What do you think?
Rate this book
The Clutter Remedy: A Guide to Getting Organized for Those Who Love Their Stuff
The Way to a Perpetually Organized Lifestyle
There are many valid approaches to creating neat and tidy spaces, but these approaches tend to fail over time because they suggest that we dispose of our stuff, and most of us love our stuff! Marla Stone’s fresh and friendly approach, based on her work as both a professional organizer and a former psychotherapist, goes beyond tidying up to offer the Clutter Remedy strategy that will create spaces you love and keep you perpetually organized. Marla walks you through a process of getting to know yourself and your values and then visualizing your ideal lifestyle and optimal surroundings. From that perspective, you’ll learn step by step (and room by room) how to create your ideal lifestyle and organize your space to support it.
There are many valid approaches to creating neat and tidy spaces, but these approaches tend to fail over time because they suggest that we dispose of our stuff, and most of us love our stuff! Marla Stone’s fresh and friendly approach, based on her work as both a professional organizer and a former psychotherapist, goes beyond tidying up to offer the Clutter Remedy strategy that will create spaces you love and keep you perpetually organized. Marla walks you through a process of getting to know yourself and your values and then visualizing your ideal lifestyle and optimal surroundings. From that perspective, you’ll learn step by step (and room by room) how to create your ideal lifestyle and organize your space to support it.
176 pages, Paperback
First published December 3, 2019
14 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Marla Stone
1 book4 followersMarla Stone is a former social worker turned professional organizer who helps people DeClutter their emotional challenges as well as their space. She loves interior design, feng shui, Decluttering and space planning. Her business i-deal-lifestyle helps with organizing homes and businesses and transforming lives with the goal of living an ideal lifestyle. She loves to laugh through the process of decluttering rather than trudging through it.
Stone became a first time author with The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff.
Stone became a first time author with The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 15, 2019
I appreciate this book's attention to the emotional dimensions of clutter, but the author spends more time talking about identifying and fulfilling your dreams than she does about organizing your stuff. She has some good advice, like when she encourages people to use language that encourages action and competence ("I will fold the laundry") instead of stress and obligation ("I need to fold the laundry"), but even though insights like this are worthwhile, the book is too focused on external life goals and emotional evaluations to appeal to me. It might be the right thing for some people, but given that the subtitle is "A Guide to Getting Organized for Those Who Love their Stuff," not "A Guide to Discovering Your Dreams and Finding Emotional Peace," I was disappointed.
The authors of most decluttering guides assume that if your organizational systems aren't working, you just need to get rid of more things. Given the proposed subject of this book, I expected the author to share her secrets for managing large collections without becoming a minimalist, but alas, no. When she finally gets around to talking about organization, her renowned and much-hyped Clutter Remedy boils down to sorting everything you own into "finely tuned categories" and storing the stuff in drawers, furniture, and plastic boxes. This is not what I was looking for!
Although the author's background as a psychotherapist shines through at times, like when she includes information about how mental issues like OCD and ADD affect a sufferer's ability to evaluate and deal with clutter, her mental health focus often obscures her messages, because she is more interested in telling stories about clients who overcame their emotional baggage than in advising you on how to get your house in order. She also talks about dream interpretation, shares her thoughts on the importance of developing a spiritual path, and includes doozies like the following:
"Keep toilet lids down and drains covered: Leave toilet seats and lids down and cover drains in order to protect your energy (or chi) from going down the drain, along with your health, wealth, knowledge, health, and other valuables. In addition, close the door to all bathrooms when you leave."
I read this about six times, marveling over the fact that someone could publish this alongside reminders to change out dead lightbulbs and clean their mirrors. Sure, she offered spiritual reasons for those tasks, too, but the value of keeping up your house is obvious. With this audacious statement, you'd expect some explanation of why she thinks your knowledge and wealth will go down your toilet and drains, but she just states it as a self-evident fact!
I'm going to be generous and give this book two stars, since I am deeply touched by its inclusion of OCD and like its message about changing the language people use regarding clutter and housework, but I would never recommend this book to anyone. If someone wants a general guide to getting their house in order, I recommend New Minimalism: Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living, and if someone is interested in exploring the emotional dimensions of why they over-accumulate or struggle to get rid of things, I highly encourage them to read Making Space, Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You'll Ever Need. Even though The Clutter Remedy has some good points, it isn't worth anyone's time when there are so many better books on the market.
