I've just had the kitchen professionally decluttered & cleaned.

[BeCool]

Well semi-professionally. A friend came to help me. She has been paid lots of money to do this for the rich & famous & she offered to help me.

I took a big breath, stepped back and let her go for it.

She emptied and cleaned every kitchen cupboard, chucked everything out of date (2005!!!!), reorganised the cupboards, got my entire bench area cleared, and the entire place sparkles. She worked for 9 hours full on, like a dynamo.

I am in awe & I could not have done this on my own. I needed help esp after breaking up with exP at Xmas - I was feeling swamped and stressed (work FT, 2 young DC, overcluttered messy small flat).

I gave the bathroom the same treatment so now 2 rooms are declutterd, deep cleaned and lovely.

Over the weekend I took out 7 large bin bags of rubbish, 2 of recycling, and 1 for charity shop.

I clucked and fretted over throwing away some items - which was ridiculous as I'd forgotten they every existed and haven't used them for years. I guess it's to be expected - after all my very DNA was under attack. I'm relearning retraining reprogramming my thought processes re buying stuff and keeping stuff and giving emotional meaning to stuff. I'm getting emancipated and it's wonderful.

I'm at work today but I want to be at home going through the other rooms :)
I'm finally feeling like stuff can just go.

I feel like life is changing for the better - all because a wonderful kind very energetic dynamic slightly OCD person stepped in & threw stuff out for me! WOW! She want's to take on the rest of the flat with me now.

(so happy I just had to share - the DC's stuff and our clothes are next to be done)

[MN216]

Hi there thanks to Bessie123 and FiveHoursSleep for the positive feedback. Have had a good response to my message upthread offering free decluttering sessions as I develop my planned business but would like to keep the momentum going, so if you live within and hour of Watford and would like a few hours help decluttering in return for some honest feedback, please PM me.

[BeCool]

Yes yes yes re celebrating the spaces in our wardrobes, drawers, cupboards etc. A joy previously unknown to me!

Y'all come and join us on the minimalist thread - "out with the old in with the NOTHING"!

[HopeForTheBest]

I am joining in to say I've done my clothes cupboard and have about 20 items to sell, 10 of which I've already put on ebay, and three whole bagfuls have gone to charity/recycling.
It is a joy to open my clothes cupboard now and gaze upon its lack of mess and crap - and I completely appreciate the spaces between!

Did the kitchen about 2 months ago, it was wonderful!

YAY to decluttering!

Now just need to get on top of the paperwork/junk mail etc....

[Bessie123]

Gah, MN216

[Bessie123]

Ooh yes, MN201 was great, helped me get rid of loads of clutter.

[FiveHoursSleep]

Just to say my kitchen and I had a visit from MN216 today.
She spent hours with us and made such a difference :)
I liked her because she's not a raving minimilist and wasn't urging me to throw everything out; I've had declutterers in before but they tended to be childless and live in tiny flats in central London!
I will definitely be seeing her again :)

[BeCool]

I am determined not to leave my dcs with boxes of things to sort out and have had to learn how to get rid of things as no one had ever taught me. - brilliant!!!! We can learn these important life skills at whatever age.

DD2 has the most gorgeous teddy bear made out of a tea towel!
Tea towels are colelctables and they would be quite quick and easy to ebaY

[gremlindolphin]

I totally agree with only hand down really meaningful things!

I have completely cleared my Mum's house and she is a proper hoarder. I have kept so many things as it seemed wasteful to get rid of them but now can never buy another t-towel as she had 250 brand new ones!

I am determined not to leave my dcs with boxes of things to sort out and have had to learn how to get rid of things as no one had ever taught me.

xx

[MummaBubba123]

Trumpton, thank you! I will try that now!

[Trumpton]

Mumma go to MN216 post and to the right , on the same line as her name , is a "message poster " icon. click on that and away you go.

[MummaBubba123]

I'm strangely excited about finding this thread. Strange - because I'd been depressed and cluttered (latter still applies) for about 4 years!
I'm thinking of starting a Facebook group where we could encourage each other with 'before and after' photos of windowsills, cupboards, rooms, etc. that we need (even) virtual company to tackle. I've been soooo lucky to be found on a MN thread by a kind MNer who I'm doing this with by phone. I've made a start on my dining room. Thanks to her, we can just about sit on the chairs (huge deal) and there's nothing in the table (even bigger deal)! Anyway, I tackled the garage today. We can now walk into it. My bra drawer now opens and closes, thanks to a clear out. I'm wearing my lovely new undies - not the cruddy old things now in the bin.

[MummaBubba123]

I desperately need your help and am in Shenley (near Radlett). 20 mins from you!
I've no idea how to PM you so I hope you get this message, MN216

[UterusUterusGhali]

Making place.

I have gone through the bookcase. Tbh I mostly cleaned and rearranged them. I may need more help!

[mum2jakie]

A really inspiring thread. I'm going to tackle a kitchen cupboard once the kids are in bed. I managed a drawer a few weeks ago. (Small steps...!)

[BeCool]

Nice one Britchic - come and join us in the Minimalist Quiche for ongoing adventures in chucking sorting cleaning and clearing stuff here

[Britchic]

Thanks so much for this thread OP. We are moving country this summer, so I've been thinking about decluttering before the move. Thanks to this thread I've realised that my ideas were a bit tame (few toys,few clothes) I'm now really excited now about my future manic clear outs!!!

[notcitrus]

Ds would like Lion King too - will see when the next subtitled matinee is. Yes, you can get Theatre Tokens...

[notcitrus]

I was happy to get rid of sewing machine but MrNC didn't want to as it was his mum's. Until I told him someone was paying for it and I could have my mum's any time. There were a couple babygros Knowing his mum she's probably got a spare! I wanted to keep that got mixed in, but I'm not really sad to have them go. There are many photos.

Ds age 4 is embracing the idea of getting rid of a toy in order to get a comic each week - all comics have toys on now but it makes him happy and helps keep the clutter down. Unfortunately after years of refusing to do drawing or sticking he is now bringing home wads of craft work. I'm sneaking most of it into the bin within a fortnight and only keeping one every few months.
The collection of pieces of toys in my room is yielding results, getting some full sets, and less to tread on. Eventually dd will be trained out of pulling open drawers and throwing contents everywhere, which I can't easily pick up. I'm supposed to ne sleeping while the cleaner is here so better do that...

[BeCool]

Great work notcitrus !!!! How do you feel re letting sewing machine and baby clothes go?

I'd love DD to see the Lion King show - wonder if you can get Theatre vouchers????

[notcitrus]

Been ill or working, but just sold the sewing machine that in 5 years I've never used, and given away all the outgrown baby clothes, including ones I once intended to sell on eBay and decided I couldn't be bothered. And possibly making inroads into the baby toys.

Thinking what non-clutter presents the GPs can buy is a really good idea, especially as any requests to pay into child trust funds get ignored. I know Sea Life centres do an annual pass...

[BeCool]

I'm talking with everyone about the towel thing. It's contagious.

[BeCool]

I've been planning a folder for all my recipe cards & printouts etc - I organised the folder, the plastic pockets etc. Now I'm thinking I'll just Evernote the lot!!! I hardly use them anyway, but I find it sooo hard to give them up. Also I have oodles of cookbooks too.

Right that's decided then - no recipe folder in my flat. Evernote all the way.

[weloveourfamily]

everything is out of boxes now and has found a place but i foolishly left the previous owners stuff in cupboards rather than throwing out and i really dont know why. So today i shall tackle the kitchen cupboards. i had already thrown out old food and all thats left is blue moulded glasses and chipped plates. aghhh my nightmare.