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!

[keyplus90]

I am a bit late to suggest anything. I personally believe that if I haven't used something for a complete year (all weathers) then more likely I am not going to use it and I always give that to someone that may use it.

But I rarely sell anything like that and would give to someone free as that becomes an ongoing charity according to my religion and as long as someone is benefitting then I am being rewarded too. Such a good idea.

[keyplus90]

"Give to someone WHO may use it", my English wife has destroyed my grammar.

[RATTER15]

We are currently having a clear out, we have given so much stuff to the charity shops in the last 12 months we have almost fully stocked some of them. We don't sell it either, we are just happy to help others, we don't need a religion to know what charity is!

[naomi24]

Atalanta, //You could do a "not-quite" clearout.//

Can’t – I’m moving house. It’s all got to go!! After reading all these ideas I’m amazing myself!! Just shows what a bit of encouragement can do!! :o)

[jim360]

"How good are you at getting rid of stuff you don’t really need and don't use?"

My bedroom at home still has a youth Bible.

[murraymints]

have a house sale..put everything out to view and invite neighbours etc in for a make me an offer sale...

[naomi24]

^Oh good grief - no! Can't think of anything worse!

[mazie]

That was the reason for our clear out naomi...Still no further forward with selling the house :o( Did you manage to get rid of the clothes?

[naomi24]

mazie, yes, it is the reason for the clear out, but are you mixing me up with someone else? I haven't mentioned moving house until now.

Got quite a lot of clothes in the bags ready for the charity shop. :o)

[naomi24]

mazie, sorry I misread your post. I didn't realise you're moving too. How long has your house been on the market?

[tamborine]

Best get your kids to declutter. Its heartbreaking to find they dont like your fine china, silver, crystal, books & records. Even worse when theyre into shabby chic and oak beamed rooms are sloshed with white emulsion, c'est la vie ;(

[mazie]

It's not on the market yet naomi.. The OH keeps finding "things" that need doing before we put it on the market (sighs)

[gness]

Good luck, Naomi.....and if you become a de-clutter expert please come and spend a week with me...

I tried doing old photographs last week.....including the ones from my mum's house....if I binned twenty I'm probably exaggerating....

But I am off now to buy some brown curtain fabric.....and what did I give away about a year ago? A brand new pair of brown velvet curtains....bought on a whim and unused....wish I'd kept them....."just in case"....☺

[naomi24]

Mazie, unless you’re doing something substantial, I doubt it’ll make a great deal of difference. Why not get an agent in and ask his opinion? Or doesn't your husband really want to move?

gness, old letters and photographs I find really difficult to deal with. I’m ok with pictures of ‘views’ and what I'm sure must have been magnificent ‘sunsets’ – I can’t remember where most of them were taken and there are better on the internet anyway – but it’s pictures of people I struggle with – and stuff that people who have died have left behind. I have a bone china tea set that was my fairly recently deceased mother-in-law’s pride and joy – something she treasured since she was married and kept in pristine condition in a glass cabinet. It’s very old fashioned, not particularly valuable, I’ll never use it, but how can I chuck it? I will though – well it will go to the charity shop – but it’s going to be hard to do.

[dunnitall]

I'm more forgiving than the other half...they would get rid of almost everything not touched for a couple of months...whereas I keep things because they might come in useful! We try and try every so often...so much to clear but never brutal enough...if only we could, we would be minimalistic!

[gness]

Hi, Naomi....the shop didn't have suitable fabric...but they now have £100 of my money for stuff I couldn't live without.....and will be causing me problems in a year or so....

It's letters and photos for me......I looked at dozens I brought from my mum's house....old photos of people I don't know but she treasured them ...how I wish she had written on the backs who they were.

I had lots of complete and incomplete bone china sets..inherited and gifted....that I had no room for when I moved.
Luckily I heard of a young girl who was setting up an old fashioned catering business.....afternoon teas...weddings and the like. They were ideal for her and I was happy they are being used....x

[tamborine]

Open a facebook page & upload photos & postcards for your extended family. Any family soirees, speeches to Youtube & copied to fb.