I recently moved to a house 2x smaller than my last home and I was basically forced to do this method and it was actually incredibly helpful I feel like a weight was lifted of my shoulders and I can just exist in the things I really love..💜
Hi Mia, you should try using a menstrual cup instead of disposable tampons, it will save space and money, I absolutely love using it. Love your videos! 🎉❤
I'm 72. I've been death cleaning for 5 years! If I'm unsure about whether to toss something, I will put it in the center of my living room. When I get tired of walking around it, out it goes! And I've learned that no one wants your stuff. They have their own stuff! You did a good job!
Not always, my family friend who passed last year had so many great items that have become some of my most prized possessions. And nothing fancy either, some old topographical maps, a cassette player, a worn down desk and chest.
My mother was about your age when she unfortunately left us, I wish she had known about death cleaning because she lived in a huge house that took almost an entire month to clear out. Most of her items got donated, some had to go to the landfill, and only about 10% got passed to various family members who wanted it.
That is very true. People do not want your stuff (unless its valuable or family related.) And there are many, many other people who have nothing, seriously - nothing. Donate the stuff.
I can relate to him so much. Poor guy only has 2 sets of dnd dice (dice goblin here) and yes we game nerds/geeks need several versions of the same game. Some are expansions, some are just re-skinning that you can enjoy with friends. There's nothing wrong with this! 😭
@@ShinzoAkira69 yea that one made me so mad, 2 things of DND dice, do you really need 2? yes B you need 2 at least to get trough a game, some games might take 5 if you use them as damage counters, indicators, time counts etc. and it is a tiny tiny box. like tell me you never took the chance to learn anything about your boyfriend/husband his hobbies.
It’s an ongoing process. I divide my house into 12 parts. Then tackle one area per month. The following year, I start at room 1 again. You’d be surprised how much accumulates AND how much you’re willing to part with once you realize you really haven’t touched those items all year long… gets easier and easier every year.
I do a similar thing! I divide each area in the house and cover it all in one month (to deeper clean) and repeat every month. the decluttering gets done slowly every month. (it's semi the fly girl method of cleaning)
@@kayb2758 you should look at the fly girl method- there are a few videos on here about it and an app. it works really well for me (but you could use it as an idea and rework it to make more sense for you)
Such a great idea! I find I'm all gung-ho at the start but quickly get bored and our it off. I love the idea of planning an area per month. That's completely doable!😂
Sometimes seeing TH-camrs homes makes it seem like they have it all together, but Mia thank you for keeping it real with us! It made me feel better about having my own little junk drawers
Told my Mom about this a few years ago when we started looking at retirement apartments…. She took it to heart. 80 yrs old at the time, with bad knees, and she declutter Ed a 900sqft house on her own in less than a year. Then started trying to declutter my 1200 sqft house….LOL. Finally got her to stop decluttering (throwing out hubby’s stuff) by asking her to teach my some traditional recipes from her region of Italy. But she kept her house decluttered for the last 6 years and the move to the apartment took a single weekend with just my Prius and hubby’s pick up truck. Three trips and done.
I'm 60 yrs old & a crafting hoarder. My friends & family have been telling me I need to do this & I really want to, but...... realistically I know I'm going to end up in a corner curled into the fetal position crying my eyes out. Watching how you handled this gives me hope. If you can be this brave, then maybe I can to. Plus, nobody told me I could take my time. Everyone made it sounds like I should be able to do my whole house in 2 weeks & start a new life! Not with my back problems, sister. Thank you for sharing your journey! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Good luck!! There are so many schools, community centers, local theater companies who would LOVE and use craft supplies, maybe that would help you de-stash some? It really does make a difference knowing your supplies will be used and appreciated!
Even Marie Kondo stated that when she said to clean it out all at once, she expected such a clear-out to take 6 months. Most people miss that part and try to do it in a week or less.😮
Estimate a month per room. Even "small" rooms, like a bathroom. You will get there. I am slowly doing mine. Your first time, a month per room, is a fairly fast pace. Make sure you bring in friends and family members to help. It didn't get this way all by itself and it's OK to get help getting decluttered.
My grandmother passed away a few weeks ago. She was the biggest hoarder of our house and since then I’ve tasked myself with cleaning up everything as I found it takes my mind off of everything else and helps me cope. It’s so bad to the point where I can’t step a foot into her room, any closets in our house, half the garage is unusable, and our cabinets and drawers are a complete mess. It’s been a lot of work and sometimes seeing how much there is to do overwhelms me and it feels like I can’t even make a dent, but hearing what you said at the end of the video about even if it’s only for 5 minutes a day and seeing you get it done after 6 whole months really motivated me to keep at it. This video showed me that it doesn’t have to be done in a day, a week, or even a month but if I keep at it it’ll be done eventually and that’s what matters❤
Hi, I've had a similar experience after I lost my dad some months ago - we actually wanted to finally deepclean his apartment together in September, (after I had finished my studies) but he passed away 2 days before that... So, I just want you to know: I can sympathize with you and that it's totally okay to really take your time, cherish the moments you find in the things you find in the apartment and even those 10 minute-clean-ups really can help you heal (they at least did for me). I'm sorry for your loss - I hope you find the comfort you need in these times.
Very sorry for your losses!! 😢 but thank you for posting, it really helps highlight the burden put on family and the importance of keeping this habit of deep cleaning throughout
Sorry for the loss of your grandmother. Bless you for having to deal with everything Chip away a little at a time. Sounds like you've got this xx hugs and best wishes 🤗
Sorry for Your loss 🙏🏼 You got this. 😌 Slowly with no rush. I am sure in the whole organizing journey You will come across some unexpected surprises that will bring You Joy. 💖🤫
My grandfather passed away last September, leaving behind WAY more stuff than we thought. It's been a nightmare to try to find the items that are really worth it. And it's been sad to see a lot of it just go to the landfill. That's why I think it's super important to take things like this into consideration.
So sorry for your loss :( My MIL recently passed and she was an official hoarder. Whole rooms filled to the brim. It was a lot. We were very lucky to receive a lot of outside help. But we are still dealing with lots of stuff to look through. Boxes and boxes in our house. Hopefully we will be able to get it sorted before the end of the year.
My Uncle was the same, so much stuff. Some really interesting stuff, like diaries going back decades, but still stuff that is ultimately not going to be kept. My Mum has been really strict about regular clear outs since then x
happend to us aswell. After two weeks we gave up looking for the things we really wanted because of memories attached to them and a cleaning company came in to sort thru everything and donate what was worth it.
It's almost a year since my hoarding husband passed away and I'm still not 100% through the clutter. Totally agree that it's easier to get rid of things by donating them to places/people who can give them a new life - that resonated with me as just throwing things in the trash without first attempting to repurpose/recycle/rehome feels so wrong. Thank you for showing that stuff like this can't be all done in a day/week/month 👍🏽
I started doing the Swedish death cleaning after my husband passed away six months ago. It really made me take a long hard look at all the stuff we have accumulated over our 30 years in this house. I didn't want my kids to have to deal with all of this mess if something were to happen to me too, so it is time to deal with it now.
Ikr? I've been very content living in the same house for 26 years, but the amount of stuff we've accumulated is hair-raising. One of the advantages of moving is that you clean out the flotsam and jetsom. When you don't move for 3 decades, that stuff just piles up.
Sincere condolences for your loss. I am the collector in our marriage, and I used to have fantasies of who my stuff would go to. Sadly no one will want it. So I am only keeping what gives me joy personally, and making sure it all doesn't stack up too high. :)
I love how you don’t care about everything being “aesthetically pleasing “ or about being a minimalist (nothing wrong with either one) . But it’s refreshing seeing a house where there’s mess and clutter because that’s also normal , to a certain extent . Mia is just so relatable she’s like that friend we all need and want 😭💕
I get lots of use out of this question: if I didn't have this, what would I use instead? If I can immediately think of something I have that would be just as good or almost as good, I'm free to let go. Every time I do that exercise, I remind myself how resourceful I am. It is so much more comforting to remember I'm very resourceful than to try to keep everything I might ever need. Because my resourcefulness doesn't have to be stored and organized and dusted.
As someone who has gone through cleaning after death for loved ones, decluttering is truly a very kind thing to do for (not only kind to yourself) but to those who your stuff will be left to.
I really appreciate you putting yourself out there. On social media, you usually see people's curated and clean spaces and it makes you feel like such a cluttered slob. Thanks for letting us know we aren't alone in the struggle to keep things tidy. This is just what lived in homes look like. Here's to learning how to let things go even though they would be perfect for that specific scenario that'll never happen. 🥂
@@TheSongwritingCat yes and you know what, that was my favorite part. Because I'm exactly the same way. And instead of feeling like a weirdo slob now I think, maybe some humans are just like this! And we can tackle it as needed without beating ourselves up.
@@lavenderoh If the hoarding tendencies are coming from an emotional place, it can be a mental health issue. But that behavior can be addressed and is not a moral failing.
As a D&D player, I am appalled by Mia thinking two dice sets is too many. My partner and I are both dice goblins and SHINY CLICK CLACK MATH ROCKS MAKE US HAPPY and are a HUMAN RIGHT.😭
I have been told I have strong dice goblin energy and now I think I understand. (I don't have dice, the jars at the movie store used to fascinate me as a kid, and all the different shiny clicky variously colored geometric shapes are just way too tempting to start)
i dont even know what to say here, i got so offended and defensive on this man's behalf. this man has CRUMBS, while i sit over here with a veritable FEAST of 47 full sets, the kind of acrylic mathematical opulence that the French behead royalty for. _2 sets of gaming dice_ i have silicone molds so i can MAKE MORE DICE if i cant buy them. he could be into Warhammer! the audacity... 😤 _2 sets of dnd dice_
As a child of hoarders, I am now going thru the death cleaning in real-time. Trying to decide what was important to them versus a piece of trash is mind-blowing and many coffee and doughnuts have been consumed.
@huitrecouture and @9812Kati I could be completely wrong, but that's not how I took the original comment...to me, it wasn't about the OP trying to decide what to keep out of their loved ones' hoard, but moreso trying to understand the mindset and reasoning behind what was kept 🤷🏼♀️ to the OP: if your comment was along the lines of what I thought, it might help you to just look at the items objectively and kind of in a detached way instead of trying to understand how your loved ones regarded them. if your comment was in line with what the previous responders thought, it might help you to go through and just keep items that are personally valuable to you and not burden yourself with keeping things just because your loved ones valued them (or, at the very least, couldn't part with them). ❤
May I say I am sorry for your loss. And I know how gutting it can be to go through someone else's things. You are just working along and then suddenly it feels like someone punched you in the stomach. Hang in there. ❤
"What if there is an apocalypse and I can't buy this anymore?" OMG, this is literally why I'm keeping so much stuff that most people would throw out in a heartbeat! 😀Those last three Covid years didn't help with that.
