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Original poster

Complete house declutter - feeling overwhelmed

145 replies

foodiemum80 · 18/05/2023 12:26

Looking for some help and tips as to how to approach a complete house declutter please as I am feeling a bit overwhelmed.

I've never been a tidy person unfortunately but my husband left last year and the house just seems to have swallowed me up and gotten out of control. That, together with my messy mind is due tipping me over the edge. There is literally stuff everywhere. I have sweats about people coming to visit unannounced.

I'm taking a week off work soon and have organised a skip. I just don't know where to start. I've got my young kids on board and they are ready to help. Can anyone give me some advice?

OP posts:
CornedBeef451 · 30/05/2023 11:45

We'll done @foodiemum80!

It can feel overwhelming but anything you get rid of will help.

Dana from a Slob Comes Clean has advice for clutter build up too. She says she has absolutely no awareness of when things leave her hands and so stuff just builds up and she just doesn't notice.

Basically once you've decluttered it will be easier to keep on top of things because everything will have a home.

Then you get into the habit of doing 5 minute pickups once a day or whenever you think of it.

You literally spend 5 mins in an area getting rid of rubbish and putting things back where they should be. It makes a surprising difference and once you have got to the point where everything has a place it is actually very quick to tidy up.

If we were having visitors it used to take me at least a week of tidying and moving things around but now I could do the whole house in half an hour (apart from teenage DD's room).

Cleaning is another matter though, I'm still figuring that out!

She also has advice on paper clutter and other specific things but for now I'd just dump all paperwork in one place and focus on getting rid of anything else.

Paperwork and sentimental things are the hardest things do do everything else first!

Good luck, you're doing brilliantly!

Original poster
foodiemum80 · 30/05/2023 12:44

Thanks for the support all of you. Day 2 is starting to feel like a slog. Everywhere is an absolute mess but drawers and cupboards are getting emptied and then I'll have somewhere to put everything hopefully.

OP posts:
Haggisfish3 · 30/05/2023 12:45

Having done this I would just skip anything you are tempted to take to a charity shop. I know it’s terrible but it just hangs around and kids take things back out of the bags ime.

Haggisfish3 · 30/05/2023 12:46

And be ruthless. I dumped loads of jewellery I simply don’t wear. It wasn’t expensive in the first place.

worktired · 30/05/2023 12:50

I'm following this OP.

We have a house full of crap, OH & kids seem incapable of putting things away so there's crap everywhere.

I've been ill so have just left everything & today I'm trying to slowly work my way through it.

It's definitely a slog.

Just sent OH to charity shop with a load of bin bags & books & toys, but still loads to go.

Keep going, it will be so worth it!

crumpet · 30/05/2023 12:53

Not whilst you are in the middle of things Witt the skip, but afterwards do have a look at Marie Kondo. You might not want to adopt everything she suggests but some of it is really sensible and also she’s very good at helping mentally being able to let go of things.

LadyMuckingabout · 30/05/2023 12:59

I think a skip is worth any price. Otherwise you end up shuffling things around and can’t be bothered to go to the tip. With a skip you can be ruthless with abandon.

I do not recommend Marie Kondo. I detest empty houses and having no “stuff”. So soulless. You just need slightly less stuff and for it to be tidy(ish).

user1469770863 · 30/05/2023 13:00

You’re doing so well OP. An old gimmer here wishing you well and cheering from the sidelines. X

TheUsualChaos · 30/05/2023 13:08

A major declutter is hard but so worth it. I did ours about 5 years ago and approached it by just doing one cupboard or drawer a day. I found if I tried to tackle a whole room it was too overwhelming. So just one drawer/ cupboard/ section of wardrobe at a time. Sort into piles of keep, donate, sell. The things you've identified to sell, try to put straight on Vinted/marketplace that same day or you will end up with a huge backlog of stuff to sell and then it becomes a massive chore.
Fill a charity bag and when it's full donate it and start another one.

Original poster
foodiemum80 · 30/05/2023 13:10

Honestly, you are all so kind. A great team of cheerleaders! I don't want to put things away yet because I want to have a round 2 of throwing things out. The house will just need to be a riot until everything I need to be gone is gone. It has been emotionally draining due to my marriage breakdown and a lot of the things hold memories. But I need a fresh start.

OP posts:
NewLeafAgain · 30/05/2023 13:14

Sounds like you are doing really well. I'm so impressed, especially sentimental stuff.

You are going to feel so light and free by the end of this week!

Biggest thing for me when decluttering (as a former hoarder) is that I had a £ limit per year for replacing anything I got rid of and later regretted. So far I've only rebought one thing in 8 years since I started and item cost less than a tenner.

fluffyfluffybunny · 30/05/2023 13:26

NewLeafAgain · 30/05/2023 13:14

Sounds like you are doing really well. I'm so impressed, especially sentimental stuff.

You are going to feel so light and free by the end of this week!

Biggest thing for me when decluttering (as a former hoarder) is that I had a £ limit per year for replacing anything I got rid of and later regretted. So far I've only rebought one thing in 8 years since I started and item cost less than a tenner.

That is interesting! What was the thing you re-bought?

CrotchetyQuaver · 30/05/2023 13:26

If I'd seen this earlier, I would have suggested exactly what you're doing, start with cupboards and drawers so that you have space to put things away as you get closer.

Are you going room by room? I think I would as less of a scattergun approach and results will be more obvious as you get further along.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE
I need to have a monster declutter too but somehow it just never happens. I always have a bag on the go for charity shop stuff and throw things if they're past it for whatever reason and try to operate a one in one out with new clothes but I'm still overwhelmed by STUFF. Still sorting out the last bits from my late parents house we cleared before Xmas that went into think about it/could be useful boxes (I was very strict about what went in them due to lack of space) which doesn't help.

Keep on keeping on! You will feel so much happier when you start feeling your winning the clutter battle.

DelphiniumBlue · 30/05/2023 13:43

DS had a declutter yesterday and reminded me of something Dawna Walter recommended in Life Laundry: if the only reason you're keeping something is sentimental value , take a photo of it, and you can still be reminded of the event/person without having to physically make space for it.
Keep going OP, you've got this!

thesnailandthewhale · 30/05/2023 13:49

I've just listened to an episode of the Slob Comes Clean ... to summarise for anyone who hasn't done so yet, it was basically just "go do the dishes" on repeat ConfusedGrin

Original poster
foodiemum80 · 30/05/2023 14:16

@thethesnailandthewhale I that not just adulthood? 😫

OP posts:
whyisitalwayswindy · 30/05/2023 14:23

@Cottagecheeseisnotcheese I found your post helpful re the bit at the end about granny's teaset. I struggle with sentimental things but you're right, they're not the memories as those are in your head.

Haveallthesongsbeenwritten · 30/05/2023 14:25

foodiemum80 · 18/05/2023 12:26

Looking for some help and tips as to how to approach a complete house declutter please as I am feeling a bit overwhelmed.

I've never been a tidy person unfortunately but my husband left last year and the house just seems to have swallowed me up and gotten out of control. That, together with my messy mind is due tipping me over the edge. There is literally stuff everywhere. I have sweats about people coming to visit unannounced.

I'm taking a week off work soon and have organised a skip. I just don't know where to start. I've got my young kids on board and they are ready to help. Can anyone give me some advice?

Do one room at a time, keep what you need/use. My rule for clothes for example is if I have not worn it in the last year (except for occasions outfits) then i drop everything to charity.

Redshoeblueshoe · 30/05/2023 14:27

Some great ideas on here. Thanks

WildFlowerBees · 30/05/2023 14:28

I use one room that I put everything in so the rest of the house is tidy and clutter free. I chuck/recycle/donate anything I've not used or needed in 6 months. If I don't have a space for it it leaves the house, if I want to keep it then something else has to go. I have a one in one out policy now so I don't end up with too much stuff and not enough house.

Listen to an audiobook whilst doing it, I don't stop for a drink/food just plough through it until it's done.

mrsbyers · 30/05/2023 14:37

What helps me is to identify a few zones and sort into those zones , so clear all the clutter into one place and then say assign the dining table as bedroom , kitchen bench for kitchen , sofa for your room , hallway or stairs for kids rooms and also have some bags ready for recycling and for the bin. Quickly allocate the clutter to each zone and from there you can further cull or organise and pack away

Inspirationperspiration · 30/05/2023 14:47

.

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 30/05/2023 15:03

@whyisitalwayswindy you can always take a photo of the object and keep that rather than the object itself, you can make an online album of your children's art work rather than keeping 50 cards sculptures etc and just chose 2-3 for a memory box type of thing

Redshoeblueshoe · 31/05/2023 08:38

I did the bathroom yesterday. It's an easy room to start with. Today I'm starting with the kitchen. Hope it's still going well for you OP

Original poster
foodiemum80 · 31/05/2023 09:04

I'm going to tackle clothes today which is my complete nemesis. My bedroom is akin to a 15 year old boy's bedroom 🙈

OP posts: