The Declutter Queen

Decluttering before a move is hard enough. But what do you do with the couch nobody picks up, the piano you can’t move, or the expensive exercise equipment you no longer use?

I sit down with Ari Kimmelfeld, founder of Commonplace, to talk about downsizing and selling large, valuable items without the stress of managing every detail yourself. I share my own moving challenges, from Facebook Marketplace no-shows to donation services that couldn’t take heavy furniture. Ari explains how Commonplace approaches buying and selling secondhand furniture, appliances, fitness equipment, and other bulky goods by managing inspections, pickup, delivery, setup, and payments.

We also explore selling items from storage, why a small price tag can sometimes attract more interest than “free,” and how a monthly decluttering habit can help you avoid a last-minute moving scramble.

Whether you’re preparing to move, downsizing your home, or ready to reclaim your space, this conversation offers practical ideas for letting go of the possessions that feel hardest to shift.

Learn more about Commonplace at trycommonplace.com.

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 I’m diving into one of the most surprisingly satisfying declutter zones: your smartphone. Instead of fantasizing about throwing it into a lake, I’ll show you how to clear the quiet digital chaos that’s stealing your time, focus, and peace of mind.

I walk you through how our phones turn into portable clutter machines—crammed with unused apps, unread notifications, chaotic photo galleries, and emotional clutter from social media and endless scrolling. Then I guide you step by step: first deleting apps you haven’t touched in 60 days, then organizing what’s left into simple folders, moving your essential daily apps front and center, and pushing the most distracting ones out of sight.

I also help you tackle notifications, photos, messages, notes, and email. You’ll hear how to turn off non-essential alerts, use Do Not Disturb, clear out duplicate and blurry photos, tidy up old message threads and notes, and quickly unsubscribe from promotional emails that clog your inbox.

Finally, I share easy habits to keep your phone clutter-free—like a monthly 10–15 minute reset, a “one in, one out” rule for apps, and building in screen-free time. Start small, take one simple action, and let the momentum build.

Do you need a more personalized decluttering touch? Avery offers a one on one consultation where you can go over your specific decluttering needs and start the road to a happier clutter free life. Contact the declutter Queen at [email protected]

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I share my practical five-step process for decluttering jewelry from gathering and sorting every piece to deciding what to keep, repair, donate, sell or repurpose. I also offer simple strategies for organizing belongings in small spaces, including using vertical storage, multipurpose furniture and designated containers. Plus, I explain how to encourage others to declutter by leading by example, respecting their belongings and creating shared systems that work for everyone.

Do you need a more personalized decluttering touch? Avery offers a one on one consultation where you can go over your specific decluttering needs and start the road to a happier clutter free life. Contact the declutter Queen at [email protected]

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When we think about clutter, we usually picture overflowing closets, crowded countertops and rooms filled with things we no longer need. But our bodies can carry clutter too—from stress and tension to unhealthy habits and routines that leave us feeling depleted.

I explore simple, realistic ways to declutter the body by being more mindful about what we consume, how we move and when we rest. This isn’t about detoxes, perfection or quick fixes. It’s about making small choices that create more room for energy, health and peace.

I also answer questions about the fear of regretting what you discard and how to make decluttering more manageable when you’re dealing with ADHD, anxiety or decision fatigue.

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The Declutter Queen explores how to rebuild a calendar with intention after clearing away commitments that no longer serve you. Avery Cundill walks through practical strategies for creating a schedule that reflects your values, respects your energy patterns, and builds in essential breathing room. The episode emphasizes designing your calendar around when you naturally feel most focused rather than defaulting to conventional scheduling.

They discuss:

- Matching high-value tasks to your natural energy peaks throughout the day

- Using time blocks for focus work, administration, meetings, and personal time instead of overwhelming to-do lists

- Building padding between tasks and protecting unscheduled evenings each week

- Implementing a weekly reset to remove what feels off and ensure joyful activities make it onto the calendar

- Quick decluttering methods for people with limited time, including 10-minute timers and micro strategies

This episode offers a roadmap for anyone who wants their schedule to support their real life and energy rather than drain it.

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Calendar clutter can wreck your mental health faster than a messy kitchen ever could. Avery Cundill explores how overstuffed schedules drain energy, feed overwhelm, and reflect everyone's priorities but your own. This episode of The Declutter Queen walks through a clear system for reclaiming control: take inventory of your calendar, categorize every event, and start canceling what doesn't serve you. White space isn't wasted time—it's essential breathing room.

