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Decluttering For Dummies
The book that cuts through the clutter of decluttering
Modern life has produced so much clutter that the thought of packed closets, attics filled with storage bins, and rental units specifically used to store odds and ends produces its own stress. The decluttering movement offers solutions for those interested in reducing the amount of stuff in their life and embrace a more minimalist, tidier lifestyle.
Professional organizer Jane Stoller helps you bypass the stress of a tidying project by offering simple, proven methods for organizing every space in your life--even your mind!
Build a new mindset for minimalist living Declutter your home, office, and digital life Develop new routines for a tidier life Establish minimalist practices From adopting a decluttering mindset to finding new homes for unwanted items, this is the book you'll need to keep handy after the big cleanup!
Modern life has produced so much clutter that the thought of packed closets, attics filled with storage bins, and rental units specifically used to store odds and ends produces its own stress. The decluttering movement offers solutions for those interested in reducing the amount of stuff in their life and embrace a more minimalist, tidier lifestyle.
Professional organizer Jane Stoller helps you bypass the stress of a tidying project by offering simple, proven methods for organizing every space in your life--even your mind!
Build a new mindset for minimalist living Declutter your home, office, and digital life Develop new routines for a tidier life Establish minimalist practices From adopting a decluttering mindset to finding new homes for unwanted items, this is the book you'll need to keep handy after the big cleanup!
1 pages, Audio CD
Published March 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 17, 2020
The most important thing to keep in mind is to determine what you actually need vs what you think you might need in a week, a month, a year, etc. As soon as "might" comes into the conversation, the item needs to go.
January 4, 2022
Each point is repeated million times. The book has like 20 pages of useful information and the rest is just "as explained previously..." and then it explains it AGAIN!!
Waste of time. I wish I spent the time decluttering instead 🤣
Waste of time. I wish I spent the time decluttering instead 🤣
April 29, 2025
Audiobook: I really liked it. It gives you the motivation to declutter while you’re listening, listening to it. Also her narration kept me engaged, sure I had to skip over irrelevant parts, but it’s a for dummies book, it goes through everything!
My biggest takeaways:
have things for the life you have not the life you used to have or the life you wish you had.
Your home is not a museum and it’s not meant to house everything that created a memory for you.
If it serves no purpose, it has to go.
My biggest takeaways:
have things for the life you have not the life you used to have or the life you wish you had.
Your home is not a museum and it’s not meant to house everything that created a memory for you.
If it serves no purpose, it has to go.
November 7, 2023
Time cube, time cube, Time Cube! TIME CUBE!!!
If it wasn't for this book being basically just an advertisement for the author's products and website it wouldn't be so bad. However her saying time cube every 5 minutes gets old. Her reasoning is that using a phone's timer will distract you. While ignoring stop, analog, digital, and smart watches, or even an hourglass. Nope, none of those are adequate, you have to buy her overpriced TIME CUBE!
If it wasn't for this book being basically just an advertisement for the author's products and website it wouldn't be so bad. However her saying time cube every 5 minutes gets old. Her reasoning is that using a phone's timer will distract you. While ignoring stop, analog, digital, and smart watches, or even an hourglass. Nope, none of those are adequate, you have to buy her overpriced TIME CUBE!
January 22, 2023
A little much for me. The digital declutter was not helpful. However… it’s a long listen and motivating as it is oh so sensible and not as self conscious as other house-cleaning books… but I swear.. I’m just hoping one of these books helps me clean my microwave better… this one doesn’t.
July 31, 2026
Ok so hear me out. I have two reviews for this book: without the time cubes and with the time cubes.
Without the Time Cubes: This book was quite helpful. It divides decluttering into different areas, like the kitchen, garage, storage, photos, etc. I felt I learned a lot. It gave me a new way to think about a junk drawer (you shouldn't have a junk drawer), how to think about sentimental items (why have them if you're never going to see them), and technology (tech changes so fast -- once you're done with something, donate it so someone else can get use out of it before it expires). It convinced me how much happier my life would be if I declutter, and it got me motivated to do so. I'm slowly working through my items and have gotten most inboxes down to manageable levels. Goal for the end of the summer is to go through my childhood bedroom. Yay me! So for this section, I'd give it 3 or even 4 out of 5 stars. It was good.
