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Original poster

Huge declutter

40 replies

Solodreamer · 19/02/2022 11:26

Superficially my house looks ok but deep inside it's awful and I so much stuff I should just get rid of. Every cupboard, drawer, wardrobe etc is stocked full of stuff I've not used in years and I often re buy forgetting what I actually have. My garage is even worse and I'm terrified of tackling it because of the spiders Grin. Where on earth do I start?

OP posts:
TooTiredForAdventure · 19/02/2022 11:45

I like the Marie Kongo method of decluttering by type of item.

Gather ALL of the stationery in the house together in one place - how much of it do you actually need. How much are duplicates?

Repeat with tools/ bedding/ bags/ towels / pots and pans/ clothes/ toys etc

If you go room by room, things get moved around and you don’t see how much you actually have

TooTiredForAdventure · 19/02/2022 11:46

*Kondo

sne3 · 19/02/2022 11:49

Start small. 1 drawer, 1 cupboard, 1 room. Whatever works for you to see that you are achieving something but not getting overwhelmed in the process.

My advice also is to get the stuff that is going out on the same day as you decide it's going.

OrganisedChaos22 · 19/02/2022 11:56

One room at a time.
Not used in the past 6m.. Bin /charity
If something like a summer item.. Did you use last summer? No.. It goes.

I used to also try sell stuff but i found there was always the people who didn't collect and would then sit around waiting

We also have a good local fb page where we take a photo and say free to collect x address on door step or going to charity tomorrow. 95% goes. You'd be surprised.

caranations · 19/02/2022 12:09

Start small, but with big things. How many coats do you have and how many do you actually need? They take up a lot of room, so sort them out and decide which to get rid of. Then put them in a bag and take them down the charity shop TODAY!

UserBotLurking9to5 · 19/02/2022 12:11

get a skip

eightlivesdown · 19/02/2022 12:37

De-cluttering by item type sounds sensible.

As with many things, the first step (making a start) can be the most difficult one - once you're making progress it may become progressively easier. It'll certainly be a weight off your shoulders once its done.

Forget the garage for now. Sort out the house first. Tackle the garage in summer. I'm no expert, but I understand spiders seek indoor spaces in winter for warmth, so it'll be less of a problem in summer. If necessary, get help for de-cluttering the garage once the house is done.

duvetdayforeveryone · 19/02/2022 12:40

Start with the items with the least emotional attachment. For most people this is the bathroom.

Daisy4569 · 19/02/2022 12:43

I definitely find it easier getting rid of stuff on the same day I decide, the longer they sit around the house in bags the more time I have to decide they might be useful one day or to get sentimental about stuff

Windstartingup · 19/02/2022 12:45

It's all so time consuming and overwhelming isn't it? Feel your pain!

Toanewstart23 · 19/02/2022 12:45

Audio book
Black bin bags
And focus

sne3 · 19/02/2022 13:01

With regards to the spiders in the garage. Set off a few bug bombs in there a couple of days before you intend tackling it.

duvetdayforeveryone · 19/02/2022 13:04

Remember to take before and after photos. They are so satisfying and motivating to continue :)

Tigersonvaseline · 19/02/2022 13:05

Agree with bug bomb's,also can of red raid to hand.

Then sprinkle everywhere with Dianthus earth which will get all bugs down.

Leave it a while then tackle

Vinorosso74 · 19/02/2022 13:12

It can seem overwhelming but once you get started it's less so.
I find starting smaller is easier so you could start aiming to clear out one drawer at a time rather than thinking you need to clear the whole bedroom. Once you've done one drawer, you may manage another.
With clothes, I have a bag for charity and one for textile recycling, once they're full off they go.
If you're waiting for dinner to cook, you could take a few minutes to go through a kitchen drawer or a shelf.
I found lots of toiletries I hadn't used which had just been in drawers/bathroom cabinet so made a point of actually having them out so I used them. Saved me buying some stuff too!

duvetdayforeveryone · 19/02/2022 13:28
Original poster
Solodreamer · 19/02/2022 13:35

Thank you so much for the advice. I think I almost need to do a combination of room by room and item by item. I think I need to declutter before I can put all items together if that makes sense e.g. I have no idea how many rooms have stationery in them.

