Here are 5 decluttering trends you should ditch before 2025 for a clean and clutter free home! This is what I'm doing instead. #decluttering #declutteringandorganizing Very random, but this is the flea spray I mentioned (it's NOT to spray on animals, it's ONLY for your home/soft surfaces). It's the only thing that worked once and for all for us: www.medi-vet.com/Mycodex-Plus-Environmental-Control-Aerosol-Spray-p/19219.htm Click here for a clean & tidy home! www.youtube.com/@tarynmaria_?sub_confirmation=1 Join my mailing list for emails that will make your life easier! eepurl.com/iB2aE2 Decluttering playlist: ruclips.net/video/_St9jcbHTJc/видео.html Time saving cleaning hacks playlist: ruclips.net/video/UBE4zX00wGc/видео.html Cleaning Routines playlist: ruclips.net/video/X_RMuFRn9Ak/видео.html
The point of gathering all of them together is so that you realize that you have an over abundance of the same thing. Having the same items scattered throughout your home is another way of hiding them.
I had to pause the video and say that to myself outloud. 😂 Not only will you end up with less if you see the overabundance of everything together but also the point is to put everything alike in one location. Anyway I agree with you.
Yeah exactly, for instance I was doing my shoes and made a decision to keep one of my pair of sandals. Then I found 3 more in my bedroom closet, so had to make the decision all over again.
I understand it's not ideal but as a chronically ill person I can tell that just throwing things into the trash sometimes is a life saver. Literally. Of course, if you have the option to dispose of you belongings in a more sustainable maner, please do it, but don't give it for granted as something everyone can do.
Yes! Although we understand that this video is not about us, it is still validating for me to read your comment. Sometimes you just can’t make the best decisions when you’re drowning. But we do try. And putting yourself on the first place at that moment is totally okay. 🌻
In our city we have some charities that come right to your door and pick up. Your point is well taken, though- you have to have health, energy and transportation to take things to places.
I just decluttered shoes and it was very helpful to gather them all together - I had some in the kitchen, some in a spare closet upstairs, and the rest in the primary closet. I was able to see everything I had and pick my shoe wardrobe for every occasion and season. There were so many I decided I didn’t need, and now all of my shoes fit on the shoe shelves in my closet, except a pair of hiking boots I don’t use regularly. Those are on the shelf overhead in the same closet. For a lot of things, it’s helpful to see the totality of what you have, to realize how many duplicates or just excess you have.
I agree with not just throwing things away that could go to the Goodwill except in the case of the elderly, the otherwise mobility-limited, or those with limited transportation resources. In those cases, caring for your own health and sanity would come first over concerns about waste or landfill usage.
I understand that if you are just starting out and you are drowning and desperate, you may be sending a lot to the landfill. But hopefully somewhere along the way you reach a point where you have the mental bandwidth to be a bit more responsible with your choices. Influencers who claim to have lived as a minimalist for over five years and who still clam they are too overwhelmed to dispose of things responsibly are not very good salespeople for their methods and channel.
The Konmari method never quite worked for me because everything sparks joy, yes! When I found Dana K White’s container method, that was the turning point for me. Do I still have a *place* for my old Sailor Moon magazines, in my apartment *or* my heart/mind? No, I outgrew it and a little “oh that was a nice time” doesn’t justify a bunch of magazines catching dust and making me unhappy *now*. But your suggestion to look at which kind of joy we’re experiencing, and if it is still relevant for today rather than just nostalgia is a great angle as well. Nostalgia can be nice, but if it’s holding me back in the present, I have to let it go.
Hi Taryn, I absolutely agree on decluttering per room and not category. And I want to see and feel a result after decluttering. When it's done room by room, it's much more satisfying.
One year for my New Years Resolution I decluttered a room once a month. Helped tremendously! I have just moved and am in the right moment to get rid of more stuff before unpacking
I made a small bedroom into a walk-in closet for pantry and storage items and it saved my life. I just love it. No more stuff in the bathroom or kitchen that don't need to be there, but plenty of things on hand including laundry supplies that aren't being used in the moment. Great way to store seasonal clothing! Great way to pair the kitchen down to what you use all the time. If you can put in a walk-in closet with storage, it's something you might want to consider because it really was a life changer. Yay! 😂❤😊
I heard about this process of getting rid of everything that does not bring you joy. So far I've thrown out my bathroom scale, and my PG &E bill. I feel better already!😊
I disagree with the “don’t trash the items”. If your home has become a landfill and the thing that is stopping you from decluttering is trying to do the perfect thing in donating, then it is important not to worry about it at this time. When you have gotten things under control in the future then you may have more bandwidth to take new decluttered items to a donation center. But first you need to do what is easiest to get your home back.
100% agree with this. Your mental health comes first, and sometimes, just getting stuff done has to be the priority. I always try to reuse or donate when possible but let’s face it, more things are produced and purchased in this world than can be maintained by people, and it’s pretty much all going in a landfill eventually. I think a lot of people, even minimalist decluttering gurus on this platform, present donation as a panacea to overconsumption that it is just not in reality.
@@finnishcanadian3375 Not everyone has a place that is close or easy to get to or have pick-up from donation centers. Not everyone has a vehicle. Not everyone has the time or energy to decide what is useable and what isn’t. Remember that sooner or later these things will end up trashed. If you need permission to just throw it into the trash, here it is. It is better for the items to be in the trash than the trash to be in your home. Get your home back.
I was a big fan of Marie Kondo and understood the concept of sparking joy. The problem with joy is it defaults to sentiment. To be brutal about disposing of clutter, I now ask myself “would I clean poop off an item?” (I think it was the A to Zen gal who suggested this.) I find it easier to ditch stuff taking up space, especially in the basement, if we think of disgust rather than joy.
I love Marissa in A to Zen, but it was Rachel in the Nourishing Minimalism channel that had that story. She said her basement got flooded with sewage, so the question of saving or getting rid of stuff became "Am I willing to clean poop off this item?" Her question became my favorite way to make decluttering decisions lol. I really learned a lot from her channel. Sadly, she stopped making videos.
@ Thanks for the clarification. Marissa did refer to the other gal’s predicament. The story stuck with me because we had a similar problem with our septic backing up into the basement two months after moving to our current home some 25.5 years ago. What a nightmare!
