Decluttering the house

NathP

NathP

NathP

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15 Nov 2002
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333
I'm in the process of decluttering my house as it got to the point where we couldn't even move in the house. Especially our Loft, Garage and Shed and as they are full the other rooms around the house got effected!

Unforunetly our mother likes to hall stuff and never get rid of it, the amount of stuff that we don't use is absolutely amazing and has built up over the years, we are talking stuff that some of it is up to 30 years old for example clothes, carpets, bedding, curtains, outdated items, toys and even furniture :eek:

We have done boot sales but they don't seem to take enough money to be worth while and have taken stuff that wouldn't sell for recycling/tip sometimes 3-4 times a day.

The question is how do you deal with clutter around the home? :)
 
Having rented various rooms in Cambridge for the last 12 - 13 years, I've become naturally minimalistic and tidy due to the lack of space and requirement for easy moving so now that I have my own place I find that its really easy to keep clutter free. It also helps that I have no shelves with the exception of two book shelves so "things" dont get left to pile up.
 
I moved from a 3 bed house a few years ago that I lived in for 20+ years. I had to get two skips in to get rid of the clutter and rubbish.

I have now just moved into a new house, and once again, got rid of a lot of clutter and junk.

The way I see it, if you aren't using something then just get rid. There have been a few items I have almost regretted getting rid of, but I much prefer a tidy uncluttered home.

Just be ruthless, get a skip if necessary. Also the bay might help, i've sold a lot of stuff I would have just thrown away, and made some ok money for selling what i'd call junk.
 
eBay is a good way to get rid of junk and people pay you to take it. I've also signed up to freecycle which saves me taking a lot of stuff to the tip which won't sell on eBay. I'm in the process of minimising because like you I';ve just realised how much baggage I've accumulated in the last 2 years. Since we want to move some time in the future I really don't fancy having to pack it all up so stuff that doesn't get touched - gets chucked.
 
Don't put to much storage space in your house, if you have 10 kitchen cupboards you will eventually fill ten kitchen cupboards the same goes for wardrobes, draws and shelves. If you minimise your storage you will only keep what you need as there will be nowhere to store anything else.

As for clearing out the clutter the best way by far is to move house as this forces you to actually empty every room and every cupboard etc so you can actually see what you've got. If the situation is really out of hand I suggest emptying one room at a time into the garden, take everything including any furniture your not 100% sure on. Then split it into three piles keep, sell, bin then go through the keep pile a second time to makes sure. It is essential that not only the owner of the junk is involved in this process as it amazing how some poepl will justify keeping that slow cooker they haven't used since they left uni 20 years ago. Be harsh it's the only way and only ever take the keep stuff back into the house!

)This is also a good oppertunity to clean/re-paint rooms!)
 
Ebay and charity shops will love you for your junk. :)

Be ruthless with a lot of your old stuff.
 
Charity shops, Fleabay- I sent a text to a load of relatives asking if they wanted my old videos when I ditched VHS and they practically knocked my door down- job done!

Remember to be careful just "binning" stuff- the council don't always like taking certain things away :)

As an alternative, my local Morrisons and Sainsburys both have recycle points with big skips for "textiles" (basically clothes, carpets, curtains, blankets etc), old records, CD's, videos and one for old electronics too.

Like people on here have said, if you have a spare room/shelf/cupboard then you'll have somewhere to chuck cack in!!! :D

Be ruthless. If you haven't listened/watched/worn/used it in the last 6 months then you won't miss it- bin the mutha!
It feels great when you've got rid of loads of trash. Wish my ma felt the same- she's the Queen of Chintz!!!
 
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