My own motivating house decluttering list of things I have achieved thread!

[southbank]

I am seriously drowning in clutter/crap whatever you want to call it.
3 year old twins,me and dp work full time,3 bed house.
every single room is full of clutter,paperwork with no order,toys everywhere,clothes continuously piled high,every single cupboard,drawer and storage area is full to overflowing with crap.
I'm absolutely up to my neck in it and I can't carry on like this,it's so bad we can't even get in the front bedroom.
So I'm making a stand!!!
I have decided that a clearout drawer by drawer,cupboard by cupboard,box by box is the way to go.
To keep myself motivated I'm going to list what I've done each time I clear more of the shit!

Last week.
-4 bags of clothes to the recycling bin
-unused cat milk to RSPCA collection
-cleared out cupboard with mugs and glasses,threw out
at least 10 bottles/zippy cups that are no longer used.
Kept just the 4 that we regularly used.
-cleared out the 'baby'cupboard,out of date medicines etc disposed of,all unusable equipment thrown out.
-cleared out 2xfood cupboards,all out of date food in food caddy
-cleaned out fridge,cleaned thoroughly in and out

This week so far....
-2 bags of clothes/rags to the recycling bin
-huge bag of batteries to sainsburys for recycling
-cleared out my huge makeup bag,and cosmetics cupboard,threw our all gone off creams,perfumes etc
Separated some unopened gift perfume for eBay.
-threw out all out of date cat medicine

Managed to collect together 2 bags of bits and pieces for dp sister who is pregnant,nappies found,bottles never opened,bottle warming bags,nappy sacks etc

Tonight
-want to clear out my cleaning cupboard
-want to clear out my pan/utensil cupboard
-put away all washing

[clearsommespace]

Wow that's great progress.

It does make sense about you preferring SIL to have it. If you're not very good at parting with things, knowing it will make a difference to someone else helps with the decision making. That's why I found it more motivating to give to the DV charity rather than to a charity shop. (They are crying out for homewares and furniture. The charity shop gets the less essential stuff like books, ornaments etc.)

[southbank]

Today I have

[southbank]

Today I have done the following
-2 x bin liners full of my clothes ready for charity shop
-2 x bin liners of cuddly toys and baby toys ready for charity shop
-baby books and other baby toys sorted through and bagged up ready for sil and cousin
-2xcarrier bags of old paperwork shredded(from 2006 ffs)

So still a bit of a mess but stuff for charity shop and family will be out of the house at the weekend.

[southbank]

Took all the stuff in my previous post to charity shop etc.
Next thing to tackle over coming few days is mine and dps clothes.
Between us we have 2 wardrobes,3 chest of drawers overflowing.as well as that I have got at least 10 binliners full of clothes.
I honestly don't know how we have managed to fit all this crap in this house.
I'm going to start with my washing downstairs,instead of ironing it and putting away I'm going to sort it into keep or charity shop piles.
Then I'm going to revisit my keep pile after Xmas and see if I really do want it and hopefully get rid of more.

[southbank]

Over Xmas I have sorted through 2 chests of drawers and sorted half of it into bin bags for the charity shop.
Bought a cd storage wallet,sorted 90% of my CDs and got rid of the cases.
2 bags of baby clothes to my cousin
Sorted all CDs,DVDs and books I don't want and bagged up ready for charity shop
2 more binliners of junk ready for the dump
All of this will be out of the house by the weekend,hoping to have sorted through the 3rd chest of drawers and maybe my wardrobe or at least part of it.

[SlatternismyChristmasname]

Wow, keep going!

[southbank]

Thanks!I can see a little progress now,and once I've sorted my wardrobe and my bedside cabinet and the last chest of drawers that's my bedroom finally done,the first room to be finished.
Dp has suggested we decorate our room once we have sorted it!
It's an incentive to keep it beautiful.

[southbank]

Cleared out the freezer of all unusable food
Finished sorting my last chest of drawers in my bedroom
Sorted a box of kids photos,threw out all blurred,duplicate copies and generally crap pics.all in date order ready to put into an album and frames.album wasn't bought,found it in my kitchen cupboard that had been forgotten about.
recycled half the Xmas cards that had just been left in the kitchen.
Going to buy this weekend a new filing expandable folder and keep up my monthly filing,a plastic storage box for gift wrap,currently it gets thrown in a cupboard,squashed ripped and played with by the dc so becomes unusable when I need it meaning I spend more money buying new paper fir Xmas and bdays.I have enough paper for next Xmas without needing to buy more.will pick up Xmas cards in the sale if I see any for next Xmas.

[southbank]

cleared and sorted cupboards in living room,hallway cupboard sorted again.
From this a bin liner of rubbish and another bin liner full of outgrown kids shoes,baby books,and more baby toys.
Another bin liner ready to go to the dump this weekend!
Getting there,I can see progress most days now,still a ton of stuff to clear out,organise though!

[nothruroad]

You're doing great! It must feel so satisfying. Keep up the good work.

[southbank]

2 binliners went to the charity shop yesterday.
Dp has sold some electrical items on eBay-lots more to sort through and sell!
3 more bags of clothes and toys for cousins ds

[Clutterbugsmum]

Well done. Keep going you will feel so much better and less stress once it's done.

I have in the last month done the same at home.

DH has taken 4 car loads of rubbish/boken toys to the dump.

I have taken 5 car loads (about 30 black sacks and 10 boxes) to the charity shop.

Passed on 3 bags of clothes dd1 has grown out of to school. could have kept them for dd2, but dd1 is very tall for her age, is 10 but needs age 12 clothes for length. DD2 is 6 and only just growing into 6yr old clothes, so I decided that rather then having bags/boxes of clothes which will be forgotten about in the loft by the time she grows into them.

