This book can give you a kick up the backside (The Life Laundry: How To De-Junk Your Life - Dawna Walter)

Member Name: sandra101

Product:	The Life Laundry: How To De-Junk Your Life - Dawna Walter
Date:	22/09/08 (164 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gives you ideas, motivation, plans

Disadvantages: Mainly common sense, you should know all this stuff

This book is a spin off from the television show of the same name. I got it because for anyone who hasn't noticed from my reviews I buy stuff, loads of stuff, the problem is I don't throw away the original stuff before buying more stuff. In the television series people who live in literally floor to ceiling collectibles, packaging, books etc. are taught how to let go of their collections and live a less cluttered more organised life.

The book is written by Dawna Walter and Mark Franks and the back proclaims that if you allow paperwork to build up, litter newspapers around, don't sort out your wardrobe then you need to give your life a spring clean.

The ultimate aim of the The Life Laundry is to enable you to improve the quality of your life and help you to achieve and maintain a clutter-free home. There is definitely something in this as I feel so much happier and more relaxed anytime I've had a good clear out and tidy up. Life just seems so much more carefree when you don't have the nagging thought coming through while watching Eastenders etc. that you really should clear out the fridge.

They also encourage you to take the items which you have freed from your home and make money on them from a car boot sale, antiques shop, ebay or auction house.

Chapter 1 - Do you need to de-junk

We look at the physical effects of clutter as well as the mental and emotional effects. This chapter ends with a survey, answer the questions to get your score and your position on the junk scale.

Chapter 2 - Getting Started

We are encouraged to take action immediately to feel better Priorities come into play such as clutter busting goals, problem solving, timetable, what to keep what to bin.

Chapter 3 - Clutter Hotspots

Here the motto "use it or lose it" kicks in and we examine the most common clutter hotspots such as wardrobes, attic, garden shed and garage and learn how to deal with clearing them out and why we need to.

Chapter 4 - Letting go of emotions

Ways to cope if you are a serial hoarder who needs to de-junk

Chapter 5 - Trash or treasure

A very helpful chapter on how to clean up what could possibly be valuable items and how to recognize them.

Chapter 6 - An ounce of prevention

A hoarder is likened to a drug addict and we are warned that we are recovering clutter junkies who must develop self worth to know that we deserve to enjoy our surroundings and life.

On completing this book I was really motivated to de-junk and I did a reasonably good job and felt much happier and more content but unfortunately I soon returned to my old ways and the house was once again filled to capacity with gadgets, I do remember bits of advice and would be a lot more aware of the need to declutter than previously

It's a short read and can now be picked up for only a couple of pounds - so if you need a kick up the backside to get your house in order - this book will do it for you.

Summary: Good motivator