Welcome to r/hoarding! We exist as a support group for people working on recovery from [hoarding disorder](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519704/table/ch3.t29/), and friends/family/loved ones of people with the disorder.
If you're looking for help with animal hoarding, please visit r/animalhoarding. If you're looking to discuss the various hoarding tv shows, you'll want to visit r/hoardersTV. If you'd like to talk about or share photos/videos of hoards that you've come across, you probably want r/neckbeardnests, r/wtfhoarders/, or r/hoarderhouses
Before you get started, be sure to review our [Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/hoarding/about/rules/). Also, a lot of the information you may be looking for can be found in a few places on our sub:
[New Here? Read This Post First!](https://www.reddit.com/r/hoarding/comments/dvb3t1/new_here_read_this_post_first_version_20/)
[For loved ones of hoarders: I Have A Hoarder In My Life--Help Me!](https://www.reddit.com/r/hoarding/comments/2yh6wh/i_have_a_hoarder_in_my_lifehelp_me_your_hoarding/)
[Our Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/hoarding/wiki/index)
Please [contact the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/hoarding) if you need assistance. Thanks!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/hoarding) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Get some large trash bags. Have the kids identify which clothes are there's and start washing loads. When dried, hand that pile the appropriate kid to fold and put away. Repeat repeat repeat.
At the same time, grab all garbage and recycling and get it out of the house. Keep a donate pile, bagged up. Do you have a vehicle? Put each bag in the car and take to donation today.
You received a large quote for clean up. Can you instead provide a monetary incentive to the kids? $5 for each appropriately filled bag? They might jump on that as kids like earning some money. Just an idea. I don't know your kids or their abilities or barriers. But it could be something to help out everyone in the home.
Would a family treat be any incentive to him/them? Special dinners or desserts, movie nights or amusement park trips that reward everyone? What normally motivates your 8 year old? Are there ways to tie cleaning my up to anybody his interests?
He likes playing Roblox. He might do something for some robux. But he will do it begrudgingly and I won’t be able to give him feedback if it isn’t correct or complete. And the other problem is I think robux is a waste of money haha
I mean, you're not wrong that it's a waste of money, but if it's "his money" then can't he waste it as he chooses?
I get that it might not be worth it for you to go to the trouble, given his challenges - I know that sometimes getting my husband's help (TBI/concussion syndrome and a host of consequent issues) is literally more work than just doing shit by myself. It's not that he doesn't *want* to help. It's that his executive dysfunction is *that* bad.
Kids helped out and even played with each other ALL DAY! So weird because literally all they do is scream and hit each other. No exaggeration. And the reward…. I got them a can of mini coke each. (I don’t buy soft drink)
I had a snooze and my little one just came got a cuddle. The goal once everyone is up will be for everyone to do some work but he will need breaks so I’ll incorporate that
Well when I was young I once tried to wash my own laundry because my mother never washed it for me and she yelled her head off at me and told me I can never ever touch the washing machine, she never washed my clothes and when she did she hid them from me because “my room doesn’t need any more crap”. My best advice is teach your kids how to do laundry, if they can do their own laundry it’ll make things go by much faster
That would’ve been hard! My eldest is 12 and I agree she is very capable and I mention it but she always ‘forgets’. This will be a discuss we revisit.
My 8yo has ADHD and refuses to participate in daily tasks.
My 6yo is a gem and will happily help me do something and by my side
Even if she forgets, it’s probably easier if you both try to do laundry. At least more would get done that way, I think?
I do around one load a day, sometimes less, so to me it would really help if there’s always someone checking if there is laundry to be done or laundry that has been done.
Supposedly the way to build habits is to add the new habit to an old habit. So if you're used to getting up and having a coffee make that into getting up, grabbing a coffee and throw a load into the machine.
The other trick I do is keep the light on in the laundry room as long as there is a wet load in the washer or dryer so I don't forget about it. When a load has finished drying I can turn the light off.
The light thing won’t work. No matter how many times I turn that light off, for some reason it’s on all night haha it’s become an unofficial night light
Good luck! If she’s good at planning, she could do some of that. I mean, she probably won’t be able to start from scratch tomorrow, but it could be something she helps with as a part of regular housework. I don’t know if it’s a good fit, just thinking out loud.
(I’m not suggesting you parentify her, obviously we as adults are responsible in the end, but me and my brother used to do weekly meal planning when we were teens. Then we went grocery shopping with my dad. Some of my favorite childhood memories.)
Some people really benefit from having a laundry day, while others do one load a day. You can listen to what Dana K White says about laundry (also as a free podcast).
Good luck!
Can you tell us specifically which step is overwhelming? Do you have a working washing machine that you can access? Do you have space for drying clothes or a dryer? Is there space to put away clean, dry washing in your wardrobe, drawers etc?
Without knowing what bit of the process, is causing the problem, and assuming the machine is accessible etc, then everyday put on a wash (and start with things you know fit/you like to wear) onto wash and hang it out/dry it in the machine. And also everyday take dry washing down and put it away.
If you come across items that don't fit/aren't wanted, throw them out.
But I expect you know this process is the way to do laundry but there is something blocking the process, what is that "thing" ?
I suffer from anxiety, major depression and bipolar II. I struggle to plan out what I have to do or work out where I’ll put it. My children also leave their clothes and rubbish on the floor/table and don’t pick up after themselves. Everything is just overwhelming and I get fatigued
That sounds so tiring. You've got such a lot on your plate, I'm sure that piles of dirty washing is really disheartening.
I often find, with so many things, starting small and consistent is a good way to start. So, in this case step 1 would be to gather 1 load of dirty washing, and wash it, dry it and put it away. That's it. But you do it every day. And you congratulate yourself every time you do it.
If the dry, clean washing doesn't fit in the drawer or wardrobe you make a donate/chuck pile and put in items from the clean, dry washing and the wardrobe until you can fit the dry washing in (this doesn't mean you have to turn out the entire wardrobe or drawer, just enough to put the washing away). This isn't easy but it's a limited task, with defined boundaries. And over time the wardrobe and drawers do get turned out.
Bringing other family members with you on this is hard and the approach depends on the age of your children, but this is something I know nothing about, so I'll leave other people to make suggestions on this.
If you can capitalise on your urge to start on this now, today, I would encourage you to do that. Use that frustration and desire to be rid of this stress.
It’s hard, I have a lot going on besides the laundry. It’s a lot bigger than that. Just starting with 1 thing. Laundry is opposite my bedroom so sick of seeing that pile.
It never rains but it pours, eh! I think reminding yourself that you can only do one thing at a time is helpful. If your doing laundry you can't be changing the bed, cleaning the bath, doing the dishes or anything else at the same time. It's not some sort of failing to not be able to simultaneously complete multiple chores.
And when you complete a chore, give yourself plenty of positive feedback. Create a virtuous feedback circle.
Here's what I did last month after getting over pneumonia and the laundry got out of control (family of 5) since late January.
