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S4E9: 100 Things That Scare the Clutter Out of Us (The 100th Episode Spooktacular!)
🎃👻 100 Episodes. Zero Sentimental Retrospectives. Maximum Chaos.
Julie and Janis hit triple digits this week, and instead of a nice, reflective look back, they threw themselves a slightly unhinged Halloween party and counted down 100 things that strike fear into a declutterer's heart ...
... complete with a helium alarm sound effect that means things are about to get spooky.
The countdown takes listeners on a full haunted-house tour of the home:
the Closet Crypt (the bridesmaid dress you'll "totally wear again," the single sock still waiting for its partner, 12 slightly-different black t-shirts),
the Kitchen of Terror (mystery freezer packages, three garlic presses, mugs that apparently breed overnight),
the Doom Dungeon (the infamous Chair, the trunk-as-mobile-storage-unit, a boombox that's survived three moves still taped shut),
the Haunted Heirloom House (grandpa's recliner, dad's tools times three different dads, souvenir spoons from states nobody's visited), and
the Paper Poltergeist's lair (expired coupons clipped with love and never used, a VCR manual for a VCR that no longer exists).
Between the laughs, Julie and Janis slip in real talk: a gentle note on sentimental items (keep the story, not the storage), the Someday Cemetery full of good intentions with no actual deadline, and a genuinely moving moment reflecting on 100 episodes of helping people get through one drawer, one box, one decision at a time.
And yes, the one number Janis accidentally skipped turns up by the end, reunited with its missing lid from way back at number 98. A true Halloween miracle.
✅ Episode 100 Challenge
Pick your scariest item from today's countdown — the one that made you go "oh no, that's me."
Set a 12-minute timer, #declutteringdozen, and face that fear head-on with Keep or LET'S GO.
Tell the JJs which one got you in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community — bonus points if you find a lid that finally matches its container.
Thank you for 100 episodes of laughing, learning, and letting go!
🎃 This Episode’s Candy Bag Is Full of Raisins (Metaphorically)
With Halloween right around the corner, Julie and Janis are playing Trick or Treat with their closets ... swapping candy for every “life-changing” purchase that turned out to be clutter in disguise.
Storage containers, organizing gadgets, exercise equipment, kitchen appliances, hobby supplies, decor, and the bargains none of us could resist ... they’re all getting the spotlight this week, and fair warning: it hits close to home.
The big idea here is that we don’t buy objects, we buy dreams ... the organized pantry, the toned arms, the homemade sourdough.
Reality, as always, is more “eating crackers over the sink with great intentions.” The JJs start with the biggest trick of all: storage containers bought before decluttering, which just gives your existing clutter a nicer, pricier apartment.
Their rule is simple: declutter first, buy containers last, using their Keep or LET’S GO system to figure out what you actually need before you shop your own house (the only store where everything’s already paid for).
From there it’s a tour through every category of “this will change my life” purchase: exercise equipment turned expensive clothes rack, kitchen gadgets that need their cord located before anyone remembers they exist, hobby supplies that multiply in the dark, seasonal decor threatening to take over a whole bedroom, and the sneakiest trick of all ... the bargain that wasn’t actually a deal once you factor in dusting it forever.
Julie and Janis also swap their own confessions:
Janis’s Nordic Track elliptical that lived in the attic for over a decade, and
Julie’s art supply stash that’s grown well beyond “should be allowed by law”
— plus a great tip about donating hobby supplies to middle school art and sewing programs, who’ll often take almost anything.
✅ This Week’s Challenge
Set a 12-minute timer, #DeclutteringDozen, and go on a trick-or-treat hunt through your home.
1) Find three tricks: a bin full of empty bins, an unused gadget, a bargain still wearing its tag 2) Now: run them through Keep or LET’S GO.
Share your biggest “trick” purchase in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community — bonus points if it’s shaped like a cartoon animal!
💀🚪 Skeletons in the Closet: What's REALLY Hiding Behind That Door? (S4E7)
Julie has a confession: there are skeletons in her closet.
Before Janis could call a priest (or the police), the truth came out.
A broken umbrella, a bread maker used exactly once, three mystery cords, and a coat that last fit during the Clinton administration. Not a crime scene. An archaeological dig.
In honor of Halloween, we're going skeleton hunting.
We're opening hall closets, spare room closets, linen closets, kids' closets, and those mysterious little doors you open six inches, get bonked on the foot, and quietly close again.
Some closets aren't storage. They're witness protection programs for household items.
🧠 Why We Keep the Skeletons
"But it was expensive!" That money's gone. Your closet doesn't issue refunds or store credit.
"I might need it someday." Someday lives somewhere between Tuesday and never.
"It was a gift." The gift was the giving. You don't owe the object lifetime housing.
"It still works… mostly." If it needs jiggling, smacking, and a pep talk, it may be time.
🚪 The Closet Tour
Hall Closet: This is home base for CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). It holds the umbrella that handed in its resignation, shoes begging to be released, and a bag of bags big enough to supply a small nation.
Spare Room Closet: Also known as the Museum of Things We Meant to Use. Exhibits include Julie's backup egg system and the DOOM pile (Didn't Organize, Only Moved).
Linen Closet: Sheets that outlived their bed, towels with the absorbency of a paper plate, and one Hilton souvenir we will not discuss. (Tip: animal shelters often welcome old towels!)
Kids' Closets: Outgrown 3T treasures for the little ones. For grown kids who moved out years ago, it's Mom's free storage unit, complete with trophies, yearbooks, and one box marked "important."
📦 Keep or LETS-GO Keep what you use. Everything else gets a LETS-GO sort:
LE: Lives Elsewhere
T: Trash or recycle
S: Sentimental (set it aside so it doesn't derail the closet!)
GO: Goes Out (donate, sell, or return to its rightful owner)
💛 What Are We Really Keeping? Sometimes we're holding onto guilt, fear, or obligation.
Sometimes it's an earlier chapter of our lives.
Letting go of an object doesn't erase the memory. Your closet just needs to work for the life you're living now, not for 1997. Especially if 1997 includes shoulder pads.
🎯 This Week's Challenge Pick ONE closet. Set a timer for a #DeclutteringDozen, which is just 12 minutes, and go skeleton hunting.
Look for anything broken, worn out, the wrong size, missing pieces, unused for years, or belonging to someone else.
Keep it to Small Doable Doses, so no hallway-blocking MESSessary Middle!
Then pop into the ABC Declutter Facebook Community and tell us the strangest thing you found. (We're betting on a VCR. With tapes. One labeled "do not tape over.")
Julie and Janis wrap up the Right-Sizing series by digging into a complete senior downsizing checklist from the Senior Transitions Group.
It was written for adult children stepping in to move a parent, whether for health, safety, or a house that's simply too big. It lays out six phases over three months, with 11 to 12 items per phase. (That's a lot of checkboxes. We counted. Then we needed a nap.)
So we're sharing what we agree with, what made us say "Wait… what?", and the part we loved most: the room-by-room sorting guide.
🤔 Where We Raised an Eyebrow Changing addresses with doctors and pharmacies three months before the move? Janis, who works in a doctor's office, explains why that can send bills and mail-order meds somewhere your parent doesn't even live yet.
Make the list early, and make the changes closer to moving day.
And a house fully sorted one month before the move? In a perfect world, sure. In the real world, you're lucky if it's done the night before the truck shows up. 😅
✅ Where We Said "Yes!" Get the floor plan early.
Their four-category sorting system lines up nicely with our Keep or LETS-GO system, though we'd still give sentimental items their own pile.
Pack a first-night box with meds, toiletries, pajamas, chargers, and reading glasses. Make the bed first so the new space feels livable.
Plus, Julie shares a sneaky-but-effective "selling" strategy from a friend that made everyone happy.
💛 Moving a Parent Is Different Setting up familiar surroundings matters, especially with memory challenges.
Julie shares stories from moving her own parents into assisted living, including getting their favorite chairs professionally cleaned (just sayin'!) and the surprise "taco bed" that nearly knocked over her brother-in-law.
🏠 The Room-by-Room Guide
Kitchen: A few mugs, plates, and a coffee maker. Let go of the duplicates and the big-crowd serving dishes.
Living Room: One comfy chair, a side table, the TV, and a lamp. China cabinets need not apply.
Bedroom: A bed that fits, nightstands, and familiar bedding.
Bathroom: Toiletries in current use, two sets of towels, and a non-slip mat. Double-check those grab bars!
Garage, Basement & Attic: Decades of stuff, mostly staying behind. Keep a small toolbox and a few treasured holiday pieces.
Paperwork: Keep tax returns, legal documents, insurance, and medical records. Shred the rest, and keep important directives accessible.
🎯 This Week's Challenge Start your "Who Needs Our New Address?" list: banks, doctors, pharmacy, insurance, and subscriptions. Just don't send it yet!
Then share one item that surprised you in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community.
📖 Want the full checklist? https://seniors-transitions.com/resources/downsizing-checklist
🚚 Three Projects in a Trench Coat: Your Moving Day Survival Guide
The truck is finally here!
After talking through why you're moving, whether it's time, what comes with you, and how to make those decisions without losing your mind, Julie and Janis tackle the big day itself.
As Janis puts it, a move after 60 isn't one project. It's three projects wearing a trench coat, pretending to be one.
So we're unbuttoning that trench coat and breaking the whole thing into five manageable phases. No exploding heads allowed. 😅
📐 Phase 1: Before You Decide Start with the NEW home, not the old stuff. Get the floor plan. Measure the rooms, the closets, the doorways (yes, especially the doorways!), and your furniture.
"It'll probably fit" is not a measurement. It's a prayer whispered to the moving gods, and the moving gods do not care about your feelings.
🗂️ Phase 2: Declutter A quick Keep or LETS-GO refresher: keep what you use, love, and truly need, and release the duplicates and "somedays." Sentimental items get intentional, not rushed.
📅 Phase 3: Prepare This is not a weekend project!
Work backward from moving day, tackle one area at a time in Small Doable Doses, and build in margin for the unexpected.
Assemble your moving team, and please don't make your adult kids your unpaid moving company. (Julie speaks from experience.)
Plus: the client who tagged furniture two years early, Janis's life-saving "pre-move the toilet paper" tip, and why a dishwasher-sized box of hardcovers isn't a box. It's a crime scene.
💪 Protect Your Body (Not Optional!) Dollies, real breaks, water, and hired help for the heavy stuff. Nobody in the history of moving has ever said, "The dresser was so worth it."
📬 The Paperwork That Sneaks Up on You Address changes, mail-forwarding timing, and emergency contacts. Julie shares a hospital story that proves why these matter.
📦 Phase 4: Moving Day Keys, pets, snacks, essentials that ride with you, and a plan for where you're sleeping night one.
🏡 Phase 5: Settling In Bed, bathroom, kitchen, clothing, essentials.
Functional first, beautiful later. Your throw pillows can wait; your toothbrush cannot.
And give yourself grace for the emotional ups and downs.
💛 The Big Idea: Don't move your old life into your new home.
Move the life you want into your new home.
🎯 This Week's Challenge Grab a tape measure! Measure your three biggest furniture pieces, and put a piece of tape on anything that won't be making the move someday. Then pop into the ABC Declutter Facebook Community and tell us what got tagged!
Feeling angst about an upcoming move? Reach out. We'd love to help make your transition easier.
⏱️ Knowing What to Keep vs. Actually Doing the Sorting: Two Very Different Skills
Episode 4 of the Right-Sizing series shifts from what to keep to how on earth you actually get through the sorting process without collapsing around hour three.
Julie and Janis open with the classic mistake: pulling everything out of a closet at once, turning a manageable afternoon into a bed-floor-and-hallway disaster, and somehow ending up cross-legged on the floor holding a sweater from the Clinton administration.
The fix is refreshingly familiar territory for longtime listeners: work in small, defined areas — one drawer, one shelf — and start with the easy stuff (broken, expired, duplicate, forgotten) before you ever touch the sentimental box.
Save the emotionally expensive decisions for once you've built momentum, not for your first 20 minutes.
The JJs also break down the two main organizing approaches: A) by category (gathering all your towels, all your holiday decor, all your Tupperware from across the house to see just how much you actually own) B) versus by room (for the satisfaction of walking into a finished space) —
With the honest reminder that neither is more "correct." Use whatever works for your brain.
Then comes the real heart of the episode: pacing and decision fatigue.
The Decluttering Dozen (12-minute timer, work until it goes off, stop) gets an upgrade with the "doom-busting session" — stacking a few 12-minute rounds together with a wrap-up buffer.
The golden rule is knowing when to stop before exhaustion turns every decision into "maybe I'll keep it," quietly refilling your donation pile back into your keep pile.
For anyone working toward an actual move, Julie and Janis lay out four simple stages
— Decide, Distribute, Prepare, Move —
with one hard rule: the moving truck is for transporting decisions you've already made, never for making them.
✅ This Week's Challenge
Pick one small area — a drawer, a shelf, one section of a closet.
Set a 12-minute timer, #thedeclutteringdozen, start with the easy stuff, and stop when the timer goes off (or sooner, if decision fatigue hits first).
Share your doom-busting session wins in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community!
Next time: Moving Day itself — the final episode of the Right-Sizing Your Life series.
Episode 3 of the Right-Sizing series tackles the question that hits the moment a floor plan starts looking real: okay, but what actually comes with me?
