The Clutter Fairy Weekly Survey #234 Results
Take Inventory of Your Gratitude
Below are the results of our survey released in preparation for episode #234 of The Clutter Fairy Weekly. If you haven’t already done so, please take the survey.
Responses
To view the complete, detailed survey response from any respondent, click on their name (or “Anonymous user”) in the table below. You may also find it easier to read long responses in the detailed view.
| Name (click to view full survey response and comments) | Express your gratitude for something in your home that you plan to keep indefinitely. | Describe someone or something that has helped you on your decluttering and organizing journey. | Describe something that you’re grateful for having been able to declutter and release from your life. | Identify something in your space for which you feel grateful, but which you’d consider releasing… |
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| Eclair | I plan on keeping my mother's bible, and her 1941 copy or Daphne DuMaurier's book, "Rebecca" along with some of her other things. I find that whenever I touch these things, they comfort me. I will always treasure and use her 1951 Betty Crocker cookbook, from which we baked our Christmas cookies every year. I am so grateful to my parents and sister for giving me a fantastic upbringing filled with love, discipline and support in all things I ever wanted to do. I will always cherish the wrought iron hanging pot rack my father made for me as a house warming present almost 40 years ago. I keep the letter opener my music teacher gave me for making reeds, because the blade was "just right". I am grateful to him for opening up a life long career in music due to his excellent teaching. There is so much more, but the pattern is, that I am sentimental over things given to me by people who have been deeply influential in my life. | Of course I am grateful to The Clutter Fairy, whom I found first from an Amazon book recommendation. I loved the book so I followed the link to her website, youtube channel, then to the show and VOILA! here I am. Although I have a long way to go, Gail has literally a "Fairy's touch" when it comes to the perfect combination of tough love, and sincere kindness and understanding. Gail, has motivated me more than anyone to get it together. The youtube replays of "Hoarders" and a recent visit to a relative actually scared me into getting my own possessions in order. | I am grateful that my clothes closet, drawers, taxes, old work stuff, kitchen equipment are in order. That is a drop in the bucket, but it is a good start. | Books! |
| Dolce | I am grateful for my bed. The frame is from the 1930s. Streamline design so goes with anything. It allows me to get a good night sleep. | Marie Kondo's first book. The concept of meditation on a vision for what you want your space to be prior to ever starting on decluttering. Also starting with easy categories first to build up one's decision making skills before tackling the emotional stuff | All my clothes with shoulder pads from the 80s | Antique sewing machine and typewriter |
| Kim | Blue Mountain Pottery bought second hand this year. It is stunningly beautiful and was made in a factory in the mountains near where I used to live that closed in the 90s. I remember making the trip there with my mom and her friend in the 70s, when I was about 5 years old, to buy some of their pieces. | The Clutter Fairy was the first clutter channel I discovered on YouTube this year after moving to a new city. I listen to your backlog of videos religiously day and night! Gail and Ed have incredibly soothing voices. And dispense so much wisdom! | New holiday tree ornaments given to me last year by a friend. Not my style so I donated them this year in time for someone to discover and enjoy them this year. They are beautiful but just not my style. | I recently donated lots of almost new and some never worn clothes because I had too many clothes. I work from home permanently now so I donated half of my work clothes as they will be put to better use by someone who can use them. |
| Ginger | I’ve given this a lot of thought. I think I’d be fine with passing along almost every item in my home. Something I’d keep indefinitely would be something in which I place great sentimental value. I keep a list of those items. I visit it often and a few things get passed along. ▪️I’m grateful for the memories. They remind me I’m loved, cherished, respected and trusted. ▪️These support my life in that they help keep me grounded and to feel the connection to my husband and family. My husband and I are a team. We are still madly in love and also best friends. Always there for one another. My family is important to me. The roots are deep. We are like a tribe. No one is left behind. ✔️1. A business card with note written on the back. This was my first contact with my husband. He passed it to me in a restaurant. “Hi Beautiful. How about dinner sometime. If interested - give me a call.” It took a few weeks of pushing by my co-workers before I called him. We’ve been together almost 40 years. ✔️2. Jewelry pieces from my husband. Wedding ring set. Diamond