January Declutter & Organize

[Anonymous]

In the spirit of using January as an opportunity to declutter/organize, what was your top organizing tip for 2025? Organizing product you cannot live without? Goal for 2026?

[Anonymous]

My top tip is not to purchase a single "organizing product" until you fully fully declutter. You don't need to organize your stuff, you need to purge it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My top tip is not to purchase a single "organizing product" until you fully fully declutter. You don't need to organize your stuff, you need to purge it.

This.

This is a stupid post. Goals for 2026 should be don't buy a think that is not a need.

[Anonymous]

Agreed! I am on the 'mental' hunt for a way to store my holiday napkins and tablecloths. I keep veering back to a plastic boot box. Already have it - so it won't cost anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed! I am on the 'mental' hunt for a way to store my holiday napkins and tablecloths. I keep veering back to a plastic boot box. Already have it - so it won't cost anything.

Why does anyone need more than one Christmas tablecloth?

[Anonymous]

Top tip: Do not hire a professional organizer who sells any products at all. I used a very expensive DMV organizer whose unstated goal is to sell you as much Container Store plastic crap as possible. She even labels it with a label maker as she goes along, to discourage you from balking by claiming it now can't be "returned." I ended up paying over $600 for "organizing solutions," which were just a bunch of plastic bins, on top of almost 2k for one day for my kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed! I am on the 'mental' hunt for a way to store my holiday napkins and tablecloths. I keep veering back to a plastic boot box. Already have it - so it won't cost anything.

Why does anyone need more than one Christmas tablecloth?

The definitely do not.

[Anonymous]

I wash all my big glass jars and use them for grains, lentil, etc. I haven't bought a thing for my pantry grain organizing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed! I am on the 'mental' hunt for a way to store my holiday napkins and tablecloths. I keep veering back to a plastic boot box. Already have it - so it won't cost anything.

Why does anyone need more than one Christmas tablecloth?

She didn’t say Christmas, she said holiday. I have one that is for a Christmas table that wouldn’t do for Easter. See how those are both holidays? One from each grandma, so they were free, reused and meaningful.

Some of you are really worked up about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed! I am on the 'mental' hunt for a way to store my holiday napkins and tablecloths. I keep veering back to a plastic boot box. Already have it - so it won't cost anything.

Why does anyone need more than one Christmas tablecloth?

1. You have more than one table.
2. You use a second while one is in the wash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Top tip: Do not hire a professional organizer who sells any products at all. I used a very expensive DMV organizer whose unstated goal is to sell you as much Container Store plastic crap as possible. She even labels it with a label maker as she goes along, to discourage you from balking by claiming it now can't be "returned." I ended up paying over $600 for "organizing solutions," which were just a bunch of plastic bins, on top of almost 2k for one day for my kitchen.

They make commission from the container store.

[Anonymous]

I follow a gal on instagram, and her big thing - it isn't YOU, it's your systems. So adjust your systems to your life.

For example, she is really big on mini trash cans. Where does trash pile up at your house? Maybe beside the sofa in the family room? Put a mini trash container (its like a small 4"x4" box) and leave it there. Now you can drop all your candy wrappers or whatever in there, and it still looks tidier and is easy to dump out.

Or if you have a landing zone at your front/back door where you leave everything. Instead of trying to train yourself to put it all away, just find a system that organizes it where you drop it. So a little system that has a hook for your keys, a container for your important mail, one for your junk mail, a basket with mitts/gloves, a place for your sunglasses, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I follow a gal on instagram, and her big thing - it isn't YOU, it's your systems. So adjust your systems to your life.

For example, she is really big on mini trash cans. Where does trash pile up at your house? Maybe beside the sofa in the family room? Put a mini trash container (its like a small 4"x4" box) and leave it there. Now you can drop all your candy wrappers or whatever in there, and it still looks tidier and is easy to dump out.

Or if you have a landing zone at your front/back door where you leave everything. Instead of trying to train yourself to put it all away, just find a system that organizes it where you drop it. So a little system that has a hook for your keys, a container for your important mail, one for your junk mail, a basket with mitts/gloves, a place for your sunglasses, etc.

I think this makes sense. I'm stuck though. I have such small landing zones. Front door opens up to living room and back door to the kitchen. I'm at a loss on what to do with the backpacks, shoes, musical instruments, sports bags, etc. that end up there. And socks. So many socks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I follow a gal on instagram, and her big thing - it isn't YOU, it's your systems. So adjust your systems to your life.

For example, she is really big on mini trash cans. Where does trash pile up at your house? Maybe beside the sofa in the family room? Put a mini trash container (its like a small 4"x4" box) and leave it there. Now you can drop all your candy wrappers or whatever in there, and it still looks tidier and is easy to dump out.

Or if you have a landing zone at your front/back door where you leave everything. Instead of trying to train yourself to put it all away, just find a system that organizes it where you drop it. So a little system that has a hook for your keys, a container for your important mail, one for your junk mail, a basket with mitts/gloves, a place for your sunglasses, etc.

I think this makes sense. I'm stuck though. I have such small landing zones. Front door opens up to living room and back door to the kitchen. I'm at a loss on what to do with the backpacks, shoes, musical instruments, sports bags, etc. that end up there. And socks. So many socks.

I meant to post her insta but got side tracked. It's jenny.for.yourthoughts on insta. She just moved into a new place in NYC, so it might be relevant for you! She just did her small bathroom and nightstand, so very small areas.

No idea about socks though LOL. Maybe some sort of laundry hamper with hooks above? Backpacks and jackets on the hooks, socks or whatever in the hamper?

[Anonymous]

I need to tackle the cabinet we keep the storage containers and water bottles. It’s getting ridiculous.

Also, the office closet as, once again, it’s runneth over with “important documents” and things.