Decluttering expert: “The worst things I’ve found in people’s homes”
We all have our messy moments from time to time, but by and large, we know when it’s time for a good spring clean – as much as we may hate it. Now, imagine your little messy moments and multiply them by 100 – that’s what professional organiser Deanne Sharp has to deal with every day.
As an expert on decluttering, she’s seen stuff that would make your skin crawl – mouldy food, toy slime and even a snake. Well, not quite. “It was a rubber snake that one boy had hidden in the laundry to scare his mum,” Sharp told news.com.au. “I screamed very loudly – it did look real.”
But aside from the odd occupational “hazard", the 46-year-old Sydney mum says her job brings her great satisfaction.
“For some clients, when they see the job done, I can see it’s like a weight has lifted off their shoulders. I often get hugs and even follow-up texts from clients saying they can’t stop opening the cupboards to admire my work."
But if you thought women were worse at throwing stuff away, think again. “Men can be worse than women for not letting things go,” Sharp said.
“If something has sentimental value then of course keep it, but get rid of it if it’s just going to sit there taking up space. Decluttering is all about throwing things away you don’t love or enjoy.”
So, what can we mere mortals learn from the queen of clean? Here are some of her top tips.
- With kids, make tidying fun and easy – “Turn it into a game, put a song on and make sure it’s easy for them to help by storing toys in easy to reach boxes so they can just put them in."
- Start them young – “Kids can help clear up their toys from when they’re very little, as young as two and a half.”
- Plan, plan, plan – Sharp swears by her family planner, which outlines all the week's activities, meals and events. She plans all meals on Sunday, orders the groceries online then picks them up the next day. “I find going to the supermarket a waste of time and I spend more too.”
Image credit: Free Time 4 Me Time.