heart cross. ✔️3. Photo albums. Archival safe materials in slipcases. I received a foot locker full of my maternal grandmother’s photos. I put them in albums. Toured Texas getting help from extended family to identify 98% of the subjects. I’ve shared many of them with family. But, I think I’ll want to make a printed book and pass these photo albums along. ✔️4. My genealogy research. It’s all in 3 ring binders by major family surnames. Some has been entered in a database. I’m thinking of a family member who may be interested in taking this over. Includes some family memorabilia such as my grandfather’s WWI diary. | ▪️My dear Aunt Donna. We shared organizing how-to books. We worked together in each other’s homes to get it all “under control”. We were both prolific list makers. Started when I was in my early 20s. I’m late 60s now. ▪️Authors Julie Morgenstern & Stephanie Culp. Organizing books. Morgenstern: Organizing from the Inside Out. Culp: How to Get Organized When you Don’t Have the Time. ▪️FlyLady. She gave me a structure for my day, week, month and helped me focus on one area at a time. She also introduced me to the idea “Set it free to bless someone else.” This was a major paradigm shift for me. ▪️Peter Walsh. Discovered him on TV’s Clean Sweep. He introduced me to the idea of “honoring” items you choose to keep. I loved his 31 Days to Get Organized - in January each year. I think the last one was in 2020. ▪️Marie Kondo. Her method opened my eyes to HOW MUCH I really owned. 17 flower vases. 50+ candles & related items. 70+ pieces of dental hygiene products. 14 bottles of body lotion. 14 bottles of perfume/scents. I began my quest to decide how much was ENOUGH. ▪️The Clutter Fairy. Gayle & Ed. I feel like I get a weekly boost with our zoom meetings. And, when I’m cleaning or working on projects - I’ll listen to a mix of episodes on YouTube. Truly helps keep my energy up. Thank you for that! ▪️A variety of online FB groups and YT channels to provide different perspectives and inspire me. | So very grateful to release clotges that FINALLY became too big to justify keeping. I’ve lost 70+ lbs.since 9/9/2023. (Low carb, ketogenic diet.) My sister just gave me some of her clothes. She’s lost weight also. I’m at the lowest weight I’ve been in at least 15 years. More to go. But, it feels totally doable. | Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer. And, a Cuisinart Food Processor. Their season with me is over. |
| Suzanne | This is a really tough question for me. Supporting the life I love leads me to think I should be thinking of an appliance. I’m very grateful for the InstantPot because it often makes the difference between eating smart and not-so-smart. It helps to motivate me to prepare healthy and delicious soups or to quickly prepare a meat meal and even to easily get brown basmati rice quickly and without thinking. I super-appreciate that it’s easy to clean, super-easy to choose the settings, and that it switches to warm when cooking is completed. Thank you InstantPot duo 6 litre, 💐. | I am grateful for the professionals, like Gayle and Ed, who are in there week in and week out to answer our questions about all things decluttering and organizing, and for teaching, guiding and cheering us along our journey. Where would I and others be without them? | Another tough question. This one is something I managed to declutter years ago and before Marie Kondo and so many others hit the scene. I am grateful that I was able to persuade myself to declutter all my Years 1 to 3 of the Oprah magazine, all my gardening magazines, and all but about five magazines. Talk about a huge weight off my shoulder plus all the space it opened up. I never again subscribed to magazines. Life’s too short. | Sneaky question Gayle and Ed 😸. Let me think on that. I guess it would be easier if someone happened to mention something they’d enjoy and appreciate so I could instantly find out if I’d consider releasing it. |
| Anonymous user | I'm grateful for a "sewing doll" that my step-grandmother made for me from a detergent bottle, with sewing tools attached. It supports the life I love by reminding me of her generosity, and the love if creating I share with her. | The help I have sought goes all the way back to Don Aslett, and also to the "Sidetracked Home Executive Sisters." I have read so many books since then that I won't list them all, but now the "slob comes clean" approach complements the Clutter Fairy the most, I guess because of the sense of humor, and the underlying feeling of acceptance for who you are, where you are. | A cover-stitch sewing machine that my daighter was able to pass to a friend of hers who would really use it. | Probably the number of purses and other bags that I have bought at thrift stores, or have received as gifts. This is really difficult. |