I decided i made a list in a notebook i have for one room, Bedroom on 1st page took dresser (for instance), listed drawer by drawer the categories to go through. When i was done, i checked ✅️ it off. Same w my vanity, closet, etc. Then each room and closet has their own page. Each shelf too. Breaking it down has been so much easier and less overwhelming. I have made significant progress and still a long way to go in my apartment. I know i can do a small area after work, feel accomplished, not overwhelmed.
I love that- telling an item thank you for serving you, and then saying goodbye. It seems silly at first, but psychologically, it helps you get rid of the item with less pain, lol.
I'm working on sorting greeting cards, while I listen to your video. I've kept cards for years and haven't used most of them. I'll only keep a few note cards and when I need a special occasion card, I'll buy one. Thanks for the great tips. I like to put donations at the end of my driveway, they always get taken, saves me a trip and it's free for someone.
I love all of your points! I would add, if something is showing, you can make it look better and still function in easy ways. I took a box and painted it with my kids. Acrylic paint. It now looks like a nice wooden box.
A friend told me she has a couple of friends who love to dumpster dive at Goodwill. They have found brand new clothes with tags, brand new furniture, antique furniture, full sets of dishes, kid clothes and toys, etc. Goodwill throws away really nice things because they are overwhelmed with all our stuff. Sad but true. I still bring them my nice things because they are close to my house, but who knows where my stuff will ultimately end up? I do throw a lot more away now than I used to.
My neighborhood has an annual yard sale. I put up a big “free” sign and fill up tarps with all my decluttered items. At the end of the day whatever is left then gets donated or tossed. It’s kind of fun to bless people with good items at no cost.
For me “spark joy” never really worked. I did my entire wardrobe and I was left with one dress and a pair of earrings. No shoes lol. If I did the method with my whole house I would be left with one dress, a screwdriver, a pile of books and one pan. I’m a minimalist but I need a little bit more than that 😂😂😂 You have probably already heard of Dana K White, Cass from Clutterbug and the Minimal Mom. If not I highly recommend their content.
"Spark joy" is a concept unknown to poor or struggling people. They use what they have, what they can afford, if it sparks joy or not. This concept is for people who have way too much.
The minimal mom I feel is wasteful. My turning point for me on her thought process is when they had x amount for a project. Paint the front of a barn, buy a playset for the homeschooled kids, or put a deck on their house which they planned on moving the house to a new location in the near future. They chose a deck. Maybe she knew she would get a sponsor to get a fabulous playset.
I agree with all your points bar the first. Decluttering by category is the only efficient way, in my humble opinion. Your example of shoes is a case in point. That's not to say you have to declutter the entire family's shoes at once, but certainly each members' shoes at a time. As others have pointed out, if items are not consolidated you'll never be able to identify excess.
Yes, all my things spark joy, or I would not have acquired them in the first place. And yes, big guilt feelings when considering to let any of them go.
At last a video that is honest and sensible about decluttering. Some videoes put you under such pressure and the suggestions are just not sustainable in the real world. Also you are not mad to say thank you to unwanted items - I do too. Its good to be grateful. One thing on your videos, I wish you would actually show yourself doing these things rather than just sitting talking. Than you
One more thought about the "sparking joy" thinking is that sometimes a thing might spark joy when you see it during the decluttering process. However, you might then put it away neatly and not see it again until the next time you move house. I think you should ask more questions to decide whether you should keep it or not.
I put my shoes away at the end of the day. Last week I decluttered a bunch of shoes and boots. Yesterday I decluttered 9 t shirts. Today I decluttered tube tops. Tomorrow I will go through dress pants and pull things I don't wear/don't fit. I donate to a homeless shelter. I do a lot throughout the day. I manage to declutter a little bit a day. I have no time to declutter a whole room in one day. It would burn me out. Kon Marie looked like overkill.
I hear you on how to 'get rid' without dumping stuff... the upshot was, I started a 'car boot sale' (swap meet) locally. It not only got rid of stuff to people who wanted it, but raised money for community groups... it's still going, it's run by a local committee, it clears peoples houses, they get a financial reward for de-cluttering, folk get stuff affordably, it's eco shopping aaaaand it raises over €6k per annum for the local community.
One that helps me let go is this: I am helping my children by shedding half-treasures. Sure, Grandpappy’s pipe collection was interesting and evokes an era - it’s also smelly and stained and unusable (and unhealthy). Take a photo and let it go!
Excellent ideas, as always, Taryn. Took me 5 days to do my basement, cause I went through everything, like old clothes bins, etc. so I had several items for donation. I did have to keep them till the big truck came, but I kept them in one area of the basement. No problem.
Unfortunately sometimes not everyone can find the perfect place to donate. Sometimes this added step can stop people in the tracks, stopping them from decluttering at all.
When l declutter my stuff, that's what l do with the stuff l decluttered; 1. I sort everything that l decluttered in the same day and plan this time as part of my decluttering process. So if l have little time, l declutter small space and sort those small decluttered items straight away. 2. When l sort things that l decluttered, first l ask myself "can l repurpose any of these items in a way that actually l will use it?". For example after decluttering some packaging from an old cellphone, l realised that l was looking for a small container to put in a drawer to hold some small items in the bathroom. This sturdy white old cell phone box is a perfect solution and saved me money to buy something instead. 2. Is there any item that you might think someone you know can use it ? If so, l take a quick photo of the item and send it to that person asking " Do you think you can use it ? ". If the answer is no, l decide to donate. 3. Everything that can be donated, l donate 4. If there is something that l think might be sold and worth something, l try to sell. ( Only leaving up to 2 week time, depends on the item). If l can't sell go to the second hand shops. 5. Nothing that can be used should go to the garbage bin. Garbage bins are for " garbage" not for useful items. If it will make someone else happy, l am happy to undertake the time. So many people live in poverty, l don't like to be selfish and throw into a bin a perfectly usable item just because l don't want to spare time for that. Whatever you decide to do, it should work for you but ALWAYS show that you think for others too. Having enough items to declutter at home is a luxury. Not everyone has that luxury. So love for others should motivate us to do the right thing.
I have used the category method and the room method-they both work. It depends on your need and what you can get done. I just saw a video that said there are no rules, do what works for you.
