The 10 Biggest Decluttering Lies

Let’s address and dismantle the 10 biggest decluttering lies that might be holding you back, so you can move forward with confidence and clarity.

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[HomeWithMamaDana]

Organizing: I buy totes to organize my stuff
Decluttering: I get rid of my stuff AND the totes!

[lalablotz]

I unexpectedly retired 2 years ago due to health issues. All of a sudden I was home all the time. Our home has always been tidy with a place for everything and everything in its place but as I looked around I realized we had to many things in to many places. I started slow firstly getting rid of everything that I had used for my job. I just didn’t need it anymore. Next I tackled my clothes. Again I didn’t need about 3/4’s of it anymore. After that I did one cabinet, drawer etc at a time. Sometimes I would open a drawer to get something and just declutter it on the spot. I got rid of furniture, decor, gadgets and unidentifiable crap, you name it it went. I finally got to where there was nothing left to declutter. My husband would come home and just look around wordlessly admiring the space. Now my rule is if I don’t have an immediate use, place or purpose I am not allowed to buy it. This means no end of season or after holiday clearance sale shopping. I have found that many things change before I will be able to use it and end up not wanting it anymore so the money saved was an illusion and it was actually money wasted. Sorry for the long comment but I have nothing to declutter so I’m bored 😂

[simini]

I have to write this down as a reminder:
1. Decluttering has no end point
2. Decluttering needs to go slow
3. Decluttering decisions need to be easy
4. You need to be a minimalist to declutter
5. You should keep everything you use
6. You should never regret letting go of something
7. The more you throw out the better
8. Decluttering is expensive
9. A clean space equals a decluttered space
10. Decluttering is an entirely physical activity
Thank you so much for all the great inspiration over the years Joshua. You have really changed my mindset, my happiness and my bank account!

[elainephleps]

Ive been decluttering for about 6 mths, iam disabled and struggle with moving things around, but slowly seeing things improve gives me hope!!

[Dana-mbhd]

JOSHUA- you posted this just as I was looking around my house thinking “ my house is cluttered”. Thank you for this. Your videos are truly life-changing.♥️

[simply.clutterfree]

I've decluttered over 8500 items and I can't think of anything I've regretted. But I've also been decluttering regularly since 2021 - slow and steady like a turtle is my pace I guess 🐢😂

[AnnGreen-oe]

Almost 7 years ago my husband died. He had been a shocking hoarder.
I started with half a rubbish bin a week. Someone said, That isn't much. I pointed out it was 26 bins a year. Although it took about 2 years to declutter my house. Just in time for COVID lockdown.
So then it was the garage. Thanks to lockdown it only took 2 months.
Whenever anyone says, I might need it someday think about the cost of rubbish removal. Although a son took most to the tip, when he shifted interstate for work I had to pay someone for the final removal of rubbish. $3000, .😮
I have estimated there was 100 cubic metres of rubbish.
The special needs son and I have an easy to clean home 🏡. The backyard is now a vegetable garden instead of looking like a tip.
These days I can quickly find things. Instead of having to buy stuff because it can't be found.
The sunroom can be used to dry washing. Instead of being full of stuff.

[ElHa]

The best way to declutter is not to buy these things at all!
The amount of useless things in many houses is incredible - just buy less. Additionally, the trend of replacing things with minimalist items is both polluting, expensive and unnecessary. Declutter responsibly by recycling, giving away, donating and selling and try to reduce the number of objects that will be sent to landfills.

[carriemainquist]

Loved the messages here. Don't mistake cleanliness with decluttering.

[cathylombard]

I don’t view myself as a minimalist. I am a reductionist. I just keep moving things out.

[readJames]

I DONT REGRET DECLUTTERING our 2 car garage (now we fit BOTH cars in it!) here in Ventana Lakes Joshua!....115 degree heat🥵

[PeterWare-mg]

Even the staff in building noticed I'm happy since following your advice. GAY African American male living with HIV and now 68 years old! Thanks 👍

[heatherspencer]

I really appreciate this video. Thank you ❤. It really feels like decluttering has no end point but I have taken this journey in stages as I have worked on my ocd and I have come a long way over the years. I take long breaks in between sessions and as I grow i can value myself and my space more. So decluttering has felt slow but each period of decluttering my life lasts for about 4 months id say and during those months i really lean heavily on the experts like you to help me grow and get into the proper mindset. Decluttering definitely isn't easy for me as i was a hoarder. 12 years ago I had a path through several rooms of my house and it was embarrassing and everything was important. I now have space but it's still hard. I love being able to get rid of stuff i use because I have something else that does the job just as well and I learned that from you. It's created space in my drawers and closets and made cleaning just easier. I regret letting things go. It's the nature of ocd but it's okay to regret. It's just stuff. I have more time with my daughter. I don't trip over stuff. I have less to clean during a lupus flare so I'll let the regret come in like a gentle wave and wash over me and then let it go. Those emotions can be decluttered just like the items that are already gone

[mariagiakalis]

What about in case I need it" lie Joshua...? This is what I used to hear in family.
Great video thank you ❤

[darlenebergantzel]

Josh, love your videos, but for me, decluttering doesn’t have an end because I continue to declutter on a weekly basis to ensure I don’t return to the state I was in 5 years ago. Decluttering is built into my weekly household tasks.

[kennethbailey]

Absolutely the best teaching style to my ears and my chosen topic !🙂😊

[evalindell]

I am a minimalist but I don’t like the minimaslism in arkitecture nor indoor dekocoration. For me that is a choise of having spaces I love with things I love and value but not having any clutter in my drawers, a very small curated wardrobe and only what I need/use in the kitchen. I am a book lever so I have lots and lots of books that I use for the astetics in the house. All of them are books I read and loved but still I give away books all the time. You said something about beeing ready. But it can be that you don’t want to just have the bare minimum of something. If it gives you real joy then I might just be another approach to how you want your house to look like!

[GoingGreenMom]

Decluttering is like weight loss. When you are in weight loss mode you are doing more in terms of focusing on lower calories and movement than would be sustainable long term. The weight goes away, and then you maintain.

Decluttering is kind of the same way. At least for me, I go in waves of lots of decluttering, and then it slows down to maintenance mode. My mind has to shed the stuff a layer at a time or I start getting anxious. Once the new set point is established, I can declutter another wave through the house.

[escabasket]

Thanks for your advice. You’ve helped me immensely throughout the years.

[joyceholland]

Hi, Joshua, thanks for the 10 decluttering myths!!
Where is the picture taken at end of your video with person standing on hill with lots of hills surrounding?