Storage Containers Are Not the Clutter Solution

Highlight from episode 390. Watch full episodes of The Minimalists Private Podcast: / theminimalists
FOLLOW THE MINIMALISTS:
Instagram: / theminimalists
TikTok: / theminimalists
Twitter: / theminimalists
Facebook: / theminimalists
Podcast: / theminimalistspodcast
Clips: / theminimalists
Blog: theminimalists.com
#TheMinimalists

[@TheMinimalists]

How do you remove the clutter?

[@VictorMartinez-hi9in]

Episode idea: What about and episode on minimazing time or maximizing?

[@ginamarie5575]

I donate or toss things out if they need to go🎉thx great vid !

[@amonralice]

I know to let go. 😁

[@ColleenJoudrey]

About 4 years ago, I started with one drawer or box at a time and now declutter as I go. It is a whole lot easier now that I have a better grasp of the "why" questions.

[@thegoose8545]

As the chief clutter clearer in the house. I ask myself does this item need to be used by others in the house. If it doesn’t it goes. If it does it stays for a period of time. If it’s not been used I shall keep it in a place then it’s gone. I ask myself if it’s easily accessible to purchase in the future if required.

[@peace-a]

If I don't binge watch these types of videos once a week or so, I go back to being messy, so, thank you for keeping me in line and motivated! 👍🏼 ✌🏼

[@calisongbird]

Same….

[@amonralice]

I repurpose the small numbers of containers I have, and shop my home basically when needed. I'm not a fan of those "storage coffins", how Josh calls them. 😅

[@monaleencabaron3694]

I totally agree, wait until you have decluttered, or even better, minimised, before running out to get containers, if required. And once you do get the containers for the ones that you keep for your home, make that the natural limit going forward. Dana K White and Cass from Clutterbug have also touched on these principles.

[@Ruth-xt5js]

Here in NYC space is at a premium and containers definitely help make productive use of vertical space and keep things visually organized in small areas! (But 100% agree that the first step is getting the clutter out.) If you are buying containers, I found that shopping online and doing in-store pickup was the way to go -- when comparing bins on the website I could measure out the footprint of each item in the space where I wanted to use it to make sure I ended up with the right thing. Much better than wandering around the Container Store with a piece of paper with my closet shelf dimensions.

[@minima_organizing]

Yes! Great point-always measure your space before buying.

[@BE-bs8oe]

😂 Great, just bought 5 huge ones, they will help me organize dustfree zones during renovation Because it was a sale, so they went for 1 fifth of the normal price, allowing to sell them on Craig's after using them. Last year I got another one in which I planted a huge perenial flowering plant. And I use it as a compost heap. I just peel my veg' directly above the container. It just works wonders. So I might use the new ones to create a garden and plant my own food. From hoarding to healthy...

[@conniepleasantnails]

I had an at home business I recently closed. Because I stored things so well I’ve been able to donate, sell & giveaway my merchandise. Things are feeling so great when it comes to what is stored in our home. 🧘🏻‍♀️❤

[@sleeplessinchicago9082]

Organization follows decluttering, not the other way around.

[@pinkroses135]

Creative people tend to not do well with conventional organizing systems. It's definitely true for me. For example, I hate lids and every single thing having a perfect spot to go in vs general categories at my fingertips when the mood strikes. I've been downsizing my containers because they create more stress for me. For some, finding a beautiful dollar or department store basket is actually more functionally feasible than a complex container store or ikea organization system.

[@minima_organizing]

Simplicity over complexity for storage solutions, always.

[@Questionablexfun]

ROFL I went through a phase when I was frantically trying to declutter, and it was all about containers lol I loved containers (still do) but I bought them anytime we went to the store 😮and it was good for awhile - they contained things that needed it but then eventually they were making me hold onto things that disappeared into those containers and just sat around longer 😂 I had to let GOOOO

[@Mrs.dat4302]

Please, what is ROFL?

[@minima_organizing]

@@Mrs.dat4302 Roll in the floor laughing

[@Mrs.dat4302]

@@minima_organizing Thank you. Yes. Now it's obvious. 🙏

[@Haze1434]

I do have a lot of containers in my garage (well, maybe ~10), however they all serve a SPECIFIC purpose. E.g.; one for hiking gear, one for fishing gear, one for cycling gear etc. All are used at least once every few months, apart from the dead of winter, so it makes sense for me. Completely agree though... containers should be SPECIFIC and be purchased and organised AFTER the items you need to sort, not before. Decide what is important, THEN decide how to store it. And heck, even if I die, my family don't have to sort through junk then. They have nice boxes literally labelled with the contents, they could just sell them 'as-is'... "box of used hiking gear, $500." Done.

[@BE-bs8oe]

Don't worry, hiking is a wonderful minimalist way of living. We don't want copycats but genuine human beings enjoying opening their boxes for sustainable activités, businesses, creativity, don't we all? ; - ) Buen camino

[@happyjourneywithlynn2534]

I have clear containers, many of them along with ones I can’t see the items inside. However, I do have to use them to help declutter. A couple of them use for tossed items to put in dumpster. One or two, have items that are needed or maybe not; that is still up for debate. Most of the clear ones are holding all my yarn of which I make afghans, scarves, and ponchos for persons who hurriedly left situations that were not good. But as I declutter, the empty containers will get stacked, placed into a certain storage type closet in my apt, thus creating an extra space for me. However, I’m still not quite sure I will be saving those empty containers for the long haul.

[@EasyPeasyVegan]

I've seen this new store in my area which I believe has not even opened up yet and I think of Joshua Fields Millburn every time because it's called "WherevYa Bin?" SO makes me laugh internally because I know he hates the bin store lol

[@EasyPeasyVegan]

"Where Ya Bin?" **

[@sarahlockridge7879]

Weeellllll....if your son has a ton of Legos and won't let go....then...well...I need storage containers lol

[@luvyatubers]

Will you talk about selling items safely on craigslist. Some of us dont use facebook

[@valerierogers9609]

There's actually a container store 😂? In the case of hobbies, projects where you do need supplies, always questioning do I need this is the answer to keeping materials in balance.

[@magpie3571]

Remember when Dawn Madsen filled Tom's garage shelves with empty bins?

[@VictorMartinez-hi9in]

Episode idea: What about and episode on minimazing time or maximizing?

[@trevermccall6762]

👍

[@UCanCallMeJesus1]

❤

[@bethjloveswax]

Thanks for the review on this one Charity. I’m definitely going to skip out on Homeworx for now. Hopefully they get it together. I remember my first one from Homeworx was amazing, but now they seem to be getting it so wrong.