Julie and Janis flip the whole mindset here — instead of starting with "what do I have to get rid of" (hello, deprivation mode), start with "what do I want to take with me."
Same process, radically different feeling.
The JJs work through the categories that trip everybody up: - things you use daily (easy), - things you use occasionally like the good china or the camping gear (not automatically clutter), - and the infamous "Someday" pile — including Janis's very relatable confession about apparently being prepared, at all times, to host 24 people for dinner.
Cue Julie's imaginary "Grandma's Vase Rejection Form," which might be the funniest bit in the whole series so far.
Then it's on to the harder stuff — sentimental items (you can love the memory without keeping the object, and there's no rulebook saying you have to choose one or the other), - the "but I paid good money for this" trap, - and the classic "I'm keeping this for my kids" situation, which really does require actually asking your kids instead of deciding for them.
- Furniture gets the measuring-tape treatment, - clothing gets an honest look at what you actually wear versus what you wish you wore, - and yes — the garage finally gets its moment, revealing all the decisions that quietly went into retirement out there.
The JJs wrap with a genuinely useful decision framework — a set of guiding questions (do I love it, do I use it, would I choose it again today) and a deliberately un-guilty "I'm Not Sure Yet" category, with one important rule: it's a parking space, not a destination.
✅ This Week's Challenge
Pick one room — just one. Imagine you're moving tomorrow and ask: what would I absolutely want to take with me? Start there, not with what you're getting rid of. Then look at what's left and ask why you're keeping it. Share your "I'm Not Sure Yet" pile discoveries in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community!
Next time: how to actually let go of what doesn't come with you — selling, donating, and making the process feel less like erasing your life and more like closing one chapter to enjoy the next.
🏡 Spoiler: Granite Countertops Should Not Be Making Your Life Decisions
Episode 2 of the Right-Sizing series picks up where Episode 1 left off, and it's time to talk about the M-word: moving.
Not because a TV show said everyone over 60 needs a condo, and not because a granite countertop is judging you (though Julie has notes about vinegar and granite).
Julie and Janis walk through 10 genuinely realistic reasons people decide it's time to right-size — and then flip it around with 5 things to actually think about when choosing what's next.
The reasons run the gamut:
- the house has become more maintenance than joy, unused rooms have quietly turned into storage units (hello, Clutter Purgatory),
- the monthly expenses no longer make sense,
- you just want life to be simpler,
- or your body's sending memos your house hasn't read yet.
Add in wanting to be closer to family,
retirement reshuffling your priorities,
craving real community,
wanting to unlock home equity — and the big one,
reason #10: making the move on your own terms, before a crisis makes it for you.
Then comes the practical half — because falling in love with a kitchen and forgetting to ask "how far is the nearest grocery store" is a real and common trap.
The five things that matter: 1. location and lifestyle (including the surprisingly important "what if I stop driving" question), 2. accessibility for the long haul, 3. total cost of living (not just the sticker price), 4. right-sized space for how you actually live now, 5. and community and support.
Janis's "Tuesday morning test" — imagining a random weekday in the new place — might be the most useful five seconds of house-hunting advice in the whole episode.
The big question to carry forward: are you choosing a home for the life you have, or the life you want to create next?
✅ This Week's Challenge
Make two lists: 1. what you love about your current home, and 2. what's become difficult, inconvenient, or unnecessary. Be honest — the second list often reveals more than any real estate website ever could.
Share your lists (or your favorite item on either one!) in the ABC Declutter with JJ Facebook Community.
Next time: the big question of what actually comes with you when you move — furniture, treasures, collections, and the things that have basically established legal residency in the garage.
Welcome to Season 4! S4E1: Why to Right-Size Your Life (Right-Sizing Your Life, Part 1 of 5)
📦 **New Season, New Series: Say Goodbye to "Downsizing" Dread**
Season 4 kicks off with a brand-new 5-part series, *Right-Sizing Your Life* — and Julie and Janis are starting with the word swap that changes everything.
Forget "downsizing," with all its smaller-house, fewer-things, sadder-life connotations.
This series is about *right-sizing*: finding the amount of space, stuff, and maintenance that actually fits the life you're living right now, not the life you used to live, not the life your neighbor's shiny new condo is living.
The JJs get real about how homes quietly become time capsules. Nobody wakes up and decides to build a museum to 1998 — it happens one kept item at a time. The kids' old rooms. The dining room used twice a year. The craft supplies waiting patiently for a hobby you gave up eight years ago. And, apparently, everyone's destiny to someday own a fondue pot.
But this episode goes deeper than "does it spark joy" — because a lot of what's sitting in boxes isn't clutter, it's memory.
Julie makes the case that the real question isn't always "have I used this in the last year," it's "what does this mean to me" — and from there, you get to decide whether the object stays, gets photographed, gets passed down, or gets released because you've realized you already have the memory without it.
Janis also tackles the guilt trap head-on — "mom gave it to me," "someone might need it someday" — and offers a gentler reframe: it's not your job to store things for a hypothetical someday. And when it comes to the kids inheriting grandma's china? Ask first. Don't let it become someone else's garage mystery.
The big idea to sit with this week: your home doesn't have to be your autobiography. Your memories live in you, not in every box in the attic.
✅ **This Week's Challenge**
No decluttering yet — this week is just thinking.
Finish this sentence: *"If my home worked better for the life I'm living now, I would have more ___." * Then finish: *"The things that get in the way are ___."*
Don't solve anything yet — just notice. Share your reflections in the ABC Declutter with JJ Facebook Community!
Next time: realistic reasons to actually move, and what to consider when choosing your next home.
🛍️ The Grand Finale: Stopping the Chaos Before It Even Starts
You've done the mindset work, survived the purge, built a closet you love, and installed the systems to keep it that way. So why do this whole thing again in two years?
Julie and Janis say the answer is simple: the closet monster doesn't grow from what's already in there, it grows from what keeps walking in the door.
Today's finale goes straight to the source: shopping.
The JJs break down why we buy things we don't need, and - spoiler alert - it's not a character flaw ... it's the
sale trap (that "50% off" that talks you into spending 100% on something you didn't need), emotional shopping (boredom, stress, celebration ... the clothes were never really the point), vacation purchases (souvenir shirts that never feel the same once you're home), the sneaky duplicate problem, and online shopping's total lack of built-in pause points.
The fix is refreshingly simple: three questions before any purchase.
1. Do I already own something similar? 2. Can I wear this with at least three things I already own? 3. Would I buy it at full price today?
Add a 24-hour (or one-week, for bigger purchases) waiting period, and Julie and Janis both share very relatable recent confessions including an England souvenir that never quite fit right, and a 21-pocket vest situation that got returned same-day.
Then the JJs take a well-earned lap through the whole series, from the emotional groundwork in Episode 12 through the systems built in Episode 16 and celebrating everything you've built along the way.
✅ This Week's Challenge (Series Finale Edition)
For the next 30 days, before buying any clothing item, ask the three questions: 1. Do I already own something similar? 2. Can I wear it with at least 3 things I own? 3. Would I buy it at full price?
No tracking spreadsheet required, just the questions, every single time.
Share what you notice (or what you talked yourself out of buying!) in the ABC Declutter with JJ - Community Facebook group.
That's a wrap on Closet Chaos to Closet Confidence!
If this series helped your closet (or your sanity), a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify goes a long way. And if you want to keep the momentum going, check out the Clutter Crushers Club for live monthly Zoom sessions at ABCDeclutter.com.
🪑 The Chair of DOOM Finally Gets What's Coming to It
You did the mindset work. You did the purge. You built a wardrobe that actually fits your real life.
So why does everything slide back into chaos six months later?
Julie and Janis say it's never one big thing, it's a handful of small daily habits quietly working against you. Today, they're naming every single one and handing you the fix.
First up: the Chair (or bench, or floor pile, or door handle ... you know your version). It exists because in-between clothes are a real problem, and that deserves a real solution: a couple of designated hooks or a small basket with an actual limit. Unlike the chair, a basket has a bottom, which means it eventually forces a decision.
From there, the JJs dig into laundry as a full system, not a series of half-finished tasks.
The golden rule: laundry isn't done until it's washed, dried, and put away ... no exceptions for "the basket is right there."
They cover picking an actual laundry day instead of waiting for a crisis, sorting as you go, and why smaller loads (yes, really) can save water, electricity, and your sanity.
Seasonal rotation gets a fresh spin too! It's not just swapping bins, it's a built-in twice-a-year declutter moment: if you didn't miss it in storage, you probably won't miss it going forward either.
And then there's the overflow dresser, that innocent piece of furniture that slowly became a catch-all. The fix? The file-fold method (game-changer), and clearing the top down to one intentional item.
Finally, four maintenance habits to keep clutter from creeping back: one-in-one-out (or Julie's preferred one-in-two-out), a monthly 12-minute closet scan, an always-accessible donation bag, and protecting that hard-won breathing room from episode 15.
✅ This Week's Challenge
Set a 12-minute timer, #declutteringdozen, and take on the Chair of DOOM (Didn't Organize Only Moved).
Every item gets a decision: laundry, back in the closet, or donation bag. Then set up your intentional alternative: hooks, a basket, whatever fits your space so the chair can go back to just being a chair.
Share your Chair of DOOM victory in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community!
Next up, the series finale — Episode 17 tackles what comes into the closet in the first place: shopping habits, impulse buys, and building an intentional relationship with clothes shopping.
👗 The Fun Part Is Here — Time to Actually Enjoy Your Closet
You survived the purge (Episode 13), You named your emotional baggage (Episode 12),
and now Julie and Janis are getting to the good stuff:
building a closet that actually works for the life you're living! Not a Pinterest-perfect showroom, and not a shrine to Fantasy You.
The JJs kick things off with a question nearly everyone's asked while staring blankly into a full closet: why do I only wear the same ten things?
Turns out, those ten things aren't a fluke — they're your brain and body telling you exactly what actually works.
The real goal isn't owning less for the sake of it; it's making sure everything in your closet earns its spot the way your favorites already have.
From there, the JJs walk through five principles of a closet you'll genuinely love:
a) everything fits today (not "if I stand a certain way" fits), b) everything belongs to the life you're actually living, c) everything makes you feel good, d) everything's in decent condition, and e) everything plays nicely with the rest of your wardrobe.
They also give the capsule wardrobe trend a fair, funny shakedown — the philosophy has good bones, but nobody needs to fold their life into 37 neutral rectangles to benefit from it.
Julie and Janis also swap their own personal wardrobe wake-up-call stories (you'll want to hear these), then get delightfully practical: - organizing by how your brain actually thinks about getting dressed, - keeping favorites at eye level, - facing hangers the same direction, - leaving breathing room on the rod, - adding real lighting, and - why "good enough" hangers beat waiting around for the perfect matching set.
The whole episode boils down to one gloriously simple test:
does your closet make getting dressed easier or harder?
If harder, something needs to shift — and it doesn't have to be a big something.
✅ This Week's Challenge
Set a 12-minute timer and put together three go-to outfits using only what's already in your closet — no wish list, no "maybe" bag. Snap a photo of each. It'll show you what's working and reveal any gaps worth paying attention to. Share your outfit trio in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community!
Up next, Episode 16 tackles the systems that keep your closet from sliding back into chaos — laundry routines, the overflow dresser, and yes, the Chair of DOOM makes a comeback.
🪑 This Episode Is Basically an Intervention for Your Chair
It's a Magazine Moments episode!
Julie and Janis are digging into a Martha Stewart piece on breaking the habit of piling clothes on furniture.
Naturally, that means a deep dive into the household's most notorious landing spot: the Chair of DOOM. (You know the one. It's not a chair anymore. It's a clothing shrine.)
The verdict from the experts? If stuff keeps piling up, it's because either the item doesn't have a home, or its home is too high-friction to actually use.
The JJs break down the article's rules of thumb one by one: give everything a designated home, declutter the closets and drawers so there's actually room to put things away, and use labels
(Julie is now a full convert, much to her own surprise).
The JJs also cover the power of a weekly family reset: complete with a flat surface scramble and a bucket-brigade approach for kids. Plus creating specific drop zones so the chaos has somewhere sanctioned to land. Janis and Julie also get delightfully skeptical about a "valet rod" suggestion (nobody's entirely sure what that even is), debate the merits of the mysterious laundry basket system, and share a truly unforgettable cautionary tale involving Janis's childhood laundry baskets and a cat named Rags. You'll never look at "clean" clothes the same way again.
This episode continues the Closet Chaos to Closet Confidence series — following S3E12 (the why) and S3E13 (the Great Closet Purge) — with three more episodes still to come as the JJs keep helping you take back your closet, one flat surface at a time.
✅ This Week's Challenge
Pick one flat surface in your home that's become a clutter magnet, something like a chair, a counter, even an entryway table, and give it a real, designated purpose or a decluttering session this week.
Share your before-and-after in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community!
Last week we did the head work (the seven reasons your closet is basically a wearable therapy session). This week? We're doing the hands work.
Julie and Janis are walking you through the actual Great Closet Purge! None of the "does this spark joy," no three-day pile on the bed, and absolutely no giving up halfway through to go make a sandwich. We see you.
🛠️ Setup Is Half the Battle Before you touch a single hanger: block off 30-minute chunks (24 minutes sorting, 6 minutes hydrating), gather FOUR bins (donate, trash, lives-elsewhere, and the infamous "not sure yet" pile), put on a soundtrack that is NOT this podcast (yes, people have tried, no, it doesn't go well), and clear a flat sorting surface.
