I just found out how tidy people keep tidy!!!!!

[MrsBobDylan]

I have not felt this excited since I discovered sanitary towels can prevent new boot blisters.

You had better sit down.

Tidy people have less stuff. That's how they stay tidy.

No one bothered to tell me this life changing information. Bastards.

We are downsizing to a flat from a four bed house with a garage. I reckon I have donated/taken to the tip, at least half of the contents of our house.

We didn't need all that shit. I don't think I liked most of it.

Turns out, two mixing bowls is fine, 3 pans, 10 mugs, one duvet cover/pillowcase for each bed, no spare bedding for guests since they can bring their own, 6 bath towels, one coat each, three pairs of shoes each...I could go on.

Since decanting half of my house, it is lovely and tidy. I move a few things from room to room each day and clear the kitchen at the end of day. All manageable. I even have time for a nap on the sofa fgs.

Now my cupboards are not filled to the brim, I can PUT THINGS IN THEM.

The easiest and most satisfying clear out, was the knick knack cull. Photo frame we got for our wedding? Gone. Glass vase from my Uncle Harry? Gone. Mini collection of ornamental owls? Get in there!

It is easier to clean a house with less stuff in it. Surfaces get a quick wipe, floors are mopped without have to slalom round tables, chairs and plant stands.

If you have a friend who feels overwhelmed by keeping house, please pass this on.

You're welcome

Coats : Maybe it depends where you live and what you do ? I live ‘up north’ almost into Scotland and I do lots of different things in all weathers so I have
Smart woollen coat - new and beautiful - but I got rid of my not so good ones
Warm smart waterproof coat
Light smart waterproof coat
Warm walking jacket
Waterproof walking jacket
Light Windproof walking jacket
Sailing jacket
Kayaking jacket
Gardening jacket
I did have a beautiful velvet opera coat too but decided I wasn’t ever going to wear it now as we live rurally.

I think if you wear them a lot it’s ok!

"How can you manage with one or two coats?"

One for winter and one for summer (or spring and autumn)?
Many people don't have to have a 'smart' coat to see their relatives and what the hell is a smarter country walk compared to a non-smart country walk?
I do have more than two coats...
One short winter coat and one long one I got in the sale. The long one I'm probably going to donate soon and maybe buy one that can go down to minus 10.
Then I have a leather jacket only for summer and a light rain coat for summer or jogging in the winter. Some of you are oddly specific with the garden jacket, school run coat, etc.
I have other jackets that are not meant as coats that I can wear in the summer.
What else do I need? If I have to go to a funeral, yes, ideally I'd be in a smart woollen coat, but I can't spend 100+ just for that so I'd be in my puffer coat and that's it.

Gosh coats:
A black swing coat - quite smart
A full length double breastfed wool coat
An ancient Burberry
A casual mac
A navy coatigan
A Seasalt warm rain jacket
A gilet for the garden
An ancient shearling gilet
A velvet evening coat
A silky, beaded evening coat

Three are on their last legs but so many memories.

If you are happy with your number of coats and the space they take up then it is not a problem.

If, like me, you want to be a minimalist in order to simplify your life and live more intentionally, then you can ask yourself if every coat is really necessary.

Getting rid of 4 of my 9 coats meant that I have reduced my number of daily decisions and my coat cupboard now has enough space so Im not trying to squeeze things back in and then pick up coats that inevitably fall to the floor.

Ditto with shoes. I always tend to wear the same ones so why take up space with the others? I still have several pairs of trainers, sandals, shoes and boots but they all get worn in a 12 month period. I got rid of at least 12 pairs of shoes that I don't miss at all. I do appreciate the space thats left.

"Ditto with shoes. I always tend to wear the same ones so why take up space with the others? I still have several pairs of trainers, sandals, shoes and boots"

This is the problem with shoes, you need different types. I have walking boots for very cold weather, long and short boots, trainers, sandals, summer pumps (UK meaning of pumps) and flat shoes for work and some short heels for dressing up. So nothing like pairs in different colours to go with different dresses, but still lots of shoes.

I'm rather on the side of the many coats people. I have a bit of a coat habit, though I have picked a lot up second hand.
I have:
Warm waterproof
Light waterproof
Fluffy warm jacket coat
Big long warm coat
Leather style jacket
Smart black coat

Actually only 6, that's not so bad. Don't know what DH is moaning about! Though I did declutter quite a few last year.

I managed to sell some books through the Webuybooks app, £30+ to come hopefully and got rid of textbooks from my degree a few years ago that I will never look at again. Trying to persuade DH that we only need one bookcase, not two. I am always decluttering books, but he will never part with any. Strangely, I read 100+ books a year and he doesn't actually read, his are mostly reference books (not that he ever refers to them, they are out of date and we have the Internet!).

Same for DVDs. Why do we need them when we pay for several streaming services and I can hire any film we want for a few quid?

I’m surprised re drinking glasses not being recyclable. I have a small ‘glass’ which is actually an old Nutella jar and it’s identical in thickness and texture to my other juice glasses but as a jar it would be accepted at the bottle bank. My current problem with glass is that I have a purple bottle I want to wrestle off hoarder DP recycle but as it’s neither clear, green nor brown I’m not sure where to put it.

@secretbookcase

I have 5 coats (not including leather and suede jackets and zip-in-a-bag waterproofs. I use all of them regularly in different seasons for different styles. Is this too much? Warm red woollen coat for winter smart trips to city/relatives etc Camel trench coat for similar purpose in warmer weather Gorgeous vintage velvet opera coat for parties, opera etc Quilted 'school run' coat. DC no longer at school but it's my warm dogwalking coat Seasalt waterproof for smarter country walks and milder weather.

How can you manage with one or two coats?

I have two coats, a rain coat and a smarter (grey wool style double breasted) warm coat and manage perfectly well. The raincoat is a size up so that I can layer without needing different coats with different thicknesses. What on Earth is a ‘smarter walk’? In summer if I don’t want to wear my raincoat I usually just wear a cardigan if anything.

What on Earth is a ‘smarter walk’?

LOL - it's when I walk with friends who don't have dogs, maybe around an NT or RHS garden or when we are going for lunch somewhere mid way and don't want to arrive looking like I've just mucked out a cowshed.

@marymay62

Coats : Maybe it depends where you live and what you do ? I live ‘up north’ almost into Scotland and I do lots of different things in all weathers so I have Smart woollen coat - new and beautiful - but I got rid of my not so good ones Warm smart waterproof coat Light smart waterproof coat Warm walking jacket Waterproof walking jacket Light Windproof walking jacket Sailing jacket Kayaking jacket Gardening jacket I did have a beautiful velvet opera coat too but decided I wasn’t ever going to wear it now as we live rurally. I think if you wear them a lot it’s ok!

Can I have your velvet opera coat please? Happy to pay. totally misses the point of the thread

@secretbookcase

What on Earth is a ‘smarter walk’?

LOL - it's when I walk with friends who don't have dogs, maybe around an NT or RHS garden or when we are going for lunch somewhere mid way and don't want to arrive looking like I've just mucked out a cowshed.

I’d just wear my raincoat in that scenario. You can wash mud off obviously but I don’t tend to find my coat gets mucky on a walk, if anything it’s the trousers.

I've just visited our attic to look for something and came back out empty handed and empty hearted. Is it acceptable to reconsider your future with someone because they hoard so much? Not tv-special standards, but every square inch is covered with stuff related to his "interests".

@Tailendofsummer I hear you. Except ours is in the garage, which is huge. And crammed full of DH’s collections. I find it so stressful. Apparently they’re all waiting to be sold. I’ve cleared out our bedroom today, lots of toiletries sorted and I’m ashamed by how many things I had hidden away. I use a posh face cream and I have FOUR of them waiting to be used I think my job for next week is to unsubscribe from many many mailing lists and get myself off a few Facebook groups too. I’m a sucker for a ‘special offer’ but all its making me do is buy piles of stuff I don’t need.

I am currently getting rid of my booker shortlisted books. I realized I was only keeping them to show how intellectual I was, even if just too myself.
Enough of such daft behavior.

[quote YouHaveNoAuthorityHereJackie]@Tailendofsummer I hear you. Except ours is in the garage, which is huge. And crammed full of DH’s collections. I find it so stressful. Apparently they’re all waiting to be sold. I’ve cleared out our bedroom today, lots of toiletries sorted and I’m ashamed by how many things I had hidden away. I use a posh face cream and I have FOUR of them waiting to be used I think my job for next week is to unsubscribe from many many mailing lists and get myself off a few Facebook groups too. I’m a sucker for a ‘special offer’ but all its making me do is buy piles of stuff I don’t need.[/quote]
I went through the toiletries at the start of lockdown. It was bad - I’ve been strict with myself and not bought anything since and still have probably another six - nine months of hair products.

@verymiddleaged

I am currently getting rid of my booker shortlisted books. I realized I was only keeping them to show how intellectual I was, even if just too myself. Enough of such daft behavior.

But if you like them?

@verymiddleaged

I am currently getting rid of my booker shortlisted books. I realized I was only keeping them to show how intellectual I was, even if just too myself. Enough of such daft behavior.

That's exactly why we have so many books, even though I mostly read crappy cheap thrillers kindle books! At one point we had three full bookshelves, so down to 2 isn't too bad (and more than half DH's now). I have realised that it pointless as no one but us cares if we're clever reading people (and I never did read that Yanis Varoufakis book that made me feel so intellectual in Waterstones) and we very rarely have visitors who go upstairs where the books live!

@YouHaveNoAuthorityHereJackie thank you, your post was kind and made me feel a little less alone in a sea of mess

But if you like them?
They keep publishing more books and my house doesn't grow.
So I'm keeping a couple I really like and will definitely reread.
The rest I'm letting someone else have a chance to read.

@verymiddleaged

But if you like them? They keep publishing more books and my house doesn't grow. So I'm keeping a couple I really like and will definitely reread. The rest I'm letting someone else have a chance to read.

Great answer!

What do you do with holey wool jumpers. I have a LOT. I hate getting rid of them. Can I put them into clothes recycling.

Use holey jumpers to make cushion covers..

@Wallywobbles I separate good clothes recycling from rags (anything damaged or stained but clean obviously) and just mark the bag with rags clearly. Most places that recycle clothes sell rags, and it saves them sorting.

Thank you @thelegohooverer

Yeah. Good on you.