Since Brexit happened in the UK, my "what if we can't get that anymore, because it comes from abroad!" is my apocalypse. We're struggling to get cat litter, vaccines and essential medication half the time, so goodness knows what else we're going to struggle with!
@@amber_missy It could very well be that part of draining the swamp is to teach people that they don't need manmade trash like vaccines and what you're trained to believe is "essential medication". When you learn that 99.999999999% of everything chronic that the medical industry claims is not curable - actually IS curable - you're going to be hit hard with the truth. Better to learn it on your own than to wait until your tv tells you. The tv lies and everyone on it is paid by the cult to program and condition you into avoiding what is good - what is Godmade - but trusting in what man made. We were warned about this. Discernment is something so simple and can be gained by simply asking Him.
We have greatly reduced items that others can use via Facebook market place, Craig’s List and Upcycle groups. Paring down tools, furniture, clothing and foo foo dust catchers. Had a heart to graders with our adult child to have first pick meant we were no longer storing stuff they may truly want and had space for. Living in wild land fire country and evacuating four times in four years meant we wanted to reduce our “save” totes significantly.
Just did a major closet purge by asking myself “Would I be happier keeping this or knowing that someone else is actually wearing/enjoying it?” Gave away 10 plastic tubs full of clothes to charity. Best decision ever. Thanks for the video and the encouragement to keep going through the rest of the house! ❤
I am happy when I do the donation but then I miss things :( I have changed weight a lot in the last couple years and it is hard to know if something will fit
Exactly same here like it’s so funny too when you hear a english speaker try to speak swedish like it’s just so much fun , Thanks Mia for yet again making amazing content ❤
I did not know about this concept, but whenever I tried to declutter I thought like this. When I was less stressed out I only thought if I really wanted to carry this into the next house when moving again (mostly the answer is no. And I do not want to carry 80 boxes of stuff ever again!^^) The only thing which wasn't mentioned here is the first step of all: stop shopping stuff you do not really need or adore. But maybe this is obvious for most people :)
My aunt passed away unexpectedly in January and when we went to clean out her house it was a shock to me to see how much one person “leaves behind.” I didn’t know this death cleaning was a concept but it got me thinking along these lines, when she passed away, and we plan to do it in our own house as well! I like that you’ve done it over 6 months, it doesn’t feel rushed and feels more meaningful in this way ❤
As someone who likes tabletop games I think Stewarts collection is actually pretty humble and I was honestly surprised he only has 2 sets of D&D dice lol, that's actually a pretty conservative amount of dice ! I have like 14 sets lol, I like the sparkly ones and the sound they make when you shake em all together clickity clack sidenote: I think you would actually really like D&D Mia, new video? 👀
@@zoeziebee I may have dramatically gasped when she asked if he really needed two sets of dice and said aloud to myself "Mia of COURSE you do!" haha 😅 I'm not being serious though, so no one take that the wrong way, I love Mia and am just being silly. And hey, if she does decide to play D&D with him one day he'll have an extra set she can borrow 😂
I’ve never watched you before but I feel so proud of you! As someone who also has a huge sentimental attachement to my things and has a hard time letting go of things, I know how hard this is. You kept a great attitude though and what you said about donating items to give them a new life is so helpful!
“I don’t aspire to [minimalism] I just want to be organized in my own terms” so well put I feel like this may end up as a decal in my house or a tattoo or something 💞 thank you for sharing this experience
I’m so glad you didn’t do this in like a week. I am a hoarder/emotionally attached to stuff and haven’t thoroughly decluttered since getting ill about 12 or 13 years ago and I always feel like such a failure when I see organisation videos online where the people have done it in a weekend or a day or something! This is so much more realistic and achievable! I started about a month ago and some days all I can do is 5 mins because I’m so sick of clearing and organising being at the forefront but I’m trying to keep it up most days and I’m not setting any deadlines other than I want it to be finished within this year. I’m hoping I’ll be done before the time I need to decorate for the holidays and then I can really enjoy doing that and how my house looks when I have done it.
I had just watched another declutter video before this one. Titled something like, ‘The 20 Lies of Decluttering.’ One of the things she emphasized was how those five minute bursts are not only okay but productive. Best of luck to you on your declutter journey.
@happyme9010 This is a good thing to hear. My mum tells me this too; for when decluttering and cleaning seems too much. Set a 5-10 min timer and do as much as you can then do the same tomorrow. How are you getting on? Sending love x
@@jasminefacer3785I literally just cleaned the kitchen in 5 minute increments today. I don’t know why it works better for me to do that than the 25 straight minutes it would have taken. It’s such a good trick. I’m glad I’m not the only one
You might find value in the channel A Hoarder's Heart. She has hoarding disorder and her videos are of her decluttering and talking through it, so you see how she thinks about things and get a bit of secondhand therapy alongside it. She went from not showing her face due to shame and barely being able to get rid of a couple items to being fully on-camera and ending up with piles that could fill a few bins. Great gentle motivation and compassion.
Those who get it done in a week have almost nothing to start with and perhaps plenty of money to replace things and perhaps have very little of deeper memories. Eg, family still alive, they are still young...
I had to clean out my mother's hoard when she went into a long-term care facility and had to sell her home. I had to do it again when she left the care facility and moved in with me. I had to do it again when she passed away. I swore I would not put my daughter through that because it definitely was not fun. Every January I start going through my house decluttering and organizing, room by room. I know I have all year, so I can take my time. By the end of the year I have been through the whole house, and then I start again. Every year I am able to get rid of a little more, and it is always a reminder to not bring more stuff into the house.
A brave concept for a young 24 year old, as a 60 year old I try to do a regular clear out but have difficulty getting my husband to participate! I even resort to saying to him “do you want the children to have to tackle this when we’re gone!”😂
I've just started as a nearly 50 year old just diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. As much as I'm passing my belonging on and decluttering my partner refuses to declutter a spoon. His parents are huge pack rats that keep everything. I totally get it if it's being used and you don't want to buy again but omg duplicates of duplicates
I agree, it's hard enough with your own stuff but when you have other family members that are resistant to join in it becomes practically impossible. 🙄
I am swedish, and last year we actually had a real death clean and it was brutal... I myself am a hoarder and I also save practically everything. Though in my defense I have 32 years of living in a very small room... After watching this it has re ignited my need to sort things and see if I really really want to keep it. I know for a fact if I died basically everything would go xD But most of it does have value to me so my big task is going through it all and finding the ones that don't have a significant value. And thank you Mia for trying to say Dödsstädning xD That was fun :D
I am a home organizer and I really appreciate this content! I swear every client I work with is different. Good on you for tackling this! It can feel quite overwhelming for folks!
My grandmother passed last week. Leaving behind so, so much. So heartbreaking having to sift through stuff that was meaningful for her but the rest of us can’t possibly keep it all. We are keeping a few things that are sentimental but everything isn’t essential. This has been so hard for us and your video has been so helpful. We are officially setting new goals for the end of the year. A will, medical power of attorneys, financial, etc… we have two kiddos and the past few years have showed us what NOT to leave for our kids to sort out. You are so appreciated ! Also my comfort watch during these tough times!!
Stumbled across that video by accident and so excited to see it. When my grandmother passed, that was the moment in my life I realised that after your death your family will not know what to do with all that hoarded decoration, clothes and so on. So it made me not buy anything any longer if it doesn't fill me with complete joy. Well done to you as well!
As someone with a large reading addiction and book collection, your speech about picturing where the donation is going is so important. Often I want to keep books because I read it and it was good but I probably won't read it again. Then what good is it sitting on my shelf when it could be donated and go to someone who actually can read it and enjoy it for the first time and get the experience I did?! I always like to picture people finding what I donate and getting excited
sadly even the charity shops don't want books. I have a friend that volunteers at one; so books? they can't even give them away for 50c. They often just throw books away. Getting rid of books is an impossible task. Everyone is trying to declutter and toss out their old books.
Good for you! I was married to a hoarder. Dealing with all his crap was hard during his life, and it was such a blessing to part with almost all of it after he died. Then I went on to organize MY stuff and reduce it. It's nice to NOT have a heavy tail dragging along behind me when I move, as I will soon.
I lost my mom suddenly last year and it really got me thinking about my own footprint as we went through her closet and donated to local charities. We still have a ways to go, and it's not easy, for all of the reasons. This video is so helpful. Also on a serious note, I love the relationship you and your mom have and get comfort watching videos of you together.
I have recently downsized the size of my home and that made it necessary for me to have a deep de-clutter and it does stir up memories and feelings about your stuff. I got rid of so much stuff and in the end I was so happy I did. I also had to clean out my Mums unit with my sister when she passed and it was a huge job. I think doing a Death Clean is a wonderful thing to do as it doesn't make your stuff someone else's problem. It is challenging enough to deal with the loss and then having to deal with getting rid of a mountain of stuff as well. Great content and thanks for sharing and your honesty.
After being the eldest in my family and having to deal with everybody's belongings I have the death declutter on my mind all the time. I tell myself I will not leave my children to do the things I've had to do when my family has passed. I actually find it refreshing..
As an older person Mia I have been slowly going through my things for a while as I don't want to burden my 31 year old daughter when I die. She is quite the minimalist, which is my perfect aesthetic 😊 I have never heard term "death clean" before though, it makes perfect sense, thanks beautiful Mia ❤ I took two more bags to charity just yesterday and I always feel happy when I do 😊
Thank you. Decluttering is a beast isn't it. Hv always hung on to sentimental things but my net widened considerably when too many things became sentimental. I hv one sister when in school at the end of term, would toss all remnants, pics, yearbooks, gifts, w/o looking back. She was brutal, I was in awe of her ability to let go, not get attached, to embrace the future with a clean and open mental and physical slate. Fwiw she became successful in life. It became a problem for me after a v hurtful breakup and upon looking back, "things" were a security blanket of memories. I associated things with the person who gifted them and thought I was throwing them away - did not make the separation these were just objects. I hv no issue when people toss things I give them but couldn't apply the same logic to my sitch. Good luck out there!
It’s honestly so refreshing to see someone who struggles with what I like to call “controlled hoarding”. I keep things and leave clutter everywhere, often out of sight and out of mind, but it’s there. My mom is the same way and I think I got it from her… I got a divorce last year and he packed up all my things for me, which I then put into a storage unit and slowly chipped away and going through it and getting rid of tons of stuff. It feels so good to be starting fresh. I’m hoping to keep my new apartment minimal in terms of hoarding and clutter and I will definitely use this method and tips for the future!
I'm a minimalist by nature, and by no means are my house in order or close to the way i would like it. The more I throw out the happier I am. This video was very satisfying . Thank you!
I live in my grandparents house they passed last year and I feel totally exhausted and asphyxiated by their things. There were not hoarders at all but there’s so many things that they left behind and it’s so hard to cope with the memories. I didn’t know about this approach it sounds super interesting.
