What are /r/declutter's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Part of my struggle with adjusting to working from home was the loss of my transitions, like packing my bag at the end of the day, walking to my car, and driving home. Something that I’ve started doing to make my own transitions is organizing my desk at the end of the day every day and on Friday doing a big clean up. I am also a fan of lots of papers and sticky notes, etc. I’ve started scanning in a lot of things or making a document or sticky note on my computer (stickies on mac) so it’s not cluttering my desk. I also bought a Rocketbook and I use that to take notes down in. I can either just erase it if it’s not important or use the app to make it into a pdf that will be sent where I want to store it automatically. It’s helped cut down on a lot of paper clutter.

Edit: Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook - Lined Eco-Friendly Notebook with 1 Pilot Frixion Pen & 1 Microfiber Cloth Included - Beacon Orange Cover, Executive Size (6" x 8.8") https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZHYZRF9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_icjbGbHPEANH9?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

ooh, definitely don't keep using remover/acetone, it's not great for the polish formula. I recommend this thinner (and I use these glass droppers)

I also recommend checking out FlyLady and Eat That Frog! I thought of these since you mentioned Konmari and wanted to pass along what I learned from my mom! ❤️

Today:

• I ordered some makeup stuff from Ulta rather than going into the drugstore and going "oh, this is on sale? I should get it. this looks interesting, maybe I'll get this too" and then 2 weeks later wonder why I have literally 14 different lip balms
• I opted out of a free gift with purchase (a branded water bottle) with that Ulta order because lol I do NOT need another water bottle
• I talked myself out of the F21's STORE CLOSING sale I passed by because I knew it was going to be clothes that would last a year at most and even for 50% off it still wasn't worth it
• on a similar note, I requested two books from the library about having a smaller/sustainable wardrobe

I have a really ugly swivel-rocking chair circa 1978 that I can't bring myself to get rid of. My childhood cat claimed it as her own, curling up and sleeping in the bowl-shaped seat. I would crawl into it with her to snuggle and watch cartoons, and kept using it as my primary TV-watchin' chair long after she died. It's the reason I prefer to sit cross-legged on office chairs and couches, it probably fucked up my spine from sitting in it like that through my formative years lmao.

If I knew how to refurbish furniture I would totally try to make it a new cushion and stain the wood to make it seem ~funky and vintage~, but I don't and couldn't bring myself to accidentally ruin it.

Imagine this but like, found-next-to-a-dumpster quality

There is also a shredding scissors you can use; you don’t have to shred all of the paper; just the part with the info

shredding scissors

Read "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo. She talks about guilt and how to acknowledge gifts and other items in your life that have emotional attachment, whether it's sentiment, guilt, frustration, or joy. To summarize, you have to acknowledge the item's original purpose, and not necessarily what the item is doing right now. She explains it better and goes into more detail so the book is worth a read. I found that dealing with "stuff guilt" while the item is still in my house is what will help to get rid of the guilt for good and helps with future purchases/gifts. Just donating stuff or throwing it in the trash doesn't help me deal with the overall sense of guilt over money spent, time wasted, or gifts disposed of.

I do! Get a copy of The Curated Closet (I guess there's also a related workbook but I haven't read that). It was super helpful to me who had a few items I really liked but couldn't really see how to fit them into a more cohesive/compact wardrobe. It's def not one of those "invest in classic pieces" advice books (like no I do not want or need a trenchcoat thanks) but it's great at asking you to look at what you like, what don't like, what you want to wear, what your lifestyle is like, etc. and then helps you figure out what you want to own. It's NOT a quick process though, at least I didn't find it to be quick, but if you really want to commit to the work, I think it's great.

This work pretty well: Jumbo Toy Hammock - Organize stuffed animals or children's toys with the mesh hammock. Looks great with any décor while neatly organizing kid’s toys and stuffed animals. Expands to 5.5 feet - White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F3JZY1S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_t5AxCbCNMWNAM

My favorite declutter rule is "keep it where you use it". No one keeps toilet paper on a dispenser in their pantry.

Two things I keep meaning to do: grab a couple of pens & glue a bit of velcro on them. Put the twin velcro in places I never have a pen; tape a long pretty ribbon onto some pens, and then tie them to places I need pens.

I did this with my chapstick (why do they make them perfectly round- they roll off of everything!) and tied it to my nightstand. All I have to do each night is feel around for the ribbon and reel it up. It's like that old kids' game at the fair. Since I've started this, I've used up two tubes before I lost them - a first for me!

You can use one of those magnetic pen holders for the fridge, but the magnets are never strong enough. You're better off just attaching quality magnets to a container you really like. Link to awesome magnets:

http://www.sciplus.com/p/NEODYMIUM-MAGNETIC-DISCS-8LB_44634

Much like getting a home under control requires you to control what comes in, I think the first step is coming up with a system to use going forward, one that makes sense for how you instinctively want to look for things. For some that means tagging things extensively, leaving it all in one or two vague folders and using Search to find it again. For others it means a detailed hierarchy of folders and a file naming convention. Maybe a note-keeping application that can handle images/attachments and/or a web-page saving tool if they make up the bulk of what you save. Once you've nailed down the system, you'll have an idea of what you'll need to sort out the backlog.

If you never actually look for things, it's worth re-thinking whether it needs saving in the first place.

My work life I keep in a program called CintaNotes, but that works for me because my "personal" stuff is a lot of code/query snippets and backup copies of reports saved as attachments to the notes. Everything else needs to be kept in the organisation's SharePoint which has its own rules.

> Next, find all the clothes and go to a laundromat if you can find the money (it is MUCH easier to take it all to the laundromat!!).

Want to second this. I'm a single dad of three kids. I simply couldn't keep up with the washing whilst also having a full time job and a long commute. I've now fixed this by buying dedicated laundry bags for each member of the family (literally - tall bags with Laundry written on them) and then once a week it gets given to the laundrette for a service wash. As soon as it's back, same evening kids and I fold away the clothes and hang them up.