| Em | I am grateful that my sibling rescued my mother's curio for me after she died. It is a beautiful piece of furniture which I picked out with her, and embodies the feel of her warm and welcoming home. I filled it with beautiful glass pieces and family heirlooms along with some of my treasures, protecting these fragile items from any rowdy pets or children. As the only piece of nice furniture I own, the curio supports the life I love by giving my eyes a beautiful place to rest and savor memory-laden antique heirlooms, as well as enjoy sparkling pieces of cut glass stored there while they are not in use, rather than being wrapped up in a box where they won't be seen or used. The curio protects these precious items while it inspires me to strive for a calm and beautiful home with the calm and welcoming feel of my mother's. | The people in my life fall into three groups: those who criticize me about clutter, those who actively encourage cluttering, and those who don't know about my clutter, so I have had to turn elsewhere for help. "Clutter's Last Stand" by Don Aslet was a motivating albeit scary read, because of his minimalist lifestyle. "The Side-tracked Sisters Catch Up" was excellent in that it pointed out how to maintain a home. However, neither of these helped me prevent the clutter that I eventually filled my life, probably because they did not fit my temperament. or life conditions. Discovering The Clutter Fairy videos on YouTube was fabulous because I could find the no-judgement coaching I needed at the moment to listen to while cleaning and decluttering. The weekly meetups have been a huge help in that they offer advice, inspiration, friendship and accountability. Thank you Gayle and Ed! | Um..... I guess the stuff I have released is forgotten, and the rest is still a work in progress. However, I am grateful that I have been able to declutter some bad habits which were causing clutter. | Shoes that are needed for certain occasions but not comfortable. |
| Marsha | Food in the fridge It nourishes my body | Gayle & Ed Dana K White Case The Clutter bug Ed Aslett author of “Clutter’s Last Stand” Which started me on my declutterring journey in the 80’s and is still a treasured book in my library | 80% of the paper I’ve now gone electronic I learned that lesson the hard way when I ended up in a nursing home in another state for over 3 months while on a vacation from H E double L! | My sisters home made quilts Would prefer to pass them down to family rather than having them end up in an estate sale upon my passing. Ditto with family photos but they need the “Herd Thinned” first But it’s true that people today don’t want to take heirlooms |
| Anonymous user | I love the wardrobe that I bought a few years ago. It is not very big (maybe 6ft across?) and when I bought it, I did not think that it would fit all my clothes. The lady selling it said that both her and her husband’s clothing both fit in it, plus their spare bedsheets! That created a goal for me to fit all of my clothes into that closet. I thought I would need a dresser as well, but I am pleasantly surprised that I don’t! I have a small carry on that I put seasonal things in. And the closet also fits my spare purses- which I hope to reduce. My secret with clothes is to try to not buy- and alter everything that does not fit (things can also be enlarged in creative ways). That is in addition to decluttering and giving things away. | The Clutter Fairy really is a source of inspiration! I love the variety and richness of content and the non judgmental attitude. I am also grateful to my aunt for helping me declutter twice. It also helps me to imagine someone else cherishing that item, that brings me waaay more joy than it being kept without use. Knowing that things deteriorate over time is also a powerful motivator, as is the fact that everything emits dust or fumes somehow and this affects our health in cluttered spaces. | I am soooo grateful for having released old office-related papers, journals, and books. | Barely worn shoes. I have put these aside, and they are currently with someone who wants to do a sale- however, the sale has not happened yet. |
| Lise | Gratitude for my enameled cast iron dutch oven. It supports the ability to cook certain "healthier" meals (ratatouille) where family and friends come together. | This is hard to choose... Listening to Gayle of course and having her videos playing in the background while I work on my organizational activities. However, prior to finding Gayle I had to clean out two family members homes which opened my eyes to my own living space. I realized I do not want to leave my cr_p for someone else to have to go through when I'm dead. 🙂 Thanks Gayle & Ed!!! | I am grateful actually enthusiastic to release paperwork, emails and items affiliated with my previous job. So freeing!! | I was blessed by my great-grandmother in being selected to care for her childhood doll she received for her eighth birthday. Apparently, this caused an issue with certain family members. I want to gift it to the town museum where she lived (unsure of when). i |
| Ellen in west Michigan | For now, my Kitchen-Aid mixer and baking equipment. I love baking and cooking for those I love. Making them meals or treats is a way I can give them just a bit of a break in their hectic lives. | I don't think I'd be where I am today if I hadn't gotten sick five years ago and discovered "The Clutter Fairy" and Dana K White from "A Slob Comes Clean". You two (really three, with Ed) have changed my whole way of thinking. | Besides the toxic people? So much paper and photos and stuff I thought I should want to keep, but didn't really need. | I have given away so much in the 5 months before and after my move, but if someone needed them, I could spare a few casseroles and some picture frames. Maybe the Scrabble games. No one to play with any more. |
| Anonymous user | A few of my decorations remind me of my year abroad, and they also remind me that I’ve done some cool things, and to appreciate all of life - the good, the bad, and even all the different cultural viewpoints, too. | Well, I just learned about you guys, so I’m looking forward to what I learn, and can share! First, I would have to say Peter Walsh. He knows how to get to the real issues, in a direct, honest, firm way, and yet remain kind and respectful. And then I would have to say all the original Minimalist influencers. Leo Babauta, Joshua Becker, and The Minimalists. Even though I’m far from achieving my goal, their influence has shown me how I became unnecessarily attached to things, and made it ok to have far less. | After high school, I moved my saxophone with me everywhere, but never used it. Everyone kept telling me that it was a part of me that I shouldn’t give up. After a few years, I sold it to another high school student, and she knew how to play better than me, and was so happy. That brought a lot of satisfaction and gratitude to me, because I brightened her life, and then I learned that the saxophone was meant to be passed on. | I’ve done this with several things over the past few years with some Christmas decorations, kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies, clothing, comforters, food, wicker baskets, etc. Currently, I’m grateful for my dogs and for being able to have lots of extra dog toys, leashes, and supplies. So, I think I’ll donate them to an animal shelter. my decorations. |
| Terry J | I love my beads and beading supplies. I enjoy wearing my beads, displaying them and the friendships that have come from my beading hobbies. Beading supports my values of being creative and keeping my mind agile by trying new things. | So many Clutter Fairy ideas - a few that come to mind 1) taking care of clutter now rather having to deal with it in a crunch of when your capabilities are diminished. Stories of people that had to do it later and quickly made an impact 2) having a vision of the life you want to be living and removing what doesn't fit that vision - as opposed to throw out as much as you can 3) everything counts, give yourself credit for the little things you accomplish (and do the little things like taking things regularly to donations, etc). So many more, these just come to mind first. For ideas from other folks - Dana White and the idea of "take it there now". It makes such a difference - every single thing you "take there now" is progress in the right direction. And even if you get interrupted, something (or many somethings) are done. She has lots of good common sense ideas including the benefits of donating vs. other channels. Also, the "container" concept, you can keep what fits in the container - it's not if it brings you joy or it's valuable or who gave it to you, etc. If it fits in the container, you can keep it. Her stories of her struggles to develop these concepts really made me feel she's "one of us", she struggled just as we are struggling. From almost everyone - the idea of doing the dishes regularly so every "decluttering" effort is actually decluttering, not dealing with a backlog of dishes. And cooking is just cooking, not washing all the implements needed to cook and serve. Along the same lines, do laundry regularly - it makes such a quality of life difference (and also helps to see where you have too much of something and need to pare down). | Many many books. I especially felt relief when I Marie Kondo-d all my readily accessible self-help/improvement type books. I spread them all out on the floor and realized no way I was ever going to read all these books (let alone put the ideas into practice). So I selected a handful that I kept and donated the rest, many never opened. I wouldn't have said that they were weighing on me, but I definitely felt relief when they went. | I have a lot of crafting and related books. There was a store near me for many years that had an amazing remainder section. I had multiple interests - vintage jewelry, beads, polymer clay, quilts, knitting, etc. so many books intersected with my interests and I built up quite a collection. I've tried to narrow my fields on interest and declined to acquire new hobbies. So I've donated almost all books for certain hobbies - ex. knitting and quilts. But I still want to release more, mainly so i can use that space for other things. One problem I have is I get into a cycle - here's my thought cycle - I look at crafting/jewelry Book A and think I can release it. - But there are some really nice images, they are pretty inspiring. - Maybe I should just flip through it, maybe there are images I want to capture either for inspiration or for some mixed media thing I have in mind to do. -But I've had the book for many years and never looked through it. - But I have more time now, maybe I will look at it - I could put it by the TV and flip through it during commercials where I'm now scrolling on line. - But you've put books in that room before and you've never looked at them. See my brain spinning and spinning and the the verdict is still "undecided" after all that energy expended. How to release them - ex. give to friends, donate, etc. - is a whole other question. Unless I know a particular person would want a particular book, I think I really need to donate - so the "someone else" would ultimately be an unknown shopper. |