Preparation is 90% of not ending up buried under your own fashion history.
🔄 The Flat Surface Scramble One section at a time, not the whole closet, ONE section. Pull it out, wipe down the empty space, wax-paper the rod, then sort. Work that section fully before moving to the next. Slower feels wrong but it's actually the secret to never facing an overwhelming pile of unresolved sweater decisions.
T: Trash (stained, broken, done. No guilt required)
S: Sentimental (unless you immediately know, this item gets its OWN separate session, not decided mid-purge)
GO: Goes out — donate, sell, or "I know exactly who needs this"
⏳ The Maybe Pile (With a Deadline) Maybes are fine ~ as long as they're sealed, dated, and set a 3-month calendar reminder. If you can't remember what's in the bag in 3 months, that's your answer. Donate unopened.
🚧 The Four Sticking Points The expensive thing you never wear (the money's already gone. Stop paying the guilt tax). The item that "almost" fits, or the gift you don't love. As well as clothes from a different body or life chapter we handle here with real gentleness, because that one's personal.
✨ Putting Keeps Back Right Group by category, hang facing the same direction, put your most-worn pieces at eye level, and wipe everything down before it goes back in. Fresh space, fresh habits.
🎯 This Week's Challenge: Complete ONE 30-minute purge block on your closet (24 minutes of sorting, 6 minutes to breathe.) Take a before photo! Share your before/after in the ABC Declutter with JJ Community on FB.
Every win counts, no matter the size of the section.
S3E12: Clothes Decluttering Pitfalls (Closet Chaos to Closet Confidence, Part 1)
👕 Warning: This Episode May Cause You to Side-Eye Your Own Closet
This week, Julie and Janis are kicking off a brand-new 5-part series, Closet Chaos to Closet Confidence — and they're starting with the hardest part first: your feelings. (Don't worry, no trash bags required. Yet.)
Turns out clothes aren't just fabric they're wearable memory, wearable guilt, and occasionally wearable delusion (looking at you, "Fantasy Me" and her never-worn linen blazer).
The JJs break down the 7 real reasons we hang onto clothes we never wear: Identity, Guilt, Fantasy Self, Body Changes, Memories, Money, and the ever-popular "Just In Case." If you counted at least three fingers while listening, congratulations, you're human, and you're in very good company.
🧥 True Confessions
Julie fesses up to a gorgeous white wool coat that's basically become a very judgmental closet decoration. Janis admits to holding onto her high school song-leader uniforms for over 30 years on the off chance her daughters — who outgrew her by middle school — might someday wear them. (They did not.)
🧠 Mindset Muscle, Not Trash Bag Muscle
Before Episode 13's Great Closet Purge, the JJs want you practicing four gut-check questions: a. Have I actually worn this in the last year? b. Would I buy it again today? c. Does it fit the life I'm living now? And the big one ... d. Am I keeping the object, or am I afraid of losing the memory?
✅ This Week's Small Doable Dose
Set a 12-minute timer, pick just 5 items from your closet, and ask one honest question about each: have I worn this in the past year? That's it. No decisions required - just noticing.
Use #declutteringdozen to share your progress (or your discoveries) with the community!
Next time: Episode 13, The Great Closet Purge — aprons optional.
Confession time: your car is basically a mobile junk drawer with a steering wheel. Coffee cups multiplying in the cup holders, receipts fossilizing in the door pocket, and somewhere back there are 14 reusable shopping bags breeding like rabbits.
Julie and Janis are calling it out (lovingly) and giving you the system to fix it before road trip season hits full swing.
🕵️ Why Cars Get So Cluttered Your car is a "mobile transition zone". Every errand leaves evidence behind. And the sneaky part is that you stop seeing it.
Clutter blindness is real, until someone asks for a ride and you suddenly see your backseat through their horrified eyes.
⚠️ It's Not Just Messy ... It's a Safety Issue Rolling items can jam your brake pedal. Blocked windows kill your visibility. A grimy windshield plus a sunset equals disaster.
This isn't about aesthetics, it's about actually seeing where you're going.
⏱️ The Weekly Decluttering Dozen (Car Edition) 12 minutes, once a week: trash out, misplaced items back to their real homes, everyday items organized, quick wipe-down.
That's it. Do it weekly and it barely takes any time at all.
🧽 The Seasonal Deep Clean Four times a year (or "2-3, but also whenever it's needed"), empty the WHOLE car, vacuum everything, tackle the windows, condition the leather (ok, just clean the Naugahyde), and yes! clean your cup holders before they start to walk on their own.
📦 The 5 Categories Every Item Falls Into a. Emergency kit, b. seasonal swaps (i.e., summer to winter) c. everyday essentials, d. trash (leaves every time, no exceptions), and e. "items that migrated from home" (we're looking at you, three-day-old Amazon package!)
🛣️ Road Trip Prep Checklist Fluids, tire pressure (including the spare! I learned that one the hard way in 110° heat), lights, windshield scrubber, and a designated trash bag so day 3 doesn't smell like a dumpster.
👀 The Pre-Trip Visibility Check Sit in the driver's seat. Can you see out every window? Mirrors clean and angled right? Nothing dangling from the rearview? Do this before every trip — it could genuinely save your life.
🎯 This Week's Challenge: Set a 12-minute timer and do your first car decluttering dozen.
Bonus points if you find something you thought was lost forever.
Share your "found it!" moment in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community!
✈️ S3E10: Magazine Moments: 10 Packing Tips for Your Next Vacation 🧳
Grab your compression cubes and your questionable amount of cords, because Julie and Janis are diving into another Magazine Moments episode!
This time they're tackling a list from Travelers (yes, the insurance folks with the umbrella) on how to pack a suitcase for vacation ... and naturally, they have opinions.
🗒️ Lists Are Life Julie and Janis are both certified list people, and they're not sorry about it. From YMCA camp packing lists to laminated checklists for kids, if it's not written down, it's not happening. Bonus points if grandma gets a copy too.
⚖️ Know Your Limits (No, Not That Kind) Airline baggage rules changed again, so pay attention to size AND weight ... Janis just bought a luggage scale and hasn't even used it yet. Classic.
🌀 Roll, Fold, or Compress? The great debate: rolling vs. folding vs. Janis's beloved compression cubes and packing envelope (which she will NOT be getting rid of, thank you very much).
Julie's a roller. Janis is a cube evangelist. Somewhere in the middle is a perfectly packed suitcase.
🧴 The 3-1-1 Bag Strikes Again Sunscreen, shampoo, and the eternal question of whether TSA will actually rescind that liquids rule (they will not). Plus: a glitter candle x-ray incident that had security very confused.
👗 Pack Smart, Not Heavy Scarves that double as tops! The "cat suit" color-matching trick! Limiting shoes! Julie and Janis break down how to pack fewer things that do more things.
🛫 The Carry-On Essentials Snacks, a hand fan (for "women of a certain age," Julie says lovingly), and never — NEVER — packing your valuables in checked luggage. TSA can and will cut your lock off.
🎯 This Week's Challenge: Before your next trip, make ONE packing list ... even a basic one ... and see how much smoother your packing day goes.
Report back in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community!
This week we're bringing back one of our favorite episodes — because good advice (and good laughs) never go out of style.
Consider it your patriotic prep gift from the JJs!
🎆 Stars, Stripes, and… a Picnic Table You Have to Build Yourself?
Independence Day is coming in hot — literally — and the JJs are here to make sure you're ready for it without losing your mind (or your fingers). In this fan-favorite Magazine Moments episode, Julie and Janis dig into a This Old House article on prepping for the 4th of July. Spoiler: they are not building a picnic table from rough-sawn cedar. Hard pass.
🚩 Fly Your Flag Right
Before you hang a single piece of bunting, Janis breaks down proper American flag etiquette — because there's more to it than just sticking it in the yard and calling it patriotic.
The JJs also chat about adding gold and silver to your red, white, and blue décor for that extra fireworks-inspired sparkle. ✨
🪑 Set Up Your Outdoor Space Like a Pro
Julie covers how to create an inviting, comfortable gathering space ... think varied seating, shade options, and making sure every single chair is within arm's reach of somewhere to set a drink.
Because no one should be standing there holding a hot dog with nowhere to put their lemonade.
🍔 Grill Talk (Including a Lemon Hack That Will Blow Your Mind)
The JJs cover menu planning, food safety, and grill prep — including Janis's game-changing tip for cleaning your grill grates with a lemon on a hot grill. Also: keep your meat and veggies on separate skewers, people.
The pepper-on-fire situation is real, and Julie may or may not be speaking from experience.
🦟 Bug Control, Games & Fireworks Safety
Mosquito-repelling herbs, citronella candles, yellow bug lights, and strategic fan placement — the JJs have your bug battle plan covered. Then it's on to classic backyard games (cornhole, giant Jenga, ladder ball, and yes — cribbage), plus an important and heartfelt conversation about fireworks safety, keeping it legal, and being a good neighbor to pets and veterans in your community.
🎇 Your 4th of July Challenge
Tell the JJs how YOU celebrate! Share your traditions, your menu, your games — or your most epic fireworks-gone-wrong story — over in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community. They genuinely want to party with you. 🎉
You did it. You sorted, you purged, you wrestled with the hazardous materials, and you made the tough calls. Now you're standing in your garage wondering, "Okay… now what?"
That's exactly where Part 2 picks up!
Julie and Janis are back to walk you through turning that sorted-but-still-chaotic space into a genuinely functional garage - one where you can find what you need, work on actual projects, and yes, park your car. Revolutionary, we know.
🎯 Start with Your Vision
Before you buy a single shelf, hook, or bin, ask yourself: What do I actually need this garage to do? A woodworker's garage looks nothing like a family-with-three-kids-in-three-sports garage ... and neither is wrong.
Your vision drives every storage decision, so get clear on it first.
📐 The Golden Rule: Go Vertical
Floor space = prime real estate. Walls, rafters, and ceiling mounts are your best friends. This single principle will do more for your garage than any other organizing decision you make.
🔧 Zone-by-Zone Storage Solutions
Tools & Workbench: Pegboard above the bench (outline each tool so you know what's missing!), clear bins for hardware, and a clear workbench - it's a working surface, not a storage surface.
Gardening: Wall-mounted organizers for long-handled tools, a dedicated shelf or cabinet near the yard door for gloves and small tools. Julie's genius move? A repurposed outdoor mailbox for summer grab-and-go garden supplies.
Sports & Bikes: Wall hooks and ceiling mounts for bikes and large gear. One bin per sport for smaller items - kids can grab and return their own stuff. Sustainable system = actually maintained system.
Seasonal Items: Ceiling and rafter storage for holiday décor, camping gear, and anything you touch a few times a year.
Household Supplies: Dedicated shelving, rotate your stock, and please resist the urge to stockpile five years of paper towels. (Toilet paper, however, is apparently currency. Janis has sources.)
📦 The Clear Bin Gospel
Say it with us: clear bins, specific labels. Not "Holiday" but, "Christmas Ornaments." Not "Sports" but, "Soccer Gear." Opaque cardboard boxes are basically rodent motels. Clear, labeled, right-sized bins (don't go too big ... trying to lift a 64-gallon bin overhead will not always work) are worth every penny.
🚦 Floor Space & Traffic Flow
Keep pathways clear between zones, put frequently-used items at eye level near your entry point, and if parking the car is the goal measure first, store second. Also: pool noodles cut in half are the unsung heroes of garage pipe protection.
🔁 Keeping It That Way
A quick 15-minute monthly check-in beats a massive annual overhaul every time. And the new house rule? The garage is not a dumping ground for indecision. Every item needs a real home.
👊 Your Listener Challenge
Before you buy a single storage product, write down what you need your garage to do for your life. Then tackle it zone by zone — vertical first, clear bins always, labels on everything.
🏆 Need Support? We've Got You.
The Clutter Crushers Club meets live on Zoom four times a month (Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 4 PM Pacific) — that's 6+ hours of community, accountability, and celebrating wins together. Plus, grab a free one-on-one assessment call to get a personalized plan for your specific space.
The garage. Where good intentions go to die, bicycles go to gather dust, and projects go to silently judge you every time you walk past. 👀
This is Part 1 of The JJs' two-part garage series — and today is ALL about sorting and letting go BEFORE any organizing begins. Because organizing stuff you don't need is just neatly arranged clutter. Sound familiar?
Why Garages Are Different
Sheer size, overwhelming variety, multiple people's stuff, AND hazardous materials — garages need a different pace and a lot more grace
Stop trying to do it in one Saturday — a garage that's been accumulating for years needs multiple sessions over multiple weeks
The 30-Minute Block System
24 minutes sorting + 6-minute mandatory hydration and re-evaluation break
After two blocks, take a longer break — garage work is physically AND mentally exhausting
Decide your end time IN ADVANCE and honor it. "I'll just finish this one thing" is a trap!
Work in Zones — Never All at Once Tools & workbench, garden tools, kitchen overflow, seasonal decor, sporting equipment, household supplies, fridge/freezer, unfinished projects, sentimental storage. Start with the zone causing you the MOST daily frustration.
