Declutter, declutter, DECLUTTER!

[SupersonicDave]

No more messing, my house is full of piles of stuff that I don't need, I am going to be ruthless (i really am!)

Does anyone want to join me? Anyone have any tips or advice?

haha I keep going back and looking and re bleaching my eyes!

Has everyone else given up on decluttering? We seem to be the only loners left on this thread :o

Actually had a productive evening digging out ALL the laundry and sorting it into piles ready for washing.

Doesn't look quite so bad now it's all together

my bedroom is lovely and tidy. think we are the only 2 die hards!

I have been watching this thread with interest hopes she doesn't threadkill!!.
I'm hoping to get some decluttering done this weekend I want a clear dining room table. I find little and often works for me. Well done everyone !!

no thread killing brightermornings leave that to me and fuzzy.

I have to say I feel so much better going into our bedroom. It was the general dumping ground for things that were 'homeless' or general laundry. IT is clean and clear now, although I have a new rule for my wardrobe/drawers. 1 in 2 out!

I am still here (i am the op, just different name)

I still have 'plans' to do stuff, but a couple of busy days getting ready for ladies day racing yesterday means I am behind with the washing, everyone is tired and grumpy and not a lot is happening here.

ah but you were doing important things OP. The clutter and laundry will still be there when the racing is over.

At least you can see your laundry basket!

In a bit of a slump atm, vicious circle of needing bigger things done around the house (stairgates, big mirror put up, bedroom decorating etc) but being busy with dcs all day, dh working longer and longer hours and most weekends, means that even when I tidy, it still looks untidy because these things need doing iyswim?

Atm, we have an assortment of furniture used as a barricade between siiting and dining rooms, despite the fact we have a gate leaning against the dining room wall that has been there over a month waiting to go up there.

Grrr. Anyway, just having a coffee before taking dd to school, then off to the horses, then home to sort some laundry then pick dd up.

OMG yes to the tidy-but-still-looks-untidy thing! DH is much better than me at the sort of day to day stuff, he just gets on with it, but recently we agreed that was pointless until we had really decluttered and had a proper place for everything. Otherwise it's just moving stuff around, rather than proper tidying.

Yep!
There are piles of stuff in every corner. There is so much stuff on every shelf of the bookcase, stuff that doesn't belong there, just there so kids can't reach it!

But, I have perked up again since having a coffee and mucking out the horses, so I have organised to drop off maternity clothes to a friend today, and spoken to women's aid about some baby stuff. Feeling pro-active :o

hello all. i'm back to decluttering my bedrrom and the upstairs hallway at the moment, have gone through a couple of boxes this morning which were full of crap precious memories, anyway i dumped the whole lot with the exception of my freshers t-shirt, which can be used when cleaning! i have exactly 7 days untill my mum arrives. best get a move on!

oh and on the topic of laundry, my basket is full dispite doing 2 loads a day...must work on that too.

May I join you please?

I have a childminding inspection next week and this weekend is my final push to get the house in order.

Downstairs isn't too bad - though by most people's standards it's quite cluttered! Upstairs is awful . I'm not registered to use upstairs for minding so most things get dumped up there when I need it out of the children's way.

I have a growing collection of camping stuff that needs a new home as it's currently spread between under the stairs (not in a cupboard but just under the open staircase), a cupboard in ds' room, the landing and behind the front door - it needs sorting asap!

I have a rare weekend at home this weekend so am planning to spend tomorrow tidying and gathering things for a boot sale on Sunday

My big excuse for being so cluttered is that I don't have a loft, a shed or a garage to dump the things that aren't used all the time. However, even if I did have all three of those things I think the house would still look the way it does .

Hello all!

Haven't popped in for a while as dd has been teething like mad for tooth no.3 to
Finally pop through although sadly it looks
Like tooth no 4 isn't far behind Half a bottle of calpol down I'm back in the ducluttering game.

This weekend I vow to:
Declutter the bottom of the washing hamper- anyone else have hand-wash/dry clean stuff that just lurks in there? -until u Realise u wanted to wear that top and have to give it a quick wash & dry with a hairdryer
Sort out crap in small box room.- plan to go in with a bin bag & chuck anything that I no
Longer need.

Yes Lizard! I will vow to do a 'handwash' cycle this weekend. I don't actually handwash, just put the things in a pillowcase each and wash on a delicate cycle.

