For those who have successfully de-cluttered...

[emsyj]

...did you find this made your house much much easier to clean/keep clean??

I dream of having a house that is always presentable - where I don't have to fear the doorbell ringing or plan 2 days' worth of frantic cleaning if I invite anyone over. I haven't invited DD1's friends (and their mums) over for months, just because I can't face the necessary cleaning beforehand.

So, I am on a major decluttering mission and am hoping this will solve the issue. If you have managed to declutter your house, how much difference has it made to its cleanliness and have you now got a house that is always in a fit state for visitors?

We've decluttered as our house is for sale and yes, it's a lot easier to keep on top of. I wouldn't say it's immaculate all the time, but it's a hell of a lot quicker and easier to do a quick whizz round and get it back up to scratch.

That's good to hear! I am already finding that the playroom is easier to tidy at the end of the day and the kitchen looks much better, but I've still got a long long long way to go. I just want tome reassurance that it will be worth it!

I've semi successfully decluttered, lurking on the minimalism threads. I say semi because we've had another baby since, and its very much an ongoing task! My house looks clearer, and is easier to clean and tidy. I was disappointed to discover that I (or OH) still have to actually DO the cleaning and tidying - I was hoping it would be a magic bullet that kept the house in perpetual cleanliness. But it has definitely been easier without all the junk to move first!

Definitely.

I find the same with friends too - those without clutter find it easier to keep in top of, those with find it harder.

If there's less clutter, tidying time is shorter, cleaning is quicker. The most we need to do for guests is a quick Hoover and tidying the bits that we've had out that day. It's not that my house is pristine - I have 3 DCs including a small baby, and breakfast dishes may not be tidied away for a few hours, and there's always a pile (or 3) of laundry somewhere! But it's relatively superficial to tidy.

I'm not just decluttering but acutely trying to become more minimalist, partly so I don't just reaccumulate and partly because I feel much more serene with clean lines and minimal clutter. Come and join us on the minimalism thread if you want support on getting there it general chat about becoming more minimalist.

Yes yes yes evertonmint, I've been conducting a survey of friends who have immaculate houses and NONE of them have cupboards full of crap. I had a very long boring conversation with a good friend recently (sorry friend - I know I was very tiresome ) about her pristine house and just how she manages to keep it like that with a one year old and a full time job and I think my 'light bulb' moment came when I asked her if she, like me, had boxes full of crap to hide and where she hides them. She looked a bit puzzled and said, 'Um, no, we don't have boxes of crap'. BING! Light came on for me!!!!

Will look for the minimalism thread - is it an obvious thread title?? Assume it is here on Good Housekeeping...? Will have a look...

We're here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/good_housekeeping/1987578-The-march-towards-Minimalism-continues

Also the Marie Kondo thread in this topic may be of interest too.

We are working on ours, so I hope the answer is yes! But I think decluttering is like trying to lose weight. It's not a finite task, it's a change of mindset. Once you have had your first blitz, the coffee table doesn't stay magically empty. You have to continually keep on top of it or it will build up again.

I'm with you OP!

It's so hard as my mind just doesn't work the way naturally tidy people's minds work, but I know decluttering and then staying on top of it would make things much easier.

I've decluttered big time over recent weeks and it's been amazing! Yes, it does help a lot!

My one tip for at least making the house appear clean to guests is always keep the hallway tidy and clutter free - no bags over banisters, books on stairs, shoes dumped by the door. Then follow the line of vision and whatever you can see from the front door, keep that tidy - so for me, you look down the hall into the kitchen. I keep the work tops clutter free and try to keep the windowsill clear. This means mums doing pick ups of kids won't see a load of stuff everywhere when they glance in. To my mind if it's tidy but you haven't cleaned yet, it's still infinitely better than being clean but not tidy.

Yep, did a massive declutter last summer on the m thread and have kept it up. Had a baby and still managed to keep clutter at bay. The hall is white with great storage and no mess at all. That keeps things presentable

I was ruthless. Tea towels, extra linen, mugs, plates all reduced.

I opened all wedding presents and used them than blocking cupboards. Clothes paired down to capsule wardrobe.

Tomorrow I am going around the house with a laundry basket and emptying all the clutter drawers into it and will sort the junk at another stage.

I bought a label maker and loads of pretty tins for batteries etc. Pinterest grr for ideas.

I am actually feeling excited at the prospect of clearing out my house. I threw away 4 chipped mugs yesterday. DH protested a bit and asked if he could keep them to use in the garden - I just said no and binned them! He totally sees the value of a tidy house and understands that we need to seriously declutter in order to get there, but he just can't stand what he perceives to be waste. In general, we are not wasteful. We use the food we buy, we throw very little of it away, we put lots of things on freecycle and we don't take anything to the tip that we think someone might want. But even so, chipped mugs???? Who on earth wants chipped mugs?? My DH

Erin, you're so right there with the weight loss analogy! Sometimes it feels great to spend a weekend clearing a mountain of shit, but I aspire to clear a bit more every day/week/month than I bring in, so by the time I get where I want to be, I've established the habit that keeps me there.

I have been de-cluttering and I have learnt that it's an ongoing job. It's not something that can be done over a weekend. You just have to keep plugging away at it!

Its a difficult job keeping on top of things. Just think of all the unsolicited mail that comes through the door everyday, or the catalogues that send you 4 copies, or the unwanted gifts and then the broken stuff you feel could be mended but know deep down will never be sorted is all just sitting there taking up space.

Then there's nice things the kids can't use anymore and you mmm and arrr about who to give it to, or should you keep it just in case...then there's the dvd's and the cd's and then the things that used to mean something to you but don't now. It's an emotional roller-coaster!

You have to keep on at it, and just be confident that every time you chuck something useless or find a place for a precious thing - that you have done something in the right direction!

Yep, I've found it loads easier to clean now I've decluttered. One other positive which I hadn't expected is that the lack of clutter has lifted my mood a lot. I just feel less claustrophobic & weighed-down, and being able to find things so easily has made me a lot happier too!

I wouldn't know where to start, we have loads of storage and it's all FULL! My house is never tidy and it's so stressfull.

We moved house recently and kept out & available the things that we will need for 4 months. The rest consigned to storage. 500 cubic metres...cannot believe it. We need odd bits/ some us seasonal clothing or sports stuff but still I am

I am binning bits here & there; several bags to charity every week so managing to reduce a bit but desperate to lose the acquisitive hoarding streak or at least keep it in check.
I love the Japanese lady's thanking possessions for what they have taught you & saying goodbye. It has been immensely helpful to feel good about passing things on.

Also I am thinking very carefully before I buy anything especially food on buy 2 get 1 free etc. I am working on replacing as used rather than stockpiling.

op do not declutter in front of your dh!! Golden rule. Mine would keep everything and anything!

I have got rid of old tea towels - the works - he's not noticed. Even b,each gained bath mats he'd keep.. Ugh.

Yes yes yes Mrsgrumble, he is very uncomfortable with throwing anything away. I figure that if I wouldn't give it to the charity shop because it's not in good enough condition, why the hell would I want it in my house?? He would keep all his manky old clothes 'for painting' .

I'm telling you... Chose your time for decluttering. Ie when he's not around

emsyj my DH still moans about a chipped mug I threw out several years ago. When we moved house one year ago I took 15 mismatched mugs to the charity shop without telling him and he still hasn't noticed.

I only declutter when I'm in the house on my own! Otherwise nothing would ever go. It makes a huge difference though. I got rid of 3 bin bags full of baby toys that the kids had outgrown last week and since then it's been much easier to tidy the playroom dining room, plus the kids are playing more with what's there because it's not as overwhelming.

If only I could persuade DH that he doesn't need 15 plain grey t-shirts and 10 black ones and 500000 pairs of socks...