Who wants to join me in decluttering?

[claireybee]

Have noticed The Pile has extended to several piles in all rooms and we seem to have far to much stuff that doesn't really get used.

So I'm going to attempt to declutter...

I was thinking of going round room by room and anything that isn't where is should be or that isn't needed will get either put away, binned/recycled or given to charity.

I'm going to do surfaces and obvious clutter first, but I have a feeling this could lead to emptying out cupboards

Anyone want to join me? It's more fun to do it together . Any suggestions on how to go about it also welcome.

Er, I didn't do the dining table. I went shopping instead.

mogs that is what I will be doing on Friday evening-it's dd's birthday party on saturday!

We're hopeless, aren't we!! As I was cramming things into every available space, I was thinking what a nightmare it was going to be when I finally try to sort it all out. I'll leave it for after half term now!

Horton - did you buy anything nice?

Clairey - hope you manage to hide everything before the party starts!!!

hello everyone. Can I just pop in to say hi and I would love to join your thread.

I really find it hard to get rid of clutter and especially the dc's toys etc. I have been known to spend all day filling bags for charity and then having last thoughts and dragging stuff back out . Have even gone to a charity shop on two occasions and bought back the stuff (double )

I was recently shocked by the realisation I properly have issues with holding on to stuff. I would not admit this to my family or friends except in a jokey way but I know that really I do.

Causes problems with dh he gets really stressed and wants to bin the lot.

There has been times I have cried I feel so snowed under by all of this stuff.

Another problem I have is most of the stuff is presents from family and has sentimental value attached to it - by me, to the dc's I think it is all just one big mess of stuff. My mum is a proper hoarder too but she has much more space than me.

I also acquired a lot of stuff from my nan and grans houses just ornaments really but they soon pile up (try three boxes!) also I regret the day I started boxing stuff up and putting it in the loft. Now I can't get up there as I get scared of falling off the ladder (long story) and dread whats up there. My dh estimated about a small vans worth.

Anyhow now my ds has asthma I was horrified to see the amount of dust covering all his toys which has been probably contributing to his breathing problems. I vacum his room every week but the dust settles on all the boxes - plastic tidy ones - the bane of my life.

So I have promised myself I am going to be really strong. Today I have gone through both dc's toys and clothes and some of our stuff and filled 4 binbags for recycling and about 6 for car boot/charity.

Then I cleaned all under all their furniture and felt really happy with what I had done as it was all nice and fresh smelling and clean. I washed all the furniture down with weak dettol too.

I am starting to feel quite spurred on now and we go away for a week on Saturday (yay!)after that I hope to come back and get my dh to empty loft out. Just have to fight the urge when I get second thoughts about things going and try not to 'rescue' them from car boot pile in shed, so I would appreciate some nice nagging from mnetters not to do it !!

ps my house sounds like a hovel it is not it is just - mostly - hidden clutter )

Oooh yes, really nice pants and socks from Gap and clothes for DD and lovely new mugs from Habitat and a tray/plate kind of thing for picnics and DD got a toy dog (she has been agitating for one for months) and two new jumpers from Uniqlo and three books for me and a comic for DD and a bottle of nice wine for the weekend and a nice piece of lamb which DD and I had for our supper with asparagus and chickpeas in tomatoey sauce and rice.

I do see that I am actually filling the house up with more stuff rather than decluttering. Give me time...

Clairey, a very happy bday to your DD.

Hi freckly. I empathise with every single word of your post. Nice to see you here. I do like that we are all a bit rubbish but are doing our best not to be!

Also, my house actually is approaching hovel status so don't feel bad!

hi Horton thankyou so much for being kind have just re-read my post and it sounds a bit depressing i will do a cheerful one hopefully when I come back from hols!

(Nice uncluttered holiday accomodation(sp) mmmm chance to se how normal folk live!)

I love your last comment haha who wants a beige palace anyhow hovels are far more fun! bet its not a hovel

Hello again declutterers

I live in a hovel
I don't really, just have loads of crap.

Today i have got 3 bags of baby stuff, the moses basket and moses basket bedding, walker and mobile out of DD room to go in loft, and 1 bag of baby clothes to give to a friend's niece. Just got to put it in the loft this evening when Dh gets home. It may not sound that bad, except DD moved out of the moses basket over a year ago!

I think that is it for today as i am going into the garden to sort out there, but hoping to do some more tomorrow

Mogs, when we first moved in here I shoved loads of stuff in the understairs cupboard. I have emptied out and rearranged the cupboard twice since then but all the stuff I shoved in there is still in there!

Freckly I sympathise. I am quite similar. I did a massive cull a couple of years ago when I was leaving the country but unfortunately came back 18 months later and my mum had unpacked half of it again and the rest was still in bags waiting to go to charity. Still, at least I don't live there now so it's her problem not mine

I find the only way to do it is be really hard hearted. Don't let yourself feel guilty because granny gave that to you, or attach emotion to it because it belonged to your mum etc-if you don't like it, need it or use it then get rid. Easier said than done but if you can get in the right mindset it goes fairly smoothly.

I love holiday appartments, the way the dressing table only has your one bottle of moisturiser and small bag of makeup etc-hope it inspires you!

Horton you are right, at least we are trying