Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps to Simplifying Your Space

This book has literally changed my life. There are practical, step-by-step how-to instructions on how to get rid of things. It's great for those of us who grew up in and personally struggle with clutter. I also love the spiritual connection and scripture references that deal with clutter from the heart of the matter. Very easy read with a little Gospel and humor worked in. The house already looks considerable better and less full!!!

OMG this book is so relatable. I am on a mission to declutter my townhouse. My downfall is Amazon shopping is too easy, and of course I like to stock up at Costco. I have found myself with too much stuff crammed in the closet and drawers. And piles of stuff to sell on eBay. Of course the eBay piles probably has been sitting in my dining room for say 2 years now? And oh, do I ever save clothes cause I’m going to lose 20 pounds. Snort. So my house (tiny 2 bedroom townhouse) with all my clutter is too much of a burden to clean. And unorgannized to point of not being able to find something when I need it. Hence as the author notes, I too am guilty of just buying another. Ok, yes it’s nice to be able to just go buy another. But I’ve been leaning towards some form of simple minalistic lifestyle, death-cleaning (you know don’t want someone else to have to get rid of all my crap I don’t need) and the most important - saving for retirement! I want to retire. My life crap is holding me back. Not only is it clutter that I have to store, it’s money I’m spending that probably isn’t necessary.ok I can do without the very few religious verses - but easy to skip over those there really aren’t that many :-)Highly recommend this book (and I very rarely review things!)

Kathi Lipp has amazing instincts about the emotional issues surrounding people’s efforts to get organized. She is extremely sympathetic, and her Christian viewpoint might be particularly comforting and empowering to women of faith. And she’s just plain sensible: her ideas are easy to understand, and gentle to try to implement. But she isn’t, to the best of my knowledge, a Professional Organizer, and so she doesn’t go far enough in her counsel. Ms. Lipp’s ideas aren’t easily adapted to “unemotional” issues: what if ADD is a root cause of someone’s disorganization, or being a highly visual thinker, or illness, divorce, multiple moves…? Each of these “actions” has emotional impact, but different solutions. And I wish she’d go farther in other aspects of her work as well: for example, I wish she’d given her audience the list of the organizing books she may have studied, so they could explore other approaches and techniques. Gail Blanke wrote “Throw Out Fifty Things,” which may have inspired one of Ms. Lipp’s chapters. Cindy Glovinsky wrote “Making Peace with the Things in Your Life,” a wonderful complement to Ms. Lipp’s work. I intend to get Ms. Lipp’s “The Get Yourself Organized Project.” I think I’m going to enjoy it as much as I enjoyed “Clutter Free.” But I hope her readers will seek out multiple perspectives.Lauren Williams, Certified Professional Oganizer(R), Owner, Casual Uncluttering LLC, Woodinville, WA, USA

“I might need it” or “It was on sale” or …. I’ve bought many “organization books” but this was about not cluttering your home or purchasing excess to begin with… the mind games those of us deal with for various reasons that get us to the point of purchasing when we shouldn’t or not letting go when we should. It’s insane the things I’ve held on to because I was scared I would need them or not have enough… emotional traps that have caused more misery than good. Now, I’m letting go to enjoy the present. 😊

Clutter Free offers many unique and helpful ways to eliminate stuff. The first three sections of the book explore the costs of clutter, why we buy stuff, and why we keep stuff. This helps us understand our reasons and motivations in buying and keeping stuff and thus helps us change. Part four tells us how to get rid of stuff. This section gives clear and clever ideas about how to “purge” and let go of stuff. The book is well written, full of examples of clutter and their solutions by the author and by several of her friends. Two appendices detail the methods used for easy reference and one gives a list of clothes that will fit in a carry on for a lengthy trip to Europe. I will refer to this book and reread it as I simplify. Her three questions will guide me: Do I currently use it? Do I really love it? And Would I buy it again? Also she cites a WWII motto that will be helpful to remember: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” And don’t miss a list (and a chapter) called fifty things to get rid of today.

I LOVED THIS BOOK AND I NEEDED THIS BOOK!!! I thank God. It just really addresses your mindset about things. I have tried to de-clutter before and have not been successful and able to maintain it. With this book, I KNOW that clutter IS over, because the mindset has changed to the Glory of God. No more "just in case" clutter building and all of the other excuses we use to keep CRAP!!! To God Be ALL The Glory. And God BLESS Kathi Lipp!!!

This book helps me understand y the piles I have all around my house drive me crazy BUT I don’t seem to do much to get rid of them and cleaning has become a nightmare. For a while I was more at rest and comfortable at work then at home cuz of the clutter and disorder of my home. Yet I seemed to b unable to take the needed steps to “clean up”. I have begun to take steps to begin to let go of some stuff and have begun to clean up. this book is the reason y.

The basic principles described are actually all very sound. Kathi Lipp explores both the emotional AND practical reasons we accumulate and keep 'stuff', as well as practical approaches to get rid of it - and keep it away. From this perspective I've definitely found her ideas useful.However the book can also be very irritating.It seems squarely targeted at women, and in particular (from my male, middle-aged British perspective), American suburban Moms. At best this is annoying, at worst it becomes offensively sexist - women accumulate pretty clothes and makeup whilst men accumulate sports equipment and gadgets. And it sounds like only women, in Kathi Lipp's world, keep clothes in the hope they'll one day be slimmer and fit back in them.If this incessant female viewpoint will wind you up then skip this book.Similarly the author is overtly religious, to the extent that decluttering allows one to become the person that God intended. There's regular (though not frequent, really) reference to prayer as a guide to what to keep and such.Again, if that will really bug you then don't bother.And the last gripe is just the folksy style of writing. If you can bear to hear tips on how to resist just the cutest little a-line dress you ever did see in your life, or how to cope that we friend we all have who bakes just the most delicious cookies you ever did taste then you'll be ok. If that aggravates you...So... good ideas distracted with folksy, sexist, godly gubbins.

I bought the Kindle edition but would have preferred the book for cross reference. A good book giving some useful advice. Would definitely recommend it. It makes you feel you are not the only one who has clutter,gives sensible advice on what to do.

Marred by a constant stream of religious claptrap.

This book is well written and easy to read and follow. The advice is sound. My clutter is leaving my home and life. I very much enjoyed this book and will recommend it to family and friends.

This book spoke to me in so many ways - I am so glad I bought it and read it. I have started to put Kathi's words and processes into action and am amazed at how much better I feel!