Books on de-cluttering?

[biggerfeetsmallerboobs]

Can anyone recommend a good book to help me de-clutter my house? I need direction as I know I can't do it on my own! My DD has just started full time school and the whole family are staying over Xmas so now seems a good time to start. TIA

Perhaps you've already discarded this idea but have you thought of using the FLYlady website as a guide?

FLY

Some of her chat isn't to my taste but her ideas and what she's trying to achieve is spot on IMO. I'm still trying to get there.

Good luck!

Thanks Rip, I'll check it out - and cheaper than buying a book!

I'm just starting to read this which I am fairly sure was a MN recommendation.

Thanks Bumperlicious - is the author American or British, do you know? I like the ideas on the FlyLady website but as Rip said, the way she 'speaks' is not to my taste!

You'd be better off starting to read a few decluttering blogs, esp if flylady is not your scene.

zenhabits.net/
www.clearclutterblog.com/
unclutterer.com/
www.becomingminimalist.com/
orgjunkie.com/
www.peaceofmindorganizing.com/
blog.timesunion.com/simplerliving/
smallnotebook.org/

Thanks LittleCheesy, I'll have a look through those this evening. I'm determined to have an organised and clutter-free home in time for Christmas!

Aren't you just making more clutter by buying books on how to 'de-clutter?'

Karen Kingston Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui very motivating as long as you ignore the treehuggy stuff!

You need to de-clutter by category of object rather than by room.

And start with easy things and work up to hard ones.

Eg de-clutter magazines and newspapers and books and cleaning products before clothes!

Thanks for your recommendations (and that's a good point Totoros, might stick with websites!). Ooh, can't imagine de-cluttering my wardrobe, it actually makes me feel sick with dread, it would take me forever. Will start with the kitchen I think, thanks ladies.

Try to imagine you're going to be packing up and moving, and trying to sell your house to total strangers.

(When it comes to the wardrobe, if you have something you haven't worn for two years, take it to a charity shop)

Someone borrowed my Karen Kingston and never gave it back. Possibly I should be grateful that they decluttered it from my house for me..

Flylady's 15 minute tip is a good one. Don't take out more than you couldn't put back in 15 minutes. That means don't do your Whole Wardrobe. Do half of the hanging up stuff, say. Having prepared a couple of charity shop bin liners beforehand, and maybe a box for things that you want to repair/Ebay. And a bin for proper rubbish. Or in your kitchen, just do one drawer, or one shelf at a time.

It's taken x years to get to this stage, so don't beat yourself up if it takes y weeks or even z months to feel that you've made proper inroads. Also, it's an ongoing thing - even though I'm not a hoarder or a clutterer, it's amazing how much "drift" takes place - sometimes I go into a cupboard and think, "How on earth did this get so full?" and I realise it's time for another cull.

Once your house is a completely clutter-free zone, you will, realistically, need to repeat the exercise every six months forever! I try to do it once in September and once in March, to coincide with changes of season/wardrobe.

I BOUGHT SUE KAY'S NO MORE CLUTTERFROM AMAZON.
VERY EASY TO READ AND GOOD TIPS. RECOMMENDED.

I got this from the library;www.amazon.co.uk/Cut-Clutter-Cynthia-Townley-Ewer/dp/140535190X/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286393510&sr=1-6 lots of useful ideas.