Instantly the dining room table stopped being full of washing or clean washing that hadn't been folder/hung/put away. Same for the utility room. That one step and routine has made such a positive difference to our household.

Kon-Mari is kind of a beloved nickname for Marie Kondo. She's a Japanese author who wrote the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese art of decluttering and organizing. Her method is less of a 'here's how to fit more in such & such a space' or 'turn your hanger around when you wear an outfit, at the end of the year, dispose of items that haven't been flipped'.

Her philosophy is about keeping items that spark joy, and getting rid of things that don't. The main thing she endorses is pulling out everything in one category, gazing at every item, and see if it sparks joy. So that can be kitchen items, etc.

She does go a little overboard. I heard that in her second book Spark Joy that she had gotten rid of a hammer because it didn't spark joy. Then she had to go borrow a hammer.

The way she described staying in at recess to tidy the classroom, or staying in her bedroom arranging things makes me suspect there is a touch of mental illness.

However, she's helped millions of people, been on tons of talk shows in the US, and is probably most well-known Japanese authors to those who speak English.

I actually have a checklist that's a combination of her questions and some from the FlyLady about what to consider when keeping/tossing items. I keep it on my fridge.

I love this idea and recommend python. Intro courses often have you setting up logic for simple games and it’s so satisfying to figure it out!

If you’re really unsure about or intimidated by programming in general Scratch, is a fun route to go!

I love nail polish even though I know I have more than I'll ever use up.

If I feel like I need to pare down:

1. anything that's too old/globby/dry to use anymore
2. polish I didn't like (ones that chip or show wear easily)
3. any color that's just too similar to another one I already have

Actually getting rid of the bottles (because they are technically paint) is trickier - I asked my DEP what they suggest and they told me I can either bring them to a hazardous materials disposal event, keep the bottle open until it all dries up then toss it, or seal the bottle shut and dispose.

And lastly, the ones I keep are all in an organizer which allows me to easily see everything I have plus it keeps me from impulsively buying more, knowing I only have X number of empty spots.

Could try something like this... https://www.amazon.com/D-Line-Flexible-CTT1-1B-Management-Diameter/dp/B00B1EO2GW

They come in different sizes. The cables are meat in the tube but easy to rip out and replace when needed.

I feel your frustration!! I have a massive cabinet in which to store pans and it STILL ends up a mess because there are no corrals for each category. Stacking is a pain because then you have to unstack to get what you need, then stack it all again to put it back, then once again unstack/stack when the item gets returned.

Here’s what I have used to organize this area:

1. I bought something like this from IKEA along with metal S hooks. It’s now installed in my kitchen and I have pots, pans and strainers from it. I’m lucky in that I have a book of sorts where I could place it and it’s out of the way, but even if you don’t have that space available, I’d encourager you to consider finding a place to at least hang your most frequently-used pans, even if you have to put 3M removable hooks on the side of a cabinet or something.

2. Inside your cabinet, use a simple magazine holder (laid sideways with the opening facing you) to corral your aluminum foil and ziplock bags. Add a second one if you need to stow cutting boards and the like.

3. Use shallow baskets for the rest. It’s nice to be able to pull out a basket like it’s a drawer and find what you need. They also make various two-tier shelving solutions (although you’d have to remove that middle shelf to use them) that could work better.

4. You could also consider adding a piece of something sturdy (MDF? Very stiff cardboard) wedged vertically between the middle shelf and the top or bottom shelf to create kind of a cubby situation. Again, it’s whatever you can easily do to create corrals.

I hope that helps! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

I highly recommend Marie Kondo's books, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" and "Spark Joy."

It might be a bit much for you to start right now, but I'd still recommend checking them out from the library and reading them. There are some great ideas in those books, and it's sort of like training in how to let go of things you don't really want, or feel too guilty to get rid of. It's a fresh start, in a way.

The actual decluttering process can be overwhelming, depending on how much you own. For example, to declutter clothes you would collect every article of clothing you own into a pile, and hold each thing in your hands to decide if you really like it or not.

Ultimately, it's about choosing what to keep in your life to live how you want. It has changed my life for the better. I'm finally on the right track and actually maintaining it. I'm doing the hobbies I always put off, while keeping my house clean and tidy.

In a Muji toothbrush stand. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072XFHFPH

It's stone, so it's heavy enough to keep the brush upright, but it's very small and very easy to clean.

I'm in Florida, so high humidity all the time means I'm fighting mildew constantly. When I kept my brush in a cup, the bottom would get scummy. Now it stays clean, yet doesn't take up that much room.

Depends on how much space you need and how your kitchen is set up, but we have been using one of these and it takes up much less space than the previous dish drying rack we had and is easy to roll out of the way. If we need to hand-wash more dishes than fit on it then some will need to be hand-dried and put away.

In regards to your concern about open storage, I think there's a difference between decluttering and striving for visual minimalism and what you decided will come down to what you personally value. I recently bought a black wire storage shelving unit on wheels for a nook near our kitchen and while it is a little more visually "messy" it allowed me to organize things that were previously in the way, always being bounced-around because no spot was "right" for them because they had no "designated storage spot" yet were all things that we really, truly needed and couldn't otherwise declutter.

So when it came to visual elegance vs practicality I decided on practicality this time. I think it helps open storage if you can arrange things neatly and have peace in knowing these are all things you truly need and value having easy access to. If you would rather store them out of sight you might have options for that, too. I am adding a shelving unit into an oddly-designed cabinet to better utilize the available space inside of it. It's all about working with what you have to accomplish what you need within your budget and skillset.