After my dad died unexpectedly my feelings about stuff changed a bit- stuff can be a burden to our loved ones for sure. We should be careful with what we own
As a swede who regularly death cleans (just because it’s so freeing to get rid off stuff) I feel really ashamed that I didn’t known this was a Swedish concept😅
Our local Humane Society has a thrift shop where 100% of the proceeds go to their spay/neuter clinic, so it makes it easier to get rid of stuff knowing the proceeds are going to a cause that I really care about! 😻
This was recommended just at the perfect time... I have to empty my house, more than 20 years lived in... and I have to do it alone. Your video was so inspiring. I only enjoy these when the person tackling their clutter clearly isn't a minimalist ... they (minimalists) don't get it. You have encouraged me to look at the task a little bit at a time, instead of seeing it as the Mt. Everest of tidying. Thank you from an old Italian auntie! ❤🇮🇹
For me it’s really tough because I’ve grown up and continue to be poor and so finally having things makes me want to hold onto all of them. Decluttering and cleaning are also harder for me since I have a chronic pain condition and chronic fatigue syndrome. I have to be really careful about where I spend my energy and how much physical exertion I do. But I’ll get there one day! I’ll just have to do it a bit at a time, like you suggested ☺️💛
My boyfriend's whole family has the problem of keeping stuff because of growing up poor, he inherited it too, and I've been trying to get him to get rid of old band shirts that are shreds and don't have any purpose. and I agree cleaning and deep cleaning is really hard when you have chronic pain, like I'll start my cleaning and decluttering and it just becomes too much and sometimes becomes more of a problem than it was before I started. 😅
@@infjandcoping4614 if you have a sweater you hate yourself in but don’t know when you’re going to be able to buy another sweater, you’re going to hold onto that sweater. It is better to be warm and not feel the best than to be cold. Most of my clothes are hand me downs that I’ve had for 6+ years now. I get what you’re saying but there’s more to it than that
I love how real she is throughout this entire experience. So many people (myself included) go through some form of this and it’s so raw and honest. And the lovely support from EVERYONE in the comments is very comforting. We all got it going on in some way. Mia, thank you for always creating a safe space 💜
This video really was inspiring for me. I have a lot of clutter that I'm afraid to tackle, not because I'm afraid to part with it but because I'm overwhelmed by where to donate it or how to get rid of it. But seeing you slowly tackle your entire house really gives me the encouragement I need to start taking steps. Thanks for being so vulnerable here and sharing this with us. You bring such a smile to my face.
I love that every section Mia says “this is gonna be the hardest one!” Or “I’ve dreaded this one the most” 😂😂 but like at everything 😂❤️ also literally same. Pack rats unite 🥴😂
As a single mom who had nothing, I was grateful to everyone who took the trouble to donate. My son had nice clothes, toys, games. We had dishes, silverware, cookware. I had so many books and pretty things to cheer me. I'm 77 now and sending treasures back out into the world to find new homes. I love the new feeling of freedom...not having to keep track of and maintain things! (PS Don't buy storage until you know what you actually have to store.)
I have a walk in closet the size of a European kids bedroom and it's just full of my yarn 😆 but honestly, I have stopped buying much in 2022. And it takes a lot of yarn to make things, and I use it every day. It's also so much cheaper to buy in bulk on sales! But now I have a good, diverse stash so I don't need to do the bulk buys. My compromise is a monthly subscription knit kit from Mary Maxim which is only $20 and only gives enough yarn for 1 project which is usually something on the smaller side. It really scratches the itch tbh.
As a maximalist myself, this is a really interesting way on how to declutter your home that I've never heard about before. I love the tips you gave and I'd definitely enjoy seeing more organizing videos in the future! Also I seriously think you're such a sweet, kindhearted, funny, fun, and beautiful individual so thanks for always being unapologeticlly yourself! 💖
I think you have done sooo well! I am 66 years young, and have moved 7 times in the last 10 years, and just kept taking everything with me! I now live in a small house, which I love, but have two rooms full of "stuff" which I find incredibly hard to let go! I have had 5 of my own arts and crafts shops, selling my painted pottery and other local makers arts and crafts. But that was a while ago now ( about 7/8 years ago) and I still have a lot of the the things I owned, left over from my shops, in storage. I also had a holiday cottage I let, and ran B & B from various homes, so still have things left from those days, such as pillows and crockery. Due to my sever anxiety, I only go out of my home to walk my dog, and live in an isolated place, so can not send items in the post, as I can not get to post them, even if I could sell them. However, I do put things up on my free local Facebook page, and have sold a few things this way, as folk have to come and collect it themselves. If I want stuff taken to the charity shop, I have to pay someone to come and take the things for me, and I live on a pension now. I do like having my precious things out and about around me, but it makes it hard to clean then, so I do not do a lot of that! I do try to keep the kitchen clear, but have very few cupboards in there, so I have too much stuff again, so need to blitz in there! I find it sooo hard! I am sure lots of other folk are like me? xxx
I have had some success with a seasonal rotation of the decorative items. Every few months, anyway. One box goes up to the attic (or donate) and one box comes down from the attic...... to be scrutinized perhaps allowed to be displayed/ in use for a few months. Some portion of the boxes can usually be sold/donated/ gifted without any angst at all.:)
this actually inspired me to clean and get rid of things I haven’t touched in years now. I feel so much better and it’s funny because I don’t miss and haven’t thought of the things I threw out. Thanks for the inspiration, Mia!!!❤️
I'm moving countries in less than a month and I've been struggling to part with things (because I'm not about to pay extra only to bring 6 more luggages) and this is the wake up call that I needed. Thank you so much, I'll be tackling the objects in that gray area where "it's not something I definitely need but not something I'd definitely get rid of" so much easier now!
@@RivLoveshine oh it was great getting rid of stuff, made a few boxes labeled kitchenware, clothes, coats, hygiene and so on and it was really helpful labeling those so I was able to find everything right away as soon as I moved in. Oh! I also made one shoe box into a "memory box" and that's all I allowed myself to carry that's not absolutely necessary but I still wanted with me. Most boxes I had, I went through twice or three times before packing because I felt like downsizing even more when I got the hang of it.
I'm 31. I've been decluttering for 6 years... when I learned about death cleaning about 3 years ago it changed my life. My parents are hoarders and I didn't think I was until I found out most of my things I was keeping out of guilt and emotional attachments. My 3 bed 2 bath, 2 car garage was overflowing! It is constant process of going through things and items that you didn't even have the thought of ever getting rid of, you'll come across years later and wonder why you kept. TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING! I wish someone told me that in the beginning. I don't have kids, I'll never have kids. So I don't have to hold onto things to "pass down". Once I realized that it helped a ton! My 2 spare rooms I could barely open the door to are COMPLETELY EMPTY! My dining room is completely empty! I got rid of things I was holding onto that I felt I was expected to have to have. We will never host holidays, I don't need a huge dining table. We don't eat at a table! I got rid of all the China and China cabinet I felt I had to have because it was passed onto me. I AM NOT OTHER PEOPLES STORAGE UNIT. Their items are not my responsibility! And if my grandma knew how much stress it was causing me moving that thing house to house because i felt guilt to keep it. She would not have wanted that for me. I had every single birthday card i ever got... literally only with signatures in them. Why did i keep it?! Make everything digital. I actually know get annoyed sometimes that i dont have more to get rid of. It became addicting decluttering and having less heavy furniture, less to clean!!! After 5 years of living in our house we now park both our cars in the garage!!! Its amazing! Less clutter=less stress. Having less items will force you to get creative sometimes, and it's actually fun. We even got rid of our dresser! Keep it up Mia!!! Proud of you! ❤❤❤❤
"I'm not other people's storage unit." Exactly! My dad frequently tries to give me an item my parents are getting rid of. Most of the time I have no use for said item. My house is cluttered enough. I don't need my parent's stuff in there too.
@@indigobunting5041 For me, the version of that which helps me most is "my home is not the museum of my family." I don't have to keep something I get no value from just because it was passed down to me.
Watching this I think of gift giving. I’ve started trying to buy gifts that are practical and useable not just dust catchers. My friend talks about heavy gifts and light gifts. Heavy gifts are those that people feel they must keep and not give away. I like to buy gifts but not burden them with something. Also teaching myself not to buy things that I don’t need. This has inspired me to do it. Thankyou ❤
As an only child with a hoarder father and (hoarder tendencies myself) I relate to this DEEPLY. I refuse to let my dad leave me with all this literal baggage 😂 decluttering/donating will greatly improve his quality of life as well as mine. It’s a win win honestly. Edit: ALSO! Stair stacking!! 😂 at one point mine were SO BAD
I just started doing this a few months ago. Literally, I am only half way done! And spending most of my time on it. And I am nothing close to being a pack rat or hoarder. But as I go thru it all, room by room, is finished before I go to the next room or drawer or cabinet or closet. The key is to sort things, and you may discover you have a lot of the same thing! Keep one. Or two at most for things that might break or wear out. It is making such a positive difference I look forward to clearing more.
girl, you're so strong for doing this. As a hoarder myself i just keep avoiding sorting through my things to throw away, it's mostly clothes and stuff like that but seriously, nice job.❤
Hello Mia: Just want to say I'm loving the shorter hair. Fresh and youthful. I'm so happy you took the step towards decluttering. I'm stuck on the memento's of my youth from my Grandma, my mom, my childhood trips ( There was still a Worlds Fair when I was child and I still have my Chinese and Native American dolls!).
I also have a period box hoarding issue. When I deep cleaned my bathroom and my closet in the bathroom, the most exciting thing was breaking all the boxes down and shoving them into one to recycle. I have Sunday off so I know I am gonna rewatch and go through my bathroom and closet
As a Swede, I think it's so fun to watch these kinds of videos to see how others react to it (since it sounds more extreme than it is if its done over an extended time) and think about it. For me, it's kind of an innate attitude. Also, moving a lot helps 😊
Moving definitely helps because as you’re carrying boxes of stuff you think? Is it really worth it? Do I really need this stuff? That’s how I became not a hoarder.
I’m the opposite of a hoarder, my boyfriend told me one day that (I was cleaning and organizing -my fav thing to do) “I know that if you could, you would toss me in the bin” 😂😂😂. So I feel extremely proud of you for getting rid of stuff and I would have loved to help you hahahaha
I'm a hoarder married to a minimalist, and we butt heads a fair amount, but this method has been helping me see that mayyybbeee I don't need to keep quite so much. After renting a dumpster and filling it up but still having this huge pile of stuff I am both relieved and upset that it got that far. Baby steps I guess. -shrugs-
I relate so much! I’m a hoarder but I think it stems from fear of not having something when I need it. I keep telling myself to let go of things but truly it freaks me out to a point of just feeling overwhelmed. I just need to start somewhere and learn to let go.
