Page 6 | Less than 3 months to go! It's the DECLUTTERING FOR CHRISTMAS thread...

fuzzpig · 2012-09-30T07:35:05+00:00

My house is a state! I am absolutely determined to declutter in time for Xmas this year. I have never managed it before [blush] 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 [blush] I can't be the only one who needs to declutter for Xmas - who's with me?

Waitingforastartofall · 02/10/2012 14:46

haha i dont have any baby clogthes apart from 3 in his memory box but then i passed most on when i moved house. I desperatly need to sort the toys thursday...but once i start i know its going to take hours

TommeeTipsy · 02/10/2012 14:54

Tackled my workroom (our old dining room) today and put together the new desk, tidied and chucked out loads of crap, moved all the toys out, hung a picture and changed a couple of light bulbs.

Bloomin' knackered now!

I had to put a few things into the loft and seeing the mess up there was quite depressing. My sister is away travelling so all her stuff is stored up there too so there is bugger all space for our stuff.

Next on the list is sorting out the kids clothes.

Nishky · 02/10/2012 14:56

Good work Tommee

I am waiting for dh to come back with some of those vacuum bags and then finally finally our clothes may be sorted.

MissBetseyTrotwood · 02/10/2012 15:06

Thank you again fuzzpig for starting this off; I'm sorry you've had an ill day - enjoy your meal! It always feels good to be able to give back, doesn't it.

The good thing is that you have begun the thread with a lot of time to get things done in. Which is good because I am a terminally messy hoarder who needs just such a kick up the arse to de clutter.

I cleared out a kitchen cupboard today; now the tupperware is stacked, lids reunited with bases and the non matchers thrown out. A small triumph but Rome wasn't built in a day!

MissBetseyTrotwood · 02/10/2012 15:07

Are you experienced in vacuum bags Nishky ? I put our summer half of the duvet in one and it's puffed back up again. What might be wrong? Did I just get a bad one?

funnypeculiar · 02/10/2012 15:10

What a good idea! Signing in here, as my house has that post-summer holiday chaos look at the mo. Today, have sorted through the kids pictures/certificates from last year and binned/put keepers into their folders. One paperwork pile less...

And did the handwashing that tends to live for months at the bottom of my washing pile - not exactly de-cluttering but still felt virtuous

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 02/10/2012 15:51

missbetsy - have you sealed the bag properly, and\or closed the bit that the vacuum attaches to?

I have had a horrible thought. What if I peak to soon and clear my house now, but it returns to a shit hole by the time Christmas arrives? Maybe I will have to graduate to a Fly Lady thread once the initial binge is done. Or maybe employ a cleaner

Sorry today has been a tough one fuzzpig x

Original poster

fuzzpig · 02/10/2012 15:58

Ah but if you declutter now, You will have a much better baseline and it will be so much easier to keep on top of it!

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oreocrumbs · 02/10/2012 17:36

Have made good head way in the kitchen. You can see the monstrosity table! Have left all of DD's toys there though. DP has her again tomorrow while I'm at work so I'm not wasting my energy today when I will have the same to do tomorrow!!

Have also done 4 loads of washing, which has hardly dented the pile but it is a start.

Lots still to do. Won't be boarding out the loft this week as DP has no free time now, so that has been bumped to next week and instead I will dismantle the cot and get that ready to go up, and when that is clear and I can get to the window it is in front of then I have a beautiful new pair of curtains to hang. Should probably pack up the moses basket that I keep my hairdryer and straighteners in too. After all DD is 2 .

Nishky · 02/10/2012 18:23

missbetsey this is my first go and although the bigger ones are brilliant the smaller ones aren't. I had to be really careful in closing them- the ones we got are like resealable sandwich bags so I had to squeeze them carefully.

They are under the bed now so even if puff up a bit then will be ok

I am so happy- clothes storage has been such a bug bear for so long and now they are sorted!!

Hurrah for this thread -fuzzpig I hope you have a better day tomorrow

whojamaflip · 02/10/2012 18:54

Bugger - life got in the way and I still haven't finished the utility So thats now on tomorrows list and everything is another day further down the line. Its not that big - how the hell has it taken nearly 3 days to do? I know I'm not the worlds best house keeper and I'm a bit of a squirrel but this is worse than I thought.....

I think, at this rate it will be Christmas 2013 before I'm finished!

kellestar · 02/10/2012 19:51

My MiL gave me a great tip on getting rid of crud in the kitchen. Involves a roll of masking tape. Stick a little bit on everything [utensils, bowls, dishes etc], when you use it, take the bit of masking tape off. Means that next year, you go through your cupboards and get rid of stuff with masking tape on. I did this when PG with DD and was on maternity leave and cleaned the kitchen whilst nesting. It means that now DD is 21 months I can get rid of all the crap that hasn't been used.

I am also doing an NCT sale at the end of this month. I've sorted out a ton of stuff to go, mainly toy's that are just not used or have been grown out of. I have stashed little and often of the toys, so it's not a big panic. Most of the toys came from NCT sales so not worried about making money, as it's likely I'll be buying some new stock.

I was really mean with the DVD's, as we bought so many Meh films while DD was small. Now we just don't get the time. But selling them on eBay is a pita as p&p is capped low. Any advice on where to sell them instead?

I hate clutter and did have a mental afternoon of boxing pointless things, but the lounge looked so bare and impersonal that I did put a little bit back.

I am dreading christmas as my mum always buy as odd tat for the house, my mum loves tat, the cheaper and tackier the better. Her house is jammed to the brim of odd things. Almost all of it goes to the charity shop in the new year. But I get so annoyed with the money she's payed out for this stuff, she does ask us what we want - she never buys what we ask for though. It's close to £50 worth of 'stuff' that we never use. We also have a shower only and she still buys me a dozen bottles of bubble bath, and she always buys DH a couple of tins of lynx, which sets off my asthma, which she knows. She'll also buy toys that I don't approve of or appropriate for DD. Her birthday is a week before christmas, last year they got her a bike, with stablisers and a helmet, she won't be riding it until she's 3 or 4. So it's something we have to store out the way as it's too good to sell.

popsypie · 02/10/2012 20:05

at bubble bath and lynx! If it is not one thing it's your mother!

Wish I had never started today - house looks worse than it did yesterday. I am trying to sort toys so all the bits are together so I can eBay or give away as necessary. I wasted about an hour looking for the last spoon for a dolly tea set!!! total waste of time! I ended up slinging all the bits in a cardboard box and shoving in spare room, will choose a room tomorrow and hopefully hve a more successful day! Well done to all those who have done well.

Original poster

fuzzpig · 02/10/2012 21:30

It's that 'last spoon' thing that has finally flipped the switch in my head I think. I've had some good sales on eBay, but sometimes it's not worth the effort of finding, cleaning etc... So now I'm just chucking most not-played-with stuff unless it is perfect (which knowing my house won't be much). It's a shame as we need the money but I am just so sick of having clutter. I know how much easier life would be right now if the house was more organised. I feel so embarrassed.

It feels really good to get rid of so much, I do feel sad and guilty but I am trying to see it as learning my lesson - since I changed my mindset I think I'm much more likely to not buy so much stuff anymore. I know why DH and I do it, typical deprived children really, but now I realise that by spoiling our own DCs and having a messy house we are depriving them in a different way.

A shit day all round here, only managed to put a wash on as I'm out of clean bras . No time to do anything tomorrow I think as we have speech therapy for DS (thankfully my dad agreed to take me or it's 2 buses each way and I can hardly walk) but I will check in anyway. I love seeing the great achievements of all my decluttering buddies :o

OP posts:

Original poster

fuzzpig · 02/10/2012 21:40

It's that 'last spoon' thing that has finally flipped the switch in my head I think. I've had some good sales on eBay, but sometimes it's not worth the effort of finding, cleaning etc... So now I'm just chucking most not-played-with stuff unless it is perfect (which knowing my house won't be much). It's a shame as we need the money but I am just so sick of having clutter. I know how much easier life would be right now if the house was more organised. I feel so embarrassed.

It feels really good to get rid of so much, I do feel sad and guilty but I am trying to see it as learning my lesson - since I changed my mindset I think I'm much more likely to not buy so much stuff anymore. I know why DH and I do it, typical deprived children really, but now I realise that by spoiling our own DCs and having a messy house we are depriving them in a different way.

A shit day all round here, only managed to put a wash on as I'm out of clean bras . No time to do anything tomorrow I think as we have speech therapy for DS (thankfully my dad agreed to take me or it's 2 buses each way and I can hardly walk) but I will check in anyway. I love seeing the great achievements of all my decluttering buddies :o

OP posts:

Original poster

fuzzpig · 02/10/2012 21:43

It's that 'last spoon' thing that has finally flipped the switch in my head I think. I've had some good sales on eBay, but sometimes it's not worth the effort of finding, cleaning etc... So now I'm just chucking most not-played-with stuff unless it is perfect (which knowing my house won't be much). It's a shame as we need the money but I am just so sick of having clutter. I know how much easier life would be right now if the house was more organised. I feel so embarrassed.

It feels really good to get rid of so much, I do feel sad and guilty but I am trying to see it as learning my lesson - since I changed my mindset I think I'm much more likely to not buy so much stuff anymore. I know why DH and I do it, typical deprived children really, but now I realise that by spoiling our own DCs and having a messy house we are depriving them in a different way.

A shit day all round here, only managed to put a wash on as I'm out of clean bras . No time to do anything tomorrow I think as we have speech therapy for DS (thankfully my dad agreed to take me or it's 2 buses each way and I can hardly walk) but I will check in anyway. I love seeing the great achievements of all my decluttering buddies :o

OP posts:

Original poster

fuzzpig · 02/10/2012 21:43

Oh fuck!

Stupid phone. Sorry

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whojamaflip · 02/10/2012 21:58

fuzzpig

oreocrumbs · 03/10/2012 08:25

You been at the gin fuzzpig?

Off to work again today but have had words chatted with DP about not making a mess. And we will BOTH finish the kitchen this afternoon when I get back.

Nishky · 03/10/2012 08:57

Having finished the bedroom - our new mattress arrived - dh had bought new funky bed linen. Sooo this morning I made the bed.

Something I hardly ever do!!!! The room looks great.

I am starting on the playroom today - then I am going to move stuff out of kids bedroom into playroom so that they have room to

Nishky · 03/10/2012 08:57

Gaah. Stupid phone. Room to play - as well as getting rid of loads of stuff too!

StaceymReadyForNumber3 · 03/10/2012 10:55

Well yest was a write off as I spent it catching up on sleep and snuggling with DH.

Today I'm feeling shitty but as I've managed 2 loads of washing and hung them out I don't mind too much. I need to do the dishwasher and declutter the kitchen sides, the cupboards can wait until the weekend. (and I need to get DH to sort all his crap stuff he brought back from India.

Nishky · 03/10/2012 11:03

Doesn't sound a write off of a day to me surely days like that are important in this loong journey of ours?

Am hoovering my newly beautiful bedroom. Then play room - I am going in

wheredidiputit · 03/10/2012 11:19

I just finished DD2 and DS rooms.

Will go and get DS for pre-school in a moment. This afternoon I will do the bathrooms.

StaceymReadyForNumber3 · 03/10/2012 11:55

I just had to mad dash outside and grab 2 loads of washing off the line! Bloody British weather! There are now pegs all over my lawn as I didn't have time to put them in my peg bag in the rush!

Urgh! Now I feel more sick! I will get over this morning sickness stuff one day, I'm only 29 weeks