To ask for your de-cluttering/organisational/storage tips

[mollyminniemo]

Am very stressed- we have this weekend to clear loft out before builders move in for loft extension next week. We moved in 1 year ago, our DC arrived 1 month early a week after we moved in... hence we plonked lots of removal boxes containing non essentials up in loft - getting bits down little by little as/when we needed them.

There are still maybe 5 full boxes of crap and loads of rubbish around them. A lot if it is clothes- I know I have to be ruthless- charity/throw/keep. But going through piles of these even- how do you sort - if there is clothes to be washed- then that needs to go in a pile- but then surely has to be resorted once clean and dry yet again into the piles for store/keep &hang/charity- its all too much sorting!! How do you store your clothes/organise your wardrobe in best way please?
What do you all do with keepsakes/memories i.e. letters/cards/books/photos- that you will barely ever look at but dont want to throw away? Any suggestions from anally neat/organised/Monica from Friends type people (I want to BE YOU) so so welcome, thanks!

For clothes I do 'yes, no, maybe so'.
Every single thing out of the closet at once, as soon as you pick up a piece, it is yes (put it away right now) no (out/trash/recycling) or maybe so (needs a wash first, mending, tried on , etc) go in a basket to deal with at the end.
I find if I don't distract myself, it goes pretty quick. Keep all the dithering and deciding to end, when you have more time and space and you have a clearer idea of what you are keeping and what you've already let go

Clear plastic storage boxes, 28 litre to 90 litre.
Absolutely put a stop to the confusion of 'things' in my house.
Make 'stuff' so much easier to organise, collate, store, and when you realise you haven't opened a box for a year, to give/throw away.

Honestly if it's been in the loft for a year and you haven't needed it I would take the boxes straight to the tip. But I hate clutter and am currently trying desperately to get back my minimalist life with a 7 month DD and partner who seems to accumulate stuff.

I'll probably get in trouble for saying this but honestly, with the clothes unless they are nice quality and in great condition I'd just chuck them. It really isn't worth the effort of washing and sorting them.

With books, I have two bookcases and what I can fit on them is all I keep. The rest I gave away.

Letters, I keep in a large tin. They are very precious to me.

Photos, I have in a box. I hope one day to have a sort through, scan in old ones and make photo books.

Old cards, I chucked actually.

I keep two bags in my spare room - one for DS's old clothes to be passed on to a friend with a younger son and one for the charity shop. All clean clothes get sorted in the spare room anyway so it's just a case of chucking them into the appropriate bag. I periodically have a sort out of mine/DS's wardrobes but everything in there is clean anyway so can go straight into the bag.

Only keep the stuff that you love.
If in doubt, chuck it out.
(Obv gift or recycle where possible).