I started cleaning the kitchen everyday, and this inspired my husband to start bringing in dishes from around the home and emptying the dishwasher. In a couple months time we both make the effort and check throughout the day if the kitchen gets messy and enjoy a friendly competition of who gets to clean it first. We also started saying thank you more often to each other, a special bonus.

@Saforra99

Жыл бұрын

How lovely! All sorts of benefits :D

@JaneH3675

Жыл бұрын

That is so awesome!

@anniebanker712

Жыл бұрын

Love this! ❤

@Meme-go9ts

Жыл бұрын

I keep reading chicken instead of kitchen 😅😁

@christineb2640

Жыл бұрын

How sweet ❤

I bring home an empty box from my grocery trip to Aldi and set a goal to fill it before the next grocery trip. It's been surprising how the consistency has paid off and it hasn't felt like an overwhelming task.

@jacqueline-jackietorres3455

Жыл бұрын

Great idea!

@westmdmama

Жыл бұрын

I love this idea

@katrinajohnson9622

Жыл бұрын

Oh my gosh thank you so much for this! My system is that whenever we buy baby diapers from Costco, that I fill that box. But we don’t buy diapers frequently enough/the box isn’t big enough for the rate of items that I am inviting to leave my home, lol. I will adopt your Aldi’s box plan! Thanks!

@kimberlywalker280

Жыл бұрын

Cool!

@MegOfBroccoli

Жыл бұрын

Ick.

“Take it there now” is KEY! And “5 minutes matter” is how I “unlock” the clutter from my area… I can’t tell you how many times I’ve even had to use a “60 seconds matter” approach when I just don’t have the energy (have spina bifida)…but it’s DONE! Whatever it is/was is dealt with.

@temi4116

Жыл бұрын

Seana- NICE!!!!

For the person with limited mobility - i have some boxes that are labeled with the room where something should be when i am decluttering. I put the item in the box where it should go. At another time i take the box to the room where it belongs. Sometimes i leave it in the box and sometime i take it out of the box and put it where it belongs.

@carolgeorge6409

8 ай бұрын

@susanheller7877. I have one box “take it there” and use that most of the time INSTEAD of trying to “take it there right now “ It works for me! When I’m tidying up I do take it there right now!

I cleaned off my kitchen table for the first time in two years! Before I was just making piles, moving piles around. This is the first time I've ever found a prosses that works!

So much useful information and guidance, but by far my favorite part was when you said "it's good that there are cat friendly homes because cats need homes that are friendly" that made me laugh away my post holiday blahs

@beccismith4454

Жыл бұрын

❤😂😻😻😻

I just had a revelation about "take it there now" while disabled/mobility problems. If I find a spoon that belongs in the kitchen, and then I scan the area for anything else that belongs in the kitchen AND I GATHER WHAT I CAN CARRY IN ONE TRIP to take it there now to the kitchen... well, that is all I was going to be able to carry in one trip anyway. If I previously sorted the entire pile into various rooms to deliver armfuls of stuff to, I still wouldn't be carrying more in one trip than I could carry in one trip! It's so DUH! You're supposed to carry one "tripfull", and you carry one tripfull, and the only difference is whether you did it NOW, or waited until you had 20 tripfulls at once to carry back and forth and everywhere! Gathering 20 tripfulls of stuff to carry back and forth all over the house is daunting. It could make me not want to start doing the mobility challenge of all that walking and carrying at once. But doing one tripfull at a time, as I recognize I have enough to carry to that ONE room right now, actually spaces out the walking so it is a gentler process with fewer steps to face all at once! I think part of my resistance to "take it there now" was imagining myself walking back and forth to every spot in the house carrying one item at a time, in a very inefficient way, wasting steps. But NO! Gathering all you can carry in one trip for one destination is part of the process! Thank you, Dana, for helping me see the folly of hoarding up twenty trips to handle in one burst vs. one trip at a time.

@grutarg2938

Жыл бұрын

That's a great strategy. It sort of reverses Dana's process. "I'm going to the kitchen. What do I see that belongs in the kitchen that I can take with me right now?"

