The JJs Declutter Podcast

Magazine Moments: 10 Packing Tips for Your Next Vacation s3e10

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2430038/fan_mail/new]  ✈️  S3E10: Magazine Moments: 10 Packing Tips for Your Next Vacation 🧳  Grab your compression cubes and your questionable amount of cords, because Julie and Janis are diving into another Magazine Moments episode!  This time they're tackling a list from Travelers (yes, the insurance folks with the umbrella) on how to pack a suitcase for vacation ... and naturally, they have opinions.  🗒️ Lists Are Life Julie and Janis are both certified list people, and they're not sorry about it. From YMCA camp packing lists to laminated checklists for kids, if it's not written down, it's not happening. Bonus points if grandma gets a copy too.  ⚖️ Know Your Limits (No, Not That Kind) Airline baggage rules changed again, so pay attention to size AND weight ... Janis just bought a luggage scale and hasn't even used it yet. Classic.  🌀 Roll, Fold, or Compress? The great debate: rolling vs. folding vs. Janis's beloved compression cubes and packing envelope (which she will NOT be getting rid of, thank you very much).  Julie's a roller. Janis is a cube evangelist. Somewhere in the middle is a perfectly packed suitcase.  🧴 The 3-1-1 Bag Strikes Again Sunscreen, shampoo, and the eternal question of whether TSA will actually rescind that liquids rule (they will not). Plus: a glitter candle x-ray incident that had security very confused.  👗 Pack Smart, Not Heavy Scarves that double as tops! The "cat suit" color-matching trick! Limiting shoes! Julie and Janis break down how to pack fewer things that do more things.  🛫 The Carry-On Essentials Snacks, a hand fan (for "women of a certain age," Julie says lovingly), and never — NEVER — packing your valuables in checked luggage. TSA can and will cut your lock off.  🎯 This Week's Challenge: Before your next trip, make ONE packing list ... even a basic one ... and see how much smoother your packing day goes.  Report back in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community!   📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abcdeclutterwithjj 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdeclutterwithjj/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity 🖥️ Website: https://www.abcdeclutter.com/ 🎙️ Podcast Website: https://www.thejjsdeclutterpodcast.com/ ✉️ Email: hello@abcdeclutter.com  🏷️ #ABCDeclutter #TheJJsDeclutterPodcast #ClutterCrushersClub #DeclutteringDozen #LETSGOSortingSystem #SmallDoableDoses #DOOMBoxes #KeepItSimpleKeepItIntentional #TravelPackingTips #PackingHacks #SuitcasePacking #TravelOrganization #PackingList #CarryOnEssentials #CompressionCubes #VacationPrep #TravelTips2026 #MagazineMoments #DeclutterYourLife #OrganizingTips #IntentionalLiving #HomeOrganization #SimplifyYourLife #ProgressOverPerfection #MinimalPacking #TravelLight  #DeclutterCommunity #DeclutterWithMe #OrganizingCommunity #ClutterFreeLife   Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!

