I had almost this exact same situation! I was on the journey to minimalism, slowly but surely. I still had a laundry room full of laundry overflow. You know, the stuff that doesn't make the cut every time you threw a load in. Sprinkled with some actual legitimate clothes that I wore often. Then our sewer backed up. Badly. As I cleaned up the poo water, I was giddy because the decision had been made for me. It all had to go. I was sad about a few sweaters. So instead of just throwing them out, I put them to use by using them to actually wipe up the solids. It was hilarious and sad all at once. Using some of my favourite sweaters, and a hoodie I loved, wore often, and even had sentimental value. I wiped thick layers of poo off the cement floor with it. It felt good to have them serve an important, and final, purpose once more. Just throwing them out felt unceremonial. And from a practicality standpoint, I had to scrape that poo off with something I was ok throwing out after, why not use the pretty poo garbage instead of the ugly stuff that didn't even deserve to get washed in the first place? And from then on, my decluttering and discarding really ramped up. Never again would I lose sight of my laundry room floor! Lesson learned. 💩 😊
I need to have a huge clean out. My precious sister died in January. It is now June and her kids are still sorting her stuff, from the home as well as storage. It really made me think
Really unique take. Just when you think you've heard it all. I like the idea of choosing your favorites to keep(abundance) rather than choosing what you can live without(scarcity). Thanks for the shift in perspective.
Just stumbled upon this video, and it absolutely resonates. I imagine every homeowner with a basement can relate, whether they've dealt with flooding, blackwater, mold, mice, an insect infestation, biblical plague and pestilence lol. It definitely puts clutter in perspective when you're faced with the prospect of cleaning everything, or you're forced to discard due to contamination or damage, or you're breathing a huge sigh of relief because the basement was empty when it happened and all you have to contend with is the problem itself. Refusing to hoard is its own reward. :-)
When I fully decluttered and purged, I was left with just my favorites. But to be honest, if a natural disaster went through our place, I wouldn't miss my favorites either. Minimalism just means you know what's of true value. And it would let me have fun shopping again. lol
So true Daniel. When we start out everything seems important, but the further we go into minimalism, it puts all the material things in the right perspective.
I did a huge de-clutter a year ago, but now I need to do another one - not because I e bought more ‘stuff’ but because I want more freedom. The best thing for me is to do one small thing and keep it up. I de-cluttered and tidied the linen closet a year ago and it’s stayed tidy. Next I need to get rid of the horrible dinner set I inherited from my mother - it is valuable but I hate it, and it takes up a whole cupboard! I can easily sell it. Then I’ll get my cupboard back 👍
We started decluttering last week after being "collectors" for too long. Had a yardsale this weekend and made $400! Everything else we clean out is going to be donated to our churches yardsale this month. Love your channel!
So the right question isn’t “what sparks joy?” The right question is “if this item was covered in poop, would I be willing to clean it in order to keep it?” I think this is the best advice ever!
Yeah, there’s nothing I’d want to clean poop off of, except my kiddos when they were small. Clutter really does steal our freedom to do the things that we want to with the people we love. Although I’m sure it was a terrible experience for you, thank you for sharing it.
2019: “Does this item bring me joy?” 2020: “Is it worth cleaning poop off of it?” 2021: “No need to ask, because it’s gone once and for all. I can focus on what’s important.”
we had a fire last year... it started on a freezer on a very cluttered huge pantry on one side and library on the other. it's a masonry house, so even if the firemen took halph an hour to arrive, only that division was burnt. my mother is a hoarder and a narcisist... the books, hundreds of them, are mine and they are the stuff where i put my money on since more than 20 years ago, for study and pleasure. they didn't burn, but they are kinda black. Ikea billy shelves with glass on front saved them! the pamtry side, however, was totally destroyed. two big horizontal freezers, full with food, a fridge and lots of other food items to waste and that was sad. but for the clutering the mother had there, oh my, i confess it was a relief! i knew it would be me to clear that stuff and i just couldn't, i didn't know where to start and whenrber i did, she would come and forbid me to throw anything away... in a sense, the fire was a bless. i lost my 1997 computer monitor, my nespresso, that i had put there to clean after, but i gained freedom of mind and space. she lost more, i know it was not easy for her, and now she needs to replace the pantry. she can't see the opportunity she got to start all new and in a better way. i hope she recovers and stop living like she went bankrupt. as for me, i am thankful, very!
This video reminds me of some episodes of the show Hoarders. Some of the people on it wanted to clean the rodent excrement off of things like bed linens, and curtains, children's toys, and kitchen tools. The mind set about things is something. My ah-ha moment was when we moved 3 yrs ago after living in our last home for 18 yrs. My children had done a lot of growing up during that time. Our lives changed dramatically when my husband passed. When I was preparing to sell that home, at least 65% of our things were donated. The freedom we have in our new home has been wonderful. Its a breeze to keep this home clean every day. I enjoy cleaning it because its so easy, and organized. And, keeping it declutted takes no time. One or two items now and then, go into the donate box or bag until its full, then its off to the thrift store to give those things a new life in someone else's home. That was quite a story you told. It reminded me of when one of my toilets in my last home wasn't flushing right, so I called in a handy man. It was too much for him to handle, so I called in a plumber. Well, I too had roots growing down there. Thankfully it was only one very fine root that had wound its way around the base of the toilet like a wreath lol. I called it my toilet garden lolol. This was a condo, so I was only responsible for what happened inside the home, and it only was around the base of the toilet. Thanks for sharing your horror story. I hope it makes those watching the video stop and think. 🥰💐🌱🌿🌷🌼🌻🌞🌵🏜️💞💗🥰💐🌱🌿🌷🌼🌻🌞🌵🏜️💞💗
Even a flood without the poop helps. I discovered which photos actually meant something to me. I'll definitely have to return to that experience to assist me. Thanks!
Today I was decluttering several large tubs, and the one on the bottom had a huge hole on the lid (from the weight of other heavy tubs of stuff). Anyway, when I opened it, it was covered in mouse poop!! A huge tub filled with old papers and books from 20 years ago covered in mouse droppings. Guess who loaded up our trash can?? I shared your story with my husband, and he agreed. If we wouldn’t be willing to clean off mouse droppings, then it needs to go:-).
Your story is one for the records. It paints a visual picture that will stay with me. It is such an incentive to remove those “just in case” items. Thankfully I did not have the same experience as you, but being a mother, I can just imagine it! I’m in the process of decluttering my next layer of stuff, inspired by some of your other videos, but this time I will be ….. remembering….💩 happens. Thanks for this story… you told it so well. I can just imagine your family gathered together and saying…. Remember when……
I and my husband live in the farmhouse built in 1892 by his grandparents. There were no closets in any rooms! Our best times were redoing walls, floors, etc in the house. I still have the original 1949 white wood kitchen cabinets, which I like. I've went with a slightly retro theme in the kitchen only. Every video I watch has something for me to learn! So I'm going through previous videos.Thanks!
🤣🤣🤣 I was not expecting this! Best advice ever!!! I’m absolutely certain you weren’t laughing at the time, but this is a humorous way to put things into perspective!
I'm only halfway through this video, but it is hands down my favorite so far. Love the dialog. Love the visuals. Love the humor. Love you, Rachel! I am laughing and relating all the way through this one. Nope. Not cleaning that off. Bye bye.
Whoever the Offending Pooper was, I’m sure if it hadn’t have been him, it would have happened sooner rather than later anyway by the sounds of the extensive repair work involved 🤣 Sorry that happened to you, but a good story and learning curve to share! You sure made the most of a s***ty situation 💩
Oh my goodness!!! You had me cracking up at "brown Niagra Falls"!! What a crazy experience, love your candor and sense of humor in sharing this! : ) Sandy
@@barbarahvilivitzky6747 Speaking of Niagara Falls, my mom tells of visiting there from New York City when she was a kid with her brother and parents, and being awestruck at how loud the falls were! And she asked her dad, they are so loud, how do people who live here sleep?! :-) - and he answered straight faced, that they just turn the falls off at night 😹😹🤣🤫😂💦
Rachel, you have such a way of describing this. Love the visuals. I'm glad it has been able to be used as lesson to us all. My downfall is saving jars, boxes and other containers. I need to go through that stuff now/again. Thankfully we have a very good recycling program in this part of our state. Cheers
I had this very same thing happen in an old family home I stayed in for two years in Michigan. Basements aren't always the safest place to keep items you really love.
This video and others on this site have given me comfort that at the age of 80, after being depressed at my mess for many years, I can make a difference this year.
I have a similar story. Our family cat started losing control of his bladder towards the end of his life. He spent most of his time in our very crowded basement, and suffice to say, sometimes he didn’t make the litter box. We were a family of “just in case” hoarders, but asking the question “has the cat peed on it?” really puts things into a new perspective. Even if we could theoretically sanitize something, the effort involved usually makes these things easy passes. 😆
Nice motivation! 🤭 I had a pair of shoes that i liked so much, that i couldnt throw away. Untill my tom cat peed on them! I was really glad!! It was the only time in 10 years that my Minou did such a thing (peeing in another place).
Not exactly your story, but your story inspired me: Miss Bonnie's Shoes Miss Bonnie had a pair of shoes And though she didn't like them She couldn't bear to let them go And soon she came to spite them Miss Bonnie's cat took care of that Well...in her special way Miss Bonnie thanked her "naughty" cat And threw those shoes away
Watching your channel has really helped me going in the minimal direction and letting go of clutter. You have such a gift of putting the reasons into a much better perspective, love those visuals, to let go without the guilt. I really appreciate your "words of wisdom". TY And, this video told about your house and the age, I know your channel is about minimalism, but I would love to see a tour of your home, inside & out and the history of it, sounds pretty interesting. Thank you.
We had a flood in our basement that ruined all my saved stuff. Our egresses were open, screened windows (no glass), which allowed water from a huge storm come in. Let’s just say that I stopped using my basement as a storage room. LOL!