I do the same thing. I think the item and then I like to think that somebody else will enjoy it like I did and give it to the thrift store. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I think it's actually helpful on a lot of levels. 😊
I saw a video on a very popular decluttering channel where the woman said if you just can't deal with it, just throw it all out. That's horribly irresponsible. There are places you could call that would take it, don't just throw it in a landfill when it's perfectly useful stuff. Many places will come out to your home and pick it up. You could even get a tax write-off. Even if something seems useless to you, someone else might have a use for it.
We have shoes in different places too. Some in the utility room for yard and exercise. Regular shoes in our closet, snow shoes in a crate in our coat closet. Works for us. We generally have a no outside shoe in the house policy which is why this works.
I've done the Marie Kondo method, by category before. It made sense because you start with the easy first and end with the sentimental last. I will say that that last step is the toughest one. Conversely, of late, I have also taken on the approach that you recommend here. Even if it just the hall closet, e.g. wow, after going through shoes and coats, it is a pleasure now to open that closet and not have shoes falling out everywhere! One last point: a bigger thought than " getting rid of an item, " is to say instead both in action and deed, is to choose it. Great video, per usual.
The ‘everything sparks joy’ comment was so cute :D such a lovely piece of your mind to have. Challenging, but lovely. Will be micro decluttering soon. 🌻
The konmari method worked wonders for me. Seeing all items of lets say clothing i own (per sub category) really made me realize that I had too much. And lots of the items didn't spark joy or did so when looking at it but not while using it. I now use this method while shopping. Does it really spark joy/does it make my life easier or does the on sale price spark joy. If i wouldn't buy it for the full price, then it doesn't really spark joy or improve my life.
I prefer to declutter in small spurts, or often as I go about the day. Pulling everything out is overwhelming. I’ve actually just thrown everything back into the closet.
I put everything at the speed limit sign that's in my yard. When we moved in 5 years ago, that's where I first placed my items, and nothing stays there more than a few hours.
On the flea problem- I had a neighbors dog to have puppies under my house and somehow I ended up overrun with fleas. I sprinkled borax all around,left it 30 minutes and repeated the process within 10 days and no more fleas🙌🏼. I have no small children though
@@tarynmaria_ And, someone pointed out that when you decant, you can no longer see either the expiration date or any other pertinent product information.
Great vlog! Well done for saying not to just bin!... Dawn the Minimal Mum makes me so Angry because she always trashes everything and tell people to just trash it!.. some other American you tubers also say to do this!.. European you tubers say, recycle, donate. Swap parties etc.
Yes, please be responsible while decluttering. My former brother in law & his wife ordered a dumpster when cleaning out her mother's house after she died. My husband was really upset when he saw many useful items going to the trash.
I have a 90 yr old neighbor that moved out of state with family, and another family member came for a few weekends to clean out her small condo. I had seen a muffin tin in her oven, and asked if I could take or buy her muffin tin, but it had just had been tossed in the dumpster. Sad.
I decluttered marie kondo and her ideas the first moment I thought about gathering up all my books in one place, and got overwhelmed immediately. Didn't work for me at all.
It's so easy to feel overwhelmed when decuttering, so this is great advice. Bite size chunks and then it can be managable. Any chance of some advice on decluttering irresponsible neighbours please? :)
The weird thing is that they're fairly nice people...but with messy habits that encroach on my space. I've already spoken politely to them, so we'll see what happens. Everything crossed!
Ok, so in regard to donating, if a person lives out in the country and they have to drive 45 minutes or more to donate their stuff and they are drowning in stuff they can throw it away. It’s their stuff. Also, some people may not own a vehicle so in the trash it goes. When people choose to throw away rather than donate there is usually a good reason.
I feel that if you just throw useful things into the garbage as a quick fix then you will probably bring in more stuff because you didn't learn a lesson. We need to think about the full consequences when bringing an item home. Filling up the landfill with your mistakes without a thought is selfish and damaging. Good stewardship is something to be encouraged. Thanks Taryn !
I’ve watched a lot of decluttering videos and it makes mental watching when they go all out buying all these baskets and canisters to transfer cereals and what not. It looks pretty but it’s not decluttering to me, it’s decorating.
I really think you should differentiate between people who are drowning in stuff and stressed and someone with bandwidth to get things out of home in a more sustainable way. Recommending that everybody dispose of things in a sustainable way is detrimental to those actually struggling with stuff.
I have made peace with the fact that I don't have the mental bandwidth to deal with the usable items. I need a comfy, organized home & all my mental energy has gone to that. I will not declutter if I have to think of 300 hundred steps after I make a simple choice between keep, trash & usable (not every usable item can be donated to a donation centre). I can't think about selling or donating. I put all the usable items from a decluttering session in a big grocery plastic tote bags that my food delivery comes in (that way, it's an open bag, anyone can reach for an item easily, it has good handles & resistance, so they can carry the bag away & reuse it) & leave the bag in front of the building. I live in a big, walkable city, so the bag is gone in 20 min tops.
@@tarynmaria_ I really think so too. I take care of my stuff, so they're usually in decent condition even used. I like the idea that someone who needed them reached for them.
So from what I understand, the idea is to pull everything out from a specific category so you can see the volume that you have and that helps you decide how much to get rid of (ex. shoes, pots, etc.). I think it works well but I also think it's a lot of work!
Haha, I linked it in the description - it's called Mycodex. I don't like using chemicals a lot but in this case it was necessary and it worked like nothing else!
11.02.2024 My adult children, especially dil will throw things perfectly good items in the trash instead of taking to a donation place. There ya go, some peeps have different ways of thinking .... 😏
I know what you mean she could have done it.That's somebody that needed it.. I always think of someone else's needs.Someone may need it that don't have nothing
Let's not fool ourselves about "eco-friendly ways" of disposing of things. There's hardly such a thing, especially with clothes. Most of them end up in Africa, and then in landfills. As for objects, anything not bought in charity shops ends up... most likely not recycled. So in a way, honestly, I think disposing of things by sorting them before throwing them away, is not something to feel guilty about. Donating is good, but I wouldn't count on it when buying something and thinking it's sustainable "because I can donate". We should honestly feel guilty when buying something new.
Thank you so much, Gretchen! I got it from Ana Luisa - I'll link it here, I never take it off, ha! I also used to have a 20% code that I think still works: www.analuisa.com/products/flower-station-necklace-rowena-necklace/ (Code: TarynMaria20)
I like to throw it away. I don’t feel like I want to sort it out, decide how to package, where to take the donations. The things I’m ditching have served their purpose and I feel fine throwing away to keep my momentum. There are certain nice things I do give away, but most go in the trash. Sorry.
I am a fan of the trash can method, if you are feeling overwhelmed. During the pandemic time, when there were no places to recycled or donate, I disposed of thousands of dollars, maybe tens of thousands. I refused to be a slave of the Environment god. No guilt.
There are definite benefits to not having children. Parents (especially mothers) seem so trapped by the past and their nostalgia that they get buried in the stuff they associate with their children. A friend of mine has hauled all her daughter's baby clothes to four houses now, in dozens of huge garbage bags, because she can't bear to accept that her daughter is no longer a child. The past has no hold on me and my life is so much freer because of it.
I disagree that we need to find the perfect donation site for every thing we declutter. For many, it is essential for their mental health to get things out of their house. If things get donated, great. If not, that is ok too. Worrying about donating everything is also mental clutter.
Sorry but some peoples mental space does not allow them to find the PERFECT place for each item one is getting rid of. I am ALL for donating items. However, if doing this will stress the person out so much it will stop them from decluttering then they should throw items away. Let’s be real but resale shops only resell the best of the best ( even Goodwill) and shops throw items away anyway. I’m sure you Didn’t mean to but you sounded harsh judging people for having to throw perfectly good things away.
I think focusing on how to declutter misses the whole point. It doesn't really matter how you declutter. What matters is figuring out where all that stuff came from in the first place.
Have you been to thrift stores lately? They are overrun by decluttered items. You want to bet that they will be trashing a lot of stuff, that you should have trashed before you donated. The nation is glutted with stuff.
Saying you aren’t saying something to shame someone doesn’t make it true. You are attempting to shame people who don’t do things the way you like or what works for you. Different methods work for different people, which is why there are so many different methods.
@@tarynmaria_ so….you WERE saying it to shame that person. I think lying is shameful. I donate a lot of items. Likely throw away a lot that some might find useful, but I either don’t see it that way or need to make decisions based on life circumstances. I am not going to put things out on my porch for others to take. It isn’t safe. The first time someone thinks if you’re giving away something that nice outside, what you have inside must be great, you may have placed yourself in a dangerous situation.
@@hlfra8687I think you’re projecting here. Why feel personally attacked from a fact as simple as “just throwing stuff away is a shame”, especially when you are already conscious about your actions? You can find the action shameful and not judge the person for it, these things can coexist, action =/= inherent worth of a person. 💀
@hlfra8687 I have put things that are donate-able on my driveway, by the road, for 18 years and it always gets taken. Last weekend was a nice leather chair. That doesn't make you a target.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Here are 5 decluttering trends you should ditch before 2025 for a clean and clutter free home! This is what I'm doing instead. #decluttering #declutteringandorganizing
Very random, but this is the flea spray I mentioned (it's NOT to spray on animals, it's ONLY for your home/soft surfaces). It's the only thing that worked once and for all for us: www.medi-vet.com/Mycodex-Plus-Environmental-Control-Aerosol-Spray-p/19219.htm
Click here for a clean & tidy home! www.youtube.com/@tarynmaria_?sub_confirmation=1
Join my mailing list for emails that will make your life easier! eepurl.com/iB2aE2
Decluttering playlist: ruclips.net/video/_St9jcbHTJc/видео.html
Time saving cleaning hacks playlist: ruclips.net/video/UBE4zX00wGc/видео.html
Cleaning Routines playlist: ruclips.net/video/X_RMuFRn9Ak/видео.html
The point of gathering all of them together is so that you realize that you have an over abundance of the same thing. Having the same items scattered throughout your home is another way of hiding them.
When you consolidate like items in a single location it has the same effect, without making a big mess❤
That doesn’t work with a hoarder.
I had to pause the video and say that to myself outloud. 😂 Not only will you end up with less if you see the overabundance of everything together but also the point is to put everything alike in one location. Anyway I agree with you.
Yeah exactly, for instance I was doing my shoes and made a decision to keep one of my pair of sandals. Then I found 3 more in my bedroom closet, so had to make the decision all over again.
Yeah realize so many open bottles of marinate in the fridge when looking for oyster sauce 😄
I understand it's not ideal but as a chronically ill person I can tell that just throwing things into the trash sometimes is a life saver. Literally.
Of course, if you have the option to dispose of you belongings in a more sustainable maner, please do it, but don't give it for granted as something everyone can do.
Yes! Although we understand that this video is not about us, it is still validating for me to read your comment. Sometimes you just can’t make the best decisions when you’re drowning. But we do try. And putting yourself on the first place at that moment is totally okay. 🌻
Bingo! Same here. 😊
In our city we have some charities that come right to your door and pick up. Your point is well taken, though- you have to have health, energy and transportation to take things to places.
I just decluttered shoes and it was very helpful to gather them all together - I had some in the kitchen, some in a spare closet upstairs, and the rest in the primary closet. I was able to see everything I had and pick my shoe wardrobe for every occasion and season. There were so many I decided I didn’t need, and now all of my shoes fit on the shoe shelves in my closet, except a pair of hiking boots I don’t use regularly. Those are on the shelf overhead in the same closet. For a lot of things, it’s helpful to see the totality of what you have, to realize how many duplicates or just excess you have.
Thank you for sharing!
I agree with not just throwing things away that could go to the Goodwill except in the case of the elderly, the otherwise mobility-limited, or those with limited transportation resources. In those cases, caring for your own health and sanity would come first over concerns about waste or landfill usage.
Thank you!
They may be able to give things away through freecycle and some charity shops will collect furniture or larger quantities of items.
I understand that if you are just starting out and you are drowning and desperate, you may be sending a lot to the landfill. But hopefully somewhere along the way you reach a point where you have the mental bandwidth to be a bit more responsible with your choices. Influencers who claim to have lived as a minimalist for over five years and who still clam they are too overwhelmed to dispose of things responsibly are not very good salespeople for their methods and channel.
The Konmari method never quite worked for me because everything sparks joy, yes! When I found Dana K White’s container method, that was the turning point for me. Do I still have a *place* for my old Sailor Moon magazines, in my apartment *or* my heart/mind? No, I outgrew it and a little “oh that was a nice time” doesn’t justify a bunch of magazines catching dust and making me unhappy *now*. But your suggestion to look at which kind of joy we’re experiencing, and if it is still relevant for today rather than just nostalgia is a great angle as well. Nostalgia can be nice, but if it’s holding me back in the present, I have to let it go.
