25 Things You Don't Need in Your Home - Let's Declutter LIVE! Join me at 2:00pm ET LIVE as we discuss 25 things you can declutter from your home TODAY!
Thank you so much. I live in Kyiv, Ukraine. After russian invasion in February 2022 I felt depressed and didn't want do anything. I made my apartment a real mess and didn't have the will or stangh to change it. As time passed by I got myself together and decided that I don't want my home to look like this. But I didn't know where to start. And, luckily, I found your channel. I found out what type of clutterbug I am and what my type of organization is. Your videos give me inspiration, ideas and push me to action. I've already cleaned and declutered my entry room, bathroom, and a few cabinets in the kitchen. After I've watched this video I'm going to clean and declutter my bedroom.
Slava Ukraine! I watch Ukraine Matters, Anna from Ukraine, Officer Starsky, Artur Ruhi, Jake Broe, Ryan McBeth, TVP World, daily (but not every one daily). I also donate to United 24, a Ukraine animal rescue (monthly), and war causes. My grandparents were Czeck and Slovak, relatives grew up behind the Iron Curtain, you don’t have to tell me to never trust ruskies. Thank you for defending liberty. So many in the US are uninformed. They don’t get that you are the first line of defense, and that the weapons that we are sending are due to become decommissioned soon anyway at great expense. And that you are using them wisely and proactively to defend your sovereign country. In a way, we are decluttering the arsenal built in the 80s to defend against ruZZ.
@@SoundofSilence492 you didn't have to go all nationalist in your "support" comment, plus, finding such a "silver lining" and reframing war as decluttering of weapons is awful too.
@@aleksandra... Well I was not speaking to you. Too many ruskie supporters in the US, need to counteract their traitorous representatives and supporters. Slava Ukraine!
I am going to replay this podcast, stop at each number, go & do said item, then return for the next…who’s with me? Cass, you are an incredible amazing inspiration & I love your honesty, tenderness & humor. I wish we were next door neighbors, what fun we would have ⭐️🌟💫
I’m a kitten foster for my local shelter and ❤❤❤ yes! Animal shelters would love your old blankets, linens, even stained ripped towels. I’ve done laundry at the shelter too and they go through an extraordinary amount of linens daily to line crates, carrier, and beds. Clean out those linen closets for the puppies and kittens! ❤️❤️❤️
And yes, Cas, you will need 47 pairs of reading glasses. Go to the dollar tree and stock up. Purse, car, bedside, kitchen, office, reading chair, etc. I really do have 10-15 pairs and I’m still always looking for one because I wander off with them and then my reading chair glasses are sitting on my night stand next to my kitchen glasses and my bedside glasses, and chaos ensues. 😂😂😂🤓🥸🧐
Important to remember that we’re not just making SPACE to fill back up, unless it’s to clear messy surfaces, of course. We’re making space to BREATHE, to feel less stressed, to have fewer “silent to dos.” ❤
Absolutely! I’ve emptied out furniture recently and changing the rooms up and the first thing I do is dance and do Wonder Woman twirls in the centre of each room.
My problem is I don’t have the energy or stamina. I know I can do it a little at time and I have. I need to do more. I have Rheumatoid Disease and the weather is changing. The cold drains me. I will get use to the weather soon.
I watched this video last October (2023) and it changed my life! I copied the list and started decluttering that evening and never looked back. I glommed on to your videos and found those of the Minimal Mom too and have been known to binge watch them for half a day for motivation and encouragement. My husband and I, the few times we moved, kept moving into bigger and bigger spaces and the moves always happened so fast we didn't really have time to go through and get rid of things before the move (Egad!) He died at Christmas 2021. So in October I realized it was time to make this MY house instead of OUR house. Decluttering the whole house has made it easier to let go of his things without feeling like I'm "throwing him away". My father died 12 days later and so I have a lot of stuff from my parents that I brought to my house that need to be dealt with too! (mostly paperwork, photos and things I wasn't ready to let go of when we emptied out the family home) Your decluttering and organization wisdom and examples have been absolutely inspirational for me! I also really appreciate your willingness to be vulnerable and share your own experiences and weaknesses with this effort. It keeps reminding me that this is something I can succeed at too. Thank you SO MUCH! - Carol
1. Empty Boxes 2. Expired Food 3. Clothing that is too small 4. Extra Bedding 5. Old Planners 6. Nasty Towels 7. Lost Socks 8. Cleaners you are not using 9. Expired Medication 10. Boots and Coats 11. Novelty Mugs 12. Food Storage (containers) 13. Excess Serving Platters 14. Fondue Set 15. Appliances you never use 16. Vases 17. Old Bills (already payed) 18. Burnt out candles 19. Bathing Suits 20. Puzzles and Board Games 21. Baby Items 22. Halloween Costumes 23. Christmas Decorations 24. Old prescription glasses
Has anybody ever r.e.a.l.l.y fondue'd more than once, or maybe twice?!?!? I witnessed my Mom de-dust her avocado green fondue set from the early 1970's for decades. It was in the Sears Christmas Wish Book catalog. It was a Christmas gift. It was avocado green. It was bugly. (but_ + ugly = bugly) I know we had fondue once, in 1972 I think. Nobody liked it. 😂 I will NEVER allow a fondue set to cross the threshold of our home, period!!!!!
For lost socks I took them to my classroom as whiteboard erasers. The kids LOVED being able to wear them on their hand and erase with them. When I first introduced them they had a good laugh and were a total hit!
Hoarding is a disease, in the same way that barebones minimalism is a disease. Neither benefit anyone. Fortunately you seem to have found a sane and happy medium path. Thank you for sharing, Subscribed.
I’ve recently retired from teaching and finally have the time and energy to declutter. I started with the school supplies by inviting my colleagues over to “shop” and take whatever they wanted. I have done everything you said…with usable mugs, I have potted small plants in them and used them as gifts. I also take it slow…I found an organization that will pick up every two weeks, so I pack up 3 or 4 boxes at a time and schedule a pick up. I have a long way to go but I am making progress! Thanks for the reinforcement that I am focusing on the right things.
I think a lot of us are were raised by grandparents who lived through the Great Depression. We were taught to hold on to things, just in case. I've gotten a lot better than I used to be. I've decluttered and downsized considerably over the past few years, going from a 3-level home to a single-wide manufactured home.
Too true, or we're the product of those raised by those Grandparents. Anyone feel like times are starting to become echoes of those earlier ones, & we may need that Frugality once again 🤔
Absolutely agreed! It is by far the hardest conditioning to overcome-the need not to be wasteful and to stop automatically looking at something and thinking of all the other POSSIBLE uses for it and just let it go.
I love my bread maker, my juicer, my food processor, my big crock pot, waffle maker, popcorn maker, my Roaster, my Blender, my Wok...so many things. I love to cook. I cook for many people, at least once a month. Love my kitchen appliances. I stay de-cluttered everywhere else in the house...I need my kitchen tools. I'm cooking this week for other people's early Thanksgiving Dinners. Love my tools.
That's great! It's only clutter for those of us who don't use them 😅 We all have different priorities, for me it's office and craft supplies, but I use them so I keep them.
You’re the type of cook I want to be; the reason I need those tools. If your kitchen is the only place you’re cluttered, you’re lucky! I’ve gotten rid of a lot of appliances and set a time limit of use for the ones I kept. If they don’t get used, they get tossed in a few months
churches are a great place to donate vases. each monday, ladies would gather and divide the giant sunday flower arrangements and make small arrangements for nursing home residents and shut ins.
I go through my novelty mugs every three - four months. I cut my philodendron plant and put the cutting in these cups filled with potting soil and drop them off at independent living centers etc. as a cheer up for residents.
I agree with the majority of your suggestion, but in my case I have to keep the old planners. My now deceased mother kept planners for years. My father has dementia. I have looked at my mother’s planners many times to determine when my father was diagnosed, medications taken, cancer diagnosis, treatment. With my father no longer being verbal my mother’s detailed planners have been extremely valuable for providing a medical history to current physicians.
Yeah, the planner diary thing is not agreeable agreeable to a lot of us.However we could go through and rip out pages that are just like lists of stuff to do or grocery lists or stuff like that and then them out but that would take a lot of time
Hahaha, I'm swiss and the Fondue set is almost a household staple here😂 The melted cheese fondue is a typical meal here for winter evenings ;) and we also use the set for a hot pot kinda dish, with hot bouillon and we put meat on the forks, it's the traditional christmas meal in my family 😅
Hello from sunny Arizona! That sounds like a fun Christmas tradition…..my kids are very attached to all of our Christmas traditions and they recall many happy times as we run through them. That’s what life should be made of…fun family times that mean so much because we are all together. 😎
Just brought like 10 blankets to the humane society. It felt so good to think of those poor animals enjoying a soft fluffy like new blankets I’ve been hoarding for years! Lol !
Donating to anyone who needs something feels wonderful.The restaurant in front of my house throws away towels by the dozen.I put them in my washer on HOT and when they are dry,I take them to my mechanic for his workers to use for whatever.If you can,help out others.
It was a turning point for me in my decluttering when I donated my fondue pot new in box, ten years after receiving it as a wedding gift. Reality check: I want to be the kind of person who has fondue parties but I don't actually want to do the work and clean it after. Instead, I told myself I'm allowed to treat myself to that overpriced fondue restaurant once in a while.