I'll assume you are US, it's almost exactly the same as this one https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Spice-Rack-Organizer-shelf-Refrigerator-Magnetic-Removable-Bathroom-Black/dp/B086YY4ZZX/ref=sr_1_6?crid=S2JXZ590MHWX&dchild=1&keywords=magnetic+fridge+shelf&qid=1620510157&sprefix=magnetic+fridge+%2Caps%2C252&sr=8-6

Garlic grinder. Dishwasher safe, easy to use, easy to clean, damn near indestructible. I highly recommend it.

We have something like this. Do you have room for that?

I keep things organized in some clear baskets and some fabric baskets. And then some things in little canisters. I think it looks pretty clean and not cluttered.

I keep things like cleaning supplies, extra supplies, and a water bottle for plants underneath our sink.

There is a decluttering process called the Konmari system that addresses how to let go of (the appropriate) books. The system is explained in detail in the book 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up', by Marie Kondo.

I would say my living space is now 85% decluttered, which includes my bookshelf from which i purged and donated over 100 books.

If there is anything that's actually of sentimental value on any of the tapes, you could always digitize them in all their grainy VHS glory and keep the files on a hard drive.

I've had these for 9 months and they are holding up great:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VVK91X4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I primarily ordered them because their colors look good in our condo, and reviews on Amazon seemed good. But I am happy with them, highly recommend, and would order again. Yes, they are thick, and good quality.

Definitely wash separately, no softener, and do NOT put them through the dryer. You're not supposed to do that with microfiber cloths! My husband accidentally did that once (threw a few of them in with his own clothes) and they survived. But you aren't supposed to do that as they loose their cleaning ability. So don't do that!!!

I use the blue ones in the kitchen and the grey ones in the bathroom. I've washed them about every other week for 9 months. I wait until they are all dirty and do a single load with just these cloths, then hang to air dry -- they dry fast.

This is my first reddit comment :) I think you will find some helpful advice regarding dealing with sentimental items from Marie Kondo’s book (The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up), which will also help you go through all of your belongings category by category in preparation for starting a family.

I would also consider coming up with a game plan for dealing with future baby items because from personal experience, babies can definitely trigger that sentimental feeling and it can be hard to let go of all those cute little clothes and toys. We received a big bag of second-hand clothes from a neighbor for our first baby and it was the best gift ever, we were so happy to find a friend’s baby to re-donate those and new clothes to once they were outgrown. Take lots of photos of baby using favorite items so you don’t need to hang on to the physical things when they are no longer useful and then get rid of them as soon as you can because with each new stage comes new stuff! Good luck and happy decluttering!

I'm sure he wouldn't want you to be burdened with his out dated computer supplies.

Just like you wouldn't keep his food from his pantry after it expiration date, you have no obligation to do the same for his expired technology.

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I'd put everything on craigslist free or drop off at the waste place.

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Anything with a hard drive or a memory stick (or burned CD) should be wiped securely or otherwise destroyed.

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Something like boot and nuke can make security erasing many hard drive easy (but be careful you don't accidentally destroy your main computer!)

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See here for more info: https://dban.org

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Sorry for your loss.

My SO and I made a commitment that throughout 2017, we will tackle a single space once every 4-6 weeks (based on schedules) that are cluttered.

In order, what we are going to do:

1. closet under stairs

2. desks [1 each],

3. kitchen/pantry cabinets,

4. linens closet

5. garage

6. toiletries/medications/bathroom supplies cabinet

7. bookcases [1 each]

8. clothing closets [1 each]

Of course between the scheduled times, we are maintaining. We have done 1.5 of the list.

While working on a desk, papers for upcoming taxes are starting to gather, and it prompted me to digitize the past 6 years' worth of old copies and send them to the shredder (off to the office on Tuesday).

I got the audiobook of "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondu when it was FREE with Audible about 3 weeks ago & posted on this sub (HUGE SHOUT OUT to /u/louiedog for posting). I had a 5-hour round trip drive yesterday, so I listened to almost the entire book in one go. The biggest take away so far from the book is how to organize items in the closet: by length, longest on the left, and material weight. I identified 2 shirts that don't suit me anymore from wearing them this week. They were thanked and added to the donate shelf near the front door. (This pile will be removed in a few weeks, and after each of the scheduled declutter sessions, since the pile will grow the most then.)

A Japanese organizer/declutter named Marie Kondo wrote a book called "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." She calls her method the Konmari method, after her first and last names. It's a bit different from most decluttering strategies in that it focuses on identifying the objects that you love and that are most useful to you and discarding all the rest. It's kind of a "positive" method, in my eyes. It's also imbued with some Shinto sensibility in that Kondo talks about appreciating and thanking your possessions for what they do for you.

Nextdoor.com is a membership site for neighborhoods. It's US-based but just launched in the UK. It connects you with close neighbors and includes a "Classified" section.

There are a variety of fire/water proof document sized bags you can get on Amazon in the realm of $10-20.

Personally I have a fire/waterproof safe with a number of important documents and a fire/waterproof bag within that safe for the *super* important things.

It might seem silly, but there is something to be said about the peace of mind something like that can offer - the last thing you want to worry about during something like a fire or flood is saving documents over family/pets.

My recommendation long-term is a safe (depending on how much/many important things you want kept safe) or at least a water/fire proof bag of sorts.

Personally, I got this bag which sits inside my safe though I (thankfully) cannot speak to its effectiveness.

I just posted about this here in r/konmari. OP, I highly recommend checking out "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" and the KonMari method if you haven't already.

Depending on which country you're in, there will likely be different standards. For the US, there are tons of resources available with a quick google search.

http://www.consumerreports.org/taxes/how-long-to-keep-tax-documents/

http://lifehacker.com/5994409/how-long-should-i-keep-old-documents

I must admit, I have never opened that many tabs at once. I try to keep mine under 100 so Chrome for Android doesn't just replace the number of open tabs with a smiley face... :)

Every once in a while, I take a run through all the tabs I have open, starting from the oldest. Lots of times, I realize that I'm no longer interested in whatever I left open, and other times I realize I've already finished reading it or using the information. Those are really easy to close.

