Complete Sort out 2012

[lionmummy]

DMIL has had an accident (she is fine, just temporarily incapacitated). She is living with a relative whilst bones heal & I have been helping out but realised that the upstairs of her house is filled with 'stuff' - boxes full of random things that have never been unpacked from moving 4 years ago, washing, clothes & general 'stuff' everywhere. Before she comes home in Jan, SIL and I will need to have a real sort out as it will be a tripping hazard and also just a nightmare to live in cluttered space...but where do we start - any advice/inspiration really helpful here. thanks.

Does MIL want you to do this? Some hoarders would not like it

However, if she does then the 3 box system is good.

box 1 - bin
box 2 - charity
box 3 - to be used/stored properley

Fill the boxes (you might need your MIL there to advise whats what - would be awful if you chucked out something important to her), when full put the charity stuff in the car and store the 'keepers'. Do a bit at a time, particularly with the stuff to be put away elsewhere in the house otherwise you just end up moving piles around! (There speaks the voice of experience )

With the clothes I would round them up into bin bags, and take them down to sort on the kitchen table, 4 piles - charity, clean and ready to go into wardrobe, clean and ready to be stored (summer clothes etc), and dirty or in need of repair.

If storage is a problem have a look at what you think you might need before you start and go to ikea or similar and buy plastic boxes - drawers etc.

Then when your done you can come here and do mine

Thanks so much for this. In theory she says that she wants this as she says that she is mentally weighed down by the clutter plus can't have people to stay as the 2 spare rooms are full of crap...I guess in practicewe'll see when the time comes. Thanks for your response, sounds very logical

I'm a nearly reformed hoarder. I have stuff in my spare room from 2 houses ago! I'm getting there slowly. I understand what she means by being mentally weighed down by it, and letting go is hard, thats where you and SIL come in and keep the pressure on so to speak.