http://www.clutterfreemehampshire.co.uk/

Clutter Free Me Hampshire, Chandler's Ford (2026)

08/02/2026

🕒 10 Minute Declutter Challenge: Tea Towels Edition

Be honest… how many tea towels do you actually have?
If you’re thinking “not that many” but you’ve got three drawers and an overstuffed cupboard that say otherwise… this one’s for you.

In the average kitchen we seem to collect:

The obligatory ones the kids made at school for the PTA (too cute to use, too guilty to throw)

The gifted ones (Christmas, birthdays, secret Santa… every year adds more)

The funny slogan ones (that were funny once…)

The holiday destination ones (souvenir of a great trip, now wiping up pasta water)

The ones so soiled they need boiling after every use

The ones that don’t actually dry anything

And the ones where the fabric makes your skin crawl when you touch them 😬

Your 10-Minute Mission:

Get them all out. Yes, all of them. Drawer, cupboard, back of the door, that random basket.

Sort into 3 piles:

Actually use & like

Sentimental but never used

Why is this even in my house?

Be ruthless with:

Ones that smell even after washing

Ones that don’t dry

Ones you actively avoid touching

Keep only what you genuinely need for your household (hint: it’s way fewer than you think).

Reflective Question:

If these weren’t already in your house… would you choose to buy them today? It's ok that your tastes change.

So this week, set your timer for 10 minutes and free your kitchen from towel overwhelm.
Then tell me: how many did you start with, and how many survived?
I promise, no one has ever said “I wish I’d kept more old tea towels.” 😉

Any brand new unused ones will happily be accepted at charity shops. Check with your local charity shop if they will accept any others for their 'rag bag' but make sure you check first and keep them separate and clearly labeled.

04/02/2026

Usually when decluttering kitchen cupboards it's how long ago the best before dates are but this one took me by surprise.... How is I possible that food expires in 2030!!!!😱

02/02/2026

One of the main reason we declutter and organise is to make our lives simpler - this super simple but highly effective top tip helps do just that!

27/01/2026

One of the really lovely parts of decluttering is being able to pass things on to people who can genuinely make use of them. Sometimes that’s charity shops, but more often it’s individuals or community groups where I know the items will truly be appreciated.

What makes it even nicer is being able to show my clients what happens next. So they don’t just see the difference in their own home, but can feel good knowing that someone else’s life has been made a little easier or more joyful too.

This beautiful cardigan was handmade by a student using some of the donated wool from one of my clients, who was a very keen crafter. Over time, she’d built up such a large collection of wool for planned projects that it had started to work against her — there was no space to sit and create, and the volume of it all felt overwhelming.
We cleared over half of what she had, and she still had plenty left to work with.

Her home feels calmer and more usable, the wool has found a new purpose, and someone else has created something truly lovely from it.
It’s worth asking yourself: are there things in your home that you’re holding onto “just in case”, that could be doing real good elsewhere?
And how might it feel to know that by letting go, you’re creating space not just for yourself — but for someone else too?

If you’re ready to start clearing with kindness and purpose, I’d love to help. 💛

25/01/2026

📚 This Week’s Decluttering Challenge: Books

Books are comforting. Inspiring. Full of promise.
And yet… they can quietly become one of the most overwhelming categories in our homes.

Be honest for a moment:

Do you look at your bookcase feeling overwhelmed, want to pick up something new… yet nothing jumps out at you?

Do you buy the latest book, read it, then quietly return it to the shelf — never to be touched again?

Do you keep books “to read one day”, while choosing something completely different when the mood strikes?

No guilt here. Just curiosity.

You’re not alone. Books bring so much joy, but when they overwhelm you or start robbing you of space, it’s time for a sort-out.

Remember, these weekly challenges are designed to be bite-sized, not overly emotional and completely manageable.

I always encourage you to take a before photo — not only to see how far you’ve come, but because it’s one of the best ways to look objectively at your ‘stuff’ and the impact it has on your home.

🤔 The Honest Questions

Ask yourself:

How do I choose what to read next?

Do I genuinely reread books, or is that just the plan?

Where did these books come from?

Are they gifts you feel obliged to keep?

Have you got ones you started but didn’t like?

Ones you feel you should read?

And be honest…
Do you also own The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo that remains unread? 🤣

And the big one:
👉 Is there any real need to store this book in my house?

📖 Start With Like for Like

Before you decide what stays or goes, gather like with like.
Books are much easier to assess when they’re all together.