@LisaSmith3663

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for explaining that. I have been doing something similar the last few months because of my own health challenges. When I have to get up to use the bathroom I look around and see what I can take with me and then when I'm up I look around to see what I could do in a short burst or put elsewhere or trash. Otherwise it's all overwhelming and it's still daunting but those constant brief bursts of moving or cleaning are making a difference.

@caitlinadamz4019

3 ай бұрын

Like dishes math! Take it there now math? That’s a really great point. There will just be even more things to go to the place the longer you wait.

I think with a great truth, comes great emotion. YOU ARE NOT ALONE is true for anyone who is struggling not just with this issue, but with anything! You have brought peace to so many people just by letting them know that they aren't defective, there's nothing wrong with them, and they are not a bad person or stupid because we are bumfuzzled by home management. AND you have created a system that WORKS. That NASA scientists are in your program reminds me that I am in good company! THANK YOU SO MUCH, Dana! ❤

@temi4116

Жыл бұрын

Hali's Ledger, well said . And I like Dana's words , style and knowledge. I've learned more from her than from several sources, whether books , classes or other means.

@LedgerAndLace

Жыл бұрын

@@temi4116 Yes! I've read books, taken classes, hired organizers and Dana's system is the only one that has worked for me. LIFE CHANGING!

It’s unbelievable how there is ALWAYS rubbish in an area that I “know” there could not possibly be any rubbish…. I said exactly this to my daughter 2 days ago when she said to me “I’m not looking in that box because I know what’s inside and there is no rubbish in there” To her surprise, there was rubbish and donations inside the box…😉😉 I also said to her “you can keep anything and everything you want but your room is your container”🙌🙌 You REALLY make a difference Dana ❤

Dana, I started bawling when you got choked up. You have given so many people hope because you are us and we are you! I was nodding my head every time you said, "That was my story..." I bought your "How to Manage Your Home..." in January 2017 (can you say new years resolution! lol!!) and started "doing the dishes" for the first time in 59 years 😱 It changed my home and it changed my life! I joined Take Your House Back hoping to establish a weekly cleaning routine. I was initially disappointed because I didn't really think I had a clutter problem lol!!. OMG... I was so wrong! I now have my car in the garage and my last Catch All Messy Room is clean! Oh... and I figured out a cleaning routine, too! I can't thank you enough!!

Your tears just show how much this hurt in the past, how passionate you are about this and also that you care for all of us ❤

I have problems with my hip. Sometimes I'm ok sometimes not. I have several laundry baskets that nest into one another. When I am cleaning, and if my hip is kinda iffy, I use the laundry baskets. One basket for my kids room, one for my room, one for hallway closet, one for whatever room I'm not in. That way I can just take the basket once, less walking overall, and I'm not making a huge mess of piles. I'm able to just take each basket.

Ongoing donation box is brilliant. I have o going donation bag for clothes at the bottom of my closet. Sometimes it's empty for long time, but everytime I come across piece of clothing that is no longer useful I just place it in the bag. I take it out of house every few weeks, we have here containers for such donations so I grab bag and don't even look inside, the decision was already made

Wow--the part about just working until you're tired/don't want to is so freeing for me! It seems like such a basic thing, but hearing you say that just made my weekend better 😊

The No mess declutter was an aha moment for me.

I finished watching with the thoughts of tackling our basement weighing heavily on my mind. I've been mentally dividing the job up, and hopefully, will begin the task next week. We leave Christmas decorations up until after the new year. I find this week, between the two holidays, so relaxing, finally able to appreciate the decor without the hustle-bustle going on. In short, I breath! Thank you for all of your advice. I've used it in my home and my recently widowed mother's with wonderful results. Blessings!

Thats what makes you so special! You're so genuine, vulnerable and actually explain how to THINK through the process! Many of those "experienced" utubers like to just say "watch me declutter and you'll magically start following along" Um. Yea. Right. 🙄

@happyx2

Жыл бұрын

Hahaha! So true!

When I was a kid, I always used the bottom drawer of my dresser for special stuff. I think that was just a normal thing my mom taught us was for special things. I didn't know it but it was the container concept. On my own I would go through things and just know - oh, I want this to fit so I need to make room for it. Maybe a good idea for ease of accessibility for both adults and kids. I've gotten away from that as an adult because I have a container with each persons name on it. My husband is resistant to "container under bed" so he has the double door "media shelves" in our bedroom furniture. I think my middle son would like to see his special stuff more often so I think I'm going to give him his bottom dresser drawer for memories. 😊

"the head explosion rule"

I too was a planner for chores. I even tried to make games out of it to make me do it but nothing lasted. A bit of time here and there works better for me. I'm still mostly on just removing trash. But the best thing about starting with trash is that my brain switched from "pile of stuff" to "pile of stuff and trash" and it doesn't like trash, so I can now constantly "see" trash and want to remove it relatively quickly.😄 Planning on doing a bit of decluttering every day in 2023. Today I did 1 part of my shelf. It's progress.

My advice for the mom with the senior who is moving away...have the child declutter.

I have been on bed rest and now still in bed from an emergency c-section. I have had someone bring me one bin, one box, and the kitchen trash can. I sort the one bin and if a box of donate gets filled the other person takes it right out to my trunk. I donate to a drop-off down the road from my grocery pick up. If I have the energy I will sort one small portion of a kitchen cabinet.

@LisaSmith3663

Жыл бұрын

Enjoy that baby it won't be a baby long and take that declutter slow.

@LisaSmith3663

Жыл бұрын

Enjoy that baby it won't be a baby long and take that declutter slow.

Thank you, Dana! I'm watching while I declutter my sewing room. It's emotional because I have not only my stuff and my daughter's stuff, but also my mother's (died in 2003) and grandmother's (died in 2002) stuff. Remembering that I need this space to be tidy and inspirational now, makes the decisions clearer about what deserves space and what needs to go. Also, now I'm tempted to organize my life by chicken era. We have had chickens for years and we tend to think of it as "that's when we had Moe the Rooster" or "that was Huey's era".

If you put clothes - for free - on craigslist. They will be gone from your house within hours. I've said, "They are dusty and have cat hair on them, because they've been hanging in my closet for years." Within minutes of posting the ad, I have people calling me. Within hours of posting the ad, the clothes have been picked up. I've done this twice, now. Both times, same thing - gone within a couple of hours.

Amen!! Yes!!! Life saver and sanity saver for sure. Your process is how I do all decluttering now.

I find when I donate something or throw something out, I feel immensely satisfied more so than ever, especially since I love Dana’s way of decluttering!

With the kids, Dawn from Minimal Mom has a donation box in each of the kid's closets. You might also make it into a game. Set the timer for 5 minutes - first one done with the cleanest room - do a white glove test even - gets to pick the game to play for family game night or gets an extra hour of computer time - whatever the incentive is for your kids or maybe even not setting the table or whatever the chore is they would rather not do. You do it that day instead. Try not to punish the other kid by picking up the sibling's chore. Hope that helps.

I can’t tell you how much you helped me by telling me about your paralyses I thought I was alone Thank you

Just here to say thank you. Thank you for always making such a huge effort and putting out more content, more q and a’s. With the holidays and finishing up a bunch of crafts as Christmas gifts the last few weeks, I totally have been slacking on daily routines, Decluttering, maintaining. Last few days I keep forgetting to unload the dishwasher since I’m out of my routine and habit, and every time get too tired to make sure to run a load of dishes that night since I’ve been so far behind. Last night I heard Dana’s words echo, ‘some nights it means running a small load of dishes’. So forced myself to, so that I can start getting back on track today. What usually takes me 5 minutes for a 5 minute tidy, took me literally an hour today to do lol. But- it’s progress! In the past, I would have thought ‘this is what I have to do every time’ and procrastinated again the next time. But I KNOW Dana’s methods work, because I have done them for months pre-Christmas time. So even though the next few days/weeks will suck, I know it’s only temporary til I get back into the swing of Decluttering and maintaining. I never would have known that, if it wasn’t for Dana. So thank you 💕 I need it grilled into my head with countless times of hearing it til I finally get it ❤️

Thank you, Dana! Your way of thinking matches mine and I do feel validated when I read your books. Thank you for sharing how you achieved victory and for using your passion regarding this to help others, like me, who really struggle. ❤️❤️❤️

