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Original poster

Decluttering

40 replies

singalongforever · 07/02/2021 18:59

I'm sure there are many threads about this but I'm starting this one to hopefully keep me on track!

I will be DC free for seven days over half term and will be making a start on the huge job of decluttering in preparation for hopefully putting the house on the market.

Any tips or things I should prepare ready to hit the ground running next Saturday?
I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with all the stuff I want to get rid of yet!

OP posts:
busface999 · 08/02/2021 09:40

What kinds of stuff do you have? Or is it just all sorts!? It's hard with charity shops closed but we have charity bins locally which take clothes, plus one for books and music. I am a keen declutterer and often give things away for free on fb marketplace. Just get it out.. whichever way!!

2021ComeAtMe · 08/02/2021 13:05

I love a good declutter! Grin and would love 7 days without my DC even more

• Start with the worst room - you'll feel more motivated to continue when you see big progress being made and the easier rooms will be your reward at the end of the week
• Pick the worst area of that room - choose a corner/item of furniture and just START! Anything to be binned, get bagged up (maybe make an appointment at your local refuse place now if you need to.) Anything you're keeping, put to one side. Anything you don't want and is in half decent nick, stick it on Facebook for free/collection only or Gumtree if it's worth something.
• Move on to the next area in that room, then the next etc, then give everywhere a good clean - pull out furniture to hoover, clean all skirting boards/windows etc so that when one room is done you can literally close the door on it - NOTHING goes back into that room unless you're keeping it and that's where it will belong.
• Do all rooms as above, bagging up and selling/giving away as you go. It's helpful if you have a garage or somewhere you can put things that have sold and are waiting on collection so that they are out of the house.
• If there's anything that you're keeping but don't need to be in the room, now would be a good time to box up and pop in the garage/loft. When EA come round to look it's good if it doesn't look cluttered.
• Finally, it's a pretty relentless task so set yourself a timer! Work solid for an hour, no distractions, then leave that room for 10/15 minutes before going back for another hour.

Also, if I was you, between now and next Saturday I'd just start having a rifle through kitchen drawers and cupboards while you're cooking or waiting for the kettle to boil. Any bits and bobs you can get rid of now will be helpful and just get you in the frame of mind - I find the junk drawer good for this.

Wickstead · 08/02/2021 17:02

I’ve just downloaded the We Buy Books app this morning. If it’s not a massive con, someone will be coming to collect a box of books from my dining room shelf tomorrow and I’ll get paid £36!

Let’s see shall we... literally had to scan, box, print and stick a label.

Wickstead · 08/02/2021 17:03

(Obviously the box isn’t on my dining room shelf anymore. But that’s where the books were originally!)

Zebra100 · 08/02/2021 17:07

The black b I n b a g is your best friend here.

TeacupDrama · 08/02/2021 17:19

You need to declutter before you organise sometimes an hour or two with paper and pencil before you start is time well spent. Also plan whatyou are doing with what you no longer need or want
For some people instead of saying which mugs shall I get rid off, it helps to say I need 8, mugs which 8 do I like the best
If you start in say kitchen first get rid of anything chipped cracked or broken , anything missing a part, any tupperware without lid, anything that children have outgrown no 7 year old wants a plastic peppa pig beaker. Then all out of date food, anything at back of the drawer or cupboard you won't realistically use as no one likes it or you don't know how to use rest, any appliance that is a dust gatherer, once you have got rid of what is no longer useful then decide do I have too many? and if so which is my favourite(s) and get rid of the rest, repeat room by room

Or perhaps ask yourself does this item deserve a place in my new home as it's either necessary useful, practical or beautiful, if you won't use it and you don't love it don't take it to the next attic

Thatwentbadly · 08/02/2021 17:47

The best tip I’ve read is look at all your item in category eg toys or clothes and decide what you want to keep.

truebeliever · 08/02/2021 21:36

Absolutely brilliant advice here, thank you!
The whole house needs a sort out so lots of everything. Accumulation of years of stuff - some brought with me from the last move and just dumped in the loft for the car boot that never happened Blush
Stuff of mine and the DCs, my partner and his DD that just doesn't fit into our tiny 3 bed.
I've got loads of stuff I think is a shame to just give away but I've put it on Shpock, FB marketplace before and it's not shifted. I think I need to accept some stuff I'll have to just give away as I really need it gone, not just in preparation for moving but for my MH. It's amazing how too much clutter can really affect it!

truebeliever · 08/02/2021 21:37

@Wickstead

I’ve just downloaded the We Buy Books app this morning. If it’s not a massive con, someone will be coming to collect a box of books from my dining room shelf tomorrow and I’ll get paid £36!

Let’s see shall we... literally had to scan, box, print and stick a label.

I'll definitely look at this. Do they take kids books too? Got the whole Beast quest series to get rid of!
Pickles89 · 08/02/2021 21:39

I LOVE decluttering! Unfortunately I decluttered so very thoroughly a couple of years ago (thanks Marie Kondo!) I have no junk left to sort out! I like her trick of getting everything out, and then only putting the things back you want to keep. That way you don't just hang on to them out of inertia.

Pickles89 · 08/02/2021 21:41

@Wickstead Ooo, please let us know whether it all pans out as expected! I have multiple boxes of books stashed neatly into boxes for rehoming, and no one to rehome to!

Wickstead · 08/02/2021 22:06

I will report back!

Admittedly some books were special interest so they were £3 odd each. Some were just 25p. Presumably they take kids books... you can download the app and scan the bar code to see how much you'd get. Also, the first time you use it you get an extra 10%.

Free collection from my house though! I couldn't bear recycling them.

One or two books were pretty dog eared. Will be interesting to see if they deduct for those.

I will let you all know!!

Wickstead · 08/02/2021 22:06

Oh, and they do CDs and DVDs too...

paddingtonbearsmarmalade · 08/02/2021 22:09

@Wickstead I received my payment from WeBuyBooks today after selling some academic books a couple of weeks ago! I was also sceptical but it’s come through just fine - and I got an email confirming when the payment had been made Smile

Wickstead · 08/02/2021 22:17

[quote paddingtonbearsmarmalade]@Wickstead I received my payment from WeBuyBooks today after selling some academic books a couple of weeks ago! I was also sceptical but it’s come through just fine - and I got an email confirming when the payment had been made Smile[/quote]
Well that’s exciting!

I was umming and ahhing about buying a soup maker (normally a pan and stick blender girl) but I’m eating soup increasingly at lunch time and figured I’d give one a go.

Spotted a well rated one reduced to £35... so those books will cover it if I get the same result as you and they pay out ok!

earsup · 08/02/2021 22:19

I decluttered and cleared my late aunts house and she was a hoarder...I made quick decisions and drove items to charity shop or council dump the same day as clearing out each room....i noticed that if bags were left in the hallway etc i would start peeping in them and pulling items back out !!

LunaHeather · 08/02/2021 22:34

@Wickstead

I’ve just downloaded the We Buy Books app this morning. If it’s not a massive con, someone will be coming to collect a box of books from my dining room shelf tomorrow and I’ll get paid £36!

Let’s see shall we... literally had to scan, box, print and stick a label.

I've not heard of this Had a quick look and it's not taking a few of the ones I listed

Do you mind if I ask roughly how many books you have to reach that amount, or do you have a lot of specialist books? Thanks.

I am trying to declutter quite drastically....I live in a small flat and it's hard to find room for essentials and now work papers have to live here too.

truebeliever · 08/02/2021 23:03

@Pickles89

I LOVE decluttering! Unfortunately I decluttered so very thoroughly a couple of years ago (thanks Marie Kondo!) I have no junk left to sort out! I like her trick of getting everything out, and then only putting the things back you want to keep. That way you don't just hang on to them out of inertia.
@Pickles89 you're more than welcome to help me out!
LunaHeather · 08/02/2021 23:42

I'm constantly having to part with things I want to keep due to space.

I don't know what the Kondo thing is of putting things "out", what if you don't have an "out"?

Pipandmum · 08/02/2021 23:56

You need to be ruthless. But do not get rid of your kids things without asking them.
Imagine you are getting ready to pack for your next home. Promise yourself you will only have things you love there. Don't keep things unless you really really can't live without it. Then go through each room, imagining this perfect new home, and get rid of anything that doesn't fit with the vision. Organise the things you are keeping. And then make sure moving forward that you have a system - everything must have a home and go back to that home after use - not later, but right away. Then when you have viewings you won't be in panic mode shoving stuff into closets.

mathanxiety · 09/02/2021 00:15

...

Pickles89 · 09/02/2021 01:11

@LunaHeather Most people have a bed! So all your clothes out of the wardrobe and onto the bed, then just put back what you really want. Ditto with all the books off the book shelf, linen from the airing cupboard etc

Pickles89 · 09/02/2021 01:12

@truebeliever

I wish I could! Grin I have the week off work so I can offer moral support on here anyway!

LunaHeather · 09/02/2021 01:16

[quote Pickles89]@LunaHeather Most people have a bed! So all your clothes out of the wardrobe and onto the bed, then just put back what you really want. Ditto with all the books off the book shelf, linen from the airing cupboard etc[/quote]
Oh, is that all

Sorry, I hear so much about her I thought there must be more to it, like put it in a garage and see if you miss it!

I think I'm probably such an unwilling declutterer, it's a different mindset when you're battling for space.

Wickstead · 09/02/2021 07:54

Hi @LunaHeather - not at all.

It was 21 books (1 box)

Some were specialist yes. The most I got for one book was £6.58.

Not all the ones I tried were acceptable, i.e. they won’t take them, but most were.

When I get another box, I will do the kids books next. I fully expect most of them will be 15-25p. But it’s so convenient it’s worth it. I’d normally give the kids books to charity, but the shops around here are all closed....