Decluttering help

[Silverbirch2]

Seriously need to declutter. We dont have a lot of storage and seem to be over flowing with stuff-coats, shoes, clothes, toys etc but honestly I dont know where to start!
Winter coats/shoes- do you pack these away for summer? We have hanging rail on wall in hall so it looks cluttered if lots there.
Clothes- same- pack away in loft?
Toys- 2 dc and need to get rid of lots or at least rotate I think.

Any help please send it this way!

Are you on pinterest or instagram? There are lots of pins and many instagram accounts that would help you.

First piece of advice is to break it down; don't think about ALL the things you have to do at once or you'll become overwhelmed and it will paralyse you.

So you start with one area, say coats for example and separate into don't want/have holes/too small etc, want but not weather appropriate/special occasions, want and suitable for current season. Go through this with all your different areas that need decluttering.

Then you should have a pile of things to get rid of either by taking to tip, selling or donating, a pile of things you need or want to keep but don't use all the time and therefore need storing somewhere, and a pile of things you want to keep where they are.

From there you can organise collections, donations, giving to family and friends, selling or giving away through FB marketplace/ebay/vinted etc.

You can also now look at what you have and purchase any boxes/caddies/vacuum bags etc and think of where you are going to store them. Attic? Basement? Cupboard under the stairs? Garage?

Hope this is helpful, signed a decluttering and organisation enthusiast.

@restedbutexhausted yes it is helpful- thank you! That's exactly my problem- I'm paralysed by the sheer amount I need to do! You're right- I'll start with coats as I see them as soon as I come in and they annoy me!

I find sometimes that just by starting with something that is very irritating, you feel like a weight is lifted once you've done that thing.

You've got this 💪

Do you have a loft? Our big coats get washed and put into storage bags in the loft. I leave a raincoat and lightweight coat/fleece for each of us.

I think if you are needing to put winter clothes away you've possibly got too many clothes. Rule of thumb is anything you've not work in the last year needs to go, or at least store it away for a while 'just in case'.

Rotating toys is a good idea but declutter and donate anything too young or likely to not be played with again.

Decluttering is hard but once you get an area cleared you sort of get momentum going and want to do more.

One tip is to put charity stuff in your car boot, so it's out of the house and ready for the charity shop. Or you could offer stuff for free on fb marketplace and get people to pick it up.

And the pile of bits at the end. Either dont end up with it or deal with it before you walk away from the task. Otherwise you are sabotaging your own efforts.

Google Dana K White and A Slob Comes Clean. Don't be put off by the title! Her starting place is get rid of the rubbish first, then the duh clutter (outgrown clothes and toys etc)

www.aslobcomesclean.com/2011/04/how-to-start-cleaning-up-when-you-dont/

Good luck!

Just go and do 5 things. Right now. Then 5 more. Slowly but surely. Rather than rip the house to pieces.

I am the same! I have ADHD and struggle massively with organisation. I have been selling my children’s outgrown clothes on Vinted. I will be watching this thread!

As others have said, the best way to get something done, is to just start.

And once you make progress, be very mindful what you buy and don't clog up the house with crap.

My tips..

. be honest. Will that coat fit the child next winter. Is that one too raggedy to pass down.

• everyone help. I did shoes last week... I got them all paired up, then everyone had to claim their own and try on, check for wear etc.

• do it regularly.

Start with easy stuff. The low hanging fruit.

Unused things, broken things, outgrown things. Things you have multiples off. Things you just don't like.

Do that quickly as you can and without overthinking.

And REMOVE from your house. This is part of the job.

Only keep the BEST to sell or it will be hanging around in piles.

Doing all of this will feel great and give you momentum to do more.

Ok just checked back, thanks for advice, I've done the coats- ready for loft. Also cleared a cupboard 😊

Should add I have 4 coats that are too small so will pass these on!

You need to put them in the loft now. And you need to remove the surplus now.