A Slob Comes Clean

I remember being scared that I’d never figure out how to get my house under control! I was petrified of someone ringing my doorbell without warning! This week, I’m sharing some common fears around decluttering and how to remove those fears!

We (those of us who struggle with clutter) tend to love collections! But we also know they can get out of control. I’m talking about collecting in a way that doesn’t send the house spiraling into clutter.

I am doing something kind of fun. As you know, I have a Patreon group, and we had an in-person retreat.  I asked some of them if they would come on and share a pivotal or transformational moment for them in their own process of getting their home under control. It's all private, but they've agreed to do this for the podcast.  And I think it's really fun to hear from others what has been the difference maker for them.

I’m answering your decluttering questions that were submitted at AskDanaKWhite.comDue to some kitchen updates, I had to empty out my kitchen cabinets. Since I got everything out of the cabinets, I feel like it's a perfect time to declutter and reorganize!! How should I tackle this whole kitchen?I've decluttered a ton. I'm pretty happy with how far I've gone, but I can't help feeling that I could go further, even though I have plenty of space for the things that I have. Any thoughts on this?My family of 7 lives in a 2-story home. All of our bedrooms are located upstairs, and it’s a constant struggle to get the kids to take their laundry, toys, and personal items upstairs. Do you have any suggestions for making this process easier?I don't know what to do with the greeting cards I get from my husband and children. I feel guilty about throwing them out, but realistically, they have no home! Please help!My biggest struggle is with dishes. I wash them as I need them, like you said, you do clothes when they are all dirty. I am physically unable to stand or sit for the required hours it would take to complete them. Help!I need more walking space in my apartment. I started decluttering the dining room and behind my living room chair. But, the items I am keeping are on the dining table, because I can't get into the spare room where I'd look for them first. Should I have started with the room I knew I would look in first for those things?I have two questions. First, what do I do with "donations" when in my area, there is no place to donate to? I've searched countless times and asked many people. Second, how do you deal with people in your home shaming you for decluttering? Your "take it there now" method allows me to do something without making the situation worse. It only gets better if that's the only task that gets done. Thank you.How do you deal with toy clutter? My daughter is 3 years old, and the toys that deserve shelf space change every day. How do I (or we) choose what to keep?

I’m answering your decluttering questions that were submitted at AskDanaKWhite.com.How can I plunk my homeschool routine in the middle of my dailies, progress with decluttering, and other housekeeping tasks without it all falling apart?How do you prevent yourself from “going there” with your emotions? You said you have a lot of emotions about things. I get that!When I’m going through my closet, I find items that I love. How do you part with items you love that you had put away for another time?Can you please talk about getting rid of pieces of a set (like a set of dishes)?How do I get to the next step when nothing really has a home?What do I do with pages of notes and handouts that I have from various sources, such as meetings with health coaches, food webinars, gardening webinars, and decorating tips?What are some ideas if your kids always wear through specific categories of clothes before the next laundry day?Do I consider the five steps before I purchase an item that I don't necessarily need, such as clothing or home decor?I helped a friend declutter, and it has returned. I love your concepts, but I am afraid I will not present your solutions to her successfully. Please help?We just moved from a 2-bedroom apartment to a 4-bedroom house with a basement, garage, and attic. How do I "declutter" when I'm not hitting the walls of the container?Is it possible to have a clutter threshold so low you can’t get below it? Any amount of clutter makes me feel like everything is out of control. This makes me feel overwhelmed, so the clutter continues to increase.

The goal of noncommittal experimentation is to remove the pressure that I feel that keeps me from doing anything.Take Your House Back

I’ve stayed in multiple homes lately, including a shipping container tiny home! That has made me think a LOT about what I want in a home and how to get there.Take Your House Back

I’m answering your decluttering questions that were submitted at AskDanaKWhite.comHow do you apply the container concept for certain items that some people would tie/fold and others would let loose such as cables and linens? I just feel frozen and I don't know how to decide what to tackle first. What are some suggestions to help my mind move forward?How do I deal with decluttering under my daughter's bed, where you can't as easily see what is there?How do you work with family members who get mad when you ask where they'd look for something first? My husband and both kids (9 and 6) HATE this question.How do I figure out how to get things out that are A) still good, B) useful in this current season, and C) not necessarily something I have too much of?Any tips for when the issue is actually getting things out of the house? I live in Europe without a car and am limited to 30L of trash per week for my family of six. aslobcomesclean.com/jane

Let go of your attachment to things and do the “one in/one out” rule.Change the way you look at your stuff.Keep your mind on track. ASlobComesClean.com/HQ My books My YouTube Channel!Want to be a patron of the show? Find out how at Patreon. Want to find a decluttering coach??Want to BE a decluttering coach??