The authors of most decluttering guides assume that if your organizational systems aren't working, you just need to get rid of more things. Given the proposed subject of this book, I expected the author to share her secrets for managing large collections without becoming a minimalist, but alas, no. When she finally gets around to talking about organization, her renowned and much-hyped Clutter Remedy boils down to sorting everything you own into "finely tuned categories" and storing the stuff in drawers, furniture, and plastic boxes. This is not what I was looking for!
Although the author's background as a psychotherapist shines through at times, like when she includes information about how mental issues like OCD and ADD affect a sufferer's ability to evaluate and deal with clutter, her mental health focus often obscures her messages, because she is more interested in telling stories about clients who overcame their emotional baggage than in advising you on how to get your house in order. She also talks about dream interpretation, shares her thoughts on the importance of developing a spiritual path, and includes doozies like the following:
"Keep toilet lids down and drains covered: Leave toilet seats and lids down and cover drains in order to protect your energy (or chi) from going down the drain, along with your health, wealth, knowledge, health, and other valuables. In addition, close the door to all bathrooms when you leave."
I read this about six times, marveling over the fact that someone could publish this alongside reminders to change out dead lightbulbs and clean their mirrors. Sure, she offered spiritual reasons for those tasks, too, but the value of keeping up your house is obvious. With this audacious statement, you'd expect some explanation of why she thinks your knowledge and wealth will go down your toilet and drains, but she just states it as a self-evident fact!
I'm going to be generous and give this book two stars, since I am deeply touched by its inclusion of OCD and like its message about changing the language people use regarding clutter and housework, but I would never recommend this book to anyone. If someone wants a general guide to getting their house in order, I recommend New Minimalism: Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living, and if someone is interested in exploring the emotional dimensions of why they over-accumulate or struggle to get rid of things, I highly encourage them to read Making Space, Clutter Free: The Last Book on Decluttering You'll Ever Need. Even though The Clutter Remedy has some good points, it isn't worth anyone's time when there are so many better books on the market.
May 12, 2021
Don’t waste your time. This book actually reads more like an infomercial for itself by often repeating cliche phrases like, “With The Clutter Remedy Strategy you can recognize your personal truth.” It contains endless amounts of redundancies, often stating the same thing several times in a row, just with different word order. It’s also NOT for the average person. It caters more to wealthy audiences that need a healthy dose of self-help mixed in.
Over a third of the book is all about the various psychological reasons why someone builds up clutter to the point of hoarding, and how to mentally prepare for the decluttering process. The next part of the book talks about how to physically prepare, and this is when it becomes clear it’s meant for a more wealthy audience with advice like, “buy as many containers as you can afford” BEFORE decluttering, invest in custom shelving, consult with a stylist, etc.. The author also repeats that the goal isn’t to get rid of stuff, but to have it all visible, which seems counter to the whole concept of decluttering. Then contradicts herself by saying if there isn’t enough room to have everything visible, just put it back in a closet somewhere - again, counter to the decluttering concept.
The method for decluttering actually sounds like a hot mess. Pull everything out of its original container, and re-containerize in plastic bags that you put in general category bins. I would literally lose everything, and it is exceedingly wasteful to constantly use plastic bags and bins for everything. And I am truly baffled as to why a person needs to store their plastic container lids in plastic bags when there are easier, more accessible ways to store them.
The author also throws in personal advice on the types of health and beauty products one should own, which has NO place in a book on decluttering. And the advice to keep medication out of sight because it “tells your subconscious to get sick” is so ill-conceived I almost stopped reading right there.
Advice for invigorating your space and arranging rooms doesn’t have anything to do with decorating or lighting, instead it’s about superstition - loose doorknobs symbolize loose friendships, fame depends on keeping houseplants alive, keep the toilet lid down or your wealth will go down the drain, if your work deals with “ugly” information hide it so you only see positive things, get rid of art of Elvis because he died and that’s sad, don’t have any art of single things because they’re alone and that’s sad, having your couch face away from the door is bad for your health. This whole section was garbage.