I work with dogs- love your recommendation for donating towels and blankets. You can directly make an animal feel safe and comfortable. The impact of those donations can be tremendous! Thank you ❤
I always have a good time decluttering in the wee hours (2 to 5 or 6 a.m.) with your TH-cam posts playing in the background. So “declutter baby items” just jumped out at me. I am 71 years old and found one of MY baby shoes, labeled “Laurie” in my mother’s dresser when I cleaned out her house upon her death. So I still have it now. Hee, hee! It sits out on dresser of guest room and I get to tell the story whenever anyone notices it.
Fondue sets are SO necessary when the electricity goes out in the winter and you can't get out. Have heated up soups, water for tea, milk for hot chocolate, etc using it when the electricity is out. Grew up in the country and learned this from my Mom. Live in the country now and have used it multiple times!!!
One of the better things about living in the north-east is that natural gas stoves are much more common, here. If the power goes out, we can still cook, including baking in our oven.
I save ends of candles in case Shit Hits the Fan SHTF because they can make fire starters with dryer lint or cardboard curled into tuna cans. Dump in all in the same labelled bin or box. Bin better in case of rats and mice.
I just used my fondue pot when the power was out! Worked like a charm! Don’t throw away blankets either because if the power goes out in winter, you’ll need them!
If you have a burnt out candle in a beautiful jar that you want to keep, stick it in the freezer for a few and the last of the wax will pop out. I have used them for pen and makeup brush cups.
Yes! They ARE useful and pretty. Anytime you can “repurpose” something , do it, but ONLY if you really will! Donate them. I’ve been seeing the most beautiful things made with repurposed things, so donate them, people will grab them up. Not me, lol
💕💕💕our toaster is over 53 years plus old, it was so out of style Silver Color in the 70’s, still working, it was Eddie parents when they first married, they both deceased, it is in style today, we are both 72, it has the longest cord😂😂😂love listening to you
My story - I've moved from a 2500 sq ft home to a 850 sq ft apt. All the thrift stores in my area hit a bonanza. Now the RULE for apartment living is.... if 1 NEW thing comes in, 1 OLD thing goes out and I've been doing good about this aspect of keeping clutter at bay. Here's my dilemma- I just can't seem to part with cards and letters from family and friends. I always say to myself, when I die, my kids will go thru things and think, "oh look, mom did this or that," maybe I think they may get to know me a little better", I don't know. I think I need to see a therapist! 😅 I just love your video, I laughed out loud at some of things you were saying...you were reading my mind!!!
Some of the most treasured things I own are notecards with messages written in the 1940’s (by my relatives). During my university years, these were seen as a form of what academics call “oral history”. And? Yes, reading these did bring me closer to my (now-deceased) relatives. You have no need to apologize for being sentimental!
I’m 77 and do not want to leave my kids with taking care of my accumulations! What I’ve done is create an extensive “prop closet”! These are seasonal, well beyond Christmas, fall (including Halloween), spring (including Easter), and summer, which includes the porch and the entry! Because I live where I have minimal friends (many of which cannot make it up the stairs to the living level!), entertaining is not common. My “Stuff” means way too much to me and has got me thinking about what should be passed on to my kids, and family photos for many cousins. Things that belonged to my maternal Nan who was born in the late 1800’s, that are more than precious! I’m always dropping things off at Goodwill and Salvation Army. I have to say that my house is neat and very put together … until you see the attic and pantry! I do struggle with this issue almost daily, yet feel so relieved after dropping things off! My worry is the speed at which I’m accomplishing the needed action. I plan on living past 90, and should see great purging between now and then! Just wanted to share the point of view we “mature” people have to deal with! God bless!
When we were “staging” our home to sell, I had to declutter all bookshelves and 'flat surfaces'. I became so used to the empty spaces ♥️ that I’m now obsessed with NOT filling them back up! Thoughts? Hint: I sold stuff, donated stuff, threw stuff - It felt SO great that it's now a lifestyle, keeping constant watch over what comes into our house! 👀
Donated your vases to the hospitals. They need them for all the guests that just bring in flowers and then the hospital will have a vase for the patient to use. ❤
Some landfills will take unused or partially used cleaners and set up a "shop" for people to come pick the ones they want for free, or very cheap. This is especially nice for people struggling financially.
I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. I put your videos on while I'm cleaning and your soothing voice and no nonsense attitude make me feel like I have a friend right here with me. I work for a well known tool manufacturer. My job is very physical with a lot of heavy lifting. I also have fibromyalgia and arthritis so I'm in lots of pain all the time. I tend to put the housework off until the weekend, then I'm so overwhelmed I don't know where to start and I put it off. I recently discovered the power of an hour and it changed my life! thank you so much!
After my husband passed, i lost our doublewide mobile home. Anyway. I moved in with my mom, who had moved in with my grandmother. So now there are 3 generations of women, with 3 families of StUfF. I was so depressed after my husband passed that i n as almost paralyzed. Then my mom passed. Wow talk about depression. Then my brother and a month later my sister and another sister. Whew!!! Well, I was watching Christine, FrugalFitMom and she mentioned you challenging her to 25 items decluttering. Well, i got the bug too! Thanks to you and Christine i am on the clutterbug decluttering bus!!! Thanks to you and Christine.
😂 lol!, I’ve been working on mine for a week now. Seriously! What is some of this stuff in here?! My hubby has help to contribute some strange things that I have no idea what they are. We’ve been in this house for 8 years now and this drawer has a triple divider. There are things that I found in the very back that made me go “hmmm!”. When I asked him what’s this or that , he said “ oh that’s a piece that went to such and such which we no longer have but you never know when you might need it “. Really!? I put all his little strange pieces and parts in a container and put them on his workbench in the garage. Problem solved! Still working on the rest though. Hope to finish today. It’s the last drawer and the last of all the cabinets in our large laundry room. Next I move on to finish my kitchen. Like you said one inch at a time. I never in my life thought it would take me this long to reorganize anything in my home. My closet is a nightmare! Saving that for last! I’m not a saver and never have been but my husband is and in this house we share a huge closet. We had separate walk ins in our old house. Now his nightmare is in-cringing on my space. I have to ask him to be able to move any of his stuff. Drives me crazy! 🤪 he has so many pairs of blue jeans that he can’t wear it’s ridiculous! Someone could really use them! When I ask him about them he tells me he’s going to lose weight. Been saying that for 4 years….. as he tells me to go buy him 4 more pairs of jeans that he can wear 🙄 time to let go of the old jeans and make space for the 4 pairs he can wear! I guess I should stop with the venting now! That could go on and on about or closet and his gradual take over of “stuff “ we don’t need! 🤬
We have a cork board on the wall behind the dryer just for pinning up socks that lost their mate. Has worked great for 30 plus years. Plus if I need a cloth for dusting ..... guess where and what I use!
Once all my kids moved out, I took all our board games and card games to our family Christmas at my parents’ house. The three generations played through each game and decided if it was still a keeper or if it should be donated. We kept about 40% of them to play next time we had a family gathering. The rest went to Goodwill. Most of them had been purchased there originally 😊
74 years of cluttered living is hard to overcome! I have a weaving studio and a quilting studio. I am trying to improve both but I have to do it in 15 to 30 minute blocks! You are an encouragement every time I catch your channel. Keep helping us! Thank you!
I sympathize .I had to move ftom a 3 bedroom ranch style home with a basement, two car garage and a shed. My passion is rubber stamping and I hav a hug stash. I also do some crazy quilting and jewelry making. Like you I do a little at a time
Oh my I’m also a crafter and use old towels for small quilted items. I’ve made quilts from T-Shirts and old jeans. Sewing is a passion so it’s hard to not keep fabric for future projects. Ugh
Can you pick either quilting or weaving & let the other one go. Sophie's choice, I know! You probably don't think so but you like one better than the other. Give it to the person who will inherit it when you're gone. This is how I speak to myself to help me declutter... maybe helpful for you too!
My 90 year old mother’s linen closet used to stress me out. Last month I found out that it was stressing her too. She’s getting ready to move to a smaller place, so I took this as a sign to help her de clutter. I pulled everything out of her closet, dumped it on the couch and we went through it all. She had old twin bedsheets. She doesn’t have any twin beds in the house! I asked her permission for everything and we ended up with a massive garbage bag full of old linens, curtains and table cloths for donations. She is so happy with her new closet. Winter blankets on the top shelf, 2 spare bedsheets (1 for winter) on the next shelf, table cloths (zip-locked in a and sorted by size) on another shelf, and spare toilet paper and paper towels on the bottom. She wasn’t ready to depart with everything, but boy did we make a big dent😅 I don’t even want to talk about her bathroom cupboards and closet… let’s just say, there were enough packages of bandaids to supply a hospital. Working on her cleaning closet next.
Thank you for asking your mother’s permission before getting rid of her things. I cared for my mother in an independent senior living facility. It was painful to watch my neighbors’ offspring order their elderly parents around (as if the latter were little children). And? To cavalierly toss possessions without consulting dad or mom.
Oh goodness, the planners. I stand at Walmart staring at them, salivating. I love them. My track record tells me that I will fill it out for the first month and then I will never remember to look at it again. But I still want them. 😂
I've been married for 57 years, 7 kids and lots of pictures, every birthday, graduation , wedding, grandkids are now at 22 and two greats grandsons. I have been decluttering almost daily for 1 .5 years and still keeping at it daily, I have a 4-drawer file and a two drawer file. They are getting free of clutter daily. I'm taking two boxes of outdated entrepreneurial trainings.
Cass, I break down and keep some smaller boxes, for Poshmark orders. In the last few months I finally tossed the twin size sheets, from my son’s twin beds. They are in their 40s and have their own homes and we don’t even have the beds anymore.
Oh! My! GOSH!!! You were so right! I paused your video and went straight to my fridge. 18 items filled my trashcan! Including 4 different containers of Mayo!! Ugh.... THANK YOU!!!
I’m going to go now to the garage to put boxes in my car that I decluttered from kitchen cabinets, while listening to this video! I AM going to get it all done, I promise you, and myself!
Thank you for mentioning that sheets, blankets and towels can be donated to the animal shelters. I buy myself new towel sets every two years and the old ones go to the Animal Rescue Legue. They make great dog and cat beds, so there is always a need.
Many churches will take the old sheet and blankets for quilting . The quilts are used for people who do not have blankets, some quilts are auctioned off to make money so children can go to camp free and may other things
Yes we have sheets and we need it for friends and family sleeping over. And yes there can be up to 10 guests at the same time. And when travelling I bring the sheets for the whole family of five - and never bring my nice sheets to a rented cabin. Old planners are memories!
A couple of candle jar hacks: 1) clean the jar out and use the jars for things like hair ties bobby pins Q-tips cotton balls and other items that you put in your medicine cabinet. 2) reuse the jars to put scented wax in.
My mother-in-law was put into a nursing home recently for dementia. She can't remember all the things she kept in cupboards. The 20 ( I kid you not) 20 dinner sets. The cupboards and cupboards of old towels that we donated to animal shelters are towels she doesn't remember she kept. The time and effort it took her to clean all the clutter around her house for years is what I will remember of her. Always cleaning and rearranging. It took three huge trucks to take away the rubbish. It was a sad way for her son ( my husband ) to do. I will never do that to my kids. I keep on top of it.
My inlaws kept everything from their two babies, and maybe some were from my husband's grandmother, too. The problem was, the dirt had gotten greasy and crusted on them, and they were not up to modern safety standards. Yes, we didn't want the playpen, which was probably from 1960. It's better to share and let them be used while they are still new enough to be useful.
I love the one cupboard idea for entertaining! I have several locations for cake takers and platters. I'm decluttering now that I have a RULE! One cupboard for entertaining. YAY!
I'm laughing I found a huge wicker basket (I mean huge) full of old bills. I have been moving them out. It was so full I can't even lift it all at one time. Yes Coffee, well Tea cups, I love a huge cup of tea. I have done this before time to do it again. I thrifted a very expensive pair of sandals that now hurt one foot, I just put it in my Sal. Army bin to donate (I try to go to the Sal. Army every 3 month, now it's better). I have no bathing suits that don't fit. so proud! I turn all empty candles into planters for same plants., so I don't have to buy any. I have clothes that are too big, working on donating and selling them. Thank you for this, I needed this today.
When I got married in 1982 my moms friend gave me a vase at my shower. I was all excited and proclaimed loudly, “ Oh I can put all the flowers in it Patrick will give me!”. The giver said, “ Oh honey, I’m so sorry, let me return it for a smaller one!” Lol true story. I still have the vase of course. I was always the one to fill it. 😂😂😂
Things to add to your next declutter list: shopping bags, greeting cards you've received, dry cleaner bags and hangers, empty jars, appliances that don't work, hair and skin products that you didn't work for you (or are older than your kids!), empty or old paint cans, storage containers that didn't work, old purses, and every paper that your kids scribbled on! I could go on!
Used waffle maker a few time years ago lol cost is why money I wish I could sell them oh I followed what you said in tough love video I got all stuff and vets did not come I was up early to be ready by 8am they did not show
Oh my goodness....soooo funny...I was scrolling through TH-cam trying to find something to watch to motivate me re decluttering/cleaning, found this, started watching thinking oh yeah yeah im sure these won't apply to me....empty boxes....ahh whoops....let me pull up a chair 😂😂😂😂
I find the shape of vacuum cleaner boxes to be very useful. You can store wrapping paper, mops, brooms, curtain rods, etc in them. But I wouldn’t keep them if I didn’t use them.
Many years ago my car just stopped working. The mechanic discovered it was due to bad gas. Having that gas receipt saved me over $1000 becuase the gas station paid for my repairs. Because of that I will always keep my gas receipts until the next time I get gas.
OMG!!! Finally, I found you again! I came across your videos about 8-10 yrs ago, before I really started watching YT and you taught me so much about cleaning. Believe it or not, your always in my head when I start cleaning! Your kind of like my cheerleader, pushing me on. I always think to myself, 'what would Cas do with this?' You've kept me on track, on these yrs later and I had to let you know and say: Thank you!!! You have no idea how happy I am right now!!! ❤😊!
My daddy had a ton of mugs that his neighbor brought him from all over the world. When he passed I wanted to keep them all. They’re beautiful and from places like Egypt, Paris, Germany. I mean everywhere. I picked the most beautiful ones and use them all through my house like for qtips, pencils and I made a candle with one. I gave some to friends. I do have a few in my home for decorations. The other hundred lol mugs are in storage.
My mother saved everything her children gave her forever. When she passed I tried to give them back to my sibling or gifts from her siblings to them. My sister who gave my mother cookie jars told me to just take good photos of them. She has the photos that give her those moments of Nostalgia but do not take up the space. She has since digitized them and Wallaaaaa even less space. Hint hint for those with small artists😊
When I looked into a packed cupboard (I’ve lived in my house for 30+years) I think to myself, if I moved would I want to take this to a new house. Sometimes I am ruthless, and really just get rid of stuff. Stuff drives me nuts, and my husband is a bigger clutter bug than I am.
I bought donated flower vases from the thrift stores for decoration for my son’s engagement party, those are something people really will find a use for. I donated them back after the party.
Ahahha I’m listening to this AS I declutter years of paperwork, books, cards, pictures etc! I have about the same issue with planners lol. I told myself this year I would overcome this self sabotage of a cluttered home! It really affects your mental state 😀
When my mom passed I found a family who had to leave their decorations behind when they moved.their toddler daughter squealed with happiness and it made me so happy!
I have dragged my moms crap across the country every since she died 20 yrs ago. She made such a big deal about leaving it to me because I wouldn’t throw her special stuff away. All in boxes cluttering my garage. BUT I have been cleaning the boxes out for the last four years and have got rid of a ton.
If you have old paper- bills, statements, grades, children's drawings, receipts, etc.- before you throw them away, shred them, or recycle them, ask your friends/ family if they would like them for making junk journals. Post on social media any time you have paper goods, magazines, books, diaries, journals, papers. You can either give them away, or sell them to people who make junk, and art journals. We love this stuff! If you have a yard sale, include these things too! Make sure you mention them in any adds you put out.
I saved my favorite baby clothes from my kids and then passed them along to them when they had kids. They loved having something that they had worn. I'm happy to keep those sorts of things and pass them along. My mom made the costumes that I used for my kids and thus stored them....I don't have old costumes, but rather we have costumes that we can still use. My Christmas popcorn tins are now garbage cans in bathrooms and spare bedrooms. They work great.
Nothing wrong in keeping them if you have a good space for them. These are like journals to you. Perhaps though could ask yourself, are you afraid one day you'll forget those memories, maybe afraid no one else remember you were once here...? I used to to think these things. I kept diaries when I was younger. Then realized I didn't want someone else to read them. I no longer have them and it hasn't made my life the worse off for letting them go. Everyone is different though. But I would consider the question 'why' you have them and cling to them.
@@JaneH3675lol I just wrote a book on exactly this and then an ad showed up and my whole comment got erased. In short, I have been learning to let go. I don't remember things and that is ok. I have found there are a lot of things in life I'd rather forget anyway. I keep a few things that make me remember only the best.
@@JaneH3675 that's interesting. I thought people kept old journals to reminisce on their past. I've never been a journaler tho. I'm the type that buys planners and journals and never uses them 😅
I have kept receipts in a specific house binder for large house improvement projects such as new windows, a remodel, new floors, etc. I am going to be selling my house after many years of living there and the property has increased 3x in value. These receipts will be critical to avoid paying too much in capitol gains taxes in the US and I’m finding that many vendors don’t keep these invoices on file for long. But other than that… thanks for all the decluttering reminders!
I get fresh flowers every week and I still sized down my vases. You can donate kids clothes & toys to Goodwill or to a women's shelter. You can also donate used cell phones to women's domestic violence recovery organizations.
I am a Spanish speaker, this is my first time seeing you and I totally understood what you said. I love the way you explain everything. I am convinced that I have to follow you since today!!!! Thank you so much!❤
FYI-You also should check your local community and see when they have a hazard waste collection for things like paint, medicines and cleaning products. These can't just go in the trash.
I cannot tell you how many times I related to you in this video! So many of your views/reactions are so REAL! Loving all of your advice but really loving the way you deliver it! 😂
I need to stop right here for a moment. I just found your channel 🤗👐, I'm only 21 minutes in & Idk know whether to cry or shout with joy! Have you been spying on me? Do we know each other? Because you sure are beating me over the head with this list!!! WOW...thank you (I think...lol). I'm a couple few years out from a lifetime marriage, moved from a large 4 bedroom home to a TINY 1 bedroom apartment & still trying to keep waaaaay too much "stuff"! I'm gonna finish watching now & hope you stop stepping on my toes at some point 😂 but I do believe you may be my new best friend! Sorry for writing a novel before I even finish the video 😔. Quick edit: I watched every single second of this & SO glad I did. PERFECT timing too...GREAT way to start a new year with all these wonderful ideas & a little motivation. LOVE this & thank you 💖.
First of all…you are so funny! I really enjoyed this video,so much so that I went into my kitchen while I was listening to you and organized my cabinets!!!! I think I have 24out of 25 of the ‘things you don’t need’ 😮 I recently took control of my financial situation and actually made some small investments. It made me realize how much I DO have. It helps. Thank you for what you do and how well you do it!
I have a Rubbermaid tote (bin) of empty boxes. It gets emptied during Christmas for presents. Once the Bin of Boxes is full I don’t keep any more that year 😂
I returned from a long holiday in Scotland to find my stopcock had failed and my ground floor was flooded. Before the repair process, I decluttered - a lot! Now all has been fixed, and I've moved back in, I'm still decluttering. It's wonderful! I can find everything I need. Everything has a home. I have empty cupboards and draws. The attic is only used for seasonal items! Thank you for all the advice and encouragement. 🇬🇧
This is great advice and you are spot on. I never considered that I will never use my footlocker of towels. I never thought about giving the towels and blankets to homeless people or pet shelters.
You are right about boxes, our on exception is that we move a lot because we are military. We keep boxes broken down in a corner in the basement for when we move again.
Best tip I ever heard for extra blankets: take the cheap pillows no one ever uses out of the pillow shams and put spare blankets in there instead. Genius!
I moved from a 3 bedroom house with a shed into a studio apartment. I couldn't get into the living room area and the boxes were stacked to the ceiling! I now have 2 rocker recliners and floor space for the kitty to play. I'm still working on it one year later. (I wanted to see what I really needed over a year.) I am watching vids like yours to kick start me again!!! Thank you for what you're doing to help us.
I was raised by a Swiss mom and I grew up with Fondue on special occasions. Now I am an adult and found out WHY only on special occasions 😂 my fondue set has been in the attic for 10+ years 😂 it’s gotta go! You crack me up!!! I can commit to getting rid of my mast towels, extra bedding and my fondue maker! Thank you 🙏
We live in Texas and I take all my unwanted things several times a week to the local laundry mat, it could be home decor, clothes..to cleaning items …..I have been there to drop off and a gal walked up to me in one of my shirts! She ask if she could hug me as many of the things I have left have blessed her family! I love you Cass please know it hurts our hearts when you say “I am dumb” we wouldn’t want to hear that from our daughters, you my friend are amazing!!
We kept towels that weren’t fit for our use and they became “puppy towels”. We taught our doggie to give us each paw before coming in the house and we wiped them off. Even after our lovely pup passed, our family still calls those towels “puppy towels” much to the cat’s chagrin. 😂
Our towels move from towels to rags to garbage... They just get smaller & smaller till they eventually disappear. I actually have 3 different buckets: small, medium & large. Whenever a towel gets a hole it goes to the appropriate rag bin. Small is washrag size, medium is hand towel size, & large is for bath/beach towels. We use these towels instead of bounty to clean up messes around the house, unless it's super greasy & gross. I feel it saves the environment & money.
@@leahrowe847 Even then, you can use used napkins/paper towels to get grease from pans, or if they’re clean enough, to clean small kitchen floor spills or baseboards and around the toilet. I keep a small bag of these also. Works great for furballs, too…🤢 bag never serms to get too big. And I’ve saved literally hundreds of dollars.
I have no problem using these pup towels for kitty carrier inserts for a soft bedding spot for the cat. They also make good use for underneath the litter box for collecting anything that is sprayed around the house. Saves using newspaper for that.
Excellent! You have a very pleasant voice and a great hosting manner. Oh, and good advice too. You can use the vases to hold the receipts. But seriously folks, I use a clear glass one on my kitchen counter to hold my spatulas and pasta fork, the utensils I use the most. You could use one to hold cleaning brushes under the sink. An umbrella or two in a closet or near the front door. Fill it with candy. Or Christmas ornaments to display. Or ornaments AND candy! One technique I thought of is to pick your Top 10 in each category - Top 10 T-shirts, 10 tank tops, 10 sweaters, etc. If you have less room pick the Top 8 or Top 5. Then you're keeping the best. Clothes that need repair should be in a space away from your best ready to go clothes. That way every choice is a great one as you look at the main part of your closet or drawers, and it's psychologically rewarding. I also like to sort by taking everything out of or off of a space. Then it's neutral and it can "breathe" for a moment, and you can rethink the space. Then put back the most important items. When it looks the way you want, stop. Then you have to find where to keep the rest, or purge it. This is great for desk and table tops. You weren't weird, you were right to talk to the house. Everything has a vibration, and I believe it's own level of consciousness. I think it understood your intent. I named my cars. The first one was older and had issues so I got in the habit of having intent/ prayer for a safe trip before driving, then when I was done, "Thanks Car! Have a good rest - don't let anyone bother you." No one bothered my cars and I feel they liked hearing it. - Lorraine Lamour
Tbh you've been the best motivator for me to get my spaces cleaned. It used to be difficult when I was younger but now that I found this channel, I really find joy in it. And it's so much easier than we think to pick up after ourselves, and it makes us feel so good and relaxed! I love it! Thank you for helpingnme through my cleaning journey!
Thank you so much. I live in Kyiv, Ukraine. After russian invasion in February 2022 I felt depressed and didn't want do anything. I made my apartment a real mess and didn't have the will or stangh to change it. As time passed by I got myself together and decided that I don't want my home to look like this. But I didn't know where to start. And, luckily, I found your channel. I found out what type of clutterbug I am and what my type of organization is. Your videos give me inspiration, ideas and push me to action. I've already cleaned and declutered my entry room, bathroom, and a few cabinets in the kitchen. After I've watched this video I'm going to clean and declutter my bedroom.
Bless you and be safe❤
@@kimkoon4690 Thank you ❤️
Slava Ukraine! I watch Ukraine Matters, Anna from Ukraine, Officer Starsky, Artur Ruhi, Jake Broe, Ryan McBeth, TVP World, daily (but not every one daily). I also donate to United 24, a Ukraine animal rescue (monthly), and war causes. My grandparents were Czeck and Slovak, relatives grew up behind the Iron Curtain, you don’t have to tell me to never trust ruskies. Thank you for defending liberty. So many in the US are uninformed. They don’t get that you are the first line of defense, and that the weapons that we are sending are due to become decommissioned soon anyway at great expense. And that you are using them wisely and proactively to defend your sovereign country. In a way, we are decluttering the arsenal built in the 80s to defend against ruZZ.
@@SoundofSilence492
you didn't have to go all nationalist in your "support" comment, plus, finding such a "silver lining" and reframing war as decluttering of weapons is awful too.
@@aleksandra... Well I was not speaking to you. Too many ruskie supporters in the US, need to counteract their traitorous representatives and supporters. Slava Ukraine!
If you staple all your receipts together, you get a dandy little booklet that shows you why you have no money 🤣
I don't know why I laughed so hard at that😂
😂
Haha😂
😂😂😂
I resemble that remark!
I am going to replay this podcast, stop at each number, go & do said item, then return for the next…who’s with me? Cass, you are an incredible amazing inspiration & I love your honesty, tenderness & humor. I wish we were next door neighbors, what fun we would have ⭐️🌟💫
I’m a kitten foster for my local shelter and ❤❤❤ yes! Animal shelters would love your old blankets, linens, even stained ripped towels. I’ve done laundry at the shelter too and they go through an extraordinary amount of linens daily to line crates, carrier, and beds. Clean out those linen closets for the puppies and kittens! ❤️❤️❤️
And yes, Cas, you will need 47 pairs of reading glasses. Go to the dollar tree and stock up. Purse, car, bedside, kitchen, office, reading chair, etc. I really do have 10-15 pairs and I’m still always looking for one because I wander off with them and then my reading chair glasses are sitting on my night stand next to my kitchen glasses and my bedside glasses, and chaos ensues. 😂😂😂🤓🥸🧐
Important to remember that we’re not just making SPACE to fill back up, unless it’s to clear messy surfaces, of course. We’re making space to BREATHE, to feel less stressed, to have fewer “silent to dos.” ❤
100%
Absolutely! I’ve emptied out furniture recently and changing the rooms up and the first thing I do is dance and do Wonder Woman twirls in the centre of each room.
Agree 100%
THIS 💯💯💯💯
My problem is I don’t have the energy or stamina. I know I can do it a little at time and I have. I need to do more. I have Rheumatoid Disease and the weather is changing. The cold drains me. I will get use to the weather soon.
