Friday, March 8, 2024

Organizing with Jessa Seewald

"My mom has majorly inspired me. She is always super organized, always has been. I don't ever remember a time when she wasn't very organized."

-Jessa Seewald

Jessa Seewald doesn't spend much time on social media, but when she does, it's usually interesting to watch. Inspired by a book that was recommended to her by her mom, Michelle Duggar, she recently went on an organizing and de-cluttering kick, and she's bringing viewers along in a new YouTube video

What are some of your favorite organizing and de-cluttering tips?

84 comments:

  1. Jessa's mom is super organized? This is the woman who invented "Duggar Time" and could never get her family out the door on time.

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    1. Yes, but her kitchen drawers and cabinets are soooo organized. lol

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    2. It doesn't mean she is not organized.

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    3. If anyone organized that house, Jana did.

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    4. We don't live with them. However usually the mom and kids do chores around the house. Dad's and sons do outside work.

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    5. What a rude comment. It doesn't matter how organized a mom is, there can be always be something that happens at the last minute or something someone forgets or any other number of things that keep you from getting out the door on time. Just because the mom is organized doesn't mean her children are robots to be perfectly controlled.

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    6. She definitely had help

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  2. After watching, some thoughts. First, she does not have any of her cabinets or drawers lined and it shows. The "junk drawer" is already stained beyond repair. Sliding things in and out of her pantry and cabinets is going to leave wear marks that will be impossible to remove. She needs to use liners, and I recommend ribbed plastic LifeLiner, the best there is. Thirty years after installing mine, the liners and the cabinets under them are still pristine. So easy to wipe clean if something spills, and you'll never have a cabinet stain. Second, gift bags? Isn't she the one who gives her kids birthday presents in the Amazon boxes they arrived in? At that rate, she could get rid of all her gift bags. Third, Temu is Chinese-owned. If she likes sending her money directly to that country, great. But living in Walmart Central (Arkansas), it surprises me how willingly she supports Temu. Last, she's lucky she didn't start a fire in her junk drawer with those loose 9 volt batteries. People, if you have those tumbling around in a drawer full of other batteries, paper clips, scissors, and anything paper, they could all connect and create a huge problem. Don't believe me? Look up "9 volt battery fire junk drawer." People lose houses that way. All in all, points for trying, but Jessa is no organization expert.

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    1. Thank you for making these points.

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    2. Anon 7:07. When I read your post and you talked about loose 9 volt batteries in a junk drawer and having loose paper clips and other batteries in with them you were describing my junk drawer. I had no idea how dangerous this could be. I want to thank you for sharing that information and I got them all out of my junk drawer and put them in the battery storage holder that I had and wasn't using. Thank you very much

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    3. Nobody has lined shelves since the early 90s. And there is nothing wrong with Temu except a certain group who blames everything on one race.

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    4. @10:30 Fine, don't line your cabinets and drawers and let them get grungy. Won't be fun trying to replace them. Funny how liner is still sold even though "nobody" has bought it for 30 years.

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    5. @10:30 I don't line my shelves or drawers either.

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    6. @10:30 its the same group who wants to ban tiktok.

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    7. I line my drawers and cabinets in my kitchen and bathroom. They stay clean and pristine that way and YES, any spills easily wipe up. People still care about keeping an organized home.

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    8. I can't imagine putting sticky and drippy kitchen or bathroom items into bare wood cabinets and drawers. You're going to ruin the wood if you don't line them. Sliding cans against bare wood will mess it up too.

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    9. People don't bother to line them because cabinets and dressers don't hold up the way they use too. They don't build things to last.

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    10. Yep, clean out those junk drawers and remove the 9v batteries! Glad 9:07 caught it in time. They teach Scouts to carry those and some steel wool for a reason.

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    11. I line my shelves and drawers. It makes cleaning easier, and it looks nice.

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    12. @11:53 If you line those, they'll last longer and look better longer.

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    13. You wouldn't need liners if you would put just clothes in the dresser. Why y'all putting liquid and batteries in them? Lol

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    14. Great point about the 9V batteries & wanted to add that you also need to cover them with tape and/or put them inna Ziploc baggie before throwing them away so they don't start a fire in the trash.

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    15. @12:13 Yes. Our town's battery recycling program requires that you protect them like that before turning them in.

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    16. @10:08 Ever snag your clothes or socks on the wood in a bare dresser drawer? Get little splinters in the clothes or socks, which you then discover the hard way?

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    17. 2:49 why would a dresser drawer be snagging unless it's falling apart or was not properly sanded?

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    18. @8:09 Because you beat it up because you didn't line it and protect it.

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    19. I have a 100 year old cedar wood dresser that doesn't snag clothing. If the newer dressers are snagging, you got a bad order.

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    20. 6:54 no it means you aren't putting clothes in the drawers. Clothes is not gonna mess up your dresser. Other items like coins, batteries, metals etc.

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  3. We have a few items from Temu and so far they are holding up. I'm inspired to get some organizing and decluttering done.

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  4. I've used the time and chore organizing systems the Duggars used, Managers of Their Homes and Managers of Their Chores, written by the Maxwell family, for years.

    I'm not Christian and I don't homeschool thus far, but I enjoyed reading those books and it was easy to adapt those systems to my life. I've benefitted a lot from them!

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  5. This "video" is merely an advertisement for this product. You can purchase drawer bins anywhere. They don't have to be from this company. The Dollar Store carries such items also.

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    1. 7:31 I agree. No way would I enter my credit card info on Temu's website either. Is Jessa trying to earn a sponsorship?

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    2. Temu items hold up better.

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    3. It doesn't mean she's looking for a sponsorship. Grow up y'all.

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  6. I love plastic containers for drawers,small lazy susans for items that tip easy. I also recently put metal wire racks that have legs above the plates and larger bowls so the smaller bowls and saucers can fit above them in the wasted upper space. Works so well!

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    1. To each her own. I think lazy Susans waste space. All those corners around the circle is space that goes unused. I'd rather construct some sort of shelf or bin system for smaller items, especially if space is tight. I don't like those metal wire racks either. They can eventually sag under the weight, and unless you put some sort of surface on them, things can tip over in the wire gaps. They tend to slide, too (ever catch a leg?). My solution was to order extra shelves from the cabinet company before we moved in. Now I have shelf space just tall enough to hold platters, serving bowls, etc. Not an inch is wasted.

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    2. Wasted space should not be a concern. You never know if you'll need it.

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  7. Thanks for sharing the tips in your video Jessa.

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  8. No thanks. I really don't want to watch Jessa clean her closets.

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    1. So why did you click on this just to comment?

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    2. @10:32 I was thinking the same thing.😆

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  9. Her problem isn't having too many cups, it's not having enough shelves in that cabinet. There's room for another shelf, which would instantly solve things. You'd think that coming from a big family, busy building her own big family, and being a minister's wife, she'd see the need for a lot of cups on hand. Don't they ever have company?

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    1. Tbh people don't really invite anyone over for coffee and a chat. No cocktails either. Dinner parties are usually held at holidays. The world is changing.

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    2. They use paper plates and cups when they have company. lol

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    3. No worries. The Duggars have always been heavy users of disposable dinnerware.

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    4. @10:09 and you don't?

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    5. I'm not 10:09 but I would never serve guests with disposibles. You can pick up glassware and stoneware and silverware dirt cheap at thrift stores and have enough on hand for everyone.

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    6. 10:46 good luck with that at a 4th of July party.

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    7. @10:09 There are great red white & blue plates for outdoor July 4th. Real plastic plates (not the kind you throw out) you can put in the dishwasher and reuse. Like Corelle. Dollar stores and Walmart have them every year. I got some nice plaid and flowered ones on clearance at Target and those are our picnic plates.

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    8. People still have formal parties these days of fine china and dressing up? Whoa. Maybe we are back in the 1950s.

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    9. The issue here is not using paper plates for a large gathering, like a 4th of July party; the issue here I believe is that these families always use paper plates, plastic cups all the time, every day. They simply do not have nor use regular dishes, silverware and glasses. There is no excuse for this as they have 2 industrial dish washers and just don't use them.

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    10. I would love to dress up and go to a nice dinner party. Casual isn't always better.

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    11. 8:22 um they do because they still have too cook lol. Who cares about paper plates. Are you eating at their house? I would serve you soup without silverware or plastic spoons because of your attitude.

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    12. @4:40 You sound like a super sweet hostess.