Magazine Moments: Preparing for the 4th of July ...s3e9

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2430038/fan_mail/new] Magazine Moments: Preparing for the 4th of July This week we're bringing back one of our favorite episodes — because good advice (and good laughs) never go out of style.  Consider it your patriotic prep gift from the JJs! 🎆 Stars, Stripes, and… a Picnic Table You Have to Build Yourself? Independence Day is coming in hot — literally — and the JJs are here to make sure you're ready for it without losing your mind (or your fingers). In this fan-favorite Magazine Moments episode, Julie and Janis dig into a This Old House article on prepping for the 4th of July. Spoiler: they are not building a picnic table from rough-sawn cedar. Hard pass. 🚩 Fly Your Flag Right Before you hang a single piece of bunting, Janis breaks down proper American flag etiquette — because there's more to it than just sticking it in the yard and calling it patriotic.  The JJs also chat about adding gold and silver to your red, white, and blue décor for that extra fireworks-inspired sparkle. ✨ 🪑 Set Up Your Outdoor Space Like a Pro Julie covers how to create an inviting, comfortable gathering space ... think varied seating, shade options, and making sure every single chair is within arm's reach of somewhere to set a drink.  Because no one should be standing there holding a hot dog with nowhere to put their lemonade. 🍔 Grill Talk (Including a Lemon Hack That Will Blow Your Mind) The JJs cover menu planning, food safety, and grill prep — including Janis's game-changing tip for cleaning your grill grates with a lemon on a hot grill. Also: keep your meat and veggies on separate skewers, people.  The pepper-on-fire situation is real, and Julie may or may not be speaking from experience. 🦟 Bug Control, Games & Fireworks Safety Mosquito-repelling herbs, citronella candles, yellow bug lights, and strategic fan placement — the JJs have your bug battle plan covered. Then it's on to classic backyard games (cornhole, giant Jenga, ladder ball, and yes — cribbage), plus an important and heartfelt conversation about fireworks safety, keeping it legal, and being a good neighbor to pets and veterans in your community. 🎇 Your 4th of July Challenge Tell the JJs how YOU celebrate! Share your traditions, your menu, your games — or your most epic fireworks-gone-wrong story — over in the ABC Declutter Facebook Community. They genuinely want to party with you. 🎉 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abcdeclutterwithjj  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdeclutterwithjj/  📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity  🖥️ Website: https://www.abcdeclutter.com/  🎙️ Podcast Website: https://www.thejjsdeclutterpodcast.com/  📧 Email: hello@abcdeclutter.com #4thOfJuly #FourthOfJuly #IndependenceDay #July4th #PatrioticHome #4thOfJulyCelebration #SummerEntertaining #BackyardParty #4thOfJulyDecor #GrillingSeason #BackyardBBQ #4thOfJulyFood #FireworksSafety #SummerGathering #OutdoorEntertaining #HomeOrganization #SimpleLiving #OrganizedHome #HomeDecor #PodcastForWomen #MotivationalPodcast #ClutterFree #MindfulLiving #SummerVibes Happy 4th of July episode drop! 🎆🇺🇸 Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!

