How would you clear this room?

[Filthyslattern]

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Thank you so much for all the advice and motivation. I have filled a binbag with stuff to bin, another just with socks and I've filled two boxes with books. I haven't really made a dent but i am being ruthless!! More tomorrow. Will update!

Well done @Filthyslattern that sounds like good progress. For socks I have 14 every day pairs, 1 pair of trampolining socks, 3 pairs of running socks, and 1 pair of long really thick fluffy things for freezing winter days!

Hello,

Lots of good advice here already. A couple of extra thoughts:

Books - you could try the webuybooks app. As long as you have a cardboard box or two to package them up (and access to a printer for the label), then it has too be the easiest way to get rid of books. Hermes will collect from your door so no need to even carry them to a charity shop.

And - don't despair! Until less than a year ago, I had always had a mildly messy bedroom. I just sort of assumed that's who I was and how I always would be, that my beside table was always covered in pointless clutter. Then almost overnight I found myself thinking - 'I could be a tidy person. I could be a person whose beside table is tidy.' And now, it is (mostly!)

Well done sounds like you've made a good start. Keep going. Do something else tomorrow and if you can google for a charity shop thats open on Sunday even better to get the books out your way.

Also, when you are thinking about storage and where to put things, it might help if you are realistic about your limitations. Unless you have an epiphany like @rhubarb84 (well done!) you might not find it easy to become tidy even if your room is. I gave an example of getting an additional bin next to my washing because otherwise I wouldn't walk the six steps to throw out rubbish from my pockets. It sounds dreadful, but it's true. I also took all my prescription tablets out of the boxes (I get three months worth at a time) and put the strips in a bag. Otherwise, I'd finish a box and leave the empty box in a drawer. Again it sounds lazy but it wasn't going to change and it made the drawers full. If, for example you know you won't hang up your dressing gown, get a nice basket to put it in, then it's not in a heap on the floor but it's easy, if you don't use your hangers, get hanging shelves. Whatever you need to make it easy for you, even if you feel silly that you can't do it the way you think you should.

Brilliant start OP! You should change your user name though. My bedroom was my nemesis for years until decorating it forced me to sort it. I can totally relate to keeping on top of the rest of the house but just not managing the bedroom. I can tell you from the other side that it's amazing being able to clear it back in a few mins now.

If you drive I've recommend going old school and doing tip runs. I do a small load most weeks to keep a "clear exit". Clothes bank, book bank, cardboard, general waste, everything you need in one handy spot you pay your taxes for. Maybe you'll even find yourself taking furniture soon!

Ignore any paperwork for now. Just gather it in one place to deal with later. I would be aiming for 3 things. One - a chest/wardrobe of clothes you actually wear day to day, that contains no more than 3 "just in case" items (I swear they breed). Two, a small stock of special occasion wear that still fits. Three, a storage box, underbed drawer or vacuum bag of out of season clothes. Edit as you go, as more forgotten favourites turn up.

Day 2.
Am attacking a cupboard so I have room to out away stuff I actually use. Lots of worn once and declared uncomfy shoes to get rid of.

@Filthyslattern

Thank you so much for all the advice and motivation. I have filled a binbag with stuff to bin, another just with socks and I've filled two boxes with books. I haven't really made a dent but i am being ruthless!! More tomorrow. Will update!

Well done! Once you start you find you get your eye in and become far more ruthless.

One thing that really worked for me was buying those skinny fuzzy hangers , don’t know the brand names, they sell them in TKMaxx . They are brilliant, throw out all your other hangers and you will find you can fit far more into your hanging spaces because the hangers magically fit together better. It’s a life changer. (I got the pale blue ones so they all match, because a secret wardrobe full of matching hangers is a good secret to have IMO)

And don’t put more than one item on each hanger, it doesn’t make more room.

You have inspired me OP - I am doing 15 minutes each time and if I feel like carrying on I will and if I don’t I have 15 minutes off - it’s working for me so far. Whatever I achieve today is still more than I would have done by doing nothing. So thank you for this thread OP

How come the other adult sock owner isn't stressing about this clutter?
It's OK, I know why.
I'm similarly overwhelmed. You're not alone OP

The other sock wearer is trying their best to be fair.

I have binned so much stuff today. In the cupboard was a box with all my antenatal class papers in....and newborn leaflets etc
My baby will be......22 next month!
All in the bin. Load of handbags for the charity shop
A green sequinned beret that makes me look luke Victoria wood when she talks about her friend Kimberley. .

Loads of old manky nailpolish and make up in the bin.
Everywhere is still chaos but i feel really good for starting!

Such good progress, OP. You're very anon & should post pics of bags going out. I have about 200 pairs of socks btw - I imagine 20 is enough for most ppl. Mine are mostly cast offs

22 year of stuff is a lot of stuff. No wonder you are both feeling overwhelmed.
I do think the more you do the more you want to do, but stuff needs to be going out the door too.

Well done op, on an excellent start

Honestly I'm not trying to make you feel better but my bedroom is exactly the same. I don't have enough space and I never put anything away. And my bedroom is a dumping ground for the rest of the house.

Sounds like you’re making great progress! You inspired me to go through a bursting kitchen cupboard that I’ve been putting off for ages. Keep us updated!

My sister got depressed and her whole house got really bad. I went down twice a week and we both did 1 hour each. I simply picked up recycling like cans and empty drinks bottles from her room. I got a whole black sacks and recycled. She picked up books she had read. I drove her to charity shop and she felt good she was making progress even though until we had completed 4 hours each it still looked dreadful. After that I did her shoes and boots. She chose 6 pairs to keep others went to charity shop. After about a month you could see a big difference. You could see carpet again. We vaccumed and later carpet cleaned the room. I bought her new bedding for her birthday and we threw all old stuff out. After 6 weeks in room looked norm as l and she was by then on an to antidepressant meds. She has kept it tidy. Get someone to help you but not judge you.

Well done OP. It sounds like you are making good progress. And you are inspiring me to tidy up over cluttered bits of our house.

Have given up for the day. One cupboard looks beautiful! Have done trip to the tip. Have filled a binbag and a box for the charity shop. Am wondering about selling some worn once shoes on Ebay.
It's going to take a good while I think.

Great update OP! Be proud of all you accomplished tonight.

My tip would be to avoid trying to sell the shoes unless they are designer it you really need the money. It's giving you more work in terms of advertising/monitoring/arranging delivery. It could take a while/forever & when that happens you're stuck storing them.

I would do a charity donation instead so they are gone

You're probably right

Sounds like your making progress.
I wouldn't bother trying to sell stuff either. If they are quality let the charity shop benefit. The money is already gone.

The effort to sell stuff isn't always worth it, by the time Ebay take their fees for listing and a percentage of the sale, then PayPal take their cut.
And the effort to package, get to the post office, and possibly pay for parking at the PO, it really isn't worth it.

@caringcarer

My sister got depressed and her whole house got really bad. I went down twice a week and we both did 1 hour each. I simply picked up recycling like cans and empty drinks bottles from her room. I got a whole black sacks and recycled. She picked up books she had read. I drove her to charity shop and she felt good she was making progress even though until we had completed 4 hours each it still looked dreadful. After that I did her shoes and boots. She chose 6 pairs to keep others went to charity shop. After about a month you could see a big difference. You could see carpet again. We vaccumed and later carpet cleaned the room. I bought her new bedding for her birthday and we threw all old stuff out. After 6 weeks in room looked norm as l and she was by then on an to antidepressant meds. She has kept it tidy. Get someone to help you but not judge you.

You are a really lovely sister