That's the best question I've heard to ask so far! Who knew? In the end, it was not only a blessing accident for you and your family but also to your viewers. Excellent question! I'll be donating a lot using that question. 😂😂😂
lol! a great new decluttering question! you really have to love an item a whole lot to clean poop off of it! And I have been hearing this a lot lately - not what should I get rid of, but I need to unbury my diamonds and keep the good stuff so it doesn't get lost in all the clutter. I still have that mind set of what if I need it someday! I need to work on that. I really need to go through all my millions of photos and photo albums to find the pictures I really want. Thanks, this is something great to think about.
🤩😘 similar to your whoops.. i was tempted to get rid of stuff and my old cat helped me decide lol... an old house, the door blew shut to my bedroom when i wasnt home... the cat needed the bathroom and used the shirt on the ground haha. (so thoughtful and tidy of her)
It's been amazing to me to find that even if I have a hard time getting rid of something I haven't used in years, once I do - like almost immediately (within a day or two), I can't even remember what it was I got rid of! As soon as it's gone, it's gone from my mind - it's SO freeing!
Great video! Love the content and your filmmaking today! Thanks for being vulnerable -- it helps us all get clearer on how we can be more effective in our decluttering.
What a great story/lesson! I wondering if there is much of anything that I would be willing to clean 💩 off 🤮! Got me rethinking more of my stuff. Hmmm......
Nothing like a sump pump fail to bring on the same kind of purge… I joked that we had “washed” the basement, but I guess we did in a way; washed it clean of “just in case” clutter!
I've been using a similar mindset as I declutter my house. We had a mouse, just one of course 😏, that had done it's business in a bunch of our stuff in the basement. Easy to decide whether or not to chuck that stuff, but it's something I keep in mind while going through the rest of our stuff. Also, one of our cats had a bladder stone, which resulted in her peeing on some bookshelves and my doll cabinet. Needless to say, that is all gone too, along with the carpet. We kept the cat. She had to have surgery to remove the stones, but she's okay now. I remind myself: Either get rid of the excess by choice now, or the critters will decide for you later.
@@lindal3966 Yeah, I thought I'd better include that detail. 😊 Her name is PJ (Pure Joy). She couldn't help it. In fact, that's why I knew to take her to the vet. It was not normal behavior. Had we not taken her, they said she would have died because the stones were so big.
@@MelindaPlainandSimple Wow, Mimsie, your cat is so aptly named! I love it! And well done on being so astute and thereby saving her life. My beloved cat passed 6 weeks ago leaving us heartbroken. Best wishes from UK.
@@lindal3966 Oh I'm so sorry you lost your cat. It's so hard. What was your cat's name? We have lost many beloved pets over the years. They touch our lives so deeply and always remain in our hearts. We now have two, Pumpkin Pi and PJ, and they will probably be our last. Lovely to 'meet' you and 'cat chat'. Blessings from the US.
@@MelindaPlainandSimple Hi Mimsie! My cat was called Bonbon. She was utterly beautiful, a long haired, black Norwegian Forest kitty. She came to us almost thirteen years ago with a long haired, black, Norwegian Forest boy. He was called Steve. He too was much loved. Steve passed almost two years ago. By the way, we did not choose their names. They may have been named at the cat rescue centre in north London where we found them. Many people over the years have been amused on hearing our Steve's name! I, too, have lost several cats down the years and they most certainly take a piece of you when they leave. I have been telling my family that I don't think that I could cope, emotionally, with another one, but at the back of my mind is the thought, perhaps there is one out there that needs us, so, we will see. Bestwishes to you, and to the US. My mother was born in New Jersey so I have much affection for your country.
Nice story, a tragedy turn in a good result. My aha moment, happens las December when I went to my storage unit to pick some Christmas decorations and my surprised was a family of mouse makes my stuff theirs home. 🤦🏻♀️ I lost a lot but thanks God for that. Since December I been working seriously in decluttering, and less less stuff. I no longer have a storage unit, and my house look more beautiful every day. ☺️
OMG! Best video yet!! Not only were you helpful with your tips and advice I never laughed so hard and video. When you told the poop story I found myself laughing out loud. I struggle to ask the right questions when I’m getting rid of something. Now I’m going to laugh and ask is this worth cleaning poop off of. Thank you so much for making my day and my journey a lot easier.
Wow ...didn’t think I wanted to watch this..but THANKS ! I have closets full of things that I keep for sentimental value only ! I will definitely get rid of “ stuff” now. ☺️
This is a wonderful story. I've had this kind of "issue" before but lucky for me our basement was empty. Still unpleasant to clean up. I've learned so much from you. I am a clean and tidy homemaker. I have given away or thrown away the things we don't need. I only buy what I need. I feel better about myself and my home. THANKS!!
I meant to add that as an older woman I find a cordless vacuum very helpful as I can use it every day and not feel too pooped after (sorry!) As well, I bought a steam cleaner for my floors - what a terrific invention! Easy to keep my kitchen floor clean.
