Having a full house clear out this week come join me...

[mamadiva]

I'm basically a lazy bugger but want to get myself and my house into gear!

Have decided best way to get it done properly and to keep it so it stays tidy with minimum effort is to have a clearout, I have so much stuff to get rid of. Hoping to tackle a room a day!

Need people to keep me motivated through the week!

[foofi]

I need to do this too, but can't quite get started

[HolyGuacamole]

I'll join you!!

I started yesterday by putting some stuff on freecycle and it's being picked up today so that is a start huh?

I think organisation is the key and it is something I'm not very good at

[mamadiva]

I'm the same just need some motivation trying to decide where to start

[gingertoo]

I'm usually really organised but in April dc2 had an op and was at home for a month or so then we've had the builders in and it's all gone horribly wrong!!
The builders finished the inside work on Friday (they've got a bit of work left to do outside) so I'm starting the clear out today!

Like you though mamadiva, I don't know where to start so I'm sitting with the laptop and a coffee instead!! I'm sort of thinking of starting with the lounge - It's the least untidy room

(I think the room-at-a-time approach might be more effective for me than wandering round the house randomly tidying - I think if I get one room done and looking lovely, it might spur me on to do the rest........)

[Buda]

I need to do this too. I started with spare bedroom last week but got distracted. Have a new puppy coming on Sunday so want to get the ground floor tidy and get as much as possible off the floor.

I did spend a lot of time this weekend sorting DS's lego!

I need to do a magazine clear-out too - have hundreds in various piles.

Plan for today is to continue lego sorting and magazine clearing and I bought a office drawer thingie in Ikea last week - I may put that together and tidy the desk.

[mamadiva]

Kerry even the sheds a start!

I think I will try and do kitchen today as it is in need of a good clear out but also have DS to keep entertained hmm...

It's just the thought of it is'nt it? Once I start am sure I will be fine...

[thedolly]

Buda - lego sorting out is easy

Keep it all in one big box in DS's bedroom and have some small baskets downstairs for stray pieces that get emptied back in to the big box at the end of the day. A low sided box with a large base is best IMO.

[Gorionine]

I have out it off for weeks, but between the last 2 week-ends I have sorted the dcs's bedroom, mine the kitchen and the conservatory. I still have the livingroom and back garden to do. DO IT! I feel so liberated now, lazing arround on MN GUILT FREE for once!

[MatNanPlus]

I to am starting to declutter but have it easier as have to pack everything i am keeping to put into storage as we are moving house so no excuse of using a "maybe needed" cupboard

Mamadiva rather than a room a day why not allow 2 days or 4 hours sorting per day as you have DS to also amuse?

Must say storage boxes make life so much easier, we now have zillions of them with grouped items like Christmas decs, presents etc in them and it does help in the "keeping it tidy" plan.

[Gorionine]

I might also use my new found free time to take some spelling lessons and try to write sentences that actually make sens!

[ninedragons]

Stopping the stuff creeping back in is the other half of the solution. You've got to think of yourself as the door girl at a nightclub with the little counter-clicker thing in her hand. If the place is at capacity, it doesn't come through the door until something else leaves.

And if you're really serious, more storage is not the answer. Lots of storage encourages you to keep lots of stuff.

[Gorionine]

That is true ninedragons, to finally get on top if it I had to involve quite a few black liners and be totally ruthless!

[frazzled74]

I am joining you, am starting with dining room today as full of toys.childrens bedroom thurs and cellar at weekend. Am on the lookout for good storage furniture if anyone has any ideas.(not ikea as cant get there).

[ninedragons]

eBay is the answer! Someone has just picked up a grotty old Persian rug that had been hanging around taking up space. I bought it for $100 at a flea market but sold it for $520!

I'm selling everything that's not nailed down. If we still had the cat I'd sell him too.

[Buda]

thedolly - not in this house!!!! DS has loads of lego and DH decided we would sort it 'properly' last year so bought some boxes that have sections etc in. Totally overcomplicated the situation but I went along with it and spent an entire weekend sorting bits out.

We now have even MORE lego and the situation is out of control.

So I bought some of these and these and we are sorting by colour! DH not impressed. We also have the boxes bought and we have doors and windows etc and people in. Smaller boexes with sections have all the other tiny bits. Sigh.

We have 2 of the green trofast boxes - 1 for white and 1 for red. We have 4 of the blue trofast boxes - 1 for blue, 1 for yellow and green, 1 for grey - all shades and 1 for black, brown and that beigey clour.

Aaarrgh!!!

[audley]

Yes, I'm in. I think my strategy will be a room at a time starting downstairs but with 15mins a day to tackle my study (aka dumping ground). That one has to be done in baby steps otherwise I'll give up and make more chaos. Just put DS to bed so will empty the car and do general tidy up and then hit the sitting room, mmm sounds like a lot to do.

[Mousey84]

Ive been doing this for a few weeks in stops and starts. I now have 29 bin bags full of stuff to give away to various places - friends/family/charity shop...but its currently all sitting in my bedroom til one of the lovely people who have offered to take it away to its new homes, find the time to come get it.

Having less stuff about has been great - Im now 6 weeks ahead in my studies, have time to bake every day and have restarted two craft projects that I hadnt touched in years. I think that not having the nagging feeling that the clutter needed shifted stopped me from fully focusing on other things.

I def think its given me more energy too

[MatNanPlus]

Stoage boxes work as the keep like itmes together so you can see it you need x or y.

I have CD and music tape clear storage tubs in the kitchen cabinets for herbs / spices / seasonings and it has meant DH doesn't rifle thru and then buy more as he didn't see it lurking in the back front of the shelf.

[wastingmyeducation]

Buda, my sister had all her lego sorted, but she sorted it herself!

I'd decluttered the bathroom before I had a look at this thread earlier, and have just done our wardrobe.

I'm good at de-cluttering, but also good at shopping and accepting cast-offs, so the place fills up.

It all used to go to charity, but about three years ago I decided that I would ebay/amazon/carboot all the jumble.
So I've got a garage full of stuff I don't want, half of which we brought with us when we moved 18 months ago.
But that's another thread!

audley our study is the dumping ground here too, it's the room by the back door too, so it's got prams and recycling in as well as all the random stuff.

[audley]

Wey hey, all jobs done including washing the kitchen floor with my new favourite thing - soda crystals. Now it's the 15 minute slot in the study, not looking forward to this. Deep breath, chin up, I'm going in...

[mamadiva]

Well done Audley!

I ended up skipping the kitchen and gutting the bathroom instead! But now all bits are gleaming so it's all good.

I have to go to work (cleaning) in the evenings hence why can't be arsed cleaning at home too, but needs must I guess!

[LibrasBiscuitsOfFortune]

Buda - do you play with the lego? Seriously buy a big box, throw it all in there and when your DH starts waffling about putting it in "sections" smile sweetly whilst mentally preparing your next post on MN about is your DH unreasonable to expect you to sort the lego out.

On your grave stone there is going to be nothing about lego...

[Buda]

Have just done another lego stint. It's getting there!

Cleaner is here today and she hadn't realised what I was doing till she wandered over and saw me sat on the floor with boxes of lego in front of me sorting things out. She thought it was very funny!

DS has decided he wants to start building a city. Not sure I want him to play with it all now though!