Has anyone on here used a de cluttering service?

I am available for a small fee.

Being Scottish I would not waste the money paying somebody else. It would cost me a fortune because they would be here for so long rummaging through all of my clutter.

Stansgran I've never been able to work out why,when you take everything out of a cupboard, and put it back again, there's always more space than there was before
I like having containers for things.
So for example, in the bureau drawer, there are about ten little open plastic boxes (ex food containers) containing paper clips, rubber bands, matches, shoe laces, marbles, LED tea lights, staples, rubbers. old print cartridges and batteries that are waiting to be recycled- you get the picture.
If things are in containers they're a lot easier to find and so the drawer or cupboard doesn't get untidy because one's DH someone has been rummaging through it.
If you want to actually get rid of stuff, the first question I ask is 'Am I ever going to use/read/wear this again?' If the answer is no, the decision then has to be made whether to chuck it out, recycle it, give it away or sell it.
I find I do have to be in the right mood though! Good luck

I tried to have a de clutter but instead of being ruthless and throwing things away I found myself remembering the time and reason we bought certain things and they just get put back!! I did sort out some clothes for the charity shop - they have been sitting in bags on my bedroom floor for at least 4 weeks! (but at least they are out of the wardrobe)

No! but if they took my husband with them, I would not need one.

Right now I'm taking a break from sorting out my linen cupboards so I know what you mean Stansgran. I can't believe that I've held on to so many old duvets and pillows, that are past their best, in case of 'emergencies', but ruthlessness is winning the day. Next I shall move on to my attic storerooms - I'm almost looking forward to it now I've got the bit between my teeth. My son and his girlfriend are staying for a few days so I'm taking advantage of their car and amassing mountains of things they can take to the tip for me. I'm also exploiting their youth and strength in the garden and on the allotment - my son can do in one day what it would take me a couple of weeks to achieve.

Granny activist may I have them on loan? I'll look after them well

No, too tight for that.

Oooo I do that too jane !!!

I do the de-cluttering myself too, but I'm fighting a losing battle with my husband, who is a hoarder.
I have to clear out and throw away secretly, or he gets very annoyed.
We have a ridiculous amount of "stuff" which we'll never use.
I feel sorry for our children when they have to clear out after we've gone.

TriciaF - I could have written exactly the same post! Lost track of the number of times that I've been caught out throwing something away or putting it in the charity box pile and it being brought back in

Me too! They do say that opposites attract - we prove the point.

I have been ruthles in the 5years since I retired .Trouble is I have disposed of stuff that would have been useful e.g the steel capped boots I had to buy myself for bulding site visiting.Naah never wear them again I thought Would have been quite handy tackling the concrete in DD1 garden I threw out a firescreen and some brass candlesticks that would have 'gone'well on her Victorian flat.And had to replace a red jacket as I hadnt realised I wore it so often . Ah well .I read somewhere that if won't take you more than £20 and 20mins to acquire another then ditch it
I was the same with bed linen and towels Have decided three sets for each bed /person is more than enough with two sets for guests (kept pristine)

Having cleared my.mother in law's and an elderley friend's houses I vowed I'd never burden my children with the task .Its quite upsetting as well as hugely time consuming

Having downsized and cleared out all most of my late husband's workshop equipment and garage stuff, and my m-i-l's stuff, I am determined not to leave my junk for my son to get rid of. I would want him to get on and enjoy life. It's the only one we'll get.

We are in the process of decluttering at the moment with the house up for sale. Having cleared out both our parents houses we also said we'd not leave stuff for our family to have to deal with but it's not that easy to dispose of family things. Yesterday I found a load of cards which I couldn't part with - I've still got my mum's 21st cards - she would be 96 now! I'm sure my sons will not want them but maybe my granddaughters might. I was a bit shocked today to get an e-mail from someone who said she'd left instructions for a relative to deal with it all when they're gone as they're too busy living to worry about what comes after. Possibly has a point

The largest bedroom in my house is full to the door with 'stuff'. There's also a bit of overspill into the small bedroom. I keep promising I'll make a start on it but it's quite overfacing. I look in there and then procrastinate like mad. Coffee, read a book, walk the dog, go out....anything to put off starting ? I know that at least a quarter of it is just rubbish. One of my excuses is that when we got 10" insulation in the loft, years and years ago, we had to empty it first. After the job was done we never returned the stuff, not even the Christmas decorations, which are only needed once a year. It's lovely and tidy up there ?

Lizzy you are right, it's starting that's the most difficult thing.
It might seem easier if you set yourself a small target - say tomorrow, decide that you will go in there and deal with just two items, and then you can do something for the rest of the day that you enjoy.
You will feel so good when you've actually done it you might actually carry on and do a bit more