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Clutter Control: Putting Your Home on a Diet
Learn how to make the most of available space, set up practical anti-clutter systems, organize hot spot storage and find storage space in places you never dreamed of.
176 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 9, 2010
First of all, it became clear I had to get a handle on clutter issues before I could really use his book Speed Cleaning. That is how I found this book.
Now. Did I love this book because of how badly I needed it, or was it truly amazing in its own right? Either way, I felt it gave me some effective ideas and tools for getting the STUFF of a home more under control. The happy thing is, now it is weeks later, and it seems to be working. I should credit this to the ability this book has to change attitudes about the stuff we hold onto. The book clearly dispels, and sometimes rather bluntly, all of the common arguments: I might need this someday, they don't make it like this anymore, so-and-so gave this to me. Having used all of these arguments myself, I am so happily finding that it feels much, oh so much, better to just let it go.
Almost immediately I put to use the tips on using your hot zone storage effectively. I was storing our extra lightbulbs in a hot zone. Right in the upstairs hallway AND they had a front row seat on that shelf. But how often do we actually need to change a lightbulb? I moved them to a more sensible location. Just with that tip, things are feeling more consolidated, more orderly, and I love that. Yes, you can have a junk drawer, just not one in every room of your house.
Part of the book is dedicated to the tools you can use to organize, specifically your drawers and cupboards. My Container Store shopping list is almost all ready. I have been amazed to find spaces in my home that I can use more effectively.
And then there were the toiletry realizations. I had oodles of mini shampoos and conditioners from hotel stays. Why? Also several regular sized bottles of the like, but only half full. Why? Using things up, and opening up more space has been eye-opening. I'm a little embarrased to confess it. Has anyone else saved things like this irrationally as I have?
I enjoyed the section on clutter as tangible procrastination. My home could be used as the poster child for this phenomenon. Now, I am doing better. I deal with the mail right when it arrives, from the actual writing of the check to the filing away. I strive to deal with the item in my hand, to make whatever decision about it at that very moment, and not clutter my home with temporary holding areas. Holding areas = clutter. It goes where it goes, period. Granted there are still places where I struggle, we are far from "there", but at least now I feel like I have a bright shining light at the end of my cluttery tunnel. :o)
Now. Did I love this book because of how badly I needed it, or was it truly amazing in its own right? Either way, I felt it gave me some effective ideas and tools for getting the STUFF of a home more under control. The happy thing is, now it is weeks later, and it seems to be working. I should credit this to the ability this book has to change attitudes about the stuff we hold onto. The book clearly dispels, and sometimes rather bluntly, all of the common arguments: I might need this someday, they don't make it like this anymore, so-and-so gave this to me. Having used all of these arguments myself, I am so happily finding that it feels much, oh so much, better to just let it go.
Almost immediately I put to use the tips on using your hot zone storage effectively. I was storing our extra lightbulbs in a hot zone. Right in the upstairs hallway AND they had a front row seat on that shelf. But how often do we actually need to change a lightbulb? I moved them to a more sensible location. Just with that tip, things are feeling more consolidated, more orderly, and I love that. Yes, you can have a junk drawer, just not one in every room of your house.
Part of the book is dedicated to the tools you can use to organize, specifically your drawers and cupboards. My Container Store shopping list is almost all ready. I have been amazed to find spaces in my home that I can use more effectively.
And then there were the toiletry realizations. I had oodles of mini shampoos and conditioners from hotel stays. Why? Also several regular sized bottles of the like, but only half full. Why? Using things up, and opening up more space has been eye-opening. I'm a little embarrased to confess it. Has anyone else saved things like this irrationally as I have?
I enjoyed the section on clutter as tangible procrastination. My home could be used as the poster child for this phenomenon. Now, I am doing better. I deal with the mail right when it arrives, from the actual writing of the check to the filing away. I strive to deal with the item in my hand, to make whatever decision about it at that very moment, and not clutter my home with temporary holding areas. Holding areas = clutter. It goes where it goes, period. Granted there are still places where I struggle, we are far from "there", but at least now I feel like I have a bright shining light at the end of my cluttery tunnel. :o)
June 1, 2010
Own.
I found the Jeff Campbell trilogy (or can only fiction be a trilogy?) at the local used bookstore for $2 apiece. His Speed Cleaning is the best how-to cleaning book I've read (sorry, I don't like Aslett), and Clutter Control was good, as well. It is mildly out-of-date, with sections on investing in a cordless phone and organizing VHS & cassette tapes, but the underlying principles are sound.
I've read a lot of organizing & housecleaning books now, and it's been awhile since I've encountered a new idea. I think there aren't any new ideas left for me -- only actually doing the few good ideas each book rephrases and packages differently. Clutter Control includes all the basic decluttering and organizing principles that all the good books on the subject are about, but without any personal story or other superfluous packaging. This is a to-the-point, no-fluff encapsulation of the essentials, obviously written by a man. :) It would be a good one to start with unless you want the female sob stories that most home organization books begin with. This is no-nonsense and no fluff, but not without humor.