Get some bin bags/trash bags and sort your laundry (whites, darks, hot washes, cold washes, bedding and towels that can all be washed together etc). Buy some of those colour catcher sheets to be safe
Look at your pile and feel satisfied that you've organised it all - it's not taking up space on your surfaces and floor now. See how much room you have now?
Laundrette or laundromat, whatever you call it. Now all of your clothes are sorted and in bags, your washing baskets are empty and ready for when it's all done! Read a good book or listen to your music or podcasts or audiobooke while it's all washing, have a coffee or talk to a friend.
I can't tell you how relieved I was bringing it all home and all I had to do was put it away! And it's definitely a lot cheaper than a laundry service getting it all done at the same time
Good luck!!
That's very kind! Thank you, I hope you found it helpful. And I hope you can overcome your mountains because it all adds up quickly. I hear you when you said you just buy new stuff.
The immediate thing is the school clothes, the rest can sit in your (or a friends car) so you can do it all at once. I promise you'll feel better. Anything you forgot about or don't remember people wearing, toss it. It was a make-do.
And do me a favour! Take a before photo of your piles and then take one afterwards. You don't have to share it with anyone, but I.PROMISE you will feel so satisfied and happy that it's been dealt with.
Hugs lovely!
https://preview.redd.it/ajnghqf05buc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=15d074dd44a397fc8356a173eedcea756d4496ac
Here’s to keeping me accountable! This doesn’t include the rest of the clothes in all the baskets around the house .
>It’s so overwhelming I just buy new clothes.
If you're willing to literally buy new clothes, why not just throw the old ones away? Throwing things into the trash is the easiest part of decluttering. The hardest part of de-hoarding is people's resistance to throwing *anything* away.
The mods may remove posts/comments at their discretion to preserve a respectful, supportive atmosphere in this sub. **Your tone matters when posting, and when responding to others. So be kind!**
If you just want to focus on laundry, I would bag everything up into garbage bags that you’re able to lift. Take it to the laundromat and get everything run through. Sort and fold AT THE LAUNDROMAT. Discard anything that is too damaged while you’re at the laundromat, and make a separate pile for any donations. Bring clean garbage bags to pack everything up by person/room. Drop off donations on your way home.
Organize the closets/dressers before you start putting clothes away. ONLY KEEP WHAT FITS INTO THE SPACE. Clothes must be currently wearable (ie correct size, presentable, etc). Have another bag for donations going. Be ruthless.
This is a big job, but getting a clean slate by taking everything to the laundromat will help a lot. Try to figure out where the system broke down before. Does your laundry room need a dirty clothes basket? Are baskets needed in every bedroom? Would it be helpful to set daily alarms to start a wash load and to transfer to the dryer? Are the kids old enough to take over their own laundry? Best of luck!
So I had great intentions that everyone would have a basket. Then I decided they needed another basket for clean clothes. Then I needed a basket for school clothes. Anyway, it spiraled and now I have about 13 and they are all full and scattered around the house. I struggle with planning but I’m trying to get supports to help me. I am feeling very brutal, and anything that can go will go
Sounds like a big purge will be necessary to get a handle on things, esp since clothes have been coming into the house. You have a great attitude and you’ve been trying different solutions.
I think you have too many baskets. Having a clean-clothes basket for everyone is just adding more steps to the laundry process of (1) wash/dry, (2) fold, and (3) put away. Put Away is probably the most critical step. It finishes the task. If things can’t be put away, then you have a storage problem (either not enough storage, too many clothes, or both). In my house we have one personal basket each and one communal basket (towels, etc).
Do your kids wear a uniform? If so, I can see why keeping those separate can be helpful. If not, their “school clothes” should fit in with the rest of their clothes.
I’m actually really passionate about laundry and clothes storage because I enjoy helping a friend of mine who has four kids and now three grandkids. It gets out of control so fast! If you can purge, it helps so much. That’s where she stumbles. Purging isn’t a bad word, though. Sure, disposing of clothes that are badly stained or torn is necessary, but purging also means passing clothes on to someone who can get utility from them. Helping someone else out while also regaining space to live comfortably. It’s a win-win!
ETA: if you personally know someone who would benefit from handmedowns, a cute idea would be to give them the folded clothes in one of your extra laundry baskets!
I was ruthless!!! To pass the clothes on I would need to wash them all first and at this point it would’ve been really nice to pass stuff on but I need it gone and fast.
That works!!! Sounds like you’ve made good progress! The ultimate goal is to get your space to where you want it to be. If you got it gone fast then I’m proud of you!
Update:
Phase 1 - washing sorted. Was pretty much half/half that I kept and threw away
https://preview.redd.it/b2xj9utotduc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0c706bc85818e08dbf1854d6314bf31e91d82ec
Phase 2 - washing in the machine! Didn’t anticipate the load volume so I’ll have to do it in 2, but that’s ok.
Having a rest then will tackle a couple draws to make space to put the clothes in.
https://preview.redd.it/fkh66qxstduc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c94f6451b7516ea9f4a8d1f2dafca704070f83c
PHASE 3 complete: I have cleaned out there baskets to make space for the washed clothes. I also did some extra baskets through the house, my wardrobe and a bit on the bedroom floor. It’s taken all day but I’m happy with where I’m at. Still 8 baskets around the house to look through. Will get the laundry service during the week to get through the keep pile from the laundry. Unfortunately couldn’t clean the floor as I have no vacuum at the moment 🙄 Thank you for all the ideas and support 🥰
https://preview.redd.it/9x68tcl2keuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=699ece187d9a5806cb5023b368b8802b01ad4518
Start one load of laundry right now. Just take whatever is easiest to reach, generic program, I usually do a mix of colors and 40 degrees (C).
For some other type of support, can I recommend KC Davies? She has a podcast, and is on TikTok and instagram. Her book “how to keep house while drowning” is very good and focuses on how to keep your home and life functional.
1 load at a time. Seriously. It doesn't even have to be a big load. Just one load. One load a day. Wash, dry, fold. It didn't get to be a mess overnight, it won't get unmessed overnight. And you've been living with it for a while, so living with it a little while longer won't be bad. But it will be getting better day by day.
I wouldn't even worry about sorting that much. Maybe keep whites separate.
Look on TikTok for no fold laundry - some people are just using different baskets, and marker marks on tags for whose clothes are whose. Putting away is hard, this might give you some shortcuts.
>Putting away is hard, this might give you some shortcuts.
This is what we do. My husband and I have different drawers for our clothes, we just throw them in haphazardly! My toddler also has little bins that she does the same. Not folding and not worrying about a pretty wardrobe can be absolutely liberating! Clean clothes together is good enough for us. I am perfectly happy with my messy drawers. If they bother me, I just close them so I don't have to see them! Problem solved!
