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Telly addicts

Sort your life out BBC1

928 replies

Ulysees · 14/03/2024 14:58

New thread in case there isn't one?

OP posts:
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PenniesButton · 14/03/2025 20:53

I hear the opinions saying it could make the MH worse. But in the case of my friend, her mental health is made much worse by the state of her house and how overwhelming the task of sorting it is. It would change her life for the better to be on the show.

Ulysees · 15/03/2025 01:13

Has anyone seen Jasmine Harman's documentary about her mum hoarding. It's heartbreaking. Such a difficult watch.

OP posts:
Rummikub · 15/03/2025 01:23

Yes I have. It was awhile ago wasnt it. Agree it was heartbreaking.

Ulysees · 15/03/2025 02:16

Rummikub · 15/03/2025 01:23

Yes I have. It was awhile ago wasnt it. Agree it was heartbreaking.

Yes I saw it recently but it was filmed a long time ago.

OP posts:
Meredusoleil · 15/03/2025 07:34

Ulysees · 15/03/2025 02:16

Yes I saw it recently but it was filmed a long time ago.

Where can I watch this please and what is it called?

MrsBird03 · 15/03/2025 10:40

So I don't have access to a warehouse but decided to do a mini version and stripped the bedroom, everything out, deep cleaned and only brought back into the room what I wanted and put it exactly where it was going to live! Ive struggled with decluttering for years, but found this approach so much more helpful! Yes the lounge and another room were messy for the week, but I have just finished (started last Sunday in a moment of madness). I work FT and a solo parent so took longer than normal. It really changed the way I looked at things, as I struggle with perfection and found this way I could deep clean and touch up the paint rather than just make do, so only the best items / things I loved deserved to be in that space. Just a shame Rob couldn't pop round for a cuppa :)

TheAverageJoanne · 15/03/2025 11:10

MrsBird03 · 15/03/2025 10:40

So I don't have access to a warehouse but decided to do a mini version and stripped the bedroom, everything out, deep cleaned and only brought back into the room what I wanted and put it exactly where it was going to live! Ive struggled with decluttering for years, but found this approach so much more helpful! Yes the lounge and another room were messy for the week, but I have just finished (started last Sunday in a moment of madness). I work FT and a solo parent so took longer than normal. It really changed the way I looked at things, as I struggle with perfection and found this way I could deep clean and touch up the paint rather than just make do, so only the best items / things I loved deserved to be in that space. Just a shame Rob couldn't pop round for a cuppa :)

I hear you about Rob!!

Did you empty your wardrobe and drawers too?

PenniesButton · 15/03/2025 11:50

Well done @MrsBird03 that's a great achievement, must feel great to be in bed now knowing that room is free of things that no longer serve you and the space you have.

BigBoysDontCry · 15/03/2025 11:52

I think it's useful if you can find a space to use as a sort of holding pen. My marriage broke up and he moved out last summer and we'd really neglected the house and it was full of stuff, maybe not as bad as some on this programme but bad enough. Our loft hatch was in our our small "spare" bedroom and it was full to the brim of stuff so the loft was inaccessible meaning we had some plumbing jobs we couldn't get done.

So, after he moved out, we used younger son's (who was away at uni) bedroom that I'd been using to sleep in, as a dump to get everything out of that room, taking obvious rubbish straight to the tip, got the plumber in, got the loft part floored and bought lots of storage.

Older DS and I then just started sorting stuff from that room into categories and boxing it up into the loft. I know it'll still need to be gone through, but it means I've now been working round room by room and tipping, selling, giving away stuff we don't need and then decorating before putting stuff back. I'm hoping to then have all our wardrobes and cupboards empty enough to then start on the loft stuff and just bring down what we need and do what needs to be done with the rest.

We are 9 months into this and don't get me wrong, it's exhausting but I can see where we are going and I can open my door to anyone at any time and have them in my house.

My friend with a much smaller property has hired a storage container for a couple if months to give her breathing space to sort.

If you are in this position, you can do it, it might just take longer than a week.

Try to pick one room, your living room or a bedroom to do first and try to keep it clear just so that there us an oasis of peace and normality somewhere.

Good luck to all who are starting a clear out.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/03/2025 12:10

PenniesButton · 14/03/2025 20:53

I hear the opinions saying it could make the MH worse. But in the case of my friend, her mental health is made much worse by the state of her house and how overwhelming the task of sorting it is. It would change her life for the better to be on the show.

I'm sure you are right, @PenniesButton - but I think it would need to be done with great care, so the psychological issues were addressed at the same time as the clutter - and I don't think SYLO is set up for that. The US programme, Hoarders:Buried Alive had psychologists on the programme, and present for the clear out process, and I think this would be safer for someone like your friend.

ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 15/03/2025 12:14

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/03/2025 12:10

I'm sure you are right, @PenniesButton - but I think it would need to be done with great care, so the psychological issues were addressed at the same time as the clutter - and I don't think SYLO is set up for that. The US programme, Hoarders:Buried Alive had psychologists on the programme, and present for the clear out process, and I think this would be safer for someone like your friend.

Agree, it could be done but it would turn it into a different programme.

A bit like the money one with the psychologist I mentioned earlier here.

Evenstar · 15/03/2025 14:23

Channel 4 had a series called The Hoarder Next Door where they involved a psychotherapist, I don’t know if it’s available anywhere https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hoarder_Next_Door

MrsBird03 · 15/03/2025 19:09

I did indeed! I pulled everything out, even the drawers from fitted units etc. Found a baby cardigan behind one... my child has never stored their clothes in my room so i have no idea how it got there. Just having the space and treating the bedroom door as a threshold so only 'perfect' items could go back in really changed my perspective. By perfect, it had to fit! Or if there was a stain, it went in the wash. If it was badly creased, i'd iron it, or if it needed a new button or length altered it would go in the mending pile. So when i grab something to wear, it is automatically useable rather than being chucked back in thinking 'i must shorten those trousers' etc. Sounds silly, but has made me feel really positive! I'm going to start a new room tomorrow, its sort your life out in 7 days but 7 days per room 🤣🤣

ChiaraRimini · 15/03/2025 19:26

Great work @MrsBird03!
thanks to this show I’ve decluttered my bedroom and spent £100 on drawer organisers from Amazon and IKEA 😆 to sort out my stuff.
Dilly would be proud.
Ive lost 3 stone recently, so I’ve had to buy new clothes. I’ve kept some of the “fat clothes” in case I gain again (hope not) but they are packed away in a vacuum seal bag in a suitcase.
it takes so long though, I’ve been working on it for at least 2 weeks in my spare time.

ChiaraRimini · 15/03/2025 19:28

@BigBoysDontCryyou’ve done brilliantly, well done. Bit worried for your friend as once things are in a storage container, will she have the motivation to ever actually sort through them?

BigBoysDontCry · 15/03/2025 19:42

ChiaraRimini · 15/03/2025 19:28

@BigBoysDontCryyou’ve done brilliantly, well done. Bit worried for your friend as once things are in a storage container, will she have the motivation to ever actually sort through them?

I am too but she can only afford to keep the storage for a limited time so she actually wont have the choice. Myself and another friend have offered to come over there to help sort it and do trips to the tip. She wont have us in her house so we respect that but hoping she will take up the offer to help at the storage facility. I think it's easier for someone else to make decisions sometimes.

I'm finding it easier to say goodbye to stuff as I go on as I don't miss anything I've got rid off, the world hasn't come to an end and I now value the space more than the things.

I've also tried to sell things on FB marketplace and had no takers (brand new roman blinds) that then tells me that my thoughts about these things having value to me is not true and so I'm going to give them away instead. The thought about the money they cost was holding me back but actually that money is dead and gone.

The plan tomorrow is DS2s built in wardrobes, full of things that are mainly not his. Some of the stuff is Ex Hs. I'm trying to gather the rest of his stuff together and he can come one day and sort it. I'm not his storage facility.

BigBoysDontCry · 15/03/2025 19:52

The bonus is also that DS1 has the small spare room as a study now so his bedroom is now just his bedroom and he has the other room with his PC and storage where he can display his nice things and he finds it much easier to keep both rooms nice when he has more space. It also stops us filling up an unused room with stuff we don't use. DS2 tends to use our 2nd living room more than DS1 does, so when he comes home it means that he will also have use of 2 rooms. Although I am concerned about the amount of stuff he bring home until he hopefully gets a job and a plan. He currently lives with his GF who is hoping to work abroad for a year. DS1 will probably be with me for a while also. He's autistic and struggling a bit.

LenaLamont · 15/03/2025 22:17

I've been thinking of Dilly as I sorted out my craft stash. I need to make room for DS1's stuff because it's currently colonising DS2's room and he's about to come home while he retrains.

I've cut it by half (SYLO influence), rolled the fabric in a Dillyesque way, and with wool, stored each set was in its own bag with the band taped to the handle so the details about needle/hook size, washing instructions etc. And for the several WIP, I've added the needle/hook size I'm using and the pattern/stitch.

Sort your life out BBC1
Sort your life out BBC1
Sort your life out BBC1
ThisIsMyYearToFindMyself · 15/03/2025 23:36

@BigBoysDontCry @MrsBird03 and anyone else who has done it by themselves, how much do you think you got rid of? 10%? 50%?

MrsBird03 · 16/03/2025 08:05

So I feel I've merged a few methods - this us what I did
Step one - pull everything out of the room (SYLO)
Step two - did a scan around the house /car / (anywhere else there might be items so office, parents, gym locker etc) for any bits that should live in the bedroom or match the categories you will be sorting (kondo)
Step three - deep clean and did any diy jobs in the empty room, pulling drawers out, furniture out, cleaned carpets etc
Step 4 - put everything in rough categories so make up, hair bits, jumpers, dresses etc.
Step 5 - work through each category and try it on! I could easily have kept items i loved but it was only by trying on i noticed my body shape had changed or the hem was far too short etc. It takes time but my suggestion would be to put on your best underwear and quickly try on and make a decision. I haven't seen any of the decluttering programmes do this, but always wondered what if you keep clothes that don't fit or suit anymore!
Step 6 - either put in recycling (charity bag), bag to give to someone else, mending pile, for sale, debobbling pile, or in its new home.
Step 7 - category by category you are done :) eat lots of chocolate to celebrate so the clothes you have kept no longer fit 🤣🤣

In terms of how much I got rid of, I would say about 60 per cent BUT i didn't aim for a target as my aim was to keep things I lived and fitted my lifestyle now. However, I hadn't had a clear out for a long time and still had dresses from uni clubbing days etc. So I think the amount you get rid of depends on how much you have in the first place?

One thing I would say that helped was the container concept, so as the room was empty I knee exactly how much space I had and designated the space to specitic things e.g. jumpers will live here and I kept that in mind when thinking about which to keep.

Hope that helps

BigBoysDontCry · 16/03/2025 09:07

Hmm it's hard to say. There was one room that was full to the point you couldn't walk in it, including a set of bunkbeds, 2 computer desks and chairs, all burried under stuff. Some of which was needed, like suitcases.

We had flooring put in the loft and stuff like suitcases are now up there.

The loft already had a lot of crap in it which we mostly cleared and there are still boxes to go through. And we now have boxes for cables or whatever so when we find those elsewhere we can add to them.

The plan is to just finish all the actual living space and then look at the loft again.

We also put together about 75kg of lego from various rooms into it's own containers.

We are at the point where all rooms are mostly clear and all function but it's the hidden stuff that needs to be gone through to empty out space to bring down what we need from the loft and bin the rest.

I'd say I'm maybe at 25%?

Ive had 2 bulky uplifts (5 items a time) from the council. The scrappy took away the metal bunkbed frames. I've done about 8 full car loads to the recycling centre. A bag to charity every 2 weeks for the last 9 months.

I've given stuff away locally and sold a couple of things.

But, I haven't ditched many books as they are all in book cases and not bothering anyone. DSs and I are big readers, we possibly might not read those again but I've not cleared them out, so that will increase the % of stuff I've kept but it's not like we are tripping over it if that makes sense?

Ive reduced bedding down to 3 complete sets each but I also have spare duvets and sets for visitors. I need to reduce down the amount of towels we have. So there is still stuff to be done, I recon maybe about 5-10%.

Its hard as it's a pretty big house, although it's an older new build so not huge amounts of storage.

I think I might think I've done well then go to downsize in a few years and still have to get rid of 50% 😂😂

Partridgewell · 16/03/2025 13:49

Well, you're in a much better position than you otherwise would have been.

mixedpeel · 16/03/2025 14:37

@MrsBird03 and @BigBoysDontCry , thanks both for your comprehensive and inspiring descriptions.

Really impressed and hope you enjoy reaping the rewards of a calmer, clearer space at home.

Newmeagain · 16/03/2025 14:46

AlvisParsley · 13/03/2025 10:48

I was wondering how they managed to afford a house that size and buy Taylor a car for her birthday on a carer's wage. Not having a pop, just genuinely curious. Presumably the ex is financially supportive and I know Taylor works too.

I was amused when the friend said to Katrina to keep some of the dresses "as you might get married again"!

It’s funny you mention that. I really enjoy the show, but when I watched the latest episode I thought that was really odd - not just that the mum could afford to buy her 18 year old DD a car but also that they included that in the programme, as it wasn’t relevant in any way. I actually suspect the family wanted to include that, which to me is a bit problematic.

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