For getting rid of stuff, one helpful way to look at it is, instead of approaching each item asking "Am I ready to get rid of this?" ask "Is this item serving a specific purposes in my life?" The different approach changes what the default is -- on the first question, your default will tend to be to keep it unless you can articulate a specific reason to get rid of it. With the second question, the default is to get rid of it unless you can articulate a specific reason to keep it.

For maintenance, the key is to find a way of maintaining the works for you. For some people, that is cleaning as they go. I try to do this, but I lose track of it easily when I have a bunch of things going on at once (I have ADHD as well). So as a back-up to that, I also take about 20 minutes at the end of the day that is just for maintenance -- I go room by room and put anything left out back in its proper place.

Another tip.

Once you get organized, start having the family help with clean up day to day. We do cleaning frenzies with my 5 year old. At the end of the day we put on music and do a two or three song cleaning frenzy (depending on how much needs to be cleaned up). Everyone cleans up during the songs. My son picks up toys and I might work on sorting mail, picking up shoes, etc. and my husband works on the kitchen. By the end of the cleaning frenzy, the living room, play room and kitchen are much more manageable. It also helps because later in the evening my husband or I can vacuum and not spend most of the time picking up toys off the floor.

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Any advice on once finally purged on maintaining day to day?

I used to have cleaners come, but I decided we were so messy that rather than cleaning they were straigtening/ and or throwing stuff in baskets.

I am bad about cleaning-up as I go - in the kitchen for example.
And my husband is no help. He does not put anything away (exept in the kitchen which he loves) but - Costco purchases sit out until I put away, newspapers and dirty laundry not in recycling/hamper.
I feel like we all need to change. Setting a terrible example for my kids!

Yes maintaining should be simple enough that you can get it done in 15 minutes. To get to that point takes a lot of decluttering. So if you declutter and still have trouble maintaining, then reduce more.

Recommend Nicole Anzia of neatnik.com

Check out her twice-monthly column in the Post's Living section.

She is in DC but also covers some Va and Md.

Good luck!

Took a look at UnF*ckYourStuff. LOVE. Thanks. It is spot on. "no really do you &^% dishes"

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all for your input!

I had been on DCUM just getting daily digest for years but only last week visited the forums.

So helpful!

11:08 - I am in at North tip of District. That work?

13:29 - I totally agree. I don't mind getting rid of stuff but need someone keeping me on task. I get sidetracked easily.
My "condition" has 3 letters, and have debated take aderol for housekeeping.

Not 13:29, but I assume you mean ADD. I have ADHD too and know just what you mean. Look at Unf*ck, get past the swearing. There are some very good tips, especially working in short bursts. Here's a daily/weekly schedule:
http://www.unfuckyourhabitat.com/cleaning-checklists/

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Any advice on once finally purged on maintaining day to day?

I used to have cleaners come, but I decided we were so messy that rather than cleaning they were straigtening/ and or throwing stuff in baskets.

I am bad about cleaning-up as I go - in the kitchen for example.
And my husband is no help. He does not put anything away (exept in the kitchen which he loves) but - Costco purchases sit out until I put away, newspapers and dirty laundry not in recycling/hamper.
I feel like we all need to change. Setting a terrible example for my kids!

Motivated Moms app. Get up early if you need to and do your daily chores in the morning instead of at night - it is so easy to justify letting it go at night. It is very easy to clean & maintain when you do it daily, it becomes an overwhelming task when you let it go for a week. Do a fast clean up of 10 minutes every night (who family) before you got to bed - put things back where they go, wipe down counters (no clutter!), reset for tomorrow. Put hooks on the wall as needed to hang things up that are otherwise on the floor. Create contained spaces for things (mail, shoes, whateveR) and once that contained space is full, it's time to clear out and put things away from there.

OP here.

Any advice on once finally purged on maintaining day to day?

I used to have cleaners come, but I decided we were so messy that rather than cleaning they were straigtening/ and or throwing stuff in baskets.

I am bad about cleaning-up as I go - in the kitchen for example.
And my husband is no help. He does not put anything away (exept in the kitchen which he loves) but - Costco purchases sit out until I put away, newspapers and dirty laundry not in recycling/hamper.
I feel like we all need to change. Setting a terrible example for my kids!

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I didn't follow the book to the letter, but what I took from it is the ability to allow myself to get rid of things that I never felt I could get rid of before. It's amazing.

If you're going to be tossing (vs. donating) a lot of stuff I highly recommend The Bagster -- just set it up in your yard or driveway and a truck comes and lifts it all away. That thing holds a TON of stuff and makes it so easy to just purge, purge, purge.

Thank you all for your input!

I had been on DCUM just getting daily digest for years but only last week visited the forums.

So helpful!

11:08 - I am in at North tip of District. That work?

13:29 - I totally agree. I don't mind getting rid of stuff but need someone keeping me on task. I get sidetracked easily.
My "condition" has 3 letters, and have debated take aderol for housekeeping.