Success Stories Archives | De-clutter Me!

Clearing Office Clutter and a Kitty “at the Beach”

Posted on April 9, 2021April 5, 2021 by Ellen Gurwitz

Anja and I worked in the office/library. We cleared the floor, tossing some items, recycling others, and adding others to shelves. The kitty was so pleased with the room’s transformation that the sun streaming in through the window made it feel like the beach. Aw…

The clutter cleared, the kitty just had to lie in the sun "at the beach!" — After

Next, we worked on a tall bookcase. Again, we tossed some items, and consolidated others. The result – better organization, and even some empty space! That can be especially restful for the eyes.

A bookcase before we cleared its cluttered shelves — Before

About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.

Closet, Success Stories

Clearing Linen Closet Clutter!

Posted on April 9, 2021April 26, 2021 by Ellen Gurwitz

Often seen – a linen closet, crammed full, so much so that it’s hard to see what it holds.

Everything was pulled out and refolded. A couple of college alumni association stadium blankets went up top, with other blankets. A number of pillow cases went together. Three big down comforters were put back in, with their folds facing out, to minimize “visual noise.”

Now, the family could see everything in the closet and pull out whatever might be needed for a comfortable and cozy night’s sleep!

"A cluttered linen closet before we cleared it — Before

Closet, Office, Success Stories

Touching Everything in the Office Closet

Posted on April 7, 2021April 5, 2021 by Ellen Gurwitz

Nancy wrote, asking for some help. Would I be available to clear clutter in her office closet? Of course!

As always, I suggested that we start in one corner, and work our way around, top-to-bottom. One goal of hers – to make office supply items like rubber bands and post-it notes easily accessible, so that it would be easy to replenish those supplies in her desk. She also wanted to “touch every item,” to be sure if it was a “keeper” or not.

We did exactly that, also discussing “what to put where.” Nancy is relatively short, and I wanted to avoid her having to use a step stool too much. (I’m also short, though taller than she is, and I don’t like having to “streeetch” to reach top shelves.)

Office closet shelves before we cleared them — Before

Shelves organized with items easier to reach — After

When we finished, Nancy was relieved. Success!

Bathroom, Closet, Success Stories

A Bathroom Closet That Could Use Some Attention

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Ellen Gurwitz

A bathroom closet in Ann’s house could use some attention. Crammed onto the two top shelves were sheets and towels used on a sailboat she no longer owned, plus a variety of beach towels. Lower shelves held smaller towels and wash cloths, a collection of hotel and other toiletries, a hair dryer, neck braces, a heating pad, and other supplies for a disabled daughter, plus rubber workout bands, facial tissues, and toilet paper.

As ever, working top to bottom, the first task was to re-fold all of the sheets and towels. They were returned to the top two shelves, with their folds showing. It’s a subtle, though powerful, thing to do. It eliminates (what another client called) “visual noise.” More simply put, it just looks neater.

Shelves with towels and sheets before better folding — Before

Towels and sheets folded better. Easier on the eyes! — After

Next, the smaller towels and wash cloths were straightened. Toiletries were organized and placed into two containers already there. The hair dryer, rubber workout bands and health supplies for her daughter went into plastic bags. The neck braces were stood up in the back, where they could be seen easily, with the heating pad nearby. The facial tissues and toilet paper remained on the floor, also easily seen and reached.

Towels, toiletries, and more before their clutter was cleared — Before

Towels, toiletries, and more - organized! — After

At the end, everything was organized and easily reached. Attention paid!

Office, Success Stories

Bearing Witness as His Lifeguard

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Ellen Gurwitz

John is transforming an upstairs room in his house. It’s full of papers from various work aspects of his life. The goal is to turn it into a bedroom for staging, as he prepares to sell the house.

We are going through many, many papers. Some of it is difficult, and emotionally tough, going for him. At one point, he said that I’m his lifeguard. That’s one of the greatest compliments I’ve gotten during my 7+ years of working as a professional organizer. I also love the water, so it resonates on that level, too.

John is also working hard at parting with some other objects that are emotionally draining. One is a painting, showing the large back yard behind his house. It was a gift from someone who no longer is in his life. He looked stressed as we discussed it. He wants the memory of the yard. My lifeguard’s suggestion – take some photos of it, and donate the painting. His frown softened into a smile.