| H | My sewing machine from 1968. Still works like a charm and allows me to make my own clothes, cleaning supplies, etc without having to spend much money | Therapy helped a lot with teaching me that clutter is a physical symptom of trauma. I grew up in a hoarder's nest and an emotionally abusive home. After that resources like The Clutter Fairy, A Hoarder's Heart, and other YouTube channels gave me a framework and path to a much more peaceful and healthy environment | Everything from my mother's side of the family | Some of my excess crafting supplies. I'm still working on my crafting space... |
| Pam | Photos albums. For memories. | Clutter Fairy of course. A timer. | A microscope donated to a primary school. | Kitchen equipment. |
| Jean | A favorite ikea breakfast table that folds up and has little drawers. It fits in the car. A giraffe teapot that makes noise. An ice pick from a coal and ice company in Gary Indiana. But really, I could detach and be in the car in fifteen minutes. These things are fun and make me smile. But I am most grateful to have adventures. | Gayle and Ed are first on the list! My mom was organized and neat and I absorbed her habits without knowing how easy she made it look. | Record albums and old eyeglasses and way too many scarves. (Gifts, seldom worn) Books are still trying to stay and hide in every room. | Many dishes…seldom used. Took five platters to a resale store last week. |
| Lisa Beth | I have a picture of Jesus and the Children that is in an antique curved glass frame that was in my parents house! | My accountability partner Gina! | A pickup truck full of toys that my Granddaughter outgrew. It made room for a craft room and it was a bit knowing they went to a special little girl who enjoys them. | Games and books that I used in my 37 years of teaching Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. |
| Hila | I like to keep my writing notebook and my drawing notebook. To see that I'm inproving | The clutter fairy YouTube. Minimalism of Joshua becker YouTube. Konmary book. Today and not tomorrow book for procrastinating people. Happyo nlp meditation for procrastinating. | Stuff that I'm not going to use. Clothes, studying notebooks and books that dont need anymore. Some of them make me feel ashamed when I keep them. Now I am not thinking about them anymore. | Books, clothes, work tools. Forniture |
| Sarah | Votive I hand painted for my birthday one year. It is used all winter when I try to bring hygge into my life | The Clutter Bug, A Slob Comes Clean and Struggle Care. It helps sometimes to learn from women who are neurodivergent and for whom organization and decluttering was a struggle and not at all something that came intuitively. Sometimes the way they frame things or break things down helps with new perspectives. E.g. I now know I like to organize in big categories that are out of sight out of mind, that it is possible to declutter a single surface without making a bigger mess, and to always start with garbage, dishes and laundry to overcome overwhelm when a space has gotten away from me. | I donated some craft items to a local community group as part of reorganizing and downsizing my craft supplies to actually fit my space and cull the excess. What remains finally fits the space we moved into in a rush 11.5 months ago. | Adult colouring books. They were fun and relaxing but there are more then I need. |
| millie | I can't think of a single thing I plan to keep indefinitely other than my family. Everything else will eventually be released to the universe (thrift store or trash can). I am grateful for my family, though. Their presence makes the life I have more enjoyable. | A number of youtubers and decluttering authors and the The Clutter Fairy have helped me on my journey, but being diagnosed with cancer last year made it clearer to me that I won't live forever and I MUST to winnow my belongings so as to not leave a mess behind for my children. P.S. I'm cancer-free at present so I'll be around for a while longer. | Prior to my surgery for ovarian cancer I got rid of all things related to a previous career (from 30 years prior). With the thought that my life might end soon, the old newsletters I wrote and edited seemed meaningless to me. I also discarded medals I won for swimming races as a teenager. (The medals had literally rusted!!) Now that I've gone through treatment and am in much better health (cancer-free), I get the occasional tinge of regret about throwing away those items which I used to define myself for so long. But I remind myself that my kids don't want them or care about them. I never looked at them. And now I have more free space. | I am thinking about releasing some of my books. I limited myself to one bookshelf and it's getting crowded. |
