If you have a ton of stuff in your house that you are just storing but really not using - get rid of it. You can either throw things away bit by bit, every trash day. Or you can just get down to business, rent a dumpster and do a one time major purge of stuff. And then spend your time focusing on how to organize the stuff that you do use/need.

http://www.enuffwiththestuff.com/

This organizer is in Loudoun. She has a variety of plans to choose from. I haven't worked with her, but I saw her van and the name stuck in my head.

I think Konmari is a bit of a stretch from someone starting where the OP is. The ideas might be helpful, it's a quick read, but it's pretty extreme. I keep a very tidy, cluterless house and it was quite a shift for me. I can't really imagine starting there.

There are tons of professional organizers, just google with your town name. I've seen anywhere from $25 - $100/hour.

For me, doing things in 15 - 20 minute increments was key to getting my house in shape. Work 15 minutes, break 10 - 15 minutes, whatever amount of time you can handle. When I tried to do massive purges, I'd burn out, the house would be more of a mess than before, and it would get worse. Things usually do get messier while you are cleaning out, so you need to pace yourself.

Not OP, but does anyone know anyone who will do this for you. I don't want to me taught how to organize (i've read all the books) - it seems like alot of organizers out there want to help you come up with a plan but in our case we just need someone to come in and tackle a junk room in prep for baby #2.

Try the 40 bags in 40 days challenge:
http://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/40-bags-in-40-days-2015/

I've found Unf*ck Your Habitat website helpful:
http://www.unfuckyourhabitat.com

I also found Marie Kondo's book helpful. Note that she has you work through categories of things, not by room or by closet. I liked this approach--if I think about all our sports equipment, for example, we have stuff in the basement, in the hall closet, in the kids' rooms, in the garage, outside. By getting it all in once place, it's easy to see what we have and what we can ditch. Only then do we know how much space we need for it and where it should go.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read the Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up.

+1

I read it on the Kindle app (was only $7). You start thinking about what you want your ideal life to look like, what things you want around you in that life and say goodbye to everything else. It's permission to throw out or give things away. Our trashcan has been full for weeks and I'm still so excited about it! I've tried Fly Lady and some other home organization techniques over the years, this is the first one that's had a major effect on our lives. It really is fantastic. There's an older thread on KonMari method, but I'd just read the book to get started.

Another vote for KonMarie/ Marie Kondo Life Changing magic of Tidying up.

Also, the FlyLady system--she uses the "sidetracked home executive" plan but adds in habits. Just makes more sense to me.

I'm trying to use the habits/Flylady to help me clean, and the KonMarie system for decluttering. I just have so much clutter it is hard.

Anonymous wrote:Read the Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a long-time SAHM and I'd love to start an organizing business.

Would you ever hire someone like me who just loves to organize/sort/donate and provide hands-on help? I have real-life experience; have made many personal moves as a military dependent, have assisted my grandparents in downsizing and eventually leaving their forever home, work part time for a small charity (sorting/organizing/distributing) and unfortunately coordinated the clean out and move of a young widow's home.

Seriously, I'd do this for a flat rate fee, OP.

Hi there - I am not the OP but would love your help.

How can I get in touch?

Hey. I'm out the door now but will figure out a way. Thanks.

Anonymous wrote:I am a long-time SAHM and I'd love to start an organizing business.

Would you ever hire someone like me who just loves to organize/sort/donate and provide hands-on help? I have real-life experience; have made many personal moves as a military dependent, have assisted my grandparents in downsizing and eventually leaving their forever home, work part time for a small charity (sorting/organizing/distributing) and unfortunately coordinated the clean out and move of a young widow's home.

Seriously, I'd do this for a flat rate fee, OP.

Hi there - I am not the OP but would love your help.

How can I get in touch?

Start small, OP. One stack/drawer/pile thing at a time and then quit. Set a time limit, like 5 minutes. Use that time to quickly look through and see if anything can be tossed. Have a trash bag. Toss any duplicates, any trash.

Quit. Return later. I guarantee that you will want to keep working longer than five minutes once you keep going.

Alternatively, strive for one clear countertop. For example, let's say your dining room table is cluttered and piled high with papers and toys and projects. Grab and empty box or bin and spend five minutes clearing the surface. Move everything into a box and/or pile. Once you have a clear surface, dust, clean and maybe set your table. Now you could technically eat there. Quit. Return and again break down your piles - toss, donate, or "think about it."

I am a long-time SAHM and I'd love to start an organizing business.

Would you ever hire someone like me who just loves to organize/sort/donate and provide hands-on help? I have real-life experience; have made many personal moves as a military dependent, have assisted my grandparents in downsizing and eventually leaving their forever home, work part time for a small charity (sorting/organizing/distributing) and unfortunately coordinated the clean out and move of a young widow's home.

Seriously, I'd do this for a flat rate fee, OP.

Read the Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up.

My house has really gone to seed. I have a a hard time doing the cleaning as there is so much clutter to clean around.
Very often we cannot find what we need because nothing has a designated place.
The disorder is really adding stress to our lives.
But I am not a "born organized" (as they say in "Side Tracked Home Exectuives" http://organizedhome.com/shes-organized/get-organized-with-SHE) and would _love_ someone to come in and work with me on getting rid of 30% of our stuff and creating zones.

If anyone has a business guiding someone like me through the process, I'd greatly appreciate a name. I am so unproductive by myself!
Thank you