I have also passed 4 bags of the clothes ds has grown out of to a friend who has a son you is a couple of years younger.

[southbank]

i can't beleive reading the thread how much stuff I've got out of the house so far,and that there is still so much to do!
When I think how many trips to the charity shop,dump etc I'm just shocked at how we have kept this all in here-we don't live in a big house!
But my wardrobe is no longer overflowing,our chests of drawers all close,my living room cupboards look tidy now,my downstairs hall cupboard closes and I can find things in there when I need to,my kitchen cupboards need another going over but it's not as bad as before.
This week I want to finish my airing cupboard-Ive decided to use it as a toy storage cupboard as well,I don't need all the space for bedding etc as there is too much room.I started last week by rearranging some of the contents,found a couple of bags of baby sleepsuits and sheets and baby toys which have now gone to the charity shop.
Also going to get some more stuff out of the front bedroom and either into charity bags or on the landing for dp to put into the loft.
Bringing my buggy down to be cleaned,person who was going to buy it never did so it's going on eBay next week along with 4 car seats that I need to get rid of.

[Clutterbugsmum]

I couldn't believe how much 'stuff' we had either.

I think we get used to seeing rubbish our bits and pieces around us. We buy new clothes but don't get rid of others we don't wear, and so it continues.

[southbank]

Yes I think that's it isn't it?you get used to seeing your stuff,it builds up and you don't deal with it when it's manageable so it just becomes this problem that takes over your life.
I'm definitely making improvements,ad I said I've still got a huge amount to sort through to either get rid of or store properly but I do feel like i have made a difference,and I'm becoming ruthless now with kids clothes that are coming into the house,new clothes in means the old is either worn out or too small and it's sorted immediately.so I replaced kids underwear,socks,school uniform and hats-all replaced items are in the bin liner on the landing which I'm filling slowly to go to the charity shop.before it would have gone into a bag and thrown into the spare bedroom on top of the mountain of shit that was already in there.
As I'm sat here I'm still surrounded by mess,but I've got my plan if what I'm working through this week so I'm trying not to stress about it all,it will get sorted!

[Cleartheclutter]

southbank just wanted to say I have found your decluttering journey really inspiring and it has helped me to start tackle the mountain of clutter that has engulfed my home

Thank you and I look forward to hearing the progress you keep making

[southbank]

Thanks cleartheclutter,that's really nice to read!
I'm just doing this bit by bit,as it's half term we haven't got much done,ds been under the weather as well so had a pretty unproductive week all round.
I have got a few bits ready to go to the charity shop tomorrow though,3 x stairgates/babygates,2 x table booster seats and I've filled my charity clothes bag that was sat on the landing having put bits in most days as I was tidying up.
Airing cupboard is finished,but although I've made some space for storing toys,I have to sort through another load of boxes and bags that were just stuffed full of baby clothes,blankets,toys etc so I'm going to finish that next week.Again it just shocks me how much stuff that is redundant that has been taking up space in here but all completely unorganised.
Dp moved some furniture out of dts bedroom that I think I'm going to give to charity-they collect with a van so it can stay assembled.I would have had a real panic before if he had suggested that!but now I can see it for what it is,useless to us now having served it's purpose pre-children!and taking up a lot of room where I'm having to walk round it which is pissing me off.
Still haven't got the buggy down to clean up,will do that next week as kids back at school so can do it uninterrupted and dp will get it on eBay as well as my car seats I need to sell.

[southbank]

All the stuff listed on the previous message now at the charity shop/dump.
Bought some new clothes for dts at the weekend,new bag on the landing for charity being filled with their clothes that I'm now sorting through from their drawers and the washing etc.
This week going to have a proper clean of the house,dts back at school so I can get stuff back to standard and go over the kitchen cupboards again to get rid of bits of rubbish/shit that has crept back in again.

[JKSLtd]

Just skimmed through Southbank & wanted to say well done you!

(oh and hi Slattern from old decluttering thread!)

I have managed to clear out a lot of stuff over the last 2ish years. Getting rid of baby stuff has proved the trickiest - luckily MIL volunteers at a DV refuge where mums turn up with nothing and that is hard to resist - she takes a car load of clothes, toys, equipment each visit :)

I have found a smaller girl to take good girl handmedowns & the same for boys, The rest either goes to the refuge or in textile recycling depending on the state of it.
I almost cheer when something gets stained or ripped as I can get rid of it!

I have warned DH this is the year of getting rid - esp furniture handmedowns we've been given that we didn't really want or need.

One sofa has gone already.
Car load went with PIL last week.
Toys tidied & rubbishy bits binned today.
'Art/craft' area cleared out, lots of precious artwork paper in recycling

Still to do:
more toys given away
eBay pile listed or given up on and given away
other random sofa gone
huge coffee table gone

• loads more...

[JKSLtd]

How is everyone doing?

Bizarrely, a friend giving us an armchair prompted a reshuffle of furniture at the weekend, so:

GONE:
One old sofa
Car load went with PIL
Toys tidied & rubbishy bits binned
'Art/craft' area cleared out, lots of paper in recycling
Huge coffee table
Big old electric piano
More clothes DD has grown out of

Still to go:
more toys given away
eBay pile listed or given up on and given away
other random sofa gone
sort through boys clothes

• loads more...

[JKSLtd]

Posting just to reward myself for getting on with getting rid :)

GONE:
ebay; 5 items listed yey!
ink cartridges from old printer freecycled
charity shop box to charity shop
more toys in 'halfway out' box
spices/sauces/pasta/etc cupboard cleared out & lots composted
toy cars mountain reduced

Still to go:
more toys given away
eBay; reusable nappies to photograph & list
other random sofa gone
sort through boys clothes
box for school fair stuff

• loads more...

[BillyBanter]

I'm marking my place in the hope this inspires me.