| Kathy | I'm grateful for my computer and internet. Without them I couldn't work from home, which I've been doing for over 25 years and love. They also connect me to uplifting, educational, and entertaining podcasts/videos. Through email I have contact with friends and family more than by phone. When I want to learn how to do something or am curious about something, I can just google and find the information I want. Since this is a decluttering forum, I won't mention the convenience of online shopping. 😉 | The Clutter Fairy is, of course, #1 for keeping me motivated. Dana K. White of A Slob Comes Clean has also helped me a lot. Her "take it there now" rings in my head when I'm tempted to set something down where it doesn't go. I love her no-mess process, which I've used not only in small areas but also to bring order to our basement workroom and to deal with all the stuff that came into our home when my mother-in-law had to go to a memory care facility. | This happened years ago, before I was really decluttering. I had bought a small used loom and invested in books and supplies, in love with the idea of moving a shuttle back and forth and creating pretty designs. I hadn't done much with it before I took a weekend class at a Shaker Village. This was on a larger loom, but the general process is the same. Sixty percent of the class time was doing math(!) dressing the loom. The actual back-and-forth of the shuttle was maybe 20 percent, and the other 20 percent was in taking the item off the loom. I tried to make a few items on my loom at home but discovered I just didn't like it. But I had invested all that money ... finally one day I asked my husband to just take the loom to the dump and get rid of it. His doing that for me felt so freeing. That was the first hobby that I gave up, and it has helped me now that decluttering is part of my life. I am much more ready to give up hobbies (rug hooking, soap making, jewelry making) because I realize the value for me was in learning a process and not in having the actual made item. | My quilt fabric, patterns, and books -- I don't want to get rid of them all at this time, but I have been slowly taking some things to the local swap shop hoping to bless others with. Quilting is still a hobby I'd like to dabble in again some day. It fed my creative side for years and was a common interest my mother and I shared. I know I have more inventory than I could ever use up. Your podcasts remind me that these things will break down or get moth eaten over time, and it is better to give them away now than throw them away later. |
| Evelin | my Reisenthel carrybag - no I'm not sponsored - it's so well made and sturdy, I use it almost everyday, it always goes with me in my car and carries all my groceries, etc | of course YouTube because of: Gayle and Ed 😉 Cas from Clutterbug Dawn, the Minimal Mom Marissa from A to Zen Life Gabe Bult Joshua Becker Shannon Torrens Peter Walsh the British TV Show "How Clean Is Your House?" and last but not least "Hoarders" | clothes that no longer fit or are no longer my style meaningless decor | more clothes that I no longer need crafting supplies that I don't use anymore |
| rowan | - "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" Steven Wright | |||
| Rowan | - my minimalist bed - foam mat and wide multi-layer bedding - very comfy and very portable. - very large japanese bowl shaped bell - great tone - - six thick merino wool sweaters - they layer wonderfully - and keep me warm in the far northwest - two laptops, printer, scanner, Bose wired headphones - small fan for summer - Drive brand rollator - I can go anywhere and always have a seat to rest or a way to transport stuff (as I do not drive) - folds to 7 inches wide - Oyama stainless steel (iinside) rice/grain cooker | - Of course the Clutter Fairy!!!! - "Goodbye Things" by Fumio Sasaki - particularly the following quotes - - "The things you own end up owning you" Fight Club movie - - "we all have a roommate, we call them 'our things' " - "what you are trying to buy can't be bought" - " “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” Joseph Campbell - "I have the world's largest collection of seashells. I keep it on all the beaches of the world... perhaps you've seen it." Steven Wright - "If I didn't have this thing, what would I do?" | - most recent thing for me is "the idea that I have to fix everything for everyone" | - a few books on philosophy (I don't have much excess at the moment) |
| Danetta | I have some beautiful real wood furniture ( not veneer) in my style that I love and plan to keep indefinitely. I have beautiful crystal and China that you can’t find in stores anymore because it is too expensive that I use for family gatherings. | If I don’t use something for a long time, I’m likely to get rid of it. I’m grateful that I am pragmatic and not overly sentimental. | Clothes that don’t fit, books that i’veread that are not fantabulous “keepers”, large pieces of furniture like sofa beds when no one ever visits us, sports equipment I’m too old to use | An “office armoire” that has never been as useful as I’d hoped, a sofa table that never looked good in any room |