My mantra when my kids were small-"Don' put it down, put it away! And, only feet and furniture belong on the floor!
That's very similar to the 1-touch rule! I'm trying to instill this in my children
OHIO-only hold it once
I just recently shredded my tax returns from 1987. I wish I was kidding. 🤦🏼♀️
😂
We recently sold our house and shredded tax returns from 2007🤦♀️
I watched this video last October (2023) and it changed my life! I copied the list and started decluttering that evening and never looked back. I glommed on to your videos and found those of the Minimal Mom too and have been known to binge watch them for half a day for motivation and encouragement. My husband and I, the few times we moved, kept moving into bigger and bigger spaces and the moves always happened so fast we didn't really have time to go through and get rid of things before the move (Egad!) He died at Christmas 2021. So in October I realized it was time to make this MY house instead of OUR house. Decluttering the whole house has made it easier to let go of his things without feeling like I'm "throwing him away". My father died 12 days later and so I have a lot of stuff from my parents that I brought to my house that need to be dealt with too! (mostly paperwork, photos and things I wasn't ready to let go of when we emptied out the family home) Your decluttering and organization wisdom and examples have been absolutely inspirational for me! I also really appreciate your willingness to be vulnerable and share your own experiences and weaknesses with this effort. It keeps reminding me that this is something I can succeed at too. Thank you SO MUCH! - Carol
1. Empty Boxes 2. Expired Food 3. Clothing that is too small 4. Extra Bedding 5. Old Planners 6. Nasty Towels 7. Lost Socks 8. Cleaners you are not using 9. Expired Medication 10. Boots and Coats 11. Novelty Mugs 12. Food Storage (containers) 13. Excess Serving Platters 14. Fondue Set 15. Appliances you never use 16. Vases 17. Old Bills (already payed) 18. Burnt out candles 19. Bathing Suits 20. Puzzles and Board Games 21. Baby Items 22. Halloween Costumes 23. Christmas Decorations 24. Old prescription glasses
@linaballestas6670
Thank you 😊
Has anybody ever r.e.a.l.l.y fondue'd more than once, or maybe twice?!?!? I witnessed my Mom de-dust her avocado green fondue set from the early 1970's for decades. It was in the Sears Christmas Wish Book catalog. It was a Christmas gift. It was avocado green. It was bugly. (but_ + ugly = bugly)
I know we had fondue once, in 1972 I think. Nobody liked it. 😂
I will NEVER allow a fondue set to cross the threshold of our home, period!!!!!
Thank you for this. I always want a list of the stuff mentioned in videos like this, otherwise I forget.
Thank you❤❤❤❤
You just saved me 54:00😊😊
For lost socks I took them to my classroom as whiteboard erasers. The kids LOVED being able to wear them on their hand and erase with them. When I first introduced them they had a good laugh and were a total hit!
If the socks have holes I will use them for cleaning. I stick my hands in them and use them for my hub caps bath tub etc.
Me, too!! My students would store their markers in the socks when not in use!
What a GREAT idea!’
Put it on your hand and dust then pitch when dirty
How can you donate lost socks?
Hoarding is a disease, in the same way that barebones minimalism is a disease. Neither benefit anyone. Fortunately you seem to have found a sane and happy medium path.
Thank you for sharing, Subscribed.
I’ve recently retired from teaching and finally have the time and energy to declutter. I started with the school supplies by inviting my colleagues over to “shop” and take whatever they wanted. I have done everything you said…with usable mugs, I have potted small plants in them and used them as gifts. I also take it slow…I found an organization that will pick up every two weeks, so I pack up 3 or 4 boxes at a time and schedule a pick up. I have a long way to go but I am making progress! Thanks for the reinforcement that I am focusing on the right things.
I think a lot of us are were raised by grandparents who lived through the Great Depression. We were taught to hold on to things, just in case. I've gotten a lot better than I used to be. I've decluttered and downsized considerably over the past few years, going from a 3-level home to a single-wide manufactured home.
Mother cluckers mug could be a cute pen/paperclip cup on the shelf behind you. 🤔
I also believe most recent event of Covid and shortages have created a continuation of the just in case, or stock up thinking my grandparents had
Everything I get rid of something, I find that I need it for my differing circumstances. I repent of wasting money.
Too true, or we're the product of those raised by those Grandparents. Anyone feel like times are starting to become echoes of those earlier ones, & we may need that Frugality once again 🤔
Absolutely agreed! It is by far the hardest conditioning to overcome-the need not to be wasteful and to stop automatically looking at something and thinking of all the other POSSIBLE uses for it and just let it go.
I love my bread maker, my juicer, my food processor, my big crock pot, waffle maker, popcorn maker, my Roaster, my Blender, my Wok...so many things.
I love to cook. I cook for many people, at least once a month.
Love my kitchen appliances.
I stay de-cluttered everywhere else in the house...I need my kitchen tools.
I'm cooking this week for other people's early Thanksgiving Dinners. Love my tools.
If cooking is your passion and you actually do it - and in your case you feed others too - why not keep your kitchen stuff!
@@LoveMusic-pd5iz I don’t think she’s asking for advice lol
I use my rice cooker but we know she's not talking to us.
That's great! It's only clutter for those of us who don't use them 😅 We all have different priorities, for me it's office and craft supplies, but I use them so I keep them.
You’re the type of cook I want to be; the reason I need those tools. If your kitchen is the only place you’re cluttered, you’re lucky! I’ve gotten rid of a lot of appliances and set a time limit of use for the ones I kept. If they don’t get used, they get tossed in a few months
churches are a great place to donate vases. each monday, ladies would gather and divide the giant sunday flower arrangements and make small arrangements for nursing home residents and shut ins.
I go through my novelty mugs every three - four months. I cut my philodendron plant and put the cutting in these cups filled with potting soil and drop them off at independent living centers etc. as a cheer up for residents.
Great idea!!
Love this idea. It's a win-win!
Love it ❗
I agree with the majority of your suggestion, but in my case I have to keep the old planners. My now deceased mother kept planners for years. My father has dementia. I have looked at my mother’s planners many times to determine when my father was diagnosed, medications taken, cancer diagnosis, treatment. With my father no longer being verbal my mother’s detailed planners have been extremely valuable for providing a medical history to current physicians.
Also if you'd ever like to do a family history.
Also, handy and useful if you needed to go to court.
It’s historical information
I loosely use planners as a diary
Yeah, the planner diary thing is not agreeable agreeable to a lot of us.However we could go through and rip out pages that are just like lists of stuff to do or grocery lists or stuff like that and then them out but that would take a lot of time
Hahaha, I'm swiss and the Fondue set is almost a household staple here😂 The melted cheese fondue is a typical meal here for winter evenings ;) and we also use the set for a hot pot kinda dish, with hot bouillon and we put meat on the forks, it's the traditional christmas meal in my family 😅
I’m not even a little, but no one will take my melty cheese 😂😂
Hello from sunny Arizona! That sounds like a fun Christmas tradition…..my kids are very attached to all of our Christmas traditions and they recall many happy times as we run through them. That’s what life should be made of…fun family times that mean so much because we are all together. 😎
I’m not Swiss but I love the fondue pot and your Christmas tradition. I also have a tortilla maker and love homemade tortillas.
I had fondue in Chamonix, France many years ago, and it was one of the best meals I ever had.
I just wanna follow up that I shared this video with my mom, and I saw yesterday that she bought some fondue cheese 🤣🤣
I melt the old candles on top of my Franklin stove when burning a fire and dip pinecones in them to use as fire starters. They also make nice gifts.
😅 I did the same, except I never gifted them I ended up using the several I made. 🔥❤️
Tie the lost socks in knots and take to the animal shelter for them to play with. I brought a lot a few years ago for the dogs and they loved them!
Just brought like 10 blankets to the humane society. It felt so good to think of those poor animals enjoying a soft fluffy like new blankets I’ve been hoarding for years! Lol !
You're awesome❤❤❤
It's also a good idea to bring 'rags' to the veterinarian's office,washed in hot water.They use them for many purposes.
Our humane society throws out tons of blankets, sheets and even big bags of petfood when the best by date comes. Incredibly stupid and wasteful!
Donating to anyone who needs something feels wonderful.The restaurant in front of my house throws away towels by the dozen.I put them in my washer on HOT and when they are dry,I take them to my mechanic for his workers to use for whatever.If you can,help out others.
It was a turning point for me in my decluttering when I donated my fondue pot new in box, ten years after receiving it as a wedding gift. Reality check: I want to be the kind of person who has fondue parties but I don't actually want to do the work and clean it after. Instead, I told myself I'm allowed to treat myself to that overpriced fondue restaurant once in a while.
I work with dogs- love your recommendation for donating towels and blankets. You can directly make an animal feel safe and comfortable. The impact of those donations can be tremendous! Thank you ❤
And donate the boxes for the kitties, they all love those boxes!!
I always have a good time decluttering in the wee hours (2 to 5 or 6 a.m.) with your TH-cam posts playing in the background.
So “declutter baby items” just jumped out at me. I am 71 years old and found one of MY baby shoes, labeled “Laurie” in my mother’s dresser when I cleaned out her house upon her death. So I still have it now. Hee, hee! It sits out on dresser of guest room and I get to tell the story whenever anyone notices it.
