Anyone like me and would like to de-clutter their house but just?

Question

dooes not know where to start?
I am full of good intentions, but I pick something up and all
the time I think 'oh no, that'll come in handy' or it might be
something that the kids have made. I just cannot part with anything. Yet on the occasions that my husbands a a little
clear out for me I feel great. As long as I don't know what he
is throwing away. Aaaaaargh

Answer 1

You sound a bit like me in that respect. I have loads of stuff that i keep "just in case". It is a nightmare now too as i have a 10 year old son and keep everything that he makes, paints or draws at school and have done since he started school!!!! Its the same with birthday cards i keep them for sentimental value. I think "if i keep them and look at them when im 70 years old, they will bring back my memories from the earlier age!" I think i need psychiatric help - lol.

Answer 2

All the things you have gotten or had made by the kids can be put into collages, scrap books etc.

Everything in its place and a place for everything. Do it a room at a time. Take everyting out of the closets, drawers, shelves. Then sort it in to piles of importance. Put back only what has a spot. Dont worry about what does not fit. Just leave the pile. Start another room doing the same thing. When you have gone through the house and put everything in its place, now you can start going through the left over piles. Then ask your self the questions, when did i use it last, how often do i use, is it important if so why. If your reasons are i might need it some day or some one else will need it then get rid of it. Donate it if it is in good condition or ask a realative if they need it. It is no big deal if you have to spend 5 bucks a year later cause you need that thing you threw away.

Chances are by the time it comes to sorting through everything after the goods are put away you wont want to really do it anymore and you will end up throwing a lot more stuff. Hope this helps. Good luck to you.

Answer 3

At least once a year, I get a few boxes (one for trash, save, and donate/garage sale) and start in the "worst" room of the house. I know how hard it can be to part with the precious artworks from your child. I use to save every scrap my daughter's doodled on. Trust me, they will come home with so many over time, you are always going to find a favorite. What I do is pick ONE favorite a week and put it in a box. At the end of the month, I keep ONE and rest go to grandparents, friends, or the trash.(what they do with them after that is up to them!) At the end of the year, pick a couple (never anymore than 3) and they get put into a scrapbook.

Anything that I haven't used in 6 months gets sorted into one the boxes. If you donate the items to a charity like Goodwill, you get a donation reciept for tax deduction. I figure that if I haven't used it, it can't be that necessary. And if 3 months down the road I find I "need" it, I either buy another or improvise. The same concept for clothes and especially toys.

The key is to not get too attached to "stuff". Just because it was a gift from mom doesn't mean it has to have a spot in your home for all eternity!

I still have a "junk drawer", but it gets gone through every few months too.

Just remember to start in one room at a time. Try to get your husband involved. If he isn't any help, do what I do: I ask once, remind them to pick "it" up once and then it gets "thrown away"(depending on what it is, it may just find its way to the closet hidden until they go on a mad search). Otherwise it gets donated.

Happy Spring Cleaning! ;)

Answer 4

You don't need a specialist to de-clutter!

Just make a start with a small area of the house (dont start to unravel everything otherwise your house will look like a cesspit!)

Put on some music and ask yourself realistically whether that item is useful. If it isn't, throw it! Chances are, if it hasn't come in use by now - it probably never will.

Then start to organise your house - where you will keep similar things, ie books, CDS..etc

The sock drawer is a great place to start... :)

Answer 5

Me too - I am not the tidiest person to begin with.
I get an extra urge to tidy on the 2 weeks from full moon to new moon, and fill up the recycling box easily then. My rooms are too cluttered to do a whole room in one go!
As for the loft I have a strict rule- whatever goes up -an equal volume has to come out. (But how did so much get up there in the first place??)

Answer 6

Definitely get some pretty boxes that you can display and then categorise them.
Ask your kids which paintings they want to keep and make a collage for the wall.
Ask a friend(s) to come and join you whilst you de-clutter the wardrobe and have some music and wine present to help you on your way.
Remember that feng shui stresses that too much cluuter has an impact on your own life. More space and tidyness equals contentment and its easier on the eye too.

Answer 7

I know what you're talking about. I have a 7 1/2 month old baby at home, and it's really hard to find the time to go through things. I'm always aftaid to throw things out too because I'm thinking that I'll need it later on. I hate the feeling when you need something, but you realize you already tossed it.

Answer 8

Maybe you should just put things into three boxes.

Box 1. I have used in the last 6 months

Box 2. I have used in the last year

Box 3. I dont remember the last time I used this.

Then ask your husband to sort out the last box for you.

This would be a good start. Obviously needs and wants are too tempting so just make the boxes with these labels and see what he does with them.

Good Luck

Clear home = clear mind!

Answer 9

Yes!!! Im hopeless. The only way I can do it is to do a drawer at a time, or a room at a time. As you say, you get caught up in the memories and it can get quite emotional. On that program Life Laundry there was a book that went with the series and its really helpful.

Answer 10

We should start a club "The order of cluttered" I'm terrible. and i know as soon as i get rid of something i will need it two weeks later. i do have a memory box for special things. my husband would dump the lot but hes got more junk than me.