This is some of the most deeply satisfying work I’ve done since establishing
De-clutter Me! It’s not about me, though very much is about supporting clients as we work through whatever brought us together. In this case, it’s to help John as he leaves behind some difficult reminders. More accurately, some are going into the wood stove and providing heat! Benefits abound!

Pantry, Success Stories

More Birthday Present!

Posted on October 19, 2020March 15, 2021 by Ellen Gurwitz

Mary’s birthday present was three sessions with De-clutter Me! What would be next? The pantry!

We spent our second session together on some of the shelves, tossing some foods past their “sell by dates,” and rearranged others, so that “like would be with like.” We consolidated Mary’s many candle supplies. A number of times, she asked how I would group items. The consistent answer – what would work for her, according to how her mind works, not mine.

In our third birthday present session, we finished the shelves, then turned our attention to the pantry counter. At the back, we removed the wok, which was hardly used. We decreased the water bottle stash, setting some aside to toss or donate. We placed in a bowl a small drill that Mary’s husband often uses.

Pantry counters and floor before we cleared their clutter — Before

Clutter-free pantry floor and counter — After

Moving along, we consolidated cookbooks, adding some from a lower shelf. We pulled some plastic bags from mostly-empty boxes, setting them aside to store with other bags and wraps. We put new plastic containers with others in an upper cupboard, and likewise found new homes for other items.

The crowded and cluttered pantry counter — Before

Almost done, we focused on the last section of pantry counter. As with its other parts, we placed some items with similar others elsewhere. The “ginormous” box of cereal went to the side wall, with Mary vowing that she would never buy such a big box again. Revealed – a charming “Boulangerie” (Bakery) sign, a nice tribute to Mary’s former work as a school French teacher. I suggested that she might hang it on the opposite wall, where she would see and enjoy it more.

As we finished, we briefly discussed wall storage for the boxes of single serving coffee, “visual noise” currently taking up floor space. It might be possible to find a suitable rack or shelving that wouldn’t be too deep, while maintaining access to the cupboard next to the wall. Mary said that she would look online.

In the end, Mary was surprised that we accomplished all that she hoped. The pantry’s clutter cleared, it was more organized, its contents much easier to see and find. She happily smiled. A birthday present success!

Closet, Success Stories

A Birthday Present!

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Ellen Gurwitz

Kate emailed from Massachusetts. She had worked with a professional organizer there. She and her brother wanted to give their mother similar help for her birthday. Would I be available? We talked on the phone, she sent a check and, soon, I arrived at their parents’ lovely home.

Mary had admitted to being a bit nervous, but soon she was smiling and laughing as we worked on a hallway closet. She had emptied some of its contents onto the floor and the stairs.

The hallway floor, with items from the closet — Before

Explaining my professional organizer’s tried-and-true method of working top-to-bottom, we first cleared the closet’s shelf. There were some objects wrapped in paper. What were they? We soon discovered that they were candles. We set them aside for her local son and his family. We pulled other items to discard or donate. What was left? Empty space! How rare! With time, some items might “migrate” there but, for the moment, there was space for the eyes to rest.

Closet shelf clutter before we cleared it — Before

Closet shelf clutter cleared with empty space available! — After

Next, to the other side of the shelf. We emptied most of it, placing just a few things there, including a pretty hat box. More empty space! Below it, we hung many of Mary’s tote bags. (She has a lifetime supply.) We set some aside for donation and a few to leave in her car for grocery shopping. That cleared much of the floor space.

A cluttered shelf before we cleared it — Before

More clutter cleared, and more empty space! — After

We looked online for boot and shoe trays for the closet floor, which she would add later.

When we were done, the floor and stairs were cleared.

The hallway floor and stairs after we cleared their clutter — After

What might be next? Mary wasn’t sure yet, but she was pleased with the first part of her children’s birthday present.

Closet, Success Stories

A Shared Closet Cleared

Posted on September 2, 2020September 2, 2020 by Ellen Gurwitz

Etienne and Paul share a closet, which could present some challenges. She and I decided to make the space work better for both of them.

We started with Paul’s folded clothes on a shelf. We pulled out some items, refolded, and put them back. I suggested placing everything with the fold facing out. It’s a subtle, though powerful, thing to do, reducing “visual noise.” It looked neater and there was more storage room, if needed.

A closet shelf before we cleared its clutter and reorganized it — Before

Shelf cluttered cleared, with more space available — After

Next, we worked on Etienne’s shelf, with relatively little already on it. Even so, folding and clearing clutter made more space available.

A closet shelf, before we cleared its clutter — Before

Shelf clutter cleared, with more space available — After

Below the shelf, the rod holding Etienne’s other clothes could use some attention. We consolidated dresses and slacks and, as much as possible, hung long items together.

Etienne's hanging clothes before we rearranged them — Before

Hanging clothes much easier to see and choose! — After

Below, we pulled everything out, off the closet floor, hanging some items and placing shoes in the cubbie holes to the left.

A cleared closet floor, with "visual noise" gone — After

With a bit of time left over, we cleared the top of Etienne’s dresser. It would be much nicer to look at from across the room, in bed. Relaxing and restful, too!

The dresser before we cleared its clutter — Before

Clutter cleared from the dresser top — After

Mud Room, Success Stories

Funny, It Doesn’t Look Like a Mud Room

Posted on August 19, 2020August 20, 2020 by Ellen Gurwitz

Etienne and I decided to tackle the mud room, which doesn’t really look like one. It IS the room by the front door, but is much bigger than most of that description, even with room for a rowing machine, which wasn’t being used for exercise.

The room has a couple of closets and some shelves between them. First, her husband’s closet. Paul enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including golf, gardening, and skiing. We put related items in bins on the top shelf, “neatened” the shirts, vests and jackets, and arranged the shoes at the bottom.

A cluttered closet before we cleared it — Before

Next, we moved to the right. Several shelves held bins, including one that was overflowing, back packs, and a ski bag. Working top-to-bottom, we sorted through the two bins, setting aside some items for the trash, or to go elsewhere in the house. We left the top shelf mostly empty – a rarity! On the second shelf, the ski bag and, below it, an open bin, so the family can easily pull out items often used. Below it, another bin with less-often-used items, with some shoes on top. At the bottom, more shoes.

Shelves before we cleared their clutter — Before

Much more useful shelves with clutter cleared — After

Moving to the right again, we worked on the other closet. We pulled beach towels from the top shelf and set them aside, as they would be used soon. We placed a sports duffel bag there instead. We “neatened” the jackets hanging there and the shoes below. Easy-peasy!

Closet clutter cleared, with more room to use — After

We discussed the rowing machine across the room. It had become a storage dumping ground. Would anyone use it if it were available? While Etienne wasn’t sure, we made it more inviting. We emptied it, turned it around to face a TV on a butcher block table, and placed a fan nearby.

A rowing machine used as storage space — Before

A rowing machine now ready to be used! — After

When we were done, Etienne smiled so brightly! Success!

Kitchen, Success Stories

“How Often Do You Use…?”

Posted on August 11, 2020 by Ellen Gurwitz

Jim wants his house to look minimalist. As part of the project, we started work on his kitchen cupboards. We began to the right of the stove. As I would repeatedly ask, how often did he use various food products? Coffee? Every day. Tea? Also often.

A cupboard before we cleared its clutter — Before

We organized it, so that coffee was on the bottom shelf, tea and honey on the second shelf. On the top – nothing, after we pulled down a kitchen towel. No doubt, the shelf will be used but, for the meantime, it was empty.

A cleared cupboard with a free shelf! — After

Next, we focused on the cupboard above the stove. It might store things not used a lot, since reaching over a hot stove could pose a potential safety concern. We tossed spices past their “sell by” dates, and also removed a couple of cookbooks that had migrated there.

I pointed out the wasted space above the spices. We’d discussed this before so, almost magically, Jim pulled from another cupboard a shelf extender I’d recommended, then he recently bought. We put soups and spices together. There was room for more of the same.

Before a cupboard's clutter was cleared — Before

A cleared cupboard with room for more soups, spices, etc.! — After

We moved left, where the cupboard held several boxes of pasta, sauce, and popcorn. It all came out, and we organized it.

Another cupboard before we cleared its clutter — Before

Now, on the bottom shelf, we put the pastas and sauce together, with some canned goods on the second shelf, and popcorn on top. As with the other cupboards, there was room to spare.

Yet another organized cupboard, with more room to spare! — After

What might be next? There was another cupboard to organize, and some drawers, too. Onward!