What do you think?
Rate this book
Not for Packrats Only: How to Clean Up, Clear Out, and Live Clutter-Free Forever
Offers hints for packrats on clearing out all the "stuff" that has accumulated over the years
- GenresNonfictionReference
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 1991
3 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 5, 2012
Skimming this, with a few stops now and then to glean some inspiring thoughts, really motivated me to do some de-junking! That very night I went through several kitchen cupboards and got rid of over-stocked, never-used, or useless items--it has spread to other ares of the house, and I'm feeling great about the results! Don't know how long this motivation will last, but I'm enjoying it while I can!
November 4, 2007
These are the greatest books on organizing I have ever read. They make you laugh at yourself and inspire you to get going on the clean up.
October 3, 2009
This book is like a fluffernutter sandwich. That is to say, it has some nutritive value, but yeesh–there's a lot of fluffy filler that might rot your teeth and make you obese.
Published in 1991, as I read this book I kept taking little mental journeys through history. Not only have times changed since then, meaning high-tech clutter is almost completely non-existent this book, but even in 1991 I believe his target audience was about 50 years old. Meaning they're pushing 70 now. Aslett, born in 1935, was writing for his Depression-era peers.
References to the five-and-dime, calling out the garage as the man's domain and inside the house as a woman's domain, randomly inserting names like "Don" and "Ted" in a sort of smarmy buddy-talk to the reader, relying on stereotypes of suburban married people...knowing this guy is from rural Idaho, seems to pump out eight books a year and is "world-famous" providing your world is QVC (ironic, huh?)...it only added to the fluffernutter feeling.
In terms of content, there are many practical tips, but very little delving into the psychology of clutter–the thoughts and emotions that make it hard for us to part with our stuff–which I believe is key. In some chapters, he even gives mixed messages–one sentence suggesting you never do something, and a page and a half later implying you should.
Given the historical context of this book and Aslett himself, I also probably shouldn't have been surprised to see a mere quarter page of a 215 page book dedicated to recycling. Ultimately our clutter problem is a societal problem of a consumerist culture, and Aslett inadvertently fuels the fire when he says things like:
"I've seen people have those dropped-in ceiling tiles cleaned for 64 cents a square foot when they only cost 43 cents new." (P156)
Wow, talk about missing some important economic pieces of the equation! Noticeably missing in that comparison is the ecological cost of replacing everything out of superficial convenience, or our travel costs for both dumping and to go buy more tiles...for starters.
Surprisingly though, I found possibly the best summation about clutter amongst all the books I've read so far on the topic:
"Anything in your life that suffocates you is junk. Anything that crowds the life out of you is junk. That which restricts our living, loving, thinking, and feeling is junk, be it a thing, habit, person, place, or position. Anything that builds, edifies, enriches our spirit–that makes us truly happy, regardless of how worthless it may be in cash terms–ain’t junk." (P142)
I think finding that succinct gem alone was worth the time I spent reading it.
Published in 1991, as I read this book I kept taking little mental journeys through history. Not only have times changed since then, meaning high-tech clutter is almost completely non-existent this book, but even in 1991 I believe his target audience was about 50 years old. Meaning they're pushing 70 now. Aslett, born in 1935, was writing for his Depression-era peers.
References to the five-and-dime, calling out the garage as the man's domain and inside the house as a woman's domain, randomly inserting names like "Don" and "Ted" in a sort of smarmy buddy-talk to the reader, relying on stereotypes of suburban married people...knowing this guy is from rural Idaho, seems to pump out eight books a year and is "world-famous" providing your world is QVC (ironic, huh?)...it only added to the fluffernutter feeling.
In terms of content, there are many practical tips, but very little delving into the psychology of clutter–the thoughts and emotions that make it hard for us to part with our stuff–which I believe is key. In some chapters, he even gives mixed messages–one sentence suggesting you never do something, and a page and a half later implying you should.
Given the historical context of this book and Aslett himself, I also probably shouldn't have been surprised to see a mere quarter page of a 215 page book dedicated to recycling. Ultimately our clutter problem is a societal problem of a consumerist culture, and Aslett inadvertently fuels the fire when he says things like:
"I've seen people have those dropped-in ceiling tiles cleaned for 64 cents a square foot when they only cost 43 cents new." (P156)
Wow, talk about missing some important economic pieces of the equation! Noticeably missing in that comparison is the ecological cost of replacing everything out of superficial convenience, or our travel costs for both dumping and to go buy more tiles...for starters.
