The Hoarders Anonymous Thread. Sorting It Out.

[Solo]

There was a thread that I was involved in some time ago which was started by someone trying to understand why her Dh kept so much 'stuff' and couldn't throw anything away.

The thread quickly turned into a support thread for many MN hoarders and there was a large support network that evolved from that thread.

Eventually, the thread died and with it, certainly my 'support and encouragement mates' circle...

From other threads where lovely Mumsnetters have supported and given rl help, there have come other hoarders, untidy people and those who are just plain stuck in a rut admitting they have a problem. People like me that have become emotionally attached to stuff and it has taken over their homes and their lives. People that cannot cope after loss of different types (parent, relationship, job etc) and it just turns into one big nightmare ~ it certainly did for me following my relationship breakdown, my Dad dying and another nine people in my life passing away inside 11 months.
Personally, I feel that being unable to let anyone in through my front door means that no one can hurt me; I've pulled up the drawbridge, so no one can get to me and shoot me again.

I've always been a bit of a collector of things. I'm a make do and mend type and I can make something out of nothing. Trouble is that once I started to lose important things (people mainly) from my life, I felt unable to let anything made of something go...what if I could never get or have another?! that'd be terrible right?

So! that is a part of my story and here is a thread of support and encouragement (I hope) for others feeling overwhelmed by their hoarding, clutter and stuff. I am hoping that I can get my life sorted out and that there are others that will come along on the journey and perhaps also sort out their homes and lives.

I want to raise my drawbridge and invite friends in. Anyone else? :)

Wow Babies!! just WoW!! very impressed :)

Good luck for Saturday.

Decided to finish off toy sort on Monday, when my mother is around to help.

Got new duvet and curtains for our room from Argos today and DH found a pot of paint in the garage, we bought for our room months ago and never used. So tomorrow we are both working on our room. :)

Finished toys Monday. Today I found our room, it was under all the stuff I was going to deal with....one day, lol

Used the Dyson loads, took photos for review.

Wow, room looks so empty, if you ignore the wall with bookcases full of stuff...next job.

I have three bags of paperwork dowmstairs to sort out and an echoey bedroom to sleep in !

Then the battle of the hidden clutter begins. ?.draws, cupboards and under beds.

Cor Babies! I feel put to shame. I've had two days out this week, so not done anything yet. I'm going to get going tomorrow though :)

Oh and I've actually ordered one of those Dysons off ebay too!!!

Haven't touched paperwork mountain....ignoring it as far as possible, lol

Removed one set of shelves and chest of drawers to be chucked...yeah

Bought in two set of small shelves and a kids storage unit...boo

The incoming items mean I can sell/remove three massive floor to ceiling shelving units and the kids storage is needed.

Have been clearing out box by box but into storage unit. It seems to be a way of making the space to think. Maybe just putting off the problem but I can see that I could get a cleaner, clearer house and then tackle the boxes one at a time - off site. There are some things that I find that I know can go - and I have chucked them away - but I haven't felt the pressure to get rid of stuff.

It has been slow as I have been both busy at work and not very well but I feel hopeful.

You both sound as though things are happening. Well done both!!

I have done nothing. Bad Solo :( I'm angry at myself because it's my big birthday in 2 weeks and I could've had people over; 'cept I can't.

Sorted through and organised some of my kitchen cabinets today. Unfortunately discovered that the biggest (2 doubles) is coming away from the wall! not good.

Have now got my medicines in a logical order in three opaque boxes. All my spices and various other foodie bit in baskets in the cupboard, so I can pull the basket out to find what I need/want with no effort.
Tidied and sorted the (on) top of the fridge.

Cleaned bathroom of limescale (again) today too.
Did another load of washing.

Pleased with today!

Sounds like you are doing well, Solo. Good on you :)

We have been battling the mother of all D&V bugs in this house and the amount of washing has been the stuff of nightmares.

The house is ok today, I have a reasonable house. Exceptions being the table of paperwork I was aiming to sort out before I had four children puking on me...so no progress there.

I have been doing so much washing and drying and I think I am back to normal non illness levels...as long as there is no further vommit.

I have cleared one of the three bookshelves to be sold. The other two will be done when everyone is well again. Let it be soon. :)

Thanks Babies! today seems to have been busy with no actual results! . Did change and wash/dry my bedding though.
Gave away a couple of brand new childrens bits too.

I'm actually considering giving away my Dc's beds. Dd has a toddler extendable bed which is lovely, but low ~ in really good condition. Ds's pine (was a bunk bed once) bed is very solid, but he has spoiled it . Currently he is on a mattress on the floor and Dd is in with me. I only have 2 bedrooms and need to split my room in two. I want to get them both an ottoman bed each. Will help enormously with the lack of space :)

Well done on doing what you have so far Babies, I hope you have a healthy household soon. I dread my Dc's throwing up anywhere indoors as that is likely to cause even more problems.

Had a very busy week with some unexpected work. Need the money so that is good but as usual the house gets ignored.

Have attempted to sort some paper clutter. Brought three carrier bags downstairs and have been through half so far. Shredded a lot of rubbish but put everything else in an alphabetical file to be dealt with later. It is a start but progress is slow.

