of life. I finally realize it’s ok to let things go, guilt free.

[@djb1164]

@@txknitnurse ♥ I'm glad it helped some. I just talked to my brother about the paintings last night and he was fine with throwing them away! I don't want to throw them away, but maybe donate them. Maybe someone will like them. Or some artists paint white over canvases to reuse them. It's OK to let them go. I think Dana says something like, "The items don't have feelings." lol. True.

[@catherinerosestevens4433]

@@djb1164 I would love to find donate paintings that I can paint over as canvas is expensive and I am new at painting.

[@kellyrosa9496]

My hands-down favorite phrase is "a place for everything and everything in its place", but that's just me. The beauty is, you get to decide the "place".

[@user-ib4nk9qr5c]

Your method was a huge help when I recently helped my daughter and her family move into a new home. She so jumped into decluttering and is still working on it. But to have a plan made it all so much easier. THANK YOU!

[@rochellena4082]

Yes, this is wonderful advice 💕💕💕💕💕💕 I only ever made it to one of your videos live but love your method so very much. You have changed my life. I am nearly 90 percent less of what I owned thanks to your wonderful methods especially the container method, I was the same like duh of course I can't keep all of this because my apartment is the container. Also, my landlord appreciates you, they are very happy with me as a tenant now, you are lovely Dana no words to express my appreciation enough for you.

[@tanyasharadamba1264]

Keeping hair probably came from the Victorian tradition of sentimental hair & memorial jewelry. When a person is gone, it definitely feels different & more sacred. It is something tangible you can hold on to that was part of the person's existence. Extraordinary works of art were created as momentos. So for everyone thinking it's just gross...hug your loved ones close. That's sometimes all people have left & not even that. 🙏🏼

[@moocrazytn]

I treasure all the family hair I have. I never thought anyone would think it's gross.

[@megnlu]

I have a drawer dedicated to each of my kids teeth along with the letters I wrote from tooth fairy & I have FIVE! That's way grosser than a snippet of hair 🤣🤣🤣 I cherish each second with my kids & am just extremely sentimental

[@sandyhoward1661]

First time I’ve heard a declutter person explain this very real issue for many. Thanks

[@pennygodfrey2341]

I am laughing so hard about the hair...I hear you. I am not a fan of hair unless it's still on someone's head.

[@daniellemiller8772]

Thank you so much for being the someone finally answering this question.

[@carla89cc]

You're so real & relatable to what i need to deal with also! Memory things from our children growing up are the hardest to let go 😕

[@janiceyoung5958]

Dana, I never wanted a postal scale, never even thought of one. BUT, now I want one!!!😂 lol.

[@nataliestanchevski4628]

We just downsized and the new house doesn't have a place for everything yet. And we brought more than we needed to because we gave up on decluttering halfway through packing; it was just too overwhelming at the time.

[@katie7748]

Omg SAME!!! Edit: In fact, at least 2 dozen boxes got labelled "doom box" because I just could NOT deal with it at the time lol

[@brendatomlinson]

@@katie7748I like “doom box” so you know exactly what you’re dealing with when you come across them.

[@nataliestanchevski4628]

@@katie7748 Each of my family members has several boxes just labeled as "name's stuff" and each box is a complete jumble of chaos. No one knows where anything is or where it's going to end up but I guess we have the rest of our lives to figure it out 😂

[@sexyafter502]

I love the hair doo-dad. "If I needed..." I saved hair from my dead horse's tail for years. Yes, it's gone now. 🤣🤣

[@organisedmumlifestyle]

I always have Dana’s voice in my head when I’m looking for something. “A place for everything”. I have worked hard to give everything a logical place “where would you look for it first”. However I have 2 toddlers and sometimes the most logical place isn’t the safest. For example I have lost the white out (tipex) because it should be with the stationary but if the kids go hold it, it could be dangerous and messy so I have put it somewhere safe! Either high up or in a locked cupboard! 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤣

[@AllisonLives]

This was very helpful to me! Thank you!

[@molliestanton2869]

I love how Dana thinks through every item!

[@christazarza887]

I know this is an old post but made me laugh so hard. My aunt made earrings out if my cousins, plural, baby teeth. Yes, that's right. Gross

[@mousebr549]

Finally! A system that makes SENSE. A system that I think will WORK. I am cleaning out a mountain of stuff, 40 years of family clutter. Halloween decorations, in all honesty holiday decorations that have not seen the light of day in years. I'm so tired of looking at all of this. I know all the buzz words and rules-"Don't let your stuff rule you." "Does it enrich your life?" "Swedish death cleaning". And none of it has worked. I think this will work. "Where would I look for this first" and "where will this live?" Genius.

