Clutter!

[YellowCrocus]

I just about manage (I think!) to keep a pretty clean and tidy house despite working 30 hours a week with 2dc. However, every single drawer and cupboard we own is literally groaning with crap, and every time I open one it threatens to engulf us all. I have absolutely no idea how to go about getting - and keeping- on top of this in the time I have. Does anyone have any ideas?

[Bluecarrot]

I think you just need to get stuck in. Starting is always the hardest! Pick a drawer, grab a bin bag, box/bag for recycling, and boxes for paperwork, "belongs in this room" and "belongs in another room. Then take everything out of the drawer one bit at a time and choose which box it goes in. Then once that drawer is empty, give it a clean, and put back only what should be in that room ( even if that drawer won't be where it lives in the end), empty the contents of the bin/recycling as appropriate and put the "stuff for other rooms" in the right room.
You might stop after that drawer or suddenly feel the urge to do another but only ever do one drawer or shelf at a time. Once you have gone through most of all little spaces in one room you might start to think " well that cupboard should house the xyz" but tbh, until you can see all you have that needs stored there's no point in putting effort into organising it perfectly!
I like listening to podcasts while doing it, but some people say you should be completely focused on the process. If the cupboard is in the living room I watch a movie st the same time, or clean out the bathroom cabinet while toddler is in the bath, kitchen drawer while I'm waiting for something to cook etc.

[Bluecarrot]

I'll also do things like say to myself "I'll do 5 mins in each room" and set a timer on my phone. Then I try to beat the timer to find 20 things for the bin, or for another room etc. Often I find myself thinking "sure another 3 mins and I'll have this room sorted.... And 10 mins later I'll finish and not have noticed the time pass!

[Starface]

It gets recommended to death on MN, but I did Marie Kondo. She's a Japanese guru-type, her main book is The Magic of Tidying. I found her enjoyably kooky with a helpful structure for approaching decluttering. She has a way to think about material stuff, and her approach is a bit of a training scheme too. I have largely therefore maintained my reduced stuff, and I am much better at moving stuff on now. I found the support threads on here invaluable whilst doing it. I hadn't tried any other decluttering strategy previously, but MK worked for me, whilst working, over about 6 months.

[sparkleglitterdaisy]

Another Marie Kondo fan . She approaches everything in groups rather than tackling one drawer at a time , which although sounds like more work you can make progress quite quickly and you get better results much quicker .

[horizontilting]

Yes to Kondo. More interesting, more positive, lasting way of reclaiming your space. And you start to get results much quicker when you do the catagory approach.

[wobblywonderwoman]

I had this - ugghh its a nightmare.

So the old fashioned way bag. Dump. About three quarters of it all

I had pretty tins and boxes (pound shop) abd labels and put batteries in a tin, stationary in a wicker basket, large black bag for charity shop on the go.

I ended up getting so ruthless and am going to go through it all one more time again to clear it for good.

Light bulbs in another box.

Paperwork - I cut out the account numbers and kept one file with all my stuff in and shredded the rest.

Made one scrap book per child etc

[CodyKing]

Each drawer should take 5 mins - you are spending more time worrying about it than doing it. -


Set yourself a target - one drawer a day - if you do more great!!

[building2016]

Kondo all the way. She just reprogrammed my mind. Amazing.

Derail - what podcasts do you listen to Blue carrot?

[YellowCrocus]

One drawer a day sounds just about achievable, anything more than this, I've got no chance! I'm going to google Marie Kondo....