c/declutter-support

My closet shelf gave out last night and dumped everything on the floor

I was putting away laundry around 11 PM when the whole thing just collapsed. It was one of those cheap wire shelves from the previous owner, and it had been overloaded with winter coats for too long. Now I have a huge pile of clothes and broken plastic bins blocking the door. Has anyone had to deal with a closet disaster like this and how did you sort through the mess?

My aunt told me to get rid of anything I hadn't used in a year. So I threw out a perfectly good waffle iron.

I used to roll my eyes at the 'one in, one out' rule for clothes

My friend in Denver swore by it, but I thought it was just more clutter advice noise. After my closet door wouldn't shut last month, I forced myself to follow it for a full 30 days and actually kept it up. Did anyone else have a rule they doubted that ended up working?

Update: Sorting a single drawer of old cables and adapters took me nearly 4 hours yesterday.

I kept finding more tangled behind others and had to test each one to see if it even worked for stuff I still own, so what's your best tip for dealing with the 'electronic junk drawer' without it eating a whole day?

Rant: My entire linen closet collapsed last Tuesday because I ignored the 'one in, one out' rule.

I read a study that said the average American home has over 300,000 items, which honestly makes me think minimalism is unrealistic for most people.

I found that stat in a book from the local library, and it made me feel like the 'keep only what sparks joy' advice ignores how much stuff we actually have to manage, so what's a more realistic first step for a normal, cluttered house?

Vent: Bought a $300 'smart' closet organizer system that was a total waste

I saw an ad for this modular rack system that promised to optimize every inch of my closet space, so I spent a weekend installing it. It ended up being so complicated and rigid that I couldn't actually fit half my clothes the way I needed, and I just took the whole thing down after 2 months. Has anyone found a simple, adjustable shelving unit that actually works for a basic reach-in closet?

Need to revamp my garage - who makes the best motorized overhead storage?

We're finally tackling the garage remodel this spring. I want a really sturdy motorized ceiling lift to store our heavy gear out of the way without breaking my back. Any recommendations on reliable brands?