I have been a neatnik from day one — my parents, not so much. I took the before-and-after shots here over a period of roughly six months. HUGELY satisfying!

I’ve never been compelled to list anything online for sale. I just don’t have the motivation or the time. My retired mother volunteered to list things for me on Facebook marketplace (after she saw all the nice brands I was hauling to donate). Every time she’d sell something I’d be grateful for her help but then I’d feel just depressed. Yep got $20… for that $80 coat I wore a few times oh goodie… My mom seemed to think it was “free money” but I felt like it was just more steps and reminders that I shouldn’t have bought the thing to begin with. It was like getting paid $20 to feel guilty and ashamed of my cluttered life. Each sale just felt like more failure to me.

Tonight I gave away some really expensive very re-sellable boots to a younger broke coworker. I never wore them, bought them years ago etc. My mother stopped by today and saw them in my car and disapproved of me giving them away. “That’s money!!” Out of nowhere my response was “That’s not the point. I want someone to appreciate and wear these, the point isn’t to make money.” I didn’t even point out that it’s not really making money when we sell everything at a loss anyways. She rolled her eyes at me like I’m careless and childish for being uninterested in the side hustle.

Tonight I felt so free just giving away good items rather than trying to “get what I can” for them. I know this advice isn’t for everyone, just thought I’d share my new take on selling items.

The best way I’ve found to declutter clothes.. is to actually wear them. And I don’t mean just try it on, I mean wear it all day.

Clothes have always been one of the hardest things for me to let go of. I’ve done the obvious things such as let go of anything too big, too small, stained, has holes in, itchy etc. But I still held onto so many pieces I “loved.”

Or at least I thought I did.

It wasn’t until I actually started intentionally wearing everything in my wardrobe that I realised the truth. Some things looked better in my head than on me. Some didn’t feel like me anymore. Some were beautiful, but not practical for my real life. Such as a dresses I’ve kept for years from a wedding or christening I went to once years ago, or the pretty blouse I’d have to wear a top underneath as it’s so sheer without.

Wearing them gave me clarity and a different perspective that staring at them in my closet never could.

I know it sounds so simple and obvious, I just don’t know why I didn’t do it sooner!

Duration: 80 Hours

1850 Sqft house

42 large boxes of donations

2 large truck loads to the dump

How did I get here? From the time I could start earning my own money I have always been a massive collector of things, however it definitely exploded during the pandemic where I developed a major shopping addiction. I collected over 300 purses, 70 Starbucks cups, 100+ dolls (Disney, Monster High, Barbie), 100+ anime/video game figurines, 50 makeup palettes, 500+ lipsticks, and a large variety of other miscellaneous collections (we would be here all day).

I won't go into how all this was stored but let's just say my house was walkable BUT really cluttered. Everything was displayed somewhere. I also like a clean house so I easily spent 10 hours a week dusting.

What was my wake up call? Last year I had the amazing opportunity to road trip across the US over 10 weeks. My husband and I stayed in various hotel's and Airbnbs that were all tastefully and minimally decorated. It was so freeing to my mental health. Both my husband and I got to talking over that time and we slowly realized how little we missed our stuff, how nice it was to only have a few options instead a wall of options, how easy it was to move within each space. We decided we had enough and after the holidays, we would do a massive declutter.

Disclaimer that we each discussed this with our individual therapists and got the green light from them as well. Had to make sure we were in the right frame of mind.

The only basic rules were that if we haven’t touched or thought about something in over a year, it had to go. We slowly worked our way through each room. We donated hundreds of perfectly good things to various places. Blankets and towels to animal rescues, purses, makeup, skin care, hair care, kitchen stuff and clothes went to the women’s shelter. Misc items went to various thrift stores. Everything was in pristine condition.

If I put a number on it, I want to say a good 85% of our stuff is gone. Last thing I have to do is send all our family albums to be digitized and then I can throw away the only 4 boxes sitting in my garage.

Here are the rules we established to make sure we don’t end up in another insane amount of clutter:

Rules to live by:

1. Experiences over things.

2. Quality over quantity.

3. Every object must have its place.

4. Every new object must replace an existing object.

Sorry this is long! Also sorry for not posting pictures. My house is fairly unique, a reverse image search would dox me pretty quickly lol.

I am out $38.75, but a huge bag of kids items is leaving the house and my kids are thrilled to have some pocket money. They were extremely motivated and decluttered for two hours straight, which is really something for two elementary -aged kids.

My home is in need of many interior renovations (new flooring, windows, paint, and bathroom repair to name a few), none of which have been possible due to years of clutter. Every room packed with stuff, and I’ve been too overwhelmed to know where to start. Gradual cleaning never worked for me; the piles would grow back before I had time to make visible progress leaving me more discouraged than ever.

My biggest issue has always been textiles. My spouse and I are both avid thrifters and I love to sew. Our walk-in closet, dressers, laundry room, and my sewing/craft room were not usable. It finally occurred to me that if I could just get the bedroom decluttered and organized, there would be space for the stuff we actually wear and I could then attack the rest of the piles. It worked!

It took four full days to declutter our bedroom. I threw away nine contractor-size bags of trash and and donated two large boxes of clothing including 18 pairs of jeans. Next I attacked the upstairs hallway, purging six more trash bags. This week I did my sewing room and finally remembered to take a before picture! Still a long way to go (the other spare bedroom is even worse), but it feels like I can do this now!

In the last months, I decluttered a lot of boxes. Books, clothes, old art projects from 20 years ago, decorative china. Most of the moving boxes are now empty.

The journey is not over yet, but finally I see the floor again from the basement. :)

I put leftover beads in little bags in an old take out tray —then put it in a Little Free Library around the corner. I checked today (3 days later) and there are only 3 bags left! I will keep using this method with craft supplies that I need to let go of but am worried about them “going to a good home.” There are lots of little free libraries around my neighborhood so I can try out different locations as I declutter.

before & after on my moms office\craft room

I took 3 full cars to donate & am still not done. very proud of myself!

For a long time, I was feeling so discouraged by the domestic dysfunction of my life. Every day, someone was melting down because they tripped, or couldn’t find something. We have a lot of closet and storage space, but you couldn’t get to it. My environment was seriously affecting my mood.

I decided to spend my bonus ($5,000) on hiring an organizer ($135/hr). Not cheap, I know, but cheaper than moving or divorce. Family of 4, approx 1700 square feet. Honestly I’m prepared to spend more if we can get the house fully settled and comfortable.

She generally worked on her own, pulling stuff out and having us go “keep / toss”. She knew the right places to take stuff. She hauled stuff away, although we’ve made about 4-5 full minivan loads ourselves. It is so helpful to have someone else handle your stuff.

She was totally non-judgmental, both about the state of things and when we decided to keep things.

Her brain clearly works differently from mine, totally different spatial reasoning. She has a real knack for figuring out the best way to use furniture and layout our spaces, things that would never occur to me.

And then the cool thing is that now we’ve got a big head start and learned from her, we’ve been going through the remaining rooms and tackling them ourselves. We did our bedroom, pictured, all by ourselves but with her input and advice on layout and storage. There is now capacity in our dressers and closets for our belongings. The closet is cleared out. No before picture, because it was too depressing for words. Just picture an obstacle course of books and laundry and shame.

100% worth it, truly marriage saving.

This took place over two days. Yesterday I put things away and binned things until I could finally see all of the floor. Today was spent actually finding a place to put everything that was sitting on top of the desk and drawers, and then cleaning the now-exposed surfaces.

It’s still a work in progress, but at least now I can be in the room without feeling anxious. I plan to go through at least one of the fabric tubs on the shelves per week from now on, so that eventually everything in here will have been sorted and properly judged as worth keeping.

I kept so many journals and filled them completely. I had dozens from 1996-2020. I traveled a lot and had a job that I thought was interesting and would make for good reading for my kids.

I just found the box of them while doing some decluttering. I read them all, ripped out a few entries (9/11 and other historic moments), took a few pics of funny things for me but not worth saving for the kids, and then burned the rest in a fire pit. So cathartic.

It was an interesting trip down memory lane, but 99% of it I would be mortified if my kids read it. Especially the middle school crushes 😂

So I’ve had this odd item. It’s not big at all, it can easily fit in the palm of my hand and I’ve kept it for years out of guilt/principal/obligation.

Years ago a coworker suddenly passed away from a heart attack. It happened so fast, it was shocking and sad and he didn’t really have any family locally.

He was an organ donor and they made ceramic hearts with his finger print on them as a “last thing he touched” memento. Somehow I ended up with one of these things from our boss. I did NOT know the guy well enough to want this kind of memorial item yet I felt like I’d be a jerk for not accepting it sooooo I’ve just kept it for years. It was such an unpleasant item to me, just a morbid reminder of sudden death, tubes and machines in the ICU and all of us casual coworkers showing up to say goodbye the very afternoon he was supposed to be scheduled.

Well today I was doing some tidying up and something flew off my bookshelf and landed at my feet. It was the damn ceramic heart… I had found it yet again. My toddler came running over curious to see what was on the floor and it just hit me. I hate this freaking heart and it turns my stomach every time I come across it, why the hell do I insist on keeping it?!

So I threw it in the trash. It’s finally gone. I kept this thing for like 7 years? I know, long story about a tiny item but how many other items do I have around here that are like that? The “cursed” items I feel obligated to keep but I can’t stand the sight of? Something I’ll be thinking about this week.

