Things take so much longer than expected

[Marchbug]

Two DC, I work 30hrs, DH WFH full time and youngest is off on my day off. I am currently on leave and have no kids (rare) and have been doing things around the house. I feel like am often really hard on us feeling like we don't keep on top of things well (basics pretty well shared, and just about manage) but today have been doing stuff like sorting kids clothes, throwing old clothes, empty toiletries etc out of drawers, properly cleaning the kitchen, sorting toys etc. I now understand why we can't do this all the time, it's soooo time consuming and feel like I could be at it for weeks and still not finish! No real point to this I guess, just yeah, never ending! Am not sure anything looks better yet, but I feel like I've achieved something at least 🤣

I know it's so overwhelming! We accumulate so much stuff and then before you know it's overflowing.

I tackle the house bit by bit as that works for me rather than doing a whole house and spending hours on things.

I started just before Christmas and still going! So actually I don't know what's worse doing a little everyday or a hours in a few days

I limit organising to about 15 mins or 30 mins a day so I tackle a drawer in a room one day and the next day I might tackle something else in the room like one fo the child's clothes.. so I work on my 6 year old's clothes first and take his out and then charity or bin bags. Then I work on 7 year olds clothes another day and his clothes go in my 6 year old's drawers unless ripped etc.

The next day I will work on another part of the same room like maybe the daughters clothes or the wardrobe.

By doing it in stages it is manageable for me and does not seem overwhelming. Some days I cannot be asked so I don't do anything.

I need to go round again and declutter rather than organise! I feel overwhelmed by stuff everywhere.

The amount of stuff is obscene isn't it? I feel like as I go am just finding more stuff that needs doing too. Our home is small as well so just can't handle too much. Took a huge bag to the clothes bin tonight and have some bits to upload to vinted later. Think I'll try keeping up with doing a bit a day after these days I have free as feel making some headway.

Well done on making a start!!!

That is the hardest part.

I am pretty overwhelmed with stuff around the house and it makes me anxious and stressed myself. The house itself ain't cluttered because I tend to move everything to the garage.

I tidied the garage and also the loft! My husband left everything in the middle and there was no room to work and he always used to stop me from going up there!! Prob because of the state he left it in!! Or he thought he was the man so he would do it! Who knows.

Anyways I got loads of banana boxes and sorted everything out and stacked them (I considered plastic boxes but thought this was cheap and cheerful whilst I could see what we had and then decide what to do with the stuff). There is so much space up there now and we can walk throughout the loft because I put all the clothes piled up in black bags together and banana boxes stacked within the eaves because there was wood there.

Garage I sorted too and we could walk throughout the floor area but now loads of stuff on the floor! It is sooooo f annoying after spending all those hours sorting it youw. I did the garage but by bit so a drawer unit one day and the next some shelves.

I refused to tidy it now and told him he can clear it!

So the house itself is okay and not over packed because I have stuff in wardrobes and drawers and a place for everything. It is the mountain of stuff in the loft and garage I am worried about. I find it hard to get rid of stuff.

We have a little 'outhouse/shed' thing. OMG you should see that. Soooo bad! Always been DHs domain so think I'll push for him to get in there sorted this week coming, we've got visitors this weekend so can't do too much but trying to keep on top of bits like putting stuff away and washing which would probably usually ignore whilst they're here

Yes outhouses, sheds, garages and lofts always end up as dumping grounds for junk

All we do is store stuff just in case and have some stuff we use regularly...

I find it hard to let go of stuff because money has been spent on it but then all I am doing is organising it and moving it from place to the next and not using it! Then as soon as I get rid of it I will want to use it lol

You have to have a household approach to not acquiring stuff.

Children need new clothes if they outgrow or wear out what they have.

When you are tempted to buy something that isn't consumable, ask yourself where it will live, what will you get rid of to make space, how long til it goes in the charity shop box... it's amazing how much less you buy.

Also, never buy anything when you see it. Go back for it if you really want it.

I think we're not too bad for stuff, we have a small house (too small for us really) and it's rented, so when we moved in (2.5 years ago) we did some stuff to make it liveable and then it's been kind of left and our needs have changed, and then the money needed to change rooms around and stuff. Need to make a plan for each room, and work out a budget way to get them sorted!

Love this thread. I live with a hoarder who especially likes to keep hold of all packaging and I have a naughty online clothes shopping habit. I am constantly trying to keep on top of / get rid of stuff to keep it from overwhelming the house.

I like your suggestions @pickledandpuzzled

Today I’ve filled most of a large car boot with stuff. I usually do this at least once a month. I have more to go tomorrow to a friend of outgrown kids clothes and clothes that have ironically been donated to us that don’t suit. This is all from one room which has become a dumping ground, which I’m aiming to clear before the end of September to make it into a snug. I still have one box and a bookcase to clear on there.

Next on my list is a cupboard on the kitchen and extra crockery, kids toys and games before Xmas, and summer clothes as they get packed away. And the drawers of doom in the kitchen….

I try and get something out of the house every day, and I find the motto about not leaving a room without something to put back where it belongs is helpful, whenever I go anywhere at home I have something - a jumper to be hung up, a cup to take back to the kitchen etc.

Stuff leaving the house can be anything from holey clothes for the clothes bank to charity shop stuff to putting the bags for life back in the boot of the car. The only problem with my method is that it basically means you are never, ever, done.

Addressing what comes into the house in the first place is definitely key. It’s hard with spendthrift DC though who like to spend their pocket money on rubbish.

@Fantina I think that's what I'm realising at my ripe old age though, that you can never be done! My guests are leaving today so my tasks are a general sort through after they go, hoover and dust, then I have a cupboard in kitchen I'd like to sort, and make sure am organised for work tomorrow

I've thought the same and I don't even have kids!

My solution is to stop buying stuff unless it is 100% necessary. I'm doing "no buy" months for the rest of this year. Not saying that's practical for anyone else but it's my solution.

@hhammie46i I think it's a good thing. I definitely need to do the same. We have back of the year heavy birthdays for the kids though, which then obviously leads to more stuff! Might encourage experience gifts rather than more rubbish we don't need!

How is anyone getting on with stuff today, I'm pretty much tidied downstairs, going up now to tidy through before starting a clean of everywhere