The entire last section of the book circles back around to psychological blocks when decluttering. It’s basically a repeat of the first third of the book with the exception of a far flung dream symbology section, and a section on hoarding without actually using the term “hoarding” (which denies a legitimate mental health issue), and the painfully increasing pushes to hire a “Clutter Remedy expert” who knows the “Clutter Remedy strategy” as if the constant marketing-style reminders for using the “Clutter Remedy” method wasn’t enough.
Save yourself the grief and eye-rolls, and don’t bother with this book.
Over a third of the book is all about the various psychological reasons why someone builds up clutter to the point of hoarding, and how to mentally prepare for the decluttering process. The next part of the book talks about how to physically prepare, and this is when it becomes clear it’s meant for a more wealthy audience with advice like, “buy as many containers as you can afford” BEFORE decluttering, invest in custom shelving, consult with a stylist, etc.. The author also repeats that the goal isn’t to get rid of stuff, but to have it all visible, which seems counter to the whole concept of decluttering. Then contradicts herself by saying if there isn’t enough room to have everything visible, just put it back in a closet somewhere - again, counter to the decluttering concept.
The method for decluttering actually sounds like a hot mess. Pull everything out of its original container, and re-containerize in plastic bags that you put in general category bins. I would literally lose everything, and it is exceedingly wasteful to constantly use plastic bags and bins for everything. And I am truly baffled as to why a person needs to store their plastic container lids in plastic bags when there are easier, more accessible ways to store them.
The author also throws in personal advice on the types of health and beauty products one should own, which has NO place in a book on decluttering. And the advice to keep medication out of sight because it “tells your subconscious to get sick” is so ill-conceived I almost stopped reading right there.
Advice for invigorating your space and arranging rooms doesn’t have anything to do with decorating or lighting, instead it’s about superstition - loose doorknobs symbolize loose friendships, fame depends on keeping houseplants alive, keep the toilet lid down or your wealth will go down the drain, if your work deals with “ugly” information hide it so you only see positive things, get rid of art of Elvis because he died and that’s sad, don’t have any art of single things because they’re alone and that’s sad, having your couch face away from the door is bad for your health. This whole section was garbage.
The entire last section of the book circles back around to psychological blocks when decluttering. It’s basically a repeat of the first third of the book with the exception of a far flung dream symbology section, and a section on hoarding without actually using the term “hoarding” (which denies a legitimate mental health issue), and the painfully increasing pushes to hire a “Clutter Remedy expert” who knows the “Clutter Remedy strategy” as if the constant marketing-style reminders for using the “Clutter Remedy” method wasn’t enough.
Save yourself the grief and eye-rolls, and don’t bother with this book.
November 30, 2019
The book is focused on a pressing but yet surprisingly sparingly approached issue of dealing with clutter at home. Though The Clutter Remedy is much more than just a step-by-step tutorial of getting rid of the things you don't need. One of the key highlights of the book that makes it a must-read, is that it provides an in-depth study on why we hoard things. The author reveals the inner psychological processes in us that manifest themselves in a form of cluttered living spaces. As someone with a family history of hoarding starting from my grandmother, this is definitely the book of the year for me.
December 1, 2019
The Clutter Remedy Review
In her book “The Clutter Remedy” Marla Stone says, “Clutter camouflage can lead to unintentional and directionless life.” More than just a book telling you how organize and categorize your stuff (although she does this too) – Marla encourages you to determine your core values, remove negative feelings and become comfortable with your younger self before trying to tackle the intimate and emotional task of de-cluttering. Full of tips and helpful lists, this book is more than just a “do this but not that” book; it’s a psychological cleansing.
In her book “The Clutter Remedy” Marla Stone says, “Clutter camouflage can lead to unintentional and directionless life.” More than just a book telling you how organize and categorize your stuff (although she does this too) – Marla encourages you to determine your core values, remove negative feelings and become comfortable with your younger self before trying to tackle the intimate and emotional task of de-cluttering. Full of tips and helpful lists, this book is more than just a “do this but not that” book; it’s a psychological cleansing.
March 2, 2020
Having read a lot of home organization books over the years, I will admit to reading many ideas for accomplishing the same goal of a neat, well-organized home. This book added in a number of reasons why organizing is good, but they were a little out there. Everyone is entitled to their own set of beliefs, but I don't think my life force will run down the uncovered drains in my house. While I could have ignored these philosophical differences, the writing was boring and did nothing to capture my interest. Mostly, I felt it was a waste of paper.
