Decluttering tips

[Liviam]

Ok spring is nearly here, #3 is well on his/her way so it's time to clean and declutter this house!!! We have a smallish three bedroom home so don't have a lot of living/storage space.

I've tried to declutter before all I seem to do is buy tubs and stack the crap into them and put the tubs somewhere. Not quite achieving my goal but hiding it differently, LOL!

So can you please share your best decluttering tip? For house things, kids and basically everywhere.

Thanks,
Dan.

[feeb]

Haha no help I do same think I am decluttering but really I am just shoving in plastic tubs and moving issue to a stack of plastic tubs!

Good luck

[kass]

I'm struggling to empty my spare room at the moment! I've started making a weekly op shop trip taking at least a bag down each time - it's going pretty slowly though. Once i get through the small clutter, I'll be getting DH to take all of the furniture out, and then only putting back what we want to keep (probably only a bookshelf or two) We've let friends know that we're planning to get rid of a lot of stuff, and we've had a few offers from people who are willing to take excess furniture off our hands, so hopefully the rest of the house won't be too messy for long!
I try to follow the rule that if it doesn't get used, I don't need it. I struggle with things that were gifts, handed down from family, brand new or expensive but useless, and stuff that might be useful 'one day' - which covers 99% of the stuff in my house! So it isn't easy to part with a lot of it - but I've found that once I've gotten it out of the house I really don't miss it, and the extra space is worth it - good luck with it all!

[emc2]

Often anything that cost me less than $10 - I throw it away. Op shops are overflowing.

[jackrose]

I love de-cluttering, it makes me feel so free! However, I am also really good at accumulating so I get lots of chances to practice de-cluttering!

I was inspired before the arrival of DD2, during a house move, to do a major clear out and I used Peter Walsh's book ('It's all too much') for motivation. Most of the book was pretty obvious stuff but I really liked the idea of measuring the worth of an item by asking, "does this enhance my life". I could easily let go of lots of things by realising I was only hanging on to them out of guilt or the idea that I would use them one day. Then, making 3 piles out of the cast offs, to go to the original owner, to go to the op shop or to go to the tip, I felt good and practical about getting things out of the house. You have to be ruthless and really analyse why you want to keep something, making sure you have a good reason. I think that with young kids around, you just have to be systematic about it and only take on one cupboard or one room at a time and try to ask for help to get them out of the house while you de-clutter if that is possible. You can get soooo much more done that way!

The second tip I use is having a place for everything. We don't have much storage space here but I love under bed storage for lots of stuff that is not used much but I need easy access to the trofast storage for toys and ikea expedit for books, games, puzzles and other odds and ends in baskets within. I have old unused drawers from a long since trashed chest of drawers under my bed with off season clothes, party supplies and gift wrapping, clothes the kids have grown out of or are about to grow into, and shoes. Ikea also have great large flat underbed storage boxes that are under the girls beds. Under the stairs are all of those tubs etc with the toys that are currently out of rotation. I can't stand to look at plastic tubs so behind closed doors is a winner. The hall cupboard holds more tubs of my sewing materials and kids craft supplies. so the only storage on display are boxes which are nicer to look at. I always keep a few at kids height so they can access their own toys and they have a 'pack up time' song at the end of the day where they put things back. It is the one thing I really try to do at the end of the day as it makes me feel better to have toys tidy. The trofast system is excellent as you can have tubs the appropriate size for the toys to keep things organised and the kids can manage them. Plus you have a perfect kid height bench for them to play at.

Finally, I love the idea of clear surfaces with only a few choice things on display. The reality is, my lovely clear surfaces are camouflaged under a heap of junk, crap and general, 'just put this here for a moment' sort of stuff. Every now and again, I go around the house with a big laundry basket and throw everything that doesn't belong on a bench or shelf top into it, then sort it out from there. If I can't find a good place for it, it has to go!

Now my only weak spot is my desk. I have constant clutter and mess there and it does my head in!

[kass]

Often anything that cost me less than $10 - I throw it away. Op shops are overflowing.

Absolutely If it's junk, chuck it out! My local op shop actually inspects everything before they let you leave it with them - no one wants excess clutter!

[Liviam]

Thanks ladies. I think I just need to be completely ruthless and do it when DH isn't around as he is a MAJOR hoarder. Off to have a look at underbed storage. Can't believe I haven't thought of that, LOL!

[~Kim~]

I do mine when DH is at work too. He sucks at throwing stuff out.
I'm about to start again when my houseguests leave. I go through every 6 months on average.
If I don't love it or use it - it goes. The local tip has a tip shop that they resell stuff, and I'm cool with that, the money goes to charity. I can't be bothered with ebay for most stuff.
Totally agree with a place for everything. Much easier for everyone to keep it neater and put things away if they have a spot. If it doesn't fit and you desperately need/love it trade it a spot for something that's not as high on the list.

[jackrose]

If it doesn't fit and you desperately need/love it trade it a spot for something that's not as high on the list.

I like this one!

Liviam, the under bed storage I used in the kids room is the Kusiner bed storage from ikea.

[AnyDream]

My big favorite it to walk around with a bin in my hand chucking all the stray bits of rubbish (we seem to get lots of random bits of paper, etc through the place) - this takes all of 5 mins but makes a huge difference. Then you can do a second pass with a bag or box for anything you spot that can be op-shopped. Again, keep it quick, 10 mins, keep moving, only touch each item once. Remove the bag from the house straight away (ie into the boot of your car) so the stuff can't creep out again. Little by little it will make a difference.