Our basement flooded 5 or 6 years ago, and we lost everything down there. Ask me today if I miss or can even remember any item that was thrown away -- NO, I do not. Like yours, mine was full of 'someday, maybe' stuff ... and someday never happened. Fortunately it didn't involve poop! But it did force me to rethink a few things and to realize that keeping stuff just for the sake of having it amounts to mental clutter I don't need.
Lady, you are the medicine I needed! I retired last month and anticipate moving out of state by years end. I really don't want to pay for a larger moving truck just so I can haul my clutter to another state. I mean, really!🤷🏻♀️ 🙄 I have made "some" progress, but much more needs to be addressed. Your videos will be on speed dial, so to speak, while I work my way through this pile-'o-stuff.👍🏻
This reminds me of the time I cleaned my sons chunky puke off his brand new wooden train track. He plays with it all of the time. Thank you for this. 😂
We live in a apt of 950 sq ft and we moved from a 1200 sq ft house and we thought we downsized before we moved to this place NOT! It is an older apt building and last week we live upstairs but our downstairs got the poop action in her tub EKKK This video reminds me although we live up it impacts my neighbor and would rethink my declutter project thanks to your video's.
I'm a new subscriber and now going thru your videos. I love your approach that goes directly to the heart of the subject. This one of asking the right question or questions is priceless! It describes my biggest stumbling block exactly. I just realized I wasn't asking myself the right question. Thank-You for giving me my 'light bulb' moment! I'm looking forward to listening to more of your videos!
I love so few things enough to clean 💩 off of it! What a wonderful video! Great challenge to think about the person I want to be and the things I want to do and what I NEED to be that person! My anxiety and depression have greatly improved as I’ve been decluttering and embracing a more minimal life. Thank you so much!❤️
I can so relate! 1890’s home here! Thankfully we have redone the plumbing over the years although who knows as we still have issues pop up from time to time. Lol. We are in the middle of a huge bedroom remodel we had never planned. The joists and sub flooring were rotting. We have oak floors. So during the time when lumber has skyrocketed we had to replace everything. Hubby is doing it all himself. He has the subfloor down and now is about to start putting in the oak. Fun times! Haha!
Holy crap. this is perspective changing! Pun intended, lol! I think our outside is a reflection of our our inside and finding balance is more valuable than we think. Thank you for sharing your insights!
my key question is for purging stuff: Would I be buying this item if I saw it in the shops? A month ago I struggled to part with some chunky woolly cardigans. I finally donated them to a local charity. Laet week when I saw my clothes hanging in the charity shop, they looked outdated, tired, dowdy -not at all how I considered them when they were hanging (gathering dust) in my closet! An epiphany moment
the one thng every family should do is teach their family is, if toilet starts to rise to high, pull the handle up, then turn water off. saves a lot of mess.
So sorry you went through that. Wow, what a boost forward on your decluttering journey! 🎉🎉🎉 Our upstairs looks great and I'm slowly peeling back the layers in our unfinished basement. 😊
Thank you for sharing your experience, I wouldn't want to clean off poop either. You have a lovely home! Time for me to continue with decluttering! Love your channel!
Ok you just phrased the best decluttering question ever 👌🏻 “Would I clean 💩 off of it” You are brilliant
😂 Thank you!
Right! That should now be the lens which we look through in making decluttering decisions.
I agree, the best question to ask ever. Certainly does it for me.
Easier to explain than "spark joy"!
“Do I love it enough to clean 💩 off of it” LOL!!! Great video!
I had almost this exact same situation! I was on the journey to minimalism, slowly but surely. I still had a laundry room full of laundry overflow. You know, the stuff that doesn't make the cut every time you threw a load in. Sprinkled with some actual legitimate clothes that I wore often. Then our sewer backed up. Badly. As I cleaned up the poo water, I was giddy because the decision had been made for me. It all had to go. I was sad about a few sweaters. So instead of just throwing them out, I put them to use by using them to actually wipe up the solids. It was hilarious and sad all at once. Using some of my favourite sweaters, and a hoodie I loved, wore often, and even had sentimental value. I wiped thick layers of poo off the cement floor with it. It felt good to have them serve an important, and final, purpose once more. Just throwing them out felt unceremonial. And from a practicality standpoint, I had to scrape that poo off with something I was ok throwing out after, why not use the pretty poo garbage instead of the ugly stuff that didn't even deserve to get washed in the first place?
And from then on, my decluttering and discarding really ramped up. Never again would I lose sight of my laundry room floor! Lesson learned. 💩 😊
I need to have a huge clean out. My precious sister died in January. It is now June and her kids are still sorting her stuff, from the home as well as storage. It really made me think
Really unique take. Just when you think you've heard it all. I like the idea of choosing your favorites to keep(abundance) rather than choosing what you can live without(scarcity). Thanks for the shift in perspective.