Sold one household item on ebay - but only one. That's not going to make a huge difference but it is better than nothing..

Am trying to keep positive. It is good to hear that others are making some progress too. Well done.

Just keeping us in the I'm On list!

Hi can I join? I need this thread in my life

with 3 dcs our house seems to be took up by alot of baby / kids things and then theres the kitchen drawer that once opened wont shut (letters to be sorted but not lose drawer)

also my parent was/is a hoarder mainly due to health problems and my plan is to sort our house then help sort his something has always got in the way of me being able to go and help as much as I want to and childcare is a problem atm so hoping to sort this out and get my butt into gear to help

just need support really and the odd kick up backside

Support is here pfs so welcome! The thread can go a bit quiet at times, but keep posting and keep sorting! :)

My BF's kids live abroad and are coming to stay with us in a few weeks time. I'm really looking forward to it, but there's one huge problem: the spare room is so full of 'stuff' that I am going to have to have a major clearout in order to accommodate them. Indeed, I think I need a few weeks in order to do it.

I've always been a hoarder, and pretty untidy with it, and then I will have sudden bursts of enthusiam, have a massive clearout and then lapse into complacency again, as my house fills up with more 'stuff'.

I really want to have a go at selling things on eBay, but I've never done it before and I'm a bit put off by the thought of having to calculate postage and possibly getting it wrong and ending up out of pocket. Does anyone have any good tips, please?

Hi Womble :) I don't have any selling tips as I made a grand total of about 30p when I sold some items.
You could try selling on nethuns as you can list free and it would be all local, so could be collection only, no postage. Gumtree too.

Keep posting your progress on here; it's encouraging to read the progress of everyone.

hi everyone so far I have managed to sort a bag of clothes for my friends dd and half a bag of clothes / assorted for charity shop so when that bags full it will be taken

sorted out wardrobe
sorted out kitchen top cupboards

was tackling washing weather has slowed this down but hopefully will get nicer soon

I need to be ruthless as had kept nearly all dcs clothes since born till now (except for some which I sold / gave away / charity shopped) cannot get rid of alot until I know sex of this dc as this is our last child so will get rid of whatever clothing not needed so for now will pack them away safely and store in loft with the other ones until they can be sorted

so jobs for the rest of week / weekend are

-sort top of wardrobe
-sort letter drawer thoroughly
-sort other paperwork that dont need store away paperwork do need
-clear out cupboard
-sort kitchen bottom cupboards

hoping I can do these

how is everyone else getting on?

Hi Pinkfluffy Sounds like a good list.

I am doing nothing this week as busy at work but will have another go at the living room at the weekend.

Not a lot going on here, but I have done a fair bit but not enough! in the kitchen.

I am sinking !

Overall I have three more boxes of books to go to charity. The old running machine and three eight foot tall shelves have been cleared and brought downstairs....but they are blocking up downstairs till, they get sold. DH to ebay them this week.

Paperwork 50% sorted and I have decided to Evernote pictures of everything for my files and throw as much as possible...wish me luck this is a job which will take me ages. It is the emotion filled stuff which I struggle to sort...but I will do it.

Our room is getting there...still need to sell and sort some things..but down to a small pile.

I know logically things are getting better slowly but I wonder if I can ever get rid of enough stuff to have an easy to keep tidy house. Oh well, just have to keep plugging away.

You are doing really well Babies so well done!

Just thought I'd see how everyone was doing. Clearly progress is being made, ( v impressed Babies - don't give up - even a little bit is good), but it is also important that we acknowledge the real difficulties in doing this. We can better support each other if we do.

I have had lots of work - good as I have had almost nothing for months and things were getting scary - but the house is a mess.

I am doing the paperwork and am making progress but so slow......
The storage unit is full of stuff which is good as I have made some space in the house but has to some extent moved the problem.

I do see it as a process though as I was able to make decisions about chucking stuff as I moved it and that was easier somehow. Also having a bit more clear space in the house means I can live in it more comfortably and it is so much easier to tackle the paperwork for example in a room that is not piled high with boxes of books and kitchen equipment.

Keep going - and keep posting - it is really good to know that you are there.

Cricket you sound so positive. Even if it is slow going, it is happening!!

I'm supposed to be away, but Dd is ill, so we are home for at least a week. Yesterday, I went through a fair bit of my 'dining room' cum dump cum laundry and have more clothing to take to C4C. I really must take it soon so that I have a bit more space.
Sadly, I seem to have passed my bad habits onto my Dc's, but they have extended it into just dropping stuff where they stand. Not a good thing.

For the next few days at least, I am going to continue with the clothing clearance.
I have caught up on my washing. Tick

I have realised that every surface gets covered/cluttered up very quickly. This must change. I must get more organised.

Well, I've not made much progress. The other day, I sorted through 6 boxes and reduced the contents to 4 boxes, but my BF informed me that the place looked messier than when I started :(

Work has been hell for the past couple of weeks, so by the time I've got home in the evening, I've just not had the energy to start sorting things to sell. There's just so many other things to do.

I WILL de-clutter! I will!