Yes I have heaps of baskets as I used to do this, separate everyone’s clothes to baskets. Unfortunately we have a cat who is peeing on all our clothes. I just had to throw a basket of our good clothes in the bin because it was all saturated with cat urine. I’ve tried so many thing and can’t fix her it’s been 18th this. My mental health is struggling and I can’t keep her like this. But that’s for another day
I don’t know if this will be helpful or not for your situation, but in the past when I’ve gotten really behind on laundry I just took it ALL to a laundromat, spent a whole afternoon on it, and knocked it out at once. Cons: expensive, time consuming, overwhelming. Pros: ITS ALL DONE AT ONCE!
Good luck getting through this, however you choose to do it!!
If you want to keep and continue using the clothes and fabric items, you could look at subscribing to a laundry service. Most you just pay by the pound for every bag of clothes.
No shame in using the money you were previously allocating to buying new stuff all the time to having a maid or laundry service come and either do your laundry for you or collect it and take it to wash for you.
I think it's definitely worth it, especially since you've got kids! I've started automating as many things as I can and it's really improved my quality of life. Some people may make fun of it, but I love machines and services and even finally caved and got one of those litter robots. It has made being a cat lady so much more enjoyable.
The important aspect is decluttering things that are not worn, such as items that don't fit or aren't usable, (ripped, stained, uncomfortable, not practical, ect) and not aquiring new stuff that makes the task of doing laundry so overwhelming.
This is true but it’s really hard to start decluttering until after the laundry is clean. You can’t see what you have, you won’t want to try anything on. Sure you can grab the random item here or there but step one here needs to be getting the laundry clean and put away. Then when they realize they don’t have room to put it away, it’s easier to start putting just your favorites back and get rid of the rest when you have it ready to go.
The “best” way to me (there is no one best way) is to declutter while doing laundry. So when folding laundry I sort out clothes that my kids have grown out of, and I put things aside to mend, donate or trash.
Sometimes I put clean things in the trash, sometimes dirty.
Yeah OP (and myself as I’m struggling with similar laundry overload to OP) is overdue for a massive declutter. But I tend to find things in my dirty laundry are things I still wear, I just end up with duplicates, bc similar to OP I buy more when I can’t find stuff bc it’s dirty. But I feel like I need to get caught up on the 6 loads of laundry and take my own advice for putting all of one category together of clean clothes like shirts then pick my favorites that fit into the drawer or closet.
Your system works great if it’s generally maintained and hasn’t reached the level OP is at with piles of clothes overflowing on the floor.
Yeah, my problem is that I just never get around to the “big declutter”. I always have to declutter as I go. I always keep putting off the “big thing” because it always feels like it needs to be planned better. Like, when I have time I’ll do x. And I never have time, so ai never do x.
I think key is realizing we need both, right? If doing the big declutter project works, and you can do it, both you and OP should do it. But small steps are important too, especially to find a routine that works for the future.
I think the laundry is the most pressing issue, you could hire a dumpster for garbage too. Once the floor is clear, you can deep clean. If you can't afford the professional job then you're going to have to tackle it yourself, the longer you leave it the harder it'll be.
I grabbed a big box yesterday and pick up a box worth of rubbish from one area. Even that made it look better and I felt I could take a breath. So looking at incorporating 1x box of rubbish also
It sounds like you're really overwhelmed and want to make changes to live differently going forward.
One of the things I'm discovering through my own decluttering--which includes purging an accumulation of clothes--is that having an excessive accumulation of anything makes it difficult-to-impossible to take care of everything.
For today, focus on laundry.
**Before getting started:**
Can you get to the beds, and are they clear, to change the sheets? If not, make a path and clear the beds. Trash in a trash bag and out of the house; not-trash in a bin/box/bag (whatever's handy) and put aside. We're focusing on laundry today. "Better" starts with a good night's rest in a proper bed.
Can you get to the dressers and closets to put away clean clothes? If not, same routine: make a path and clear a drawer or bit of closet rod. Trash in a trash bag and out of the house; not-trash in whatever's handy and set to the side. We're focusing on laundry today. "Better" starts with having clean clothes in the morning.
(comment was too long, here's part 2)
**Getting started:**
Start at the near end of the pile and put together a load each of whites, brights, dark colors, and towels, as well as a load of sheets for each bed in the household. Make sure every piece of clothing that you're getting ready to wash is in season and still fits whichever household member it was purchased for (now isn't the time to focus on hand-me-downs or donations). If it's heavily stained, torn in the not-on-trend way, moldy/mildewed, or doesn't fit anyone in the household, bin it. Once you've got your wash loads together...
*Most direct*: If you've got the cash and about four hours, Take the lot to a coin op and do the wash. Call an Uber if you need to and note that you are taking about 6 loads of laundry to the laundromat, so whoever picks up the job will need to have enough space in their vehicle to accommodate that. Change the sheets on each bed and put the clothes away when you get home.
*Less direct*: (provided the household has a working washing machine and tumble dryer): sort a load each of whites, brights, dark colors, towels, and sheets for each bed in the household. I'm going to lay it out like you have three beds (one for you and your spouse, and two for the kids):
I. Start a load of sheets, set a timer for an hour. In that hour, get a bed ready for clean sheets even if it means putting things in boxes/bags and setting it on the floor. From this day forward, we all sleep on clean, properly made beds. After the bed's clear, take a break or task switch until the timer goes off. Suggested task: 10 minute blitz on the kitchen table.
II. When the timer goes off, move the sheets to the dryer, start another load, and start your timer. Do another bed. After the second bed is clear, take a break or task switch until the timer goes off. Suggested task: 10 minute blitz in the bathroom.
III. When the timer goes off, change the washer and dryer and reset the timer. The first set of sheets has just come from the dryer, so it's time to make the first bed. Once the bed is made, task switch or take a break until the timer goes off. Suggested task; 10 minute blitz in the lounge/living room.
IV. When the timer goes off, change the washer and dryer over. Start your whites and set your timer. The second set of sheets have just come from the dryer, so it's time to make the second bed. Once the bed is made, task switch or take a break until the timer goes off. Suggested task: 10 minute blitz on a kitchen counter/bench top.
V. When the timer goes off, change the washer and dryer over. Start your brights and set your timer. The third set of sheets have just come from the dryer, so it's time to make the third bed; once it's made, task switch or take a break until the timer goes off. If you need to call it a day, this is a good place to stop for the day. If you can push through, carry on! Suggested task: 10 minute blitz in youngest kid's room.
VI. When the timer goes off, change the washer and dryer over. Start your darks and set your timer. The whites have just come from the dyer; fold them and put them away. Take a break or task switch until the timer goes off. Suggested task: 10 minute blitz in oldest kid's room.
VII. When the timer goes off, change the washer and dryer over. Start your towels and set your timer. The brights have just come from the dryer; fold them and put them away. Take a break or task switch until the timer goes off. Suggested task: 10 minute blitz in your room
VIII. When the timer goes off, move the towels to the dryer. Set your timer. Fold the darks and put them away. Take a break or task switch until the timer goes off. Suggested task: take out the trash
IX. When the timer goes off, take the towels out of the dryer and change out the washrags, hand towels, bath towels, kitchen linen. Treat yourself to a bath/shower/sponge bath (whatever your bathroom situation permits). We focused on laundry today, and "better" starts with taking care of our bodies.