Just stumbled upon this video, and it absolutely resonates. I imagine every homeowner with a basement can relate, whether they've dealt with flooding, blackwater, mold, mice, an insect infestation, biblical plague and pestilence lol. It definitely puts clutter in perspective when you're faced with the prospect of cleaning everything, or you're forced to discard due to contamination or damage, or you're breathing a huge sigh of relief because the basement was empty when it happened and all you have to contend with is the problem itself. Refusing to hoard is its own reward. :-)
When I fully decluttered and purged, I was left with just my favorites. But to be honest, if a natural disaster went through our place, I wouldn't miss my favorites either. Minimalism just means you know what's of true value. And it would let me have fun shopping again. lol
So true Daniel. When we start out everything seems important, but the further we go into minimalism, it puts all the material things in the right perspective.
I did a huge de-clutter a year ago, but now I need to do another one - not because I e bought more ‘stuff’ but because I want more freedom. The best thing for me is to do one small thing and keep it up. I de-cluttered and tidied the linen closet a year ago and it’s stayed tidy. Next I need to get rid of the horrible dinner set I inherited from my mother - it is valuable but I hate it, and it takes up a whole cupboard! I can easily sell it. Then I’ll get my cupboard back 👍
I loved this. Particularly reframing questions so we're not coming from a scarcity mindset!
We are looking at it from a scarcity mindset....this hit home. Thank you.
Your question 'Do I love this enough to clean poop off it' and your story of how it came about, made me smile...the first time today. Thank you!
I had a bunch of stuff ruined by some flooding a while back. It was so liberating to just chuck it. :)
I feel that!
We started decluttering last week after being "collectors" for too long. Had a yardsale this weekend and made $400! Everything else we clean out is going to be donated to our churches yardsale this month. Love your channel!
So the right question isn’t “what sparks joy?” The right question is “if this item was covered in poop, would I be willing to clean it in order to keep it?” I think this is the best advice ever!
Yeah, there’s nothing I’d want to clean poop off of, except my kiddos when they were small. Clutter really does steal our freedom to do the things that we want to with the people we love. Although I’m sure it was a terrible experience for you, thank you for sharing it.
2019: “Does this item bring me joy?”
2020: “Is it worth cleaning poop off of it?”
2021: “No need to ask, because it’s gone once and for all. I can focus on what’s important.”
I love that!
we had a fire last year... it started on a freezer on a very cluttered huge pantry on one side and library on the other. it's a masonry house, so even if the firemen took halph an hour to arrive, only that division was burnt.
my mother is a hoarder and a narcisist... the books, hundreds of them, are mine and they are the stuff where i put my money on since more than 20 years ago, for study and pleasure. they didn't burn, but they are kinda black. Ikea billy shelves with glass on front saved them!
the pamtry side, however, was totally destroyed. two big horizontal freezers, full with food, a fridge and lots of other food items to waste and that was sad. but for the clutering the mother had there, oh my, i confess it was a relief!
i knew it would be me to clear that stuff and i just couldn't, i didn't know where to start and whenrber i did, she would come and forbid me to throw anything away... in a sense, the fire was a bless. i lost my 1997 computer monitor, my nespresso, that i had put there to clean after, but i gained freedom of mind and space. she lost more, i know it was not easy for her, and now she needs to replace the pantry. she can't see the opportunity she got to start all new and in a better way. i hope she recovers and stop living like she went bankrupt.
as for me, i am thankful, very!
This video reminds me of some episodes of the show Hoarders. Some of the people on it wanted to clean the rodent excrement off of things like bed linens, and curtains, children's toys, and kitchen tools. The mind set about things is something. My ah-ha moment was when we moved 3 yrs ago after living in our last home for 18 yrs. My children had done a lot of growing up during that time. Our lives changed dramatically when my husband passed. When I was preparing to sell that home, at least 65% of our things were donated. The freedom we have in our new home has been wonderful. Its a breeze to keep this home clean every day. I enjoy cleaning it because its so easy, and organized. And, keeping it declutted takes no time. One or two items now and then, go into the donate box or bag until its full, then its off to the thrift store to give those things a new life in someone else's home. That was quite a story you told. It reminded me of when one of my toilets in my last home wasn't flushing right, so I called in a handy man. It was too much for him to handle, so I called in a plumber. Well, I too had roots growing down there. Thankfully it was only one very fine root that had wound its way around the base of the toilet like a wreath lol. I called it my toilet garden lolol. This was a condo, so I was only responsible for what happened inside the home, and it only was around the base of the toilet. Thanks for sharing your horror story. I hope it makes those watching the video stop and think. 🥰💐🌱🌿🌷🌼🌻🌞🌵🏜️💞💗🥰💐🌱🌿🌷🌼🌻🌞🌵🏜️💞💗
Even a flood without the poop helps. I discovered which photos actually meant something to me. I'll definitely have to return to that experience to assist me. Thanks!
Today I was decluttering several large tubs, and the one on the bottom had a huge hole on the lid (from the weight of other heavy tubs of stuff). Anyway, when I opened it, it was covered in mouse poop!! A huge tub filled with old papers and books from 20 years ago covered in mouse droppings. Guess who loaded up our trash can?? I shared your story with my husband, and he agreed. If we wouldn’t be willing to clean off mouse droppings, then it needs to go:-).
Your story is one for the records. It paints a visual picture that will stay with me. It is such an incentive to remove those “just in case” items. Thankfully I did not have the same experience as you, but being a mother, I can just imagine it!