Fondue sets are SO necessary when the electricity goes out in the winter and you can't get out. Have heated up soups, water for tea, milk for hot chocolate, etc using it when the electricity is out. Grew up in the country and learned this from my Mom. Live in the country now and have used it multiple times!!!
I never would have thought of this!
One of the better things about living in the north-east is that natural gas stoves are much more common, here. If the power goes out, we can still cook, including baking in our oven.
I have used it too. Also a food plate warmer powered by candles. Believe it or not it works!
I save ends of candles in case Shit Hits the Fan SHTF because they can make fire starters with dryer lint or cardboard curled into tuna cans. Dump in all in the same labelled bin or box. Bin better in case of rats and mice.
I just used my fondue pot when the power was out! Worked like a charm! Don’t throw away blankets either because if the power goes out in winter, you’ll need them!
If you have a burnt out candle in a beautiful jar that you want to keep, stick it in the freezer for a few and the last of the wax will pop out. I have used them for pen and makeup brush cups.
Yes! They ARE useful and pretty. Anytime you can “repurpose” something , do it, but ONLY if you really will! Donate them. I’ve been seeing the most beautiful things made with repurposed things, so donate them, people will grab them up. Not me, lol
I up-cycle them by decorating them and gifting them.
💕💕💕our toaster is over 53 years plus old, it was so out of style Silver Color in the 70’s, still working, it was Eddie parents when they first married, they both deceased, it is in style today, we are both 72, it has the longest cord😂😂😂love listening to you
How cool is that?!
My story - I've moved from a 2500 sq ft home to a 850 sq ft apt. All the thrift stores in my area hit a bonanza. Now the RULE for apartment living is.... if 1 NEW thing comes in, 1 OLD thing goes out and I've been doing good about this aspect of keeping clutter at bay. Here's my dilemma- I just can't seem to part with cards and letters from family and friends. I always say to myself, when I die, my kids will go thru things and think, "oh look, mom did this or that," maybe I think they may get to know me a little better", I don't know. I think I need to see a therapist! 😅 I just love your video, I laughed out loud at some of things you were saying...you were reading my mind!!!
I employ the "1 item in, 1 item out" system too and for the most part do very well with this.
Some of the most treasured things I own are notecards with messages written in the 1940’s (by my relatives). During my university years, these were seen as a form of what academics call “oral history”. And? Yes, reading these did bring me closer to my (now-deceased) relatives. You have no need to apologize for being sentimental!
I’m 77 and do not want to leave my kids with taking care of my accumulations! What I’ve done is create an extensive “prop closet”! These are seasonal, well beyond Christmas, fall (including Halloween), spring (including Easter), and summer, which includes the porch and the entry! Because I live where I have minimal friends (many of which cannot make it up the stairs to the living level!), entertaining is not common.
My “Stuff” means way too much to me and has got me thinking about what should be passed on to my kids, and family photos for many cousins. Things that belonged to my maternal Nan who was born in the late 1800’s, that are more than precious!
I’m always dropping things off at Goodwill and Salvation Army.
I have to say that my house is neat and very put together … until you see the attic and pantry! I do struggle with this issue almost daily, yet feel so relieved after dropping things off! My worry is the speed at which I’m accomplishing the needed action. I plan on living past 90, and should see great purging between now and then!
Just wanted to share the point of view we “mature” people have to deal with! God bless!
When we were “staging” our home to sell, I had to declutter all bookshelves and 'flat surfaces'. I became so used to the empty spaces ♥️ that I’m now obsessed with NOT filling them back up! Thoughts?
Hint: I sold stuff, donated stuff, threw stuff - It felt SO great that it's now a lifestyle, keeping constant watch over what comes into our house! 👀
That’s wonderful thanks for sharing
OMG I still have my 1st paycheque from over 50 years ago! I am overwhelmed!
Donated your vases to the hospitals. They need them for all the guests that just bring in flowers and then the hospital will have a vase for the patient to use. ❤
But what department? If I go to the hospital, I wouldn’t know who accepts them.
@@NettePakerlabour and delivery/post partum are probably pretty regular vase users, or the ICU
@@NettePakeroncology
Some landfills will take unused or partially used cleaners and set up a "shop" for people to come pick the ones they want for free, or very cheap. This is especially nice for people struggling financially.
I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. I put your videos on while I'm cleaning and your soothing voice and no nonsense attitude make me feel like I have a friend right here with me. I work for a well known tool manufacturer. My job is very physical with a lot of heavy lifting. I also have fibromyalgia and arthritis so I'm in lots of pain all the time. I tend to put the housework off until the weekend, then I'm so overwhelmed I don't know where to start and I put it off. I recently discovered the power of an hour and it changed my life! thank you so much!
After my husband passed, i lost our doublewide mobile home. Anyway. I moved in with my mom, who had moved in with my grandmother. So now there are 3 generations of women, with 3 families of StUfF. I was so depressed after my husband passed that i n as almost paralyzed. Then my mom passed. Wow talk about depression. Then my brother and a month later my sister and another sister. Whew!!!
Well, I was watching Christine, FrugalFitMom and she mentioned you challenging her to 25 items decluttering. Well, i got the bug too! Thanks to you and Christine i am on the clutterbug decluttering bus!!! Thanks to you and Christine.
I stopped at my junk drawer three times this week and removed two to three items each time to the trash. Decluttering one inch at a time.
😂 lol!, I’ve been working on mine for a week now. Seriously! What is some of this stuff in here?! My hubby has help to contribute some strange things that I have no idea what they are. We’ve been in this house for 8 years now and this drawer has a triple divider. There are things that I found in the very back that made me go “hmmm!”. When I asked him what’s this or that , he said “ oh that’s a piece that went to such and such which we no longer have but you never know when you might need it “. Really!? I put all his little strange pieces and parts in a container and put them on his workbench in the garage. Problem solved! Still working on the rest though. Hope to finish today. It’s the last drawer and the last of all the cabinets in our large laundry room. Next I move on to finish my kitchen. Like you said one inch at a time. I never in my life thought it would take me this long to reorganize anything in my home. My closet is a nightmare! Saving that for last! I’m not a saver and never have been but my husband is and in this house we share a huge closet. We had separate walk ins in our old house. Now his nightmare is in-cringing on my space. I have to ask him to be able to move any of his stuff. Drives me crazy! 🤪 he has so many pairs of blue jeans that he can’t wear it’s ridiculous! Someone could really use them! When I ask him about them he tells me he’s going to lose weight. Been saying that for 4 years….. as he tells me to go buy him 4 more pairs of jeans that he can wear 🙄 time to let go of the old jeans and make space for the 4 pairs he can wear! I guess I should stop with the venting now! That could go on and on about or closet and his gradual take over of “stuff “ we don’t need! 🤬
@@teresarussell8264 I giggled. My son is like your husband. Once I got started though he helped clear out an entire room and ran the vacuum. Yay.
We have a cork board on the wall behind the dryer just for pinning up socks that lost their mate. Has worked great for 30 plus years. Plus if I need a cloth for dusting ..... guess where and what I use!
Once all my kids moved out, I took all our board games and card games to our family Christmas at my parents’ house. The three generations played through each game and decided if it was still a keeper or if it should be donated. We kept about 40% of them to play next time we had a family gathering. The rest went to Goodwill. Most of them had been purchased there originally 😊
I keep vases and reuse when we buy fresh flowers or give them with fresh flowers for family and friends.
Obviously I missed the live feed and am commenting over and over again on things as I hear it.
74 years of cluttered living is hard to overcome! I have a weaving studio and a quilting studio. I am trying to improve both but I have to do it in 15 to 30 minute blocks! You are an encouragement every time I catch your channel. Keep helping us! Thank you!
I sympathize .I had to move ftom a 3 bedroom ranch style home with a basement, two car garage and a shed. My passion is rubber stamping and I hav a hug stash. I also do some crazy quilting and jewelry making. Like you I do a little at a time
Oh my I’m also a crafter and use old towels for small quilted items. I’ve made quilts from T-Shirts and old jeans. Sewing is a passion so it’s hard to not keep fabric for future projects. Ugh
Can you pick either quilting or weaving & let the other one go. Sophie's choice, I know! You probably don't think so but you like one better than the other. Give it to the person who will inherit it when you're gone.
This is how I speak to myself to help me declutter... maybe helpful for you too!
My 90 year old mother’s linen closet used to stress me out. Last month I found out that it was stressing her too. She’s getting ready to move to a smaller place, so I took this as a sign to help her de clutter.
I pulled everything out of her closet, dumped it on the couch and we went through it all. She had old twin bedsheets. She doesn’t have any twin beds in the house! I asked her permission for everything and we ended up with a massive garbage bag full of old linens, curtains and table cloths for donations. She is so happy with her new closet. Winter blankets on the top shelf, 2 spare bedsheets (1 for winter) on the next shelf, table cloths (zip-locked in a and sorted by size) on another shelf, and spare toilet paper and paper towels on the bottom.
She wasn’t ready to depart with everything, but boy did we make a big dent😅
I don’t even want to talk about her bathroom cupboards and closet… let’s just say, there were enough packages of bandaids to supply a hospital.