| Ria | My china. I got rid of several large sets of everyday and china dishes and splurged on a six place setting set of white china. Retired now, I expect this to last the rest of my life. It supports my life because it’s a smaller set and classic style. | All the clutter resources in YouTube and podcast formats. Listening reinforces what my goal is, gives me ideas and spurs me on while I tackle an area. I also like Joshua Becket’s books and videos, although I’m not truly minimalist. His approach is positive and always gets me nodding and thinking. | My Western saddle, which was practically new but I kept far longer than I should have due to spending so much on it. It was a large piece but also berated me every time I past it. | Some of my precious wool sweaters. It’s cold here in Chicago and I love them but do have many more than I need. |
| Jeanne | A wooden boat toy made by my father as a young boy. It speaks of simplicity, resourcefulness touched with a bit of fun. It is sturdy and carefully constructed. | Although I have been a minimal organizer, my return to college as a single parent with three young children taught me the priorities. | My office clothes ! | My Le Creuset cookware, that is now too heavy to lift. I would love the send it to Ed! |
| CHRISTINE | the wood trunk my son made in middle school shop class | The clutter fairy is the best. The best selling novel.... A Gentleman in Moscow. Where a Russian count loses his possessions , but finds a new life.. Also, the classic novel...The Grapes of Wrath...dustbowl in America ...a whole family loses most everything. I listen to both on audiobook as I declutter. | organizing all my grown sons' photos to hand off to them.. that was such an emotionally exhausting project that took many months, and physically took every spare inch of my small home. I am glad it is all finished, and took a lot to get this project started and finished. But it is done now, so I do not have that huge task hanging over me. | I have donated so much this past year, that I am grateful that I have nothing left I can release right now. I am using most everything I have, until I hopefully move some day. But when the move happens I have contacted family and friends about what they might want. |
| Allison | Family photos. The people I love deserve to be in my home, in person or in pictures. | I've read all sorts of decluttering and organizing books and listen to several podcasts. They've all helped in some way. Probably the most impactful is Marie Kondo. Never before gathered all like items together to sort though at once. It was a total game changer. Plus, her focus on gratitude for items being kept and let go really struck me. | I donated furniture this year, which really made a huge impact because it took up so much space. It suited my last home well but not so much in the current space. | Considering donating certain clothes including evening wear. I think someone else might be able to use them. |
| A.G. | I have a couple pieces that may grandfather hand made for me that are both art and practical. One holds jewellery and the other holds some small items I collect. They are both special and useful. | Clutterbug, the podcast Productivity Alchemy, The Minimalists, and of course you folks, have all had a hand in my journey | Childhood toys that I won't be passing on now that, despite trying a long time, I won't be having children | Clothing |
| C | After every time away from home, I am grateful to come back to my own bed, duvet, pillows. How long these will last? I hope, with proper care at least another decade? | At first, I enjoyed the FlyLady. Now it's Gayle and Dana K.White' s no nonsense approaches, as in : some things need to be said straight to the point: like last week's consumption problem. | Clothes in great condition that don't fit me. Books I know I won't look at again. Paintings and jewelry from past generations to the next ones. (Finally) | Even more books, especially all the humour and cartoon collections books. My grandfather's stamp collection. |
| Becky | My framed pictures of my family. When I look at them, I am reminded of the people who love me and whom I love both those living and who have past, and they make me smile. | I am moving into a new house at the first of the year. I don't want to pay to move things that don't make me happy. | My late husband's clothes. I have lots of pictures of us around the house to remind me of him, and someone else can use all of his office clothes. | My cast iron skillet. I am so grateful that it has been passed down, but I realize I haven't been using it. A cast iron skillet is meant to be used regularly |
| Lela | I plan to always keep my wedding ring — a symbol of the love I’ve shared with my hubby for 30 years. | My mother & I have spurred each other on to declutter for many years now. We have many laughs and fun moments when we declutter together. | The 40 file boxes of comic books my husband used to own. It took him a long time to slowly release those after realizing they would not become the investment he had presumed they would be. | My mother-in-law’’s glass curio cabinet in our kitchen. |