Avery talks about:

- Why calendar chaos hits the nervous system harder than physical clutter

- The three-step process to audit and cut calendar commitments

- How non-negotiable buffers prevent lateness and burnout

- The weekly 10-minute calendar declutter routine

- Prevention strategies like the one in one out rule and intentional shopping

This episode gives anyone who feels perpetually behind a practical framework to align their calendar with what actually matters.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Avery Cundill discusses decluttering cars, emphasizing the benefits of a clean, functional vehicle. She outlines a five-zone decluttering process: front seat, glove compartment, doors, back seats, and trunk. Essential items to keep include daily use items, current documents, and emergency kits. Avery advises setting car rules, such as no overnight trash, and maintaining a weekly tidy.

She also addresses decluttering as a couple, as her husband Matt Cundill joins the show as this week's guest. In it she suggests compromises like the "one in, one out" rule and designated storage spaces. The episode concludes with a discussion on reasonable item ownership, highlighting the importance of balance and practicality in managing personal belongings.

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I focus on decluttering the kitchen, especially the big, often overlooked appliances and cold storage. I start by tackling large appliances—stoves, ovens, dishwashers, microwaves (and even washer/dryer if in the kitchen)—and recommend clearing their tops and surrounding areas, cleaning inside them, and evaluating whether duplicate or nonfunctional appliances should go. For the refrigerator, I walk listeners through emptying it completely, doing a deep clean, checking expiration dates, tossing doubtful items, and restocking with grouped zones (dairy, produce, fruits, veggies). I suggest creating a “use me first” area for leftovers and near-expiry items and turning aging produce into smoothies or soup instead of wasting it.

For the freezer, I advise pulling everything out, discarding freezer-burned or unidentifiable items (or using older items in a freezer-night meal), labeling and dating what you keep, and organizing by categories with bins or bags. I also recommend keeping a quick inventory (phone note or sticky) to avoid buying duplicates and scheduling a monthly “freezer night” to use older items.

To maintain simplicity, I recommend weekly quick wipes of fridge/freezer, avoiding overstuffing (don’t block vents), following a one-in-one-out rule for gadgets and tools, and doing a 10-minute appliance zone reset monthly to keep filters, rinse aids, and cleanliness up to date. I close by addressing sentimental items—handle them last, keep the best, photograph items if needed, digitize or create a memory box, and rehome items others might enjoy. Finally, I offer prevention strategies: one-in-one-out, a five-minute nightly straighten-and-tidy, keeping flat surfaces clear, creating designated homes for important things, and waiting a few days before nonessential purchases so you buy intentionally.

Do you need a more personalized decluttering touch? Avery offers a one on one consultation where you can go over your specific decluttering needs and start the road to a happier clutter free life. Contact the declutter Queen at [email protected]

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I walk you through how to transform your kitchen from chaotic to calm. I start by asking you to envision how you want your kitchen to feel—functional, peaceful, or simply easy to clean—because that vision guides every decision. I take you on a “scavenger hunt” for small appliances, helping you question when you last used them, whether you enjoy them, and if they duplicate other tools. Then we tackle cutlery and utensils by emptying drawers, sorting by category, keeping favorites, and letting go of dull, unused items. I help you right-size your plates, bowls, and glassware based on how many people you actually feed, and suggest donating or discarding extras, mismatched mugs, and chipped dishes. Finally, I share maintenance strategies like the one-in, one-out rule, seasonal check-ins, quick-win starting points, and motivation tips to keep your decluttering journey sustainable.

Do you need a more personalized decluttering touch? Avery offers a one on one consultation where you can go over your specific decluttering needs and start the road to a happier clutter free life. Contact the declutter Queen at [email protected]

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Avery Cundill, along with her daughter Lily Rich, tackle two surprisingly common clutter zones on The Declutter Queen: the spice cabinet and the calendar. Avery walks listeners through a straightforward process for decluttering kitchen spices, from identifying expired stock to organizing by category and storing smarter. The episode then shifts to a conversation with Lily, a busy university student navigating the chaos of an over scheduled life. Together, they explore why calendars become overwhelmed and how to create breathing room without sacrificing meaningful commitments.

3 rules for decluttering your spice cabinet:

1. Most ground spices lose potency after 1–3 years. If it smells like nothing, it tastes like nothing. Let it go.

2. Group spices by use: daily (salt, pepper, garlic), baking (cinnamon, nutmeg), global flavors (curry, za'atar). Keep what you actually cook with front and center.

3. You can cook eclectically with 10–15 spices. That jar of amchur powder you Googled once? If you're not using it, it's taking up space you deserve back.

Do you need a more personalized decluttering touch? Avery offers a one on one consultation where you can go over your specific decluttering needs and start the road to a happier clutter free life. Contact the declutter Queen at [email protected]

Follow Me on Instagram.

Want FREE Declutter Hacks? Sign up here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.