I’m in the process of decluttering my next layer of stuff, inspired by some of your other videos, but this time I will be ….. remembering….💩 happens.
Thanks for this story… you told it so well. I can just imagine your family gathered together and saying…. Remember when……
😂
I and my husband live in the farmhouse built in 1892 by his grandparents. There were no closets in any rooms! Our best times were redoing walls, floors, etc in the house. I still have the original 1949 white wood kitchen cabinets, which I like. I've went with a slightly retro theme in the kitchen only.
Every video I watch has something for me to learn! So I'm going through previous videos.Thanks!
🤣🤣🤣 I was not expecting this! Best advice ever!!! I’m absolutely certain you weren’t laughing at the time, but this is a humorous way to put things into perspective!
I'm only halfway through this video, but it is hands down my favorite so far. Love the dialog. Love the visuals. Love the humor. Love you, Rachel! I am laughing and relating all the way through this one. Nope. Not cleaning that off. Bye bye.
😂 I'm so glad!
Powerful! I am going to use this question from now on - especially when I start becoming wishy-washy and putting things back.
Whoever the Offending Pooper was, I’m sure if it hadn’t have been him, it would have happened sooner rather than later anyway by the sounds of the extensive repair work involved 🤣
Sorry that happened to you, but a good story and learning curve to share! You sure made the most of a s***ty situation 💩
😂 So true!
You rock!
Disasters declutter instantly.
Fantastic tip! That’s going to be my secret decluttering mantra from now on!
Me too!
I’m always amazed at how a change in perspective can make such monumental changes in our lives.
Oh my goodness!!! You had me cracking up at "brown Niagra Falls"!! What a crazy experience, love your candor and sense of humor in sharing this! : ) Sandy
😂 thanks Sandy!
Hey, I live in Niagara Falls!! Still it was a very good example - love it!
@@barbarahvilivitzky6747 Speaking of Niagara Falls, my mom tells of visiting there from New York City when she was a kid with her brother and parents, and being awestruck at how loud the falls were! And she asked her dad, they are so loud, how do people who live here sleep?! :-) - and he answered straight faced, that they just turn the falls off at night 😹😹🤣🤫😂💦
Rachel, you have such a way of describing this. Love the visuals. I'm glad it has been able to be used as lesson to us all.
My downfall is saving jars, boxes and other containers. I need to go through that stuff now/again. Thankfully we have a very good recycling program in this part of our state.
Cheers
love your down to earth decluttering issues & on tackling them
I had this very same thing happen in an old family home I stayed in for two years in Michigan. Basements aren't always the safest place to keep items you really love.
I’m glad God led me to your channel!
This video and others on this site have given me comfort that at the age of 80, after being depressed at my mess for many years, I can make a difference this year.
I have a similar story. Our family cat started losing control of his bladder towards the end of his life. He spent most of his time in our very crowded basement, and suffice to say, sometimes he didn’t make the litter box. We were a family of “just in case” hoarders, but asking the question “has the cat peed on it?” really puts things into a new perspective. Even if we could theoretically sanitize something, the effort involved usually makes these things easy passes. 😆
Nice motivation! 🤭 I had a pair of shoes that i liked so much, that i couldnt throw away. Untill my tom cat peed on them! I was really glad!! It was the only time in 10 years that my Minou did such a thing (peeing in another place).
Not exactly your story, but your story inspired me:
Miss Bonnie's Shoes
Miss Bonnie had a pair of shoes
And though she didn't like them
She couldn't bear to let them go
And soon she came to spite them
Miss Bonnie's cat took care of that
Well...in her special way
Miss Bonnie thanked her "naughty" cat
And threw those shoes away
@@MelindaPlainandSimple Haha very good indeed!
@@deliawright8626 Thank you!
@@MelindaPlainandSimple, so nice! 👍👋
@@ddd1dorin396 Thank you. And thank you for the inspiration!!!
Preach it girl friend! Thank You so much!
Watching your channel has really helped me going in the minimal direction and letting go of clutter. You have such a gift of putting the reasons into a much better perspective, love those visuals, to let go without the guilt. I really appreciate your "words of wisdom". TY
And, this video told about your house and the age, I know your channel is about minimalism, but I would love to see a tour of your home, inside & out and the history of it, sounds pretty interesting. Thank you.
We had a flood in our basement that ruined all my saved stuff. Our egresses were open, screened windows (no glass), which allowed water from a huge storm come in. Let’s just say that I stopped using my basement as a storage room. LOL!
What a wonderful question to ask! I watched this last year, and I'm so glad you mentioned this in today's video so I could watch it again. 💛
That's the best question I've heard to ask so far! Who knew? In the end, it was not only a blessing accident for you and your family but also to your viewers. Excellent question! I'll be donating a lot using that question. 😂😂😂
😁
lol! a great new decluttering question! you really have to love an item a whole lot to clean poop off of it! And I have been hearing this a lot lately - not what should I get rid of, but I need to unbury my diamonds and keep the good stuff so it doesn't get lost in all the clutter. I still have that mind set of what if I need it someday! I need to work on that. I really need to go through all my millions of photos and photo albums to find the pictures I really want. Thanks, this is something great to think about.
🤩😘 similar to your whoops.. i was tempted to get rid of stuff and my old cat helped me decide lol... an old house, the door blew shut to my bedroom when i wasnt home... the cat needed the bathroom and used the shirt on the ground haha. (so thoughtful and tidy of her)
It's been amazing to me to find that even if I have a hard time getting rid of something I haven't used in years, once I do - like almost immediately (within a day or two), I can't even remember what it was I got rid of! As soon as it's gone, it's gone from my mind - it's SO freeing!
My favorite video of your so far!!!! That was a big aha moment.
Great video! Love the content and your filmmaking today! Thanks for being vulnerable -- it helps us all get clearer on how we can be more effective in our decluttering.
Thanks so much Cristin!
What a great story/lesson! I wondering if there is much of anything that I would be willing to clean 💩 off 🤮! Got me rethinking more of my stuff. Hmmm......
Nothing like a sump pump fail to bring on the same kind of purge… I joked that we had “washed” the basement, but I guess we did in a way; washed it clean of “just in case” clutter!
I've been using a similar mindset as I declutter my house. We had a mouse, just one of course 😏, that had done it's business in a bunch of our stuff in the basement. Easy to decide whether or not to chuck that stuff, but it's something I keep in mind while going through the rest of our stuff. Also, one of our cats had a bladder stone, which resulted in her peeing on some bookshelves and my doll cabinet. Needless to say, that is all gone too, along with the carpet. We kept the cat. She had to have surgery to remove the stones, but she's okay now. I remind myself: Either get rid of the excess by choice now, or the critters will decide for you later.
I am so happy that you kept your cat, Mimsie Whimsy!
@@lindal3966 Yeah, I thought I'd better include that detail. 😊 Her name is PJ (Pure Joy). She couldn't help it. In fact, that's why I knew to take her to the vet. It was not normal behavior. Had we not taken her, they said she would have died because the stones were so big.
@@MelindaPlainandSimple Wow, Mimsie, your cat is so aptly named! I love it! And well done on being so astute and thereby saving her life. My beloved cat passed 6 weeks ago leaving us heartbroken. Best wishes from UK.
@@lindal3966 Oh I'm so sorry you lost your cat. It's so hard. What was your cat's name?
We have lost many beloved pets over the years. They touch our lives so deeply and always remain in our hearts. We now have two, Pumpkin Pi and PJ, and they will probably be our last.
Lovely to 'meet' you and 'cat chat'. Blessings from the US.
@@MelindaPlainandSimple Hi Mimsie! My cat was called Bonbon. She was utterly beautiful, a long haired, black Norwegian Forest kitty. She came to us almost thirteen years ago with a long haired, black, Norwegian Forest boy. He was called Steve. He too was much loved. Steve passed almost two years ago. By the way, we did not choose their names. They may have been named at the cat rescue centre in north London where we found them. Many people over the years have been amused on hearing our Steve's name! I, too, have lost several cats down the years and they most certainly take a piece of you when they leave. I have been telling my family that I don't think that I could cope, emotionally, with another one, but at the back of my mind is the thought, perhaps there is one out there that needs us, so, we will see.
Bestwishes to you, and to the US. My mother was born in New Jersey so I have much affection for your country.
Nice story, a tragedy turn in a good result. My aha moment, happens las December when I went to my storage unit to pick some Christmas decorations and my surprised was a family of mouse makes my stuff theirs home. 🤦🏻♀️ I lost a lot but thanks God for that. Since December I been working seriously in decluttering, and less less stuff. I no longer have a storage unit, and my house look more beautiful every day. ☺️
What a blessing in disguise! Good work Edith! ❤️
Oh dear! For me, after I got over the shock of what just happened, I'd say, "Okay, Lord, I get it. Clean out the basement..."
I'm laughing so hard I can't breathe. Great story. I will definitely use this in my mindset!
I was like OH GROSS 😫but laughing all the way through this. 🤣. I love your humour. Such a great way to reflect back on life's icky moment.
😂
OMG! Best video yet!! Not only were you helpful with your tips and advice I never laughed so hard and video. When you told the poop story I found myself laughing out loud. I struggle to ask the right questions when I’m getting rid of something. Now I’m going to laugh and ask is this worth cleaning poop off of. Thank you so much for making my day and my journey a lot easier.
Wow ...didn’t think I wanted to watch this..but THANKS ! I have closets full of things that I keep for sentimental value only !
I will definitely get rid of “ stuff” now. ☺️
This is a wonderful story. I've had this kind of "issue" before but lucky for me our basement was empty. Still unpleasant to clean up. I've learned so much from you. I am a clean and tidy homemaker. I have given away or thrown away the things we don't need. I only buy what I need. I feel better about myself and my home. THANKS!!
I meant to add that as an older woman I find a cordless vacuum very helpful as I can use it every day and not feel too pooped after (sorry!) As well, I bought a steam cleaner for my floors - what a terrific invention! Easy to keep my kitchen floor clean.
