Decluttering day. Where to focus?

[RocketLollyPolly]

My sons are with my sister so I have one day to do as much sorting and decluttering of the house as I can. It feels out of control and I’m spending so much time tidying and still tripping over stuff. What would you focus on to make the most difference in a short time?

I have the car so can do a tip trip and charity shop drop.

Thanks for any wisdom!

The worst room/ area. Only you know what that is.

Clothes? Kitchen? Study? Under the stairs?

Books are easily done in evenings so would skip that.

Choose the god awful thing where everything has to come out.

Worst room is the playroom. I try not to go in it. I could start with that as I can hopefully get rid of some things I know aren’t played with while they’re not here to stop me.

I want to see a difference generally though and not get bogged down with one cupboard or the freezer

I'd just focus on getting rid of stuff as you can do tip runs. It won't matter then what exactly it is. Just get as much into the car in bags and boxes as possible.

Getting stuff out of the house makes the most difference so don't spend any time on things you're deliberating or not sure over. Just start with the most obvious rubbish, broken things, outgrown things, stuff you've been meaning to get rid of for ages etc.

I'd be inclined to start with a cup of coffee, a pen and a piece of paper. Write down which rooms/cupboards/areas of the house look the worst. Then choose the one thing from that list that gives you the most grief. Start there. Finish your coffee first, obviously.

You need three piles - keep (which you can put on your bed for now), charity shop and dump. As soon as you fill a bag or box for either of the last two, take it out to the car immediately to get it out of the way.

I'd start with the kids clothes and coats, shift all of the stuff that's too small.

Then I'd get a timer out and do 15 minutes declutter, 15 minutes sit down, change room and repeat.

Disclaimer: am not the actual Dilly and my house is fairly chaotic!

Make a coffee, get the radio on and just start.

Don't over think things, don't make lists, get off mumsnet! Open windows, grab a bunch of bin bags, throw things out, get charity shop stuff in bags in the car and take them to the charity shop.

It's not gone until it's gone.

But agree do the kid's stuff whilst they are out.

Make a coffee

@frozendaisy great minds think alike!

Toys, then clothes.

Get a bag and put everything that’s broken or no longer played with in.

Get another bag and take out all the clothes they have grown out of or are tatty. Then put aside all the winter clothes that they won’t be needing for a while.

I love decluttering 😍

Agree with coffee and just crack on!

I had yesterday off for a declutter and did three dump runs, one charity shop run and a load of clothes sorting ready for handing down to a friend.

I would say don’t expect to see a massive difference asap - it takes time! I got rid of so much stuff yesterday but I still feel like I’m drowning in stuff everywhere. Don’t put pressure on yourself thinking you have to do it all today. Even if you only clear one cupboard in one room that’s progress!

cold drink and blast that music, you’ll find your natural rhythm.
I too can’t work off lists, I’ll just end up too focused on that rather than the job at hand!

Thanks everyone. No lists. I just need to focus and not get bogged down in looking through stuff. Will start with the porch and shoes/coats which have outgrown I think

We started with the porch, funnily enough.

<See username for current progress in the remainder of the house>

Take photos so you can see the progress immediately. Post them on here if inclined

Get rid of any baby stuff that's not going in a memory box. Ditto for anything DC have outgrown
Then books (specifically baby books).
Then toys.
Final stop for me would be paperwork. (Still struggle with that piling up.)
Rest can wait for another day .
And put it in the car / book top trip do you've got rid rather than just moving out around