Garage Part 2 - Organizing Your Garage s3e8

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2430038/fan_mail/new]  🚗 Your Car Called. It Wants to Come Home.  You did it. You sorted, you purged, you wrestled with the hazardous materials, and you made the tough calls. Now you're standing in your garage wondering, "Okay… now what?"  That's exactly where Part 2 picks up!  Julie and Janis are back to walk you through turning that sorted-but-still-chaotic space into a genuinely functional garage - one where you can find what you need, work on actual projects, and yes, park your car. Revolutionary, we know.   🎯 Start with Your Vision  Before you buy a single shelf, hook, or bin, ask yourself: What do I actually need this garage to do? A woodworker's garage looks nothing like a family-with-three-kids-in-three-sports garage ... and neither is wrong.  Your vision drives every storage decision, so get clear on it first.   📐 The Golden Rule: Go Vertical  Floor space = prime real estate. Walls, rafters, and ceiling mounts are your best friends. This single principle will do more for your garage than any other organizing decision you make.   🔧 Zone-by-Zone Storage Solutions  * Tools & Workbench: Pegboard above the bench (outline each tool so you know what's missing!), clear bins for hardware, and a clear workbench - it's a working surface, not a storage surface. * Gardening: Wall-mounted organizers for long-handled tools, a dedicated shelf or cabinet near the yard door for gloves and small tools. Julie's genius move? A repurposed outdoor mailbox for summer grab-and-go garden supplies. * Sports & Bikes: Wall hooks and ceiling mounts for bikes and large gear. One bin per sport for smaller items - kids can grab and return their own stuff. Sustainable system = actually maintained system. * Seasonal Items: Ceiling and rafter storage for holiday décor, camping gear, and anything you touch a few times a year. * Household Supplies: Dedicated shelving, rotate your stock, and please resist the urge to stockpile five years of paper towels.  (Toilet paper, however, is apparently currency. Janis has sources.)   📦 The Clear Bin Gospel Say it with us: clear bins, specific labels. Not "Holiday" but, "Christmas Ornaments." Not "Sports" but, "Soccer Gear." Opaque cardboard boxes are basically rodent motels. Clear, labeled, right-sized bins (don't go too big ...  trying to lift a 64-gallon bin overhead will not always work) are worth every penny. 🚦 Floor Space & Traffic Flow Keep pathways clear between zones, put frequently-used items at eye level near your entry point, and if parking the car is the goal measure first, store second. Also: pool noodles cut in half are the unsung heroes of garage pipe protection. 🔁 Keeping It That Way A quick 15-minute monthly check-in beats a massive annual overhaul every time. And the new house rule? The garage is not a dumping ground for indecision. Every item needs a real home. 👊 Your Listener Challenge Before you buy a single storage product, write down what you need your garage to do for your life. Then tackle it zone by zone — vertical first, clear bins always, labels on everything. 🏆 Need Support? We've Got You. The Clutter Crushers Club meets live on Zoom four times a month (Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 4 PM Pacific) — that's 6+ hours of community, accountability, and celebrating wins together. Plus, grab a free one-on-one assessment call to get a personalized plan for your specific space. 👉 ABCDeclutter.com [https://www.abcdeclutter.com/]     📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@abcdeclutterwithjj  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abcdeclutterwithjj/  📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcdecluttercommunity  🖥️ Website: https://www.abcdeclutter.com/  🎙️ Podcast Website: https://www.thejjsdeclutterpodcast.com/  📧 Email: hello@abcdeclutter.com     #GarageOrganization #GarageStorage #OrganizeYourGarage #GarageTransformation #GarageMakeover #GarageOrganizingTips #GarageGoals #ParkYourCarInTheGarage  #VerticalStorage #ClearBins #LabelEverything #PegboardOrganization #HomeOrganization #OrganizationTips #StorageSolutions #OrganizedHome  #ABCDeclutter #JJsDeclutterPodcast #DeclutterWithMe #ClutterCrushersClub #DeclutteringMotivation    Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!

Decluttering the Garage (Part 1) s3e7

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2430038/fan_mail/new]  The garage. Where good intentions go to die, bicycles go to gather dust, and projects go to silently judge you every time you walk past. 👀   This is Part 1 of The JJs' two-part garage series — and today is ALL about sorting and letting go BEFORE any organizing begins. Because organizing stuff you don't need is just neatly arranged clutter. Sound familiar?   Why Garages Are Different  * Sheer size, overwhelming variety, multiple people's stuff, AND hazardous materials — garages need a different pace and a lot more grace * Stop trying to do it in one Saturday — a garage that's been accumulating for years needs multiple sessions over multiple weeks The 30-Minute Block System  * 24 minutes sorting + 6-minute mandatory hydration and re-evaluation break * After two blocks, take a longer break — garage work is physically AND mentally exhausting * Decide your end time IN ADVANCE and honor it. "I'll just finish this one thing" is a trap! Work in Zones — Never All at Once Tools & workbench, garden tools, kitchen overflow, seasonal decor, sporting equipment, household supplies, fridge/freezer, unfinished projects, sentimental storage. Start with the zone causing you the MOST daily frustration. Keep or LETS GO — Garage Edition  * Keep: Does it WORK? Do I USE it? Does it have a HOME? All three must be yes * LE Lives Elsewhere: Catch-alls that actually belong inside the house * T Trash: Broken, rusted, dried up, genuinely garbage * S Sentimental: Set aside for a dedicated separate session — don't let it slow your momentum * GO Goes Out: Working items someone else would love Hazardous Materials — Handle With Care! Old paint, pesticides, propane tanks, car batteries, motor oil — NONE of these go in regular trash. Search "hazardous waste disposal + your city" for local options. Julie's tip: latex paint can be dried out with kitty litter and tossed — oil-based always goes to hazmat! Unfinished Projects — The 5 Questions  1. Why did you start it? 2. Is that reason still valid? 3. Is there a NEW reason to finish it? 4. Are you trapped by sunk cost thinking? 5. Are you just over it? (You're allowed to be!)   Part 2 is coming — smart storage solutions that actually work! Don't want to do this alone? Clutter Crushers Club meets live on Zoom — 6+ hours of dedicated decluttering every month with a community that gets it. 👉 ABCDeclutter.com     #GarageDeclutter #DeclutterGarage #GarageCleanout #KeepOrLETSGO #DeclutteringDozen #GarageOrganization #HazardousWasteDisposal #UnfinishedProjects #SentimentalClutter #SmallDoableDoses #DeclutterPodcast #JJsDeclutter #ClutterCrushersClub #ABCDeclutter #GarageGoals #DeclutteringJourney #SpringCleaning #HomeOrganization #ClutterFree #IntentionalLiving Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!

