My No Mess Decluttering Method Demonstration

Since it's a week when a lot of the world is decluttering, I thought it was a good time to share this video I made a long time ago. I'm working through a cluttered cabinet, decluttering it without making a bigger mess. You can see how the No Mess Decluttering Method is done with the five step decluttering process.

[RachelRiner]

Dear Dana. You may or may not be aware of this wonderful fact about you: you are mothering mothers. This is so cool. For all of us who had amazing but messy mothers, absent mothers, busy mothers etc. And somehow we never learned the habit of real life home managing. Thank you so much. Thank you for mothering mothers/fathers/homemakers… ❤️

[monicastone]

"I think because this thing is wonky and it keeps getting in my way that it's trash!"
Favorite quote ever!!! I say that all the time!!!

[madebylora]

The shower hooks “not hanging over my head anymore” made me chuckle, because they will literally be hanging over your head! Hehe (sorry, I couldn’t resist!)

[lauramarshall]

"Where would I look for this first?" is a great question. I've never heard anyone approach organizing this way. You are brilliant.

[raerae]

Today I took all the donations I finally dragged out of my closet to four different locations, and I just needed to tell someone. 😅 Thank you so much for all the awesome content!

[independentthinker]

That red ribbon hanging down is maddening!

[janethunt]

I love it! "It's not organized, but it is decluttered, and I can find stuff." You nailed it!

[HereIAm]

Starting to love this method! :)

A small hack for the difficult stuff: if I get stuck or overwhelmed, I will actually take a picture of the closet/dish mountain/other stuff. Then, while I gather up energy (for example watching a tv show or cleaning videos), I will look at the picture, and make decisions about the hard things. Or organise it mentally/look for more functional solutions.

For me, this kind of tricks my brain into thinking I am relaxing, but I am actually 'working'. It also means that once I go to that spot, it will be very quick, because I already made the hard decisions/I know where to take things.

[camillemcintosh]

I am so glad I found you. I’m 74 years old and live in clutter and have done for years. Your system makes sense to me. I wish I had found you years ago. Thank you!

[sherbrownsf]

This is just one of many important take aways for me. If the doorbell should ring expectedly or unexpectedly...or if I must leave...all I have to do is shut the cupboard..I don't have a bunch of "piles" in the way. I love that idea

[pvg]

"Better is Good" comes out of my mouth many times lately! I found Fly Lady years ago and discovered that part of my issue with clutter is that I want things to be PERFECT so if I didn't have time to get it to perfect, I procrastinated and did nothing. In the past year or 2 I've found Dawn of Minimal Mom, Cas of Clutterbug, and YOU! Each of you 3 wonderful women have helped me to get my space to ... better. It's not close to perfect, but it IS better. Thank you for all you do. LOVE your videos and know that I will smile and/or LOL every time I watch one.

[janeaustere]

She’s right- This is actually the only way to not make a mess. If course it’s counter-intuitive to be “less efficient” by making multiple trips….but unless we have a physical limitation, there’s no excuse not to use it! I think if it as exercise, not inefficiently. I love that I can stop whenever I want. And it also means it doesn’t have to be “a whole production” I will use this method with my messy car. If I grab even one thing every time I arrive home, and put it away, I’ll have a clean car eventually 😅. Better than the nothing I’m doing now!! Lol

[lopezjsaj]

I absolutely love that this didn't end with everything in cutsey little matching (expensive) bins in rainbow order with fancy cricut labels (which would be applicable for about a week). Dana, I love watching your videos and your methods are awesome and so practical. Happy New Year!

[sophiafisher]

Dana.. my mom has completely turned her whole life around because of your podcast. She’s got me listening to you now! I prefer YouTube over podcasts but one day when I have a long drive, I will listen to you. Thank you so so so much. ❤

[scuttlezebra]

I love how at the end you show us a real space. So often YouTubers will show this amazing decorated Pinterest worthy area for the final reveal which is just not realistic and actually depressing because my area will never look like theirs. Thank you for showing us what an actual completed area will look like and when I accomplish this I feel like I did it correctly and I have confidence to move to the next area.

[stacys]

The 'i probably won't realize i have this and buy another' is so great tip. I have an odd, probably anxiety realted, issue of 'i can't throw that away, what if I need one'. But with a giant mess i would never find it anyway. (Doesn't help i was raised by a grandparent who went through the great depression where that mindset was valid.)

[LunaBillions]

My family always made me cleaned as a child and I hated cleaning but not because of cleaning but because the way I felt it was a punishment and was never taught how to clean just expected to know and when I did it wrong I got punished for it even when I told them I didn't know how to do said task.

These videos make so much sense to me thank you for your help. :)

[sarahpreston]

The pre-order printable has been AMAZING! The Yes/No questions make it so easy. And it’s hilarious to me how much more ends up in the donation box or black trash bag because I’d rather do that than “take it there now.” 🤣🤣🤣

[celeritas-]

The clarity of that much success at 9:47 with no emotions used, no decisions made and nothing all over the floor etc, this is an absolute game changer

[Julia-uhsz]

If you are new here, Dana’s methods really work. Her books, podcasts and videos are so helpful. So excited to get her new book soon. ❤️