March 2, 2020
I got about half way through this book, mostly skimming, and just couldn't finish it. I was bored, it was slow, and it just didn't resonate with me.
March 12, 2020
I have worked on getting organized for so long I almost gave up until I read this book. I have used professional organizers in the past, friends, family but I still was cluttered and could not find my way out of my mess. The book helped me uncover most of the reasons why I could not get through my stuff without creating more mess along the way. Understanding that my childhood, and past wounds have contributed to my messy home and office was a huge eye opener. I was able to use the clearing and healing technique and it worked. I feel so much lighter and healed from things that have bothered me for years. Connecting how I talk to myself with my lack of motivation and follow through was key to me finally getting everything I own in it's proper place. But the most intriguing thing of all is how the book describes in chapter 3 exactly how the author organizes space. It is so detailed that I was able to do most of it myself. I hired movers to move the heavy furniture I wanted in different places but I was able to go through everything I own and realize what was going to stay and what was going with the criteria outlined in the book. Shocker how simple it was to make good decisions instead of decisions I would have regretted. I can't say enough about how this book has changed EVERY aspect of my life. Thank you Marla Stone The Clutter Remedy is a life saver.
August 11, 2022
Judgy unhelpful BS and pseudo psychology.
March 12, 2020
I am ADHD and usually get distracted while reading most books, although "The Clutter Remedy" by Marla Stone was a very fascinating and informative read for me... It opened my mind to a new way of thinking and brought order on how to organize my stuff... The book also has a psychological aspect of why we tend to Clutter, and a Solution on how to release the negative patterns that bind us... This book is a great read for clearing and organizing your life.
March 16, 2020
Awesome book! This book has great tips and techniques on how to stay organized and has helped me greatly. I highly recommend it!
April 10, 2020
The author has some good points and tools. I don’t like the idea of buying a bunch of totes, supplies etc. before you start. It seems like a waste of time and money. It makes more sense to sort through than you have an accurate list of what you need. In this approach, I felt like more things could have been parted with. I much prefer Marie Kondo’s plan.
December 1, 2019
This is a great read for anyone needing to get better organized that wants to KEEP their stuff but easily locate it when needed. But what’s better is Marla teaches you how to showcase the things you really love and want to see every day. It is written in a very easy to follow, step by step process. I think everyone could benefit from reading it, organization is the key to a busy life! Especially as a working parent!
November 29, 2019
Just finished The Clutter Remedy book packed with not only tips to get organized but a clear path to my true destination in life. All the times I attempted to get my garage organized or my tools or my desk never really stuck. In one day the strategy Marla Stone explains actually makes perfect sense and I realize now it’s the only way to live clutter free. I’m passing this stuff on to everyone I know including my employees. I liked the last chapter most about what can block you from staying organized.
November 29, 2019
Finally..... a real solution!
Whether you live in a mansion with a designated “clutter room” or a tiny house where one thing out of place creates instant clutter, the practical, clever solutions in this book will get you organized forever!
After reading Marla Stone’s book, I was so inspired to get started that I skipped Black Friday and began organizing!
Thank you for a great remedy to the clutter in our lives!
Kathie D...... A Tiny House resident
Whether you live in a mansion with a designated “clutter room” or a tiny house where one thing out of place creates instant clutter, the practical, clever solutions in this book will get you organized forever!
After reading Marla Stone’s book, I was so inspired to get started that I skipped Black Friday and began organizing!
Thank you for a great remedy to the clutter in our lives!
Kathie D...... A Tiny House resident
November 30, 2019
Love LOVE this book... it was not just about clutter which I originally thought. It has taught me so much about myself and I am very grateful for having the opportunity to read it. I am buying one for all my friends and family since I believe it will benefit them and their lives. Thanks !!!
November 29, 2019
Love the psychological aspect to cleaning out the clutter! Always impressed by authors who write to the many levels we operate on. Succinct, articulate and a quick read that will improve your life if you follow its principles.
December 26, 2019
The book straightened out everything about my life and my space. New author Marla Stone was a social worker and psychotherapist for a total of 17 years. She knows people and figured out how to help them in every way possible.
The introduction is clear about what to expect from the book. The first chapter goes over inner emotional clutter issues with specific techniques to heal deep emotional wounds. I cleared up something bothering me from childhood. Marla Stone, the author, worked with military personnel at Camp Pendleton and has a strong grasp on ptsd (post traumatic stress disorder) and many other challenges such as ocd (obsessive compulsive disorder, depression and grief and loss which is related in the last chapter.