Yes - the container concept is SO smart and easy to follow!
Hi Taryn,
I absolutely agree on decluttering per room and not category.
And I want to see and feel a result after decluttering.
When it's done room by room, it's much more satisfying.
Yes - so much more satisfying! Thank you for watching, Ester!
One year for my New Years Resolution I decluttered a room once a month. Helped tremendously! I have just moved and am in the right moment to get rid of more stuff before unpacking
Great job!
I made a small bedroom into a walk-in closet for pantry and storage items and it saved my life. I just love it. No more stuff in the bathroom or kitchen that don't need to be there, but plenty of things on hand including laundry supplies that aren't being used in the moment. Great way to store seasonal clothing! Great way to pair the kitchen down to what you use all the time. If you can put in a walk-in closet with storage, it's something you might want to consider because it really was a life changer. Yay! 😂❤😊
I heard about this process of getting rid of everything that does not bring you joy. So far I've thrown out my bathroom scale, and my PG &E bill. I feel better already!😊
I disagree with the “don’t trash the items”. If your home has become a landfill and the thing that is stopping you from decluttering is trying to do the perfect thing in donating, then it is important not to worry about it at this time. When you have gotten things under control in the future then you may have more bandwidth to take new decluttered items to a donation center. But first you need to do what is easiest to get your home back.
Ask someone to help you! I love decluttering and have tried to help as much as I am allowed! We all have different talents and skills!
100% agree with this. Your mental health comes first, and sometimes, just getting stuff done has to be the priority. I always try to reuse or donate when possible but let’s face it, more things are produced and purchased in this world than can be maintained by people, and it’s pretty much all going in a landfill eventually. I think a lot of people, even minimalist decluttering gurus on this platform, present donation as a panacea to overconsumption that it is just not in reality.
First donate and then give to recycling programs which have been started in many communities. Last throw out only what cannot be used.
@@finnishcanadian3375 Not everyone has a place that is close or easy to get to or have pick-up from donation centers. Not everyone has a vehicle. Not everyone has the time or energy to decide what is useable and what isn’t. Remember that sooner or later these things will end up trashed. If you need permission to just throw it into the trash, here it is. It is better for the items to be in the trash than the trash to be in your home. Get your home back.
Totally agree.
The idea of a “declutterring burst” is appealing to me, because I can give it a burst, not a marathon on a daily basis! Thank you!
For sure!!
I was a big fan of Marie Kondo and understood the concept of sparking joy. The problem with joy is it defaults to sentiment. To be brutal about disposing of clutter, I now ask myself “would I clean poop off an item?” (I think it was the A to Zen gal who suggested this.) I find it easier to ditch stuff taking up space, especially in the basement, if we think of disgust rather than joy.
Thank you for sharing - I've heard something similar - about red wine and if you'd clean the item off! :)
@@tarynmaria_ In that case, I would make the effort to clean the item with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and Dawn dish detergent. 🙂
I love Marissa in A to Zen, but it was Rachel in the Nourishing Minimalism channel that had that story. She said her basement got flooded with sewage, so the question of saving or getting rid of stuff became "Am I willing to clean poop off this item?"
Her question became my favorite way to make decluttering decisions lol. I really learned a lot from her channel. Sadly, she stopped making videos.
@ Thanks for the clarification. Marissa did refer to the other gal’s predicament. The story stuck with me because we had a similar problem with our septic backing up into the basement two months after moving to our current home some 25.5 years ago. What a nightmare!
@@Jamie-h5b I loved Nourishing Minimalism. Rachel had a great way of explaining the psychology of hanging on to things.
I decided i made a list in a notebook i have for one room, Bedroom on 1st page took dresser (for instance), listed drawer by drawer the categories to go through. When i was done, i checked ✅️ it off. Same w my vanity, closet, etc. Then each room and closet has their own page. Each shelf too. Breaking it down has been so much easier and less overwhelming. I have made significant progress and still a long way to go in my apartment. I know i can do a small area after work, feel accomplished, not overwhelmed.
Love that, thank you!
I love that- telling an item thank you for serving you, and then saying goodbye. It seems silly at first, but psychologically, it helps you get rid of the item with less pain, lol.
For sure! Thank you ☺
I'm working on sorting greeting cards, while I listen to your video. I've kept cards for years and haven't used most of them. I'll only keep a few note cards and when I need a special occasion card, I'll buy one. Thanks for the great tips. I like to put donations at the end of my driveway, they always get taken, saves me a trip and it's free for someone.
So awesome that you can put items at the end of your driveway! And great job with the greeting cards ☺
I love all of your points! I would add, if something is showing, you can make it look better and still function in easy ways. I took a box and painted it with my kids. Acrylic paint. It now looks like a nice wooden box.
It's so easy to accumulate stuff. It can be overwhelming. I enjoyed this video. 😊❤
I agree, it's so easy to accumulate - even when you're careful! ❤
A friend told me she has a couple of friends who love to dumpster dive at Goodwill. They have found brand new clothes with tags, brand new furniture, antique furniture, full sets of dishes, kid clothes and toys, etc. Goodwill throws away really nice things because they are overwhelmed with all our stuff. Sad but true. I still bring them my nice things because they are close to my house, but who knows where my stuff will ultimately end up? I do throw a lot more away now than I used to.
My neighborhood has an annual yard sale. I put up a big “free” sign and fill up tarps with all my decluttered items. At the end of the day whatever is left then gets donated or tossed. It’s kind of fun to bless people with good items at no cost.
@@maryS1977 love that!
For me “spark joy” never really worked. I did my entire wardrobe and I was left with one dress and a pair of earrings. No shoes lol. If I did the method with my whole house I would be left with one dress, a screwdriver, a pile of books and one pan. I’m a minimalist but I need a little bit more than that 😂😂😂
You have probably already heard of Dana K White, Cass from Clutterbug and the Minimal Mom. If not I highly recommend their content.
Thank you so much! And yes, I've definitely heard of those decluttering ladies, love them all!!
"Spark joy" is a concept unknown to poor or struggling people. They use what they have, what they can afford, if it sparks joy or not. This concept is for people who have way too much.
The minimal mom I feel is wasteful. My turning point for me on her thought process is when they had x amount for a project. Paint the front of a barn, buy a playset for the homeschooled kids, or put a deck on their house which they planned on moving the house to a new location in the near future. They chose a deck. Maybe she knew she would get a sponsor to get a fabulous playset.
@@stacycampbell4402the deck increased the value of the home. The rest, not certain. I’ll bet they wanted to wait until they got to their new home
I agree with all your points bar the first. Decluttering by category is the only efficient way, in my humble opinion. Your example of shoes is a case in point. That's not to say you have to declutter the entire family's shoes at once, but certainly each members' shoes at a time. As others have pointed out, if items are not consolidated you'll never be able to identify excess.
Thank you for sharing!
Yes, all my things spark joy, or I would not have acquired them in the first place. And yes, big guilt feelings when considering to let any of them go.
Yes! We have the same thoughts!
Thank you for talking about de cluttering in a responsible way. ❤
You are so welcome!
You are such a helper in real life...not a weirdo at all! I get that deeper joy must be the goal. THANK YOU!!! 🥰
Thank you so much! 💖
Definitely agree! Give things a second life, for the environment and for people who might need it 🙂
Thank you!!
At last a video that is honest and sensible about decluttering. Some videoes put you under such pressure and the suggestions are just not sustainable in the real world. Also you are not mad to say thank you to unwanted items - I do too. Its good to be grateful. One thing on your videos, I wish you would actually show yourself doing these things rather than just sitting talking. Than you
Thank you for sharing!
One more thought about the "sparking joy" thinking is that sometimes a thing might spark joy when you see it during the decluttering process. However, you might then put it away neatly and not see it again until the next time you move house. I think you should ask more questions to decide whether you should keep it or not.
For sure, thank you!
I put my shoes away at the end of the day. Last week I decluttered a bunch of shoes and boots. Yesterday I decluttered 9 t shirts. Today I decluttered tube tops. Tomorrow I will go through dress pants and pull things I don't wear/don't fit. I donate to a homeless shelter. I do a lot throughout the day. I manage to declutter a little bit a day. I have no time to declutter a whole room in one day. It would burn me out. Kon Marie looked like overkill.
Great job!! ☺
Sounds like a good plan
I hear you on how to 'get rid' without dumping stuff... the upshot was, I started a 'car boot sale' (swap meet) locally. It not only got rid of stuff to people who wanted it, but raised money for community groups... it's still going, it's run by a local committee, it clears peoples houses, they get a financial reward for de-cluttering, folk get stuff affordably, it's eco shopping aaaaand it raises over €6k per annum for the local community.
Wow, that sounds amazing!!
You look good today, Taryn!
Great video,,and so true.
Have a Great Day!! 😊
Aww thanks, Christine! You have a great day too ☺
Sparks joy
One that helps me let go is this: I am helping my children by shedding half-treasures. Sure, Grandpappy’s pipe collection was interesting and evokes an era - it’s also smelly and stained and unusable (and unhealthy). Take a photo and let it go!
Great idea, thank you for sharing!
Excellent ideas, as always, Taryn. Took me 5 days to do my basement, cause I went through everything, like old clothes bins, etc. so I had several items for donation. I did have to keep them till the big truck came, but I kept them in one area of the basement. No problem.
Great job, Margie!
Thank you so much for promoting responsible decluttering! Your advice is always right on
Thank you so much, Barbara!
Unfortunately sometimes not everyone can find the perfect place to donate. Sometimes this added step can stop people in the tracks, stopping them from decluttering at all.
When l declutter my stuff, that's what l do with the stuff l decluttered;
1. I sort everything that l decluttered in the same day and plan this time as part of my decluttering process. So if l have little time, l declutter small space and sort those small decluttered items straight away.
2. When l sort things that l decluttered, first l ask myself "can l repurpose any of these items in a way that actually l will use it?". For example after decluttering some packaging from an old cellphone, l realised that l was looking for a small container to put in a drawer to hold some small items in the bathroom. This sturdy white old cell phone box is a perfect solution and saved me money to buy something instead.
2. Is there any item that you might think someone you know can use it ? If so, l take a quick photo of the item and send it to that person asking " Do you think you can use it ? ". If the answer is no, l decide to donate.
3. Everything that can be donated, l donate
4. If there is something that l think might be sold and worth something, l try to sell. ( Only leaving up to 2 week time, depends on the item). If l can't sell go to the second hand shops.
5. Nothing that can be used should go to the garbage bin. Garbage bins are for " garbage" not for useful items. If it will make someone else happy, l am happy to undertake the time.
So many people live in poverty, l don't like to be selfish and throw into a bin a perfectly usable item just because l don't want to spare time for that.
Whatever you decide to do, it should work for you but ALWAYS show that you think for others too.
Having enough items to declutter at home is a luxury. Not everyone has that luxury. So love for others should motivate us to do the right thing.
Thank you for sharing!
I have used the category method and the room method-they both work. It depends on your need and what you can get done. I just saw a video that said there are no rules, do what works for you.
For sure!
I donate to the local Mission.
I do the same thing. I think the item and then I like to think that somebody else will enjoy it like I did and give it to the thrift store. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I think it's actually helpful on a lot of levels. 😊
Awesome!
Definitely functionality!! & sustainable! I set a timer & go! I have 2 areas to complete …. 🎉🎉 bit by bit 😎
That sounds like a great system!
Yes, I feel that way, too!
Thank you!
I saw a video on a very popular decluttering channel where the woman said if you just can't deal with it, just throw it all out. That's horribly irresponsible. There are places you could call that would take it, don't just throw it in a landfill when it's perfectly useful stuff. Many places will come out to your home and pick it up. You could even get a tax write-off. Even if something seems useless to you, someone else might have a use for it.
Yes! It's so sad to think of throwing perfectly good things into the landfill :(
Put stuff out for free. My stuff goes like hotcakes!!!
So convenient!
My hubbys stuff never sparks joy 🤣😂
But I have containers it all has to fit in 😌
😂 thank you for sharing!!
We have shoes in different places too. Some in the utility room for yard and exercise. Regular shoes in our closet, snow shoes in a crate in our coat closet. Works for us. We generally have a no outside shoe in the house policy which is why this works.
I hate the fact that I have to wear shoes inside because I wear ankle braces.
