House depressingly cluttered and Christmas has only added to it...

[misspollysdolly]

...AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH!

Somebody tell me, how on earth do you start with the de-cluttering, organising and sorting of all the stuff...?!

We have laundry everywhere and too much stuff in a too small house...coupled with an ability to be ruthless if necessary but a natural inclination to hang on to stuff 'just in case' and 'because it's a shame to get rid'...

Where do I start? How do you work out what (mostly kids') stuff to chuck/rehome/store and what to keep...??

Help me! TIA MPD

IME (also have a small house) you have to get rid of stuff and then stop more stuff coming in, on a one thing in one thing out basis.

If you're not careful you just keep moving stuff around, and at least one room remains a tip.

DDs room will be getting the black bag/charity bag treatment in the morning to make room for her new stuff - should have done it before Christmas but I didn't have time.

Have a look at flylady, I've adapted it to suit me, but I do the basics, a weekly home blessing, splitting the house into zones, declutter before you clean etc etc. It's the only way I can keep on top of things.

Well done at starting it! Hopefully you'll get a sense of satisfaction and want to carry on to the next stage.

After tackling the DCs bedrooms yesterday, I moved on to the arts and crafts/games/junk cupboard today.

Unlike the bedrooms though I had to hide away and do it alone otherwise I would never be allowed to bin one single sheet of scribble artistic masterpiece . I managed another half a bin bag!

Just been browsing on the internet looking for inspiration(ok, my decluttering break has gone on far too long)and I found this website with useful tips.

www.nomoreclutter.co.uk/2006/tips_archive.html

thanks loads for that website tessieb VERY useful

I have an old laundry basket (the tall kind) and throw things in that we don't need / don't like anymore. When it is full, I take it to the Charity Shop.

I've had a charity bag (for clothes only - no other stuff!!!) pushed through my letter box which I am currently filling. It's being collected tomorrow so must remember to put it out!

Tomorrow I'm also hoping to go to the charity shop with a pile of stuff and think I may do a trip to the tip too.

There seems to be stuff everywhere, I have so much sorting and organising to do. Need to take the tree and Christmas decs down too.

How is everyone else getting on with the after Christmas sort out?

Getting myself on this thread for motivation.

Got some important essays to write and then rock and roll- this house will be decluttered to the extreme!