I just watched a video called 'Heal Chaos and Overwhelm: Declutter every part of your life.' A HUGE insight for me was that cluttering comes from a good instinct which has become a bit dysregulated. So it doesn't mean you're a bad person - it means you're on the way to your final, tidy destination! We all have a nesting instinct which is the desire to make a good, comfortable home for ourselves. Every piece of clutter has been put there for a good reason - even the things we throw in the cupboard absent-mindedly. That just means there was something more important going on at the time. The fact that we keep things because we think we might need them one day, or they could have some value in the future, shows that we care about ourselves and our home. For every item that seems out of place, we just need to connect with that care and then finish the job in the light of today. Times change and with them, our needs, so it's quite okay to decide we don't need stuff after all.
Decision fatigue is a real thing. Decluttering teaches you that making decisions with more finality is actually a relief. Even if you end up making a decision you regret, you can decide to pick yourself back up and try again more quickly.
I started my decluttering over a year ago. Finally starting to feel good about it. The beautiful thing is when I go out thrifting I don't waste as much money any more. Also, I have boxes with dates on them now, 6 months out, so if I don't go looking for the item in 6 months it's being donated.
I can't believe You squished 6 months of organizing into only 15 minutes. Yes Mia I 100% want more cleaning and organizing Videos from you...mostly cause your "junk" is so much cooler than my junk!!
Mia, can totally relate. I am a diy-er, crafter and upcycle -er. I have a tendency to keep lots of things I can imagine using for crafts or upcycling items. I also love keeping fun old boxes... lol! In closing, remember "Creative people don't have mesess.....they have ideas lying around everywhere" so true!!! Love your show.... Jo
Thank you for being transparent and letting us know that this tools 6 months! Decluttering really is a lot more complicated than it seems. I’ve been decluttering for a few weeks now using a similar method and have been really hard on myself because it feels like it shouldn’t be taking this long.
I have had three friends die in the past 8 months, and after cleaning out their places, I wouldn’t push my friends to get rid of stuff to prepare for death 😅 I loved going through everything they owned - the quirkier the better. The amount of ridiculous Knick knacks and old sweaters I kept of theirs is actually amazing. Edit: I am definitely referring to young friends around my or Mia’s age. Clearly not family members with actual hoarding issues - been there done that as well. Edit Edit: also, not saying this is a good thing or advice, it probably is worse for me because now I have become a pack rat for all my dead friends’ stuff
I think it depends on the person, we thought it was very hard to keep our their things and were also not willing to throw them away so we just stayed in this limbo state for a while which was very unhealthy.
this is what i want for my family, friends, and partner when i die. i'm such a sentimental person, so i keep so many things. basically, i have several memory boxes/jars split into different groups (high school/notes from friends/hand written birthday cards from family) and it works really well for me.
I’m so glad Mia did this video!! Makes me happy seeing that even TH-camrs Can have clutter and not a perfect life like everyone’s makes it seem. Thank you for keeping it real with us
AHHH im so excited to watch this, this is basically my life philosophy and how im approaching cleaning my studio right now. As an epileptic I do have to consider whatd happen if I died tomorrow and my studio is just full of nonsense I wouldn't want anyone to have to deal with. The rest of my life could be packed up in an hour or two, big weight off my back knowing my belongings are minimal.
I loved the concept of the Swedish Death Clean! It’s nice to have inventory of all your belongings and be able to donate to those in need or could repurpose those items!
10:40 I went through early menopause this year, and I'm packing to move right now. I didn't realize how much period shit I had until I stopped having them. I wish I hadn't opened some of the boxes because then I could have donated them, but ill probably just give the half-full ones to my friends lol. Also cheers to 14 months without bleeding. My life is so much more chill without the constant fear that I'm bleeding through everytime I stand up
I put some in the little free food pantries near me. The individual ones were still sealed after all. That or if you go somewhere where the bathrooms have little baskets of sanitary things, you could stuff some in there. Apparently homeless shelters need them too
I am impressed that a young person would read and recommend this book. Good for you that you have done this because you are so young to have accumulated so much stuff. Kudos for acknowledging you are a pack rat and doing something about it. You did a good job because although I have watched many decluttering videos, I enjoyed yours & stayed to the end. For me, decluttering is an ongoing process as we let go of careers and hobbies and acquire new ones. One day I cannot give something away and then soon after I can. Our tastes change, our incomes change, our homes change, our values change..."Everything is in flux" Hericlitus
I so get this... As an artistic person, it is unfortunate that when and if I throw something out I then need it... So yes. Pack rats unite! LOL, loved this Mia! My mom will not love sorting through everything if I go before her...
I haven’t watched the video yet, but the reasoning behind Swedish death cleaning is the one concept or trend that has given me the most motivation, way more than the Kon Mari method or any other TH-cam tips video. I’ve seen firsthand the stress that comes from trying to clean out a deceased’s cluttered house while also trying to grieve, and by the end of it you’re sick of it all and overwhelmed and decision-fatigued. I also love how death cleaning encourages you to share the memories with your family and friends as you pass the items along to them. It saves people from stressing like “was this an important family heirloom grandma valued that should stay in the family or did she get this from the thrift store last year??” I did my college speech final on arguing for Swedish death cleaning-I could rave about it for paragraphs more😆 but I’m other words, I approve. It makes more sense for older people to do, but it helps anyone keep perspective on what’s important in life. It’s goal isn’t minimalism, but intentionality
I have so many family members that hoard stuff they never use or items they just throw in storage and never pull back out. Because of that, I rarely keep anything except pictures, videos and important documents, everything else, I give away to family or donate if I no longer need it or upgrade something. You did amazing declutterting by the way. Really enjoyed your video!
I'm going through this right now and I keep running up against the 'what if' and 'just in case' stuff. Applying the thought of 'would I want people I love to deal with this when I'm gone' definitely helps! Thank you for this video, definitely gave me some inspiration!
@@sarahe397Ugh I've been trying to declutter since the beginning of the month and this "fantasy me" is such a hard one I was NOT ready for. Stuff I got for the life I want to live but it just doesn't work right now and then I feel even more sadness and regret for buying it and then I just feel like a loser...
My husband and I are getting on in years with lots of health issues. We have to clean out our stuff and have been procrastinating for years. This video really helped at the right time. It will be definitely hard for me, I have stuff from 40 yrs ago, and I’m now disabled in a wheelchair and haven’t been in certain areas of the house for years. You gave me good ideas. I hope it works!
This video is super timely for me. I’ve been systematically replacing the cheap MDF furniture pieces I have ( sadly I had a lot!) with thrifted real wood pieces (usually at a lower cost haha) and then cleaning out the clutter. This is a thought I hadn’t had, but it does seem like it will help going forward. Thanks Mia!! ❤
Pack Rats Unite !! 🤗
I feel attacked in this video 🤣 Fellow pack rat right here!
Yeah! We might need it!!
We feel seen👀🤍
I recently moved to a house 2x smaller than my last home and I was basically forced to do this method and it was actually incredibly helpful I feel like a weight was lifted of my shoulders and I can just exist in the things I really love..💜
Hi Mia, you should try using a menstrual cup instead of disposable tampons, it will save space and money, I absolutely love using it. Love your videos! 🎉❤
I'm 72. I've been death cleaning for 5 years! If I'm unsure about whether to toss something, I will put it in the center of my living room. When I get tired of walking around it, out it goes! And I've learned that no one wants your stuff. They have their own stuff! You did a good job!
Not always, my family friend who passed last year had so many great items that have become some of my most prized possessions. And nothing fancy either, some old topographical maps, a cassette player, a worn down desk and chest.
That is so smart! Unfortunately (or fortunately?? 🤔) my dogs would destroy or eat whatever I leave in the middle of the living room floor! 😂
My mother was about your age when she unfortunately left us, I wish she had known about death cleaning because she lived in a huge house that took almost an entire month to clear out. Most of her items got donated, some had to go to the landfill, and only about 10% got passed to various family members who wanted it.
That is very true. People do not want your stuff (unless its valuable or family related.) And there are many, many other people who have nothing, seriously - nothing. Donate the stuff.
SO clever!
4:49 Mia coming for her husband's game hoarding like she doesn't have a whole storage unit just for home decor stuff had me laughing so hard 🤣
5:30 it got better 🤣
with like 45 pillows that don't match 😆
he just needs to make a yt channel about board games so he can keep em
I can relate to him so much. Poor guy only has 2 sets of dnd dice (dice goblin here) and yes we game nerds/geeks need several versions of the same game. Some are expansions, some are just re-skinning that you can enjoy with friends. There's nothing wrong with this! 😭
@@ShinzoAkira69 yea that one made me so mad, 2 things of DND dice, do you really need 2? yes B you need 2 at least to get trough a game, some games might take 5 if you use them as damage counters, indicators, time counts etc. and it is a tiny tiny box. like tell me you never took the chance to learn anything about your boyfriend/husband his hobbies.
It’s an ongoing process. I divide my house into 12 parts. Then tackle one area per month. The following year, I start at room 1 again. You’d be surprised how much accumulates AND how much you’re willing to part with once you realize you really haven’t touched those items all year long… gets easier and easier every year.
I do a similar thing! I divide each area in the house and cover it all in one month (to deeper clean) and repeat every month. the decluttering gets done slowly every month. (it's semi the fly girl method of cleaning)
I love this idea!!! 1 area per month!!
How do you divide it up over the 12 months…ideas
@@kayb2758 you should look at the fly girl method- there are a few videos on here about it and an app. it works really well for me (but you could use it as an idea and rework it to make more sense for you)
Such a great idea! I find I'm all gung-ho at the start but quickly get bored and our it off. I love the idea of planning an area per month. That's completely doable!😂
Mia: “Stuart is obsessed with empty boxes”
Also Mia: *hoards tampon boxes*
My wife commented "at least Stuart's box was nice"
@@David-zn2deThat was exactly my thought 😅
The two are obviously made for each other ❤
I too like little boxes! I like containers and containerizing. If I use them for organizing, I can at least feel justified!
Use a menstrual cup.
Sometimes seeing TH-camrs homes makes it seem like they have it all together, but Mia thank you for keeping it real with us! It made me feel better about having my own little junk drawers
I think Mia is one of the few TH-camrs that have kept it real at all times with the audience and I can appreciate that
Absolutely! I'm thankful this video made you feel better! Junk drawers unite
@@emilyflores4350 That's exactly why I love her so much. She's the only TH-camr I genuinely like and trust
She’s very honest and straightforward. Love her!!❤
Yes I also felt that this was so so real. Thank you Mia for just being a normal person.
Told my Mom about this a few years ago when we started looking at retirement apartments…. She took it to heart. 80 yrs old at the time, with bad knees, and she declutter Ed a 900sqft house on her own in less than a year. Then started trying to declutter my 1200 sqft house….LOL. Finally got her to stop decluttering (throwing out hubby’s stuff) by asking her to teach my some traditional recipes from her region of Italy.