I share to Pocket anything I'm not going to act on immediately but am still telling myself I'm actually going to read or revisit or reference at some point. Because Pocket saves a copy of the content from the web page, it's especially great for saving longer-form articles I genuinely do want to read, but truly just haven't gotten around to yet. Those are great for reading when I'm on a plane without Wi-Fi. Pocket is also great for recipes or anything else I want to be able to come back to later.

Sure, I can theoretically just bookmark these pages, but in addition to saving a copy of the page content, Pocket lets you create custom tags, and you can apply more than one tag to the same item. There's a desktop plugin and a mobile app, so you can access everything you've pocketed from multiple systems.

Not gonna lie - I have a whole lot of things I pocketed years ago that I still haven't gotten around to reading. And every so often I clear out that list, too...

I can recommend the free applications FileShredder and Eraser <strong>here</strong> to overwrite the free space on your hard drive (you'll only need one).

If you're not familiar; a 'delete' operation simply removes the boundaries which denote a 'file' in the hard drive, without actually deleting the data itself. The above apps overwrite all of this with zeroes, meaning that the data can't be recovered.

If you do a quick search for electronics recycling in your area, you should be able to find the nearest place that'll accept it! If it still works, you might want to reinstall Windows, run FileShredder/Eraser, and then advertise it on <strong>Gumtree</strong>. I'm in the UK too.

The True Cost https://www.amazon.com/True-Cost-Stella-McCartney/dp/B07PNRV8FQ (rent on amazon streaming for $1.99)

The effects of fast fashion.

I'd look at getting a clear lazy susan for the oils. Something like this https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000URJAEU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vTcdGb645E1SV and getting rid of some bottles where you can or putting away the ones that don't get used on a daily basis.

Yes, the book is The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo.

In addition to the physical book, there's also an audiobook. You might also be able to borrow it from the library. And you may be able to find it in thrift stores; Kondo explicitly tells readers to discard her book if they finish the decluttering process and find that it no longer sparks joy.

freecycle is great. You could also just put stuff near the dumpster with a "free" sign and people will probably grab it. Also I don't know where you live but my area has a dozen places that take donations, Goodwill often isn't the only game in town; Salvation army? or google for thrift stores.

Easy stuff first all the way! If you like that approach, you might like this book because it's what the author recommends: https://www.amazon.com/Decluttering-Speed-Life-Winning-Never-Ending-ebook/dp/B072TMNCBH/ref=sr_1_1

I've seen a book highly recommended on Reddit, that I think would greatly help you.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (aka "Konmari").

I didn't think much of it until I started seeing the recommendations over and over again. I borrowed it from my library and couldn't put it down last night. It definitely inspired me to see things differently.

She's so genuinely cool and understanding about the emotional aspect of decluttering (I struggle with that too!) and she made mission impossible seem completely doable because she breaks it down into manageable categories.

I also recently subscribed to r/buyitforlife because I'm like you, where I constantly buy stuff. It inspires me to be more conscious about the lifespan of an item I bring into my house.

Cheers on your progress and here's to less anxiety! Your room looks great!

What did it for me was The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. It's a short book (I listened to the adiobook version which I think was 4 hours or so). The main idea is to keep only the things that you really use and love, and get the extra things out of your home.

If you have more things than comfortably fit in your home, it's hard to clean because surfaces are full of objects. It's hard to put clothes away if your clothes don't (easily) all fit in your closet. It's hard to find things if you have a lot of things, because you may not remember what you have--you may buy duplicates of the same item because you forgot you already had one, or didn't know where it was. And on the flip side, if all your items fit comfortably in the cabinets/closets/drawers/etc meant to contain them, your surfaces will be empty and easier to clean, your items will be easier to put away when you're not using them, and it will be easier to see at a glance where things are.

That's the jist, but I recommend reading it before you start. There's also a sub for it, /r/konmari

They were referring to the book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo, which was mentioned in the post by OP when they say they "Konmari" folded their clothes. There is a whole subreddit devoted to it. If you haven't heard of it, basically this woman, Marie Kondo, has developed a particular program to declutter and minimalize your entire space and keep it that way going by categories vs. space (e.g. - declutter all your clothes vs. declutter your closet). You saying you do a little everyday goes against what Marie says because in her method, everything is just in its place automatically so once you go through her method, you never have to tidy again. Sometimes I forget when subreddit I'm in when I look at this decluttering stuff so maybe that's what happened to the person who replied to you? Or I'm totally wrong and rambled about nothing and am stupid. You decide.

Konmari is the decluttering method described in "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up". Essentially you go category by category (instead of room by room), pull out everything in said category, hold each item in your hand and ask yourself "Does this spark joy?" Anything that does gets to stay. Anything that doesn't gets discarded in some way. If you want to know more, I would recommend reading the book or you can find the audiobook on YouTube, I believe.

You can use CDEX or similar to convert them to MP3s as fast as your computer will go. With online database lookup, they'll even be named by artist and track. You can upload those to Google Music/iTunes.

Not all clothes that get donated to Goodwill, etc. end up being sold back to people. Some are sent on for reuse as stuffing, rags, etc. (This comment walks through the process really nicely.) So you could still bring it in for donation, knowing it will be helpful in other ways (the video that is the subject of that post has clothes made into blankets, for example).

Amazon, as always! :D I got the 14" Zinus bed frame based off a friend's recommendation (link is to king size) but I'm already kind of wishing I'd gotten the 16" high version after I got a closer look at the limitations of the 14" (only 13" high bins, and the braces on the ends mean you only get to put the tall bins in the middle.)