You, Dawn and Cass inspire me like no one ever has and my house is UNDER CONTROL. I NEVER thought I'd be this person. It was really hard (emotional) work. I 'thought' this stuff meant alot to me and at first, it did, until I kept at it and kept at it, and began to realize that the freedom that I began to feel meant SO MUCH MORE. I had my true epiphany (today, in fact). A friend of my husband's was dropping by in one hour (not planned). MY friend is coming by tomorrow at noon. I was in the middle of making some homemade soup and had plans to meet my son and his dog and take a walk. Huh! Company. Well, NO BIG DEAL. I did straighten the mud room (visibility rule), finished the soup (clean as I go). Everything else was good to go. I still met my son, my husband's friend came over, my friend is visiting tomorrow and I DID NOT STRESS! SOOO UNLIKE THE OLD DAYS when I'd cancel the walk and start running around, nagging my husband TO HELP ME CLEAN UP!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. NOTE: It's also 3 days before Christmas~

I have a house full of cats. Vacuum the hair off it or throw into washer and dryer if it’s a washable item.

@zmommy4044

Жыл бұрын

Or lint roll if it's not washable item

@ashleyfarnsworth9355

Жыл бұрын

Chom chom rollers are awesome and don't have paper waste.

I've been taking things out of my house almost daily just going about living life, taking it to the donate spot. Never thought this would be me, but it's me now, Thank you Dana, you have just made this "CLICK" for me.

Ugh, I was late to the Live, but so happy to catch some of it & now so grateful for the replay to watch what I missed!! ❤🤗

When I am "doing my dishes first", I generally listen to your Q&A vlogs, your podcasts, and Clutterbug podcasts as a form of body doubling. I just finished resetting my kitchen from New Year's Eve hosting with Dana in my ear knowing I am not alone. I was so exhausted when my overnight guest left yesterday, that I loaded and ran the dishwasher twice before taking on the handwriting as my 1st frog of January 2. But it was all progress and only progress. Now on to some frog errands before the freezing rain arrive here at the MN/WI border.

Your advice is so practical and you are so funny and genuine too. Thank you!

You girls got me looking everywhere👀 it’s going somewhere or outta here! I am loving it

You talk so much sense with both wit and kindness. Thank you. You've really helped me on my decluttering journey. The Container Concept blew my mind as I thought I just had to keep buying more cupboards to put our stuff in! We actually got rid of so much furniture last year as a result of getting rid of loads of stuff.

This has no doubt been said somewhere, but I want to reiterate it now on the point of the cat hair on clothes issue. When you call the place you donate to, you can ask them if they are apart of textile recycling. If the answer is yes, then that specific location has a system in place to get garments/materials to a textile recycling. With this information, feel guilt free to bring even the socks with holes in it to there because they will get that fabric recycled appropriately (better than throwing the fabric in the trash if you’re already going to Goodwill or a donation place that has textile recycling as part of their process). The donation center is paid for the fabric that gets recycled also, so by giving them socks with holes in it you are happily putting money in their pockets and payroll to the employees. (But toss the sock in the garbage if it is driving you insane and you can’t get to a fabric recycling donation center, peace of mind is so more important)

Dana I have actually started doing the dishes every day. This has helped me make progress and truly only progress with my journey to taking my house back. I am working on it very slowly but I have begun to declutter and just get stuff out of my house. Thank you sooo much.

Great answer for the person with mobility issues! There's also another commenter with mobility issues who has good recommendations.

Take it there now_ progress and only progress - 10 minutes better - are life changing.

We also have a place that takes fabrics to shred and make into insulation. I'm sure they take fabrics with fur on them!

Dana, I love your videos...and, your books...AMAZING! Your infomation continues to stay in the present day....and, I worked thru your decluttering process many times. Just this morning...I went outside to clean the grill...and, try to improve the kids outdoor toys. Taking care of the trash, first? Yep, that's exactly what I needed to do...the trash was so much more than I had inticipated....when I dealt with just the throwaways.... that alone greatly improved the situation. 🙂💖🙂

I have cats also. I dehair lots of items by putting in my dryer in no heat. Amazing how much comes off. Don’t forget to turn dryer back to heat when you are finished.

I am just like you! I also thought I was alone. Thank you so much for your videos. I am just starting but I have hope your system will change my life and my home!

Dana, I have gained so much from your advice, container method is awesome! I’m noticing my clutter threshold is getting smaller as I declutter is this common?

