Enough is enough - the great declutter

Uniscots97

Well started my declutter. Got a new hoover at christmas so rather than hang onto the old one I put it on Freecycle. It got snapped up pretty quick. Next area to tackle is my box room. So cluttered with junk, the door gets kept shut!

Primrose

I would love a major declutter, but how do I change habits when I'm married to a hoarder? For every piece of stuff that is disposed of, another two seem to take its place. Come on folks - help please! I'm so tired of trying to dust & vacuum around floors and surfaces which are piled with stuff. Every so often we do manage to do a car boot sale, but how do I change a mindset from "hoarder" to "minimalist" without evoking the reaction "These are parts of my life which you want to throw away?"

mary43

Oh Primrose................I'm a bit like your OH I;m afraid. Find it very hard to get rid of things but am trying to make a real effort this year.
Not today though.............had paperwork to do and meeting this afternoon so much have a quick tidy up before then. Luckily there's not much stuff laying around...........I've got a lot of things in the house but they're either on a shelf, hanging on the wall or in glass fronted cupboard (which needs a bit of clear out as well!). Just seems to be kitchen table thats the 'hot spot' fot dumping stuff............bottle opener, note with phone number on, screwdriver..........all in the fruit bowl................no fruit, just 'stuff'............lol

tattycath

Hi all. primrose I can relate to having loads of stuff. I'm not as bad as my mum though. She has cupboards full and sideboards covered in all sort of stuf!! Have you tried suggesting that OH just has a couple of items from different parts of his life? as opposed to tonnes of the stuff? or that he can have a special place to put his things (to keep them safe etc) and when he discovers that he only has a certain amount of space he may decide he needs to downsize.
If on the other hand 'he isn't having any of it' I'm afraid I don't know what to suggest-you could always short term play him at his own game and when he tells you to get rid, say that you will get rid of something if he does. and work round it that way

morganlefay

Dear everyone, thank you so much for all your thoughts on here. I am a truly terrible hoarder and I was going to join in last year when this thread started and eally empty my house of 34 years of stuff, but then got overcome by the Black Dog and couldn't do anything. This year I am better, life has chucked me an inkling of a smile, and the knowledge that other people are still struggling with their own or family members' hoarding is being very heartening. I'm not promnising but I think I might be able to start soon, and just that feeling that I'm going to do it is cheering me on. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. :rotfl:

mary43

morganlefey, you'll get there............just set yourself achievable goals........I have to. I was going to work wonders at the start of the year -began ok then slowed down what with one thing or another but decided that little and often is better than not at all or throwing myself into it when I don't have the energy. So don't fret if you come to a bit of a stand still.......and good luck.
:j

cat64

Just wanted to say I sooo identify with this thread. I feel totally overwhelmed by the chaos and clutter in our home, and yet seem unable to tackle it. I never seem to stop all day long and yet the house is still a pigsty. If I try to make a start I just get so frustrated as I don't even know what half of the stuff hanging around the house is for, who it belongs to or where to put it.

There are six of us, 2 adults and 4 kids (I say kids but 3 are young adults really), we're all pretty untidy. I get very little help from any of the kids around the house. OH cooks but is hopeless at clearing up. The two girls share a room and just blame each other for the mess, I think the eldest girl would keep it tidy but she gets frustrated as the younger one won't clean up.

Anyway, I'm hoping to get time to read some more of the posts shortly and hopefully get some inspiration to start clearing some of the clutter.

earthmother

Well, I feel a bit better now.

Didn't think I'd have the chance to get anything done today, but just took half an hour and sorted some boxes in the bedroom out - only a repacking and tidying job, (it's the ebay and car boot stuff so can't get rid just yet) - but it's already made the room feel a bit nicer (and added a few more boxes to that pile in the hall, which will be gone by this time tomorrow).

Discount-Diva_3

I had quite a bad fall a few months ago and I have just started to manage some cleaning so as I go I am trying to de-clutter along the way, I have a plan of action stuck to my fridge and can tick things off as I go. Would love to move this year and will be downsizing so I need to be ruthless. Picked up a box from work today for the first lot of items for the car boot sale. So a positive start just hope I can keep up the momentum

pigpen

earthmother wrote: »

Pigpen - if the boxes are still useable, then put them on freecycle - there are always people who can use them

Ooh I'd not thought of that.. I'll remember it for next time.. these are all soggy now as it has rained in and off all day...

Another binbag of rubbish is gone today..

DS2's birthday tomorrow so more junk coming our way *sigh*