I found the Jeff Campbell trilogy (or can only fiction be a trilogy?) at the local used bookstore for $2 apiece. His Speed Cleaning is the best how-to cleaning book I've read (sorry, I don't like Aslett), and Clutter Control was good, as well. It is mildly out-of-date, with sections on investing in a cordless phone and organizing VHS & cassette tapes, but the underlying principles are sound.
I've read a lot of organizing & housecleaning books now, and it's been awhile since I've encountered a new idea. I think there aren't any new ideas left for me -- only actually doing the few good ideas each book rephrases and packages differently. Clutter Control includes all the basic decluttering and organizing principles that all the good books on the subject are about, but without any personal story or other superfluous packaging. This is a to-the-point, no-fluff encapsulation of the essentials, obviously written by a man. :) It would be a good one to start with unless you want the female sob stories that most home organization books begin with. This is no-nonsense and no fluff, but not without humor.
December 1, 2008
My parents gave me this book when I expressed frustration at the clutter in my house. I don't think they took too much of its advice to heart, but then, neither have I. So every once in awhile, I break this book out and try to de-clutter our house. Honestly, I think moving does a better job of making me prioritize what's important and get rid of stuff that isn't. But this is a short book, chock full of good advice, humor and interesting cartoon illustrations. If you can't afford a house organizer, than try this book.
February 15, 2023
I find the need to re-read this every so often, not all at once but in sections as needed, because good clutter-free intentions seem to fade or are forgotten amidst the race of life. There are some portions of advice that wouldn't work for me and I haven't implemented them, but there are also some ingenious hacks--you might call them common sense, if living clutter-free is intuitive to you--but they're tips I hadn't thought of, or at least not enough to put them into practice. Overall, this is a great resource and worth keeping on the shelf (if you can, after thoroughly decluttering!). It's particularly helpful for those of us who are overly sentimental and keep things to "remember people by."
December 30, 2018
Solid advice! Humorously outdated at times, but still worth the short time it took to read.
April 30, 2019
Some good ideas but you can tell the book is from the 90’s. I don’t need to organize my phone books or video tapes.
June 5, 2019
Some good organizing tips in this book to help you on the road to decluttering.
March 21, 2009
Way back in December, I decided it was time for some big changes to happen, including de-cluttering my home. This book seemed to be the perfect guide to get my on my way. Of course, I checked it from the library, because I didn't want to–you guessed it!–add to my clutter.
Most of the big concepts are distilled on the web: gathering boxes and labeling them appropriately, asking yourself hard questions about each item you own, accepting that you have autonomy over an item that was given as a present, etc.
What extras this book offers are a chapter about the "psychology of clutter," which was not as fascinating nor interesting as I expected; and a lot of pretty specific ideas about how to organize your filing cabinet, what cleaning products to keep on hand, etc.
After having read the whole book, I know that there were only a couple of chapters that were valuable to me, but it was a short and easy read, so I didn't mind reading the entire thing to find that out. : )
Most of the big concepts are distilled on the web: gathering boxes and labeling them appropriately, asking yourself hard questions about each item you own, accepting that you have autonomy over an item that was given as a present, etc.
What extras this book offers are a chapter about the "psychology of clutter," which was not as fascinating nor interesting as I expected; and a lot of pretty specific ideas about how to organize your filing cabinet, what cleaning products to keep on hand, etc.
After having read the whole book, I know that there were only a couple of chapters that were valuable to me, but it was a short and easy read, so I didn't mind reading the entire thing to find that out. : )
July 22, 2013
low 3s
a somewhat dated but fairly comprehensive manual on home organization.
clearly DVDs, CDs, and digital filing systems hadn't been invented yet, so large segments of home office and living room organization are dated. and the author is pretty big on selling his own cleaning supplies, so frequent entreaties to buy his stuff were distracting and annoying.
even so, his understanding of the psychology behind clutter, hoarding, and, on the other hand, clean freaks, seems fairly balanced and compassionate.
this read fed my organizing fancy, but it's not amazing enough to have inspired me to, say, clean a closet.
a somewhat dated but fairly comprehensive manual on home organization.
clearly DVDs, CDs, and digital filing systems hadn't been invented yet, so large segments of home office and living room organization are dated. and the author is pretty big on selling his own cleaning supplies, so frequent entreaties to buy his stuff were distracting and annoying.
even so, his understanding of the psychology behind clutter, hoarding, and, on the other hand, clean freaks, seems fairly balanced and compassionate.
this read fed my organizing fancy, but it's not amazing enough to have inspired me to, say, clean a closet.
August 16, 2010
I thought the beginning chapters on the psychological reasons for clutter were the most interesting. The actual how to control clutter was, to me, common sense, but a good reminder of what I should be taking the effort to do.
February 20, 2008
Love Jeff Campbell's approach to cleaning and decluttering. Very helpful and lots of ideas for every type of clutter. It will keep me busy!
July 19, 2008
was a quick read with good info
July 20, 2008
Great inspiration and general guidelines for controling clutter.
July 30, 2009
As how-to books go, this is a nice pep talk. It enabled me to wage some successful battles in my war on clutter.
August 2, 2009
Nothing new here, but if you do not have anything on the subject, lays out the basics well.
November 5, 2012
A simple cover-all-bases guide, with humor.
October 9, 2007
packrats need to read this book. :)
January 12, 2011
It was not helpful to me.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews