Decluttering from the Root: Emotional Clutter, Systems, and Sanity with Tracy McCubbin (Ep 292)
About the episode
Clutter isn’t a personal failure. Decluttering expert Tracy McCubbin shares a compassionate, clutter-free approach to emotional clutter, realistic systems, and organizing for real life, not perfection.
Helpful Links:
Links mentioned in this episode (some may be affiliate links):
Clutter has a way of feeling personal. But according to Tracy McCubbin, it rarely is.
In this honest and grounding conversation, Tracy and Deanna talk about why clutter forms, why it sticks, and how emotional patterns like perfectionism, guilt, and generational habits quietly shape our homes.
You will hear why buying more bins does not solve clutter, how to move away from Pinterest perfect organizing, and how to create practical systems that support real life. Tracy shares what it actually looks like to declutter with kindness instead of pressure and why starting small matters more than doing it all at once.
This episode is for busy women who want a clutter free home without shame, extremes, or unrealistic expectations. It is especially helpful if you have ever felt like your home should be easier to manage or wondered why organizing advice does not seem to stick.
Tracy also shares insights from her books Making Space, Clutter Free and Make Space for Happiness, along with what she is seeing most right now after nearly 20 years as a professional declutterer.
If clutter has been weighing on you, this conversation offers a deep breath, a mindset shift, and a realistic path toward intentional living and a clutter free home.
Key Takeaways:
1. Why clutter is not a character flaw
2. How emotional and generational patterns influence what we keep
3. Why perfectionism makes organizing harder, not easier
4. What “good enough” systems look like for real homes
5. How to start small and build momentum
6. When asking for help is the smartest next step
About Tracy McCubbin:
Tracy McCubbin is the CEO and founder of dClutterfly, one of America’s top decluttering companies. In the last two decades, she has helped thousands of clients clear the clutter in their lives to create space for positive life changes. Tracy is also the author of Making Space, Clutter Free and her latest book Make Space for Happiness. Most recently, Tracy has turned dClutterfly into a franchise, giving people across the country a chance to not only build their own business, but to make a real difference in people’s lives. Tracy looks at the root of our clutter to find the real cause and ways to find real solutions.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Welcome + why clutter feels personal
03:10 Emotional attachment and why letting go is hard
06:30 Why clutter is not a personal failure
10:05 How childhood and generational habits shape clutter
13:20 The emotional “blocks” behind clutter
16:45 Why bins don’t fix the problem
25:30 Decluttering without pressure or shame
34:10 Creating judgment-free systems that last
38:40 Delegating, asking for help, and support systems
45:30 Common decluttering myths debunked
50:10 Final thoughts on clutter-free living
Music: Fresh Lift by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com
Subscribe & Review:
Don't forget to subscribe to the Wannabe Clutter Free podcast (on your favorite podcast player!) so you never miss an episode. And if you liked what you heard today, please leave a rating and review for the show too! It helps others find the show and makes my day.
cheers!
About Deanna Yates
Based in San Diego, CA, Deanna helps high-achieving moms clear the clutter from their homes and lives.
Through coaching, courses, summits, and her top-ranked Wannabe Clutter Free podcast, she supports modern women in building organized, peaceful homes where they can thrive.
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.
Wannabe Clutter Free is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
© 2025. All Rights Reserved