We have the same policy! ☺
Great to put them where they will be used
You are most realistic. Thank you.
You are so welcome! 😊
I've done the Marie Kondo method, by category before. It made sense because you start with the easy first and end with the sentimental last. I will say that that last step is the toughest one. Conversely, of late, I have also taken on the approach that you recommend here. Even if it just the hall closet, e.g. wow, after going through shoes and coats, it is a pleasure now to open that closet and not have shoes falling out everywhere! One last point: a bigger thought than " getting rid of an item, " is to say instead both in action and deed, is to choose it. Great video, per usual.
Thank you so much!!
Fellow flea fighter here ✊🏻😭 I trashed (or boiled) SO much following that episode.
The worst, right?!!!
The ‘everything sparks joy’ comment was so cute :D such a lovely piece of your mind to have. Challenging, but lovely. Will be micro decluttering soon. 🌻
Thank you Amy, wishing you lots of luck with your micro decluttering!!
Fleas....ugh!!!!! Great video with great ideas. What a wonderful feeling when a whole room is done at once. Have a great day.
Thank you so much - you have a great day too!!
Thank you for your video. You’re always worth watching!
Thank you so much, Mary!!
The konmari method worked wonders for me. Seeing all items of lets say clothing i own (per sub category) really made me realize that I had too much. And lots of the items didn't spark joy or did so when looking at it but not while using it. I now use this method while shopping. Does it really spark joy/does it make my life easier or does the on sale price spark joy. If i wouldn't buy it for the full price, then it doesn't really spark joy or improve my life.
I prefer to declutter in small spurts, or often as I go about the day. Pulling everything out is overwhelming. I’ve actually just thrown everything back into the closet.
I know what you mean!! ☺
I put everything at the speed limit sign that's in my yard. When we moved in 5 years ago, that's where I first placed my items, and nothing stays there more than a few hours.
Love that - so convenient!
On the flea problem- I had a neighbors dog to have puppies under my house and somehow I ended up overrun with fleas. I sprinkled borax all around,left it 30 minutes and repeated the process within 10 days and no more fleas🙌🏼. I have no small children though
Urgh! Fleas are one of the worst things to deal with in a home (imho)!
I declutter only that I do not love no more. I love to be lonely I have my cats. So my life is minimal but with stuff I love
Thank you for sharing! ☺
All great ideas! Fantastic video
Thank you so much, Shelley!
I tried the nice organizer theory once - matching bottles for condiments in the fridge. Time wasted with all the decanting etc.
Yes - way too hard for real life IMO!
@@tarynmaria_ And, someone pointed out that when you decant, you can no longer see either the expiration date or any other pertinent product information.
Great vlog! Well done for saying not to just bin!... Dawn the Minimal Mum makes me so Angry because she always trashes everything and tell people to just trash it!.. some other American you tubers also say to do this!.. European you tubers say, recycle, donate. Swap parties etc.
Thank you, Rebecca! That is so interesting about European v American RUclipsrs!
Yes, please be responsible while decluttering. My former brother in law & his wife ordered a dumpster when cleaning out her mother's house after she died. My husband was really upset when he saw many useful items going to the trash.
I donate everything that can be used again, even a lid to something. Someone may have an item that needs that lid.
I donate and recycle as much as possible. I love the other advice these others have so tune out this less responsible advice.
right. and your trash will be someone else s treasure. I am a volunteer in a charity, you wouldn t imagine what people need/ want.
I have a 90 yr old neighbor that moved out of state with family, and another family member came for a few weekends to clean out her small condo. I had seen a muffin tin in her oven, and asked if I could take or buy her muffin tin, but it had just had been tossed in the dumpster. Sad.
Oh wow! Thank you for sharing!
I decluttered marie kondo and her ideas the first moment I thought about gathering up all my books in one place, and got overwhelmed immediately. Didn't work for me at all.
Thank you for sharing, Brenda! ☺
Books are harder to declutter than the sentimental items!
I have even sold kids clothes that pure play quality
It's so easy to feel overwhelmed when decuttering, so this is great advice. Bite size chunks and then it can be managable. Any chance of some advice on decluttering irresponsible neighbours please? :)
Ooooh the neighbors is a tough one! I wish I could help, I've had that happen as well. Fingers crossed they will move soon!
The weird thing is that they're fairly nice people...but with messy habits that encroach on my space. I've already spoken politely to them, so we'll see what happens. Everything crossed!
Ok, so in regard to donating, if a person lives out in the country and they have to drive 45 minutes or more to donate their stuff and they are drowning in stuff they can throw it away. It’s their stuff. Also, some people may not own a vehicle so in the trash it goes. When people choose to throw away rather than donate there is usually a good reason.
Ty😊
You are so welcome!
Thank you for all the decluttering tips!
You are so welcome!!
Agree- I could never declutter all my clothes at once. They are in multiple closets and off season bins in basement. It would be overwhelming!
For sure, I decluttered all my clothing once. I won't do it again, ha!
Having clothes everywhere means you have to many clothes
Good morning I am watching now on my bed with my phone in RUclips God bless you ❤
Good morning, Yasmeen! ☺❤
There are some people who would rather bin items as they are almost resentful of someone else getting their 'stuff' that they paid for.
Interesting, I never thought of that!
What works for one person does not necessarily work for someone else. Everyone should use whatever method works for them!
Yes!
Great tips, thanks!
👏👏👏👍💞😃
You are so welcome!
I feel that if you just throw useful things into the garbage as a quick fix then you will probably bring in more stuff because you didn't learn a lesson. We need to think about the full consequences when bringing an item home. Filling up the landfill with your mistakes without a thought is selfish and damaging. Good stewardship is something to be encouraged. Thanks Taryn !
Yes, great point! Thank you so much!
I declutter by very small spaces with 5 kids I have 15-30 minutes so a cupboard a day right now
I’ve watched a lot of decluttering videos and it makes mental watching when they go all out buying all these baskets and canisters to transfer cereals and what not. It looks pretty but it’s not decluttering to me, it’s decorating.
Yes! Decorating - and organizing clutter!
Where did you put the spray? (4:28) Sounds like "trash nothing"...
Yes! Trashnothing.com :)
I really think you should differentiate between people who are drowning in stuff and stressed and someone with bandwidth to get things out of home in a more sustainable way. Recommending that everybody dispose of things in a sustainable way is detrimental to those actually struggling with stuff.