Yep, I don't bother handwashing but there are two gorgeous bras from before DS that haven't been washed for ages. Not sure they even fit, but they are finally waiting to be washed. Got myself 3 new bras today anyway, have pretty much stopped BFing (just morning feed) and it is lovely to wear underwires :o

Good luck with the boot sale mogs we are doing one too :)

Ooh let me know how you go with your boot sales. Always wanted to do one but feel I would be too easy going & sell everything for 5p.
Yes when I say h/w of course I mean in a bag in the machine on a delicate cycle it's just I seem to collect a few h/w items before I stick them in.

Totally off housekeeping topic but can any of you ladies recommend anything (to eat or take) for what I think is pre-menstual bloating? Honestly Its really hurting & my belly looks massive :(

Lizard, my SIS had terrible hormonal bloating recently due to a new coil and in desperation she took some lactulose, she said the difference was amazing. Worth a go? I think peppermint is meant to be good.

Huffle, I am just finishing bfing too. Ds is going on the boob when he wakes in the morning but I think there is not much milk there as he just sucks not feed iyswim? Wrt washing bras, Paloma Faith was interviewed on radio 2 once and they asked her about previous jobs. Apparently she used to work in agent provocateur and you should wash your bras in the bath with you. Works quite well as it doesn't become an epic job then.

Maternity clothes disposed of, found a home for moses basket, car seat, some bottles and other bits going to women's aid next week. Finally getting there.

Not even up yet, but won't be doing much today other than sticking some laundry on as I'm off to get fitted for a bridesmaids dress :o

Really glad my parents are coming tonight too as we can finally clear the ridiculous number of bags from the stairs. My dad rocks :)

Grrrr just lost my post!

I have just done 15mins of sorting through the dumping ground that is our bedroom. I am quite honestly disgusted. I found on thhe carpet under boxes of stuff a couple of tadpole like bugs wriggling their way across the carpet [henvy] (sick face) I am expecting a visit from Kim and Aggie any day now [hblush]

But on the plus side i have sorted out a pile of sheets to put away, some spare pillowcases to use for delicate wash cycle. Some baby toiletries, baby bath towels, some pull up nappies, a lot of baby blankets, a couple of bibs and baby socks, and some adult pyjamas to go to women's aid. I have found several towels and flannels, a pile of odd socks, some toys, the cot quilt, a million coat hangers and a smartish coat that has lost it's buttons.

The annoying thing is that DH didn't put the bin out on the right day, so we have to be really careful about chucking stuff for nearly 2 weeks! Not good with a baby still in nappies.

Hello, can I jump in? Been on a major decluttering mission myself but then life got in the way and I can see the mess starting to creep back - especially in my room and the childrens rooms. After spending 2 hours trying to pull myself together this morning I am starting to feel a bit more with it and need to get on with the rooms! Just dreading going back and starting again. Arrgghhh. Motivation needed!!

How is everyone else doing?

Hi!

Erm.... i have been on the laptop since my last post although i am now having a cup of tea and some toast, so technically a breakfast break? [hgrin]

DS up from his nap, so will only be able to do a few minutes at the time.

I am really in a 'spring clean' kind of mood atm, i am trying to empty the fridge and freezer too (no idea why tbh, just feels like thee right thing to do )

Thanks for the tip AL1CE I'll try that. Lack of decluttering in our house today as the in-laws turned up & just hung around for ages

Decided to get on with a bit when Dd is in bed & dH goes to the pub. If I get stuck in I can prob make a real difference in 30 mins & have rest of evening to chill. Just been general tidying today if course in between all of the "would you like another cup of tea"

Hope you've all had a good day. I had a fantastic time choosing bridesmaids dress stuff, DH kept up with ploughing through the laundry and we've loaded up dads car with everything for the boot fair. After the sale we will be doing a trip to the dump and then to the charity shop - this time we will have to go round the back because there is such a ridiculous amount of stuff!

AL1CE can I ask, how did you get in touch with women's aid? And how are you getting the stuff to them? I've heard they are quite hard to locate for security reasons.

Huffle, I googled, got a phone number for them then they gave me details of their admin office which is where I will drop the stuff.

This is Alice BTW with my Harry Potter namechange :)

I'm very excited! Ds and I went to the boot sale this morning. We made £50 and sold nearly everything!! We did come back with a few bits and pieces but the majority of it went.

I was supposed to spend yesterday collecting things from around the house to take but ended up working at the last minute and didn't finish until 9pm so the bulk of the day was wasted and the car was only half full going this morning so it's now my mission to have a few car-boot boxes packed and ready to go for the next one.

I have my inspection tomorrow so am having a big clean/de-clutter this afternoon - although I'd much rather be curled up on the sofa after getting up so early this morning!!