It was surprisingly inexpensive, and I'm very much looking forward to the lack of box springs. And the cat is looking forward to having enough clearance to actually stand upright when he crawls under the bed. LOL.

Speaking of which, I should get off the Internet and back to my project, I'm just 6 bolts away from being rid of the old bed!

I use "Loyalty card keychain", available in Google Play or F-Droid for any card with a barcode.

Read "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg. It sounds like you are in the process of creating a really good habit of exercising. As that habit continues to become more ingrained, try introducing smaller habits around cleaning. Maybe it's something like, everyday wash the dishes you use. Eventually after doing that daily, you might pick up a dish or two in the pile that you never get to. Finally, after building the daily habit, you may feel more prepared to tackle all of the dishes - not at once, but little by little.

Edited to add: I saw in one of your responses that your physical health was a key motivation for you to start exercising. I'd like to argue that cleaning can also benefit your mental health. In your original post, you describe your place as "a huge, disgusting mess." I think you'll find that once you start to clean it up, you may see some mental benefits that you do not expect.

If your Dad is on board with decluttering, I'd get the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and do that program. It's pretty simple and effective and you get done with everyone in one shot instead of dragging it out over months. You could be done in a week and for some people visible change is a lot more motivating than small changes that add up over time.

I like the Kindle. The e-ink screen is fantastic, for me. As for the economic viability of it, I check out books via Overdrive.

In view of declutter though, I don't see the Kindle as a magical cure for clutter. The big problem I had was that I accumulated books (both physical and digital) and never actually read them. Consequently, I decided to keep 4-6 books on my Kindle at any given time. Any more than that and I'd spend more time looking for what to read rather than reading.

That all written, as sherlock_logic wrote, unless you prefer the e-ink screen, use the Nexus 9. And, possibly consider an app like Twilight.

For me most of my digital clutter wasn't so much something to get rid of, but just to organize better. So rather than cluttered by the files, it was more about the sensory input of seeing them all at once.

That being said, DoubleKiller is a godsend.

The Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees. It can help you figure out what you love to wear so you can donate what doesn't work for you

https://www.amazon.com/Curated-Closet-Discovering-Personal-Building/dp/1607749483

I have a somewhat similar challenge with my nail polish collection. I recently went spelunking through Amazon, and I think some of the modular clear plastic makeup storage organizers might suit your purpose. Something like a lipstick organizer (multiple narrow slots) might hold your smaller roller balls, and a tiered organizer like a nail polish rack might hold larger bottle. Being modular, you could put them on any shelf and then just pick up the section you need. Something like the items in this listing is what I’m thinking of. This brand makes a whole bunch of different permutations of organizers and gets good reviews so you could take a look at them to start.

I'm aware that some people don't like to use Google services, but I've just dropped all of my old photos onto Google Photos. Completely free and unlimited image storage (unless you want to keep hold of photos which are 16MP or larger). You can even downsize 16MP+ photos automatically as you upload them! I just put everything on there, and then go through it all in a single stream; deleting as necessary as I go.

I sign up for e-statements and then file all of them in the cloud, but it sounds like you're doing that for the future. Just make sure you stay on top of downloading and e-filing those, because some websites I use have a fairly short retention period for old e-statements.

If you're looking for what types of documents you can safely throw away and which ones you should keep for a few years or forever, this article seems like it has a pretty good rundown.

You can check eBay sold listings, http://www.abebooks.com and http://www.amazon.com to see if any of the books have value--if they do sell them on eBay or Amazon.

Libraries (or the Friends of the Library) have used books sales where they sell book donations they can't use.

I have a very very large collection and I organize it like this:

Genre(/Subgenre)/Artist/Year - Album/

I highly recommend using foobar as your media player if you want to be organized. Even without any plugins, it has fantastic utilities for tagging and managing files. If you need some motivation to perform the declutter, here's how things look like here.

If you have a lot of duplicates or incomplete albums, you might have an easier time deleting everything and starting from scratch.

A lot of facebook clutter is from the sponsored, trending, and whatever posts that have nothing to do with keeping in touch with friends.

I use fbpurity to keep that all hidden and did what you did with the slimming of the friends list, liked pages, and groups and things are much cleaner and easier to navigate.

I used this extension to help clean up my timeline but it was kind of buggy and not sure if it currently works any better.

I use throttle: https://throttlehq.com/

I wish I had used it for some activist work I did because I still get spam emails that I know we're purchased from them. Almost 10 years of spam because they keep reselling the email list!

If you want to hang on to them, you can get those vacuum sealed bags and store them flatly in a closet until either you are ready to give them up, or you have kids/ nieces or nephews / godchildren, etc.

Vacuum Bags

I see they linked you their big one, but I want to also share the one I use because I have a cabinet that opens up against my fridge. I put these magnetic racks side by side instead but I can still open my cabinet!

The thing that pops out to me is having a “large” amount of sheets for guests. Seems like anything more than 2 sets is excessive.

What do you do with the mattresses when you don’t have guests? I’m unfamiliar with your living conditions, but can you get a raised frame for the mattress and store the other items in bins underneath? Something like this.

There are lots of litter box containers fruniture peices on Amazon that you could put food into instead of a litter box.

https://www.amazon.com/Internets-Best-Decorative-Nightstand-Enclosure/dp/B01M01DVR0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1535235123&amp;sr=8-1-spons&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&amp;keywords=litter+box+furniture&amp;psc=1

The main features are, a door for you to open and get in and a hole for the cat to get into the container. Usually they look kinda like a nightstand or an entry way bench.

Other than that, the type of bowel you use and a feeding Mat help a lot. Usually the food crumbs are what make an area a mess.

I truly don't understand all the people thinking wet cat food is gross though. I feed my wet food and this has never even occured to me.

I have a coat rack and it is so useful. You can hang like 12 items on it, I almost wish I had two of them!