[@jeanetteburt379]

You are so delightful, Dana! I love your videos and your zany sense of humor. “…A cute little jar with a piece of someone’s body in it…” just cracked me up!

[@nancyhoskins197]

We are decluttering in order to downsize into a 560 sq ft apartment.from a cottage home on 5 actes.Take pictures of things of sentimental value. Family heirlooms I keep for my grandchildren.

[@anitas5817]

For real, figuring out where everything should go is such a serious part of the problem. This is really helpful. As usual Dana ❤.

[@Pamela-B]

When I was going through my mothers things after she passed away I found an envelope stuffed with hair! 😳 It was my moms and her sisters hair. Honestly, I kept it for a bit because I was being sentimental and then as I was decluttering for our move I came across it again and promptly tossed it in the trash. I’m sure my mother would understand. 😇

[@Chappelear2]

This concept is so simple, and yet it blew my mind. Thank you for making this video.

[@carolinebronkhorst582]

You really helped me with this problem. When I actually thought about the item I was holding, and asking the question "where would I look for this first?", Helped me to realise that I'm not as disorganised as I thought I was?

[@ronhurd2595]

This is Beth using my husband's account Your blouse is so cute and pretty on you! That is a wonderful color for you! :-) I have always wanted to tell you that your de-cluttering methods have been of great help to me. Also, the way you think through things is exactly how I think through things! :-) thank you for all your good advice. Please keep up the good work!❤

[@flyingblackbird2126]

Let me highly recommend everyone watch that container concept video, I use that lesson very often. It is probably the most helpful concept of all the cleaning and organizing channels I've ever watched

[@StitchinGranny]

Totally agree!!

[@raykaren87]

I love your hilarious honesty 😂

[@ellieem4716]

I really loved your video. Not only because it is very useful and had good advice for helping to declutter, but also because you have a great and fun personality :) You talk how I do with all the sarcasm lol. And while I don't have any of my 5 kids' hair (minus the single long eyelash from my son when he was a toddler, under a clear piece of tape in his baby book 😂), I *kind of* wish I did...kinda but not really lol. And I'm sorry in advance for mentioning something sad - and possibly a bit morbid - but I lost one of my sons to SIDS at 7 months old and this actually made me sad and mad at myself for not thinking of cutting a little lock of his hair to keep. Almost 30 years later, this is the first time that's crossed my mind and now I really wish I had it 💔. However, my 4 other kids (18 - 30 yrs old), I think I'm okay with the fact that I don't have their hair lol. You actually gave me motivation for being able to say goodbye to things that really don't serve me any purpose but I've hung onto solely because I feel like they *should* be sentimental and I would feel guilty throwing them away. Describing how you obviously like or love things and would choose to keep everything if you only asked yourself that question and how you remind yourself that if you kept everything you like/love and don't make the decisions to part with things, then you'll never make progress in having the house you're trying to have makes a lot of sense! I will be reminding myself of the same!

[@motherbecky5807]

The credits at the end are the best!! 😅

[@pegbert12]

How many times have I heard you say "Where would I look for it?" but this particular explanation finally clicked! I loved the hair example.

[@patriciasibel4917]

I love your approach to putting things in their place. Most professional organizers think only about logic and function as to where things should go. I’m NOT LOGICAL. 😂😂 I admit it!! ( ADD) You are giving me permission to do what works for ME 🎉. AFTER ALL, I live in my space. I need to do what works for me and that is the advice that you give…. GENIUS!! Where would I look first for this??? I adore you, Cass, and Dana. I missed the deadline for take your house back (for the special price) so, maybe the next one. In the meantime , I watch you guys as much as I can. I appreciate your honesty, vulnerability, and humor and WONDERFUL ADVICE!! Happy New Year Dana!! 🎉❤.

[@kestrelpounces]

Thank you so much for saying this about the hair!!! 😂My son is still losing baby teeth, and I really don’t want them. But we have a “cute” little Tooth Bank that someone gave us when he was born, with a little space for each tooth. So I’ve been dutifully cleaning and saving each tooth. There’s no possible use for these, because I’m NOT putting away bloody hunks of tooth, but cleaning with peroxide. So there’s not likely to be much usable DNA in case of a g-d forbid reason. I don’t feel like a loving mother doting on trinkets from his precious childhood; I feel like a serial k*ller preserving horrific trophies. 😱 Time to chat with hubby and son about whether we need to even continue this morbid tradition!!! 😂

[@emilybukaske5684]

You're sense of humor is great! You had me laughing out loud.

[@temi4116]

Yes, thanks Dana. Place for everything, and everything in its place , can be frustrating to hear.