Just donate the cat hairs! If you see them so will the next prospective owner and either avoid it, or not care. Lots of people have animals.

"Bumfuzzled"- a new favorite word!

This was an awesome one! Thank you!

Another great video! Thanks for all you do!

It’s so helpful to hear I am not alone. 🥰

Love you, Dana! Thank you!

You are special! Thank you for doing what you do!

Thank you for keeping it real! I appreciate all you do and teach!

Thank you so much for giving me hope! ❤

Great info for the disabled. 💕 great video.

Thanks for being real Dana! 🏵

I've heard that animal shelters will use old clothes for cleaning, or to make beds for the animals, so that may be an option, if nobody wants them and there is concern about animal hair on them.

Great advice

Dana! I love the way you are able to step back and observe yourself and figure out where a different method or habit could change your game. And then you humorously teach it to us, your fellow natural-born distracted slobs - and we all up our game!💜

Thank you so much for all you are doing!! Love this!! I havé bee ne doing quite a bit of decluttering! I didn't think I had so much . Everything went to local thrift stores and it makes me feel great and free from holding on to stuff!! Happy New Year!💫🤗💗

Dana- you are so FANTASTIC!!!!!!! thank you for everything! Get the books, listen to the podcast, absolutely life changing!

So helpful! Thank you!!

Very encouraging!

I've made improvements with clutter in the last 2 months, but I did end up deciding to rearrange furniture. While I have time off work, I made clutter piles from stuff in drawers and on surfaces so the furniture could move ( the spaces much better!). Now, I can start to deal with the clutter using the 2 questions, and I'm not completely overwhelmed by it.

@persephonebasilissa5109

Жыл бұрын

We did the same in our game room, moving about 10 pieces of furniture to make it more functional. I moved a couple of boxes into a different room to live, and am now going item-by-item through the other 8 or so as I can steal some time to do so. We're all so happy with how functional and tidy the space is now. Every single member of the family has caught the decluttering bug and is now working on their own space day by day. It all started with moving the furniture in one of our most visible spaces!

THANKYOU

Dana you're so pretty! I love watching your videos and tackling a little project while I'm doing them. Bless your heart for figuring it out for us. Gotta go, I'm taking it there now!

You can wash and dry clothes with cat hair and most or all will come out in the dryer filter. Gone in a flash

I took used cat tree for my daughter to have, before I gave it to her I steam cleaned,it , then used tape to remove cat hair. Looked good then,gave it to my daughter. My daughter adopted 3 kittens..

Just downloaded "How to manage your home without losing your mind" - Can't wait to listen I'm sure its going to be as amazingly helpful as your other books. What finally worked for me this year in terms of establishing the habit of daily dishes was I moved in with my boyfriend and he's great at it :) Hahah, clearly won't work for everyone. Had to share bc I love him for it. Thanks for all the help. :)

Thank you ❤ 🙏

Love your no mess process, ❤️ I just "treasured" some of my books to the 2nd hand shop by using approx 5 extra mins that I had and I didn't leave a mess behind me to deal with later ! I don't feel witchy, I can see the empty space where the donated books were and it's "Ok" to have empty on the book shelf. I'm not finished yet and will hit it again when I have another few extra mins. I was amazed to see how much I got done in only a few mins, vs pulling it all out, then sorting through it all, then getting interrupted and either leaving it where it's at or shoving it back for later

Dana, I think you are hysterical. Cracking me up about chickens! (Your brain works like mine. I crack myself up too.😉)

Lol, Dana, you are a big time KZreadr too. :)

@TodaywithTerriK

Жыл бұрын

Agree! I just want an active community of encouraging women and look at how engaged we are with you! You rock!

Hi, Dana! Advice for ADHD’ers, PLEASE! A HUGE THANK YOU!

@SF-ru3lp

Жыл бұрын

I don't have ADHD, thankfully but I can admit ther Dana's methods have really helped me setting up a workable, manageable household routine aswell as dealing with the "not low-hanging fruit" remaining after a house move. I continue to appreciate you, Dana. X G Ire

@candidwings5609

Жыл бұрын

Adhd actually has a pretty broad range of symptoms, so what works for one person with ADHD may not work for you, But listening to audiobooks helps me a LOT. It keeps me engaged in something fun, so the boring is more palatable. I use the act of getting my earbuds to facilitate the transition to whatever declutter and tidying task I have.

