Less than 3 months to go! It's the DECLUTTERING FOR CHRISTMAS thread...

[fuzzpig]

My house is a state! I am absolutely determined to declutter in time for Xmas this year. I have never managed it before

My main wants are:

• to clear out our tiny kitchen (it's a galley style, so small you can barely swing an atom let alone a cat!) so that cooking is less stressful and we will be more likely to do festive baking etc - another thing I've never managed to do...

• to do a massive sweep of all DCs toys, books and clothes. They have WAY too many, and especially with toys it means that new things don't really get appreciated because they get lost among everything else.

• to completely sort out our living room so it actually looks nice when decorated and there is room to play.

I am unable to do much ATM because I'm not very well, but this could be a long term thing so I don't want to just leave it - I want to do a tiny bit every day. Yesterday I collected a laundry bin full of recycling stuff - mostly pieces from some orchard toys games - some of which due to clutter have never really even been played with properly

I can't be the only one who needs to declutter for Xmas - who's with me?

Work have asked me to do 40 hrs these last few weeks (used to 20 and the extra are killing me !) However have just finished painting front room after work so now done dds bedroom, bathroom and front room.All decluttered and clean.Dh is attempting to paint and wallpaper back room which means all my books that have been in boxes for six years can go on the bookcase (once I have cleared the rubbish off that) I am avoiding looking at the kitchen never mind sorting cupboards ! How many days left to Baileys then ladies ? And do we have a time we can raise our glasses and toast each others efforts ?!

I am in awe of people who do things like painting and papering in the evenings after a full day of work. and to you!

I haven't even looked at opening the three boxes I brought down last weekend to do. I will make that tonight's mission, because I also have to go up in the loft to find a fancy dress outfit for a party tomorrow night. And there is a growing paper-clutter pile in my lovely new living room, grrrrrr.

i have been painting all day!!!!! half the living room is now cream, the other half is still pink. i have put up the advent calendars, and cleared out the girls bedroom, got the decorations out of the loft, and shoved a load of boxes that i need to keep up there. i am slowly getting there.

THIS IS A dithering-at-my-decluttering POLL:

Should I get rid of wine rack or not?

Reasons to get rid of it:

• Wine often makes me feel sick so we drink much less than we used to;
• Boxed wine is cheaper & keeps better
• We are trying hard to declutter
• We could better use the space where rack currently is
• It's currently almost empty (2 bottles of ancient champagne)

Reasons to keep:

• Cost £35 new so at least as much to replace (can't envision selling it for much on Ebay, either)
• It's handsome to look at (wrought iron, 4 wide x 5 high)
• I feel like of course grownups have wine racks so we should too, it would be weird if we didn't have one

I say get rid, but then I hate wine :o

I say sell it lljkk. how about selling it on a local FB page? Much easier than EBay IMO

Happy Advent clutter sluts. The countdown to a clutter free Christmas starts today

Again, thank you for starting this thread fuzzpig

I think local free-ads would be better than FB (hard to use as busy and no search facility). Looks like I'd be very lucky to get even £5 for it on Ebay or FB.

Eek, local FB selling pages are mostly offering pedigree puppies and "We Buy Any Car". The odd gadget or furniture item. Is that normal?

You're most welcome, ilike :)

It has been very good for me to know I am not alone! Really losing momentum now - had a bit of a relapse - but my parents are bringing up the tree today which is very exciting.

I am taking part in a treatment research study, it involves graded exercise therapy. I have to set my own targets for an activity that I currently struggle with, but can gradually increase - it can include housework so that's what I'm choosing! I can barely do any on most days but with decluttering I figure I can do even just ten minutes at a time and then gradually do more.

I have had to accept that we won't get as far as I'd thought by Christmas :( I really thought I'd be feeling better by now, but I'm not. So I am really trying to think about priorities - living room tidy for decorating, DCs toys organised so new ones don't get lost in the mess, more laundry done, and kitchen more organised to be CFS-friendly, so I can actually do stuff in there. If I can achieve those things I reckon I still deserve a baileys or three :o

Happy first day of Advent cluttersluts!

Lljkk - I think I would just get rid. Doesn't sound like you really need a wine rack. We, on the other hand have a wine fridge, built in wine rack over fridge and an iron one which sound similar to yours. All are currently full and two other cases were delivered this morning! We drink a lot far too much wine!

Ilove - I think I would have cleared out too but it will be worth it when all finished I am sure!

Well. Drum roll please........ Dining room is finished! Last few pictures went up this morning. All I need now are tie-backs and hooks for the curtains. It looks pretty good. It's a very 'formal' room though. Huge big room with a huge bay window. Bit of a waste as a formal dining room but that's what it is!

This afternoon we are going to go through all the rest of the pictures we have and put some up. Anything we know we are not putting up will go to charity shop.

Tomorrow we are re-sorting the utility room. Hoping to make space in cupboards for long term storage of serving dishes, platters etc. We have a big dresser but it's full so need to sort that too. Need space first.

Decorator is back on Monday I hope. Just has to wallpaper one wall in the bedroom and he is done.

DH is going away on Monday evening so I am planning a concerted effort to get sorted while he is away. Need to finish DS's bedroom, sort food cupboards, sort TV room - lots of PS games, DVDs etc to clear.

Not long to go now!

Living room carpet washed this morning(thanks for the loan of machine dad !) Coving and light fitting dusted. Cant put it off any longer now will have to do the kitchen. Not looking forward to it as Im a great believer in opening cupboard door, throwing stuff in , slamming door shut and hoping for the best! Think Im going for a cupboard at a time,then the oven, then the venitian blind(sp), then an evening down the pub ! Hope you all enjoy putting your decorations up this week.Were having my dad round to help dd on Wednesday while Dh is at work as hes a bit of a bah humbug !

I am giving myself until next Friday to have everything done. Dh and I are away & my Neice & get fiancé are staying over, mil will be coming for the next night. Nothing like guests to make you get sorted out. I am very pleased to have got curtains up in 2 rooms, dds have been sitting for ages.
Still to do
-inside of all the windows
-hot press needs a sort out & especially bed stuff.
-picture to go up in dining room
-kitchen cupboards need wipe down inside
-move some furniture to make room for tree

Oh yes rowgtfc I need to do the oven too, thanks for reminding me!

QueenMaeve - you are so right that having guests make your do stuff. It definitely does. Unfortunately when we moved in here 18 months ago from overseas I did just that. Quickly got two rooms sorted for MIL and her friend who came to see us after a week. And then I stopped! Well sort of. I did do lots of stuff downstairs but not bedrooms. Ended up redoing them in the summer as we had more visitors!

Well we did loads this afternoon but unfortunately it doesn't look like it! Did a couple of cupboards in the kitchen and then tackled the utility room. Have freed up a couple of cupboard and shelves which is great. My first aid cupboard is fab. Everything in labeled boxes! Cold remedies, first aid, painkillers etc. Have got a huge pile of stuff that DH needs to take out to garage though but it's so wet here that he is leaving that till tomorrow. So one side has a totally clear worktop and the other side is a mess.

Have sorted out loads for charity shop. May hopefully get to take it all tomorrow.

Next job is to sort out dresser which is full of random crockery.

And I have 3 big baskets of ironing to tackle this week too. I need some very productive days this week!

yes true, had family over yesterday and we ate a meal in the dining room on the table which was covered in clutter. does make you clear up and sort out. usually we tend to eat in the kitchen so the dining room is spare so therefore the rubbish gravitates there.

However dd is away and alot of the crap (lovely stuff and so useful) got placed in her room. she will be back soon.

Hello- am checking back in after long gap. I am still going- playroom tidied, one child's bedroom sorted and one to go. Kitchen sorted, fridge and microwave cleaned.

I am still keeping in top of laundry and keeping my bedroom tidy, so still feeling positive. Although there is still a LOT to do.

I have our Christmas Eve Bailey's date in my diary. Made me smile the other day

Off to do some more tidying. Will read back after tea.

Back to work yesterday, so not expecting much to get done now. However last night DH and I went through the clothes again and managed to get rid of 3 bin bags worth!

Also didn't do our usual big shop on the weekend, so the plan is to try and run down what we've got in the store cupboard/freezer, and fully organise what's left.

We are doing ok with keeping on top of things, but it's amazing how quickly things get messy again with a 3 and 5yo in the house

I'm awake and bleary eyed as I'm due a phone call from a physiotherapist any minute now!

Hi fuzz pig - wondered how you were doing.

Getting there slowly here. Tackled utility room on Sunday and it's now looking very bare! Need to add some colour!

Did top of dresser in dining area. Looks a lot better.

Have loads to go to charity shop. Also a bag to go to the clothes recycling bin - will take that this morning.

Decorator is finished. The bedroom will look fab when curtains etc up. DH away now till Friday so won't get much more done there till weekend. Although planning on cleaning windows etc.

Am out this morning and for a while this afternoon so it will be just bits and pieces done. Will also be ironing lots!

Am knackered after another day at work! And had to go to the shops for a few bits after. But now we have new bath towels so that's something, even if they are from primark!

Tonight I have to do DD's costume for the Xmas play - just decorating a t-shirt so nothing too strenuous.

Hi all :)

Since I last posted I have done the dreaded bathroom. It really was disgusting I did it though and it is now sparkling :) After winter it'll need a new roof (it's an extension off the kitchen) as it used to leak but FIL did a temporary fix job so once we have a new roof on it, I'll paint it.

I've been keeping on top off all of the downstairs. Why did I never realise it'd be SO much easier to keep on top of things if I did little things every day huh?! All of the downstairs is done apart from some paint touch ups, clean the windows and floors and clean the microwave.

Today I have done the worst room of all, the spare room or 'the dumping ground' as it's come to be. It's taken all day but it is now tidy. Chucked a few bin bags of rubbish away. Just have to polish and hoover it tomorrow. Oh and some how get up a pear drop that has melted into the carpet any ideas?!

As well tomorrow, I'll tidy our bedroom and sort out DH's wardrobe, sort out my shoe cupboard and do the easy job now of cleaning downstairs.

Then I think that's more or less apart from keeping on top of things everyday.

I can't wait for the cleaning to be really quick soon and not take all day. Ahh more time to MN

Just checking in. Work is crazy busy so not a huge amount done. I've been waiting for a physio appointment for months and I got my letter today giving me an appointment at 2pm on xmas eve.

All I could think was but that's our Bailey's time!!! Might have to ss if I can change the appointment!

I began the year with waaaaay too much clutter, but I determined to have a "one in, one out" rule meaning that no more accumulated AND to get rid of 3 items a day for a year (being over a thousand items). Some items are really tiny (hair bands, say, or old pencils) but gradually it has made a really noticeable difference. And guess what? I don't miss anything. I am not quite down to the Buddhist type ideal of only 10 possessions but I am about 1,000 possessions closer. Some were big btw like a second sewing machine (don't even use the first one), soft toys the DDs were attached to once, lamps that I paid a lot for once but now hate, the fourth and fifth cake tins, non matching cutlery kept in case of parties, furniture we got for our wedding that is no longer suitable, old phones and about 100 or so books on the basis we live next door to the library so why do I need all my own when I rarely reread books anyway and now have a kindle? It really has made life easier, tidying easier and, like I said, nothing has been missed and replaced. So good luck to all of you!

That sounds like a really great idea Hope, will have to give it a go :)

Pratting - you are doing well! Putting me to shame.

Tommee - I suspect 2pm on Xmas Eve is because someone else has cancelled! MIL has an appointment for something on the Friday before Xmas. The day she is coming here. She won't try to change it though as it was supposed to happen in Sept and she changed it to come here then and that is how long it has taken to get another one. She thinks they lost her completely in the system at one point. I wouldn't mind but she left it till the last minute to change the September one. She could have changed it as soon as she got it but doesnt seem to think that way. She knew she was coming here that week.

Hope - really good idea. I have been sort of doing the same. Although we moved back to UK in 2010 from overseas and I did a massive clear out then! Since we moved I have been gradually clearing more and more.

I finished sorting the dresser today. And the utility room. Utility room looks very bare though. It is white walls, white cupboard doors and black worktops with grey tiled floor. I think I will be painting the walls in January! It needs colour.

Trying to decide what to do tomorrow. Have loads i could be doing here. But I am tempted to go into town after I drop DS at school. Still have some Xmas shopping to do. Can go in for a couple of hours and be home by around 11.30 so could still get stuff done.

Good point Cider. I think I will keep the appointment as my sis said she'll have the DD's. I can do any last minute shopping afterwards!