Keep or LETS GO — Garage Edition
Keep: Does it WORK? Do I USE it? Does it have a HOME? All three must be yes
LE Lives Elsewhere: Catch-alls that actually belong inside the house
T Trash: Broken, rusted, dried up, genuinely garbage
S Sentimental: Set aside for a dedicated separate session — don't let it slow your momentum
GO Goes Out: Working items someone else would love
Hazardous Materials — Handle With Care! Old paint, pesticides, propane tanks, car batteries, motor oil — NONE of these go in regular trash. Search "hazardous waste disposal + your city" for local options. Julie's tip: latex paint can be dried out with kitty litter and tossed — oil-based always goes to hazmat!
Unfinished Projects — The 5 Questions
Why did you start it?
Is that reason still valid?
Is there a NEW reason to finish it?
Are you trapped by sunk cost thinking?
Are you just over it? (You're allowed to be!)
Part 2 is coming — smart storage solutions that actually work!
Don't want to do this alone? Clutter Crushers Club meets live on Zoom — 6+ hours of dedicated decluttering every month with a community that gets it. 👉 ABCDeclutter.com
Pro tip: Use a tarp as your sorting surface ~ when you're done, just bundle it up!
What Should Actually Live in Your Side Yard
Garbage & recycling bins on a hard surface
Garden tools in a wall-mounted organizer or galvanized bucket
Garden hose on a proper reel or wall hook ... that's it!
What's Possible When It's Clear
Picnic-ready yard = just a blanket, food, and clear space
Backyard campouts kids remember for decades
Simple intentional decor: bistro table, a few planters, a birdbath
Fairy gardens for the grandkids (Julie may or may not have tiny friends hiding in her flower beds right now 🧚)
Your Outdoor Action Plan
Pick ONE outdoor zone this week
First #DeclutteringDozen: Sort
Second #DeclutteringDozen: Execute
Stand back and ask "well ... what could this be?"
Ready to stop doing this alone? The Clutter Crushers Club meets live on Zoom The First & Third Tuesdays & the opposite Wednesdays each month at 4pm Pacific. That's 6+ hours of dedicated decluttering every month with people who genuinely get it.
👉 ABCDeclutter.com
If this podcast made you laugh, think, or finally pick up a timer ~ please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It takes 60 seconds and genuinely makes our day! 🌟
Your backyard is calling — and it's asking you to please remove the empty pots, tangled hoses, and dead planters that have been haunting the porch since last October. 🌿
Julie & Janis are back with a fresh Magazine Moment, diving into Bonnie Ferrero's article from Backyard Garden Lover: *12 Easy Fixes to Declutter the Yard and Make It Pop!* Same small-doable-doses energy you love — just taken outside!
12 Easy Fixes
**1. Gather & Remove Yard Clutter** Walk your property with a trash bag and a bin. Toss what's garbage, store what belongs elsewhere, and give everything a permanent home.
**2. Trim & Define Overgrown Edges** Clean edging along walkways and driveways is like lipstick — it pulls the whole look together. Edge every few mows to maintain those crisp lines!
**3. Pull Weeds from Visible Flower Beds** Pull after rain when soil is soft, get the entire root, then apply 2-3 inches of fresh mulch to suppress regrowth. Cardboard under mulch works wonders for the whole season!
**4. Prune Dead or Unruly Branches** Remove dead, broken, or crossing branches to restore plant shapes and promote health. Research the best pruning time for your specific plants first!
**5. Sweep Porches & Walkways** Make sweeping a weekly habit. Julie's tip: boiling water on cobblestone walkways kills weeds between bricks — fast, easy, and chemical-free!
**6. Store Your Garden Hose Properly** Neatly coiled hoses last longer, prevent kinking, and eliminate tripping hazards. A wall hook, hose reel, or retractable reel all work beautifully.
**7. Patch & Seed Bare Lawn Spots** Rake, seed, top-dress with compost, and water daily until established. Fuller lawn, happier yard.
**8. Clean Up Around Tree Bases** Create a 2-3 foot mulched ring around tree trunks — keeps things tidy AND protects tree health. Keep mulch a few inches away from the trunk itself!
**9. Refresh or Remove Dead Planters** Plant skeletons = instant eyesore. Empty, clean, and replant — or trade pots with neighbors like Julie's street does. Community pot swap, anyone? 😄
**10. Brighten Your Hardscape** Sweep and scrub patios and outdoor furniture. A power washer at the start and end of summer makes a dramatic difference fast.
**11. Fix or Replace Broken Outdoor Lighting** Leaning, broken solar lights do more harm than good. Straighten, clean the solar panels, or replace entirely. Fewer working lights beats a full set that looks neglected.
**12. Add Fresh Mulch** Mulch is the single most powerful quick-win for your yard — suppresses weeds, retains moisture, and makes everything look professionally landscaped. Start with your most visible beds first!
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**Connect With Us!** 📘 Facebook: ABC DEclutter with JJ 💻 www.ABCDeclutter.com
Tired of playing catch-up indoors too? Join the **Clutter Crushers Club** — live decluttering sessions four times per month, real community, zero judgment. 👉 www.ABCDEclutter.com
Winter left behind pollen, dirt, dead plants, broken planters, and outdoor clutter that quietly multiplied while nobody was paying attention. Sound familiar? 🌸
Julie and Janis are stepping outside today to tackle one of the most overlooked spaces in your home — the porch, patio, deck, or entry zone. Whether you've got a grand wraparound porch worthy of sweet tea commercials, or one tiny concrete square with a lonely chair and a determined spider, this episode is for you.
But first — a fractured fairy tale. Meet Lady Petunia, Sir Harold, and the mysterious Widow Gertrude, whose porch had disappeared entirely beneath Tarp Mountain. The Porch Fairy is coming, and she's carrying garbage bags, vinegar spray, and a clipboard. 📋
Start With a Clean Slate
Move everything into one sorting zone. Items like: furniture, mats, planters, boots, and all the "I'll deal with this later" items
Sweep thoroughly, then wash surfaces with warm water and vinegar or gentle soap
Even a tiny entry porch feels dramatically fresher once the grime layer disappears
The Decluttering Reckoning
Cracked planters, rusted chairs, and citronella candles melted into prehistoric fossils? Let them go
Nobody needs 17 half-used bags of potting soil or 6 rusty watering cans
Ask yourself: does this actually support how I use this space NOW? (Not your fantasy life as a Victorian garden duchess with unlimited free time 😄)
Porch Safety ... Don't Skip This!
Wet moss, loose rugs, cracked steps, and tangled extension cords are serious tripping hazards
Check for wasp nests under eaves, loose boards, rusty nails, and wobbly furniture
Look for spider egg sacs near the foundation, especially brown or red widow spiders (Janis has a very direct approach involving a utility lighter 🔥)
Replace burnt-out bulbs and keep pathways clear, especially for older adults and guests
Patio Furniture & Cushions
Wipe everything down before setting it back up for the season
Wash cushion covers and dry FULLY (damp cushions develop that unmistakable forgotten-basement-towel smell fast)
If nobody enjoys the furniture anymore, don't let it take up valuable space just because it once looked charming in 2009
Making It Inviting Again
A few intentional decorations beat overcrowding every surface with seasonal chaos
One healthy plant beats seven dead ones every single time
Think about how you want the space to FEEL = peaceful, cozy, welcoming, functional?
Maintenance is Everything
A quick weekly sweep prevents giant seasonal overhauls later
Outdoor storage bins are NOT magical portals where broken things become useful again
Small resets keep the porch from sliding back into chaos territory
Connect With Us!
Free Facebook Community: ABC DEclutter with JJ - Community also: 💻 www.ABCDeclutter.com
Ready for Real Support? Join the Clutter Crushers Club which is our live decluttering sessions 4x a month, real accountability, zero judgment. 👉 www.ABCDeclutter.com
Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ... the JJs are getting better at their closing, and they deserve it! 😄
Fur tumbleweeds. Mystery smells. Slobbery toys. Pet beds that have somehow collected half the outdoors.
Sound familiar? 🐾
If you share your home with a pet, you already know they bring us boundless joy, companionship, and entertainment. They also bring chaos, sticky leashes, and enough scattered toys to twist an ankle on at 2am. (Don't ask. Just turn on a light.)
Julie & Janis are diving nose-first into the world of cleaning pet stuff today and they brought a fractured fairy tale to kick things off.
Meet Mama Bear, Sir Barksalot, Princess Whisker Beans, and Nugget the parsley-eating guinea pig, who is completely unbothered by all of this.
The good news? You don't need harsh chemicals, complicated routines, or an entire weekend to get on top of pet mess.
Just a few simple habits and one very heroic product called enzyme cleaner.
Featured Story: Mama Bear and the Three Pet Beds 🐻
A fractured fairy tale about one brave woman, three very spoiled pets, and a toy basket that turned into a full archaeological dig.
Featuring a suspicious glittery sock, a leash that was somehow sticky, and a plush toy named Mr. Pickles who had clearly survived several emotional battles.
You'll want to listen for this one. 😄
Pet Food Dishes & Feeding Stations
Daily washing with hot water and natural dish soap prevents bacteria, odors, and that mysterious medieval-tavern crust
Stainless steel bowls are easiest — scratched plastic traps smells like a champ
Don't forget the feeding mat — it's collecting drips, crumbs, and slobber puddles with impressive efficiency
Lingering odors? Enzyme cleaner is your best friend
Collars, Harnesses & Leashes
They quietly collect the entire outdoors. Dirt, rainwater, grass, and whatever swamp puddle your dog found three counties away
Soak in warm water with gentle soap regularly to keep them fresher and lasting longer
Inspect while cleaning = check for fraying, cracked clips, and worn spots before your walk turns into an unexpected freedom parade
Leather needs gentler care; fabric can handle an old toothbrush around the hardware
The Pet Toy Basket (A.K.A. The Archaeological Dig)
Washing toys regularly reduces germs AND keeps that stale dog toy smell from taking over the room
Plush toys → mesh laundry bag → washing machine
Rubber and hard toys → soak in warm soapy water
If stuffing is escaping dramatically like a disaster movie scene, it's time to say goodbye
Pet Beds
Basically giant odor sponges wrapped in fur. Vacuum BEFORE washing or your machine becomes a furry snow globe
Wash the cover regularly and dry completely to avoid that damp rainstorm smell
Baking soda freshens foam inserts between washes
Enzyme cleaners are fantastic for accident spots (they deserve tiny superhero capes, honestly)
Kennels & Travel Crates
Easy to ignore ... but fur, crumbs, and mystery smells are quietly building their own civilization in the corners
Remove blankets first, vacuum out debris, then wipe with a pet-safe cleaner
Don't forget the travel crate in your vehicle! Check those corners and seams where grime loves to hide
A clean crate = a calmer, more comfortable pet during travel
Pet Food Bins & Storage
Kibble oils build up over time and turn rancid. Don't pour fresh food on top without ever emptying the container!
Wash and FULLY dry before refilling to keep food fresher and pests away
Wipe down scoops and measuring cups while you're at it
Enthusiastic eaters who fling kibble like confetti are a real odor source ... keep that feeding station clean!
Bathing Pets & Laundering Pet Clothes
Bathe pets at least every 2 months to prevent that signature dog smell
Janis's holy grail product: BioGroom Groom N Fresh shampoo = they loved it so much they bought a gallon with a pump (it lasted 14 years, longer than the original dog 😄)
Janis's De-Skunk Solution (yes, really): 1 quart hydrogen peroxide + 4 tablespoons baking soda + 2 teaspoons Dawn dish soap: mix into a paste, add peroxide, wait for fizzing, transfer to spray bottle, apply outside with gloves, avoid eyes/mouth/nose, rinse after 5 minutes. Works on collars too!
Pet clothes: fasten the Velcro FIRST or your laundry becomes one giant tangled fabric octopus (Release the Kracken!! 🐙 )
Air dry to prevent shrinking into doll clothes
Simple Pet Cleaning Routines — The Real Secret
Wash bowls daily
Wipe feeding mats regularly
Sort through toys once a week
Wash pet beds every few weeks before the odors become sentient
Key Takeaways You don't need perfection. You definitely don't need a 12-step spreadsheet for your dog's squeaky broccoli collection. A little consistency, some natural cleaners, and a trusty enzyme spray keep your home fresher, healthier, and far less crunchy underfoot. Your pets probably won't notice the effort, but your nose absolutely will.
Connect With Us!
Join our FREE Facebook Community: ABC DEclutter with JJ - Community
💻 Visit us at: www.ABCDeclutter.com
Want Support Beyond the Podcast? If pet mess has you feeling behind on your whole house ~ not just the fur tumbleweeds ~ come join the Clutter Crushers Club, our membership community where we declutter TOGETHER in live sessions twice a month. Real people, real homes, zero judgment.
👉 Join us at www.ABCDeclutter.com
If You Enjoyed This Episode Share it with your fellow pet lovers! And please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify ... it helps more pet-covered, good-smelling people find us. 🐾
Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and ~ as always ~ Keep Decluttering!
(They almost nailed the closing this time. Progress.)
YouTube Tags
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You've decluttered the counters, organized the closets, and tackled the pantry. But when did you last actually CLEAN your windows? 👀
Here's the thing about dirty windows ~ you don't notice them until they're clean.
And then suddenly it's like, *whoa, is this the same room?*
Julie & Janis are keeping it simple (as always) with a no-fuss, no-overwhelm approach to window cleaning that fits perfectly into your decluttering routine.
No spending your entire Sunday scrubbing glass with a toothbrush.