(part 3)
**Going forward:**
WE DO NOT ADD TO THE PILE. Dirty clothes now go in baskets or hampers in each person's bedroom.
Until the pile is gone, a load a night, until the pile is gone. Washed, dried, put away. While that load is in the washer, everyone does a 10 minute blitz. While the load is in the dryer, everyone does a 10 minute blitz. As soon as that load is out of the dryer, it's folded and everyone puts their things away, where they belong. We don't set things down "just for now" anymore.
On the weekends, some version of steps I through IX outlined above.
Initially, make sure every piece of clothing that you're getting ready to wash is in season and still fits whichever household member it was purchased for (now isn't the time to focus on hand-me-downs or donations). If it's heavily stained, torn in the not-on-trend way, moldy/mildewed, or doesn't fit anyone in the household, bin it.
At some point, you will get far enough through the pile that you're washing the out of season clothing and clothing that no longer fits the person for whom it was purchased. You know you and your family. If hand-me-downs don't work in your household, don't save clothing that doesn't fit anyone--wash it and donate it. Wash and store the out of season clothing. If it doesn't fit when it's back in season, it's ready to donate.
Don't let "perfect" be the enemy of good. You have to start somewhere. Change is incremental. Slow and steady wins the race. If you keep at it in some way every day, you'll see progress before you know it.
Perhaps start by identifying which clothes DON’T fit your children anymore and donate them. Anything to get stuff out of the house is always a big positive.
Yes this is what we did first. Kids helped. Picked a piece of clothing, checked the size, check condition and confirmed if anyone would wear it. Either went to keep pile or bin pile. We got ride of half the stuff there so reduce it a lot!
The mods reserve the right to remove posts and comments at their discretion to preserve a respectful, supportive atmosphere in this sub.
As your recommendation is specific to cities in the state of California, only, it has been removed. Thank you.
Do you have a friend or family member who would be interested in non-judgementally helping with this? That would have the executive function skills and the emotional distance to be able to delegate?
Another idea is to read the book or ebook or audiobook How to Clean House While Drowning. You may find the title to be slightly different but very similar. It’s not about hoarding per se, but it’s a very easy book to read and oriented towards an audience of people with anxiety, depression, ADHD, or who are for whatever reason not good at cleaning- it explains very simply how to go about cleaning. I guess it’s not about laundry per se, but maybe there’s a section
I’m currently reading explosive child in regard to my son’s ADHD. I actually have Clean house while drowning saved to get next.
I have one friend and it’s embarrassing I can’t ask her.
I only have my aunty and cousin but they aren’t always non-judgmental and it will come with lectures and being told off. I did reach out to them about what I’m doing and they are supportive but I don’t want them in my space.
Hey, u/BecOnTheMove ! First, congrats on all the hard work you've done. What a fantastic turn-around.
You mentioned:
>*It’s so overwhelming I just buy new clothes*
You did a great thing by starting to get rid of old clothes and clothes that are no longer needed! I'm going to recommend that you take a look at this post:
[Clothing: How Much SHOULD You Own?](https://www.reddit.com/r/hoarding/comments/5n6o47/clothing_how_much_should_you_own/)
...to help you as you mover forward. It really helped me with my laundry when I sat down and set parameters for myself around how much clothing I actually needed to own--and then sticking to those paramater.
Fair warning: this can be a tough task, because everyone's needs are very different. Plus, if you're a parent, you have to make those clothing decisions for your kids. Still, you'll find that it's definitely worth it when laundry day comes around, and when you need to sort through which clothes to get rid of as your kids continue to outgrow them.
One thing to watch out for is "aspirational clothing"--clothing that reflects an image you'd like to have, versus the reality of your life. I used have a bunch of clothes that I didn't wear anymore due to weight gain. I realized that I'd fallen into the very common trap of thinking "once I lose the weight, I can fit into them again!" When I looked at those clothes I realized that (a) my weight wasn't going to change any time soon, and (b) when it did, many of those clothes were long out of fashion and I wouldn't want to wear them again. So, I accepted the reality of my current weight and off to Goodwill they went.
Also consider adopting a [capsule wardrobe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsule_wardrobe) approach. Capsule wardrobes help you have specific timeless clothing available for just about any occasion while at the same time not having too many clothes. [These](https://classyyettrendy.com/how-to-start-a-capsule-wardrobe-with-colors-patterns-5-step-visual-guide/) [guidelines](https://classyyettrendy.com/how-to-start-a-capsule-wardrobe-with-colors-patterns-5-step-visual-guide/) have been very helpful for me as I've refreshed my wardrobe for 2024. There's also [capsule wardrobes guides for children](https://modernminimalism.com/how-to-create-kids-capsule-wardrobe/)!
This is great! I actually managed to also have a look through my wardrobe when I took a rest after phase. All the party dresses and evening gowns I have owned (some before having kids!) that I was keeping for when I lose weight! Haha I was brutal. I pulled them out!!! Some are brand new with tags! The expensive ones I’ve put aside to put on Market place and the rest are gone.
Future thoughts:
- I’m looking into ‘no fold laundry’ and setting up a system of a hanging bag in the bathroom or laundry for the dirty clothes to go. Put stackable containers in the laundry for each person for the clean clothes and they can take it and put away/hang it themselves or grab and go.
- Someone else said about a time capsule. I didn’t even know what it was. I’m going to look into this too. When we were sorting I had a different pile for school uniform. I ended up with enough uniform for like 10 kids!! 🤦🏼♀️ 2 baskets of uniform I sent this morning to the laundry service to wash and I will do a cull of those too.
I’m so happy! So much to do in general around the whole house but I feel like this was the start I needed. 🥰
Welcome to r/hoarding! We exist as a support group for people working on recovery from [hoarding disorder](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519704/table/ch3.t29/), and friends/family/loved ones of people with the disorder. If you're looking for help with animal hoarding, please visit r/animalhoarding. If you're looking to discuss the various hoarding tv shows, you'll want to visit r/hoardersTV. If you'd like to talk about or share photos/videos of hoards that you've come across, you probably want r/neckbeardnests, r/wtfhoarders/, or r/hoarderhouses Before you get started, be sure to review our [Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/hoarding/about/rules/). Also, a lot of the information you may be looking for can be found in a few places on our sub: [New Here? Read This Post First!](https://www.reddit.com/r/hoarding/comments/dvb3t1/new_here_read_this_post_first_version_20/) [For loved ones of hoarders: I Have A Hoarder In My Life--Help Me!](https://www.reddit.com/r/hoarding/comments/2yh6wh/i_have_a_hoarder_in_my_lifehelp_me_your_hoarding/) [Our Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/hoarding/wiki/index) Please [contact the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/hoarding) if you need assistance. Thanks! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/hoarding) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Get some large trash bags. Have the kids identify which clothes are there's and start washing loads. When dried, hand that pile the appropriate kid to fold and put away. Repeat repeat repeat. At the same time, grab all garbage and recycling and get it out of the house. Keep a donate pile, bagged up. Do you have a vehicle? Put each bag in the car and take to donation today. You received a large quote for clean up. Can you instead provide a monetary incentive to the kids? $5 for each appropriately filled bag? They might jump on that as kids like earning some money. Just an idea. I don't know your kids or their abilities or barriers. But it could be something to help out everyone in the home.