Good idea about garage bug bomb and waiting until summer for it.

Today I'm going to sort coats and one of the kitchen junk drawers. At least it's something but it seems like an insurmountable mountain to climb. I've also just realised I need to do the car too.

OP posts:
Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 19/02/2022 14:24

We tackled my dd's bedroom this week....she was very reluctant so we set an alarm for 30 mins but of course by then we were really I to it so it didn't seem as overwhelming.
3 bins bags of stuff gone in one hour!

Fantina · 19/02/2022 15:00

I give everything away for free - it’s then gone before you can second guess yourself. I also try and take something out of the house most days- today it is two old pairs of glasses as I am meeting a friend for coffee near the opticians that sends them abroad. It means I’m often thinking ‘where am I going and what can I get rid of today?’

I used to save the DC’a handmedowns for relatives I don’t see very often but now I give away the stuff to local mums and only keep the more expensive items for relatives. A stocktake helps me too. we are currently using stuff up in the cupboard to save money and create space which means I only have to supplement it with fresh fruit and veg which has saved money.

I do save stuff I haven’t used if I think it will come in handy but I organise it so I at least know it exists!

SueALMO · 20/02/2022 14:47

Hi,
I was lucky enough to train with Marie Kondo 4 years ago after I decluttered my home - I completely recognise where you are. Before you dive in and start emptying cupboards and filling up bin bags have a think about what you want your home to look and feel like and what you do in your everyday life (each week/month) - this really helps when you're deciding what stays and goes.

I would start with your clothes as this generally tends to be easier for most people to tackle and hopefully you know where they all are. It really does help if you can gather similar items together in one places (all t shirts, or dresses, or jumpers) as this helps you to see the volume and duplication - making it easier to make decisions. Rather than look for things to discard look for the things you want to KEEP (things you love that 'Spark Joy' that fit with your lifestyle) - this helps to create a wardrobe of things you know you'll wear rather than things that are a bit meh.

Start small with your underwear drawer - it won't be too overwhelming and you'll immediately see the benefits when you get dressed tomorrow morning :-). Always happy to offer more advice if it will help

Toanewstart23 · 20/02/2022 14:55

My house is militarily organised
Beautifully clean
I don’t follow any trend or philosophy or approach
I just keep on top of it
Every day
Every single day

By all means follow an approach to get yourself kick started op
But then… keep it up.
Every day

NalPolishRemover · 20/02/2022 15:00

This is timely as we're in the middle of doing this right now now!
So far we've filled 7 bin bags - 3 for the charity shop & 4 for dumping.
We're only about a quarter of the way through too.
It all started because we are getting some new furniture & need to empty an existing cupboard before moving it to another room.
Like OP our was superficially 'ok' but in reality had stuff stuffed behind every door!
It's already feeling like a relief to be tackling it

HOW do we accumulate so much STUFF ??

Iputthetrampintrampoline · 20/02/2022 15:01

I am mass de cluttering too OP,One room at a time from top to bottom, So much stuff here its ridicuous,Today for example 22 black bin liners from my dds room she is 10 yrs old, Clothes shoes toys books you name it but my oh my I feel better! 18 coats ffs why? Cos I am insane and feckless and they dont fit cos she didnt need them anyway I just liked them so its going to the charity shop,Donating the books to school some toys like last years Cubby bear at 70 quid which was never looked at I will list on fb market place for a week if it doesnt go will send it to charity shop too. I do know I have wasted so much money but it has to go! The space is amazing and you do feel better getting the stuff out.

Original poster
Solodreamer · 20/02/2022 15:04

I've finished my kitchen today. It looks incredible and I have a whole cupboard spare now! The amount of out of date food was disgusting. Dining room tomorrow which shouldn't be as bad. From the kitchen alone, there was half wheely bin of out of date food and 2 carrier bags full of stuff for the charity shop.

OP posts:
Original poster
Solodreamer · 20/02/2022 15:05

I even pulled off the kick board and scrubbed it and oiled the wooden work tops!

OP posts:
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