Ingrid Jansen on Decluttering with Purpose: Reset Your Home & Mind

2025-08-13

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Professional organizer Ingrid Jansen, co-author of Reset Your Home, explains why clutter is more about emotions than “stuff,” why decluttering is a process (not a project), and how to start small—think kitchens, cupboards, and daily resets—to build your “decluttering muscle” over time. In this conversation, we discuss:Process over project: Decluttering is never “done”—as things come in, things must go out. Start in the kitchen: Fewer emotions than books/photos; clear storage first, then put surfaces away. ...

Professional organizer Ingrid Jansen, co-author of Reset Your Home, explains why clutter is more about emotions than “stuff,” why decluttering is a process (not a project), and how to start small—think kitchens, cupboards, and daily resets—to build your “decluttering muscle” over time.

In this conversation, we discuss:

Process over project: Decluttering is never “done”—as things come in, things must go out.
Start in the kitchen: Fewer emotions than books/photos; clear storage first, then put surfaces away.
Daily resets: 10–30 minute habits (dishes, bins, wipe counters, a load of laundry) that prevent weekend pileups.
“If in doubt, keep it”: Build capacity with easy wins; you’ll be ready to let go on a later pass.
Don’t buy more bins: The problem isn’t storage—it’s volume; work with what you have.
Decide by favorites: Pull everything out, match lids, pick what you use and love first; the rest gets easier.
Clutter personalities: From “harassed housekeepers” to “nostalgic knee-deeps”—self-awareness beats shame.
Why this pays off: Less hunting, faster cleaning, smarter grocery runs—time and money saved.

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