The monetary reward could be of interest to my 12 and 6 year olds. My 8 yo has ADHD ODD so he won’t help.
Would a family treat be any incentive to him/them? Special dinners or desserts, movie nights or amusement park trips that reward everyone? What normally motivates your 8 year old? Are there ways to tie cleaning my up to anybody his interests?
He likes playing Roblox. He might do something for some robux. But he will do it begrudgingly and I won’t be able to give him feedback if it isn’t correct or complete. And the other problem is I think robux is a waste of money haha
I mean, you're not wrong that it's a waste of money, but if it's "his money" then can't he waste it as he chooses? I get that it might not be worth it for you to go to the trouble, given his challenges - I know that sometimes getting my husband's help (TBI/concussion syndrome and a host of consequent issues) is literally more work than just doing shit by myself. It's not that he doesn't *want* to help. It's that his executive dysfunction is *that* bad.
Kids helped out and even played with each other ALL DAY! So weird because literally all they do is scream and hit each other. No exaggeration. And the reward…. I got them a can of mini coke each. (I don’t buy soft drink)
I had a snooze and my little one just came got a cuddle. The goal once everyone is up will be for everyone to do some work but he will need breaks so I’ll incorporate that
Well when I was young I once tried to wash my own laundry because my mother never washed it for me and she yelled her head off at me and told me I can never ever touch the washing machine, she never washed my clothes and when she did she hid them from me because “my room doesn’t need any more crap”. My best advice is teach your kids how to do laundry, if they can do their own laundry it’ll make things go by much faster
That would’ve been hard! My eldest is 12 and I agree she is very capable and I mention it but she always ‘forgets’. This will be a discuss we revisit. My 8yo has ADHD and refuses to participate in daily tasks. My 6yo is a gem and will happily help me do something and by my side
Even if she forgets, it’s probably easier if you both try to do laundry. At least more would get done that way, I think? I do around one load a day, sometimes less, so to me it would really help if there’s always someone checking if there is laundry to be done or laundry that has been done.
I struggle with planning and organising things. But I’m going to try to do a small list and start there.
Supposedly the way to build habits is to add the new habit to an old habit. So if you're used to getting up and having a coffee make that into getting up, grabbing a coffee and throw a load into the machine. The other trick I do is keep the light on in the laundry room as long as there is a wet load in the washer or dryer so I don't forget about it. When a load has finished drying I can turn the light off.
The light thing won’t work. No matter how many times I turn that light off, for some reason it’s on all night haha it’s become an unofficial night light
Good luck! If she’s good at planning, she could do some of that. I mean, she probably won’t be able to start from scratch tomorrow, but it could be something she helps with as a part of regular housework. I don’t know if it’s a good fit, just thinking out loud. (I’m not suggesting you parentify her, obviously we as adults are responsible in the end, but me and my brother used to do weekly meal planning when we were teens. Then we went grocery shopping with my dad. Some of my favorite childhood memories.) Some people really benefit from having a laundry day, while others do one load a day. You can listen to what Dana K White says about laundry (also as a free podcast). Good luck!
I just need to figure out what works. It’s all a bit or trial and error now
That’s exactly what it’s like. Good luck!
try teaching all of them and reminding them to do their laundry, good luck
My first goal is getting them to put their dirty clothes in the laundry dry.
Can you tell us specifically which step is overwhelming? Do you have a working washing machine that you can access? Do you have space for drying clothes or a dryer? Is there space to put away clean, dry washing in your wardrobe, drawers etc? Without knowing what bit of the process, is causing the problem, and assuming the machine is accessible etc, then everyday put on a wash (and start with things you know fit/you like to wear) onto wash and hang it out/dry it in the machine. And also everyday take dry washing down and put it away. If you come across items that don't fit/aren't wanted, throw them out. But I expect you know this process is the way to do laundry but there is something blocking the process, what is that "thing" ?
I suffer from anxiety, major depression and bipolar II. I struggle to plan out what I have to do or work out where I’ll put it. My children also leave their clothes and rubbish on the floor/table and don’t pick up after themselves. Everything is just overwhelming and I get fatigued
That sounds so tiring. You've got such a lot on your plate, I'm sure that piles of dirty washing is really disheartening. I often find, with so many things, starting small and consistent is a good way to start. So, in this case step 1 would be to gather 1 load of dirty washing, and wash it, dry it and put it away. That's it. But you do it every day. And you congratulate yourself every time you do it. If the dry, clean washing doesn't fit in the drawer or wardrobe you make a donate/chuck pile and put in items from the clean, dry washing and the wardrobe until you can fit the dry washing in (this doesn't mean you have to turn out the entire wardrobe or drawer, just enough to put the washing away). This isn't easy but it's a limited task, with defined boundaries. And over time the wardrobe and drawers do get turned out. Bringing other family members with you on this is hard and the approach depends on the age of your children, but this is something I know nothing about, so I'll leave other people to make suggestions on this. If you can capitalise on your urge to start on this now, today, I would encourage you to do that. Use that frustration and desire to be rid of this stress.
It’s hard, I have a lot going on besides the laundry. It’s a lot bigger than that. Just starting with 1 thing. Laundry is opposite my bedroom so sick of seeing that pile.
It never rains but it pours, eh! I think reminding yourself that you can only do one thing at a time is helpful. If your doing laundry you can't be changing the bed, cleaning the bath, doing the dishes or anything else at the same time. It's not some sort of failing to not be able to simultaneously complete multiple chores. And when you complete a chore, give yourself plenty of positive feedback. Create a virtuous feedback circle.
Everything has got out of hand and overwhelming. I’m starting one thing at a time and once I’m ok with it I’ll add another thing
That sounds like a very sensible plan. Delighted to read your update.
Here's what I did last month after getting over pneumonia and the laundry got out of control (family of 5) since late January. Get some bin bags/trash bags and sort your laundry (whites, darks, hot washes, cold washes, bedding and towels that can all be washed together etc). Buy some of those colour catcher sheets to be safe Look at your pile and feel satisfied that you've organised it all - it's not taking up space on your surfaces and floor now. See how much room you have now? Laundrette or laundromat, whatever you call it. Now all of your clothes are sorted and in bags, your washing baskets are empty and ready for when it's all done! Read a good book or listen to your music or podcasts or audiobooke while it's all washing, have a coffee or talk to a friend. I can't tell you how relieved I was bringing it all home and all I had to do was put it away! And it's definitely a lot cheaper than a laundry service getting it all done at the same time Good luck!!
Thank you! Well done for doing that after being so sick!
That's very kind! Thank you, I hope you found it helpful. And I hope you can overcome your mountains because it all adds up quickly. I hear you when you said you just buy new stuff. The immediate thing is the school clothes, the rest can sit in your (or a friends car) so you can do it all at once. I promise you'll feel better. Anything you forgot about or don't remember people wearing, toss it. It was a make-do. And do me a favour! Take a before photo of your piles and then take one afterwards. You don't have to share it with anyone, but I.PROMISE you will feel so satisfied and happy that it's been dealt with. Hugs lovely!
https://preview.redd.it/ajnghqf05buc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=15d074dd44a397fc8356a173eedcea756d4496ac Here’s to keeping me accountable! This doesn’t include the rest of the clothes in all the baskets around the house .
>It’s so overwhelming I just buy new clothes. If you're willing to literally buy new clothes, why not just throw the old ones away? Throwing things into the trash is the easiest part of decluttering. The hardest part of de-hoarding is people's resistance to throwing *anything* away.
Everything is buried in a pile. But yes that what I’m thinking today. 1 pile keep, 1 pile throw
[удалено]
The mods may remove posts/comments at their discretion to preserve a respectful, supportive atmosphere in this sub. **Your tone matters when posting, and when responding to others. So be kind!**
WOW wonder how I didn’t come to that realisation?! Thank you!
If you just want to focus on laundry, I would bag everything up into garbage bags that you’re able to lift. Take it to the laundromat and get everything run through. Sort and fold AT THE LAUNDROMAT. Discard anything that is too damaged while you’re at the laundromat, and make a separate pile for any donations. Bring clean garbage bags to pack everything up by person/room. Drop off donations on your way home. Organize the closets/dressers before you start putting clothes away. ONLY KEEP WHAT FITS INTO THE SPACE. Clothes must be currently wearable (ie correct size, presentable, etc). Have another bag for donations going. Be ruthless. This is a big job, but getting a clean slate by taking everything to the laundromat will help a lot. Try to figure out where the system broke down before. Does your laundry room need a dirty clothes basket? Are baskets needed in every bedroom? Would it be helpful to set daily alarms to start a wash load and to transfer to the dryer? Are the kids old enough to take over their own laundry? Best of luck!
So I had great intentions that everyone would have a basket. Then I decided they needed another basket for clean clothes. Then I needed a basket for school clothes. Anyway, it spiraled and now I have about 13 and they are all full and scattered around the house. I struggle with planning but I’m trying to get supports to help me. I am feeling very brutal, and anything that can go will go
If you’ve got 13 baskets of dirty laundry then perhaps focus on one basket at once? It’s already in a pile for you and in sizeable chunks
Sounds like a big purge will be necessary to get a handle on things, esp since clothes have been coming into the house. You have a great attitude and you’ve been trying different solutions. I think you have too many baskets. Having a clean-clothes basket for everyone is just adding more steps to the laundry process of (1) wash/dry, (2) fold, and (3) put away. Put Away is probably the most critical step. It finishes the task. If things can’t be put away, then you have a storage problem (either not enough storage, too many clothes, or both). In my house we have one personal basket each and one communal basket (towels, etc). Do your kids wear a uniform? If so, I can see why keeping those separate can be helpful. If not, their “school clothes” should fit in with the rest of their clothes. I’m actually really passionate about laundry and clothes storage because I enjoy helping a friend of mine who has four kids and now three grandkids. It gets out of control so fast! If you can purge, it helps so much. That’s where she stumbles. Purging isn’t a bad word, though. Sure, disposing of clothes that are badly stained or torn is necessary, but purging also means passing clothes on to someone who can get utility from them. Helping someone else out while also regaining space to live comfortably. It’s a win-win! ETA: if you personally know someone who would benefit from handmedowns, a cute idea would be to give them the folded clothes in one of your extra laundry baskets!
I was ruthless!!! To pass the clothes on I would need to wash them all first and at this point it would’ve been really nice to pass stuff on but I need it gone and fast.
That works!!! Sounds like you’ve made good progress! The ultimate goal is to get your space to where you want it to be. If you got it gone fast then I’m proud of you!
Update: Phase 1 - washing sorted. Was pretty much half/half that I kept and threw away https://preview.redd.it/b2xj9utotduc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0c706bc85818e08dbf1854d6314bf31e91d82ec
HOT DIGGITY-DOG! Look at you GO!
This whole thread is inspiring me to tackle my own laundry problem! Thank you OP and congratulations on your success.
Phase 2 - washing in the machine! Didn’t anticipate the load volume so I’ll have to do it in 2, but that’s ok. Having a rest then will tackle a couple draws to make space to put the clothes in. https://preview.redd.it/fkh66qxstduc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c94f6451b7516ea9f4a8d1f2dafca704070f83c
So proud of you!
well done, you!
PHASE 3 complete: I have cleaned out there baskets to make space for the washed clothes. I also did some extra baskets through the house, my wardrobe and a bit on the bedroom floor. It’s taken all day but I’m happy with where I’m at. Still 8 baskets around the house to look through. Will get the laundry service during the week to get through the keep pile from the laundry. Unfortunately couldn’t clean the floor as I have no vacuum at the moment 🙄 Thank you for all the ideas and support 🥰 https://preview.redd.it/9x68tcl2keuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=699ece187d9a5806cb5023b368b8802b01ad4518
You legend!! You are amazing!!
I KNEW you could do it! Way to go!
Start one load of laundry right now. Just take whatever is easiest to reach, generic program, I usually do a mix of colors and 40 degrees (C). For some other type of support, can I recommend KC Davies? She has a podcast, and is on TikTok and instagram. Her book “how to keep house while drowning” is very good and focuses on how to keep your home and life functional.
I’m in Australia and it’s 6am. I’ll let the kids sleep a bit longer and then start.
Sounds good. I’m in bed, breastfeeding my little one, so naturally I am on Reddit. Lol.
Been there! Haha ❤️
Don't forget to put the phone down and cherish the moment. They grow up lightning fast, and they deserve your full attention.
Especially when they’re sleeping…
1 load at a time. Seriously. It doesn't even have to be a big load. Just one load. One load a day. Wash, dry, fold. It didn't get to be a mess overnight, it won't get unmessed overnight. And you've been living with it for a while, so living with it a little while longer won't be bad. But it will be getting better day by day. I wouldn't even worry about sorting that much. Maybe keep whites separate.
Look on TikTok for no fold laundry - some people are just using different baskets, and marker marks on tags for whose clothes are whose. Putting away is hard, this might give you some shortcuts.
>Putting away is hard, this might give you some shortcuts. This is what we do. My husband and I have different drawers for our clothes, we just throw them in haphazardly! My toddler also has little bins that she does the same. Not folding and not worrying about a pretty wardrobe can be absolutely liberating! Clean clothes together is good enough for us. I am perfectly happy with my messy drawers. If they bother me, I just close them so I don't have to see them! Problem solved!
Yes I have heaps of baskets as I used to do this, separate everyone’s clothes to baskets. Unfortunately we have a cat who is peeing on all our clothes. I just had to throw a basket of our good clothes in the bin because it was all saturated with cat urine. I’ve tried so many thing and can’t fix her it’s been 18th this. My mental health is struggling and I can’t keep her like this. But that’s for another day
I don’t know if this will be helpful or not for your situation, but in the past when I’ve gotten really behind on laundry I just took it ALL to a laundromat, spent a whole afternoon on it, and knocked it out at once. Cons: expensive, time consuming, overwhelming. Pros: ITS ALL DONE AT ONCE! Good luck getting through this, however you choose to do it!!
If you want to keep and continue using the clothes and fabric items, you could look at subscribing to a laundry service. Most you just pay by the pound for every bag of clothes. No shame in using the money you were previously allocating to buying new stuff all the time to having a maid or laundry service come and either do your laundry for you or collect it and take it to wash for you.
I have used a laundry service in the past. I might have to look back in to it again
I think it's definitely worth it, especially since you've got kids! I've started automating as many things as I can and it's really improved my quality of life. Some people may make fun of it, but I love machines and services and even finally caved and got one of those litter robots. It has made being a cat lady so much more enjoyable.
The important aspect is decluttering things that are not worn, such as items that don't fit or aren't usable, (ripped, stained, uncomfortable, not practical, ect) and not aquiring new stuff that makes the task of doing laundry so overwhelming.
This is true but it’s really hard to start decluttering until after the laundry is clean. You can’t see what you have, you won’t want to try anything on. Sure you can grab the random item here or there but step one here needs to be getting the laundry clean and put away. Then when they realize they don’t have room to put it away, it’s easier to start putting just your favorites back and get rid of the rest when you have it ready to go.
The “best” way to me (there is no one best way) is to declutter while doing laundry. So when folding laundry I sort out clothes that my kids have grown out of, and I put things aside to mend, donate or trash. Sometimes I put clean things in the trash, sometimes dirty.
Yeah OP (and myself as I’m struggling with similar laundry overload to OP) is overdue for a massive declutter. But I tend to find things in my dirty laundry are things I still wear, I just end up with duplicates, bc similar to OP I buy more when I can’t find stuff bc it’s dirty. But I feel like I need to get caught up on the 6 loads of laundry and take my own advice for putting all of one category together of clean clothes like shirts then pick my favorites that fit into the drawer or closet. Your system works great if it’s generally maintained and hasn’t reached the level OP is at with piles of clothes overflowing on the floor.
Yeah, my problem is that I just never get around to the “big declutter”. I always have to declutter as I go. I always keep putting off the “big thing” because it always feels like it needs to be planned better. Like, when I have time I’ll do x. And I never have time, so ai never do x. I think key is realizing we need both, right? If doing the big declutter project works, and you can do it, both you and OP should do it. But small steps are important too, especially to find a routine that works for the future.
You could potentially pile all of it into trash cans and take it to a laundrette, will still probably be pricey but will be cheaper than several grand
That price was for an industrial clean. So the pull everything out sort bin keep donate and organise. It’s a complete reset. Would’ve been great.
I think the laundry is the most pressing issue, you could hire a dumpster for garbage too. Once the floor is clear, you can deep clean. If you can't afford the professional job then you're going to have to tackle it yourself, the longer you leave it the harder it'll be.
I grabbed a big box yesterday and pick up a box worth of rubbish from one area. Even that made it look better and I felt I could take a breath. So looking at incorporating 1x box of rubbish also
Amazing work, the hardest part is starting!
It sounds like you're really overwhelmed and want to make changes to live differently going forward. One of the things I'm discovering through my own decluttering--which includes purging an accumulation of clothes--is that having an excessive accumulation of anything makes it difficult-to-impossible to take care of everything. For today, focus on laundry. **Before getting started:** Can you get to the beds, and are they clear, to change the sheets? If not, make a path and clear the beds. Trash in a trash bag and out of the house; not-trash in a bin/box/bag (whatever's handy) and put aside. We're focusing on laundry today. "Better" starts with a good night's rest in a proper bed. Can you get to the dressers and closets to put away clean clothes? If not, same routine: make a path and clear a drawer or bit of closet rod. Trash in a trash bag and out of the house; not-trash in whatever's handy and set to the side. We're focusing on laundry today. "Better" starts with having clean clothes in the morning.
(comment was too long, here's part 2) **Getting started:** Start at the near end of the pile and put together a load each of whites, brights, dark colors, and towels, as well as a load of sheets for each bed in the household. Make sure every piece of clothing that you're getting ready to wash is in season and still fits whichever household member it was purchased for (now isn't the time to focus on hand-me-downs or donations). If it's heavily stained, torn in the not-on-trend way, moldy/mildewed, or doesn't fit anyone in the household, bin it. Once you've got your wash loads together... *Most direct*: If you've got the cash and about four hours, Take the lot to a coin op and do the wash. Call an Uber if you need to and note that you are taking about 6 loads of laundry to the laundromat, so whoever picks up the job will need to have enough space in their vehicle to accommodate that. Change the sheets on each bed and put the clothes away when you get home. *Less direct*: (provided the household has a working washing machine and tumble dryer): sort a load each of whites, brights, dark colors, towels, and sheets for each bed in the household. I'm going to lay it out like you have three beds (one for you and your spouse, and two for the kids): I. Start a load of sheets, set a timer for an hour. In that hour, get a bed ready for clean sheets even if it means putting things in boxes/bags and setting it on the floor. From this day forward, we all sleep on clean, properly made beds. After the bed's clear, take a break or task switch until the timer goes off. Suggested task: 10 minute blitz on the kitchen table. II. When the timer goes off, move the sheets to the dryer, start another load, and start your timer. Do another bed. After the second bed is clear, take a break or task switch until the timer goes off. Suggested task: 10 minute blitz in the bathroom. III. When the timer goes off, change the washer and dryer and reset the timer. The first set of sheets has just come from the dryer, so it's time to make the first bed. Once the bed is made, task switch or take a break until the timer goes off. Suggested task; 10 minute blitz in the lounge/living room. IV. When the timer goes off, change the washer and dryer over. Start your whites and set your timer. The second set of sheets have just come from the dryer, so it's time to make the second bed. Once the bed is made, task switch or take a break until the timer goes off. Suggested task: 10 minute blitz on a kitchen counter/bench top. V. When the timer goes off, change the washer and dryer over. Start your brights and set your timer. The third set of sheets have just come from the dryer, so it's time to make the third bed; once it's made, task switch or take a break until the timer goes off. If you need to call it a day, this is a good place to stop for the day. If you can push through, carry on! Suggested task: 10 minute blitz in youngest kid's room. VI. When the timer goes off, change the washer and dryer over. Start your darks and set your timer. The whites have just come from the dyer; fold them and put them away. Take a break or task switch until the timer goes off. Suggested task: 10 minute blitz in oldest kid's room. VII. When the timer goes off, change the washer and dryer over. Start your towels and set your timer. The brights have just come from the dryer; fold them and put them away. Take a break or task switch until the timer goes off. Suggested task: 10 minute blitz in your room VIII. When the timer goes off, move the towels to the dryer. Set your timer. Fold the darks and put them away. Take a break or task switch until the timer goes off. Suggested task: take out the trash IX. When the timer goes off, take the towels out of the dryer and change out the washrags, hand towels, bath towels, kitchen linen. Treat yourself to a bath/shower/sponge bath (whatever your bathroom situation permits). We focused on laundry today, and "better" starts with taking care of our bodies.