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  10. Jessa you have inspired me to do some more deleting of things I don’t need. My adult daughter is always willing to keep me organized and throw things out, but I only go so far. After watching your video I think I am ready to leave for the day and let my daughter clean the garage…let her throw or give away whatever she thinks we don’t need. Your place looks fantastic and the dividers are a great idea. When we remodeled our kitchen, a few years ago, I had custom cabinets and buffets made. I told the contractor I wanted the big pull out drawers…and large pantry with pull out shelves..easy no bending. You have been resourceful with your pull out bins..enjoy your beautiful home!

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    1. Too bad it took someone else’s daughter to convince you to declutter and organize.

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    2. 10:08 and what took you? Lol

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    3. 9:01. Yeah I get you.. those of us who have a pretty organized lovely home..sometimes don’t want to face the clutter in the garage. It sounds like a good idea to leave for the day and let your daughter determine what to keep..seeing the kids are the ones who will clean out the garage when we pass away.

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  11. OK. When you have nothing to do on a rainy day, watch Jessa line her drawers. Ha ha ha

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  12. I love Temu! I don't care too much for their clothing though, they fit a little small.

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  13. Boring. Watching her saw wood was much better.

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    1. This comment tickled my funny bone!

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  14. Jessa, I like that cap holder, going to get one. I also liked how the boys keep their favorite Lego sets together inside the closet shelves. What a great idea, kids like to save their Lego projects and it looks like each has a different shelve..clever. You seem to be a lot like your amazing mom..besides being organized she is so kind, generous and loving, what a great example you both are to your children.

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  15. Drawers do not need to be lined. The oldest daughter should be trained to keep them clean and organized.
    Her age does not matter.

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    1. Why the oldest daughter and not the oldest son? It's not 1924,it's 2024.

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    2. It should be every member of the family who is "trained" to keep drawers clean and organized, regardless of their gender. Otherwise, one person has to keep cleaning up after everyone else and that's ridiculous. BTW, cleaning and organization should not be a job just reserved for females.

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    3. @4:14 Ever try to get graphite pencil dust out of a bare wood drawer, like Jessa's? You can't.

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    4. 10:55 men do outside work. Yes, it's 2024, but not all work women can't do. Stop trying to act tough.

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    5. 10:55 Kitchens and housekeeping are women’s work, according to the bible or Bill Gothard-I forget which.

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    6. Oh my 10:55- OP trigger you a little?? Lol. Yes the daughter should clean the drawers while the son sweeps the floors. Then switch off

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    7. Women these days are lazy and don't want to do housework. That's all it is.

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    8. "Men do outside work" - do you mean work in the yard, or do you mean a job away from the house? Because I just got done filling 15 bags with yard clippings. If a man was supposed to do that, oops. I DID IT.

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    9. 3:38 you are not suppose too. But that's your issue.

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    10. Men are suppose to pay the bills and do outside choirs. Women take care of the house inside.

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    11. Here's hoping that Hannah & Jeremiah are both enjoying their 2nd Anniversary!!!!!!

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    12. Here's hoping that Hannah & Jeremiah are both enjoying their 2nd Anniversary!!!!!! (Posted by Here's Hoping.)

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    13. Wow, did you just say that the yard is off limits for women to work in? Better to that to Jana the family gardener!

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    14. Women can work the garden too. That's different... But grass cutting, trimming trees or taking out the trash is a males job.

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    15. How ridiculous, 8:51. When my husband was away for work trips, that stuff would never have gotten done if I hadn't done it. Guess what - the sky didn't fall on me and the world didn't stop spinning because I put out our trash cans or started the mower.

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    16. Ridiculous. Women can do anything. If you can't take out your trash or cut your grass, what's next? You can't drive a car? You can't pay bills or have a bank account? You're not allowed to use the phone? Vote?? This is very dangerous thinking.

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    17. It's not that women shouldn't do anything. It's just this new generation believes that being a mom, keeping house and doing dishes is a bad thing. I understand some families need two incomes. But still.... The narrative that these people painted and y'all believe is insane too me.

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  16. Here's hoping that Katey & Jedidiah are both enjoying their 3rd Anniversary!!!!!! (Posted by Here's Hoping.)

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  17. Dear Israel: I hope that you are having a fantastic 9th Birthday!!!!!! (Posted by Here's Hoping.)

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