HAVE to declutter. Hoarding + busy + kids. No more excuses. HELP ME

[StopTouchingYourFairyGarden]

I am desperate for help with my house. It's quite a tall thin townhouse, and it is stuffed to the rafters with stuff, as is the garage.

I've just discovered I'm pregnant with a very surprise baby number 3 and it's given me the motivation to finally do something. We either need to sell and move somewhere that suits a larger family or make space in this house. Even if this pregnancy doesn't work out, it's like a flip has been switched. DC are 5 and 3 and wreck any efforts to tidy the house with toys, crumbs, half drunk cups of milk, muddy shoes, sticky hands, special stones and sticks everywhere, jumpers abandoned...

Example, we have 2 cupboards under the window in the family bathroom, both stuffed full. One is completely full of stuff we put there when we moved into the hours more than 6 years ago. Never touched. The other has around 30 or so unopened toiletry bags from DHs travels. Pre-covid he flew all over the world in business/first. He didn't always take a toiletry bag but often did and often didn't even seem to open it. WHY?!!! Old rubbish I can do - recycle or throw away but what on earth to do with other stuff? Where to start?

DH is from a long line of hoarders, I am from a long line of messy people. It's a match made in hell.

Help. Where to begin? Please share your decluttering stories of success...

PS do not mention the loft. Absolute nightmare up there

Op, I could’ve written your post a few years ago. Come and join us on the ‘declutter one item a day threads’ in housekeeping. The second post includes ideas on how you can get rid of things without putting them in landfill.

watching and good luck

I’ve been decluttering this last year. I have found a local company that will come and collect a wheely bin for a small fee. They take standard, recycling, and garden waste and dispose of it appropriately. It is much less stressful than a massive decluttering. I do as much as I can, and then have it taken away. I have got rid of so much in this way, and if you have a similar service near you would recommend it. The relief of just having a blue bin of old annuals and books taken to recycle is amazing; the reclaimed space is even better.