Oh FFS! How the feck did the house get so cluttered (again!)

[paintyourbox]

I did a mass clear out when I was pg (nesting instinct is great!) but we are in a mess again.

We both work 45+ hours per week and slowly bit surely the house is once again full of clutter. Nothing has a place, I can't ever seem to find anything and we now can't get in to the utility room (aside from a small path to the washing machine!)

I can't believe it's in this mess again. The main barrier is lack of time and DPs reluctance to get rid of anything but we are moving house soon so we need to get rid!

Where do I even start?! Feel like I have no clue and its totally overwhelming!

My top tip is when you put something down put it in its place as otherwise you have to move it again later !
For now choose a room and spend twenty minutes putting things away where they belong that should make a difference.

When you declutter, don't keep buying more things to replace the clutter that's gone or its a never ending cycle

I feel like its a never ending cycle already noisy

I decided to tackle DDs room and have cleared out all her clothes that don't fit, got rid of 3 black bags of stuff to the tip and have a box of stuff to drop at the charity shop tomorrow.

I was in a good mood until DP announced that he has a stg do already planned for the weekend I booked of work to go visit some friends. Grrrrr why can't he be organised and use the calendar!

Small victories today- cleared our room (it wasn't too bad as did it not too long ago)

One black bag to charity, lots of stuff binned and a heap of paperwork shredded.

Tonight decided to tackle one kitchen cupboard and cleared out the cupboard under the sink. We have multiples of cleaning products in various states of use so I've moved all the half used stuff to the front so it will go first.

Can I join? I stayed in a caravan the other week and it was so lovely and minimalist I dreaded coming back to clutter towers

Go for it Ham

It's going to be small steps at a time but we can conquer the clutter!

Ill try. The cluster feeding baby isn't helping. I find fly lady helps a bit but I've dropped the ball lately

How's it going Ham?

Have been productive already this morning, two bags of toys, some cushions and clothes all bagged up to go to the charity shop, DP is going to give me a lift there this morning.

No idea what to do with the millions of baby bottles we have accumulated! DD refused most of them so they've literally been used once and that's it!

It's been worse....living room is good as had to pretty much remove everything due to dd2. Been out on the sun so much the playroom is v tidy.
My hot spots are hallway kitchen bathroom and my bedroom. I can't even talk to you about the spare room!

My life is one long declutter. Every time I leave the house in the morning I try not to look at the mess everywhere. I'm such a slob! How did I get like this?

paintyourbox, offer the bottles on freecycle, or to a local refuge?

Identifying hotspots is helpful I think, also what kind of stuff is it that's accumulating? What can you put in place to stop that happening? Whether it's appropriate storage, or moving storage, ie. no point keeping coats in the hallway if everybody takes them off at the back door, or a better system ie. changing to online billing to reduce amount if post through the door.

Hi Dirtypaws where is the clutter worst? I have found the 15 minute timer exercise very useful for decluttering in manageable amounts.

I think I will list the bottles on Freecycle IWipeArses
In terms of what type of stuff is accumulating, it's general household junk. The utility is terrible at the moment, it houses recycling bins, two shoe racks full of (DPs) shoes and millions of coats. The surfaces are covered with ironing and you can hardly walk in the room without falling over something- all very depressing!

Mmmm I'd say upstairs in the bedrooms, especially kids room. Was in there again today for a clear out. I bought two storage boxes for them but I wonder if it's just going to be another box hanging around! I get so down with all the clothes hanging around, theres not enought space and I feel guilty for not being stricter with them - and myself!

Front room is probably the most clutter free but it still ends up messy sometimes. I think this is because I know if we have kids friends dropping in all the time I'm busy straighting things up! I still get embarrassed!

Kitchen is a bit hit and miss. Problem is usually to do with lack of energy and stuff. My dsis is a complete neat freak and I'm always amazed at how pristine her show home is. How/where/what? I can't understand how people can keep on top of it?

Ha ha, just realised the irony of my name! Dsis would be pristinequeen

I know exactly what you mean dirtypaws several of my friends have totally clutter free, pristine homes and manage it despite having babies!

I can only conclude that it's lack of clutter that allows them to keep everything so neat. We are bursting at the seams with "stuff" and it seems to make any tidying futile.

I cleaned out the bathroom cupboard today and got rid of all the half used shampoos, body lotions etc so it's lots neater. Then while DD was in the bath I cleaned the sink and toilet etc. Its the one room that looks decent!

Woohoo, tackles the utility room today. It was the room I was dreading the most but I chucked 2 black bags of stuff and sorted another one for charity.

Then I gave it a thorough clean and started work on the ironing mountain. My goal is to iron everything in the basket by the end of the weekend

I think that particularly when you have children, it is a constant cycle.

Sorting clothes, sorting toys, sorting various art and craft creations...

You are totally right notcontent, two of my close friends are pg and I have saved lots of baby stuff for them- everything from baby changer to bouncy chair to clothes.

I am really glad someone will get good use of the items, some of the clothes are "fourth" hand by now but it does mean it's all bagged up and taking up lots of room in the house.