The Cluttet Remedy is the total solution everyone has been looking for in order to get organized permanently.
Healing inner clutter first then onto her strategies which are extremely different then Marie Kondo method which I did use but with zero success. I could not make clear decisions thinking about joy. But with The Clutter Remedy clear and concise criteria for what to keep and all the fabulous strategies it took me half the time I thought it would to go through all my stuff and with no regrets. The process was so organized too. No piles of stuff. No maybe piles. No push to get rid of stuff. Just getting super clear about things that matter. I love how Stone says “Matter matters.” Very orderly way finely tuning things and going through everything I owned. I knew there was a way to get Uber organized and stone figured it out. I always wanted to be this organized and keep it up and it’s a life changer.
After choosing what I wanted to keep I then was given a myriad of possibilities for how to store everything and then a whole chapter on organizing seasonally and then room by room. The way she teaches you how to set up a home or business space was remarkable. My space is a welcome paradise now instead of a hodgepodge. I’m no longer searching for my things but have certainty about everything I own and where it’s stashed.
The last chapter as I mentioned really helped me understand hoarding disorder and add (attention deficit disorder) in such a spectacular way. I had no idea why some of my friends and family had so much stuff and such cluttered and messy spaces. It’s all clear now why, and how people even with a mammoth amount of stuff could get organized without any drama at all. This will change how professionals work with people who have hoarding disorder since it’s not focused on getting rid of things.
This book taught me more about myself than any self help book I’ve ever read and about changing how I think and communicate with myself and others. It’s a very, very layered book that is so easy to read. Total time to read was 5 1/2 hours and I never put it down except for a few quick breaks. It was so engaging. I have recommended it to my friends, family and colleagues. It’s a must read and has changed my whole perspective on life.
Back to the first chapter. I figured out how to have the most ideal lifestyle that I always dreamed of having. Hopefully Marla Stone will do a television show in order to show how organizing is truly done properly.
The introduction is clear about what to expect from the book. The first chapter goes over inner emotional clutter issues with specific techniques to heal deep emotional wounds. I cleared up something bothering me from childhood. Marla Stone, the author, worked with military personnel at Camp Pendleton and has a strong grasp on ptsd (post traumatic stress disorder) and many other challenges such as ocd (obsessive compulsive disorder, depression and grief and loss which is related in the last chapter.
The Cluttet Remedy is the total solution everyone has been looking for in order to get organized permanently.
Healing inner clutter first then onto her strategies which are extremely different then Marie Kondo method which I did use but with zero success. I could not make clear decisions thinking about joy. But with The Clutter Remedy clear and concise criteria for what to keep and all the fabulous strategies it took me half the time I thought it would to go through all my stuff and with no regrets. The process was so organized too. No piles of stuff. No maybe piles. No push to get rid of stuff. Just getting super clear about things that matter. I love how Stone says “Matter matters.” Very orderly way finely tuning things and going through everything I owned. I knew there was a way to get Uber organized and stone figured it out. I always wanted to be this organized and keep it up and it’s a life changer.
After choosing what I wanted to keep I then was given a myriad of possibilities for how to store everything and then a whole chapter on organizing seasonally and then room by room. The way she teaches you how to set up a home or business space was remarkable. My space is a welcome paradise now instead of a hodgepodge. I’m no longer searching for my things but have certainty about everything I own and where it’s stashed.
The last chapter as I mentioned really helped me understand hoarding disorder and add (attention deficit disorder) in such a spectacular way. I had no idea why some of my friends and family had so much stuff and such cluttered and messy spaces. It’s all clear now why, and how people even with a mammoth amount of stuff could get organized without any drama at all. This will change how professionals work with people who have hoarding disorder since it’s not focused on getting rid of things.
This book taught me more about myself than any self help book I’ve ever read and about changing how I think and communicate with myself and others. It’s a very, very layered book that is so easy to read. Total time to read was 5 1/2 hours and I never put it down except for a few quick breaks. It was so engaging. I have recommended it to my friends, family and colleagues. It’s a must read and has changed my whole perspective on life.
