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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To feel this overwhelmed by decluttering

61 replies

Wowz · 15/04/2023 19:01

Put an offer in on a house, just going through the process at the moment. Thought I would be organised and have started to declutter. I'm going room by room. So far I've done the kitchen, every cupboard, onto of the cupboard, freezer, drawers, the lot. I really enjoyed doing it at the time but then when I finished and realised how long it took me, I just want to cry at the thought of doing the rest of the house. I work part time and the days I'm not at work I have a 2 year old wanting my attention and putting items back into cupboards and draws.

AIBU to just give up, take everything to the new house and hide it in a shed?

OP posts:

Theelephantinthecastle · 16/04/2023 10:16

I personally found it easier to do after moving - paid for an unpacking service and booked a charity shop collection for 5 days after moving, as I unpacked I sorted and the charity shop got 8 huge boxes and some bags...

sashagabadon · 16/04/2023 10:18

Could you just hire a skip and chuck stuff in there?

tothelefttotheleft · 16/04/2023 10:41

@DonttouchthatLarry

Did you return stuff to Trevor?

DonttouchthatLarry · 16/04/2023 10:57

tothelefttotheleft · 16/04/2023 10:41

@DonttouchthatLarry

Did you return stuff to Trevor?

No I did not! Although if he'd been nearby I'd have happily dumped it on his front garden (think he moved a few hundred miles away and it was 20 odd years ago).

I simply separated all the paper, plastic and metal for recycling, I wasn't 'sorting' through it for any other reason. There was loads of personal work stuff in there, people's job applications, forms, meeting minutes, reports, plans/blueprints. If it wasn't so long ago I'm sure the companies would have been interested in him leaving confidential stuff.

If I'd known DH when MIL moved to the house I wouldn't have let it go (after 2 whole days of sorting/moving his stuff that could have been spent clearing MIL's things I'm still fuming with Trevor a week later 😄).

And if Trevor's ex wife A is on here all your lovely college work of fashion designs, beautiful embroidery and weaving samples all went in the bin too!

Whiskeypowers · 16/04/2023 11:08

highly recommend a skip. It was so cathartic chucking piles of rubbish in there.
also things like “pass it on “ on Facebook or other similar pages - people seem to be lining up on there for things being given away especially kids things and household items
definitely one room or theme at a time or it will overwhelm you.

caringcarer · 16/04/2023 11:17

You have done the kitchen which is definitely the hardest room. My bedroom and clothing is the next worst as I do keep too much clothes. As I have put on weight and bought bigger clothes I've kept smaller in case I can lose weight and wear it again. We put clutter in a spare bedroom and now that would be a nightmare to declutter. I want to downsize from a 6 bedroom to a 3 bedroom when my youngest son moves into his own house at the end of this month, but DH point blank refuses. I'm pretty much sure the thought of decluttering and getting rid of extra furniture is stopping him.

Lulabelleblue · 16/04/2023 11:33

Rather than going room by room do it by categories.

So clothes and shoes first- yours, your husband's and toddler's, even though the clothes are in different rooms this is one job. Take to charity shop/clothing bin when done.

Then childrens toys/books

Then your books/dvd's/CD's

Another day focus on just going through paperwork/ old post.

On another day you might decide to go through the airing cupboard.

I find this way much easier and less overwhelming than trying to tackle a whole room at once, with all sorts of different items to try and organise. But well done on the kitchen!

ClaraBourne · 16/04/2023 12:46

De clutter as you pack up the house? It seems bonkers to go through all the stuff then have to do it all to pack.

Get a hippo bag for the rubbish while you pack and a pile for donating. Get a collection from a charity that will collect.

Original poster

Wowz · 18/04/2023 18:44

So I've done the sideboard and the cupboard under the sink, slowly winning. I feels so stressed when I've got all the items out, but great satisfaction at how little goes back in. I've ran out of packing boxes now though, so can't pack things as I go along.

OP posts:

BigTedLittleTedCardboardBox · 18/04/2023 18:58

Decluttering with toddlers is hard. One drawer, one shelf, one box at a time, whatever you can fit in here and there and it will get done. You'll still wonder why you bothered moving so many things a year after you move nonetheless.

BasiliskStare · 28/12/2023 21:33

@Wowz - Just doing some I find made me feel better . I had 4000 books and never wanted to throw any away. Once I started it was so cathartic. When we downsized we put a lot of stuff into a storage unit. Once I got it out I thought O good Gideon why have have I kept this. So gave lots of stuff away and there is one thing I regret out of many - but the rest of it I am glad I got rid of it.

Also when we had to clear out DMIL's and DFIL's house - Oh my goodness they just kept stuff which no-one wanted . Go round @ OP and just get rid of stuff however you do not need. I'll bet a pound to a penny you will feel better for it.

All best to you

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