Think about those decluttering programmes on telly and a picture pops up of two old nags in rubber gloves looking at your stuff with their noses in the air, tutting all the way to the bin. This isn't the way that Janine McDonald operates...
"That's quite a lot further from the truth" she laughs "I go in and have a friendly chat, get to know what the issues are and we will focus on an area of the home that the person wants to look at. I do the physical bits, getting stuff out of the cupboards and then I talk to them and we find out what the reason is why they have bought certain things, or the reason for why they've kept that thing. And then look at different ways of keeping it if they really want."
Janine gives an example of how she works, with, say, someone's mound of university books, essays and notes that they've kept for 15 years..."You're thinking, 'These are taking up space but I put a lot of work into them'" she says "You haven't looked at them for 15 years but even so, rather than just chuck them in the bin - because that's not bringing a feelgood aspect to people - I would say, 'Find a page of your hand written notes, and perhaps put them in a frame'; so instead of having a massive box of stuff it's a nice reminder of your time at university, and you've freed up a load of space."
In other scenarios, Janine might focus on the positive aspect of passing on stuff to other people in need... "It's not a matter of chucking everything out, it's a matter of who else can enjoy it?" she says "It's all a positive experience for other people, and for the person I'm working with.
"I focus on the positive impact that it has on your mental health, and it also has an impact on your physical health as well because it's been proven that people who live in a de-cluttered home are more active than a cluttered home" she explains.
Janine set up her business just before the first lockdown, and has now done many online advice sessions...
"Lockdown has had a massive impact on a lot of people" she says "While some de-cluttered their houses down to the last spider, others have been juggling so many things that the home has become almost like a prison, and if you've got lots of stuff in your home, whether you classify it as clutter or not, it's still got that oppressive feel and weight on your shoulders."
One lady whose home was decluttered virtually raves about the experience..."Janine really made me think about what I needed to keep and why, and what could go" she says "For me, the fact it was virtual was a huge bonus as I suffer with anxiety over other people being hands on with my stuff, but this way I felt as if I really accomplished something. Janine's support and encouragement is fantastic..."
The worst case she's come across was a woman who had lost her dad when she was nine and kept every memory and item of his in boxes and bags that filled the walls and floors, plus lots of other stuff from her younger days.
"It's a case of chatting and finding out their story, and that depends how I deal with it" says Janine. By the time she had finished sorting out this lady's house, by video, her eldest son said that he couldn't believe the difference all round.
Another client gushes, "I found Janine hugely inspirational and will now be following and stalking her wherever she goes. She is compassionate but informative at the same time..."
Now Janine is in demand as an international speaker on the subject, having addressed a group in Galway, Ireland, and the networking group, Mums and Business International which has 64,000 members in 140 countries. She also wants to take what is essentially a mental health service further in to the community, aiming to be on the social prescribing register, so that GPs and counsellors can refer patients to her who need help and support in this area.
Far from the world of pink rubber gloves, feather dusters and declutterers with faces like cats' arses, Janine represents a different approach – caring, compassionate and a clearing out experience where everyone has a smile on their face. Or as she puts it, 'Create calm through decluttering'...
For more details on Janine's services see the Facebook page Clear The Clutter Now or give her a ring on 07979 864685
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