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Original poster

How does decluttering make you feel?

95 replies

Elllieuk · 30/08/2023 12:01

Maybe I'm having a Britney moment but I feel like just getting rid of all my clothes and starting again, and getting rid of stuff all round the house. It's hard to get rid of clothes when I've spent so many years getting them but I never feel like I have anything to wear and they're not good brands or anything (mainly high street and primark etc). Looking to hear some inspiration from those of you who have decluttered (clothes and or house) and did it have a positive effect on you?

OP posts:
ButterRoad · 31/08/2023 08:02

Assuming you’re not actually a hoarder who is living up to the chin in plastic bags of junk, the only thing I feel about ‘decluttering’ is roughly what I feel about tidying — waste of time that could be spent on something more enjoyable.

Basketofbobbins · 31/08/2023 08:04

ThelmaBorden · 30/08/2023 13:19

declutterers regret is a terrible thing

Yes I have to agree. You need to be in the right mindset for it - sometimes taking the bull by the horns and being ruthless feels good at the time but I have taken this approach with clothes before and later regretted it and I still miss a few items!

Gnomegnomegnome · 31/08/2023 08:07

We did a big declutter recently. It was easier than I thought once we started and I agree with whoever said it does make you think about what you are bringing into the home afterwards.

Duechristmas · 31/08/2023 08:39

Marie Kondo inspired us to do this and prevented re-clutter too.
If you find yourself needing'storage solutions' you likely have more than you need, having a good clear out if great.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/08/2023 08:42

I'm in the process of doing it now,my house is always tidy and visitor ready but oh my goodness the utter unnecessary crap in drawers and cupboards is ridiculous!

Do a drawer at a time so it doesn't become overwhelming.

It makes me feel lighter and free and I love knowing exactly where something is when I'm looking for it.

user1471538283 · 31/08/2023 08:46

It's a big job but once it's done I always feel great! It is a process though.

I decluttered when I moved from a 3 bed house to a 2 bed apartment and I didn't miss anything. But we've moved again and I've got to do it again. Too much stuff makes me feel anxious. I've still got stuff I haven't worn for years so I need to go through it all properly.

Dandelion7 · 31/08/2023 08:51

I love a declutter. We've just done a big one and the whole house is lighter and kids happier. Marie kondo for us. I don't bother with the excessively neat folding etc but the category order is brilliant. So I took all clothes from everywhere in the house first and "thanked it for its service" if I knew we wouldn't wear again. Its the only way I can get rid of things like a dress I wore to a wedding 5 years ago and loved, but know I'll never wear again. The "papers" category was hardest. I spent a whole day working out why I'd kept end of year tax notifications from 1998 and in what event I'd ever need them.

Escapetofrance · 31/08/2023 09:11

I love decluttering. Nothing quite like the feeling afterwards when everything has a place and your home feels calm & peaceful.

KSJR · 31/08/2023 09:16

We have a 6 month rule, if you haven’t used it, played with it, worn it or seen it in 6 months out the door it goes. We do this every May before holidays/birthdays and every November before Christmas. I always feel so much lighter once it’s done.

MissHarrietBede · 31/08/2023 09:52

I look at the ‘stuff’ and start feeling awful about ‘wasted money’ and start adding up how much I’ve spent and what I could have spent it on.

Sunk cost Fallacy.

Deadringer · 31/08/2023 09:54

I feel 'lighter' when I get rid of stuff, lighter in body, in mood, everything. It's a great feeling.

HelpMeGetThrough · 31/08/2023 09:59

Our house is pretty minimalist, no ornaments or stuff like that, but there are still some areas that make my teeth itch.

My ideal would be to get a skip and sack off 3/4 of what's in the garage, but my OH isn't keen.

We were at my mum and dads the other day and they were talking about all the stuff in their loft from our childhood. I had to make the right noises and say there "of course there would be things I'll want to keep". My brother was there and onboard with keeping stuff, me, nah, when the time comes, I'll get rid of what was mine, I don't want it cluttering up my life, I haven't seen it for 40+ years!!! They'll know nothing about it, so for the moment I'll keep the peace and say the right things.

Divebar2021 · 31/08/2023 10:20

I enjoy decluttering but I wouldn’t attach a time limit on it. Haven’t used it for 6 months? Well I can think of a dozen things I haven’t used for 6 months like jumpers and boots. I have a Northface ski outfit and haven’t skied in the last 6 months, swimsuits and beachwear because we did a different type of holiday etc so they haven’t been used. It doesn’t mean you need to get rid of those things.

Tonight1 · 31/08/2023 10:24

Can you put anything in a skip? Are there any restrictions?

BeCuriousNotJudgemental · 31/08/2023 10:46

September is my decluttering month I have decided!

Made a little start today with paperwork - gives me a content feeling in the main ..

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 31/08/2023 10:58

I love a declutter. Live in a flat so have a good clear out at least once a year. It feels amazing to have a calm and clear home.

We have a rule that nothing goes on a flat surface. So within shelves and cupboards is fine but nothing has a home on top of a cupboard or on the table.

CoteDOpale · 31/08/2023 11:04

Euphoric, no exaggeration. The less crap I have, the happier I feel. My head has less static, my focus is better, I feel calmer, I’m more comfortable in my surroundings. It’s great.

Fruitynutcase · 31/08/2023 11:09

Dandelion7 · 31/08/2023 08:51

I love a declutter. We've just done a big one and the whole house is lighter and kids happier. Marie kondo for us. I don't bother with the excessively neat folding etc but the category order is brilliant. So I took all clothes from everywhere in the house first and "thanked it for its service" if I knew we wouldn't wear again. Its the only way I can get rid of things like a dress I wore to a wedding 5 years ago and loved, but know I'll never wear again. The "papers" category was hardest. I spent a whole day working out why I'd kept end of year tax notifications from 1998 and in what event I'd ever need them.

With paper work just take a photo of it .

teaforall · 31/08/2023 11:17

We have a four bed and I've been decluttering since lockdown. DH's idea of tidying is to stuff things into carrier bags and tie it with a knot. He also likes to have 2/3 versions of things 'just in case'. This is fair enough but it makes me declutter otherwise I get overwhelmed with hidden stuff we don't need or even know we have.

I did my wardrobe recently and that makes life so much easier. DH then did the same to his (slim hangers etc) and loved it.

I don't mind the mess the kids make. It's all the things we don't need stuffed into places that makes me anxious for some reason.

I charity shop or sell outgrown things.

Follow ThisGirlCanOrganise on Insta.

Loopylooni · 31/08/2023 11:18

I feel amazing when decluttering however i have tons of stuff from moving houses/relationship breakdowns. I have done a decent job with clothes but have so much children's plastic stuff in 3 big boxes. My cleaner is brilliant at decluttering so im just taking notes from her!

userxx · 31/08/2023 11:23

KSJR · 31/08/2023 09:16

We have a 6 month rule, if you haven’t used it, played with it, worn it or seen it in 6 months out the door it goes. We do this every May before holidays/birthdays and every November before Christmas. I always feel so much lighter once it’s done.

I like this rule! Think I'll follow it too.

MegaClutterSlut · 31/08/2023 11:47

I declutter a few times a year and save it up in the loft to do a bootsale once or twice a year in October. I normally make about £200 per time. We still have a lot of stuff though so do want to thin it out a lot more

Hiddenmnetter · 31/08/2023 11:52

Regret over the cost of things to be disposed of is a false economy. Treat them as what they are- worthless junk. Did you waste money buying them? Yes- but it’s gone now. It serves NO purpose to hold on just cause it cost money. The idea that if you hold on to sell them only works if you actually do it. My DW has just, after years of resisting, brutally cleared out about 4 rooms worth of junk. She’s been resisting getting rid for years (4+ years), “I’ll sell it” etc etc, but it’s so much better and she feels so much happier with it gone.

Zipps · 31/08/2023 11:52

Having only the stuff you love and/or use and space and a place for everything is freeing.
It's a relief letting go of things that no longer serve you which include unwanted gifts.
Not replacing things or filling up the space you have created saves you a fortune and is less stuff to manage, maintain and clean.
Get rid of clothes that are tatty, don't fit, aren't your style, don't fit your lifestyle. What's the point in wearing things you don't really like/are uncomfortable/ outdated etc?
Have a strict criteria for what you allow in your house and wardrobe.
Then you'll be surrounded by only the beautiful or useful.

dontgobaconmyheart · 31/08/2023 12:17

I'm a bit of reformed hoarder and have got nothing but benefits from it. The process but mainly the lifestyle afterwards. Relaxing at home with no clutter, a place for everything, no rammed drawers or boxes is such a nice feeling.

I have a clear out quarterly/seasonally and get rid of anything that hasn't been used or I no longer love - pick out a few bits that might be worth putting on ebay and anything else goes to charity in the hope someone else can make use of it or enjoy it more than I am.

These days there's very little in the house that needs to go so it's usually just a small bag or the odd bit of furniture or something. We've got nothing in the loft now, very little in the shed other than the genuinely necessary. All my clothes including coats fit in one single wardrobe (plus a couple of drawers in a chest for undies etc). The rooms are able to now have in just the minimum of furniture in places furniture would naturally fit which makes them look much bigger and much more cohesive. Cleaning and tidying is much easier and often even enjoyable.

In a tangent to minimising what I have at home I also switched to buying a lot less and that's also improved my life and finances. Seeing something you like doesn't mean it has to come home with you, I won't buy anything if there isn't already somewhere for it to go and I certainly won't buy storage or furniture storage just to accommodate things I want to keep that don't get used - I'd get rid of them or reduce them down before I did that.

RE: clearing out clothes I get rid of - anything that doesn't fit or isn't comfortable, anything I've not worn in the last 6-12 months (unless it's something useful like a waterproof coat or wellies), anything that no longer suits my lifestyle (eg no formalwear). When buying clothes if I've not worn them within the returns window or have reached for them and then gone for something else, they go back because there's obviously something I'm not sure of. I don't associate guilt with any of it and just focus on the fact this is a positive for me at this time.