De-Cluttering Your House

[naomi24]

How good are you at getting rid of stuff you don’t really need and don't use? I’m in the process of clearing out the junk we’ve accumulated over the years, but I’m finding it really difficult to be brutal about it. Any tips would be most welcome!

[naomi24]

I've never done that, B00. I always give stuff away. I think the clothes thing is a throw-back to childhood when I rarely had anything new to wear. For me times have changed, but my brain hasn't!

[balliali]

http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/flying-lessons/decluttering-15-minutes/

[mazie]

Snap naomi...Took me about 3 attempts to finally get rid of clothes I hadn't worn for years... I did it in the end though

[Barmaid]

I have learned that the clutter we collect is directly related to the space we have to fill! This house is groaning under the weight of accumulated rubbish. I am currently undertaking a HUGE de-cluttering and sorting stuff into ebay/car boot/charity shop/tip piles.

Unfortunately, it looks worse now than when I started.

[balliali]

http://www.flylady.net/d/br/2012/07/17/how-do-i-declutter-3/

[naomi24]

Mazie, well done!

Barmaid, //I have learned that the clutter we collect is directly related to the space we have to fill! //

I agree. Buy a new cupboard and voila! We find the stuff to fill it up!!

I came here looking for inspiration - and I'm getting it. Thanks all.

[mazie]

You can do it naomi :o)

[naomi24]

Thanks mazie. I'm going for it!

[mazie]

Let us know when the deed is done :o)

[Old_Geezer]

I am the last person to ask. My junk is a combination on memories that I existed in the past and what I experienced there, and stuff deemed "important" but which has no real place to be kept. I live a cluttered life.

[Tilly2]

Bin bags at the ready!

[237SJ]

I love getting rid of stuff. I used to give it away but now I sell the odd bit on Ebay. Just got rid of a Vax machine that my sister lent me and didn`t want back (only used 6 times) - I got £30 for it and I put the proceeds of such sales in a "treats tin". Do you have any clothes agencies near you? They sell your clothes and you split the proceeds. That`s a good way of getting rid of clothes.

[woofgang]

With clothing (and yes I have the same issue as you from my youth) I ask "Does this fit my lifestyle now?" and "Does this make me feel good when i wear it?" I have kept some evening wear that doesn't fit my current lifestyle because I know I will never find anything as lovely again but apart from that out it goes. My big stumbling block here was shoes because I have got small wide feet with high arches and used to have trouble finding nice shoes, but now I can't wear such high heels any more and its has got easier to find lovely shoes for wide feet so out they all went too.

btw I misread "times have changed but my brain hasn't" as "times have changed but my bra hasn't"...which is kind of apt.

[Tilly2]

I did a paperwork de-clutering thing last week. A couple of years ago, I bought some pretty floral boxes. One in the kitchen, one in the sitting room and one in the study. Over time they had all been filled with ' important papers, all piled on top of each other.
I cleared the dining room table and went through every piece. It was a tortuous task, as I had to read everything and the shredded almost imploded!
It took most of the day but it was such a good feeling when I'd finished.

[Tilly2]

^ shredder!

[mazie]

Took me 3 days to sort out all my paperwork and accounts Tilly. I hated it and felt so dirty (paper is grubby stuff) I felt so elated when it was all done.

[Tilly2]

......and I thought you'd gone on holiday, Mazie. :-)

[alavahalf]

My wife keeps nagging about all my 'Junk 'in the garage and threatens to get a skip and get rid of it. I always laugh and suggest I will have a go at clearing it.
Over the past couple of years I have had 4 proper sessions on ebay, whereby I get my mind around it and set to creating listings. As a rule I don't like doing it, as it's boring. But all I need to do is look at my Paypal a/c to remind me why I'm doing it.
My 1st stint raised around £1200 and my current campaign (3 months) has brought in £1500+ at this point, and counting.
The problem is the amount of 'Junk' I have cleared wouldn't fill a dustbin as it was all quality junk .. (that's why I saved it in the first place).
None the less I shall soldier on photographing, describing and listing.
It does pay off eventually.

My daughter started listing her clothes and shoes on ebay, the vast majority were either unworn with labels on, or worn once or twice...What a nightmare !
It seems that women's clothes bring out the worst in people. She had so many items that had cost her a small fortune that went for a couple of pounds or less and lot's that ..'weren't received'.. involving giving refunds.
I don't want to hear anyone asking '' Didn't she record them''.. If you have ever tried to claim off Royal Mail, you will know why it isn't worth bothering.

If you have loads of clothes you don't wear, either do a car boot sale ... or for an instant effect, take them to a clothes bank where they will weigh them and usually pay 50p a kg ... no photograghs, listing, packaging and posting etc.

But remember what you think is Junk, other people will deem to be collectible and therefore have a value. If you have anything old or vintage just type it into google or ebay and you will see what they are currently going for... you will be very surprised what others collect !

My wife want's to know what I am going to do with the £1500+ ...
...'nothing to do with you'.. I say !

I'm not all bad .. I have allowed her to start looking for a holiday in Fuerteventura !

[atalanta]

You could do a "not-quite" clearout. Get some cardboard boxes and put in them all the things you haven't used in the last year, and don't realistically expect to use in the year to come. Seal the boxes and put them out of sight. In a year's time, if you can't remember what is in the boxes, and haven't needed to open them up to get anything out to use it, take the sealed boxes straight to the nearest charity shop