People don't get cluttered overnight so while decluttering responsibly may take longer, I believe it's definitely possible.
Little bursts
It’s working for me
Thank you!
I have made peace with the fact that I don't have the mental bandwidth to deal with the usable items. I need a comfy, organized home & all my mental energy has gone to that. I will not declutter if I have to think of 300 hundred steps after I make a simple choice between keep, trash & usable (not every usable item can be donated to a donation centre). I can't think about selling or donating. I put all the usable items from a decluttering session in a big grocery plastic tote bags that my food delivery comes in (that way, it's an open bag, anyone can reach for an item easily, it has good handles & resistance, so they can carry the bag away & reuse it) & leave the bag in front of the building. I live in a big, walkable city, so the bag is gone in 20 min tops.
That's awesome that you can put items out - that is the perfect way to get rid of them imho :)
@@tarynmaria_ I really think so too. I take care of my stuff, so they're usually in decent condition even used. I like the idea that someone who needed them reached for them.
I couldn't do Kon Mari. Almost none of my clothes spark joy.
I NEVER understood the "decluttering by category"!
So from what I understand, the idea is to pull everything out from a specific category so you can see the volume that you have and that helps you decide how much to get rid of (ex. shoes, pots, etc.). I think it works well but I also think it's a lot of work!
I have cats. Do you mind my asking what flea product you used in your home?
The one I used was called Mycodex! It worked very well!
Well now I need to know what that flea spray is!
Haha, I linked it in the description - it's called Mycodex. I don't like using chemicals a lot but in this case it was necessary and it worked like nothing else!
11.02.2024
My adult children, especially dil will throw things perfectly good items in the trash instead of taking to a donation place.
There ya go, some peeps have different ways of thinking .... 😏
Very true! Thank you for sharing ☺
I know what you mean she could have done it.That's somebody that needed it.. I always think of someone else's needs.Someone may need it that don't have nothing
As I declutter, I work hard to re-home whatever I can. So many people are horrid stewards of the planet.
Great job!
Sparkling joy is a dopamine trap.
What is the site for people to come get your stuff for free?
I use Trashnothing.com and Buynothing.com :)
Let's not fool ourselves about "eco-friendly ways" of disposing of things. There's hardly such a thing, especially with clothes. Most of them end up in Africa, and then in landfills. As for objects, anything not bought in charity shops ends up... most likely not recycled. So in a way, honestly, I think disposing of things by sorting them before throwing them away, is not something to feel guilty about.
Donating is good, but I wouldn't count on it when buying something and thinking it's sustainable "because I can donate".
We should honestly feel guilty when buying something new.
I completely agree! I didn't go there in this video but not buying the item in the first place is the best option! (If you don't need it).
Love your necklace!! Where did you get it?
Thank you so much, Gretchen! I got it from Ana Luisa - I'll link it here, I never take it off, ha! I also used to have a 20% code that I think still works: www.analuisa.com/products/flower-station-necklace-rowena-necklace/ (Code: TarynMaria20)
@@tarynmaria_ Thank you!!!!!
I like to throw it away. I don’t feel like I want to sort it out, decide how to package, where to take the donations. The things I’m ditching have served their purpose and I feel fine throwing away to keep my momentum. There are certain nice things I do give away, but most go in the trash. Sorry.
Thank you for sharing!
I am a fan of the trash can method, if you are feeling overwhelmed. During the pandemic time, when there were no places to recycled or donate, I disposed of thousands of dollars, maybe tens of thousands. I refused to be a slave of the Environment god. No guilt.
Get bedbugs. You’ll declutter fast, and everything you can’t properly de-bug has to be trashed. Which is a LOT.
Oh my gosh - YES!
There are definite benefits to not having children. Parents (especially mothers) seem so trapped by the past and their nostalgia that they get buried in the stuff they associate with their children. A friend of mine has hauled all her daughter's baby clothes to four houses now, in dozens of huge garbage bags, because she can't bear to accept that her daughter is no longer a child. The past has no hold on me and my life is so much freer because of it.
I disagree that we need to find the perfect donation site for every thing we declutter. For many, it is essential for their mental health to get things out of their house. If things get donated, great. If not, that is ok too. Worrying about donating everything is also mental clutter.
Thanks for sharing!
Sorry but some peoples mental space does not allow them to find the PERFECT place for each item one is getting rid of. I am ALL for donating items. However, if doing this will stress the person out so much it will stop them from decluttering then they should throw items away. Let’s be real but resale shops only resell the best of the best ( even Goodwill) and shops throw items away anyway. I’m sure you
Didn’t mean to but you sounded harsh judging people for having to throw perfectly good things away.
Not trying to be judgy - there's always more to learn but we should all do better when we can!
I think focusing on how to declutter misses the whole point. It doesn't really matter how you declutter. What matters is figuring out where all that stuff came from in the first place.
I have lots of videos on that topic!
Have you been to thrift stores lately? They are overrun by decluttered items. You want to bet that they will be trashing a lot of stuff, that you should have trashed before you donated. The nation is glutted with stuff.
😸
Thank you!
Saying you aren’t saying something to shame someone doesn’t make it true. You are attempting to shame people who don’t do things the way you like or what works for you. Different methods work for different people, which is why there are so many different methods.
It IS shameful to throw away perfectly good things rather than dispose of them properly.
What here make you feel ashamed?
@@tarynmaria_ so….you WERE saying it to shame that person. I think lying is shameful. I donate a lot of items. Likely throw away a lot that some might find useful, but I either don’t see it that way or need to make decisions based on life circumstances. I am not going to put things out on my porch for others to take. It isn’t safe. The first time someone thinks if you’re giving away something that nice outside, what you have inside must be great, you may have placed yourself in a dangerous situation.
@@hlfra8687I think you’re projecting here. Why feel personally attacked from a fact as simple as “just throwing stuff away is a shame”, especially when you are already conscious about your actions? You can find the action shameful and not judge the person for it, these things can coexist, action =/= inherent worth of a person. 💀
@hlfra8687 I have put things that are donate-able on my driveway, by the road, for 18 years and it always gets taken. Last weekend was a nice leather chair. That doesn't make you a target.
I keep all my shoes in one closet. If I had more and spread all over, would be too many and probably means I have hoarder tendencies.
Thanks for sharing, Ann!