| Katharine | My mother’s Bible. It has her handwritten notes on the pages. It gives me peace. | Dana K White Simple questions & the immediate “put it there now” statement has helped remove the clutter. It doesn’t matter if I get pulled away early, everything has been dealt with at that point. The Clutter Fairy from Houston, TX: How to stop the inflow of more clutter. Realizing that sometimes we have to realign our thought process to find a better solution when we get stuck. By changing the algorithm to “do I still want to maintain this item?” has been most helpful. Knowing it’s ok to pass items on so others can enjoy it. 😀 | The excess of so many sewing machines & their cabinets. Being able to make room for a guest bedroom, so my son can stay with us when he visits. | The last few machines in the room.🤔 |
| Kathy | I have a blue glass pitcher that pours nicely and is as pretty as it is functional. It used to be my “company only” pitcher. I decided to use it every day now, thanks to your advice. Gail and Ed, about not waiting for someday to use things. It makes me happy every time I use it. I donated my other pitcher since I only have room for one. | A friend told me years ago that I could discard the many magazines I was saving because I could find the information that they held online, if I ever had the inclination to need it again. She was right! That gave me the freedom to let them all go. I’ve used this advice with so many other things as well. Im I have also come to understand and embrace having negative space in my cabinets, drawers, closets. This is an idea I never thought of until I heard Gail discuss it. | I’m grateful to have released a fluted glass bowl. It was very pretty and I used it occasionally. When I moved I made the decision to let it go as I decided to keep another bowl —I only had so much room and I had to make a choice . I’m grateful because of the lesson it taught me. I had forgotten I declutterred it and was disappointed when I realized this. I wallowed in the disappointment for about 3 minutes, then chose another bowl. I’m totally fine! Dinner was served and my cabinet isn’t over crowded. | I have several decorative garden items which are being stored outside so sort of out of sight, out of mind. I need to make some final decisions about what to keep then let the rest go to a fellow gardener to enjoy. I |
| Lynn | My Sleep Number bed. Recently replaced my 25 year old one with a new one. The Sleep Number allows me to adjust the firmness several times a night to accommodate my arthritis pains and tired muscles. I don't sleep well on other beds. The Sleep Number makes life a lot less painful for me. | I'm grateful for my stubborn determination to get it done. It may take me longer and need more breaks, but I don't give up. Now that 90% of the decluttering and organizing is done, I really enjoy my home and like being in it. That last 10% keeps nagging at me to get it done this winter with tu he cooler temps. | Grateful for being able to release all the decades of clutter my mother left me in her house, as well as my own clutter. There is so much more room in this house with half as much furniture, abd most of the cooking equipment, books, and clothing. Much easier to keep clean too. | I have way too many houseplants. Would like to find new homes for some of them. |
| Celina | My dolls and my plants. I love crafting for my dolls and I love taking care of my green babies. | of course Gayle and her advice <3 But also my cousin (as an accountability friend) and my mum (as an advisor in my doll collection curating) | Recently, I moved YET AGAIN and I decided to go through every single item. So I created a box of things for sale or to give away. Many of them, obviously thing I'd already moved with several times. So I was super happy to be able to e.g. give away some things recently for free on a facebook group, but also sell two items during the past week (out of a whole box of things for sale or to give away). I am so happy! | My books once I've read them. I'd love to de-collect them 😀 |
| Saskatchewan Jane | Grateful for my study Bible, which provides the great wisdom and spiritual support for the life I want to live. | Grateful for the clutter fairy! Gaile and Ed are fun upbeat and full of decluttering suggestions and guidance through weekly tittles! Thank you both! | Grown children's belongings. We now have bright quaint cost guest rooms for visiting family members. | Gaelic poetry book that was brought to Canada by my great grandma from Scotland. |
| Name (click to view full survey response and comments) | Express your gratitude for something in your home that you plan to keep indefinitely. | Describe someone or something that has helped you on your decluttering and organizing journey. | Describe something that you’re grateful for having been able to declutter and release from your life. | Identify something in your space for which you feel grateful, but which you’d consider releasing… |
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