No fancy products required. Just small, doable steps that make a BIG visual impact ~ and one surprisingly satisfying challenge at the end.
Oh, and Janis uses Windex on ants ... We're not here to judge.
- Clean windows are one of those small wins that instantly make your whole space feel brighter, lighter, and more put together
- The mindset shift: we're not aiming for perfection ~ we're aiming for improvement
- Filmy and streaky to mostly clear? That. Is. A. Win.
The 3 Mistakes That Make Window Cleaning Harder Than It Needs To Be
- Cleaning in direct sunlight (you'll be chasing streaks like it's a full-time job) - Using too much product (more cleaner = more residue = more streaks ... always streaks) - Trying to do every window in one go (nope, not the JJs way!)
Your Simple Supply List
- A microfiber cloth or two - Basic glass cleaner OR water + a little vinegar - Optional: a squeegee (but truly optional — this is NOT a barrier to entry situation) - Julie & Janis's personal go-to: *Norwex window cloths* just water, zero product, beautiful results
The JJs' Step-by-Step Window Cleaning Method
1. Start with the frame and sill FIRST ~ skip this and you're basically making mud on your glass 2. Lightly spray cleaner on the glass or your cloth (light spray ~ we are not soaking the window!) 3. Wipe in a consistent pattern = top to bottom OR side to side, just pick one 4. Dry with a clean microfiber cloth = your secret weapon against streaks 5. Optional: finish with a squeegee for that chef's-kiss polished look (wipe the blade between each swipe!)
The Decluttering Connection - What lives around your windows? Clutter. Heavy curtains, random windowsill items, things blocking the light entirely - Before or while you clean, clear the sill and ask yourself: *Is this adding to the space, or blocking the light?* - Clean windows + clear sills = a whole new energy in the room
Small Doable Doses ~ The JJs Way - You do NOT need to clean every window today - Start with ONE ~ the one you look out of most, or the one that gets the best light - Set your #DeclutteringDozen timer for 12 minutes and go - Maintenance tip: a quick wipe every couple of weeks means it never becomes a big job again
Busting Your Window Cleaning Excuses - "I don't have time" → You have 12 minutes - "I'll do it when I can do ALL the windows" → That's the all-or-nothing trap, and we're not doing that here - "My windows are really bad" → Then even a small improvement will feel AMAZING
## The JJ Challenge
Clean one window. Just one. Clear the sill, wipe the glass, let the light in. Then come tell us which window did you pick? 🪟✨
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**Want More Than a Challenge?** If you love the idea of doing this WITH people instead of alone, come join the *Clutter Crushers Club* ~ our membership community where we tackle our homes together in live decluttering sessions twice a month. Real accountability. Real results. Zero judgment.
Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!! *(They got it right on the second try this episode. Progress, people. Progress.)*
You cleaned the kitchen, wiped the counters, and even tackled the stovetop. So why does it STILL smell like last Tuesday's fish dinner in there? 🐟
Julie & Janis dive into BobVila.com's "10 Instant Cures for Any Kitchen Odor" — and things got spicy. There was a vodka recipe (not a cocktail, we promise), a sponge debate, and the revelation that apple pie might be the most alluring scent known to mankind. You're welcome.
Feed Lemons to Your Garbage Disposal Save citrus peels in the fridge or freezer for a quick sink refresh. Janis's pro tip: freeze lemon rinds WITH vinegar in ice cube trays — cleans the blades AND deodorizes!
Keep Your Sponges Dry (Or Better Yet…) Just toss the stinky thing! Their go-tos: Scrub Daddy sponges and compostable Swedish dishcloths.
Spritz a Homemade Freshener Julie's recipe: ¾ vodka + ¼ water + 10-20 drops essential oil. Spritz the kitchen or your mattress. Warning: do NOT drink this. 😄
Clean Your Garbage Can & Recycling Bin Quick wipe-down every time you take out the trash. Little drips = big odors.
Cancel Out Cooking Smells Boil 1 cup water + 3 tablespoons white vinegar on the stovetop. The steam neutralizes pungent cooking odors throughout the kitchen.
Start a Stove Simmer Simmer water + mint + orange rind + lemon slices + cinnamon on low. It'll make the whole house smell amazing. Janis's tip: baking a frozen apple pie before an open house? Irresistible. Science says so.
Put Baking Soda in Your Fridge Skip the big box — use a small ramekin and refresh every couple of weeks. Julie's tip: store baking soda sealed in Tupperware so it doesn't absorb cupboard odors first!
Don't Forget Your Exhaust Fan Check stove filters monthly — grease and dust trap odors. Vacuum the bathroom exhaust fan too!
Scour the Drain Scrub that slimy drain catcher or toss it in the dishwasher. Refresh: 1 cup salt + 1 cup baking soda + boiling water. Let sit, then flush with cold water. (Check your pipe material first!)
Bake Some Lemons Place lemon and orange rinds on a sheet pan and bake to release the oils. Julie's note: or just clean the oven 😂
Bonus Tip: Bake cookies. Or apple pie. Science is science.
Connect With Us!
Join our FREE Facebook Community: ABC DEclutter with JJ ~ Community
💻 www.ABCDeclutter.com
Ready for Real Accountability? Join the Clutter Crushers Club = live decluttering sessions twice a month. No judgment. Just action, laughter, and real results. 👉 www.ABCDeclutter.com
Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Julie says you should because The JJs are "so amazing" — and honestly, she's not wrong!
Do you have boxes in your basement you haven't opened in years?
Filled with your grandmother's china you've never used, twenty years of your kids' artwork, and lots of "other stuff"?
You're not alone.
Julie and Janis tackle the hardest part of decluttering: sentimental and heirloom items that aren't just stuff, they're memories, stories, and connections to people you love.
What You'll Discover:
Sentimental items are uniquely challenging because you can't just apply logic. That's your mother's wedding dress, your father's toolbox, your grandmother's quilt. These items carry emotional weight that has nothing to do with usefulness.
Today, we share two approaches: the "skim" for quick breathing room, and the "deep dive" for creating intentional legacy.
The Truth Bomb Your grandmother's china isn't trash, but it might end up at Goodwill if nobody knows why it matters.
The difference between treasure and trash?
The Story. That's it ... That's the secret.
Key Takeaways:
Why Sentimental Items Overwhelm Us Sheer volume, paralyzing guilt, and confusion about what's actually important
Comfort Items vs Legacy Items Not everything sentimental needs to be passed down. Think: ceramic frog collections vs Dad's daily coffee mug
The Skim Approach 12-minute Decluttering Dozen to remove obvious non-sentimental items and build your decluttering muscles
The Deep Dive Approach Curating your legacy like a museum curator—quality over quantity, 5 meaningful items beat 50 mystery boxes
The Storytelling Framework Five questions that preserve a lifetime in 30 seconds (Who owned it? When did they use it? Why did it matter? How did you get it? What do you wish they knew?)
Keepsake Notes Physical tags that travel with items. Item name, owner, story, intended recipient, your name and date (3 minutes creates forever of meaning)
Your Kids Want Different Things Stop projecting, start asking. Have the conversation about what they actually want
Gift While You're Alive See their faces light up, answer questions, tell stories in person, get the thank-you hugs NOW
The Real Challenge: Sentimental decluttering brings up grief, guilt, complicated family dynamics, and memories you've been avoiding. You might need support to sort through not just the physical items but the emotions attached to them.
Ready for Help? Schedule a one-on-one assessment call with The JJs at www.abcdeclutter.com
We'll help you figure out whether you need a skim or deep dive approach, we'll talk about your family dynamics and timeline, and create a plan that feels doable.
This work matters too much to keep avoiding.
Those boxes in your attic aren't legacy, they're homework for your kids.
Legacy happens when you share with love, document with care, and gift with intention.
One person's trash is another person's treasure, but only if you give them the treasure map.
That map? It's the story. And you're the only one who can draw it.
We live in the digital age where everything is supposedly paperless now. So why does it look like your kitchen counter is auditioning for a recycling center? 📄📄📄 Paper clutter is relentless = mail, bills, receipts, school notices, medical documents, coupons, kids' artwork ... it just. keeps. coming.
Unlike other clutter, you can't just glance at a pile and make quick decisions.
Every. Single. Sheet. might be important, might be total junk ... You just won't know until you read it.
In this episode, Julie and Janis break down their simple 5-category paper system so you always know exactly what to do with every piece of paper that walks through your door. No more "just in case" piles, or paper avalanches. There will be no more finding a bill from 2019 under a pizza coupon.
What You'll Learn:
Why paper clutter hits different = and why the fear of tossing something important keeps the piles growing
The 5 Paper Categories = a simple framework that makes every paper decision automatic
How to set up a physical system = that actually keeps paper under control long-term
The daily 3-minute mail habit = that prevents future piles from ever forming
The weekly paper sweep = to keep your action folder from becoming yet another pile
The annual archive purge = yes, you CAN shred those old tax returns (eventually!)
The 5 Paper Categories:
📋 Action / Act Now = Bills, permission slips, invitations. Needs doing, then gets tossed.
♻️ Trash / Recycle = Junk mail, expired coupons, old newspapers. Spoiler alert: this should be your biggest category.
🔒 Shred = Anything with personal info: old bank statements, paid bills, pre-approved credit offers.
Your Challenge This Week:
Set up your 5 paper category spots (folders, trays, bins ~ whatever works for you!)
Do one 12-minute Decluttering Dozen session on your biggest paper pile
Start sorting mail immediately = 3 minutes a day standing by your recycling bin keeps the piles away for good (and it rarely takes all 3 of those minutes!)
📌 Resource Mentioned:
FDIC Emergency Financial First Aid Kit = A free checklist recommended by the U.S. government of the critical documents you'd need in an emergency (evacuation, fire, natural disaster). Search "FDIC Emergency Financial First Aid Kit" to download it free. Keep it in a fireproof, waterproof container and update it annually! https://www.fema.gov/emergency-financial-first-aid-kit
You start shoving things into boxes, bags, baskets ~ anything with a lid.
You tell yourself you'll deal with it later.
Later never came. Now those boxes live in your closet. Some of them have been there so long they've become furniture.
Welcome to the DOOM box episode.
What's a DOOM Box?
DOOM = Didn't Organize, Only Moved.
It's not storage ~ it's a box of delayed decisions.
A chaotic mix of important papers, random junk, things from three different rooms, and that one thing you've been meaning to return for eight months.
You relocated the problem instead of solving it.
What You'll Learn:
Why DOOM boxes form ~ and how hotspots from last episode are the #1 culprit
The DOOM box hunt ~ how to find and count every box, bag, bin, and basket hiding in your home (yes, check the oven ~ Julie learned that one the hard way 🔥)
What your number means ~ and why it's just data, not a character flaw
Why willpower alone won't fix it ~ and what you actually need to break the cycle
The clear-and-reclutter trap ~ why busting boxes without fixing your systems just creates new ones in 6 months
Your Challenge This Week:
Set your timer for 12 minutes (the Decluttering Dozen!) and go on a DOOM box hunt.
Count every single one.
Write down that number.
Then decide what you're going to do with that information.
5 or fewer? Pat yourself on the back ~ manageable situation!
6–10? You're not alone, and you're not failing.
More than 10? You don't have a DOOM box problem. You have a systems problem ~ and that's fixable.
Ready to Actually Fix This?
The Clearing Your Clutter course is underway, but it's not too late! Week 2 is all about DOOM boxes ~ which means you can jump in right now. Get live coaching, a community of fellow declutterers, and proven systems that stop the clutter from coming back. Details at abcdeclutter.com
We see you. You know that pile on the kitchen counter shouldn't be there. You know the bedroom chair isn't technically a wardrobe. And yet… here we are.
In this episode, Julie and Janis tackle one of the most universal home struggles: hotspots — those flat surfaces that seem to magnetically attract every piece of clutter that enters your home.
Spoiler Alert: it's not your fault. It's a systems problem, and it's 100% fixable.
What You'll Learn:
What hotspots actually are (hint: it's not just counters ~ floors count too, people!)
Why they form ~ and why "I'll deal with it later" is basically a hotspot's origin story
The emotional toll of decision clutter and why that pile is quietly draining your mental energy
The Flat Surface Scramble ~ Julie & Janis's 12-minute method for clearing any hotspot fast
The Keep or LET'S GO sorting system to decide what stays, what goes, and what gets donated
How to create a Landing Zone so the hotspot doesn't creep back by Thursday
The 2-minute daily reset ~ because 2 minutes daily beats 2 hours monthly every single time
The Flat Surface Scramble ~ Quick Recap:
⏱️ Set a timer for 12 minutes
🧺 Sweep everything into a basket (no sorting yet!)
🧽 Wipe down the surface (clean surfaces = brains that don't want to mess them up again)
📦 Sort using Keep or LET'S GO: Keep • Lives Elsewhere • Trash • Sentimental • Goes Out
Resources & Links:
🌐 Learn more about the Clearing Your Clutter course: abcdeclutter.com
The course is underway but it's not too late to join!!
5 weeks of live coaching + a community of fellow declutterers cheering you on!
Your Challenge This Week:
Pick one hotspot. Set a timer for 12 minutes. Grab a basket. Go. You've got this.
Tag us on social or send a message when you do ~ we want to celebrate every single cleared surface with you! 🎉
Forget the glass slippers. These fairy godmothers show up with spray bottles, laundry baskets, and zero tolerance for DOOM boxes. ✨ In this episode, Julie and Janis are channeling their inner Fairy Goddess JJs to tell you everything about their brand-new 5-week course — **Clearing Your Clutter** — starting April 6th, 2026.