With the Time Cubes: I hate the flipping time cubes. When they first appeared in the discussion (an alternative to simply using a timer on one's phone to time one's decluttering without being distracted by text messages), I thought it was interesting but not for me. It kind of felt like more clutter.... buying yet another item that one didn't really need and may not use all that much, but hey maybe it works for some people and that's ok. And I get the author needs to make money and plug her products, so ok. Whatever. Time cube is mentioned (as are "cute" containers labeled sell, donate, trash, etc). I will not be buying that. We can move on.
Except we can't move on, because the time cube will be plugged at least once per chapters, and sometimes multiple times per chapter. I get that this book is meant to either be read front to back or just in pieces, but bloody hell I had had eNOUGH of the time cube by about page 50, likely earlier. My poor mother had to listen to me complain about the time cube numerous times. I even considered buying the book for a family member but crossing out each mention of the time cube to save them the hassle I had to endure. The frequent mentions of the time cube and other of the author's products made the book feel like a walking advertisement instead of a how to guide on decluttering. Every time my eyes crossed the words time cube, I wanted to throw the book across the room, but could not do so because I was reading it on my iPad and did not want to damage my tech device and turn it into clutter. So the time cube sections were 0/5 -- I did not like them at all. Considered DNF-ing the book.
Which leaves me with giving a 2/5 stars, aligning with Goodread's "it was ok" category. Because ok seems like the happy middle between the helpful sections and the time cube sections. I'm sure others will read this book and not feel nearly the level of annoyance I did at the time cubes. I will also say there was a good amount of repetition, and some parts had too much detail. I think a good edit could cut at least 50 pages from the book, and that would boost my rating.
Would I recommend? Sure. But be prepared for the time cubes.
Without the Time Cubes: This book was quite helpful. It divides decluttering into different areas, like the kitchen, garage, storage, photos, etc. I felt I learned a lot. It gave me a new way to think about a junk drawer (you shouldn't have a junk drawer), how to think about sentimental items (why have them if you're never going to see them), and technology (tech changes so fast -- once you're done with something, donate it so someone else can get use out of it before it expires). It convinced me how much happier my life would be if I declutter, and it got me motivated to do so. I'm slowly working through my items and have gotten most inboxes down to manageable levels. Goal for the end of the summer is to go through my childhood bedroom. Yay me! So for this section, I'd give it 3 or even 4 out of 5 stars. It was good.
With the Time Cubes: I hate the flipping time cubes. When they first appeared in the discussion (an alternative to simply using a timer on one's phone to time one's decluttering without being distracted by text messages), I thought it was interesting but not for me. It kind of felt like more clutter.... buying yet another item that one didn't really need and may not use all that much, but hey maybe it works for some people and that's ok. And I get the author needs to make money and plug her products, so ok. Whatever. Time cube is mentioned (as are "cute" containers labeled sell, donate, trash, etc). I will not be buying that. We can move on.
Except we can't move on, because the time cube will be plugged at least once per chapters, and sometimes multiple times per chapter. I get that this book is meant to either be read front to back or just in pieces, but bloody hell I had had eNOUGH of the time cube by about page 50, likely earlier. My poor mother had to listen to me complain about the time cube numerous times. I even considered buying the book for a family member but crossing out each mention of the time cube to save them the hassle I had to endure. The frequent mentions of the time cube and other of the author's products made the book feel like a walking advertisement instead of a how to guide on decluttering. Every time my eyes crossed the words time cube, I wanted to throw the book across the room, but could not do so because I was reading it on my iPad and did not want to damage my tech device and turn it into clutter. So the time cube sections were 0/5 -- I did not like them at all. Considered DNF-ing the book.
Which leaves me with giving a 2/5 stars, aligning with Goodread's "it was ok" category. Because ok seems like the happy middle between the helpful sections and the time cube sections. I'm sure others will read this book and not feel nearly the level of annoyance I did at the time cubes. I will also say there was a good amount of repetition, and some parts had too much detail. I think a good edit could cut at least 50 pages from the book, and that would boost my rating.
Would I recommend? Sure. But be prepared for the time cubes.
December 24, 2024
I met a very successful young man last year who had an enviable client list for whom he was doing amazing work. He hung out with people who had known Mother Theresa. People who had been nominated for Nobel Peace Prizes. I got home that day, stood in my garage and thought, "Some people are taking life by the horns and doing impressive things. I'd like to do that. But first, I REALLY just want to get a car in the garage." Will it ever happen? How long, Lord? How long?
