Complete house declutter - feeling overwhelmed

[foodiemum80]

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?

And have the “scissors” drawer/hook/shelf clear! If you know they’re in X drawer along with sellotape, note pad and pencils, don’t also cram in an old key where you can’t remember what it locks, a carrier bag filled with other carrier bags, post, etc. You need to be able to open the drawer and see the scissors, which is the real magic of decluttering: it’s not just a visibly tidy house. It’s visibly tidy storage so you see everything when you open a cupboard or drawer. And you can always label drawers and cupboards if that works for you - there’s no rule to say a house can’t have labels!

Yes, this is exactly what I do - can’t find sunglasses, panic buy sunglasses. Ditto gloves and scarves in winter etc. etc. Then find I have 5
scarves and no hats!

I once helped de-clutter a friends house. She had 16 black belts. I'd never seen her wear a black belt - turns out she could never find 1 when she wanted to wear 1!

I stand by needing boxes / dividers. You just need to get used to putting stuff back in the right place.

Decide on a space for a category. If it's a sensible choice everything in that category should fit. I have a box for water bottles and flasks. It's sensible for the 3 of us - then ds bought himself an Air Up bottle which didn't fit. Meant 1 older one had to go!

Well that's me back at work today. I didn't get completely finished but the skip and 3 wheelie bins are full so I certainly got the bulk done. Even managed to shampoo a couple of my carpets. I still have a bit of decorating to do and the upstairs to finish. It has been utterly emotionally and physically exhausting but I already feel like I have more pride in my house. I can't thank you all enough for your advice and support, especially those who encouraged me to be completely ruthless, which I was!

Brilliant work, well done!

Great work!

Congratulations OP, I am glad you're feeling proud of yourself. Worth making sure you find the time to finish upstairs after work this week and don't (as I tend to do) think you'll do it later and then never get around to it!

I'm in awe of you.

Haha, you understand me well! I have someone coming to paint a room upstairs at the end of the week so that should keep me motivated to keep going!

Thank you, that's so kind of you. I need to be better at giving myself credit rather than beating myself up about what I didn't get done.

Absolutely, OP!

I think of all the times I've told myself I'll clear up/throw out/organise stuff but don't do it. Your posts sound like you've been a whirlwind & achieved so much in a short space of time. It's impressive.

you wouldn't crititise a child for getting 90% in an exam because they didn't get a 100% so don't crititise yourself

really well done, impressed you did so much in a week

Well said, @Cottagecheeseisnotcheese . 90% is a hell of a lot more than 0%, which is where you were this time last week, @foodiemum80 . A full skip and 3 wheelies is a proper achievement.

That's amazing OP, well done!

Amazed - mag have to hire a skip this Summer, inspirational!

Excellent work and you sound much more content and well, lighter, too!

Little and often OP! So take one room at a time, be ruthless, if it hasn’t been used or worn within say the last 6-12 months, ask why are you keeping it. I make use of charity bags that get posted and have found most supermarkets have clothing and book/ dvd banks. Every couple of weeks I aim to get rid of the clutter then it’s easier to tidy. With 2 LOs it is hard and you can get sentimental over items but the alternative is worse! It is a constant task but it’s worthwhile doing. Good luck x

I have a clear fronted bread bin for this reason.
Clutterbug identifies different organising styles. Some need to tuck things away to feel comfortable and organised. Some need things in view so clearer storage and labels help with that.

The Dana K White "where would I look for this" is a useful question. Often keeping things in an area close to the point of use helps too. Sometimes it can be useful having duplicate storage points, e.g. I have a few small ramekin bowls for hair bands in places where I either put up/ take down my hair. Occasionally I have to balance the numbers of hair bands, but I know where to look for them.

With scissors, there are the kitchen ones with the utensils, a pair kept with wrapping paper (also sellotape) and the main store with stationery.

Well done, OP!!

And carpets shampooed too!!!

Marie Kondo, do it in order.