Decluttering book recommendations

[Soulsearcher1]

Hello, I need tk declutter my house and wondered if anyone could recommend a good book on how to declutter? I've already got Marie Kondo but it wasn't quite for me. I was thinking maybe the book by Dilly Carter from Sort your life out.

I'm a single mum with a demanding job and time poor as well as constantly tired. I live in a very small house - 2 up 2 down - with hardly any storage. The house looks a ness all the time, i find it exhausting to ckean as j have to move everything out the way and im just so fed up..

Thank you.

do you really. need a book? not a couple of cardboRd boxes?

there are many many many vids on youtube mostly American
describing decluttering, downsizing, death cleaning, minimalism

be prepared to discover just how ruthless you can be

I think a book or some YouTube videos can be what you need to get you started, but it's also a procrastination device. I read Kondo (library book, so it didn't add to clutter!) and it's not me either, but I did take a couple of things away from it. It made me realise that I was kidding myself that I needed so much within reach in the kitchen. I sifted through a few drawers and boxed up the duplicates and occasional use items, so everything I use regularly fits in. the drawers and I didn't need pots of utensils and appliances on the worktop. Much easier to wipe down empty worktops.

Another was a place for everything ... obviously not new, but I do try to incorporate it into decluttering. If I'm going to keep all of. my labels and Sharpie pens together, then they need to always be in a dedicated space. The lemon squeezer and garlic press are always in that drawer, and my dough scrapers will be in that one. If things don't fit in the drawer, then I must have too many/too much. Something has to go.

One in, one out too ... or bring something into the house, try to send five things out. We always have a charity box for things that we are going to get rid of, and once it's full, it's dropped off. In theory, I could dig them out of the box, but it never happens.

I recommend podcasts, you can listen whilst they slowly brainwash you :)

"A slob comes clean" podcast is where I'd start. She has written some books. But I find the repetitive nature of the key messsges works better for me.

Atomic Habits is one of the best books I've read for getting shit done. It's not a declutterring book though.

Just do a little bit every day. I'd start with 15 minutes and tackle a drawer. Set the timer to keep you on track.

I feel you OP, I feel I've spent my children's childhoods in clutter because there is no time. And I'm not a single parent either!

I would recommend videos eg Sort Your Life Out for getting in the zone and inspired.

I've taken half term off work for a head start of decluttering. It's so brilliant to finally have dedicated time. (children now adult/teen! so dont need halfterm time for child caring)

First day I just did a couple of kitchen "doom" drawers in the way people have described above. It was great practice of the principle of bin / recycle / donate / keep while keeping it not overwhelming, and being able to clear right up again quickly after sorting.

Second day I decluttered half of the "shove it there and deal with later" stuff in our bedroom. I had booked a tip visit and then went to charity shop straight after, so again I was able to get back to "normal" and the stuff left the house.

Two lessons from that day - I found stuff I had previously DECIDED to take to the charity shop, but hadn't found time. Finding time for that step is important!

Secondly I found the small collection of the most sentimental of the cuddly toys. (Previous efforts had reduced the cuddly toy stash to only a very small number, but I find this sort of sentimental thing one of the most challenging.) Some sort of moth or insect had got into the box and damaged them beyond saving. My teen was there to be consulted and showed none of my sentimentality. So these finally went to the dump.

That's a massive lesson for me. Any choice to keep stuff also means a decision to maintain / dust / clean that stuff. Otherwise, no matter how sentimental, if you donate you give someone else the chance to use that stuff before it deteriorates / breaks.

Third day I deep cleaned one of the kid's bedrooms, in this case only a handful of rubbish / decluttering as cleaning rather than tidying was the main issue.

Today is allocated to the garage pit of doom - again a dump run has been booked.

Good luck OP, I would remember that there is so much of this that is psychological issues and be aware of that and also kind to yourself. That's why these videos and resources can help, in helping you get the mindset to let go of things and promote your own wellbeing in doing that.

Secondly, time IS key. This week I'm doing is SO good but I've spent years not having the time. Think of ways you could create the time, eg someone who could take your kids out on a trip or something.

I have a whole bookshelf full of decluttering books (and no, the irony is not lost on me!)

I like to read one in January to kick start my annual Decluttering spree. I love the Spark Joy one but agree it's not one for everyone but one I'd really recommend is "the toothbrush principle". It was one of my first and I got it from a car boot Sale. I asked the stall holder if it was any good and she replied with a laugh "I'm here aren't I?" and pointed to her table full of stuff!

Totally agree. Decluttering at the Speed of Life is one of my favourite books too.

I have just decluttered my entire house. The books I read were the Dana K White one (Decluttering at the Speed of Life) and the Dilly Carter one (Create Space). Both were extremely useful to me and give detailed, practical advice.

I think Marie Kondo is only feasible for people without kids/a messy spouse. Even she has admitted that her own methods didn't work as well for her post children.

Also recommend watching Sort Your Life Out on BBC as much as possible!

Thank you all so much for your advice and recommendations. I really appreciate your help as i so need it!

Just start by the front door and work your way in from there. It's what visitors see first. The hall is also the room that everything on It's way out needs to be carried through.

I borrowed and read the Marie Kondo book but it didn't help hugely. What did help is all the myriad of YouTube videos on decluttering. I'd listen whilst decluttering and they are fab for giving motivation.

At first I couldn't get on with the longer videos. I loved Joshua Becker - short, under 10 minute videos about the benefits of minimalism (you don't need to aim for minimalism but he speaks sense of why having less stuff makes for a nicer life).

Then I moved onto the Minimal Mom. Then Clutterbug. Ive never got on with Dana from a Slob comes clean as I find her too wordy and repetitive.

I follow someone on Insta. They have a philosophical take on clutter which I have found very helpful. It's often a shift in mindset that is needed, the account is simpleintentional.

There's a podcast too and you can sign up for emails. I find the posts popping up on my feed are motivating, but also help to shift how I feel about all my stuff. It's a slow process, but I am finally making progress after many false starts with other methods.