But she kept her house decluttered for the last 6 years and the move to the apartment took a single weekend with just my Prius and hubby’s pick up truck. Three trips and done.
It’s amazing that she did all that at her age! I really love having a declutterred house and I’m sure your mom does as well
Your story inspires me. Not waiting until 'next year,' anymore. Today is a good day to start.
That’s really cool. Your mom is a trooper. Hope she likes her new place. Tell her an unknown freind from YT said “good work! We are proud of you!” 😽😸
Your mum is a champion 🏆
Hooray for your mom.
Stuart getting heat for boardgames, meanwhile Mia clutching her toenails and tampon boxes 😂 On brand ✨
Fr tho
"clutching her toenails" 💀💀💀
PLEASE 😂😂😂
lol
😂😂😂😂
I love that Mia says Stuart has the empty box obsession then proceeds the show us all the boxes she’s been hoarding ❤❤
I'm 60 yrs old & a crafting hoarder. My friends & family have been telling me I need to do this & I really want to, but...... realistically I know I'm going to end up in a corner curled into the fetal position crying my eyes out. Watching how you handled this gives me hope. If you can be this brave, then maybe I can to. Plus, nobody told me I could take my time. Everyone made it sounds like I should be able to do my whole house in 2 weeks & start a new life! Not with my back problems, sister. Thank you for sharing your journey! 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
Good luck!! There are so many schools, community centers, local theater companies who would LOVE and use craft supplies, maybe that would help you de-stash some? It really does make a difference knowing your supplies will be used and appreciated!
Even Marie Kondo stated that when she said to clean it out all at once, she expected such a clear-out to take 6 months. Most people miss that part and try to do it in a week or less.😮
@@mariepappas1678 Definitely. The thought of all this just going into a land fill ....well, I just couldn't do it. 🥲
Estimate a month per room. Even "small" rooms, like a bathroom. You will get there. I am slowly doing mine. Your first time, a month per room, is a fairly fast pace. Make sure you bring in friends and family members to help. It didn't get this way all by itself and it's OK to get help getting decluttered.
@@SH4WW Thank you 💖
My grandmother passed away a few weeks ago. She was the biggest hoarder of our house and since then I’ve tasked myself with cleaning up everything as I found it takes my mind off of everything else and helps me cope. It’s so bad to the point where I can’t step a foot into her room, any closets in our house, half the garage is unusable, and our cabinets and drawers are a complete mess. It’s been a lot of work and sometimes seeing how much there is to do overwhelms me and it feels like I can’t even make a dent, but hearing what you said at the end of the video about even if it’s only for 5 minutes a day and seeing you get it done after 6 whole months really motivated me to keep at it. This video showed me that it doesn’t have to be done in a day, a week, or even a month but if I keep at it it’ll be done eventually and that’s what matters❤
Sorry for your loss. I hope the clearing out helps you heal! ❤
Hi, I've had a similar experience after I lost my dad some months ago - we actually wanted to finally deepclean his apartment together in September, (after I had finished my studies) but he passed away 2 days before that... So, I just want you to know: I can sympathize with you and that it's totally okay to really take your time, cherish the moments you find in the things you find in the apartment and even those 10 minute-clean-ups really can help you heal (they at least did for me).
I'm sorry for your loss - I hope you find the comfort you need in these times.
Very sorry for your losses!! 😢 but thank you for posting, it really helps highlight the burden put on family and the importance of keeping this habit of deep cleaning throughout
Sorry for the loss of your grandmother. Bless you for having to deal with everything
Chip away a little at a time. Sounds like you've got this xx hugs and best wishes 🤗
Sorry for Your loss 🙏🏼
You got this. 😌 Slowly with no rush. I am sure in the whole organizing journey You will come across some unexpected surprises that will bring You Joy. 💖🤫
My grandfather passed away last September, leaving behind WAY more stuff than we thought. It's been a nightmare to try to find the items that are really worth it. And it's been sad to see a lot of it just go to the landfill. That's why I think it's super important to take things like this into consideration.
Some estate lawyers told me to check every nook and cranny: people hide valuables in weird places and don’t always tell heirs about it.
@@emmy8526 we did do that. And while of course there were valuables, the sheet amount of stuff was overwhelming and unmanageable.
So sorry for your loss :( My MIL recently passed and she was an official hoarder. Whole rooms filled to the brim. It was a lot. We were very lucky to receive a lot of outside help. But we are still dealing with lots of stuff to look through. Boxes and boxes in our house. Hopefully we will be able to get it sorted before the end of the year.
My Uncle was the same, so much stuff. Some really interesting stuff, like diaries going back decades, but still stuff that is ultimately not going to be kept. My Mum has been really strict about regular clear outs since then x
happend to us aswell. After two weeks we gave up looking for the things we really wanted because of memories attached to them and a cleaning company came in to sort thru everything and donate what was worth it.
It's almost a year since my hoarding husband passed away and I'm still not 100% through the clutter. Totally agree that it's easier to get rid of things by donating them to places/people who can give them a new life - that resonated with me as just throwing things in the trash without first attempting to repurpose/recycle/rehome feels so wrong. Thank you for showing that stuff like this can't be all done in a day/week/month 👍🏽
I started doing the Swedish death cleaning after my husband passed away six months ago. It really made me take a long hard look at all the stuff we have accumulated over our 30 years in this house. I didn't want my kids to have to deal with all of this mess if something were to happen to me too, so it is time to deal with it now.
Ikr? I've been very content living in the same house for 26 years, but the amount of stuff we've accumulated is hair-raising. One of the advantages of moving is that you clean out the flotsam and jetsom. When you don't move for 3 decades, that stuff just piles up.
You are so strong for that , hope it goes well :)
Condolences 🙏 we just lost my mum and oh my gosh so much stuff!! Obviously precious to her ,but if I kept it all I'd be overwhelmed.
Sincere condolences for your loss. I am the collector in our marriage, and I used to have fantasies of who my stuff would go to. Sadly no one will want it. So I am only keeping what gives me joy personally, and making sure it all doesn't stack up too high. :)
I love how you don’t care about everything being “aesthetically pleasing “ or about being a minimalist (nothing wrong with either one) . But it’s refreshing seeing a house where there’s mess and clutter because that’s also normal , to a certain extent . Mia is just so relatable she’s like that friend we all need and want 😭💕
So true
Your statement about , "but what if i need this in the zombie apocalypse?" is literally me. It's those what if's that get ya.
I get lots of use out of this question: if I didn't have this, what would I use instead? If I can immediately think of something I have that would be just as good or almost as good, I'm free to let go.
Every time I do that exercise, I remind myself how resourceful I am. It is so much more comforting to remember I'm very resourceful than to try to keep everything I might ever need. Because my resourcefulness doesn't have to be stored and organized and dusted.
As someone who has gone through cleaning after death for loved ones, decluttering is truly a very kind thing to do for (not only kind to yourself) but to those who your stuff will be left to.
Yes it is so emotional and now I have waay more clutter as I couldn't let alot of their stiff go!!lol
How true! It is a very hard thing to empty a deceased loved one's home. It adds to the grief and loss
I really appreciate you putting yourself out there. On social media, you usually see people's curated and clean spaces and it makes you feel like such a cluttered slob. Thanks for letting us know we aren't alone in the struggle to keep things tidy. This is just what lived in homes look like. Here's to learning how to let things go even though they would be perfect for that specific scenario that'll never happen. 🥂
P.S. that was a nice box. I understand why Stuart didn't want to throw it away.
This comment warmed my heart, thank you!! To "lived in homes" !!
Same. Not many people would actually show all the empty tampon boxes
@@TheSongwritingCat yes and you know what, that was my favorite part. Because I'm exactly the same way. And instead of feeling like a weirdo slob now I think, maybe some humans are just like this! And we can tackle it as needed without beating ourselves up.
@@lavenderoh If the hoarding tendencies are coming from an emotional place, it can be a mental health issue. But that behavior can be addressed and is not a moral failing.
As a D&D player, I am appalled by Mia thinking two dice sets is too many. My partner and I are both dice goblins and SHINY CLICK CLACK MATH ROCKS MAKE US HAPPY and are a HUMAN RIGHT.😭
Dice are small. The flamingo and cheerios pictures are much larger.
She's lucky he only has two! I have several sacks full, and they all get used. They are beautiful and bring me joy!
Lol my husband LOVES dice and never goes to a game store without picking up a new set. He'd appreciate "clicky clacky math rocks" 😂
I have been told I have strong dice goblin energy and now I think I understand.
(I don't have dice, the jars at the movie store used to fascinate me as a kid, and all the different shiny clicky variously colored geometric shapes are just way too tempting to start)
i dont even know what to say here, i got so offended and defensive on this man's behalf. this man has CRUMBS, while i sit over here with a veritable FEAST of 47 full sets, the kind of acrylic mathematical opulence that the French behead royalty for. _2 sets of gaming dice_ i have silicone molds so i can MAKE MORE DICE if i cant buy them. he could be into Warhammer! the audacity... 😤 _2 sets of dnd dice_
As a child of hoarders, I am now going thru the death cleaning in real-time. Trying to decide what was important to them versus a piece of trash is mind-blowing and many coffee and doughnuts have been consumed.
It makes no difference at all what was important to them if they're DEAD.
yes, its only important if it is valuable meaning stuff like gold or art or if it is valuable to YOU, NOW.
@huitrecouture and @9812Kati I could be completely wrong, but that's not how I took the original comment...to me, it wasn't about the OP trying to decide what to keep out of their loved ones' hoard, but moreso trying to understand the mindset and reasoning behind what was kept 🤷🏼♀️
to the OP: if your comment was along the lines of what I thought, it might help you to just look at the items objectively and kind of in a detached way instead of trying to understand how your loved ones regarded them.
if your comment was in line with what the previous responders thought, it might help you to go through and just keep items that are personally valuable to you and not burden yourself with keeping things just because your loved ones valued them (or, at the very least, couldn't part with them). ❤
May I say I am sorry for your loss. And I know how gutting it can be to go through someone else's things. You are just working along and then suddenly it feels like someone punched you in the stomach. Hang in there. ❤
@@huitrecouture
Wow couldn't you be MORE insensitive???
The tampon box thing is so real. The amount of times I had been tricked into thinking I had a product and I didn’t was insane.
It's cos you feel so rubbish during periods and dragging your aching body around all day ..... don't want to drag that bloody carton with me too. Ugh
"What if there is an apocalypse and I can't buy this anymore?" OMG, this is literally why I'm keeping so much stuff that most people would throw out in a heartbeat! 😀Those last three Covid years didn't help with that.
I'm forever ruined by SuPpLy ChAiN iSsUeS 🙃
@@NancyLambert- Exactly…you just never know.
Since Brexit happened in the UK, my "what if we can't get that anymore, because it comes from abroad!" is my apocalypse. We're struggling to get cat litter, vaccines and essential medication half the time, so goodness knows what else we're going to struggle with!