Oh and also those tiny hooks that stick to walls. I put them on other things as well as like a place to hang headphones and hats. Oh and a shoe rack, of course everyone needs one of those. And I have not seen them in America but I love those shelves that are just nylon stretched over a metal frame. They are so light and easy, keep one by your door for putting all your keys and stuff on.

https://www.amazon.com/Frenchi-Home-Furnishing-Raisin-Black/dp/B009JCVZ90?ref_=Oct_mh_s9_apbd_otopr_bFi6D&amp;pf_rd_r=WARYS3A5QPSAHSX1PCZT&amp;pf_rd_p=219f2561-c340-54c8-b5c6-088582739f1f&amp;pf_rd_s=mobile-hybrid-11&amp;pf_rd_t=BROWSE_ANYWHERE&am...

I was very skeptical about the KonMari folding method. But it fits so much stuff, looks so attractive, and really enables me to see my clothes.

For those who were asking, it's from a book by Marie Kondo, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: https://konmari.com

Depends on the drawer. I approach each room and then drawer individually. I re-organized my bathroom recently after my wife and I decided it didn't make sense to store our stuff in separate cabinets and that we should organize by item type instead. Yet, earlier in the relationship separate was the way to go.

You probably have different tools and different storage configurations than I do, so you'd probably need to organize differently than I do.

Mostly, I just try to group items together and increase efficiency and ease of use.

Have you read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up? I don't treat it as a bible and have never referred back to it. I even do some things that the author would not but the most important thing I took away was that that is okay, that there is no one right way to do things and that listening to your house, your items, and your usage is how you find the best solutions.

I've been reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and there's a section that actually addresses this. It's about how we all have our own things we're centered around and dependent on for happiness; in some cases it's our family, or our partner, or our money, or our possessions, that we use to measure our worth. The author proposes that in order to find fulfillment that isn't dependent on external factors, the best center to have is a set of defined unchanging principles you follow, so that you can handle life changes without people/objects/jobs/external things outside of your control stripping you of your identity or happiness.

If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, I definitely recommend reading it. It gave me something to think about because my happiness is overly dependent on romantic partners, so I'm trying to break out of that.

I also want to add, I totally understand where you're coming from when you say you have no motivation to declutter because no one's coming over. I feel that often. I also find that when I put in the effort to treat myself as well as I would treat a guest (i.e., bothering to tidy up for myself regardless of whether someone else is coming), it makes me feel good, because I'd like to think I deserve to have a comfortable and clean environment, and it puts me in a more positive mindset. Treating myself as well as I treat others is an area I still struggle with, but it really makes a big difference when I do. Self-care is important.

If you struggle with getting bogged down and can't function sometimes, this interactive self-care link has been a lifesaver for me: http://philome.la/jace_harr/you-feel-like-shit-an-interactive-self-care-guide/play

Good luck!

Fresh starts can be so invigorating! And I think it's great that you can and are able to plan for your move well in advance :)

If you haven't already, I highly recommend getting ahold of Marie Kondo's book 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up'. This will inspire you as well as help keep you in a mentally 'happy' place because, let's face it, major decluttering is going to bring to the surface all kinds of feeling - some of which can be tough to process, as well as render you 'stuck' and make it very difficult to keep going.

I'm a very organized person, however certain areas/categories are hard to tackle. Crafts and other creative endeavors especially. I try to limit myself to a few main projects and channel my focus more in the near future, as opposed to keeping every darn cute/inspiring object that my treacherous brain tries to convince me to keep "cos I might need/use/have-an-idea-for at some way the hell future point" lol

I would keep those few, nicer craft tools that are expensive to replace, if for projects you KNOW you are likely to commit to and actually feel good about. While I don't know what your creative outlet is, maybe you can limit those items to a solitary nice tote?

Anyway, you've got this, OP! This is an awesome subreddit filled with amazing people who will happily encourage and see you thru the next 6 months <3

My two cents: I went to layering, same shirt but with a sweater equals fall, add a coat now its winter.

and I also keep my work clothes for work, it's a small assortment that i rotate and i don't wear them other times so they last longer...for me 4 pairs of pants and 5 shirts and if i get a new one its because one of the others is damaged or doesn't fit. (if i were to have more work clothes i wouldn't have any place to hang them)

When i am not wearing work clothes I rotate two pairs of jeans and several shirts, for casual..though i have a drawer of really hot weather shorts and shirts.

I keep a mental list of what i have or need..if i need another blue polo for work then that's what i buy, nothing else.

btw there's a chapter in Marie Kondo's The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up book that covers it. Apparently the Japanese traditionally had two separate wardrobes and would rotate them seasonally.

These sources have been very motivating to me:

• FlyLady

• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (book by Marie Kondo), also known as the Konmari Method

If your house feels very trashed, I'd recommend starting with "joining" the FlyLady routine, while reading Kondo's book if you feel like it — the book is very positive and uplifting!

The sucky part of FlyLady is, well, several things:

1. It has religious overtones

2. It's 99% geared towards stay-at-home moms

3. It spams the hell out of your email inbox

4. It's got a cutesy, talk-down-to-you attitude

However, I still recommend the system. I used it to successfully dig out of a mess and to establish morning routines and cleaning routines that have lasted for many years. Seriously, I thought of "getting back into" FlyLady last year and when I checked out the "Baby Steps" (a 30 day intro to the system) I realized that the Baby Steps were the same thing as the habits I still did daily!

I really highly recommend doing the 30 days of "Baby Steps." The great thing about FlyLady is that that saccharine-sweet motivational talk is actually pretty helpful when you're feeling very despairing about the mess. Also a great thing is that from day one, you create and maintain an oasis of clean and calm in your house — the shiny sink.

I keep my supplies in a drawer unit like this: Walmart Sterilite 5 Drawers

I also apply the konmari method of arranging things so I can see them at a glance when I open the drawer, to prevent forgetting what it is I already have (and purchasing more of that item).

This Small Parts Organizer from Home Depot (2 Pack) is something I've used to store crafting supplies that are small and loose. The tops are clear so it's easy to see what's inside and the boxes themselves can lock together and you can create a stack. I store them on top of the drawer unit.

The Zombies, Run! app is AMAZING. I cannot say enough good things about it. I'm on the 5k training one right now and it doesn't rush you, is very positive, and has a really cool story. I love it.

Run Eraser on your laptop: https://eraser.heidi.ie/ It securely wipes the drive by overwriting it with 1s and 0s. There are a number of different erase methods you can choose, the fastest one takes about 10 hours to erase a 200GB drive, so set it running in the morning before you go out. Hell, run the process a couple of times on the same drive if you want to be completely certain.

I use Workona for my research. It's a web app and extension that can save and organize your tabs by workspace. It basically maintains a window for each workspace that can be opened and closed as needed. Not sure if it's what you're exactly looking for, but it did a lot for my peace of mind when I had a ton of tabs open. Saved in the cloud and not your browser.

Try Visipics.

VisiPics, it's function is to analyze all your images and find duplicates. It's a really powerful tool i used all the time.
Here's the info on it

If there is a branch of usedeverywhere in your city, post it on that under the "Free" section. Describe accurately the contents, which have been opened, how much is left, etc. Also you could join the mailing list freecycle . I see stuff like this, opened makeup, food, animal food, etc all the time on freecycle.

I've been using Acrobat to do everything in one piece of software, but FreeOCR looks pretty promising for a free solution. It's definitely helped a ton with getting the task done. Next to the slow scanner, naming files was taking the longest. Shoving everything in one file fixes that, but is useless if you can't find what you need after. Haven't had it set up like this long enough to know, but I'm curious to see if it'll actually work out faster to find things in one document than the individual files I've already scanned.

FreeOCR

-edit- Actually, I gave it some more thought and realized another option is just scan everything first, then get the 30 day trial of Acrobat to do the OCR. Also, trying to get another page or two on the stack when you've got nice uncrinkled pages that are less likely to jam adds up to less stacks. :) I've also just discovered how to make chapters in pdfs; searching in OneNote will no longer be needed.

Changing out the wire rack shelving or covering them with a smooth surface is a good idea. Then swapping out bins with handles like these might be easier to slide around with sliders on the bottom.

MineDecor Plastic Storage Containers Square Food Storage Organizer Stackable Refrigerator Organizer Handle Kitchen Containers with Lids for Fruits Vegetables Meat Egg (Set of 4) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L85BWZT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_8W2EZJMPFQ6SMS81CPA8

If she likes micro-organizing but these bins are too big, maybe you can label broad categories such as “adhesives” with separate containers inside for “tapes” and “glues.”

I also hate folding clothes and think it's the worst part about doing laundry, so most of them hang. Which is much easier.

But the first thing I'd suggest is you go through them, try them on to see if they fit or you like the way you look and feel in them, and put the ones that don't fit or look good on you into a donation bag. Part of the problem may be you have too many clothes.

Then, you can get one of these to help you with folding things neatly and uniformly.

Sorry you're struggling with depression. Make things as easy as possible for yourself ❤️

The book 'No Thanks MOM' is a wonderful resource, I have it on my Kindle

Maybe if you download the book it can give you some gentle tips for helping the in-laws and your husband approach the situation?

Dont frame it as the items will be 'useless' and end up in the landfill- that is not the inlaws concern, its more of a 'who is going to use it now? and WE DONT WANT IT!!'

fyi- everything ends up in the landfill

https://www.amazon.com/No-Thanks-Mom-Objects-Appraiser-ebook/dp/B0757WSGBV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UOU0FIHLIPVS&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=no+thanks+mom&amp;qid=1622448561&amp;sprefix=no+thanks+mom%2Caps%2C227&amp;sr=8-1

I hesitate to suggest "buy more stuff" as a solution to a clutter problem, but I used to have one of these that I used for a similar purpose:

https://www.amazon.com/Heritage-Travelware-Vinyl-Catalog-Black/dp/B00006IAA3/

Not that particular brand, but that type of thing. I had a bunch of reference books I had to lug around to particular meetings - so I just made my storage and my travel box for said books the same. It would almost certainly work for your RPG stuff.

It has the added benefit that dice, the occasional miniature, maps, play surfaces, etc. will probably fit in there as well.

> I struggle to read PDFs, paper is easier for me to keep words in place and easier to flip around.

I agree 100%. Some people work well with PDFs though, so it's an obvious suggestion. Especially if a book only really needs to be referenced at home when you're near a computer with a real monitor, PDF can be nice. But not great for looking up damage tables on the fly. :)

ALTHOUGH, that said, I remember that the PHB and DMG used to have a quick-reference section. That could be printed from a PDF if it's still a thing, to ease some of the discomfort.

I still think one of those catalog cases is the way to fly for you, though. :)

You could probably look into adding legs to the couch. Something low and simple to get it off the floor. I think it would make a huge difference.

Something like this:

One Sight Wood Furniture Legs, 6 Inch Furniture Leg Wood Sofa Legs Replacement Legs for Armchair, Cabinet, Couch, Dresser（Set of 4)

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07R9K342X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_WEM3FW34WV6SG13D2VZM

That makes perfect sense!

Personally, my spices bring me more joy when they get used and I dont mind my counters being a little messy. But I also have a whole cabinet dedicated to seasonings! One thing that helped me was these magnetic fridge racks for my spices. I keep my most used spices on the racks on the side of my fridge (just above where they would otherwise gather on my counter) and then my bulk spices are in the cabinet. I also just reuse the small containers from other spices so in the end it works out haha

Have you ever heard of Penzey's Spices? They have stores across the US but also have an online store that sells different sizes jars and also bags of their seasonings. They also sell the empty jars on their own. This may or may not be what you mean. They also have sales all the time!

Look at Identity Theft Protection Stamp. These block out your info.
Here’s one to get you started https://www.amazon.ca/Miseyo-Identity-Perfect-Privacy-Protection/dp/B076HN55V1/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&amp;keywords=identity+theft+protection+stamp&amp;qid=1612047994&amp;sprefix=indentity&amp;sr=8-3

Does your human dishwasher method work for silverware? I've got to scrub sometimes so I don't know it would work for me, but I like the idea in theory.

My dish rack is also low key and almost always full too. No point it putting it away unless I need the counter space for other things. Which is nearly all the time, lol.

For clothing I've never needed an organizer. Go with the konmari method of putting clothes in drawers so you can see everything.

&nbsp;

A search on Amazon for drawer organizers brought up these, which would work well for utensils and office supplies.

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Were you trying to organize something else than what I already mentioned?

I decluttered 90-95% of my belongings, so my closets and closed-door spaces are pretty empty now. It's a great feeling to know somebody can come over and open a closet or a drawer and not see a jumbled mess or risk having something fall on them (a reality in my pre-declutter phase!). I just don't want to go back to owning lots of shit, not after living this way for 3+ years.

You can get a photo box to contain the items you work with, then when you're done, put the stuff back in the box and put the box away. There's nothing that says you can't keep a chapstick together with a stapler and a nail file and a can of keyboard spray. Find a system that works for you. Photo boxes are cheap on Amazon or at Michael's and their size is great for that odds-and-ends shit we all end up with after we're done decluttering - the cords, glue sticks, Sharpies, whatever. I'm down to one photo box, it has envelopes, stamps, my return address stickers, phone charger cord, whatever.

Mia Home Shower Dispenser 3 Chambers (17.5 oz), Easy installation, 3 empty PET bottles, Steel Holder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072V3NB9M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_s.NkDbVE76S2Y

Google and Amazon brought me to this pretty quick

I use these drawer organizers. If you have a real small drawer those exact ones might not work for you, but there are plenty of other options like that if you like the concept. :)

I have a wide enough drawer that I can keep them all in one drawer. I really like them because they control how much of anything I can actually have. Especially with socks, because I will go wild buying socks if left to my own devices.

You know I really like these modular storage boxes for adding more space for things:

https://www.amazon.com/TomCare-Storage-Organizer-Shelves-Shelving/dp/B07CH1417G/ref=sr_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&amp;c=ts&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=Modular+Storage+Systems&amp;qid=1594784823&amp;sr=8-1&amp;ts_id=490629011

I also have ikea bags that are extra large and durable and I bought this dolly off amazon to transport items to my vehicle though I've used it for recycling or at one point laundry when I had to vacate my apartment for an exterminator and carry my laundry down to the downstairs laundry room. That Dolly only works if you have an elevator and flat entry or exits, otherwise it's just a bitch getting up or down even a few steps.

I hang worn clothes on a hanger in the closet but with one of these key tags on the hanger. I write 1, 2, 3, etc. to indicate how many times an item of clothing has been worn but anything could be written on them to indicate how worn a piece of clothing is or how dirty.

Again, I'm referring to The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, as it addresses the things you mentioned. Spark Joy is more of a guide to do the practical things mentioned in the first book. The mindset change and things she writes about are important and have really helped me, that's why I'm recommending the first book first. Good luck.

agreed. Tips for being minimal in a functional way would be helpful. A 100 item checklist is kinda stupid to me. I have a dog so my check list will always include leash, 2 dog beds, dog coat cause it gets pretty darn cold in the midwest, dog bowls and some toys. That would only leave me with 90 items minus the cat dishes and her heated bed (she is old arthritic and my house is old and drafty). Just not going to happen. OTOH I do not need a 2000 sq ft home filled with furniture and knick knacks. I can use a cloth bag for the market and take my brewed hot tea in a thermos instead of buying one for $4 every time I go to work/road trip.

I do like to keep the excess down and not keep buying the lastest and greatest. I would rather save money for a nice trip then have a new 'thing'. That came with getting older and wiser not a Minimalist Movement documentary. I got a whole lot of good information read Your Money or Your Life. it's dated now but still a great message.

I'd start with The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, it's kind of the central piece by her that explains the concepts. Spark Joy is her accompaniment book that more just expands on what she says in the first book. Read the whole book before starting, but trust me, if you keep to the principles and even try the hokey stuff (some of it is rooted in more Japanese tradition, like thanking the items verbally as you get rid of them), it works insanely well. I've been a chronically messy and cluttered person and it's the first time I've had organization stay for more than a couple weeks.

Marie Kondo (aka Konmari). Author of New York Times bestseller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

She outlines a methodology and lifestyle of an approach to minimalism through feeling joy in our belongings.

OP, I highly recommend you read (or listen in my case) to The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. There are many nuggets of great motivation and clarity that cannot be conveyed through someone else's words/article/bullets. It's a quick book, so that's my advice.

WOW! Thank you SO much for summarizing all that for me. I am truly grateful. It was really helpful seeing it all in a general overview. Konmari method seems more my style, as I just want to do it properly and get it all done with once and for all.

Last week, I read the book "A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy" and it TRANSFORMED my thinking in terms of materialistic possessions. Especially learning about Hedonic Adapation. I have always been good with my spending habits/finances compared to the "average" person. For example, I have a 16 year old car and buy clothes every 2 years (unless a main item I wear is worn out like jeans/shoes). However, I still had "desires" to want a new shiny car, a huge house. This book helped me "extinguish" those desires while still keeping me motivated to make more money (I want to be able to take care of my parents and GF's parents otherwise they will not be able to retire). Also, it really made me realize that I already have everything I want in terms of material items, in fact I have too much of it hence now the declutter process. Thanks again for all your help!