Decluttering but things don't seem to be improving

[Jemster]

Hi
I've had a good look at the minimalist threads and other great decluttering tips on here. As a result I have got rid of lots since the new year but my house still seems cluttered and disorganised.

The worst things are the clothes. They are everywhere, dropped on floor in sons room, 2 laundry bins always overflowing, piles on the floor waiting to be washed and baskets of dry stuff from the dryer. Then piles of stuff to be put away. My dh dabbles in the washing and I'm sure he washes things after one wear when they don't need it.

The other main problem is paper. It is everywhere. Not piles of it but just bits like notes from school, ds's writing practice and pictures, mail, stuff that needs reading that I never get a chance to read!

I feel like I'm chasing my tail and the mess makes me feel stressed and irritable. Our house is not big and the living room is basically just one big dumping ground.

I thought I was doing so well with the decluttering but now am feeling fed up with it all. Where am I going wrong?

Have you got too many clothes? Do you need to get rid of a load? I went through my wardrobe last week and binned a full bin liner of my own, and will do the same for the children this week. Anything scruffy, ill fitting, in need of mending (unless very much loved),unworn for ages, unlikely to be worn again - has gone and I feel wonderful for it. I have ironed everything else and put it away beautifully with lavender bags. It motivates me to keep it like that.

As to laundry, you need to be very strict with yourself and make DH do it too - COMPLETE THE JOB EVERY TIME. Don't ever have baskets of dry laundry or piles of stuff to put away. It only takes 5 minutes to complete the job, just do it.

How old is your son? Tell him anything left on the floor will be binned. If he has a laundry basket of his own in his own room there is no excuse even if he is 3. Insist on dirty clothes being put in there each and every time and never do it yourself.

Agree with richards perhaps you need to clear out your clothes and then look at how to store them more efficiently?

OP I find it really helpful to have a routine for laundry. Boring but effective.

Mon - clothes (sorted into 2-3 loads)
Tues - bedding (I change our/dc beds on alternate weeks - in theory anyway!)
Wed - towels
Thurs - delicates
Fri - uniform

First thing I do in the morning is put that day's wash on and crucially put away the previous day's dry stuff I iron only the minimum and try to do that on Tues evening in front of the TV.

Still working on the paper... although opening post over the recycling bin helps a bit... I'll have to get back to you on that one!

I have a moto , it does not always work but most of the time it does : If i have something in my hand I put it down where it belongs and not somewhere else. Washing is done on a daily basis, first thing in the morning I hang the washing ot and put away the dry washing.
For paper invest in a couple of filing boxes or files, go around the house and collect all the paper and divide it into piles that work for you . For example you could have an invoices to be paid pile, recycling pile, art work pile, and so on. You can store all the items and their boxes and deal with a box at a time. Decide what you have to keep ( invoices can be scanned and kept online if you like or kept in a file or box ). Once you have a system you can easily deal with the paper as it comes into the house. All school dates go in the diary and then live on the fridge if I need to keep them . For the stuff you want to read decide on an evening that will be your reading evening until you are up to date. Or you could just decide that whatever you have not read by x date will be ditched. For the kids writing practice, why not invest in a book and stick them all in there if you want to keep them . Take photos of the artwork and only keep the most special bits.

These are just some ideas to get you going, you have to find a system that works for you.

way too many clothes, by the sound of it -stop buying unless your son needs stuff he has outgrown, and start culling.

paper - I agree with the 'touch it once' idea. Try to deal with things as they come in, and to minimise what does come in. All statements go to online, get off all mailing lists (it can be done), photograph child artwork and then bin it.

BTW you have only one child, stop cleaning up after the other adult.

Thanks for the ideas, I think too many clothes could be right. I have a 10 month old dd too and she gets through a lot of washing too due to constant drooling and finger foods. I am guilty of buying her things too much probably

I've just been putting dh's pants away, there were loads! How many pants does one man need fgs!
I have chucked lots of mine already, my wardrobe is now very empty. Need to do the same with the others I think.
My ds should certainly be putting his bits in laundry bin, he is 5. I need to be firmer about him tidying up his mess in general.

Can you go paper free? All our bills etc are online nothing gets sent though on paper ( bank/ utilities/ rent/ purchases etc)

We use phone/ iPad/ email for notes so nothing gets lost and no scraps of paper.

All children's drawings etc done in a pad/ art book so no random pieces as all in one place ( we use the black art sketch books)

Does you school have an email option for newsletters or can you ask? Easier to add straight to gmail calender and no paper

I would sort clothes so not too many, and rewear clean items ( jumpers/ jeans etc). Does 5 year old get changed after school?

Hi all our bills are paperless and we use email alot. The school do email newsletters but seem to send other stuff home on paper which I like to put somewhere I can see to remind me of it. The worst paper problem at the moment is ds's little drawings and scribbles. He's only just started school and he's enjoying practicing things he's learnt but then he goes to bed and just leaves it all over the place. Forever, great the idea of a notepad, I will get him one to keep it all together.

Really need to work on the clothes, this house isn't big enough for them all!

A man needs five pairs of pants and that's it .

Two suggestions - every time you do a wash, bag it up and put it out of sight. You'll soon realise what you've got too much of and what you need on a regular basis.

The second is not to have any washing baskets. Some of us on the minimalist quiche thread (including me) don't and it keeps life simple - when the washing machine is full, you turn it on as there's nowhere to store dirty washing.

Agree that too many clothes makes too much mess-am decluttering currently due to moving in the summer and it's a nightmare. New theory is if I didn't like it that much for DS2, don't save it for DS3. Makes me feel like I'm wasting money but DS2 had too much in the beginning (were donated loads and MIL likes shopping) but DS3 will get given some anyway. Also, if there are marks, holes, any of excuse I can think of I get rid of mine. I suspect that when I'm on top of it I'll have to be more efficient with clothes washing.

As for paperwork, I made a 'post bag' which is by the front door-it goes off the mat to there (if it's not for me) and then from there things get binned or put in some paper drawers we have. Making recycling choices early (and making a note in the diary instead of keeping school letters) really makes the difference!

I don't think pants are the problem, I'd be peeved if you tossed my pants (I need more than 5prs).

I am guilty of buying her things too much probably

think this might be the root issue.

I nearly brought DD1 a load of new clothes on the weekend. Then I remembered she doesn't need anything, wears school uniform and her drawers are stuffed! Put it all back! Hooray for one small change/victory.

I mainly buy more for dd as she goes through so many clothes dribbling and weaning. Haven't bought any for ds for ages or myself as refuse until I lose baby weight. I think dh has got more than all of us and he is very keen on washing, almost obsessive!