I work out of an office. Most days, it’s just me. However, from time to time, I host a few others.
For that reason, I keep a set of four coffee mugs around. I drink coffee most of the day when I’m alone. And if there’s a meeting happening, I’m certainly brewing a fresh pot for anyone who wants it.
Yesterday, I noticed something out of the ordinary, despite working alone all week, all four of the coffee mugs were out of the cabinet.
One was next to me with fresh coffee, two were dirty in the sink, and the fourth was sitting on the counter, next to the sink.
It has been a couple busy days—the first week of the Uncluttered Course always requires a significant amount of my energy. And we just started up this Tuesday. Because my days have been full, I’ve fallen into a common trap:
I didn’t need to wash my coffee mug because there was a clean one still in the cabinet, so I just left it out dirty.
We do this all the time.
When life is not busy, or my attention is not divided, it only takes a few short seconds to hand wash my coffee mug and put it away before I leave the office. So I often do.
But during this busy week, when my attention was divided, and there were other things on my agenda, it became too easy to leave the cleaning task undone—even though it would have only taken a few seconds.
This is how our excess possessions lead to a messy home. When we have more than we need, there is less incentive to clean up along the way. And when our attention is pulled from one thing to another, this excess gets left out all too often.
Much of the mess in our home is a result of having too much stuff.
Just think of the different ways this plays out in our homes:
• We leave dirty dishes in our sink because we can grab a new one from the cabinet.
• We don’t clean our pots and pans or spatulas because it’s easy to grab a different one.
• We leave out the blanket in the living room because there’s another one in the bedroom.
• Our dirty clothes piles grow taller and taller as long as there’s something clean to wear in the closet.
• Our kids leave their toys out, all over the house, because there’s always another one they haven’t played with yet.
• Rubber bands and pens and paper clips collect in our junk drawer—way more than we’ll ever use.
• Coats gather by the backdoor because everyone in the house is wearing a different one today.
• Books and magazines and newspapers pile up on our counter because there’s always a new one to read.
• Phone charger cords can be seen in every room of the house because there’s always another one in the room we are heading to.
• Our linen closet shelves fill up with towels and sheets because there are so many that rarely get used.
• And the list goes on and on: tools, board games, yarn, shoes, sporting equipment, DVDs, video game supplies, purses…
For me, in this specific scenario, it didn’t take long to wash and dry my coffee mugs and put them back where they belong—eliminating the small mess.
But in our homes, it’s a different story.
The average American home has over 300,000 items inside of it. That’s a whole lot of excess… and a lot of mess because of it.
If your house is messy all the time, maybe you’ve got too much stuff inside it. Owning less will help you keep it clean, among other benefits.
Marci says
Do you count fabric by the yard or by the scrap ? Lol
Amanda says
I don’t like to use disposable plates. I have 14 plates and we have a monthly dinner group. We use them all and wash them and visit afterwards. This isn’t clutter for me. Paperwork and junk mail gets me though!
Sharon says
Couldn’t agree more, we all do it. Since the kids have left home, I’m going back and re-evaluating what we need. We dont need 10 mugs or 6 plates, it creates mess and more washing up. Started last week and already things are easier to clean, work surfaces are wiped down in a couple of minutes and I feel calmer x
Martha says
Absolutely, efforts well earned and rewarded, Sharon, and I do enjoy every minutes of it, now my 3 kids are back only for the Holidays!
Carol says
We buy souvenir mugs on our trips, instead of two this past trip my husband purchased one. Next trip I’ll pick out one.?
Natalie says
I don’t consider that clutter! Those are collectibles and it’s a cute hobby that you and your hubby share!
Niki says
My daughter, who joined the military after graduating from high school, has been overseas for 4 years. During that time she has done a lot of traveling! She actually turned me onto the idea of getting ONE cute magnet from each place I visit. I purchased a magnetic wall decoration that I use to show them off in one place! ;)
Meredith Krahling says
I do this too! I have found some cool ones in my travels and it’s usually a great conversation piece for visitors that see them.
Cassandra says
I think this is great! I collect pins. The hard part is just getting ONE :)
Nessa says
How about a souvenir photo of upu, to put in an album?
Sharon says
You are so right we don’t use 1/4 of what we have, it is clutter. Hard to part even tho we don’t use it.
Tina says
A few years ago, while visiting my sister, I helped my adult nephew sort his clothes. I suggested he only keep two or three ripped, stained T shirts and use the rest for rags, repair projects or give them to a shelter. Now my sister says he has a big pile of worn out clothes and underwear. I suggested cutting out rectangles to fit a mop head.
Shirley Pratt says
Joshua, first of all I need to ask how you got into my house!!!????. Wow… that article certainly did convict me of all the “stuff” I have and need to get rid of!! I always joke that I am a boarderline hoarder … I can’t throw magazines away!!!! And I don’t know what to do with them… that’s just one of my issues, if I can get rid of them and not trash them I believe that would be a great beginning for me to get a handle on the other stuff!!! Thank you for sharing this article!!! Now get out of my house???
Lori says
Join your neighborhood Buy Nothing group if you have one! That’s been the #1 way for me to get rid of extra stuff– people will gratefully take the most random stuff, and it’s a lot easier for me to part with things when I know they’re going to be used, not end up being trashed behind the Goodwill. And as a bonus, you can borrow things from other members, which means you won’t feel like you need to buy a rarely used tool, etc.
Pam says
I am the same way. Hate to throw perfectly fine items away. I did a clean out garage sale a year ago after cleaning house and garage. It was all free. I was amazed and happy that almost all was gone.
Nikki says
Your response made my day and put a smile on my face ?
BB says
Joshua, of all the posts I read from you whether via Becoming Minimalist or No Sidebar, this was THE BEST ONE YET! It answered the questions behind the clutter as well as what was the clutter situation. It also showed the logic and the fix to the whole situation, and was not long-winded in the process. Very factual and motivating.
I declutter every single day in whatever I touch, asking ‘Why do I have this?” and “Do I really need this?” as well as in some cases “When was the last time I used this?”
Blessings for your site and your good, common sense on all things clutter-y. =D
TODD DEVORE says
This might be a little odd, but minimalism also affects my creativity. I love photography, and often find taking pictures that are very simple and minimal are often more beautiful and relaxing to look at. Thank you!
Sandra Pinnix says
Todd, I couldn’t agree more! I have a FB friend who is a master photographer and posts one photo on FB each day. Often, it is of nature and always a very serene scene. I find it extremely calming.
Maria Pinto says
Hi Angela,
You are not alone and you are not “Odd”. I just moved into a new apartment with a dishwasher but don’t use it either. Washing dishes with the feel of the water and suds is a form of meditation, and you can control your water usage at the same time.