How much crap can 4 people generate

[Jellycatspyjamas]

We’re having work done to the house and doing a huge declutter in preparation. I swear to god there must be people living in this house that I’ve not met yet, the sheer volume of utter crap I’m finding. Things I don’t remember buying, needing or using. And so much duplicate stuff - how many bottles of cleaning spray does one house need. The answer to that would be 7, of the same thing.

I will never accumulate so much stuff again - I guess it just creeps up on you but bloody hell. Stopped for a cup of tea (in one of 47 mugs). Not a tea spoon to be found, I imagine they’re hiding in the kids bedrooms.

We did a Swedish death clearance two years ago and then another in January this year in preparation for a house move.

I have also stopped buying shit I really don’t need.

My home and life are better for less clutter, it feels like a weight has been lifted.

Well done.

It's crazy how much can accumulate. Sadly it can be very difficult to throw stuff away when it can still be "useful" - Clutter can be such a massive albatross around the neck. And people tend to acquire stuff to fill the house they live in. I recall being much happier when I lived in a nice hotel for a while for a work project - no clutter at all! No "stuff" - everything always tidied. Of course it helped to have a cleaner every day lol!

The trick is to have a list of what consumables you use and what you have in stock. When you notice something is low, and/or you've used the spare, add it onto your shopping list, either in the buy this week column or in buy soon (or on offer) column. Don't get taken in by, purchase 2 get 1 free offers when you use less than 1/2 a bottle a year.

That’s a good point, looking for a bargain on something you then need to give house room too and yes it’s hard when you know you’ll probably use it - just not in the next year cos you have so much already.

And keeping things because someone gave me it, but it literally never gets used. And things I’d use if they weren’t stored in such an awkward place - which will be solved when the kitchen is refitted with all the storage options. It is therapeutic though to just get rid.

Yes, the plan is to have the house clean and clear and then have a cleaner in weekly to help keep on top of things.

You need to give a masterclass!

I had never considered a “buy soon (on offer)” list. That’s a really good idea!

I've decluttered massively over time and the trick to keeping on top of it is not to buy it in the first place. Once the habit of overconsumption is broken it's freeing to not constantly be shopping.

Well… You’re buying it. We only buy one of each product at a time and replace when it’s running out.

So far 30 carrier bags of different strengths, my teenage sons have 20 pairs of shoes between them!!! I've got 3.... one pair of slippers, one pair of black formal shoes (for funerals) and one pair of trainers. De clutter time methinks 😁😂

Yes some of it (most) is stuff we’ve bought but also stuff we’ve been gifted. Every Christmas a novelty hot chocolate mug, or tin with sweets or toiletries, more cuddly toys than anyone needs, so so many books that have been read and outgrown. I’ve just not had a good enough system to move things on when they’re no longer needed. I also need to be much better at avoiding people buying the kids token gifts that are just clutter. And kitchen stuff just seems to multiply - either through gifting (people know I’m a keen cook and tend to buy kitchen gifts) or through buying a new whatever but not throwing the old broken or worn one out.

Clearing the house is such a commentary on your wider habits.