Surprisingly though, I found possibly the best summation about clutter amongst all the books I've read so far on the topic:
"Anything in your life that suffocates you is junk. Anything that crowds the life out of you is junk. That which restricts our living, loving, thinking, and feeling is junk, be it a thing, habit, person, place, or position. Anything that builds, edifies, enriches our spirit–that makes us truly happy, regardless of how worthless it may be in cash terms–ain’t junk." (P142)
I think finding that succinct gem alone was worth the time I spent reading it.
July 4, 2009
Long before "Clean House" and "How Clean is Your House?" were these books. These are, as stated in another review, the greatest books about organizing and cleaning your house ever. I admit it. I used to live with clutter. It's one thing to have clutter stored in a basement the entire length of your house. But pack that clutter in boxes and move it across the country to a 1200 sq ft condo, with NO basement, and it kind of gets old fast. All that sentiment withers in the face of boxes stacked in the upstairs hallway and a screaming husband. Clutter messes up your mind. Consider the co-worker, or worse, boss with a desk piled high with papers and crap. It's hard to respect and rely on that person, isn't it? And another thing: Don Aslett is right. When you die, all that crap you've been hoarding is going right in the garbage.
April 13, 2021
I am moving and needed motivation to clear out the collections, downsize the dump and only move the good stuff. ( I have a tendency to think it's all good stuff) This book is funny, has cartoon pictures and doesn't take your clutter too seriously. It kind of trys to make you feel better if you don't have your gallstones in a jar!.. I did feel uplifted and read it in a day. At least it didn't preach at me or call me out...I own this book and I'm donating it to Goodwill.
November 6, 2023
Written in a humorous way, Don Aslett makes one think about what he/she is doing and why. His words helped me understand why I sometimes think I should be keeping something, especially if it belonged to someone else or was a gift. (That's not to say I don't have a mountain of my own things I have been keeping but not needing!) I read this a little at a time and have been slooooowly getting rid of things along the way.
Good read.
Good read.
January 21, 2009
This book is worth it's weight in gold! I want to keep reading and re-reading it as I dejunk but my mom wants to borrow it so I had to patch it up and label it to send over. I'm going to miss perusing it daily while she reads it, but she needs it worse than I do! Don is tough on some stuff, but he has great ideas and I'm implementing them a little at a time, as he suggests. Can't wait to be clutter free!
February 28, 2015
The cautionary tales and advice herein are for those in a much worse situation than I. I, I'm not ashamed to admit, have already disposed of much of the dreck that Aslett makes his reputation on. On the other hand, there's much more to go that Aslett doesn't even approach.
One wonders about Aslett himself, collecting thousands of cleaning artifacts over the years and in his retirement, building a six floor Museum of Clean to display them. Has Aslett read the books he's written?
One wonders about Aslett himself, collecting thousands of cleaning artifacts over the years and in his retirement, building a six floor Museum of Clean to display them. Has Aslett read the books he's written?
December 31, 2008
Wow...this book is AMAZING!! Don Aslett has great advice and solutions to the clutter/junk problem in every home. It is a book for all ages and deals with everything from kid clutter to handling the belongings of deceased loved ones. Excellent read. I especially loved his great sense of humor...I'm a believer, but I still have a way to go to be clutter/junk - free!
July 22, 2016
I love the TV show "Hoarders", even though sometimes it is so disgusting that it's hard to watch, so I thought I'd pick up this book to glean a little more insight into what seems to be a huge, nation-wide problem.
The book is not only witty and funny but inspiring and eye opening.
It makes you think about how much "stuff" do you really need and use.
The book is not only witty and funny but inspiring and eye opening.
It makes you think about how much "stuff" do you really need and use.
March 20, 2015
Don Aslett books are always hard for me to read. They give me ideas as I am reading and I always stop and try them. This book took several days to read and made me feel really guilty. I did get a lot done though and the house looks better.
July 29, 2016
A great book for picking up, reading a little and then getting motivated to actually do something. Made me laugh and then deal with at least one spot of clutter.
Everytime I see this book, it reminds me that if I don't deal with the clutter, after I'm gone, my daughter will have to.
Everytime I see this book, it reminds me that if I don't deal with the clutter, after I'm gone, my daughter will have to.
December 31, 2007
Humorous look at how clutter takes over our lives
Now if only I could take the tips and declutter my apartment
Now if only I could take the tips and declutter my apartment
June 29, 2013
RE-Reading - after 10 years!!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews