Declutter
by
Maria
+26
I have a home that I have to declutter. I seem to walk around in circles starting one thing and getting side tracked and starting another. Can someone tell me how to organize this overwhelming project so I can get it done? Help!!!!
13 answers
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Years ago I saw an episode of the Mary Tyler Moore show. Betty White played a know-it-all TV homemaker, Sue Anne Nivens. Anyway, in this one episode Mary was faced with tidying the morning after a party. Sue Anne suggested, 'look at your room like a clock. start at one o'clock, tidy and clean and go on to 2 o'clock and so forth, until you're done.' To this day, I tidy and clean using this principle. Simple but effective.
Micheline Goguen
on Oct 20, 2015
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Cleaning out clutter is always overwhelming.Take a breath and focus on one room at a time. It is not possible for anyone to to do every room at once.Get some boxes and as you start deciding what you do not want fill them up.As one box gets filled move it out of the room.
Janet Pizaro
on Oct 20, 2015
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I believe it is best to start small. Set a 15 minute timer and do one shelf, counter, dresser top, drawer, etc. This helps you focus on one area. Sometimes we get overwhelmed because we try to do a whole closet and run out of time. I no longer empty out the whole closet, or dresser; I do one section, shelf, cupboard at a time. That way if I get interrupted, that part is done, and I can move on to another area when I have another chunk of time. I find that doing communal areas is more motivating. The house looks neat if people stop by, and it makes you want to do the other areas. If you have kids, everyone can get rid of one item a day (1 paperclip doesn't count:) ). I did that. We had a donation bag, and when it was filled, we took it to the store. I had a chart, and when we attained a certain milestone/amount, we had a movie out. We got rid of so much stuff! We also try to this day, 1 item in 2 out (at least 1 out)...we don't insist it be like items...it can be anything. We always have donation bags on the go. Once every 2 months, the Diabetes Association comes by and picks them up. If I need them to come more often, I call and ask if they will be in the area, if not we drop the stuff off at GW. We buy much less stuff now. I get rid of extra items I don't need, especially in the bathroom and kitchen. I need extra silverware and dishes because I don't run the dishwasher everyday, but I don't need 3 whisks. We have gone paperless for bill paying as much as possible, and try to scan the rest. Little by little we are getting there. We are always thinking of downsizing, so that it our ultimate goal. I'll always remember my mom having to sort through her newly moved things again...it was a waste of moving costs and time. Over-analyzing leads to procrastination...Just start, set a timer and focus on one area. The following tips are good: http://www.becomingminimalist.com/creative-ways-to-declutter/
B. Enne
on Oct 20, 2015
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As one who just did this (my home was not so much the problem, it was my emotional attachment to "THINGS." Decluttering really is going through things.... a little each day.... whether a room or just a drawer or part of a closet. Yes, we have to ask ourselves IF we have used this in over a year? (the traditional answer "if you say no, then put it in a box to give away or throw it out".... But that isn't as easy for some. My final "Click" moment when I realized I didn't need this or that item.. but it was hard to let go of because of an emotional attachment. As I went through my things.... I began to realize how much my emotions were blocking my ability to "just let go"... As I realized this.... THEN I STARTED TO GET RID OF THINGS.... remember this... It is JUST STUFF.... we need very little to live a great life with... I can clean my home in 15 minutes. I have given things to family, friends, or on craigslist... and taken a ton to the recycle places. I LOVE how my home is so "light" and I can actually enjoy the few things I did keep. Being attached to THINGS is part of a survival thing... "but what if I need this later".... We won't need it later, if we do... then we can borrow one like it, or buy one, but the ODDS are that you will NEVER need whatever it is you are emotionally struggling with... GOOD LUCK... remember... go through a little daily.... and get rid of it daily... so you won't stack it back up. If you are up to doing everything fast... GO FOR IT! Release what is holding you down.... You will feel better, have a home you can be happy in and be happy to have others come to and share time with YOU ... not your STUFF...
Light
on Oct 20, 2015
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Join "Flylady" (free website) helping you with tips on how to clean and declutter in baby steps.
Lisa
on Oct 20, 2015
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Make a chart of every working day put a specific area or room for every day. I find that if I know when I will be getiing around to cleaning off the desk I can forget it while I am cleaning the bathroom.
Tonia
on Oct 21, 2015
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I have done the exact same thing as you...seeing the whole task as so overwhelming I just couldn't get started! Several years ago I just got sick of clutter. I felt smothered by it! I decided to start with closets, because I was going to need storage room for my "stuff." That was Very Motivating! I did a closet a week that summer break. I really got into it, finally being realistic about what I use and what I just moved from place to place. I ended up going through every closet in our house, and by then was excited at the new, lighter, cleaner, more organized look. This took me to shelves and finally drawers all over the house. Love it? Display it. Too sentimental to throw out? Store in a container you can easily get to in one of your newly organized closets! It feels SO good when you finish! Lighter, brighter...realizing you don't need or want tons of Stuff filling every space. It is SO worth your effort! Good luck!!
Gretchen Mercer
on Oct 21, 2015
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Maria, in my opinion decluttering is a highly personal thing. What works for one, doesn't always work for another. Since you mentioned getting sidetracked, I'm going to tell you what I found that helps me, another easily side tracked person, in hopes that it might help you too. Make a short list of things you know you have too much of. Books, magazines, paper work, craft supplies (as in scraps from projects or half finished projects you know you'll never finish for one reason or another) and other things like that. Do an item a day. I started with books since we often wind up with some we know we won't read again. There will be some things on your list that take less than a day and that's fine. That allows time for daily chores you have to do anyway. There will be groups that could take more than a day. That's okay too. In that case you'll more than likely know ahead of time, so it helps to set a limit of time for each day to work on that project. For me that would be fabric, which in my case could take a month or two. At least it's all in containers by type and color. If you have anything like that, then a container or two a day could be your limit. Wishing you luck. I'm doing the same thing in our home. I started awhile ago after hearing my cousin, who passed on a week ago last night of cancer, started going through her own things so he hubby wouldn't have so much to do when she was gone. I figured if she could do this while so very ill, I most certainly could.
Z
on Oct 21, 2015
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Very true ...great point! I always seem to be thinking ahead while I am trying to attack a task. I will certainly incorporate this idea! Thank you!
Maria
on Oct 21, 2015
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I've found the best way, for me, is to do one room completely, then another. etc
Slgibbs1
on Oct 22, 2015
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Thank you to everyone who has made such helpful suggestions! It is a comfort to know I am not the only one that finds this process difficult. I am incorporating the suggestions as best I can. Again thank you!
Maria
on Oct 23, 2015
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I wish I was there to help you, because I am really good at decluttering and I love it. I have decluttered my house so much I may have to start re cluttering. I do understand the distraction thing Maria, you pick up something, take it to where it belongs and while there see something that needs doing. It's hard. I like the one room approach, take some boxes or bins in, start in one area and put everything that you want out of that room in a box, doesn't matter where it is to go, just put it in the box for now. If that box fills up, start another but finish that room. If you have somewhere to store these treasure filled boxes, do so until your house is in order. When you get to sort the boxes, be ruthless Maria, give things you've loved to someone else who will love them. They made you happy, but now they make you anxious, time to go. You can do this Maria. Good luck.
Lori
on Oct 25, 2015
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I have been unorganized all my life. I read the book by Marie Kondo....the art of tidying. It has inspired me and I am making great progress!
Karen
on Jan 24, 2016
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