Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Decluttering

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is the least helpful work on de-cluttering of several I have read and used. It contains 2 or 3 short pages on actually getting rid of stuff; the rest of the book is a long drawn-out pitch for purchasing lots of (mostly pretty expensive) organizing containers. Shamelessly, there are numerous specific references throughout the book to The Container Store with recommendations that the reader run out and go buy more "organizing solutions" from that chain.

The last thing a clutterer needs is bigger containers to hold more and more stuff. And that is, unfortunately, the primary solution of the "Complete Idiot's Guide to Decluttering".

In contrast, I can recommend some truly helpful and life-changing books including "Apartment Therapy," "Organizing for Creative People," and "The ADD-Friendly Way to Organize Your Life." At the top of my list, though, is "It's All Too Much," which recommends GETTING RID OF THINGS as the best way to deal with clutter.

So if you're looking at buying this book, don't bother. I'm just really glad I borrowed it from the library instead of paying good money for it.

Here's my hint, after a successful 16-month decluttering episode of my own: If you just toss it, recycle it, or give it away, you won't have to organize it, store it, find it, or worry about it -- ever again!!

This book isn't bad, but its not great either. The solutions aren't terribly creative, like lining up clothes by color, but then again the "Idiot's Guide to..." books really are about getting down to brass tacks. I liked how basic this book is, but a little more detail would've been greatly appreciated, not to mention some pictures or even diagrams. The product recommendations, while helpful, are too numberous and assume that the reader has an unlimited budget.

As for the actual writing, I have to say phrases such as "home or apartment" really didn't sit well with me. An apartment cannot be a home? Also, the writing tends to be repetitive. That said it was nice and conversational, which I like in this type of book.

Bottom line: I would recommend it to a friend who is just getting started in decluttering and doesn't know where to begin.

Because I constantly fight the battle between order and chaos, I have many "decluttering" books. I thought this one was better than most.

I read the book and attended a workshop by the Author Regina Leeds. This quick easy guide is truly the best tool to getting it done. It takes you through so many scenerios and trust me, it covers them all. It is a great source to refer back to time and time again. It's a good read, but really it is a life changing tool. I keep handy for many tasks that arise in life.

I checked the book out from the library and thoroughly enjoyed reading, making notes and taking tips. I was slightly disappointed when the book arrived and it was smaller than the book I had checked out from the library. The content is the same but the smaller version just takes something away from the experience.