If you've watched the shows, read the books, bought all the bins, and the clutter *still* came back… this one's for you. Sound Familiar?
- You've accumulated a lifetime of stuff — some yours, some inherited, some that just *mysteriously appeared* (wire hangers, we see you 👀) - You're "clutter blind" — you don't even notice the piles until company's coming, and then you suddenly see *everything* - You've done the big weekend purge, felt amazing for three days, and then two months later… it was all back - You've organized your clutter beautifully into labeled bins — and it's still clutter
If you nodded at any of that, Julie and Janis have been waiting for you.
## What Makes Clearing Your Clutter Different?
No "spark joy" pressure. No minimalist manifesto. No trash bags thrust at you with a countdown timer.
The JJs understand that clutter isn't just about *stuff* — it's about emotions, identity, memories, and the version of yourself you thought you'd be. They're here to help you understand *why* you keep what you keep, so you can finally make different choices.
The 5-Week Journey:
Week 1 – Hotspots** Those surfaces where stuff lands and multiplies overnight like spam email. Fast, visible wins right out of the gate — most students have their *"I can actually do this"* moment on Day 1.
Week 2 – DOOM Boxes** Didn't Organize, Only Moved. The boxes, bags, and bins you've been relocating from room to room for a decade. Week 2 is where they finally meet their maker — in the best possible way.
Week 3 – Paper Chaos** The mystery mail piles. The "important documents that are definitely in here somewhere." The "I'll file it someday" stack that's been growing since 2019. Week 3 comes for all of it.
Week 4 – Sentimental & Heirloom Items** The week most decluttering courses skip entirely. Not this one. This is where the real emotional weight lives — inherited pieces, memory-attached items, things tied to people you love. The JJs go deeper *and* gentler here.
Week 5 – Maintenance Mode** The goal was never just to declutter once. Week 5 builds your personal plan to keep clutter from creeping back — the systems and habits that make your home *stay* manageable.
## What You Get: ✅ Weekly video lessons and signature tools (Keep or LETS-GO system, DOOM Box labels, Hotspot trackers) ✅ Live weekly group coaching calls with *both* Julie and Janis ✅ All calls recorded — catch up whenever life happens ✅ Private community at ABCDeclutter.com — judgment-free, guest-room-safe zone 😄 ✅ Real accountability and cheerleading, especially when it's hard ✅ Lifetime access to all materials
Just minutes a day. That's all they're asking.
Ready to Join? **Clearing Your Clutter starts April 6th, 2026.** 👉 Sign up now at www.abcdeclutter.com
Don't add it to your someday list. We all know how those go. 😉
Julie's Tupperware cabinet launched an avocado-green ambush.
Janis owned an air popper she used exactly once — to toast spices.
These two walked their talk by tackling their own spring cleaning live, using every method they teach: the Decluttering Dozen, the Keep or LETS-GO sorting system, and Small Do-able Doses. All of it. No hiding.
The bedroom closet moment that broke Julie (and then healed her)
Seventeen unworn dresses. Whispering. "You might fit into us again!"
Julie called Janis mid-meltdown, and what followed was one of the most honest conversations about what clutter actually is - not just stuff, but identity.
The version of ourselves we're afraid to let go of. Pass the tissues. 🥹
When spring cleaning gets real
Their community started sharing their stories - husbands putting things back, moms guilt-tripping over 1992 afghans - and Julie and Janis realized this was so much bigger than drawer organization.
It was about relationships, people-pleasing, boundaries, and all the emotional weight we agree to store for other people.
Cue their special live episode: Spring Cleaning Your Life, Not Just Your Closets.
LETS-GO your schedule too Yes, the sorting system works on your commitments, not just your stuff:
Keep = commitments that energize you
LE (Lives Elsewhere) = obligations that belong to someone else
T (Trash) = things that have outlived their usefulness
S (Sentimental) = things you only do because you've always done them
GO (Goes Out) = let it go completely
The real moral of this fairy tale
Spring cleaning your house is good.
Spring cleaning your life is transformational.
And you don't have to have it all together to start = 12 minutes at a time is enough. Progress, not perfection.
Your Challenge This Week:
🏠 Pick one physical space - set your timer for 12 minutes (#DeclutteringDozen), use Keep or LETS-GO, and go.
💛 Pick one emotional space - a draining relationship, a commitment that no longer fits, a "should" that's weighing you down.
You don't have to do it all at once. Small Do-able Doses.
Forget the fantasy version of spring cleaning ... the one where you have unlimited energy, matching baskets in every room, and nobody needs you all weekend.
In this episode, Julie & Janis bust the biggest spring cleaning myths and give you a real-life plan that actually works.
Spoiler Alert: spring cleaning is a season, not an event!
🌸 What We Cover This Episode
Busting the Fantasy
Deep cleaning the whole house in a weekend? Unlimited energy? Snow White and the forest animals showing up to help? Yeah, that's not happening.
Life has jobs, kids, pets, and interruptions, and that's okay! The goal is a plan that bends but doesn't break.
The 5 Signature Techniques for Your Spring Cleaning Season
Small Doable Doses = The backbone of the whole plan. Break bigger projects into zones and tackle them one at a time. Bathroom? Counter, glass, tub, toilet, floor — each one is its own win!
Decluttering Dozen = 12 minutes on the clock, focused on decluttering. Long enough to make a difference, short enough to not wipe you out. Closets, junk drawers, paper piles — done is done!
12-Minute Tidy = Also 12 minutes, but this one's about resetting and light cleaning after decluttering. Start high, work down, let gravity do the heavy lifting.
Flat Surface Scramble = Grab a basket, sweep every flat surface in the room, and relocate anything that doesn't belong there. Visual calm = instant motivation to keep going.
Keep or LETS-GO Sorting = Keep, LE (Lives Elsewhere), T (Trash), S (Sentimental), GO (Goes Out). Simple, effective, and no second-guessing!
Your Real-Life Spring Cleaning Plan
Pick a few focus zones ... not the whole house. Do one Small Do-able Dose daily. On busy days, squeeze in a #DeclutteringDozen.
When motivation dips, run a quick Flat Surface Scramble. And if you miss a day? No guilt, just don't miss more than two in a row.
Consistency over intensity, every single time.
💡 Key Takeaway
You don't need more time — you just need kinder systems. Spring cleaning works when it fits YOUR real life.
Are you cleaning your clutter… or just relocating it?
There's a difference, and in this episode, Julie & Janis are keeping it real.
No fluff, no shame, just the honest truth about the cycle we get stuck in, the lies we tell ourselves, and the simple shift that will actually break it.
🧹 What We Cover This Week
Cleaning Clutter vs. Actually DE-cluttering
Shuffling piles from one surface to another, wiping counters around things, washing dishes that aren't dirty, folding clothes you never wear ... sound familiar? We've all done it!
The problem is that busy doesn't equal productive, and movement without decision-making just keeps you stuck in an endless loop.
The Greatest Hits: Lies We Tell Ourselves
"I might need this someday." ~ Someday isn't on the calendar.
"But it was expensive!" ~ The money was spent ages ago. It's not stored in the item.
"I'll deal with it later." ~ Later usually means more tired.
"I just need the right system." ~ A system won't fix excess. Decluttering will.
"I'll do it when life calms down." ~ Clutter makes life louder, not quieter!
The Correct Order (Yes, There Is One!)
Declutter first. Then clean. Then reset. It's faster, less exhausting, and way less resentment-inducing.
Use a #DeclutteringDozen ~ just 12 minutes on the timer ~ and do ONE small area at a time. Progress beats perfection every single time.
This Week's Challenge:
Pick one spot you're always cleaning around.
Remove just a few items first. Then clean it.
Notice how long it actually takes (we almost always overestimate! )
Take a before-and-after photo and share it in our community. Small wins count. Every. Single. Time.
💡 Key Takeaway
Clutter isn't a cleaning problem — it's a decision problem. Clutter is delayed decisions. You're not behind. You're just building a better system that works for YOUR life.
Spring cleaning season is HERE ~ and while 8 out of 10 Americans plan to participate, 67% feel stressed or overwhelmed before they even pick up a sponge. Sound familiar?
In this Magazine Moments episode, Julie and Janis dig into two articles that are packed with stats, cleaning tips, and ~ most importantly ~ the case for why decluttering first is the real secret to a cleaner, calmer home all year long. 🌸 The stats are both encouraging AND a little hilarious. Did you know 81% of people struggle to stay motivated during spring cleaning? You're not lazy ~ you're in excellent company! Julie and Janis break down:
The top areas Americans tackle (floors, baseboards, behind furniture, storage spaces, and windows) Why 60% of people say a clean space boosts their mood ~ motivation to keep going!
From BecomingMinimalist.com by Joshua Becker:
Spring Decluttering is Better Than Spring Cleaning This is the one phrase we want you to walk away with today!
Joshua makes the case ~ and we wholeheartedly agree ~ that decluttering before you clean makes EVERYTHING easier.
Key takeaways: Declutter your living spaces FIRST — then clean. There's zero reason to dust around things you're about to donate!
Start with your easiest wins: living room, bedroom, or even your car. Skip the attic and the sentimental deep-dive for now
Stay in your OWN lane — you can only declutter YOUR stuff unless someone gives you the green light!
💡 Julie & Janis's Reminders Never buy storage containers until AFTER you've finished decluttering ~ you likely already have what you need!
Label everything. You will be very grateful later that you did. Don't mix cleaning products (baking soda and dish soap = fine; bleach and ammonia = NOT fine)
Ask for help! Nobody said you have to do all of this alone.
Use the Keep or LETS-GO system as you sort: Keep (stays in place), LE (Lives Elsewhere), T (Trash/recycle), S (Sentimental ~ set aside), GO (Goes Out ~ donate, sell, or return to owner)
📎 Articles Mentioned Forbes Spring Cleaning (March 2024) https://www.forbes.com/sites/terriwilliams/2025/03/30/spring-cleaning-2025-myths-misconceptions-and-cleaning-tips/ Spring Decluttering is Better Than Spring Cleaning ~ BecomingMinimalist.com by Joshua Becker https://www.becomingminimalist.com/spring-decluttering/
Spring Cleaning Season is here ~ and so is the pressure to bleach your grout, alphabetize your spice rack, & deep-clean every room by April 1st or officially lose your adulting card. 🙄 Yeah… we're not doing that.
Julie & Janis introduce the Just One Area Spring Reset ~ a no-pressure, no-overwhelm approach that trades the all-day purge fest for something way more sustainable: one area, one intention, one manageable win.
Why traditional spring cleaning sets you up to fail If you've ever turned one junk drawer into five piles, eaten lunch, declared it bedtime, and then lived with those piles for a week ~ you are not alone. The JJs explain why going big actually backfires ~ and why small, doable doses are the real secret.
How to choose your ONE area Not every space is created equal. The JJs walk you through picking a spot that is:
Small enough to finish in 15–45 minutes
Annoying you enough to actually matter
Visible enough that finishing it feels rewarding
Great starting spots: that one kitchen drawer, the entryway landing zone, a single pantry shelf, or the linen closet still holding twin sheets for a bed you haven't owned in a decade.
What to AVOID This is not the week for old photos, memory boxes, or anything that will have you sitting on the floor crying at 2pm. Save the sentimental stuff for another day ~ today we're going for quick wins.
The 4-Step Just One Area Reset Process
Set your intention: What do you want this space to DO for you? Function over fantasy, friends.
Empty only what you can handle: Use a tray, towel, or small bin to contain the chaos. Decluttering avalanches are real & they are not cute.
Make fast decisions: No maybe piles. Use your KEEP or LETS-GO system: Keep it, Let it Live Elsewhere, Toss it, Set it aside as Sentimental, or let it GO out the door.
Reset for real life: Skip the Pinterest-worthy bins & use what you already own. If it's too hard to put away, it won't stay tidy. Design your space for tired-Tuesday-you.
Use a timer! Set it for 12 minutes (hello, Decluttering Dozen!), beat the clock, & be genuinely shocked by how much you can do. Before & after photos are highly encouraged ~ you'll want proof of this victory.
The Payoffs Are Real:
✅ Instant relief and calm
✅ Easier cleaning (you're not cleaning around stuff anymore)
✅ Less searching, less visual noise, less stress
✅ You stop buying things you already own but couldn't find
✅ You start believing: "I'm someone who can handle my space."
Your Challenge This Week:
Pick ONE area. Set your timer for 12 minutes. Go.
Then come tell us what you tackled ~ we genuinely want to know!
📣 Julie's pick: Her entryway
📣 Janis's pick: The junk drawer (where the Christmas cards went to hide — it's a whole situation)
It's still cold outside, your garage is a disaster, and you STILL haven't put away the holiday decorations. So why are we talking about spring goals? Because waiting until spring shows up is how you end up standing in your driveway, holding a tomato plant, and wondering where on earth your shovel went.
Julie and Janis are flipping traditional goal setting on its head. Instead of starting with a to-do list for spring, they're starting with the stuff that's blocking your spring plans RIGHT NOW. Because the goals aren't the problem—the clutter is.
When the things you need are broken, buried, or scattered, everything feels harder than it needs to be. Motivation drains fast when you have to dig through chaos just to get started. Let's fix that before spring actually arrives!
Work Backward From Your Actual Goals
Why "get organized" is too vague (and leads to still having a cluttered garage in July)
How to identify what's REALLY blocking your spring plans
The power of asking: "Does this item support what I actually want to do this spring?"
Julie's confession about her garage full of garden pots (classic DOOM - Didn't Organize, Only Moved!)
Declutter By Category Based on Your Spring Plans
Gardening Goals:
Clear out broken tools, 5-year-old seed packets, and pots you don't even like
Why seeing all that chaos registers as "work" instead of "joy" in your brain
Julie's heirloom seed story (15 years old, two plants grew, and it was PERFECT)
Pro tip: Sprinkle old seeds in alleys as you walk—some might grow!
Outdoor Entertaining:
Start with wobbly, uncomfortable, or embarrassing furniture (it's supporting accidents, not connection!)
The melted spatulas, mismatched plates, and 2015 citronella candles that don't smell like citronella anymore
Picture the gathering you actually want, then declutter the gap between here and there
Getting Active:
The emotional weight of bikes, weights, and yoga mats bought with the best intentions
Truth bomb (Let's Talk Reality): Keeping something you don't like doesn't make you more likely to use it ~ it just keeps the guilt going
Make what you DO use easy to grab (and pump up those bike tires ~ don't ask Julie how she knows!)
The Garage - Final Boss of Clutter:
Where "I'll deal with this later" goes to retire
Prioritize what supports your goals for easiest access
Gentle reminder: If you're storing adult kid's belongings for years, it's time for a conversation
Spring Cleaning vs. Decluttering
You can't clean clutter, you can only move it around ~ "clutter shuffling"
Always declutter FIRST, then clean
Cleaning around excess stuff turns every task into an obstacle course
Your Action Plan
Write down your top 3 spring goals
Identify what's blocking them
Schedule short #DeclutteringDozen sessions (just 12 minutes!) to remove those hurdles
Have your LETs~GO bags ready (Lives Elsewhere, Trash, Sentimental, Goes Out)
No perfection required ~ just progress!
Ready for real support and accountability? Stop playing catch-up alone. Join the Clutter Crushers Club and declutter WITH us twice a month in live sessions. No judgment, just action and community support from people who actually GET IT.
👉 Visit www.ABCDeclutter.com to join today!
Don't forget to like, share, subscribe, and leave us a review! We'll see you next week!
Are you feeling buried under catch-up cleaning? You're not alone!
In this episode, Julie and Janis tackle the overwhelm of getting your home back on track when life has simply gotten in the way ... and boy! can it get in the way!
Forget any guilt or shame ~ we're sharing real, practical strategies that work for actual busy lives (not those fantasy lives where the laundry folds itself!).
What You'll Learn:
The "spy mission" reconnaissance technique using our famous 12-minute Decluttering Dozen
How to identify clutter blindness with a simple photo trick
The "Big Three Method" for maximum impact with minimum effort
The crucial 3-step catch-up cleaning formula (why order matters!)
How to avoid the "reorganization rabbit hole" and productive procrastination traps
What "good enough clean" really means (hint: your baseboards can wait!)
The magic of the "closing shift" for daily maintenance
Why your worth isn't determined by your countertops
Key Concepts:
✨ Small Do-able Doses over marathon cleaning sessions
✨ The LETS-GO System (Lives Elsewhere, Trash, Sentimental, Goes Out)
✨ Progress over perfection, always!
✨ DOOM: Didn't Organize, Only Moved (stop shuffling clutter!)
Remember: Martha Stewart has a staff. You're human, and being behind doesn't make you a failure ~ it makes you normal!
Ready for Support? Join our free community at www.abcdeclutter.com or level up with the Clutter Crushers Club for live sessions and coaching. Jump into our February Decluttering the Alphabet Adventure Challenge anytime!
Ready to conquer your clutter this February? Join Julie and Janis as they kick off the February Alphabet Declutter Challenge with the most important question: What actually counts as decluttering? Spoiler alert: You're probably overthinking it!
In this episode, we're breaking down exactly how the Alphabet Challenge works and giving you permission to get creative, bend the rules, and stop stressing about doing it "perfectly." Because here's the truth: The alphabet is your framework, not your prison warden!
What You'll Learn:
Think Categories, Not Single Items: When we say "A is for Accessories," we mean tackle that jewelry box and scarf drawer - not find one lonely ankle bracelet from 1987 and call it victory.
There's No Finish Line for Each Letter: You don't have to completely solve a category in one day. Sustainable decluttering means making progress, not achieving perfection. Spend 12 minutes or an hour—both are wins!
Get Creative with Tricky Letters: Struggling with X, Q, or Z? Make X "extra stuff," Q "things you're questioning," or Z "zones you never use." The challenge adapts to YOUR home and YOUR clutter.
Customize Your Challenge: Let the alphabet meet you where you are. Cat lover? C-Day just got interesting. Crafter? S-Day for supplies might require reinforcements. Reader? B-Day could be significant with your books. Minimal kitchen? Breeze through K-Day in 20 minutes.
Skip Days Without Guilt: Life happens! Jump back in tomorrow. Want to start with C for your disaster car instead of A? Do it! The Alphabet Police aren't coming to arrest you.
Key Takeaways:
Categories over single items (but single items count too!)
Creativity over rigidity
Progress over perfection
Small Do-able Doses make big impact
Whether you complete the whole alphabet or just half, that's 13+ categories you're addressing that you probably wouldn't have touched otherwise. And guess what? You can repeat this challenge again and again as your clutter situation changes!
Join us LIVE February 1st at 4pm PST for our Jumpstart Party! (Fair warning: zero birthday cake, but we'll cheer you on as you declutter those dusty cake pans!)
Valentine's Day has quietly become one of the biggest retail spending holidays -and most of what's purchased never makes it past a few weeks. Julie and Janis are flipping the script on cupid's favorite holiday with a decluttering twist that'll make your heart (and your home) sing! -
What You'll Discover:
Ditch the disposable roses and dusty teddy bears! This episode explores how to create a truly meaningful Valentine's Day without adding clutter to your home or stress to your budget. Using real spending data and trends, we reveal why smart celebrators are choosing experiences over stuff—and how that shift creates deeper, lasting connections.
The Love Language Reality Check: We break down all five love languages and explain why so many well-meaning gestures completely miss the mark. Spoiler Alert: Love is often present, but expressed in ways the other person doesn't fully receive. Ouch!
Key Takeaways:
Why Valentine's spending is skyrocketing (and how to opt out intentionally)
Clutter-free gift ideas for EVERY love language that focus on presence, not presents
How Galentine's celebrations, self-care, and even pet gifting are changing the holiday landscape
Practical ways to show love through words, time, and service without buying more stuff
How to declutter expectations and outdated traditions that no longer serve you
Your Challenge:
Identify YOUR love language and your loved one's language. Then choose ONE intentional, clutter-free way to express love this Valentine's Day that they'll actually feel and remember.
Whether you're celebrating with a partner, friends, family, or yourself, this episode helps you rethink Valentine's Day in a way that feels personal, sustainable, and genuinely meaningful. No chocolate boxes gathering dust required!
The Village That Had Too Many Letters: A Decluttering Fairy Tale
Ever feel like your home is drowning in stuff? You're not alone! Join Julie and Janis as they share a whimsical fairy tale about Alderwick—a village where storage bins multiply like rabbits and possessions pile up faster than good intentions.
What You'll Discover:
In this episode, we explore the enchanting story of a village overwhelmed by well-meaning clutter. When belongings start mysteriously disappearing, the villagers panic - until they realize nothing important is actually missing. Follow Juniper, the wise village mender, as she discovers why possessions were leaving and what they really needed.
The Big Lesson: Your possessions are like letters of the alphabet. Too few and life feels unfinished. Too many and the meaning gets lost. The goal isn't to erase your alphabet - it's to build words that make sense for the life you're living RIGHT NOW.
Key Takeaways:
Why items "stop doing their jobs" and how to recognize when it's time to let go
The gentle art of asking "Where do you belong now?" instead of "What if I need this later?"
How to create balance without becoming a minimalist
Why decluttering is about the life you're ACTUALLY living, not the seventeen new hobbies you might develop someday
Your Mission (Should You Choose to Accept It):
Pick ONE area this week and ask yourself: "Which letters no longer belong in my sentence?" Thank each item for its service, then decide - does it move on or need a new job? (you don't need to thank the inanimate object if you don't want to ... you can just say "bah bye!")
BONUS: Join our February "Decluttering Through the Alphabet" challenge! One letter per day builds your decluttering muscles through small, doable doses that create lasting habits. Download your FREE tracking calendar in the show notes.
No shame. No judgment. Just gentle progress toward a home that tells YOUR story.
Winter has arrived in Frosthome… and so has the clutter. In this episode of The JJs Declutter Podcast, Julie and Janis share a fractured fairy tale with a powerful message. Let It Go! A Wintertime Decluttering Tale follows Queen Elsa-Light, a kind ruler who freezes decisions instead of making them and slowly buries her kingdom under coats, scarves, and sentimental snowflakes.
Through humor, storytelling, and very relatable winter clutter struggles, this episode explores how indecision and procrastination can freeze us in place and how small, intentional steps can melt overwhelm.
After the story, Julie and Janis unpack the decluttering lessons hidden inside the tale and offer practical, doable strategies you can use right now, especially during winter when coats, hats, and closets are front and center.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why frozen decisions keep clutter stuck in your home
How procrastination disguises itself as “waiting for the perfect time”
Why decluttering doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing
How a Decluttering Dozen (just 12 minutes) creates real progress
Simple ways to declutter winter coats, hats, scarves, and gloves
Where to donate winter items so they can actually be used
How to manage multipurpose closets without overwhelm
Why entryways matter more than you think and how to keep them clear
This Episode’s Decluttering Challenge:
Pick one closet
Set a timer for 12 minutes
Work on one small section only
Stop when the timer ends or reset if you feel good
No pulling everything out, no perfection required
Small steps. Real momentum. No frozen decisions required.
Winter Decluttering Tips Mentioned:
Cull coats you never reach for during the season
Donate winter wear to dry cleaners, shelters, Buy Nothing groups, or local charities
Do a weekly flat surface sweep in your entryway
Use a basket or bin to collect items that don’t belong and put them away
Join the JJ Decluttering Community:
Want encouragement, accountability, and zero judgment? Visit www.abcdeclutter.com Join the private Facebook group: ABC Declutter With JJ – Community
Share your progress, ask questions, and celebrate every small win.
The holidays are over, the decorations are shoved back into bins, and now you're standing in the middle of the mess thinking, "What just happened to my life and my bank account?" Between leftover cookies, wrecked sleep schedules, and uninvited credit card bills, it's a lot.
In this Magazine Moments episode, Julie and Janis tackle the post-holiday reset from three practical angles: your overstuffed pantry, your crying wallet, and your completely destroyed routine. Because guilt isn't productive, and misery isn't a goal.
What You'll Learn
Shop Your Pantry First
Why the average family wastes $3,000 annually on uneaten food (that's a vacation, not garbage!)
How to audit what you already own and build meals around it
The genius of the "use-first bin" for opened or expiring items
Smart storage tricks like freezing tomato paste in ice cube trays
No Spend January Challenge
How to stop the flow of new clutter into your house
Common rules: no coffee shops, shop the pantry first, delete Amazon (harsh but effective)
Why online grocery pickup deserves a standing ovation
The difference between intentional spending and mindless drive-through decisions
Transitioning Back to Normalcy
Why structured (not rigid) routines help you adjust 40% faster
The 15-minute bedtime shift that's 60% more effective than forcing immediate change
Why your body needs recovery, not punishment, after December's chaos
How to handle the "holiday hangover" when it's suddenly just... Tuesday
Key Takeaways
The post-holiday reset doesn't need to be harsh. Pick ONE thing - pantry, spending, or sleep. Small changes compound. Give yourself grace because you're human, and this is a transition, not a failure.
Featured Resources
FoodDrinkLife.com - Shop Your Pantry First
LifeWithLesMess.com - No Spend Challenge
ZenNutri.com - Transition Back to Normalcy After the Holidays
Follow us! Join our community! Share with your friends!
Why Your New Year's Resolution Already Failed (And What to Do About It)
Let's be honest—if you made a New Year's resolution on January 1st, you're probably side-eyeing it like it's decorative decor, not an actual plan. And the stats back this up: only 25% of people stick with resolutions past 30 days, and fewer than 10% actually finish what they started.
But here's the relief—it's not your fault.
The Science of Why Resolutions Fail
According to research from Crucial Learning and Yale, most resolutions fail because they never become habits. And since 40% of what we do daily is habitual (brushing teeth, making coffee, washing your hands after you pee... especially if you're a guy), creating actual habits is the key to success.
The Three Brain Traps:
Hyperbolic Discounting - Your brain wants immediate gratification over long-term gains. That's why scrolling on the couch beats organizing the garage every single time.
Identity Attachment - When "I missed a session" becomes "I'm a failure," you've turned a setback into a character assassination. Your clutter isn't a moral failing—it's just stuff.
The Intention-Action Gap - We ignore predictable obstacles every year, thinking "this time will be different" without changing the plan.
The Revolutionary Solution: Wait Until April
Psychology Today research suggests January might actually be the worst time to start new habits. You're fighting post-holiday burnout, financial stress, short dark days, and depleted mental resources.
Why April Works:
More energy and sunlight
Time for genuine reflection
Less stress and social pressure
Spring's natural season of growth
What to Do Now
Use January through March as your planning season. Notice what's bothering you, explore strategies, and join our Clutter Crushers community. Then launch in April with energy, clarity, and a solid plan.
Remember: Real change happens when you're ready—not just because the calendar says so.
🎉 Episode 56: Looking Back with Gratitude – Celebrating Your Year’s Wins
As the year wraps up, Julie and Janis invite you to put down the self-criticism, step away from the “good riddance” posts, and take a gentler, more empowering look back. This episode is all about finding and celebrating your wins, even if this year felt messy, exhausting, or downright hard.
Instead of focusing on what went wrong, the JJs guide you through a thoughtful Year-in-Review framework that helps uncover progress you may have overlooked. From decluttering wins and habit changes to personal growth, relationships, finances, health, and plain old survival, no victory is too small to count.
You’ll learn why your brain naturally fixates on the negative, how acknowledging wins rewires your mindset, and why progress does not have to be dramatic to be meaningful. Whether you cleared a junk drawer, set one boundary, asked for help, paid a bill, survived a hard season, or simply kept showing up, this episode reminds you that those things matter.
Julie and Janis also share practical ways to celebrate your wins: writing them down, sharing them with supportive people, creating visual reminders, and starting a simple “Wins of the Week” practice so future reflections feel lighter and more encouraging.
This is not toxic positivity. It’s balanced reflection, honest compassion, and building momentum rooted in gratitude instead of defeat.
So grab something cozy, give yourself 12 intentional minutes, and let’s end the year proud of what you accomplished, survived, and learned.
💬 Share your wins with us in ABC Declutter with JJ – Community on Facebook or at www.abcdeclutter.com. We can’t wait to celebrate with you.
Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and — as always — Keep Decluttering!
Welcome back to the JJ's Declutter Podcast ~ Fractured Fairy Tales Edition!
We're heading back to Whoville, where the halls are decked, the stockings are hung, and the glitter is absolutely everywhere. Full-on festive explosions that would make even the most enthusiastic decorator question their life choices.
The Holiday Chaos It's early December in Whoville—garland on banisters, bows on pets, twinkle lights tangled in ways that defy physics. But in his cave on Mount Messmore, the Grinch sits clutching his "Silent Night, Please" mug, glaring at the chaos below. His cave is still recovering from last year's holiday hangover—broken ornaments everywhere, fake snow stuck to everything, and a half-melted candle shaped like Santa's leg.
The Spirit Returns When the Grinch declares he'll skip Christmas and cleaning altogether, the Spirit of Clean floats in! "You learned to declutter last year, but look at this place! You've got more glitter than a kindergarten art room!"
She's here to help him manage the holiday chaos with simple maintenance routines. "Joy doesn't have to mean junk, and celebration doesn't require chaos."
The #Tidy12 Festive Edition The Spirit hands him a timer: 12 minutes. "Pick one small area. This isn't about perfection, it's about progress."
The Grinch protests but hustles through sweeping, wiping, and muttering. When the timer dings, he smiles: "It's clean! And I didn't die!"
"That's the magic of the #Tidy12. You don't need hours, you just need focus and 12 minutes."
Taming the Tinsel Next: organizing holiday decorations. Unlabeled bins, broken ornaments mixed with good ones, enough fake snow to trigger an avalanche.
"You've got to categorize," the Spirit explains. "If it doesn't spark joy or fit in a labeled tote, it's time to let it go. Remember our Keep or Let's Go system?"
The Grinch sorts everything into 3 neat bins: Tree, Trim, and To Donate.
"You're clinging less and cleaning more—keeping it intentional instead of keeping everything."
Party Prep Panic Cindy Lou invites the Grinch to tomorrow night's party. He freezes: "Tomorrow night?"
The Spirit asks: "What's the rule?"
"Don't panic, plan it."
He sets his timer and does a pre-party power clean—wiping counters, loading the dishwasher, scrubbing his sink until it shines like a Christmas star.
The Whoville Secret At the party, the Grinch is amazed—everyone's homes are festive and tidy. Cindy Lou shares their secret: "We clean as we go. Do a quick #Tidy12 session each day! The best gift you can give yourself is not waking up to a mess that steals your holiday joy."
Christmas Morning The Grinch wakes to a quiet, cozy, clean cave. "It feels good to live in a space that sparkles without overwhelming me. I can actually enjoy the holiday instead of drowning in clutter."
The Spirit asks what he learned: "That joy and clutter don't have to be roommates. That small doable doses actually work. And that maintenance makes the magic last longer."
"May your days be merry, and your surfaces clear."
The Lesson You can have a beautifully decorated home and your sanity with simple routines. With a daily #Tidy12 session, bin labeling, and a clean-as-you-go mindset, you can keep your home festive and functional.
Join the Clutter Crushers Club at www.abcdeclutter.com!
Welcome to the JJ's Declutter Podcast Fractured Fairy Tale Edition! This holiday special tells the transformation story of the Grinch of Mount Messmore—a grumpy, cluttered soul who discovers that joy was hiding underneath all that junk. Spoiler alert: He didn't steal Christmas, but he did reclaim his peace, one #Tidy12 session at a time!
Meet Our Grinch
Forget Mount Crumpit—our Grinch lives on Mount Messmore, where:
Every flat surface is covered in chaos
Laundry mountains rival actual mountains
Half-dead batteries breed like rabbits
Unmatched socks could start their own band
Even his Roomba filed for early retirement (with a strongly worded resignation letter)
Sound familiar? Yeah, we thought so.
The Journey from Grunge to Grinchtastic
A Messy Mountain Morning The Grinch wakes up to tangled Christmas lights, fossilized fruitcake, and coffee that tastes like "dust and regret" (what happens when you haven't cleaned your coffee maker since the moon landing). His excuse? "Why bother cleaning? It's just gonna get messy again." Classic clutter denial, right?
The Spirit of Clean Arrives Armed with yellow gloves and a Swiffer wand, the Spirit of Clean isn't here for excuses. She introduces the Grinch to the magic trio: Sort, Simplify, Shine. This is our emotions-first approach in action—we're not just cleaning surfaces, we're clearing minds and reclaiming peace.
The #Tidy12 Transformation The Spirit sets a timer: 12 minutes. That's it. The Grinch grumbles (naturally), but here's what happens:
Expired cans tossed
Floor-dwelling clothes folded
Sock couples reunited after being separated since 2019
A counter surface spotted for the first time in months!
That feeling when you see progress? That's dopamine, nature's reward for doing hard things. And it doesn't require Wi-Fi.
Deep Clean, Deep Thoughts Once he gets rolling, the Grinch can't stop. He runs vinegar cycles in the washer, wipes down counters until they gleam, and vacuums under couch cushions (finding 3 candy canes, 2 quarters, and an unpaid electric bill from March). His little green heart grows three sizes—one for each bag of junk donated to the Whoville thrift store.
The Big Revelation "I never knew less could feel like more," the Grinch realizes. "I thought I needed all this stuff."
The Spirit's wisdom: "Less mess, more peace. You don't need all this stuff to be happy. You just need room to dance, room to breathe, and maybe a clean mug so your coffee doesn't taste like dust and regret."
The Happy Ending By Christmas Eve, the Grinch's cave sparkles. His socks are folded, his sink is empty, and his heart feels light. He didn't just clean his space—he cleared his mind. He can think better, breathe easier, and the stress of constant mess is gone.
The Moral of the Story
Even the grumpiest, messiest soul can rediscover joy through cleaning and decluttering. A clean space really can make your heart grow three sizes. This is what we teach in the Clutter Crushers Club—you're not broken, you're not hopeless, and you absolutely have the power to transform your space and your life.
You just need to start with one Small Do-able Dose, one #Tidy12 session, and build from there.
Ready to transform your space? Join the Clutter Crushers Club at www.abcdeclutter.com!
How to Give Clutter-Free Gifts That Create Memories
In this heartwarming Magazine Moments episode, Julie and Janis dive into one of the most freeing concepts of the holiday season: gifting experiences instead of stuff. Inspired by Joshua Becker’s article “How to Gift Experiences Instead of Things” from Becoming Minimalist, this conversation unpacks why experience-based gifts deepen connection, reduce clutter, and create lifelong memories—without adding anything to the closet, drawer, or donation bin.
If you're ready to simplify your holidays, shop with intention, and give gifts that truly matter, this episode is for you.
What We Talk About in This Episode
Why traditional gift-giving has shifted—and why it’s time to rethink it
The four guiding rules for clutter-free gifting
How to transition your family to experience-based gifts without overwhelm
Thoughtful ways to choose the perfect experience for each person
A massive list of 30 experience gift ideas ranging from free to luxurious
How to present an experience gift so it still feels exciting to unwrap
Long-term experience gifts that keep giving joy all year
The magic of shared memories and DIY experience ideas
How experience gifts can change a child’s life (yes, really!)
When to honor loved ones’ requests for physical gifts
Plus, Julie and Janis share personal stories—camping trips, cooking subscription boxes, family experiences, and even a grandmother-granddaughter trip to Japan—that illustrate how powerful and memorable clutter-free gifting can be.
Why Experience Gifts Work
Experience gifts aren’t just “less clutter.” They are:
Meaningful
Memorable
Personalized
Connection-building
Budget-flexible
Emotionally rich
And they reduce stress, storage needs, and the guilt that comes with unwanted items. Yes, please!
30 Experience Gift Ideas Mentioned
From simple to spectacular:
DIY spa days
Stargazing nights
Cooking classes
Museum passes
Escape rooms
Pottery lessons
Nature walks
Winery tours
Ziplining
Weekend getaways
Luxury cruises
… and 20 more ideas to fit any budget or personality.
Perfect For:
✔ Minimalists ✔ Declutterers ✔ Busy families ✔ Parents wanting fewer toys ✔ Gift-givers who want more meaning ✔ Anyone tired of holiday overwhelm
Julie and Janis tackle the often-neglected laundry room, transforming it from the "Bermuda Triangle of the home" into a clean, functional space. They break down the cleaning process into manageable steps that work whether you have a dedicated room, stacked units, or just a basement corner.
Why Your Laundry Room Matters
A cluttered laundry room makes an already unpopular chore even more stressful
Organization reduces time spent hunting for supplies and dealing with spills
Regular cleaning prevents mold, mildew, and musty odors
A functional space makes the whole laundry process smoother
The 6-Step Laundry Room Refresh
Step 1: Declutter First
Remove items that don't belong (tools, shoes, sports equipment)
Check expiration dates on cleaning products
Consolidate duplicate detergents
Deal with orphan socks (if they've waited more than a few months, let them go)
Make decisions about clothes that have been sitting there forever
Step 2: Clean Your Machines
Wipe down the rubber seal on front-load washers (mold magnet!)
Run a cleaning cycle with white vinegar
Scrub the detergent dispenser drawer
Clean the lint trap housing with a vacuum
Check and clean dryer vent hose (fire hazard if neglected)
Rinse dryer sheet residue off lint trap screen
Step 3: Tackle Surfaces and Storage
Wipe down counters and folding surfaces
Clean shelves one at a time
Use bins or clear containers to organize small items
Store frequently-used items at eye level
Group supplies by category (detergents together, stain treatments together)
Step 4: Floors and Walls
Pull out machines and clean behind them if possible
Sweep or vacuum thoroughly, especially corners
Mop hard surface floors
Scrub grout if needed (humidity causes mildew)
Wipe down walls for splatters and marks
Clean the door and handle
Step 5: Organize the Chaos
Create a sorting system for dirty laundry (darks, lights, delicates)
Add a hanging rod or collapsible wall rack for air-drying
Use mesh laundry bags for delicates (and remember: never put them in the dryer!)
Keep a small trash can for lint and empty bottles
Create a "stain station" with all your stain-fighting supplies
Maintain a "lost sock basket" for reuniting separated pairs
Step 6: Maintenance Habits
After every load: Wipe spills, leave washer door open, clean lint trap
Get your home holiday-ready! Julie and Janis tackle the two spaces that make or break your hosting game—the entryway and dining room. Learn the "Clear, Clean, Contain (+ Celebrate!)" system that transforms these high-traffic areas from cluttered chaos to guest-ready gorgeous.
In This Episode:
The Entryway Strategy
Clear, Clean, Contain system for first impressions that wow
Smart coat and shoe storage for extra guests
The 5-minute declutter challenge
Creating dedicated guest zones
Lighting and seasonal touches that say "welcome"
The Dining Room Makeover
Rescuing your table from "horizontal filing cabinet" status
The deal-with-it-later box method (game-changer!)
Furniture arrangements for larger gatherings
Cleaning checklist from chandelier to chair seats
Setting up self-serve drink stations
Hosting More People Tips
Buffet-style flow strategies
Kids' table setup ideas
Disposable plate permissions (yes, really!)
Centerpiece rules: keep it low so you can see Aunt Carol's whole face!
Key Takeaways:
Pro tip: Items untouched for 2+ weeks don't need to be in your entryway
Create temporary staging areas for family's everyday items
Set your table the night before and photograph it for next year
Goal = welcoming spaces, NOT Instagram perfection
Your tall uncle WILL notice the cobwebs (trust Janis on this!)
Resources Mentioned:
📋 Free Holiday Hosting Checklist at www.abcdeclutter.com