Could someone please organise the 2 days that I have to sort out the house?

[WellTidy]

Back story: We moved into our house 5 years ago. It is a much bigger house than the one we had before. So we have sort of spread into it, and accumulated soooo much stuff and not thrown anything away or given it to the charity shop etc. We have stuff everywhere and lots of it. We have a lot of storage, but it is all being used as we have accumulated so much stuff.

I have a DH and 2 DC, one four years older than the other (same sex, which means that I tend to hold onto everything of DC1's because 'it will come for DC2').

DH and I work long hours. I work 3 long days a week, and DH works 5 long days. We each have a 2 hour round trip daily commute. When I'm not working, there is no childcare for DC2, so my time is spent looking after him. DC1 is in school, but doesn't do any clubs or anything, so I have both of them from 3:30. I get nothing done beyond the day to day.

I have two days off coming up. There will be childcare in place for both of them, all day.

I need to organise the whole of the house, particularly the downstairs. Make sure things are where they need to be, throw out what we don't need, charity shop what can be donated, sort out clothes into what fits and what doesn't (for example I still have all my maternity cothes and all of my post partum bigger stuff), rotate toys etc.

How do I plan my days and what should I be doing to achieve my goals? I very rarely have full days to achieve anything, and I want to use the time well. I don't know what is achievable though, and I want to do a proper jjob that will mean that the job is done and doesn't need to be repeated. I am getting stressed just thinking about the enormity of the tasks. I organised my pantr over Christmas (bought huge amounts of lock n store and sticky labels) and it was such a rewarding thing to do. It still looks perfect.

All help hugely appreciated.

And breathe ...

Have you read any of the Marie Kondo threads? They're very useful. The basic principal is instead of decluttering drawer by drawer etc. you gather up categories together, so you go around your whole house looking for disguarded clothes then sort all of them, then pens, then toys etc.

I suggest you get some boxes/bags in each room - one for rubbish, one for donating, one for things which need to be put away in a different room, then you won't get distracted moving things around until you consolidate at the end.

Thank you Mrs.

The three bags per room is a really good idea. I will do that.

The MK way is amazing. I know it would work. I have even read the book . But I have two days. I think MK is a long term project that would take much, much longer than two days. It would take me more than two days to gather up all the categories together, let alone sort through them all.

I would say prepare all your bags and studs ready. Make sure you also factor in taking things to dump ect. Write a list in priority order as it found takes longer than you expect. Keep an eye out for charity bags which come through the door.

Yes, I did think that - although at least you'll have the principles at the back of your mind when you are doing it. So you can make a huge difference in your 2 days then maybe MK as a long term project? I had already unwittingly adopted the MK approach (to some extent) a couple of years ago - if only I'd thought to write a book!

Also, allow yourself enough time at the end of day 2 (or possibly on the weekend immediately after your 2 days) to get the stuff OUT OF THE HOUSE. This is where I always fall down (and currently have 4 boxes ready for the charity shop but not AT the charity shop).

Can you focus on the rooms you use day to day ie. Downstairs and bedrooms. If you have a spare room allocate one side of it "stuff for charity shop" other side "stuff to sort" this room could be dealt with as a longer term thing. But it you get living space cleared to what you actually need.

I have 3 daughters and the hand me down thing doesn't work so well as they get older. One is sporty and into leggings the other is more dresses and tights. Also have different body shapes so not all fits younger ones. I bought a pile of cheap plastic boxes to put clothes in in different age groups for things I did want to keep.

Lots of strong black bin bags for clearing out the random bits of paper and craft kids have. They can't see what is in black bags! I now photograph drawings and craft stuff on my phone and bin the originals as there was just too much stuff.

I recently got rid of all my baby stuff. Woman's Aid take things - worth calling to see what they are needing at the moment as it varies. Church toddler groups were also happy to take baby and toddler toys.

Go to B&Q and buy their collapsible crates. They come in packs of three and not too pricey. They're not massive but big enough.

Great for setting up in each room for Rubbish, Keep, Charity, and because they fold down, they store away easily afterwards. I use them for sorting through ironing so each person has a box to carry upstairs and out away (well, that's the theory).

Link didn't work

www.diy.com/departments/bq-black-silver-32-l-folding-crate-pack-of-3/257728_BQ.prd

Sorry!

www.diy.com/departments/bq-black-silver-32-l-folding-crate-pack-of-3/257728_BQ.prd

The crates look great Sleepy, thanks. I will also stock up on quality black bags. I have also lined up soemeone to take all the baby clothes and too young toys. So I have started already!

I am in a similar position to you but have 4 days over the Easter holidays to redecorate.

I have started by decluttering paperwork in the evening when I watch tv. I have gone through 6 boxes over 6 nights so it's been worthwhile.

Tonight when I put my dc to bed I will clean out the bathroom cabinet. Tomorrow I will do the kitchen cabinets, just clearing out & wiping along as I go.

I find that one hour units really helps me to focus on the job in hand. I am making a list of jobs to do at Easter when I do my evening decluttering jobs.

If you start doing half an hour a night then it won't be such a mammoth task on your days off.

If you say for eg fill a bag of clothes for charity each time you do the laundry. Kids grow out of clothes so easily so that can be an on going task.

Hand the boys a box/bag to fill for charity with toys they no longer play with.

Same with your husband, give him a bag to fill with old clothes, books and stuff. Once you've got more than 4 bags, take it to the charity shop/ dump.

Get everyone involved so the burden doesn't solely fall on your shoulders.

Some charity shops come and collect, see if you can organise a collection for the end of the two days, will help keep you motivated too.