Working on her cleaning closet next.
You are a loving child, Shannon!
Have a great new year with your mom. 💕
You must be a wonderful daughter ❤️
Thank you for asking your mother’s permission before getting rid of her things. I cared for my mother in an independent senior living facility. It was painful to watch my neighbors’ offspring order their elderly parents around (as if the latter were little children). And? To cavalierly toss possessions without consulting dad or mom.
Im so proud I found you today. I needed you desperately and you make me laugh. You have 1 more Clutterbug on your hands. 😊🎉😊
🤗
I keep my old journals. They’ve got photos, poetry, stickers. I love them.
YES! Please donate your kids coats, gloves, and hats. There are so many children that need these items!
Ask at elementary schools for a donation center, some have a donation center in the school district now.
A lot of places that give donations to needy people only take new things. They sell the used things to people like me lol.
Oh goodness, the planners. I stand at Walmart staring at them, salivating. I love them. My track record tells me that I will fill it out for the first month and then I will never remember to look at it again. But I still want them. 😂
Girl! SAME!
A calendar will sync the days and their dates every 7 years.
Me too😢
Thank you so much for telling people to donate their extra bedding to the Humane Society!
And thank you for adding towels too. They come in handy at the shelters during bath time.
They are always needing more. If you buy jackets or sweaters for your dog, they can use those to
I've been married for 57 years, 7 kids and lots of pictures, every birthday, graduation , wedding, grandkids are now at 22 and two greats grandsons. I have been decluttering almost daily for 1 .5 years and still keeping at it daily, I have a 4-drawer file and a two drawer file. They are getting free of clutter daily. I'm taking two boxes of outdated entrepreneurial trainings.
Cass, I break down and keep some smaller boxes, for Poshmark orders. In the last few months I finally tossed the twin size sheets, from my son’s twin beds. They are in their 40s and have their own homes and we don’t even have the beds anymore.
Coats, warm socks, blankets, gloves, hats , ...i keep a few in my truck for if i see someone who is in the cold and needs something.
Great idea.
Oh! My! GOSH!!! You were so right! I paused your video and went straight to my fridge. 18 items filled my trashcan! Including 4 different containers of Mayo!! Ugh.... THANK YOU!!!
Same here 😂😂😂
I’m going to go now to the garage to put boxes in my car that I decluttered from kitchen cabinets, while listening to this video! I AM going to get it all done, I promise you, and myself!
Thank you for mentioning that sheets, blankets and towels can be donated to the animal shelters. I buy myself new towel sets every two years and the old ones go to the Animal Rescue Legue. They make great dog and cat beds, so there is always a need.
Many churches will take the old sheet and blankets for quilting . The quilts are used for people who do not have blankets, some quilts are auctioned off to make money so children can go to camp free and may other things
Yes we have sheets and we need it for friends and family sleeping over. And yes there can be up to 10 guests at the same time. And when travelling I bring the sheets for the whole family of five - and never bring my nice sheets to a rented cabin. Old planners are memories!
A couple of candle jar hacks:
1) clean the jar out and use the jars for things like hair ties bobby pins Q-tips cotton balls and other items that you put in your medicine cabinet.
2) reuse the jars to put scented wax in.
My mother-in-law was put into a nursing home recently for dementia. She can't remember all the things she kept in cupboards. The 20 ( I kid you not) 20 dinner sets. The cupboards and cupboards of old towels that we donated to animal shelters are towels she doesn't remember she kept. The time and effort it took her to clean all the clutter around her house for years is what I will remember of her. Always cleaning and rearranging. It took three huge trucks to take away the rubbish. It was a sad way for her son ( my husband ) to do. I will never do that to my kids. I keep on top of it.
My inlaws kept everything from their two babies, and maybe some were from my husband's grandmother, too. The problem was, the dirt had gotten greasy and crusted on them, and they were not up to modern safety standards. Yes, we didn't want the playpen, which was probably from 1960. It's better to share and let them be used while they are still new enough to be useful.
I love the one cupboard idea for entertaining! I have several locations for cake takers and platters. I'm decluttering now that I have a RULE! One cupboard for entertaining. YAY!
I love this dedicated area for entertaining items! Thank you. My man just lost his area above the fridge😂
So helpful and you are a natural comedian!
I'm laughing I found a huge wicker basket (I mean huge) full of old bills. I have been moving them out. It was so full I can't even lift it all at one time. Yes Coffee, well Tea cups, I love a huge cup of tea. I have done this before time to do it again. I thrifted a very expensive pair of sandals that now hurt one foot, I just put it in my Sal. Army bin to donate (I try to go to the Sal. Army every 3 month, now it's better). I have no bathing suits that don't fit. so proud! I turn all empty candles into planters for same plants., so I don't have to buy any. I have clothes that are too big, working on donating and selling them. Thank you for this, I needed this today.
You're welcome!
When I got married in 1982 my moms friend gave me a vase at my shower. I was all excited and proclaimed loudly, “ Oh I can put all the flowers in it Patrick will give me!”. The giver said, “ Oh honey, I’m so sorry, let me return it for a smaller one!” Lol true story. I still have the vase of course. I was always the one to fill it. 😂😂😂
I actually gave my husband a printout of when I wanted him to buy me flowers, and I think he actually crumpled it and threw it into the trash.
Lmao
Things to add to your next declutter list: shopping bags, greeting cards you've received, dry cleaner bags and hangers, empty jars, appliances that don't work, hair and skin products that you didn't work for you (or are older than your kids!), empty or old paint cans, storage containers that didn't work, old purses, and every paper that your kids scribbled on! I could go on!
Yea I just got the extras out of cabinet put on a bag incase we find the container I am waiting to toss them before February lol
I have a new one as a gift fondue never used .
O love my processor can't part never
Used waffle maker a few time years ago lol cost is why money I wish I could sell them oh I followed what you said in tough love video I got all stuff and vets did not come I was up early to be ready by 8am they did not show
Please do dont stop
Oh my goodness....soooo funny...I was scrolling through TH-cam trying to find something to watch to motivate me re decluttering/cleaning, found this, started watching thinking oh yeah yeah im sure these won't apply to me....empty boxes....ahh whoops....let me pull up a chair 😂😂😂😂
HAHAHAHAHA!
How have I never found this channel before?? You're hilarious!!
I find the shape of vacuum cleaner boxes to be very useful. You can store wrapping paper, mops, brooms, curtain rods, etc in them. But I wouldn’t keep them if I didn’t use them.
I agree
Many years ago my car just stopped working. The mechanic discovered it was due to bad gas. Having that gas receipt saved me over $1000 becuase the gas station paid for my repairs. Because of that I will always keep my gas receipts until the next time I get gas.
Take the vases to a local florist and trade for a bunch of flowers. I did that and it was a win-win for both of us!
I donated a dozen to the thrift store nearby & know where I can get a vase in a pinch... 😅
OMG!!! Finally, I found you again! I came across your videos about 8-10 yrs ago, before I really started watching YT and you taught me so much about cleaning. Believe it or not, your always in my head when I start cleaning! Your kind of like my cheerleader, pushing me on. I always think to myself, 'what would Cas do with this?' You've kept me on track, on these yrs later and I had to let you know and say: Thank you!!! You have no idea how happy I am right now!!! ❤😊!
My daddy had a ton of mugs that his neighbor brought him from all over the world. When he passed I wanted to keep them all. They’re beautiful and from places like Egypt, Paris, Germany. I mean everywhere. I picked the most beautiful ones and use them all through my house like for qtips, pencils and I made a candle with one. I gave some to friends. I do have a few in my home for decorations. The other hundred lol mugs are in storage.
My mother saved everything her children gave her forever. When she passed I tried to give them back to my sibling or gifts from her siblings to them. My sister who gave my mother cookie jars told me to just take good photos of them. She has the photos that give her those moments of
Nostalgia but do not take up the space. She has since digitized them and Wallaaaaa even less space. Hint hint for those with small artists😊
When I looked into a packed cupboard (I’ve lived in my house for 30+years) I think to myself, if I moved would I want to take this to a new house. Sometimes I am ruthless, and really just get rid of stuff. Stuff drives me nuts, and my husband is a bigger clutter bug than I am.
OMG, you’re adorrrrrrable! I love your personality. Hahahaha…. Empty boxes, so true…😄😄😄
I actually did hang onto our wooden highchair for "someday" when we had grandbabies, and now six of them have used it!
Hey, Dollar Tree has readers and they are great for having a pair in every room without breaking the bank
I bought donated flower vases from the thrift stores for decoration for my son’s engagement party, those are something people really will find a use for. I donated them back after the party.
Ahahha I’m listening to this AS I declutter years of paperwork, books, cards, pictures etc! I have about the same issue with planners lol. I told myself this year I would overcome this self sabotage of a cluttered home! It really affects your mental state 😀
Great video, you're so funny, but also honest & compassionate!!
When my mom passed I found a family who had to leave their decorations behind when they moved.their toddler daughter squealed with happiness and it made me so happy!
I have dragged my moms crap across the country every since she died 20 yrs ago. She made such a big deal about leaving it to me because I wouldn’t throw her special stuff away. All in boxes cluttering my garage. BUT I have been cleaning the boxes out for the last four years and have got rid of a ton.