@@amber_missy It could very well be that part of draining the swamp is to teach people that they don't need manmade trash like vaccines and what you're trained to believe is "essential medication". When you learn that 99.999999999% of everything chronic that the medical industry claims is not curable - actually IS curable - you're going to be hit hard with the truth. Better to learn it on your own than to wait until your tv tells you. The tv lies and everyone on it is paid by the cult to program and condition you into avoiding what is good - what is Godmade - but trusting in what man made. We were warned about this. Discernment is something so simple and can be gained by simply asking Him.
We have greatly reduced items that others can use via Facebook market place, Craig’s List and Upcycle groups. Paring down tools, furniture, clothing and foo foo dust catchers. Had a heart to graders with our adult child to have first pick meant we were no longer storing stuff they may truly want and had space for. Living in wild land fire country and evacuating four times in four years meant we wanted to reduce our “save” totes significantly.
Just did a major closet purge by asking myself “Would I be happier keeping this or knowing that someone else is actually wearing/enjoying it?” Gave away 10 plastic tubs full of clothes to charity. Best decision ever. Thanks for the video and the encouragement to keep going through the rest of the house! ❤
10! Wow! Good job!!
Awesome!! That mentality has worked really well for me too!
I am happy when I do the donation but then I miss things :( I have changed weight a lot in the last couple years and it is hard to know if something will fit
@anainesgonzalez8868 same!! And if you are that size again it's kinda like damn...that'd be cute on me now 😂😂
@@sophies_sketches I struggle with this a lot. I do not like to have things I do not use either
As a Swede I’m living for you pronouncing our words and mentioning us this much in a vid, I feel so honored 🫶
Exactly same here like it’s so funny too when you hear a english speaker try to speak swedish like it’s just so much fun , Thanks Mia for yet again making amazing content ❤
Same
I did not know about this concept, but whenever I tried to declutter I thought like this. When I was less stressed out I only thought if I really wanted to carry this into the next house when moving again (mostly the answer is no. And I do not want to carry 80 boxes of stuff ever again!^^) The only thing which wasn't mentioned here is the first step of all: stop shopping stuff you do not really need or adore. But maybe this is obvious for most people :)
My aunt passed away unexpectedly in January and when we went to clean out her house it was a shock to me to see how much one person “leaves behind.” I didn’t know this death cleaning was a concept but it got me thinking along these lines, when she passed away, and we plan to do it in our own house as well! I like that you’ve done it over 6 months, it doesn’t feel rushed and feels more meaningful in this way ❤
As someone who likes tabletop games I think Stewarts collection is actually pretty humble and I was honestly surprised he only has 2 sets of D&D dice lol, that's actually a pretty conservative amount of dice ! I have like 14 sets lol, I like the sparkly ones and the sound they make when you shake em all together clickity clack
sidenote: I think you would actually really like D&D Mia, new video? 👀
Yes!!! My husband has about 30 sets of dice and 100 books. This is nothing 😭
I was a little offended when she was saying he had too many board games 😂 I hate to see how she’d react to my collection!
yes
as a dnd nerd just so yes and the video for sure
@@zoeziebee I may have dramatically gasped when she asked if he really needed two sets of dice and said aloud to myself "Mia of COURSE you do!" haha 😅 I'm not being serious though, so no one take that the wrong way, I love Mia and am just being silly. And hey, if she does decide to play D&D with him one day he'll have an extra set she can borrow 😂
@@nyahtonks3914 I honestly think she would have a blast, and I just KNOW she would design the cutest character!
I’ve never watched you before but I feel so proud of you! As someone who also has a huge sentimental attachement to my things and has a hard time letting go of things, I know how hard this is. You kept a great attitude though and what you said about donating items to give them a new life is so helpful!
“I don’t aspire to [minimalism] I just want to be organized in my own terms” so well put I feel like this may end up as a decal in my house or a tattoo or something 💞 thank you for sharing this experience
"I am a maximalist" was my favorite part 😀
I’m so glad you didn’t do this in like a week. I am a hoarder/emotionally attached to stuff and haven’t thoroughly decluttered since getting ill about 12 or 13 years ago and I always feel like such a failure when I see organisation videos online where the people have done it in a weekend or a day or something! This is so much more realistic and achievable! I started about a month ago and some days all I can do is 5 mins because I’m so sick of clearing and organising being at the forefront but I’m trying to keep it up most days and I’m not setting any deadlines other than I want it to be finished within this year. I’m hoping I’ll be done before the time I need to decorate for the holidays and then I can really enjoy doing that and how my house looks when I have done it.
I had just watched another declutter video before this one. Titled something like, ‘The 20 Lies of Decluttering.’ One of the things she emphasized was how those five minute bursts are not only okay but productive. Best of luck to you on your declutter journey.
@happyme9010 This is a good thing to hear. My mum tells me this too; for when decluttering and cleaning seems too much. Set a 5-10 min timer and do as much as you can then do the same tomorrow. How are you getting on? Sending love x
@@jasminefacer3785I literally just cleaned the kitchen in 5 minute increments today. I don’t know why it works better for me to do that than the 25 straight minutes it would have taken. It’s such a good trick. I’m glad I’m not the only one
You might find value in the channel A Hoarder's Heart. She has hoarding disorder and her videos are of her decluttering and talking through it, so you see how she thinks about things and get a bit of secondhand therapy alongside it. She went from not showing her face due to shame and barely being able to get rid of a couple items to being fully on-camera and ending up with piles that could fill a few bins. Great gentle motivation and compassion.
Those who get it done in a week have almost nothing to start with and perhaps plenty of money to replace things and perhaps have very little of deeper memories. Eg, family still alive, they are still young...
I had to clean out my mother's hoard when she went into a long-term care facility and had to sell her home. I had to do it again when she left the care facility and moved in with me. I had to do it again when she passed away. I swore I would not put my daughter through that because it definitely was not fun. Every January I start going through my house decluttering and organizing, room by room. I know I have all year, so I can take my time. By the end of the year I have been through the whole house, and then I start again. Every year I am able to get rid of a little more, and it is always a reminder to not bring more stuff into the house.
A brave concept for a young 24 year old, as a 60 year old I try to do a regular clear out but have difficulty getting my husband to participate! I even resort to saying to him “do you want the children to have to tackle this when we’re gone!”😂
I've just started as a nearly 50 year old just diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. As much as I'm passing my belonging on and decluttering my partner refuses to declutter a spoon. His parents are huge pack rats that keep everything. I totally get it if it's being used and you don't want to buy again but omg duplicates of duplicates
@@tarat26 I wish you healing and health.
@@womanofacertainage5892 bless you. Thank you. That's such a lovely thing to say.
@@tarat26I also wish you good health and healing, comfort, and happy days ahead ❤
I agree, it's hard enough with your own stuff but when you have other family members that are resistant to join in it becomes practically impossible. 🙄
My favorite part of this is Mia saying “this one’s gonna be really hard for me” before she cleans any section in her house 😆🤣🫶🏾 proud of you girl!
I am swedish, and last year we actually had a real death clean and it was brutal... I myself am a hoarder and I also save practically everything.
Though in my defense I have 32 years of living in a very small room... After watching this it has re ignited my need to sort things and see if I really really want to keep it. I know for a fact if I died basically everything would go xD But most of it does have value to me so my big task is going through it all and finding the ones that don't have a significant value.
And thank you Mia for trying to say Dödsstädning xD That was fun :D
I am a home organizer and I really appreciate this content! I swear every client I work with is different. Good on you for tackling this! It can feel quite overwhelming for folks!
My grandmother passed last week. Leaving behind so, so much. So heartbreaking having to sift through stuff that was meaningful for her but the rest of us can’t possibly keep it all. We are keeping a few things that are sentimental but everything isn’t essential. This has been so hard for us and your video has been so helpful. We are officially setting new goals for the end of the year. A will, medical power of attorneys, financial, etc… we have two kiddos and the past few years have showed us what NOT to leave for our kids to sort out. You are so appreciated ! Also my comfort watch during these tough times!!
Stumbled across that video by accident and so excited to see it. When my grandmother passed, that was the moment in my life I realised that after your death your family will not know what to do with all that hoarded decoration, clothes and so on. So it made me not buy anything any longer if it doesn't fill me with complete joy. Well done to you as well!
i’m honestly proud of mia for going from a whole warehouse to a closet of decor over the years
As someone with a large reading addiction and book collection, your speech about picturing where the donation is going is so important. Often I want to keep books because I read it and it was good but I probably won't read it again. Then what good is it sitting on my shelf when it could be donated and go to someone who actually can read it and enjoy it for the first time and get the experience I did?! I always like to picture people finding what I donate and getting excited
I wish i could read books. I would love to, but every time I try, I get tired. Then my eyes start to hurt after awhile.
sadly even the charity shops don't want books. I have a friend that volunteers at one; so books? they can't even give them away for 50c. They often just throw books away. Getting rid of books is an impossible task. Everyone is trying to declutter and toss out their old books.
@@connorstern8413 try local libraries!! my local library hosts book sales and is always looking for donations for the event. schools sometimes too :)
Good for you!
I was married to a hoarder. Dealing with all his crap was hard during his life, and it was such a blessing to part with almost all of it after he died. Then I went on to organize MY stuff and reduce it. It's nice to NOT have a heavy tail dragging along behind me when I move, as I will soon.
I lost my mom suddenly last year and it really got me thinking about my own footprint as we went through her closet and donated to local charities. We still have a ways to go, and it's not easy, for all of the reasons. This video is so helpful. Also on a serious note, I love the relationship you and your mom have and get comfort watching videos of you together.
so sorry for your loss Xx
sorry for your loss :(
hey, im sorry for your loss SD. sending you some virtual love ❤️🩹
I have recently downsized the size of my home and that made it necessary for me to have a deep de-clutter and it does stir up memories and feelings about your stuff. I got rid of so much stuff and in the end I was so happy I did. I also had to clean out my Mums unit with my sister when she passed and it was a huge job. I think doing a Death Clean is a wonderful thing to do as it doesn't make your stuff someone else's problem. It is challenging enough to deal with the loss and then having to deal with getting rid of a mountain of stuff as well. Great content and thanks for sharing and your honesty.
After being the eldest in my family and having to deal with everybody's belongings I have the death declutter on my mind all the time. I tell myself I will not leave my children to do the things I've had to do when my family has passed. I actually find it refreshing..
It's stressful and hurts all at the same time.
As an older person Mia I have been slowly going through my things for a while as I don't want to burden my 31 year old daughter when I die. She is quite the minimalist, which is my perfect aesthetic 😊
I have never heard term "death clean" before though, it makes perfect sense, thanks beautiful Mia ❤
I took two more bags to charity just yesterday and I always feel happy when I do 😊
@@noolie62 Yes, it is liberating 😃 I have more bags of things to go since I wrote that comment. Good luck to you too x
Thank you. Decluttering is a beast isn't it. Hv always hung on to sentimental things but my net widened considerably when too many things became sentimental.