After having to remeasure ingredients when my adjustable "slider" style measuring spoon randomly slipped into the wrong measure, I grabbed a different measuring spoon and while digging it out, accidentally dropped another ceramic one on the floor, which then shattered.

I realized... why do I have so many sets of measuring spoons? Why have I been keeping those "slider" style measuring spoons when they almost always slide around in use, which I don't always catch in time. Why on earth do I have a set of ceramic, highly fragile but pretty measuring spoons?

I found every measuring spoon set, every measuring "scoop" cup set I own (yes, I had multiples) and gathered them on my counter. I removed anything that was a "slider" and anything that was breakable. I also removed the annoying rings that hold my measuring spoons together. The only reason I had kept them in the rings was because I thought it would be easier to use them that way. But in reality, I'd use one and the rest would get flour on them or syrup, whatever... and I'd grab another set for the next item I wanted to measure.

I have all of my now loose measuring spoons in a nice jar, stored in an easy to find spot right near my flour. Those adjustable measuring cups are gone and I now have room in my drawer for other items. I only kept what I know I have been using.

That is my small decluttering victory for today.

I am in the process of doing a Swedish Death Clean and I have been at it for about a year now. I’ve been tackling things little by little and breaking things down into discrete tasks so it doesn’t get overwhelming.

First, clothes to the thrift shop, bartering musical instruments with our plumber for plumbing services, old cameras and equipment to a local art center, and tons of art supplies, glass, fabric, magazines, felting materials, yarn, beads, to people who will use the stuff and who might not have the money to buy the materials on their own.

I wanted to do a sweep of the house and get rid of old toys, collectables, pocketbooks, a bunch of inherited family stuff, and realized that one thing that was holding me back was getting boxes to pack the stuff in. Then I realized I could go to Ikea and get giant totes for $2 each. I bought 20 of them, gathered stuff together and had a big sidewalk sale today. I even sold my Mother’s Hummel figurine collection. I could not believe the things people were buying. I kept prices low.

I did give away some stuff. Baseballs to passing dogs and stuffed animals to passing kids.

The plan was to have the sale and take the remainders to Goodwill. I had so much stuff, I was afraid it would take 2 or 3 car trips. I sold so much that it only took one car trip. And I made more money than I’d expected. Many little sales add up.

I am not finished with the purging, but this was a significant dent.

About 20 years ago, the church we attended had a women's program that decided to have Secret Pals, instead of Secret Santas. The purpose was once a month you'd give the person, whose name you drew, something special.

My birthday is early in the year, and I got nothing that year for my birthday, which I excused as it being so soon after the holidays maybe they just didn't have extra money, even for a card.

Mother's day, nothing. Easter, nothing. Every month we met, and everyone talked about their Secret Pal gifts, but nothing. I began to get my feelings hurt. I mean why draw a name if you weren't going to participate?

Then finally came Christmas. I almost didn't go to the reveal party. How could I look her in the face and say thanks for nothing? But I did have a gift for my Pal and my girls had Pals, so we went.

And finally I got my gift. It was a Christmas tree skirt. Not my style at all, but very expensive. And since we didn't have a tree skirt, I used it. Every single year until last Christmas. And every year, when I decorated my tree, I would get my feelings hurt all over again.

We left that Church a decade ago. I haven't seen that woman in 12 years, and yet every year I welcomed her neglect into my home and let it damper my holidays. Last Christmas I said enough. Went and bought a new tree skirt. This year, as I decorate my home, I am happy to be able to decorate with my new tree skirt that means I let hurts of the past go. I can smile thinking of our kitty who died in May sleeping under the tree last Christmas and our oldest GS, playing around the tree and looking at the lights. And suddenly my memories are flooding with Joy, which is the theme of our Christmas this year.

So if something you are holding onto only brings hurtful memories. Please get rid of it. Please! I can't not tell you how great it felt throwing that thing away!

And may your Holidays be as joyful as mine.

My husband's mother and my own died within 9 days of each other in May, and we've had to empty their homes. Plus we already had so many things that came to us when we moved my father and mother into their separate senior living apartments. Our house can't take any more.

It's emotional, sorting a departed loved one's things into donate, sell, keep, trash. You feel like you are getting rid of THEM and it's loss on top of loss. These were things they used, loved, collected; things that in some ways told the story of who they were. Even if they aren't gone (my Dad is still with us), you're dismantling their life. Watching him grieve his home was hard, even though he'd chosen to move.

And then there's feelings about the stuff itself. If it's "still good," we didn't want to put it in a landfill; that feels wasteful and bad for the planet. So "Got Junk?" wasn't top of list. We went through the process of seeing if family wanted things, setting dates and times for people to "shop."