Back to the first chapter. I figured out how to have the most ideal lifestyle that I always dreamed of having. Hopefully Marla Stone will do a television show in order to show how organizing is truly done properly.
November 29, 2019
This is a great book if you want to organize your life and your thoughts! Highly recommend!
February 11, 2020
Excellent Book!!!! I Love it!!!!! The author explains fabulously the emotional side to wanting to keep clutter and "stuff". I had no idea until now why I hang on to certain things while others are easy to toss. She explains super effective ways to keep things organized in an easy to follow plan. It REALLY WORKS!!!!!
I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book, not only to friends who want to get and stay organized but to everyone. There are so many jewels of knowledge in the book on so many levels... both organizational and emotional!!!!
Loved it!!!!
🥂Cheers & Happy Reading!!!!
Wendy Corry
I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book, not only to friends who want to get and stay organized but to everyone. There are so many jewels of knowledge in the book on so many levels... both organizational and emotional!!!!
Loved it!!!!
🥂Cheers & Happy Reading!!!!
Wendy Corry
February 11, 2020
A readable book helping you to find a way through your stuff. Not only that but gives insight as to why this problem is a problem foryou; or you may use this insightful book to help a friend who doesn’t see or understand their own clutter
December 20, 2019
Love this book! Marla Stone really knows her stuff and I have personally seen her in action in someone’s home. She can transform a space and has a plan put in place to help the client stay organized and love his or her space! This is a must read especially when you learn about wants vs. needs.
November 1, 2020
This is the wackiest, psycho-babbliest book on decluttering I’ve ever seen.
I recommend instead: “Making Space, Clutter Free” and “Decluttering at the Speed of Life”
(Of course, if either of those books were perfect I wouldn’t still be on the look out for more decluttering books. Maybe I do need the psycho-babble after all?)
I recommend instead: “Making Space, Clutter Free” and “Decluttering at the Speed of Life”
(Of course, if either of those books were perfect I wouldn’t still be on the look out for more decluttering books. Maybe I do need the psycho-babble after all?)
July 10, 2022
I had high hopes for this book. It’s relatively short, and was written by someone who was a psychotherapist for years before beginning an organizing business. I expected to see a discussion of the psychological reasons behind different types of clutter, and maybe suggestions of ways to overcome them. To be fair, the book started off well, if a little “infomercial-esque.” (It kind of sounded like she was selling something.) There was talk of defining your core values, healing past wounds, and changing the language you use regarding your belongings to help you change the way you think about them.
But then the book took a 180. She literally suggests buying organizational bins, totes, and even furniture BEFORE beginning the process of decluttering. How are you supposed to know what size you’ll need to hold the things you keep? Or how many you need? Her solution? Just buy extras! You can return them or sell them later if you don’t need them! Wait…what? First, telling someone who has a problem with clutter to begin by buying anything, let alone TOO MANY of something - on purpose - sounds ridiculous.
Then…things got downright weird. Leaving vitamins on the counter will subconsciously convince you to get sick? Storing items under the bed “hinders your dream state”? Covering drains and closing toilets will keep my “chi” from “going down the drain, along with your wealth, knowledge, health, and other valuables”?!?! I really wasn’t expecting this sort of quackery from a psychotherapist.
I’m really glad I checked this out at the library and didn’t actually spend any money on it. I only finished it because I needed to see how bad the train wreck actually was.
But then the book took a 180. She literally suggests buying organizational bins, totes, and even furniture BEFORE beginning the process of decluttering. How are you supposed to know what size you’ll need to hold the things you keep? Or how many you need? Her solution? Just buy extras! You can return them or sell them later if you don’t need them! Wait…what? First, telling someone who has a problem with clutter to begin by buying anything, let alone TOO MANY of something - on purpose - sounds ridiculous.
Then…things got downright weird. Leaving vitamins on the counter will subconsciously convince you to get sick? Storing items under the bed “hinders your dream state”? Covering drains and closing toilets will keep my “chi” from “going down the drain, along with your wealth, knowledge, health, and other valuables”?!?! I really wasn’t expecting this sort of quackery from a psychotherapist.
I’m really glad I checked this out at the library and didn’t actually spend any money on it. I only finished it because I needed to see how bad the train wreck actually was.