Turns out that's Chapter 10.
After studying philosophy and theology for several years now, it's painful to admit that few books short of The Good Book have come close to impacting me at the heart level like Decluttering For Dummies.
Nonetheless - unpacking the emotional reasons behind clutter? Offering solid thinking on what to do with stuff you don't need, use or even want but refuse to get rid of? That's gold.
Looking back two generations in my family, it's apparently hereditary. Everyone has piles of stuff in their house that weigh them down. They talk about tackling it but never do. Is this what life is? Endlessly adding more to the piles until you find yourself too old to do anything about it even if you had the inclination?
I hope not.
I didn't even mind Jane Stoller hocking her own products. She openly admits you could do just as well to use your cellphone rather than buy her "Time Cube" - although she ironically falls short of admitting that said cube will actually be one more thing adding to the clutter in your home. But it was still a soft sell and may genuinely help some people who would all too easily be tempted to let doomscrolling on their cell interfere with decluttering.
Speaking of which - MENTAL CLUTTER. It's a thing. I knew it but I didn't know it. She put it into words simple enough for me to get. God bless her for that.
I could go on, but I need to take out the trash. I couldn't be more excited.
Turns out that's Chapter 10.
After studying philosophy and theology for several years now, it's painful to admit that few books short of The Good Book have come close to impacting me at the heart level like Decluttering For Dummies.
Nonetheless - unpacking the emotional reasons behind clutter? Offering solid thinking on what to do with stuff you don't need, use or even want but refuse to get rid of? That's gold.
Looking back two generations in my family, it's apparently hereditary. Everyone has piles of stuff in their house that weigh them down. They talk about tackling it but never do. Is this what life is? Endlessly adding more to the piles until you find yourself too old to do anything about it even if you had the inclination?
I hope not.
I didn't even mind Jane Stoller hocking her own products. She openly admits you could do just as well to use your cellphone rather than buy her "Time Cube" - although she ironically falls short of admitting that said cube will actually be one more thing adding to the clutter in your home. But it was still a soft sell and may genuinely help some people who would all too easily be tempted to let doomscrolling on their cell interfere with decluttering.
Speaking of which - MENTAL CLUTTER. It's a thing. I knew it but I didn't know it. She put it into words simple enough for me to get. God bless her for that.
I could go on, but I need to take out the trash. I couldn't be more excited.
June 9, 2023
The book did not meet my expectations of a ‘for dummies’ book. Her area of expertise is organizing. Well organized areas are low clutter.
If I am decluttering I don’t want to be told multiple times, the author has great tools for me to buy. If you wish to read this book, I recommend checking it out from the library.
Since you are still reading, I believe the book would have benefited from a second author for review and one who understands why people clutter. Definitions were given for specific types of cluttering behavior. Solid explanations of how to change such behavior were not obvious.
The author is a minimalist for a number of items. One exception is fashion. Her intention isn’t bad. One of her more solid areas is workspace organizing and management.
If I ever visit her house, I know how to find her personal and valuable possessions. This is based on her labeling advice.
If I am decluttering I don’t want to be told multiple times, the author has great tools for me to buy. If you wish to read this book, I recommend checking it out from the library.
Since you are still reading, I believe the book would have benefited from a second author for review and one who understands why people clutter. Definitions were given for specific types of cluttering behavior. Solid explanations of how to change such behavior were not obvious.
The author is a minimalist for a number of items. One exception is fashion. Her intention isn’t bad. One of her more solid areas is workspace organizing and management.
If I ever visit her house, I know how to find her personal and valuable possessions. This is based on her labeling advice.
February 26, 2024
Basically all the advice boils down to "don't keep things you don't use." I found a lot of the advice to be a bit tone deaf and not aware that money is an issue for some people. For example: you don't need to keep a lot of cups for parties because you can rent if you do throw a party. Yeah, unless money is an issue. Also it kinda acted like the default was to try to get rid of as much stuff as possible, it was a little odd. Other decluttering books are more like "don't keep stuff you don't need and don't have room for and find ways to make the best use of the space you have." But this book was more like "purge everything unless you can absolutely guarantee you're going to use it within the week."
March 15, 2024
Overall, the book was super basic and self promoting. I recommend anything by Dana K. White instead.
This book is not worthy of the For Dummies title.
The author has inconsistencies throughout the book. She says not to buy boxes or bins and then recommends purchasing boxes (they're canvas baskets with the words donate/keep) from her website. Those are over $50, by the way! She likes tell readers to buy her time cube too. 🙄
She also directs readers to her website over and over as if she is thee expert on decluttering. I'm truly baffled that she got this contact.
This book is not worthy of the For Dummies title.
The author has inconsistencies throughout the book. She says not to buy boxes or bins and then recommends purchasing boxes (they're canvas baskets with the words donate/keep) from her website. Those are over $50, by the way! She likes tell readers to buy her time cube too. 🙄
She also directs readers to her website over and over as if she is thee expert on decluttering. I'm truly baffled that she got this contact.
January 4, 2023
Prepare to see/hear some of the same messages repeated multiple times throughout the book. I read the entire book, although much of it didn’t provide much useful information for me, especially the sections devoted to clothes and makeup. I was pleased with her emphasis on sustainability, yet found it interesting that she promotes her website for the purchase of decluttering products. Digital decluttering is discussed near the end of the book.
February 1, 2026
Ooph! I am hoping this gets better but, the typos in it are making this a hard sell for me. Did the editor even read this? To have this many typos in a Dummies book really discredits the information for me. That is just the grammar freak, Karen-side of myself, I'm sure. If you are anything like me, tread lightly.
July 3, 2026
I have a house full of stuff and a office out of space so i was thinking ”this is the book” full of tips.
But i got 100 page before drop out i was more like all this selfhelps book that was analysis my mental problems.
Maby this is perfect for som people with problems but i was looking for a more practical book about declutter and get organised.
But i got 100 page before drop out i was more like all this selfhelps book that was analysis my mental problems.
Maby this is perfect for som people with problems but i was looking for a more practical book about declutter and get organised.
June 12, 2020
I can see this for certain types of people but it doesn’t work well for me. It is well organized and I did like some of the digital solutions which other books tend not to have if they are more than 2 years old.
June 3, 2021
Good textbook for people who have NO CLUE how to get rid of stuff and want to organize their lives.
Good to keep as a reference book and for inspiration and basic instructions.
At times can be meandering but it’s still a good starter book.
Good to keep as a reference book and for inspiration and basic instructions.
At times can be meandering but it’s still a good starter book.
March 23, 2024
There were some good tips in here and it was an ok book, but I found it hard to finish. 😬 I actually had to make myself finish it. It was a bit repetitive and drawn out for my taste, but maybe someone else could find it more motivating.
January 5, 2025
I've never seen a Dummies book (and I have read many) so blatantly used as a vehicle to sell the author's products. That, and some questionable advice (mostly in the digital clutter realm) makes this a dud.
May 27, 2025
Solid advice, but use a text version if you can. Unfortunately, the author reads it herself and like so many writers before her, she falls into some repetitive vocal melodies that many professional readers would have known how to avoid.
Sound decluttering and sorting advice, nonetheless.
Sound decluttering and sorting advice, nonetheless.
June 11, 2020
Like all books in this category, some good tips. Best: importance of decluttering as habit, esp for electronic resources. DPL ebook via Libby
March 30, 2023
Very helpful! I listened to this one and there were so many great tips.
January 20, 2024
Very helpful book filled with useful, actionable steps for reducing clutter. I like that it encompasses both physical and digital clutter!
February 22, 2024
The first two chapters were good but then the rest of the book itself was clutter! It was very repetitive.
October 5, 2024
Some useful tips. I mostly read this for motivation. Other books are more helpful so this is more of a general overview if you need a refresher.
January 6, 2025
Ugh, no how to's. Very vague nothing that can actually help someone declutter.
March 21, 2025
I guess I am not as big a dummy as I thought. Nothing really new here, but some good reminders to get rid of what you don't need or use.
Common sense is not common, apparently.
Common sense is not common, apparently.
January 21, 2026
Identify all clutter that is stealing your energy. Plan a time to go through all the things you really need. Plan time for decluttering sessions. Move items.
March 23, 2026
well we will just have to see what I can implement from the book! lolol
March 18, 2022
Quick and easy book full of tips to get lots of kinds of decluttering projects done, or all of them! How to start, pause, finish various issue areas. Very useful and step by step with bullet lists for ideas. A tool for the job
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews