Hoarding - Springing Ahead

penelopedee_2

Do you mind if I join in please.

Since I've been back at work nothing is getting done at home and it is becoming an unbearable cluttered mess. It doesn't help that I live with 3 hoarders! I can't keep it nice and clean because of so much stuff.

My life has totally changed and I am still clinging onto clothes and shoes in particular from before that are no use to be now. Its a shame as they are in good condition and some of the shoes really pretty, but they are only gathering dust. I still feel a bit emotional about it but have decided in the morning to bag them up and let somebody else have the pleasure of them. I might be able to find what I need then.

Today I cleared all of the work surfaces in the kitchen, living and dining room. Re-housed the kids bits back in their rooms, have a bag of utter rubbish, two bags of cardboard recycling and a filled food bag to go with the bin men tomorrow. I also found a bag of stuff for charity that I was dithering over which is now by the front door to go tomorrow.

So shoes and clothes in the morning. Catching up with the glasto coverage now. Hope everyone is well x

calicocat

Welcome Penelopedee,

Heavens 3 hoarders, I can't imagine how much stuff that would generate! You have my understanding on the shoe/boot front, I will be addressing this soon too, sometimes I just like looking at them though, same with hand bags. I am going to have to look at these things (well not just look at but get rid of) or I will just end up with the same stuff at the new place. And WAY more storage there too so real potential to be worse than I am now. I hope you manage to go through yours with ease and stay strong in getting rid of the things you no longer have need of.

Just a quick up date........i can see carpet in the lounge!!. I have moved boxes and stuff packet so things look and feel more organised. Have thrown 2 bin bags of junk out, have a few things ready to cat-flap (literally this time as to the girl upstairs). I have however managed to accumulate something too, picking up a table and chairs from someone on freecycle, but this I will need at the other end. I have also thought of just having a freecycle day this end before I move so things are not just chucked if they can be of use to someone.

Off to have a go at some stuff in the bedroom now.

Happy de-hoarding everyone.

MinnieMousesMummy

Good evening everyone I have made a start on sorting through some of the clutter. Today I have spent an hour and a half in the master bedroom sorting through some stuff and I now have 1 black bag for the bin and in the bin as well as 2 black bag of things that I need to list for sale or put on freecycle

Follow up jobs from today:
Sort through 8 bags of paperwork to sort through and shred or file.
Sort through 2 boxes of bits and bobs
List items for sale on ebay
List larger unwanted items on freecycle
4 bags of ironing to get done

These jobs should keep me busy for the next couple of days then I can decide on the next area to target.

Gingernutty

:hello: Hello everyone!

It's good to see people making progress.

I've decluttered the 'To Do' pile by two jobs.

I've shortened the straps on my tote bag so that I can carry it as a shopper without the bag scraping the ground as I walk. Yes, I'm that short!

9 inches I had to take off each strap!! NINE!! :rotfl:

I've also made a shower curtain tie back with some velcro, grosgrain ribbon, a screw and a washer.

Now I'll be able to give myself a pedicure/clean the bath/wash my hair without arguing with a giant sheet of plastic trying to stretch itself across the length of the bath.

These are just little jobs that have been knocking about the dining table for yonks.

I still need to finish the lace on the top and there's a couple of denim projects to go yet.

Still that's two more off the list.

EDIT: I forgot, I've gone through my drawers and got rid of socks with holes in (rag bag for the charity shop), a small hand towel and a shirt (both for the charity shop).

MichaelFernando

Brighton_belle wrote: »

Many thanks Jojo - and that is fantastic about DD2. So pleased for you.

Iris - thanks so much for reporting back re your professional declutterer - she does indeed sound marvellous and everything one would hope from someone doing that job. Can I ask how long she was with you?
Look forward to hearing the next installment.
I've been helping someone and the small amount of help has triggered such hope and enthusiasm in them that they have done far more afterwards by themselves than they though possible. Her whole feeling about her home have been transformed from loathing into great pleasure. Funnily enough we started with her bedroom too.

Lazydaisy -I loved hearing about the help you have received too - what a difference a few hrs a week has made.

Today I took a trolley full of stuff to a c.s. which felt good.
And thanks to my decluttering, my DH actually started using the spare space in the dining room (that isn't a dining room) to make something (I have a table and scroll saw in the corner now to make my stuff) and I am so pleased: my whole reasoning is to create space to do the things we want to do now, not have to climb over stuff that represents our past and stops us living now.

I don't think that anyone needs a professional declutterer!

I sort into three piles:

1. Need and keep
2. Don't need but can sell
3. Give/throw away

Do this physically, it feels good and really helps. Then just throw away the rubbish! I would sell most of the other stuff on eBay , it is amazing how much goes for.

pigpen

MichaelFernando wrote: »

I don't think that anyone needs a professional declutterer!

I sort into three piles:

1. Need and keep
2. Don't need but can sell
3. Give/throw away

Do this physically, it feels good and really helps. Then just throw away the rubbish! I would sell most of the other stuff on eBay , it is amazing how much goes for.

I need someone to come stand over me and kick me or poke me with a sharp stick if I stop.

Ebay is just not worth the hassle any more .. with awful buyers, extortionate postage costs and offering local collection is a waste of time if you live in the back of beyond!

I sort it into

1. bin
2. keep
3. charity shop... it is just like freecycle except I don't have to see strangers or let them near my house.

Some does filter through the my oldest 2 offspring who do not live at home but actually finding the energy, motivation and time to do anything is the real struggle.

MinnieMousesMummy

Made a small amount of progress today as I sorted through 2 bags of paperwork and list the big unwanted items on my local freecycle. I still have some follow up jobs to do as a result of my decluttering time in the master bedroom.

Follow up jobs from today:
Sort through 6 bags of paperwork to sort through and shred or file.
Sort through 2 boxes of bits and bobs
List items for sale on ebay
4 bags of ironing to get done

I think these follow up jobs will keep me busy for the rest of this week. Plans for Wednesday is to do some of these jobs but I am also going to spend 30 minutes sorting some stuff in the living room.

Knit_Witch

Woo Hoo! Dr KW says we can de-clutter a load of clothes! So that is this weekend and the beginning of next week sorted out

suzitiger

pigpen wrote: »

I don't have a paper issue.. I have everything possible on paperless billing so rarely get anything worth keeping.. everything is binned.. Clothes however, I have a SEVERE issue with

Hahahaha me too! I have issues with most things, but I am learning how to control them.

nitnurse-not2 wrote: »

It's very quiet on here recently.
Probably due to everyone working hard to declutter:j
Me and my DD have just finished the cull in her room.:j:j
Out with 2 black sacks of clothes and one of shoes and bags for the rag man. :D
One carrier bag of rubbish in the bin.:)
One stacker box of text books to be handed onto a girl at work for her DD who is about to embark on the course mine has just finished!:T:T
One carrier bag of books for the "swap table" at work. :D
3 small wicker baskets with lids that contained screws, odd earrings and other assorted tat
Garden decluttered of weeds- half a wheely bin:j:j

Oh well done nitnurse that's some fab de-richarding!
We have also been decluttering the garden and kitchen, and if someone can tell me how to set up a photobucket account then I can show everyone the progress if you like?

calicocat wrote: »

I think I may be a bit more of a hoarder than I thought. I have a big Indian box with all sorts of different soaps, I don't use them, just look at them occasionally. I used to work in cosmetics and so collected perfume bottles and soaps/soap containers. In reality though what use are they? I guess they smell nice.

Sorry to hear you are finding things tough Calicocat, but you are doing very well by the sounds of it.
I too have a SERIOUS problem with hoarding L*sh stuff, I have worked for them for nearly 3 years and I have always loved it so much that I find it very difficult not to 'collect' everything that they bring out. I need to have a big clear out of my things, maybe fleabay some of it as I know people always buy L8sh things on there.

A charity bag came through the door today so I am going to fill it up and it will go on Thursday :-) More stuff out of the door

calicocat

Morning all , just another quick up date.

I am going to have to stop for a while as my cat is getting really stressed with the whole bagging stuff up and moving thing. I will have to get rid/move the stuff i have done up to now and hold it for a couple of days so she stops freaking out (likely picking up on my stress too) , but dont want to run the risk of her shooting off.

You can get people to de-cluter for you ? :T , initially i figured this was a fab idea , but then i'm thinking that wouldnt work as i have to decide what stays and goes.Plus when you actually do it it is pretty cathartic .

PIGPEN.................CLOTHES , one of my problem areas , along with boots and hand bags, oh and jewelery.

Iwent to get the table and chairs from a freecycle person , he advised me not to go on this site as he has found that you get a zillion emails , loads of time wasters, and people dont show up. So anything i dont take i will just ring a charity i think to come look and take what they want. I am already going to cat-flap my wardrobes to nextdoor...via the door as cat-flap not big enough.:rotfl:

SUZITIGER...thanks , i will get there in the end.
GINGERNUTTY...your post has made me think that i could probably get away with sorting sock drawer without freaking cat too much.

good luck with it folks:)