The Cure for Surface Clutter (Declutter WITH ME!)

Thanks Helix for sponsoring! Go to helixsleep.com/minimalmom to get up to $200 off your mattress, plus two free pillows! We hope that you have a great weekend!!! Dawn (You can find the registration for the 5 Days to an Organized Christmas workshop in the description -- it's free!)

Just buried my 90 year old grandma that raised me. She was a lovely woman, but a hoarder. Even her tiny assisted living apartment was stuffed. Going through it, trashing most of it, even sentimental, it all hits home. It's stuff! All stuff is headed to a landfill. Keeping her stuff doesn't keep her. She's in my heart and mind forever. Thank you! In the past I would've brought most of it home. Now I can separate the stuff from the person. Life is so much bigger than stuff, and with less stuff we can greater live life!

I've been watching you for years! You asked what we did today. Kids were in school, husband at work and I had the day off. Instead of doing mass-organizing, as I did in years past, I rode my horse for several hours. Guilt free. Less stuff means more time with the horse, which then makes me a more present wife and mother. THAT is why we do minimalism!

My husband loves when I watch your videos, they always inspire me to get something done. He prides himself in the fact that he moved back to MI with everything he owned in the back of his Ford Ranger. Ten years married, 3 kids, and owning our own home later, he gets stressed by all the stuff. When I started decluttering, he was giddy. Now that I've gotten to the point where my inventory is easily managed, I am too. I still have areas I know I can improve, but it's only been 6 months and I have learned to give myself grace in the process!

I love that you call these visits and that you affirm folks who may be lonely with "I love you". This is more than a self-help channel, this is a ministry🤟💗

I agree 100% that the longer I'm a minimalist, the more confident I am making decisions. I work in hospice care and see death regularly. It's a constant reminder that we need to be intentional about our time and priorities.

Been watching you for years before your channel got big but was pleased to learn something new on a recent video which I've been thinking about alot since then. It was to do with our limited time...we dont have time to wear all the clothes, sort all the photos etc. Its helping me get rid of another layer of things and not start new things / hobbies etc 😊

Celebrating 50 years of marriage today and wish I had kept house back then like I do now. Your videos have done so much for me over the years. Life is so peaceful and easy! No clutter and crap everywhere. It’s so worth it people. Just don’t wait!

Thanks for cleaning with me! I'm in a season of life where I don't have any friends, so I feel like you are a friend keeping me company! Thanks for keeping me on track!

Dawn, not only do you make the best videos, you have the best commenters. What a lovely group of, mostly, women, both grateful and generous with their complements and ideas.

I worked on washing my dishes and clearing off the dining table while watching this. I’m a 1st grade teacher, and I have started the habit (this year) of finishing my lesson plans before I leave school on Friday. I even make any copies we will need the next week. I come home with such a feeling of accomplishment and peace of mind. Even if I don’t get home until 6:30, I know I have the whole weekend to do whatever I want. This new habit has encouraged me to use those random 15-30 minutes of “free time” to get something done for the upcoming week. Sometimes I’m out of there by 5:00 on Friday, and that’s doable.

I watched your videos long before I started to declutter my home. To tell you the truth it took a lot of watching for my mind to finally say "you need to do this!". My husband was all excited because if he had his way he'd give/trash everything we have! We've almost finished our enclosed garage, which is my office, all my crafts and over flow like your basement. That was a car load! We had a leak last week that had totally soaked ½ of my dining room carpet (it was leaking for a while as we just don't go in there often) which forced us to move furniture. Had to empty my entire hutch and doll curio. While the contents were all over the table and in other rooms I boxed up so much nice glass vases, etc that I really haven't used in 32 yrs of marriage. I did keep my china and antique plates that were in my family forever but ended up with another car load! My hubs pulled out of the driveway so fast afraid I'd go get something back out to keep! Now onto another area.

My darling lovely granddaughter brought over a dress that needed altering. So while I sewed I had her help me pick up my sewing room and sort projects out and get rid of some extra stuff so I could even sit in my chair and sew. I always have more umph when she is here to help out. She is my double. And she is learning from me about reducing inventory and now keeps her room cleaner than her siblings. And everybody is right. It feels so much like a visit.

Hoop dat het goed vertaald word. Ik ben 30 jaar heb 4 kinderen 2 zoons en 2 dochters tussen de 8 en 2 jaar oud. Ik was echt totaal overweldigd door het huishouden en alles regelen, maar je heb me echt er doorheen gesleept. Heel dankbaar voor je inzet en inspiratie. Groetjes uit Nederland

I really appreciate that your videos are quick and fast. I follow some others that spend 10 minutes saying hello, adjusting their mics, drinking water, asking how everyone is doing, etc. I want to get going, that’s why I’m here.I know how to waste time, I’ve been doing that. I’m here for action. Well done! Also, I don’t how you manage everything and homeschool too!

“Clear the crap off the surfaces…” 🤣 I love you Dawn. I needed that right now as I’m putting my hair up to clean. 💕

I am so thankful for you!! Back in April this year, my husband and I uprooted our family (3 cats, 2 kids) and made a huge change in our lives. We sold our large house and bought raw land and moved into a tiny travel trailer. We did this quickly. We saw a narrow door open for our family and because I had already been following your show and minimizing our stuff for months, I had the confidence that I could get rid of almost everything and go the extra mile to minimalism. We did keep a few large furniture items in a tiny storage unit but most everything from our 5 bed 3 bath house is gone. We live in 180 square feet now with plans of building something very, you guessed it, minimal! We got creative with space. We are constantly reevaluating the things that take up the small space we have. We spend so much time outside. We have more time as a family because cleaning and organizing doesn't take up all of our mental space. We are living our absolute best life!!!! This would not have been possible without your channel and all of the tips and knowledge you have shared. Sooooo very thankful to you!!! ❤️

We’re moving into a brand new home so I’m decluttering and packing but with very clear intentions of only taking what I know we use regularly. You, Cas, and Dana’s voices are in my head as I go through everything and you’ve helped me so much to keep from feeling overwhelmed and making good decisions. Thank you!!! It’s our first move in 33 years so it’s a huge job.

Hi Dawn, From London! I just love watching you and can relate to you so much. I’ve been watching you for a couple of years, was constantly decluttering but it always came back , just like weight! I always used to look at your minimal kitchen and think. Never impossible for me! Only recently in the last two months my life has changed and I’ve decluttered about 60% of my stuff. Freedom at last! I cannot believe how simple the concept was until: 1) i went on holiday to new york with hand luggage only and my stress and bp was so low! 2) i came across your videos about having less inventory! Duh how could i not have realised this sooner!!! 3) the silent to do list. It was this video that clinched the deal I just love you and Diana and your spiritual approach. I am Muslim and can totally relate. Your family is so cute and amazing, you really are an amazing friend to all the thousands of people who watch you. I now am stress free, feel i can focus on my health and enjoy the game of ‘ lets see if can get rid of anything else’ and not miss it. Amazing. Just amazing. Thank you so much when you help us all to forgive our mistakes and give us permission to move on. Your honesty and humbleness is your greatest asset. Much love Seema from London xxx

I’m a recovering “acquirer” in a family of acquirers. This channel has been such a help; it’s a good thing you upload regularly, because I need the help/encouragement regularly!