I hv one sister when in school at the end of term, would toss all remnants, pics, yearbooks, gifts, w/o looking back. She was brutal, I was in awe of her ability to let go, not get attached, to embrace the future with a clean and open mental and physical slate. Fwiw she became successful in life.
It became a problem for me after a v hurtful breakup and upon looking back, "things" were a security blanket of memories. I associated things with the person who gifted them and thought I was throwing them away - did not make the separation these were just objects. I hv no issue when people toss things I give them but couldn't apply the same logic to my sitch.
Good luck out there!
It’s honestly so refreshing to see someone who struggles with what I like to call “controlled hoarding”. I keep things and leave clutter everywhere, often out of sight and out of mind, but it’s there. My mom is the same way and I think I got it from her…
I got a divorce last year and he packed up all my things for me, which I then put into a storage unit and slowly chipped away and going through it and getting rid of tons of stuff. It feels so good to be starting fresh. I’m hoping to keep my new apartment minimal in terms of hoarding and clutter and I will definitely use this method and tips for the future!
Mia's style is actually the cutest. The amount of joy I get just through seeing her decor in intros is insane. I love the 🍄 and 🦆!!! :)
Aw thank youuu!!
I'm a minimalist by nature, and by no means are my house in order or close to the way i would like it. The more I throw out the happier I am. This video was very satisfying . Thank you!
I live in my grandparents house they passed last year and I feel totally exhausted and asphyxiated by their things. There were not hoarders at all but there’s so many things that they left behind and it’s so hard to cope with the memories. I didn’t know about this approach it sounds super interesting.
After my dad died unexpectedly my feelings about stuff changed a bit- stuff can be a burden to our loved ones for sure. We should be careful with what we own
If the stuff makes you sad. Toss it! Memories are in your head. You don’t need stuff to remember.
As a swede who regularly death cleans (just because it’s so freeing to get rid off stuff) I feel really ashamed that I didn’t known this was a Swedish concept😅
Our local Humane Society has a thrift shop where 100% of the proceeds go to their spay/neuter clinic, so it makes it easier to get rid of stuff knowing the proceeds are going to a cause that I really care about! 😻
This was recommended just at the perfect time... I have to empty my house, more than 20 years lived in... and I have to do it alone. Your video was so inspiring. I only enjoy these when the person tackling their clutter clearly isn't a minimalist ... they (minimalists) don't get it.
You have encouraged me to look at the task a little bit at a time, instead of seeing it as the Mt. Everest of tidying.
Thank you from an old Italian auntie! ❤🇮🇹
I feel the same way!
I love that you are so *real*--especially hoarding the empty tampon boxes. Good for you for going through your house and donating so much.
I’ve watched a lot of organizing videos lately. Yours was one of the most relatable and entertaining. Thanks!
For me it’s really tough because I’ve grown up and continue to be poor and so finally having things makes me want to hold onto all of them. Decluttering and cleaning are also harder for me since I have a chronic pain condition and chronic fatigue syndrome. I have to be really careful about where I spend my energy and how much physical exertion I do. But I’ll get there one day! I’ll just have to do it a bit at a time, like you suggested ☺️💛
My boyfriend's whole family has the problem of keeping stuff because of growing up poor, he inherited it too, and I've been trying to get him to get rid of old band shirts that are shreds and don't have any purpose. and I agree cleaning and deep cleaning is really hard when you have chronic pain, like I'll start my cleaning and decluttering and it just becomes too much and sometimes becomes more of a problem than it was before I started. 😅
You will make it!!!
Omg 😮 I have all those same issues!! ❤
I’m right there with you!
@@infjandcoping4614 if you have a sweater you hate yourself in but don’t know when you’re going to be able to buy another sweater, you’re going to hold onto that sweater. It is better to be warm and not feel the best than to be cold. Most of my clothes are hand me downs that I’ve had for 6+ years now. I get what you’re saying but there’s more to it than that
There’s just something about Mia keeping the 2016 vibe alive in her channel. I love it so much
I love how real she is throughout this entire experience. So many people (myself included) go through some form of this and it’s so raw and honest. And the lovely support from EVERYONE in the comments is very comforting. We all got it going on in some way. Mia, thank you for always creating a safe space 💜
This video really was inspiring for me. I have a lot of clutter that I'm afraid to tackle, not because I'm afraid to part with it but because I'm overwhelmed by where to donate it or how to get rid of it. But seeing you slowly tackle your entire house really gives me the encouragement I need to start taking steps. Thanks for being so vulnerable here and sharing this with us. You bring such a smile to my face.
I love that every section Mia says “this is gonna be the hardest one!” Or “I’ve dreaded this one the most” 😂😂 but like at everything 😂❤️ also literally same. Pack rats unite 🥴😂
AHAHAH it all was HARD LOL
As a single mom who had nothing, I was grateful to everyone who took the trouble to donate. My son had nice clothes, toys, games. We had dishes, silverware, cookware. I had so many books and pretty things to cheer me. I'm 77 now and sending treasures back out into the world to find new homes. I love the new feeling of freedom...not having to keep track of and maintain things! (PS Don't buy storage until you know what you actually have to store.)
As a crafty hoarder, I’m currently doing something like this too. It’s astounding how much fabric I have! This video inspired me to get back to it ✨
I have a walk in closet the size of a European kids bedroom and it's just full of my yarn 😆 but honestly, I have stopped buying much in 2022. And it takes a lot of yarn to make things, and I use it every day. It's also so much cheaper to buy in bulk on sales! But now I have a good, diverse stash so I don't need to do the bulk buys. My compromise is a monthly subscription knit kit from Mary Maxim which is only $20 and only gives enough yarn for 1 project which is usually something on the smaller side. It really scratches the itch tbh.
As a maximalist myself, this is a really interesting way on how to declutter your home that I've never heard about before. I love the tips you gave and I'd definitely enjoy seeing more organizing videos in the future! Also I seriously think you're such a sweet, kindhearted, funny, fun, and beautiful individual so thanks for always being unapologeticlly yourself! 💖
I think you have done sooo well! I am 66 years young, and have moved 7 times in the last 10 years, and just kept taking everything with me! I now live in a small house, which I love, but have two rooms full of "stuff" which I find incredibly hard to let go! I have had 5 of my own arts and crafts shops, selling my painted pottery and other local makers arts and crafts. But that was a while ago now ( about 7/8 years ago) and I still have a lot of the the things I owned, left over from my shops, in storage. I also had a holiday cottage I let, and ran B & B from various homes, so still have things left from those days, such as pillows and crockery. Due to my sever anxiety, I only go out of my home to walk my dog, and live in an isolated place, so can not send items in the post, as I can not get to post them, even if I could sell them. However, I do put things up on my free local Facebook page, and have sold a few things this way, as folk have to come and collect it themselves. If I want stuff taken to the charity shop, I have to pay someone to come and take the things for me, and I live on a pension now. I do like having my precious things out and about around me, but it makes it hard to clean then, so I do not do a lot of that! I do try to keep the kitchen clear, but have very few cupboards in there, so I have too much stuff again, so need to blitz in there! I find it sooo hard! I am sure lots of other folk are like me? xxx
one little thing every day... that's all i ask of myself... lol
I love the free stuff. I’ve gotten rid of a lot of stuff that way.
I have had some success with a seasonal rotation of the decorative items. Every few months, anyway. One box goes up to the attic (or donate) and one box comes down from the attic...... to be scrutinized perhaps allowed to be displayed/ in use for a few months. Some portion of the boxes can usually be sold/donated/ gifted without any angst at all.:)
this actually inspired me to clean and get rid of things I haven’t touched in years now. I feel so much better and it’s funny because I don’t miss and haven’t thought of the things I threw out. Thanks for the inspiration, Mia!!!❤️
This is one of the VERY BEST videos on death cleaning because it was realistic. The idea of being able to find stuff is what inspired me. Thank you
I love how you don't demonize having a lot of stuff. I personally used this method so many times cause it's the best way of letting things go 😂
It’s honestly not talked about enough how much energy and effort it takes deep cleaning, you did good 🥰
Watching someone else declutter is so satisfying and inspiring! Thankyou. Now I feel like getting rid of stuff. Woo!
I'm moving countries in less than a month and I've been struggling to part with things (because I'm not about to pay extra only to bring 6 more luggages) and this is the wake up call that I needed. Thank you so much, I'll be tackling the objects in that gray area where "it's not something I definitely need but not something I'd definitely get rid of" so much easier now!
How's it going so far? Keep up the good work!
@@RivLoveshine oh it was great getting rid of stuff, made a few boxes labeled kitchenware, clothes, coats, hygiene and so on and it was really helpful labeling those so I was able to find everything right away as soon as I moved in. Oh! I also made one shoe box into a "memory box" and that's all I allowed myself to carry that's not absolutely necessary but I still wanted with me.
Most boxes I had, I went through twice or three times before packing because I felt like downsizing even more when I got the hang of it.
I'm 31. I've been decluttering for 6 years... when I learned about death cleaning about 3 years ago it changed my life. My parents are hoarders and I didn't think I was until I found out most of my things I was keeping out of guilt and emotional attachments. My 3 bed 2 bath, 2 car garage was overflowing! It is constant process of going through things and items that you didn't even have the thought of ever getting rid of, you'll come across years later and wonder why you kept. TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING! I wish someone told me that in the beginning. I don't have kids, I'll never have kids. So I don't have to hold onto things to "pass down". Once I realized that it helped a ton! My 2 spare rooms I could barely open the door to are COMPLETELY EMPTY! My dining room is completely empty! I got rid of things I was holding onto that I felt I was expected to have to have. We will never host holidays, I don't need a huge dining table. We don't eat at a table! I got rid of all the China and China cabinet I felt I had to have because it was passed onto me. I AM NOT OTHER PEOPLES STORAGE UNIT. Their items are not my responsibility! And if my grandma knew how much stress it was causing me moving that thing house to house because i felt guilt to keep it. She would not have wanted that for me. I had every single birthday card i ever got... literally only with signatures in them. Why did i keep it?! Make everything digital. I actually know get annoyed sometimes that i dont have more to get rid of. It became addicting decluttering and having less heavy furniture, less to clean!!! After 5 years of living in our house we now park both our cars in the garage!!! Its amazing! Less clutter=less stress. Having less items will force you to get creative sometimes, and it's actually fun. We even got rid of our dresser! Keep it up Mia!!! Proud of you! ❤❤❤❤
You sound like a minimalist now. I’m glad you are less stressed. If you enjoy decluttering so much some people hire organizers to help them declutter.
"I'm not other people's storage unit." Exactly! My dad frequently tries to give me an item my parents are getting rid of. Most of the time I have no use for said item. My house is cluttered enough. I don't need my parent's stuff in there too.