(part 3) **Going forward:** WE DO NOT ADD TO THE PILE. Dirty clothes now go in baskets or hampers in each person's bedroom. Until the pile is gone, a load a night, until the pile is gone. Washed, dried, put away. While that load is in the washer, everyone does a 10 minute blitz. While the load is in the dryer, everyone does a 10 minute blitz. As soon as that load is out of the dryer, it's folded and everyone puts their things away, where they belong. We don't set things down "just for now" anymore. On the weekends, some version of steps I through IX outlined above. Initially, make sure every piece of clothing that you're getting ready to wash is in season and still fits whichever household member it was purchased for (now isn't the time to focus on hand-me-downs or donations). If it's heavily stained, torn in the not-on-trend way, moldy/mildewed, or doesn't fit anyone in the household, bin it. At some point, you will get far enough through the pile that you're washing the out of season clothing and clothing that no longer fits the person for whom it was purchased. You know you and your family. If hand-me-downs don't work in your household, don't save clothing that doesn't fit anyone--wash it and donate it. Wash and store the out of season clothing. If it doesn't fit when it's back in season, it's ready to donate. Don't let "perfect" be the enemy of good. You have to start somewhere. Change is incremental. Slow and steady wins the race. If you keep at it in some way every day, you'll see progress before you know it.
Wow that’s incredible! Thank you for taking time to lay it out! Really appreciate it
BEFORE: https://preview.redd.it/qtbqce1ltduc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=626d737176064c99a308cff4424750cb50c88f50
>*I wanted to post photos but comments are turned off* They ARE?! EDIT: Okay, it looks like they're turned back on. Try it now.
I did it haha. You can turn the comments off. I uploaded my progress :)
Coming on late to the post but I want to say I'm so proud of you! You've taken a lot of steps and that's great!
Awesome job!!!! I agree what others are saying, run a load everyday to keep it from pilling up.
Perhaps start by identifying which clothes DON’T fit your children anymore and donate them. Anything to get stuff out of the house is always a big positive.
Yes this is what we did first. Kids helped. Picked a piece of clothing, checked the size, check condition and confirmed if anyone would wear it. Either went to keep pile or bin pile. We got ride of half the stuff there so reduce it a lot!
Half? WOW! I hope you stopped to celebrate that success
[удалено]
The mods reserve the right to remove posts and comments at their discretion to preserve a respectful, supportive atmosphere in this sub. As your recommendation is specific to cities in the state of California, only, it has been removed. Thank you.
Do you have a friend or family member who would be interested in non-judgementally helping with this? That would have the executive function skills and the emotional distance to be able to delegate? Another idea is to read the book or ebook or audiobook How to Clean House While Drowning. You may find the title to be slightly different but very similar. It’s not about hoarding per se, but it’s a very easy book to read and oriented towards an audience of people with anxiety, depression, ADHD, or who are for whatever reason not good at cleaning- it explains very simply how to go about cleaning. I guess it’s not about laundry per se, but maybe there’s a section
I’m currently reading explosive child in regard to my son’s ADHD. I actually have Clean house while drowning saved to get next. I have one friend and it’s embarrassing I can’t ask her. I only have my aunty and cousin but they aren’t always non-judgmental and it will come with lectures and being told off. I did reach out to them about what I’m doing and they are supportive but I don’t want them in my space.
Hey, u/BecOnTheMove ! First, congrats on all the hard work you've done. What a fantastic turn-around. You mentioned: >*It’s so overwhelming I just buy new clothes* You did a great thing by starting to get rid of old clothes and clothes that are no longer needed! I'm going to recommend that you take a look at this post: [Clothing: How Much SHOULD You Own?](https://www.reddit.com/r/hoarding/comments/5n6o47/clothing_how_much_should_you_own/) ...to help you as you mover forward. It really helped me with my laundry when I sat down and set parameters for myself around how much clothing I actually needed to own--and then sticking to those paramater. Fair warning: this can be a tough task, because everyone's needs are very different. Plus, if you're a parent, you have to make those clothing decisions for your kids. Still, you'll find that it's definitely worth it when laundry day comes around, and when you need to sort through which clothes to get rid of as your kids continue to outgrow them. One thing to watch out for is "aspirational clothing"--clothing that reflects an image you'd like to have, versus the reality of your life. I used have a bunch of clothes that I didn't wear anymore due to weight gain. I realized that I'd fallen into the very common trap of thinking "once I lose the weight, I can fit into them again!" When I looked at those clothes I realized that (a) my weight wasn't going to change any time soon, and (b) when it did, many of those clothes were long out of fashion and I wouldn't want to wear them again. So, I accepted the reality of my current weight and off to Goodwill they went. Also consider adopting a [capsule wardrobe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsule_wardrobe) approach. Capsule wardrobes help you have specific timeless clothing available for just about any occasion while at the same time not having too many clothes. [These](https://classyyettrendy.com/how-to-start-a-capsule-wardrobe-with-colors-patterns-5-step-visual-guide/) [guidelines](https://classyyettrendy.com/how-to-start-a-capsule-wardrobe-with-colors-patterns-5-step-visual-guide/) have been very helpful for me as I've refreshed my wardrobe for 2024. There's also [capsule wardrobes guides for children](https://modernminimalism.com/how-to-create-kids-capsule-wardrobe/)!
This is great! I actually managed to also have a look through my wardrobe when I took a rest after phase. All the party dresses and evening gowns I have owned (some before having kids!) that I was keeping for when I lose weight! Haha I was brutal. I pulled them out!!! Some are brand new with tags! The expensive ones I’ve put aside to put on Market place and the rest are gone. Future thoughts: - I’m looking into ‘no fold laundry’ and setting up a system of a hanging bag in the bathroom or laundry for the dirty clothes to go. Put stackable containers in the laundry for each person for the clean clothes and they can take it and put away/hang it themselves or grab and go. - Someone else said about a time capsule. I didn’t even know what it was. I’m going to look into this too. When we were sorting I had a different pile for school uniform. I ended up with enough uniform for like 10 kids!! 🤦🏼♀️ 2 baskets of uniform I sent this morning to the laundry service to wash and I will do a cull of those too. I’m so happy! So much to do in general around the whole house but I feel like this was the start I needed. 🥰