Decluttering The Side Yard s3e6

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2430038/fan_mail/new] You know that narrow strip between your house and the fence?  The one where broken pots go to retire, garden hoses go to tangle, and old lawn chairs go when you feel too guilty to throw them away? 👀   That's your side yard ~ and it's basically the junk drawer of your outdoor spaces. Today, Julie and Janis are helping you reclaim it AND your whole yard, so it becomes a place you actually WANT to spend time in.  Picnics, backyard campouts, fairy gardens (yes, really) ~ it's all possible when the clutter is gone!     Why the Side Yard Becomes a Dumping Ground  * Out of sight, out of mind ... and that's exactly the problem * Common culprits: compacted mulch bricks, mismatched pot saucers, expired garden chemicals, and reusable bags that somehow migrate outside Important Safety Note  * Old garden chemicals, paint, and batteries do NOT go in regular trash * Search your local hazardous waste disposal site ~ it's often required by law! Keep or LETS GO — Outdoors Edition  * Keep:  Do I actually use it? * LE Lives Elsewhere:  Does it belong in the garage or house? * T Trash:  Broken beyond saving? * S Sentimental:  Need more time to decide? * GO Goes Out:  Can someone else use this? The Two Decluttering Dozen Method  * Session 1 (12 min): Sort everything into Keep or LETS GO categories * Session 2 (12 min): Execute = trash goes out, donations pile up, 'keeps' get organized * Pro tip: Use a tarp as your sorting surface ~ when you're done, just bundle it up! What Should Actually Live in Your Side Yard  * Garbage & recycling bins on a hard surface * Garden tools in a wall-mounted organizer or galvanized bucket * Garden hose on a proper reel or wall hook ... that's it! What's Possible When It's Clear  * Picnic-ready yard = just a blanket, food, and clear space * Backyard campouts kids remember for decades * Simple intentional decor: bistro table, a few planters, a birdbath * Fairy gardens for the grandkids (Julie may or may not have tiny friends hiding in her flower beds right now 🧚) Your Outdoor Action Plan  1. Pick ONE outdoor zone this week 2. First #DeclutteringDozen: Sort 3. Second #DeclutteringDozen: Execute 4. Stand back and ask "well ... what could this be?"  Ready to stop doing this alone? The Clutter Crushers Club meets live on Zoom  The First & Third Tuesdays & the opposite Wednesdays each month at 4pm Pacific. That's 6+ hours of dedicated decluttering every month with people who genuinely get it. 👉 ABCDeclutter.com If this podcast made you laugh, think, or finally pick up a timer ~ please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It takes 60 seconds and genuinely makes our day! 🌟 #SideYardDeclutter #OutdoorDecluttering #YardOrganization #BackyardGoals #KeepOrLETSGO #DeclutteringDozen #SpringYardCleanup #GardenToolStorage #ClutterCrushersClub #JJsDeclutter #ABCDeclutter #DeclutterPodcast #OutdoorLiving #BackyardCampout #FairyGarden #IntentionalLiving #SmallDoableDoses #YardCleanup #SimpleLiving #DeclutteringJourney Keep it Simple, Keep it Intentional, and - as always - Keep Decluttering!!