Organising by genre works brilliantly:

Start with Fiction and Non-Fiction

Then break it down further:

Crime, romance, fantasy

Self-help, business, wellbeing, parenting

Cookbooks, hobbies, study books… the list goes on

If you have loads of books, don’t panic.
For today’s challenge, pick just one area — cookbooks are a great place to start.

🥣 Cookbooks

Ask yourself:

When you want a recipe, are you more likely to Google it than open a book?

Do you actually cook from these books… or just like the idea of them?

Do we really need an entire book dedicated to smoothies?

If a book no longer fits how you live now, it’s done its job.

👶 Kids’ Books & Study Books

Children change — fast.
Their books should keep up.

Consider:

Are these books still age-appropriate?

Do they match current interests and reading levels?

How outdated are the study or reference books you’re keeping?

What are you actually keeping these books for?

Keep what supports who they are now, not who they used to be.

🕺🏿 Action

Donate anything you believe someone else would enjoy and that’s in good enough condition that you’d be happy to handle it yourself.

Please don’t donate books with water damage, browning, or outdated content. These can go in recycling, or into the appropriate bins at the tip.

✨ Going Forward

Once you’ve reduced the volume:

Organise by height for calm and simplicity

Or go joyful with colour order — hello rainbow 🌈

Set a gentle rule that works for you:

One in, one out

Borrow before buying

Read → enjoy → pass it on

📚 Final Thought

Books come from everywhere — libraries, online lending services like BorrowBox, charity shops, swaps, car boot sales… everywhere.

They don’t all need to stay.

Your shelves should make you feel inspired, not pressured.
Excited, not cluttered.

This week, let your bookcase support the life you’re living now ✨

23/01/2026

Why decluttering your own home is often the hardest place to start.

You can’t read the label from inside the jar - you know you want your home to look different, to function differently but just even getting started is overwhelming.

When it’s your own stuff, emotions cloud decisions – guilt, fear, memories, exhaustion. A professional brings calm, clarity, structure and zero judgement.

You don’t have to be at breaking point to ask for help.
You’re allowed to want things to feel easier.

DM me if you want to talk it through or refer someone quietly – it could change their life ❤

And let's face it, doing these things with someone else is always much more fun.

20/01/2026

5 quiet signs your home has too much stuff 👀

• You’re constantly tidying but never calm
• You avoid certain rooms, cupboards or drawers
• You feel drained walking through the door
• You can’t use rooms for their intended purpose
• You feel guilty at the thought of getting rid of things

This isn’t about minimalism.
It’s about whether your home is supporting you or stealing from you.

💬 Comment 1–5 – how many hit home?

18/01/2026

This Week’s Theme: Take a Kind Look at Your Home 🤍

If you want a snapshot of someone’s mental health, take a picture of their home.
Not to judge. Not to shame. But because our surroundings often tell the story we’re too tired, embarrassed, or overwhelmed to say out loud.

So let me say this clearly before we go any further:
If you’re overwhelmed.
If you’re embarrassed.
If you’re shackled to the past but desperate to break free.
If you’re tired, anxious, and can’t see a way out…

This is for you.

Clutter isn’t just “stuff”. It’s unfinished decisions. Old versions of ourselves. Guilt. Fear. Exhaustion. And when it builds up, it quietly starts to affect how we live, how we rest, and how we feel in our own homes.

This week we’re starting with something gentle but powerful:
✨ Assessing your home for clutter – without judgement ✨

So… how do you know if clutter has crossed the line?

Ask yourself:

Is my stuff stopping me using my home for what it’s meant for?

Do I feel stressed, heavy or stuck when I walk through the door?

Am I constantly “tidying” but never feeling calm?

Do I avoid certain rooms (or drawers… or cupboards 👀)?

Do I keep things “just in case” but feel weighed down by them?

If your possessions are negatively impacting your daily life or mental wellbeing, then clutter has quietly taken over. And yes – clutter is the enemy, but you are not the problem.

Why use a professional?

Because sometimes you can’t read the label from inside the jar.
A professional gives you:

Fresh, non-emotional eyes

Structure when your head feels full

Permission to let go

Support without judgement

And progress that actually sticks

You don’t have to hit rock bottom to ask for help. You’re allowed to want things to feel easier.

What’s coming next 👀

Over the coming weeks we’ll be diving into:

Emotional clutter & letting go of the past

Decision fatigue & why decluttering feels so hard

Guilt, “just in case” thinking & inherited items

Creating calm routines that actually work

And yes… the return of the 10-minute challenges 🙌

Tiny, doable, non-overwhelming actions that fit into real life.

Let’s make this interactive 💬

👉 Comment “ASSESS” if this post hit home
👉 Share this with someone who’s struggling silently
👉 And if you know someone who needs hands-on support, please refer them – it might be the kindest thing you do today

Your home should support you, not drain you.
And you don’t have to do this alone.

💛 Colette
Clutter Free Me Hampshire

14/01/2026

January Guilt, Organising Pressure & Why January Can… 'Do One'

January has a reputation for being a fresh start. A clean slate. A time to suddenly become organised, motivated and on top of life.

And honestly? January can 'do one'.

If the “New Year, New Me” energy has inspired you — amazing. Pop the kettle on, get cracking, and ride that wave. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with using January as a reset if it genuinely feels good.

But if it hasn’t? If you’re struggling to get into new habits, new routines or new resolutions — that’s okay too. You’re not broken. You’re not behind. And you’re definitely not failing.

(You’ll probably notice this is my first post in a while… and that’s kind of the point.)

When January feels more heavy than hopeful

For a lot of people, January isn’t motivating — it’s draining. December takes a lot out of us emotionally, physically and financially. By the time the tree is down and the lights are packed away, you might just want to sit still for a bit.

Then along comes the pressure:

Declutter your whole house

Start fresh

Be better, calmer, tidier, more organised

And when the radio tells you it's National Organisation Day today - Why haven’t you started yet?

Cue the guilt.

Why decluttering guilt hits so hard

Clutter guilt isn’t really about the stuff. It’s about the story we tell ourselves — that if our home isn’t organised, then somehow we aren’t either.

You might feel guilty because:

You planned to declutter and didn’t

You see everyone else online smashing their goals

You think an organised home means you should be coping better

You’re already overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin

But life doesn’t reset on 1st January. Energy doesn’t magically return. Motivation doesn’t appear on demand.

Today in the US it’s National Organise Your Home Day. If that sparks motivation for you, great — genuinely. Use it. Enjoy it.

But if it makes you feel like you should be doing something when you’ve got nothing to give, let’s change the narrative.

Organising your home doesn’t have to mean:

Doing everything at once
Buying boxes and labels
Throwing things out before you’re ready
Turning your home into something it was never meant to be

It can be:

One drawer
One cupboard
One small decision
Or a conscious choice to do absolutely nothing today

All of those are valid.

No fresh start required

You don’t need January. You don’t need a Monday. You don’t need a “perfect moment”. You can start when you have capacity — and you’re allowed to wait until you do.

At Clutter Free Me Hampshire, we work with real people in real homes. Homes with busy lives, emotional ties, exhaustion, neurodiversity, illness and limited energy. Progress comes from kindness, not pressure.

So whether January has lit a fire under you…
Or you’re still under a blanket wondering what day it is…

You’re doing just fine.

Your home doesn’t need to be perfect.
It just needs to support you — whenever you’re ready. 💛

31/12/2025

A Great Big Thank You

to all of you who have booked a session, followed along with decluttering challenges, joined us for our Monday night zooms, recommended us, followed, liked and shared posts I can't thank you enough ❤️

Running a business is hard work but your support means everything - thank you

In 2026, look out for the reintroduction of 10 min weekly challenges, new services including a GIRL FRIDAY SERVICE and more essential tips to help you whenever I can - staring with the one below from becoming minamilst that I share every year - let me know how you get on x

Happy New Year all

X Colette X

16/12/2025

Had some amazing finds this week decluttering - it was a proper trip down memory lane for both me and my client.

We found not only the much older items below, but reciepts from Tyrrel & Green in Southampton - Anyone else remember them before they changed to John Lewis? Happy days.

Needless to say, all the paperwork went into the recycling/shredding and the load fell alot lighter.

If you need help sharing the burden & task of clearing out a loved ones home, I offer practical help and a caring ear and shoulder x

09/12/2025

LOVED this transformation

It goes way way deeper than the asetically pleasing clean and clear work surfaces

Before starting we looked at what areas of the kitchen were causing frustration, how we could make it function and flow more easily

Every cupboard & draw was worked through, decluttererd, organised and cleaned as we went along

Very little was actually decluttered - like alot of us, it had all just got too much and stuff just got shoved anywhere

We were even left with spaces in cupboards too

I left knowing that my lovley client will have space to prep, bake, cook & clean and most importantly be able to reset the space in no time at all x

Not bad for 4 hours

Clutter Free Me Hampshire