Basics of decluttering - urgent reply needed

Spirit_2

I am having an MSE/getting organised moment . The getting organised bit won't last so I need to know urgently (before my mood changes) what the basics of decluttering are.

Small cottage, useless airing cupboard, no built in storage.

I want to sort clothes, towel and linen please.

I need to do it now and will commit an hour to it....as a start

Thank you

Buddingblonde

You make your own rules - if I was doing the linen cupboard I would be making 4 piles

Keep
Rags (for cleaning cloths etc)
Fabric Recycling (if you have such a thing locally) - for the worst of the worst
Charity Shop/Freecycle

The keep pile I would then fold and put back into the linen cupboard - but I know some people will have different piles within that - towels, bedding, tea towels (whatever catagories you want).

The only one rule I make when de cluttering is play music - everything is easier/quicker when you are listening to something you like and singing your head off.

emay

I usually do one cupboard/wardrobe etc at a time, turf absolutely everything out of it, clean inside. Sort everything thats come out into 3 piles, stuff thats staying (ie. gets used A LOT, or is essential), stuff thats a maybe (ie. not been used for a couple of months), stuff to go (not been used in months, forgot you had etc, so it won't be missed).

Put back the staying stuff.
Move the to go stuff to the bin, near door (or car boot) so it goes to charity etc.
Go back through the maybe pile and decide which pile it really belongs in (stay or go)

emay

Agree with the music...nothing to slow though as you tend to work to the speed of the music.
And tv's a no-no...you'll get distrcted and sit down!!!

Mrs_Thrify

I make 3 piles, keep, charity shop and bin.

You could also go with the rule of what you have not used in the last year and has no value BIN.

Penelope_Penguin

julie_d wrote: »

I make 3 piles, keep, charity shop and bin.

Or keep, charity shop and RECYCLE

Penny. x

Spirit_2

Thank you everyone - spent more than an hour and cleared:

One laundry basket's worth of linen/towels (heaped and overflowing)

One large chest of drawers with my clothes in it.


I still seem to have a lot of what I started with but did recycle (to the garage) a much loved but past its best duvet cover and pillow cases, lots of towels/flannels a couple of t-shirts for rags.

Recycled some tops.

Threw out a wastebin full of odd socks, bra's, shabby knickers:eek:

I still need to find a home for some bedclothes or towels though as we just lack storage. Where do you keep yours?

Sequeena

I lack storage and keep bedding in the bottom of my wardrobe I have a big enough house... just don't have enough furniture

Buddingblonde

I bought zip lock vaccum type bags and store stuff under the bed

jillyw

Have you thought of large wicker baskets to store linen and towels?

Sequeena

Buddingblonde wrote: »

I bought zip lock vaccum type bags and store stuff under the bed

I've seen those in B&M except you hang it up in the wardrobe!

jillyw wrote: »

Have you thought of large wicker baskets to store linen and towels?

That's a great idea, my mum keeps al her towels in a wicker basket in the bathroom