@dianasimplifies

Жыл бұрын

@@candidwings5609 I agree. I listen to podcasts..it really helps me.

@HomesteadingChicks

Жыл бұрын

My kiddo listens to a specific music play list or show only when doing boring chores. That is scheduled fun screen time. Dance party dishes, tv show laundry folding and rotating. She now looks forward to that time alone to disconnect. I on the other hand love to tidy and clean.

@TodaywithTerriK

Жыл бұрын

I have ADHD and putting on a podcast seems to help me activate my superpower of hyper focusing.

I have now consistently run the dishwasher nightly and emptied it in the morning, so much better. However the husband is so resistant, he will go out of his way to half wash by hand and pile them on a towel on the counter!!!

I truly thought I was a mutant for much of my life...that I was the ONLY one--but now I know different!

I like doing the dishes Saturday morning. It kicks me off and I feel like I've done something meaningful. It starts the positive feelings towards cleaning

Dana, your descriptions are brilliant. You have helped me immensely. My home and my life are better thanks to you.

We have a thrift shop here that is a benefit for the shelters and there was one where I lived before too. Maybe you have one too!

I love your brain. I'd totally be going down the chicken route too. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 (And I kept giggling)

I adore that you lost your train of thought. From a fellow person with ADHD.

You and Cas are very likeable

I felt that no one else struggled with clutter like I do. I about died every time my MIL came over.

I have been a non-fan of the take-it-there-now idea. I still don’t “obey” it 100%! But I do see the logic and it DOES help!!! The HUGE Changed-MY-Life-Forever moment was “after you have victory in a room or a closet, go back next time and just reset it!” Like, DUH! Why didn’t I see that before!??? I check things off my list as DONE… And then I am seriously surprised when I come back and it still isn’t perfect! Why? WHY? Why? My brain is like that somehow. So when I clean the kitchen, and then go back the next day, it takes so much less time and I can “keep it that way“. Such a DUH moment!

I wouldn't even bother asking relatives what they want. It's your spouse, do what you want with their stuff. Don't let family members guilt trip you and gaslight you. They don't have to "manage" all the stuff. Trying to "manage" family members' "requests" and wishes doesn't follow your own process. Trash, donate, keep in its own storage spot. The first two take care of the entire mess of stuff. If the family are not showing up to take it,, donate it to Goodwill and call it a day.

Do I need to buy this course or is this the one I bought on Black Friday

I’m highly allergic to cats so if you put it on there and say you have cats that would be appreciated by someone who is allergic

Where are your bookshelves from ? Please and Thankyou !!!

Th kitchen yuk but if I empty the dishwasher every morning for the rest of the day I can put dirty dishes in it so not piled up and turn it on after dinner and empty every morning.

the person that asked the second question needs friend or kid to do the running for her.

@loriz.5771

Жыл бұрын

That's not always an option. There are days my husband can't or doesn't want to help, or wants to put it off too. Disabled people need to lower the bar a bit and do what we can according to our limitations. Getting rid of stuff when we can will make it easier in the long run.

@marywiggins7411

Жыл бұрын

Or maybe a girl scout or boy scout troop member to do volunteer work to earn a badge, or a church youth group.

I'm watching you.... and I'm doing the dishes... 😂❤❤

Is there a limited time you have access to the videos? Is it only a year Or lifetime

What about digital clutter?

Phone calls are so simple! It solves a lot of issues. I am able to ask on a phone quicker than I can text or message! lol 🤣

Adults can't keep their home clean, and we expect children to be able to keep their room clean?

What suggestions for child toys, my son is now a teen but thought ok train set was pricey and he never played with it but do I keep it for his kids?

Can you please wait until august 2023 to do an in person event for your coaches because that’s the earliest I can get over there from Australia 😂

@kayelle8005

Жыл бұрын

Although my other coach is based in Texas as well - hopefully her mastermind will be at the same time 😊

The wig in the background looks like a tee-niney kid ponytail on one side of Dana's head. I see a spot on the top shelf where it would fit. 😄 Sorry. I'm just here rearranging the decor while I watch & listen. I also picked up some stuff & took it there now, so I feel I have rights in this conversation.😅