[@melissajohnson7836]

I was always freaked out by my great grandfather’s walking cane😆

[@planitsouthern3506]

I love Reid’s cards. I normally listen and not so much watch - but I had to grab my phone to see the end credits 🤣. Loved the video.

[@BobbiGail]

I believe in a PLACE for everything! And "walls" (containers/boxes) to hold them. Many ppl (esp ADHD types) need to keep those lids OFF. What to do when my family does NOT share these ideals? I became a professional organizer so that I could at least help others love, enjoy, & win over THEIR spaces... while I live in chaos bc my family undoes nearly everything I set up! My clients are happy!❤

[@PredictableEnigma]

Clear boxes and organized open shelving and pegboard. And storing things as close as possible to the location where that thing is used. If your family takes things out of boxes and leaves them out in a different place where it was used, they should be stored in that place where they left it in a visible way. Example: we had a problem with dirty socks being left by the front door. I begged and begged for everyone to remember to bring those to thier rooms to put in the laundry. It just wasn't happening. So instead I put a bin by the front door for dirty socks.

[@BobbiGail]

@@PredictableEnigma ABSOLUTELY! Yes. Always work w the habits that already exist. Adding a hook where the kids normally drop their sweatshirts is a win over "wishing" and "hoping" and "nagging" them to bring the sweatshirts to their rooms.

[@AM-bm2xw]

LOL, hilarious! Thank you for validating my feels about not keeping my children's hair (or teeth!)!

[@wonderwend1]

I love how your method takes away that emotional response to things and changes the viewpoint.

[@schumanja]

Thank you for all of your great content! I have listened to your audiobook "decluttering at the speed of life" many times now, nearly every time I declutter I turn it back on :)

[@Chickasawndngirl]

Whoa! You just addressed the biggest roadblock I have to decluttering! Thanks soooooo much!

[@LorreneRomanic]

I love how you explained why you hate that phrase, and how to work through it 😁

[@jamierose156]

The baby hair story made me laugh so much - I just did the same with my 14yo daughter's first haircut memento. I'd told the hairdresser it was her first haircut so she would understand why my daughter was nervous and fidgety, but she just assumed I was being sentimental and handed me this envelope with a lock of hair in, and I was too surprised or polite to correct her!

[@thequeenofmycastle1834]

So, I was tidying up my desk this morning, came across a cloth measuring tape for measuring waste size and your first decluttering question came to my mind in finding a home for it...where would I look for it first...it ended up going in the pocket of our linen closet where i put all my sewing supplies, and the pocket is clear, so I can SEE where it is inside the pocket. Asking myself that question made me really think about where I was going to put it and being intentional with that decision. Thanks Dana!

[@smayfield2280]

The hair. I’m dying! 😂

[@lindabare3240]

I decided to watch this video while eating lunch and, oh my gosh, I think we’re related! Lol I love this video, and I believe it will help me tremendously! Since yesterday I have been trying to Declutter, for probably the 10th time this year, and one of my main issues is where to put things. Thank you so much for being so real!

[@musicalmemusicalme5053]

Dana, I absolutely love your approach to decluttering. Your books and videos have been life-changing for me. I never expected someone else to understand my struggles, and it wasn’t until I accidentally stumbled upon “Decluttering at the Speed of Life” that I understood the difference between decluttering and organizing. Thank you for having the courage to begin sharing your challenges so many years ago. You have touched lives in ways you will never know. On another topic, I absolutely love the pink top you were wearing in this video, and I would love to know the brand if you would care to share!

[@adelechicken6356]

I've been watching and trying out a lot of cleaning, decluttering, and organizing videos for a few years and this is the first one that I can feel will finally help me bring my home to the degree of clean, tidy, spaciousness that I desire. I have learned and adapting a number of ideas from some of the others and that has helped a lot. The two questions and the follow up steps are already helping change the way I see things that are in my home. So, as I move through my house, if I see something I didn't know what to do with, now I know. And I've only watched a few videos. Thank you, Dana! 😊😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤

[@taraschmidheini4674]

Oh gosh, you just made me realize I dont only have some of my kiddos teeth floating around here, I may have a coulpe of my own - lord!!! Any one else!? 🤦🏻

[@rachelturner8286]

Thank you for understanding and not forgetting where you started!

[@mejsh87]

Haha I love that you kept something for so long that really grossed you out - the epitome of people pleasing and meeting others’ expectations. Well done recognising it and moving past it! 🎉

[@mejsh87]

Btw I did the same thing with our daughter’s belly button cords 😳🤢😅 good riddance I say! 😂

[@TheMaribellp]

Thank you I finally have the right question to ask when decluttering. Thanks for the laugh regarding the hair 😂

[@lazuligrotto5674]

I love you Dana God bless you . I'm not perfect but you've made my brain better Praise Jesus