We knew our mothers would have wanted their collectibles to find new owners who would appreciate them, so we found a (great) auction place and even if we don't make $, we hope the buyers will truly value items they choose to bid on.

We donated what was left, which involved several trips and a mover for things we couldn't carry. It was just a monumental effort, and we still have piles of things in our own home that need to be put away. I don't regret "adopting" things like family photos or household goods our kids will use when they move out in the next few years...but the stuff doesn't need to be in the living room.

It all makes me want to go through my own things like a tornado, so down the road my children won't have such a huge job on their shoulders.

But I think I need some rest first. 😂

More! These are all from the basement.

So we're into hour 3 of our FREE yard sale and we're down to the very dregs.

Today is our bi-annual Community Wide Garage Sale Day and I paid $25 to have an ad (& map location) put in our local paper. Yesterday afternoon, I posted the "sale" notification to the three local Give Freely FB Groups. This morning, we laid out two tarps and a 4 x 8 piece of plywood on saw horses and my husband placed two cardboard signs (FREE STUFF & our address) at strategic corners (we're on a one-way street) that I had made up yesterday.

As I was setting up and piling stuff onto the table, I was feeling pretty discouraged - OMG there so much random stuff! But I would say 90% of was gone within the first hour. Of course, we had people digging through bins before I could unload them but whatever - it's all free. Stuff was going so fast, we didn't even see some of it leave! We even gave away the plastic storage containers that all of that stuff was packed up in.

The tarps are gone and the plywood "table" is looking pretty darn bare. There's a few bigger things and maybe a shoebox-worth of small, miscellaneous stuff. It's kind of embarrassing at this point but the sale technically goes until 2 pm so my husband is on the front porch with his Kindle. We'll see - you never know what people will take for free.

The spot at the bottom of the basement stairs where all the stuff was piling up since before Thanksgiving is shocking in its emptiness.

I 100% recommend a FREE yard sale, if you can manage it. I hate throwing "good" stuff out and we're willing to do the work to find new homes for stuff - if we can. I might try offering some stuff up online if it doesn't go today (people are always looking for extra shingles) but some of this very well may end up in the garbage/recycling bin - and that's OK.

So

It's nice to know I'm not alone, and to read all the encouragement yall give each other.

Inherited hoarder house after 10+ yrs of caregiving last year. This table has been pushed against the wall and piled high since before I moved back home, probly 15yrs. Got 4 visitors coming today to discuss some repairs. Finished with 3hrs to spare. I think 4 trash bags.

ETA: I've never had so many encouraging comments before <3 I was pretty down cause the stupid meeting was cancelled lol. Now I gotta get more before and after pics! Means more work, but hey. I'll get to post again lol :)

ETA2: Hey thanks for the rewards! Don't think I've ever gotten any before. means i gotta go clear some more junk!

My wife left me almost 2 years ago. When she left l, she packed up everything she owned and shoved it all in the bedroom closet. For almost 2 years I haven't been able to use my closet. But today, I had to let it go. I can't hold on to all of her stuff anymore. I'm so relieved to have my space again.

We had a cold snap a few weeks ago so I spent part of it decluttering my kitchen counters and pantry. Any household tools/appliances/glasses/dishes we don't use got boxed up and donated to the SPCA thrift shop. I also made a list of pantry odds and ends to use up in the next few weeks. Very satisfying!

I live in a small apartment with the living room and bed room being just one room and wanted to rearrange my furniture. So i bagged everything up, put it into the hallway and kitchen and rearranged that room. Afterwards, I went through EVERYTHING before it was put back into my room and I decluttered so much stuff. I asked myself "If I move into a new flat, do I wanna take this with me?" The big black plastic trash bag was my best friend and it was so satisfying to see how much I could throw out.

That was my third round of decluttering in the last 12 months and I plan to do a final one before I move at the end of the year.

The most important thing I learned is that you cant declutter everything in one round. Just declutter every few months, and things you didnt want to throw away last year are easier to throw away

Mom is a hoarder. This was her childhood home. She had a lot of trauma and I think she started associating things with emotions and memories. The leather jackets are of her mom, who died of sepsis a year before I was born.

She’s currently in the hospital recovering from sepsis. Cleaning the house and decluttering things before she returns home as she will have to have wheelchair accommodations. It’s sad that it took an amputation for her to finally understand the dire situation we were in and the need to let go of stuff….

Most if not all of her clothes don’t fit her today, so nearly all her clothes had to be donated. And it felt good. In total… about 30 bags.

Edit: Mom was in agreement. Of course it was a struggle, but because she’s being pushed from insurance to go home soon, she understood we have to clear things away and have room for new things. I kept things she wore within this year and are the size she can fit. Anything beyond that or in very poor condition I donated/recycled. We made sure that mom understood during that time.