Just decluttered under my friends sink....she had a LOT of cleaners! I helped her to simplify, she felt so much better!
If you have old paper- bills, statements, grades, children's drawings, receipts, etc.- before you throw them away, shred them, or recycle them, ask your friends/ family if they would like them for making junk journals.
Post on social media any time you have paper goods, magazines, books, diaries, journals, papers. You can either give them away, or sell them to people who make junk, and art journals. We love this stuff! If you have a yard sale, include these things too! Make sure you mention them in any adds you put out.
I saved my favorite baby clothes from my kids and then passed them along to them when they had kids. They loved having something that they had worn. I'm happy to keep those sorts of things and pass them along. My mom made the costumes that I used for my kids and thus stored them....I don't have old costumes, but rather we have costumes that we can still use.
My Christmas popcorn tins are now garbage cans in bathrooms and spare bedrooms. They work great.
I keep my calendars in a memory box. They have everything that happened in my life in there!
Nothing wrong in keeping them if you have a good space for them. These are like journals to you. Perhaps though could ask yourself, are you afraid one day you'll forget those memories, maybe afraid no one else remember you were once here...? I used to to think these things. I kept diaries when I was younger. Then realized I didn't want someone else to read them. I no longer have them and it hasn't made my life the worse off for letting them go. Everyone is different though. But I would consider the question 'why' you have them and cling to them.
@@JaneH3675lol I just wrote a book on exactly this and then an ad showed up and my whole comment got erased. In short, I have been learning to let go. I don't remember things and that is ok. I have found there are a lot of things in life I'd rather forget anyway. I keep a few things that make me remember only the best.
@@JaneH3675 that's interesting. I thought people kept old journals to reminisce on their past. I've never been a journaler tho. I'm the type that buys planners and journals and never uses them 😅
I agree. I can look back at who I was with, what I was doing. Interesting and prospective.
Thanks for sharing this
I always hate getting rid of mine I threw one away yesterday
It had all the memorabilia from last year
I have kept receipts in a specific house binder for large house improvement projects such as new windows, a remodel, new floors, etc. I am going to be selling my house after many years of living there and the property has increased 3x in value. These receipts will be critical to avoid paying too much in capitol gains taxes in the US and I’m finding that many vendors don’t keep these invoices on file for long. But other than that… thanks for all the decluttering reminders!
I get fresh flowers every week and I still sized down my vases.
You can donate kids clothes & toys to Goodwill or to a women's shelter. You can also donate used cell phones to women's domestic violence recovery organizations.
I am a Spanish speaker, this is my first time seeing you and I totally understood what you said. I love the way you explain everything. I am convinced that I have to follow you since today!!!! Thank you so much!❤
FYI-You also should check your local community and see when they have a hazard waste collection for things like paint, medicines and cleaning products. These can't just go in the trash.
I cannot tell you how many times I related to you in this video! So many of your views/reactions are so REAL! Loving all of your advice but really loving the way you deliver it! 😂
I need to stop right here for a moment. I just found your channel 🤗👐, I'm only 21 minutes in & Idk know whether to cry or shout with joy! Have you been spying on me? Do we know each other? Because you sure are beating me over the head with this list!!! WOW...thank you (I think...lol). I'm a couple few years out from a lifetime marriage, moved from a large 4 bedroom home to a TINY 1 bedroom apartment & still trying to keep waaaaay too much "stuff"! I'm gonna finish watching now & hope you stop stepping on my toes at some point 😂 but I do believe you may be my new best friend! Sorry for writing a novel before I even finish the video 😔.
Quick edit: I watched every single second of this & SO glad I did. PERFECT timing too...GREAT way to start a new year with all these wonderful ideas & a little motivation. LOVE this & thank you 💖.
First of all…you are so funny! I really enjoyed this video,so much so that I went into my kitchen while I was listening to you and organized my cabinets!!!! I think I have 24out of 25 of the ‘things you don’t need’ 😮 I recently took control of my financial situation and actually made some small investments. It made me realize how much I DO have. It helps. Thank you for what you do and how well you do it!
You should always check your grocery receipts for accuracy. Then, if they are okay and you don’t think you’ll return something, then you can throw it.
I have a Rubbermaid tote (bin) of empty boxes. It gets emptied during Christmas for presents. Once the Bin of Boxes is full I don’t keep any more that year 😂
I returned from a long holiday in Scotland to find my stopcock had failed and my ground floor was flooded. Before the repair process, I decluttered - a lot! Now all has been fixed, and I've moved back in, I'm still decluttering. It's wonderful! I can find everything I need. Everything has a home. I have empty cupboards and draws. The attic is only used for seasonal items! Thank you for all the advice and encouragement. 🇬🇧
This is great advice and you are spot on. I never considered that I will never use my footlocker of towels. I never thought about giving the towels and blankets to homeless people or pet shelters.
You are right about boxes, our on exception is that we move a lot because we are military. We keep boxes broken down in a corner in the basement for when we move again.
That was us. We just moved so much!
Best tip I ever heard for extra blankets: take the cheap pillows no one ever uses out of the pillow shams and put spare blankets in there instead. Genius!
😊Did that too, on the kids' beds when they left home. Now, we've downsized, so only pullout couch beds. Have to store that stuff elsewhere! Ugh!!!
I moved from a 3 bedroom house with a shed into a studio apartment. I couldn't get into the living room area and the boxes were stacked to the ceiling!
I now have 2 rocker recliners and floor space for the kitty to play.
I'm still working on it one year later. (I wanted to see what I really needed over a year.) I am watching vids like yours to kick start me again!!! Thank you for what you're doing to help us.
I was raised by a Swiss mom and I grew up with Fondue on special occasions. Now I am an adult and found out WHY only on special occasions 😂 my fondue set has been in the attic for 10+ years 😂 it’s gotta go! You crack me up!!! I can commit to getting rid of my mast towels, extra bedding and my fondue maker! Thank you 🙏
Take all your extra bedding to local churches who make quilts out of them for the poor
We live in Texas and I take all my unwanted things several times a week to the local laundry mat, it could be home decor, clothes..to cleaning items …..I have been there to drop off and a gal walked up to me in one of my shirts! She ask if she could hug me as many of the things I have left have blessed her family! I love you Cass please know it hurts our hearts when you say “I am dumb” we wouldn’t want to hear that from our daughters, you my friend are amazing!!
We kept towels that weren’t fit for our use and they became “puppy towels”. We taught our doggie to give us each paw before coming in the house and we wiped them off. Even after our lovely pup passed, our family still calls those towels “puppy towels” much to the cat’s chagrin. 😂
Our towels move from towels to rags to garbage... They just get smaller & smaller till they eventually disappear. I actually have 3 different buckets: small, medium & large. Whenever a towel gets a hole it goes to the appropriate rag bin. Small is washrag size, medium is hand towel size, & large is for bath/beach towels.
We use these towels instead of bounty to clean up messes around the house, unless it's super greasy & gross. I feel it saves the environment & money.
@@leahrowe847 way to go!
@@leahrowe847 Even then, you can use used napkins/paper towels to get grease from pans, or if they’re clean enough, to clean small kitchen floor spills or baseboards and around the toilet. I keep a small bag of these also. Works great for furballs, too…🤢 bag never serms to get too big. And I’ve saved literally hundreds of dollars.
@judym3634, 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I have no problem using these pup towels for kitty carrier inserts for a soft bedding spot for the cat. They also make good use for underneath the litter box for collecting anything that is sprayed around the house. Saves using newspaper for that.
Excellent! You have a very pleasant voice and a great hosting manner. Oh, and good advice too.
You can use the vases to hold the receipts. But seriously folks, I use a clear glass one on my kitchen counter to hold my spatulas and pasta fork, the utensils I use the most.
You could use one to hold cleaning brushes under the sink. An umbrella or two in a closet or near the front door.
Fill it with candy. Or Christmas ornaments to display. Or ornaments AND candy!
One technique I thought of is to pick your Top 10 in each category - Top 10 T-shirts, 10 tank tops, 10 sweaters, etc. If you have less room pick the Top 8 or Top 5.
Then you're keeping the best. Clothes that need repair should be in a space away from your best ready to go clothes.
That way every choice is a great one as you look at the main part of your closet or drawers, and it's psychologically rewarding.
I also like to sort by taking everything out of or off of a space. Then it's neutral and it can "breathe" for a moment, and you can rethink the space.
Then put back the most important items. When it looks the way you want, stop. Then you have to find where to keep the rest, or purge it. This is great for desk and table tops.
You weren't weird, you were right to talk to the house. Everything has a vibration, and I believe it's own level of consciousness. I think it understood your intent.
I named my cars. The first one was older and had issues so I got in the habit of having intent/ prayer for a safe trip before driving, then when I was done, "Thanks Car! Have a good rest - don't let anyone bother you." No one bothered my cars and I feel they liked hearing it.
- Lorraine Lamour
Tbh you've been the best motivator for me to get my spaces cleaned. It used to be difficult when I was younger but now that I found this channel, I really find joy in it. And it's so much easier than we think to pick up after ourselves, and it makes us feel so good and relaxed! I love it! Thank you for helpingnme through my cleaning journey!