June 16, 2020
A clean and organized house usually produces a calm and happy environment for people; for most people though, they equate an organized space as having minimal items. Marla Stone is here to tell you that you've got it all wrong. With a background in social work and as a psychotherapist, Stone's advice centers around the idea that to keep up with an organized external living space, you must keep up with your internal living space. There is not much hope of keeping your things, however much or little, in an organized fashion, if you still need to be working on yourself to appreciate the things you have. Filled with self-help tips, as well as advice on how to organize your home based on the room and items, Stone's words of wisdom can be useful for anyone if they will allow the help.
Just hearing the title, I assumed it would be a book with pictures and ideas for organizing your home, but instead, it's a book with life advice, tips, and useful organizational skills all presented in the text. I believe every word that Stone has to say, and know that it can help so many people on their journey to a cleaner home and life.
Just hearing the title, I assumed it would be a book with pictures and ideas for organizing your home, but instead, it's a book with life advice, tips, and useful organizational skills all presented in the text. I believe every word that Stone has to say, and know that it can help so many people on their journey to a cleaner home and life.
February 7, 2024
I tend to gravitate toward organizational books at the beginning of any given year. This book had the usual bromides for getting organized, but the author spent more time than average discussing some of the reasons why people hoard or clutter in the first place, and how genuinely difficult it can be to get to the root of the problem; not just in organizing your space, but realizing why you leave things in chaos in the first place.
Having had hoarding friends and acquaintances, I can vouch that there are no easy solutions, and I think the author is very aware of this problem, repeatedly urging the additional of not just an organizational specialist, but also psychological time, trying to understand what you, the hoarder-clutterer are really holding on to, or hiding from.
I'll continue with my own projects on that end, but I do recommend this book for someone willing to delve deeper than the usual a's,b's and c's of how to arrive at a clutter free, clean home. It will take work: physical, mental and emotional.
Having had hoarding friends and acquaintances, I can vouch that there are no easy solutions, and I think the author is very aware of this problem, repeatedly urging the additional of not just an organizational specialist, but also psychological time, trying to understand what you, the hoarder-clutterer are really holding on to, or hiding from.
I'll continue with my own projects on that end, but I do recommend this book for someone willing to delve deeper than the usual a's,b's and c's of how to arrive at a clutter free, clean home. It will take work: physical, mental and emotional.
May 28, 2022
The Clutter Remedy is an excellent source of information to help you bring focus and clarity to your home, relationships, mindfulness, and stuff. The author provides a vast amount of information, including cases she has worked on. She explains how and why we should seek to be organized. Later in the books, she delves into what causes some to be mentally stifled and unable to release items.
in addition to his to organize, the author discusses clutter bugs, collectors, hoarders, Feng shui, dream meanings and why it might be a good idea to work with professionally. She suggests a therapist, interior designer and professional designer to implement permanent changes and improve your quality of life, environment, family interactions and piece of mind. This book has a lot of information and is full of helpful tidbits.
in addition to his to organize, the author discusses clutter bugs, collectors, hoarders, Feng shui, dream meanings and why it might be a good idea to work with professionally. She suggests a therapist, interior designer and professional designer to implement permanent changes and improve your quality of life, environment, family interactions and piece of mind. This book has a lot of information and is full of helpful tidbits.
December 13, 2019
The Clutter Remedy... this text approaches organization and clutter in a different method than most other books, allowing readers to keep the items they love and find homes for everything. The author discusses psychological and emotional aspects of clutter and how to overcome its hold. A few guidelines are provided for shopping smarter and organizing items, but the overall feel is just find a new basket or tote for your junk.
April 14, 2020
The author offers a different take on home organization by focusing first on the psychological aspects of acquisition and lifestyle rather than just a step by step for purging and arranging. Some sections are more fleshed out than others while some ideas needed much more explanation but overall a good addition to the home organization canon.
August 20, 2021
The Clutter Remedy is intensely practical, giving you a huge toolkit of organized and named strategies you can apply immediately to create and strengthen positive habits and stop the negative ones. The author, Marla Stone, shares knowledge, understanding and experience in a masterful book that can enrich readers’ lives in many ways. Don’t pass this book by; it’s well-worth your time!
March 29, 2020
An amazing book delving into your inner being and how you affect your environment and surroundings. Very enlightening and Marla challenges you to possibly change your past memories and feelings to best approach creating a stress free and organized life. I appreciate this book very much !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews