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Original poster

40 bags in 40 days...anyone doing this or want to join me?

81 replies

HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 16/02/2013 09:01

I read about this a few days ago and should have started on Wednesday but the children have been off all week and it's pointless trying to sort anything out while they're here (only one DS of my own but look after several others).

Today, my goal is to fill a minimum of 4 bags and get them out of the house.

Anyone want to join me?

OP posts:
recall · 25/02/2013 22:08

Ive done a whole room !!! Totally emptied a floor to ceiling cupboard thing, and also a sideboard that was very nasty. I have my processing room in full swing, a bag for charity shop, one for CD's & DVDs, E bay, Kids Crafts, Toys. Got rid of two bin liners of just rubbish Shock

recall · 25/02/2013 22:11

I empty a drawer/cupboard completely into a box, and take it into the processing room. Once I have finished the whole house, I will the empty the processing room back into the empty house.....so exciting ! Its great cos I can just do a little shelf if I have a spare 1/2 hour, or I can do a whole room.

stormforce10 · 25/02/2013 22:37

I've started. I went through the cupboard under the stairs and filled a bag for life with stuff I simply don't need and is effectively rubbish. Its gone out for the collection tomorrow. I don't think its made much difference though so will aim to remove another bag from there tomorrow.

One bag down. 39 to go.

Suddenly realised I can sell my cd's - need every penny to damp proof and replace the kitchen so will spend some time tomorrow racking up the pittance that Money magpie will give me - it all helps :)

newbiefrugalgal · 25/02/2013 22:45

Can I join??
Serious need to sort out and declutter my home.

takeaway2 · 25/02/2013 22:58

Can I join? Will not achieve 40/40 but can do some. I work ft but have lots of clutter. DS turned 5 last week snd received more presents! Hoping to sneak some away to re gift!!

Did give 2 bags of clothes away to friends today and a bag yesterday. So that's 3! Plus filling up a charity bag. And another one for someone else.

I have a question. What or how do you guys with kids do this? I have random pieces of jigsaw, toys, parts of things which I used up faithfully put back in right boxes, trays, matched up etc. when I had one kid. But then I had 2... And I am outnumbered even though there's dh. In between working and house stuff, I can no longer remember to always bring jigsaw back down or dolly back in box. I therefore have things here, there and everywhere.

Do you just tackle everything at the same time or do you set up new boxes/trays and label them as stationery, dolls, Lego, puzzles, octonauts and so on? Help.

BigPigLittlePig · 26/02/2013 10:48

takeaway dsd has a storage unit in her room with 3 drawers in - one for barbies and their assorted crap, one for dolls clothes and one for "stuff" (think cheap plastic freebies, pocket money toys, party bag bits). She has 2 underbed pull-out things - one for dolls, one for teddies. Puzzles/games in the bottom of the wardrobe. anything more challenging would not work.

I would gather together all their things scattered around, and dump them in their room. Get them to pick out at least 10 toys they don't play with anymore to get rid of.

stormforce10 · 26/02/2013 12:08

I have nearly filled one big blue ikea bag with stuff for charity and one black bin bag with stuff for the bin. The cupboard under the stairs and my bits and bobs cupobard in the sitting room looking slightly tidier. Going to clear out a basket full of "stuff" now then dd's pen and pencil box. I am sure that there are many that have run out and can be chucked out.

stormforce10 · 26/02/2013 13:40

Yipee blue ikea bag filled to over flowing AND taken to charity shop. 2 down 38 to go!!!

takeaway2 · 26/02/2013 20:02

Thanks bigpig. It's hideous trying to match things up. At the moment I have a puzzle with two missing parts, I also have toy fruit everywhere when actually they need to be with the toy kitchen ... But I really can't be going up and down trying to bring things here there and everywhere. I will endeavor the next time I have a moment - which will be in 3 weekends time. (Away this weekend, in London next weekend for work...). Hmm

BigPigLittlePig · 26/02/2013 20:49

Good day today - 2 binbags of rubbish Blush, 1 bag of toys for car boot/charity shop. So 5 binbags of rubbish in total, about 3 of clothes and 1 of toys. Not doing too badly at all!

Wewereherefirst · 26/02/2013 22:25

I didn't manage to declutter anything today, but we did freecycle our kitchen table and chairs and they've gone to a loving home, so I have lost a dumping ground and gained a huge space. Smile

stormforce10 · 27/02/2013 13:47

I have now filled the black sack and its tied up ready to go out with next weeks rubbish. Still in the house so cant count it yet.

I've put my maternity clothes on free cycle and Im hoping someone will decide to come and pick them up. They don't really make more than a carrier bag so ot sure if can count them

I've half filled another ikea bag for the charity shop

I've put the pram carry cot in the loft as ds no longer fits in it and it takes up quite a bit of space but do not want to get rid of it as was expensive and my sister is hoping to have a baby in next couple of years.

Tomorrow I will sort through my wardrobe with a view to filling up the ikea bag.

So no bags out today but hopefully a few on their way

sunnyshine · 27/02/2013 19:19

2 more bin bags out! No one has missed anything yet Grin and I bought 2 x 80 litre boxes to organise the loft!

stormforce10 · 27/02/2013 20:28

couldn't stand it. I emptied the half full ikea bag into a smaller bag and took it to Oxfam so that's 2 1/2 bags done.

dd has been through her toy cupboard and sorted out a box full of stuff that she wants to sale to make money for the local children's hospital. We're not really in the right sort of place for a yard sale and I din't have a car so car boot sale would be difficult. Anyone got any ideas on how we can do this please. I'm quite happy to add a pile for stuff to hers. I could use the money but I think I should encourage her if she wants to help a charity.

stormforce10 · 28/02/2013 12:53

Nearly filled another ikea bag with my clothes. I can close my drawers without having to sqash stuff down and found some lovely tops I'd forgotten about :)

Someone has asked for my maternity clothes - just waiting to hear when they want to pick them up otherwise they too are off to the charity shop.

I've sorted out half a dozen pairs of old shoes belonging to DP and 3 belonging to me that are beyond keeping let alone wearing and I'm going to take them off to the shoe bank tomorrow.

Half filled another bin bag.

Also chosen 10 books to take to charity shop. i hate getting rid of books but we have so many.

Stopping now. Had next to no sleep last night thanks to DS teething and all this activity is exhausting me

BigPigLittlePig · 28/02/2013 13:32

Another 2 bags of rubbish today - 11/40 so far.
Beginning to think my house must just be full of shit.

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 28/02/2013 21:09

Right, I am so far behind, it's embarrassing Blush.

I'm not even sure how many bags I should have filled by now...I think it's 15.

I have an unexpected morning off tomorrow so am wondering how much I can realistically do in 2 hours before I start work at 11...surely, I could get 10 bags out of the house. There are still three upstairs that haven't made it out of the door yet so am going to be cheeky and add them to my 10 Grin

This sort of thing often happens to me...I start a support thread and end up disappearing off the face of the earth BlushGrin...it happened a couple of times when I started an eBay challenge thread and also when I started a weight loss thread. I must not start any more support threads. Fact!

OP posts:
AdoraBell · 01/03/2013 02:35

Okay, not much moré actually decluttered, but the clothes have been taken into town To the recycling place. Tomorrow I shall start on DD1's room.

DesiderataHollow · 01/03/2013 12:54

Late to the party..... but one whole room emptied that was three foot deep with an invisible floor! Too many bags to count, one ikea bag of ebay-ables and a couple of large metal items left out for the scrap man. Grin

Now of course, we have t work out how to replace the rotten window, and replaster the back wall. With no money.

stormforce10 · 01/03/2013 14:42

Day 5 and nothing out of the house BUT I've filled 2 black bags with rubbish ready to go out on collection day and added them to the one I did yesterday. I've filled a big aldi bag (the sort you pay 80p for at the till) and completed filling the ikea bag. I've also put a big rug and a brief case on the charity shop pile.

So still at 2 1/2 bags gone but have another 5 bags ready to go.

I've also found 2 mini boden dresses and a baby bjorn carrier to list on ebay..

Current tally

1 bag rubbish gone
3 bags rubbish waiting to go
1 1/2 bags to charity shop
1 small bag maternity clothes waiting for freecycler to pick up
2 bags to go to charity shop
1 box of toys for charity shop

The house is starting to feel very slightly tidier :)

AdoraBell · 02/03/2013 02:19

Make that tomorrow for DD1's roomBlush we we're all day. I did, however find £30 in an enevelope whilst sorting my junk cupboard in the kitchenGrin

stormforce10 · 02/03/2013 11:01

Just tidied the accumalated junk from the bottom of DD's wardrobe. Quarter black sack of rubbish, half an ikea bag of charity stuff and a few things put away properly. All that's left in the bottom of her wardrobe are her school shoes, her slippers and a paid of boots. Next under her bed (she has a cabin bed this could take some time)

starfishmummy · 02/03/2013 17:06

Just starting. I have one an a half bags of clothes ready to go to the school money for clothes collection next week. Hopefully I will have time to sort some more out before it goes.
Also half a very large bin bag of rubbish sorted.
I also need to clear out a food cupboard this week - there's a load of ancient stuff in there that Dh has bought and never used, (stuff only he likes)

hugoagogo · 03/03/2013 19:07

Is it too late too start?

I have cleared a box of dvds-to the charity shop today.

It's a start.

Does anyone know what to do with recordable video tapes?

stormforce10 · 03/03/2013 19:56

Not really done much today but have managed to freecycle the baby swing which ds had grown out of and was taking a lot of floor space. Maternity clothes have gone too :)