Our basement flooded 5 or 6 years ago, and we lost everything down there. Ask me today if I miss or can even remember any item that was thrown away -- NO, I do not. Like yours, mine was full of 'someday, maybe' stuff ... and someday never happened. Fortunately it didn't involve poop! But it did force me to rethink a few things and to realize that keeping stuff just for the sake of having it amounts to mental clutter I don't need.
Your basement's in my attic and i'm getting rid of it before I find out that stuff flows up!
Best decluttering phrase ever! You are a hoot! Great video!
Lady, you are the medicine I needed!
I retired last month and anticipate moving out of state by years end.
I really don't want to pay for a larger moving truck just so I can haul my clutter to another state.
I mean, really!🤷🏻♀️ 🙄
I have made "some" progress, but much more needs to be addressed.
Your videos will be on speed dial, so to speak, while I work my way through this
pile-'o-stuff.👍🏻
This is a great story. So funny, and helpful, too! Thanks for sharing. ❤
This reminds me of the time I cleaned my sons chunky puke off his brand new wooden train track. He plays with it all of the time. Thank you for this. 😂
🤢😂
Thanks for sharing this story, Rachel! 🤗 Your videos really help me to develop the right mindset!
We live in a apt of 950 sq ft and we moved from a 1200 sq ft house and we thought we downsized before we moved to this place NOT! It is an older apt building and last week we live upstairs but our downstairs got the poop action in her tub EKKK This video reminds me although we live up it impacts my neighbor and would rethink my declutter project thanks to your video's.
Ha! This is brilliant. I know who I'm going to share this with today. :)
Thank you for helping me grow.
Your home looks very peaceful
I'm a new subscriber and now going thru your videos. I love your approach that goes directly to the heart of the subject. This one of asking the right question or questions is priceless! It describes my biggest stumbling block exactly. I just realized I wasn't asking myself the right question. Thank-You for giving me my 'light bulb' moment! I'm looking forward to listening to more of your videos!
This is such an "Aha! moment" video. Thank you.
I love your videos
Hi Hope you have a nice day. Thanks for the info. 👍🏻🌹❤️☕️
Rachel I love you. 😂😂😂
I'm so glad! 😂
I love so few things enough to clean 💩 off of it! What a wonderful video! Great challenge to think about the person I want to be and the things I want to do and what I NEED to be that person! My anxiety and depression have greatly improved as I’ve been decluttering and embracing a more minimal life. Thank you so much!❤️
That's so encouraging Kimberly! 😊
I can so relate! 1890’s home here! Thankfully we have redone the plumbing over the years although who knows as we still have issues pop up from time to time. Lol. We are in the middle of a huge bedroom remodel we had never planned. The joists and sub flooring were rotting. We have oak floors. So during the time when lumber has skyrocketed we had to replace everything. Hubby is doing it all himself. He has the subfloor down and now is about to start putting in the oak. Fun times! Haha!
Whew! These old houses, every time you open it up there's a surprise. LOL
Holy crap. this is perspective changing! Pun intended, lol! I think our outside is a reflection of our our inside and finding balance is more valuable than we think. Thank you for sharing your insights!
I'm so glad I stumbled across your channel. Your aha moment and story of the basement really resonated with me. Thank you for sharing!!
YES, haha. That's an AWESOME question and I'm totally using it from now on.
Thank you for sharing this. It makes me think!
Oh wow, this was good for me. God Bless!
That was such a good video and so very helpful. I sincerely thank you for sharing what you've learned.
❤️this one!! 😂
You are just so cute! Loving your channel, thank you.
Woaaah. Brilliant
I’m so glad I found your channel!! Thank you for putting in the time.
haaaaaaa! Great story
my key question is for purging stuff: Would I be buying this item if I saw it in the shops?
A month ago I struggled to part with some chunky woolly cardigans. I finally donated them to a local charity.
Laet week when I saw my clothes hanging in the charity shop, they looked outdated, tired, dowdy -not at all how I considered them when they were hanging (gathering dust) in my closet!
An epiphany moment
Great story! Thank you! 😬😆
Powerful video, makes ya think. Thanks!
OMG thank you for the story very enlightening!
Great video, thanks.
What a fun story:)))
Thank you tremendously for this
I ♡ how you really zero in and express exactly the issues....cleaning takes longer with clutter in the way 👈🏽oh yes !!
OMG what a story
the one thng every family should do is teach their family is, if toilet starts to rise to high, pull the handle up, then turn water off. saves a lot of mess.
I love your videos. I just found you 💚 Your videos are so relatable!! New subscriber⚘
So sorry you went through that. Wow, what a boost forward on your decluttering journey! 🎉🎉🎉
Our upstairs looks great and I'm slowly peeling back the layers in our unfinished basement. 😊
Thank you for sharing your experience, I wouldn't want to clean off poop either. You have a lovely home! Time for me to continue with decluttering! Love your channel!
I think you helped me out a lot here!!! Nope don't want to clean poo!!! Thank you
This is the greatest video I’ve seen in a long time!