Sounds like a good time to downsize your house!
@@indigobunting5041 For me, the version of that which helps me most is "my home is not the museum of my family." I don't have to keep something I get no value from just because it was passed down to me.
@@indigobunting5041 this! My FIL does that and drives us nuts
Watching this I think of gift giving. I’ve started trying to buy gifts that are practical and useable not just dust catchers. My friend talks about heavy gifts and light gifts. Heavy gifts are those that people feel they must keep and not give away. I like to buy gifts but not burden them with something. Also teaching myself not to buy things that I don’t need.
This has inspired me to do it. Thankyou ❤
Lmao I love that Mia spends 2 full minutes taking about how Stuart won’t part with his board games or books and then says “I save all my cards”😂
“I save all my cards” in a box 😂😂
As an only child with a hoarder father and (hoarder tendencies myself) I relate to this DEEPLY. I refuse to let my dad leave me with all this literal baggage 😂 decluttering/donating will greatly improve his quality of life as well as mine. It’s a win win honestly. Edit: ALSO! Stair stacking!! 😂 at one point mine were SO BAD
I just started doing this a few months ago. Literally, I am only half way done! And spending most of my time on it. And I am nothing close to being a pack rat or hoarder. But as I go thru it all, room by room, is finished before I go to the next room or drawer or cabinet or closet. The key is to sort things, and you may discover you have a lot of the same thing! Keep one. Or two at most for things that might break or wear out. It is making such a positive difference I look forward to clearing more.
girl, you're so strong for doing this. As a hoarder myself i just keep avoiding sorting through my things to throw away, it's mostly clothes and stuff like that but seriously, nice job.❤
Hello Mia: Just want to say I'm loving the shorter hair. Fresh and youthful. I'm so happy you took the step towards decluttering. I'm stuck on the memento's of my youth from my Grandma, my mom, my childhood trips ( There was still a Worlds Fair when I was child and I still have my Chinese and Native American dolls!).
You tackled so much in six months. To see all the donations that will be used by others is awesome. New subscriber as a result of watching this video🙂
I also have a period box hoarding issue. When I deep cleaned my bathroom and my closet in the bathroom, the most exciting thing was breaking all the boxes down and shoving them into one to recycle. I have Sunday off so I know I am gonna rewatch and go through my bathroom and closet
As a Swede, I think it's so fun to watch these kinds of videos to see how others react to it (since it sounds more extreme than it is if its done over an extended time) and think about it. For me, it's kind of an innate attitude. Also, moving a lot helps 😊
Moving definitely helps because as you’re carrying boxes of stuff you think? Is it really worth it? Do I really need this stuff? That’s how I became not a hoarder.
You inspired me! I've had bags of clothes slated for charity shops for a year...after watching, I did it! ❤
I’m the opposite of a hoarder, my boyfriend told me one day that (I was cleaning and organizing -my fav thing to do) “I know that if you could, you would toss me in the bin” 😂😂😂. So I feel extremely proud of you for getting rid of stuff and I would have loved to help you hahahaha
you’re so brave for putting this out there. It honestly makes you so relatable and shows how humble you are. We lovveee youuuu
I'm a hoarder married to a minimalist, and we butt heads a fair amount, but this method has been helping me see that mayyybbeee I don't need to keep quite so much. After renting a dumpster and filling it up but still having this huge pile of stuff I am both relieved and upset that it got that far. Baby steps I guess. -shrugs-
I relate so much! I’m a hoarder but I think it stems from fear of not having something when I need it. I keep telling myself to let go of things but truly it freaks me out to a point of just feeling overwhelmed. I just need to start somewhere and learn to let go.
I just watched a video called 'Heal Chaos and Overwhelm: Declutter every part of your life.' A HUGE insight for me was that cluttering comes from a good instinct which has become a bit dysregulated. So it doesn't mean you're a bad person - it means you're on the way to your final, tidy destination! We all have a nesting instinct which is the desire to make a good, comfortable home for ourselves. Every piece of clutter has been put there for a good reason - even the things we throw in the cupboard absent-mindedly. That just means there was something more important going on at the time. The fact that we keep things because we think we might need them one day, or they could have some value in the future, shows that we care about ourselves and our home. For every item that seems out of place, we just need to connect with that care and then finish the job in the light of today. Times change and with them, our needs, so it's quite okay to decide we don't need stuff after all.
Decision fatigue is a real thing. Decluttering teaches you that making decisions with more finality is actually a relief. Even if you end up making a decision you regret, you can decide to pick yourself back up and try again more quickly.
I started my decluttering over a year ago. Finally starting to feel good about it. The beautiful thing is when I go out thrifting I don't waste as much money any more. Also, I have boxes with dates on them now, 6 months out, so if I don't go looking for the item in 6 months it's being donated.
I can't believe You squished 6 months of organizing into only 15 minutes. Yes Mia I 100% want more cleaning and organizing Videos from you...mostly cause your "junk" is so much cooler than my junk!!
Mia, can totally relate. I am a diy-er, crafter and upcycle -er. I have a tendency to keep lots of things I can imagine using for crafts or upcycling items. I also love keeping fun old boxes... lol! In closing, remember "Creative people don't have mesess.....they have ideas lying around everywhere" so true!!! Love your show.... Jo
Thank you for being transparent and letting us know that this tools 6 months! Decluttering really is a lot more complicated than it seems. I’ve been decluttering for a few weeks now using a similar method and have been really hard on myself because it feels like it shouldn’t be taking this long.
I have had three friends die in the past 8 months, and after cleaning out their places, I wouldn’t push my friends to get rid of stuff to prepare for death 😅 I loved going through everything they owned - the quirkier the better. The amount of ridiculous Knick knacks and old sweaters I kept of theirs is actually amazing.
Edit: I am definitely referring to young friends around my or Mia’s age. Clearly not family members with actual hoarding issues - been there done that as well.
Edit Edit: also, not saying this is a good thing or advice, it probably is worse for me because now I have become a pack rat for all my dead friends’ stuff
but if you hoard things, it can be overwhelming for your loved ones. it's okay to pare it down to things you use and love
That’s such a beautiful outcome though 🩷 so sorry for your loss!
I think it depends on the person, we thought it was very hard to keep our their things and were also not willing to throw them away so we just stayed in this limbo state for a while which was very unhealthy.
I'm sorry you lost 3 of your friends.😢
this is what i want for my family, friends, and partner when i die. i'm such a sentimental person, so i keep so many things. basically, i have several memory boxes/jars split into different groups (high school/notes from friends/hand written birthday cards from family) and it works really well for me.
I’m so glad Mia did this video!! Makes me happy seeing that even TH-camrs Can have clutter and not a perfect life like everyone’s makes it seem. Thank you for keeping it real with us
AHHH im so excited to watch this, this is basically my life philosophy and how im approaching cleaning my studio right now. As an epileptic I do have to consider whatd happen if I died tomorrow and my studio is just full of nonsense I wouldn't want anyone to have to deal with. The rest of my life could be packed up in an hour or two, big weight off my back knowing my belongings are minimal.
I loved the concept of the Swedish Death Clean! It’s nice to have inventory of all your belongings and be able to donate to those in need or could repurpose those items!
10:40 I went through early menopause this year, and I'm packing to move right now. I didn't realize how much period shit I had until I stopped having them. I wish I hadn't opened some of the boxes because then I could have donated them, but ill probably just give the half-full ones to my friends lol. Also cheers to 14 months without bleeding. My life is so much more chill without the constant fear that I'm bleeding through everytime I stand up
I put some in the little free food pantries near me. The individual ones were still sealed after all. That or if you go somewhere where the bathrooms have little baskets of sanitary things, you could stuff some in there. Apparently homeless shelters need them too
I took mine to work so the younger women would have supplies at work for those “surprise!” visit from the period monster.
I am impressed that a young person would read and recommend this book. Good for you that you have done this because you are so young to have accumulated so much stuff. Kudos for acknowledging you are a pack rat and doing something about it. You did a good job because although I have watched many decluttering videos, I enjoyed yours & stayed to the end. For me, decluttering is an ongoing process as we let go of careers and hobbies and acquire new ones. One day I cannot give something away and then soon after I can. Our tastes change, our incomes change, our homes change, our values change..."Everything is in flux" Hericlitus
I so get this... As an artistic person, it is unfortunate that when and if I throw something out I then need it... So yes. Pack rats unite! LOL, loved this Mia! My mom will not love sorting through everything if I go before her...
@@infjandcoping4614 I love this idea! Especially the no second looks part. Really helpful; thanks for sharing!
I haven’t watched the video yet, but the reasoning behind Swedish death cleaning is the one concept or trend that has given me the most motivation, way more than the Kon Mari method or any other TH-cam tips video.
I’ve seen firsthand the stress that comes from trying to clean out a deceased’s cluttered house while also trying to grieve, and by the end of it you’re sick of it all and overwhelmed and decision-fatigued. I also love how death cleaning encourages you to share the memories with your family and friends as you pass the items along to them. It saves people from stressing like “was this an important family heirloom grandma valued that should stay in the family or did she get this from the thrift store last year??” I did my college speech final on arguing for Swedish death cleaning-I could rave about it for paragraphs more😆 but I’m other words, I approve. It makes more sense for older people to do, but it helps anyone keep perspective on what’s important in life. It’s goal isn’t minimalism, but intentionality
I have so many family members that hoard stuff they never use or items they just throw in storage and never pull back out. Because of that, I rarely keep anything except pictures, videos and important documents, everything else, I give away to family or donate if I no longer need it or upgrade something. You did amazing declutterting by the way. Really enjoyed your video!
I'm going through this right now and I keep running up against the 'what if' and 'just in case' stuff. Applying the thought of 'would I want people I love to deal with this when I'm gone' definitely helps! Thank you for this video, definitely gave me some inspiration!
I’ve also been seeing a lot talking about your “fantasy self”. Which hurts lol but a very real fact that we just can’t do it all!
@@sarahe397Ugh I've been trying to declutter since the beginning of the month and this "fantasy me" is such a hard one I was NOT ready for. Stuff I got for the life I want to live but it just doesn't work right now and then I feel even more sadness and regret for buying it and then I just feel like a loser...
My husband and I are getting on in years with lots of health issues. We have to clean out our stuff and have been procrastinating for years. This video really helped at the right time. It will be definitely hard for me, I have stuff from 40 yrs ago, and I’m now disabled in a wheelchair and haven’t been in certain areas of the house for years. You gave me good ideas. I hope it works!
This video is super timely for me. I’ve been systematically replacing the cheap MDF furniture pieces I have ( sadly I had a lot!) with thrifted real wood pieces (usually at a lower cost haha) and then cleaning out the clutter. This is a thought I hadn’t had, but it does seem like it will help going forward. Thanks Mia!! ❤