Decluttering and tidying don’t mean you have to become a minimalist. As a professional organizer, I’m not going to tell you what you should throw out or donate, and I certainly won’t judge what you have and what you decide to keep. I will, however, ask you questions to help you along in your process.

As people live longer and want to age in place, we’re starting to think of our homes differently. Is it one level? If not, will I be able to do stairs? Is it too big? And do I need all of this stuff? Downsizing a home can be overwhelming. And if you’re helping to downsize the house for one or both of your parents, it can be more challenging, and you most likely will be met with resistance.

Day six of the Wirecutter declutter challenge, which was back in March, is to “Just get the thing” (that helps you stay organized). There are many organizing products out there, and it can be hard to know if buying one will be a positive addition or just another item you will end up donating.