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Original poster

The big declutter!!

218 replies

HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 28/12/2013 16:41

Today is day 1 of my big declutter and so far I have done...nothing Blush

Actually, that's not true. Ds and I went to town and bought a new shredder (I broke the last one by accidentally putting a plastic decoration in it!!).

I did have a head start and cleared a couple of cupboards last night but I really need to get off my backside and get decluttering.

I have 5 days 4 now to sort out my house. It has to be done.

For the next two hours, I am going to declutter the bathroom and get the washing on.

Anyone with me?

OP posts:
Makingchanges · 28/12/2013 17:04

I have been decluttering my clothes today. I have a bag to ebay and a bag to take to the cash for clothes place. still can't see any surfaces though. have a long way to go but determined to clear this and spare room before I return to work.

trinity0097 · 28/12/2013 17:04

Good luck :-)

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 28/12/2013 18:22

Making - well done on sorting your clothes! That's also on my list. I did spend some time going through things before Christmas but, as usual, I ran out of time and it all got shoved back into any space available.

Trinity - thanks! I fear I may need more than luck Grin. I have offered a friend a sum of money to transport things to the tip and charity shop for me. She really wants to get in here and declutter for me but I just don't think it would help me.

I have spent the last hour and a half taking things out of the kitchen cupboards and have a good selection of things ready for the charity shop.

Must get some washing on now...the basket is overflowing and I haven't started unpacking the Christmas stuff yet!!

OP posts:
missmapp · 28/12/2013 18:35

I had a major declutter of the dcs bedrooms and playroom. DH had to take a load to the skip and I have a big pile of stuff for the charity shop. The rooms are sooooo much tidier and I have managed to fit the christmas stuff in- I feel v.proud!!

Next is the clothes-but i may leave that til tomorrow!

2kidsintow · 28/12/2013 18:41

We decluttered the kids rooms pre Christmas and therefore, most of the Christmas toys have been found homes easily.

My cupboard has been home for presents for the past few months, so it's about time I tackled that and sorted through my clothes.

Problem is (as always), I need to lose weight and am loathe to get rid of things that are a bit tight at the moment, but that might fit in a few months weeks.

patchesmcp · 28/12/2013 18:54

Oooh can I join in please?

I need to do a big declutter as we want to put the house on the market in the New Year.

Can I ask whether people think it's worth selling stuff on eBay or should I just charity shop stuff? A lot of the stuff I need to get rid of is baby clothes/equipment/toys if that makes any difference.

Well done to those of you who've made a start - I'm impressed and envious of you Grin

lyndie · 28/12/2013 18:59

Ooh we're on day 2 and took 4 bin bags of clothes to the charity shop, loads of cardboard to the tip and filled another 3 bags of rubbish today! I was ruthless with broken toys, clothes I haven't worn or don't suit and old cosmetics. We're not hoarders but too busy to sort things sometimes! Doing the DD's room tomorrow which I'm dreading but that will be upstairs done! Good luck!

Makingchanges · 28/12/2013 19:06

2kids I have always refused to throw away clothes that are a little tight. Trouble is that a year later, they are still too tight. This year I am being ruthless and throwing them away. I am also saving money by not buying any clothes (inspired by another thread) and so if I do lose weight, I can use the money I have saved on new clothes.

Makingchanges · 28/12/2013 19:08

patches I always search for similar items before I eBay. Last year slot wand`t worth ebaying so we did some carnivores instead and made a couple of hundred pounds with dds baby things.

Makingchanges · 28/12/2013 19:09

Wow lyndie you sound like me. Not hoarders just never have time to sort. You've made fantastic progress today.

TheSporkforeatingkyriarchy · 28/12/2013 19:41

We cleared out the storage areas and the bedrooms in the last few weeks, though while we've gotten all the bagged rubbish out (it'll still be a few more weeks before our bulky rubbish pick up), the donations bags and boxes are still sitting there waiting to be taken out Blush.

The next area is the downstair hall (because all the hooks are full and need a good going through). Then the kitchen because it's frustrating everyone - I'm not exactly sure how to make our tiny kitchen better, but clearing it out is the obvious first step.

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 28/12/2013 20:31

Welcome, fellow declutterers!!

I am such a procrastinator Blush. I've managed to spend one whole hour going through two small areas of my sideboard. I have, however, thrown away almost all of my plastic pots...some are as old as ds (11yrs Shock) and it now looks a lot neater and everything fits in. There are also two more carrier bags of stuff for the charity shop and I've just decided to put my bread maker on FB selling pages as 'free to the first to collect'.

My crockery cupboard is looking a little bare...think I might have gone a bit ott with that one but I'm sure I'll find something else to go in there before the end of the day HmmGrin!!

OP posts:
Queenofthedrivensnow · 28/12/2013 20:41

Barges in...I'm joining Grin
Just found out eBay has free listings until jan 5th Grin

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 28/12/2013 20:43

Is it just for auction listings or for fixed price too? Thanks for the info Smile

OP posts:
elQuintoConyo · 28/12/2013 20:44

Went hunting for something in a kitchen cupboard, emptied half of the crap I came across into a carrier bag for the bin: out if date herbs (with only a sprinkling left anyway), free crap I got with a 10-pack of Babybels - actually three of those bastards! And so it went on.

I have a big bag of crap for the skip (broken tree lights, broken toy, bottle steriliser plus 5 bottles!), a big bag of clothes that will NEVER fit again - it is actually therapeutic letting go of that, it's so sad keeping hold of size 8-10 stuff from the last decade, taunting me!

I have also made a list for next Christmas:
Things not to bother cooking (eg Christmas cake)
Things not to bother putting in DS' advent calendar (anything other than chocolate)

And I have thrown away lots of old decorations, ugly decorations, things I've made that I now think, 'meh', broken decorations.

I can breathe even if the rest of the house needs blitzing

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 28/12/2013 20:58

Christmas decorations are on my list, too...I noticed a lot of crap when I finally got them all out.

I did go through my food cupboard fairly recently but I know it needs doing again.

OP posts:
WandaDoff · 29/12/2013 00:45

I applaud all of you & hope to join you in the new year Thanks

In the meantime, try Unfuck your habitat.

It really works! Trin will back me up Smile

PenguinBear · 29/12/2013 08:56

Can I join too?

Shnickyshnackers · 29/12/2013 09:13

I'm thinking of getting rid of some clothes soon, I need to declutter the guest room over the next 6 weeks in preparation for my friends arrival. It is a good goal and will hopefully force me to get rid of lots of clothes that are too small for me now.

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 29/12/2013 11:09

Yes, join in...the more the merrier!

I have been a lazy arse this morning and have only just got up Blush. I have calculated that I can still get 8 hours of decluttering in though.

One bag filled for the charity shop and a couple of things have found a new home. Keeping my fingers crossed that I see some improvement today!!

OP posts:
IKnowImUnLavabo · 29/12/2013 11:39

Hello! Oh yes please, I would love to join you.

Am moving things to the garage from the conservatory which has got a hole in the roof.

Am also sorting out masses of fabric and trimmings and buttons that my late lovely Grandmother left when she died. That is an epic task but I have made a huge bag for the charity shop last night, and am working my way through more of it now.

We're moving soon and the feeling that everything is sorted out and in clear plastic boxes with lids is so wonderful. I have never known such domestic peace Smile

So we're off to Staples in a minute to buy a load more!!!

lyndie · 29/12/2013 14:44

Hello again everyone!

Just checking in - we did our DD's rooms today and have another 3 bags for the charity shop and more rubbish too! Our upstairs is nearly clutter free!

Downstairs is a tip though - we are hopefully to do a room a day until Friday when we go away and then we will be done!

NK5BM3 · 29/12/2013 16:08

Can I join? We've just come back from grandparents with a car boot full
Of toys and gifts... And footwell and
Passenger front seat.. Ahh!

So I woke up this morning with intentions of tidying away and decluttering and have got to two charity bags. One with good quality puzzles etc that I've assembled to make sure all parts are there.. And one bag of stuff that's unworthy (for the bin).

But things are looking messier than ever. I'm losing the will. Shock

I find bits of toys that ought to be upstairs but can't be bothered to be going up and down 10x/min to put them where they are... I have toys
Where there there parts in different rooms/boxes...

I don't understand why my kids can't put things away when they've played with them! I don't understand why my
Dh can't cooperate. I used to obsessively put things away, count and make sure they are all in the
Packs/boxes etcetc. I worked full time
Too. Now with two kids and still working full time I can't keep up. HmmHmm

Any tips beyond putting all in bin and starting over???

missmapp · 29/12/2013 17:35

NK5, I hear you! We have 2 dcs and both work full time- that is why it takes til a holiday to sort anything out.

The only way that works for us is-
Put dcs infront of dvd
Both work at it together
Do one room at a time and do not leave until it is done
The worst bit is in the middle when the room is worse than when you started- at this point DO NOT have a cuppa- push on!!

It will be so good when you are done.

Having said that, I still havnt touched my wardrobe, i just keep slamming the door and ignoering it, but the playroom and kids rooms look fab now!!

Good luck

BuffyxSummers · 29/12/2013 17:39

Ooh can I join in too! My house is awful for clutter! I've got a whole bedroom upstairs full of stuff that needs sorting. I was good today though. My mum watched dd so I could do the kitchen. I could not believe it when there were ten/eleven binbags in the garden when I was done Shock Kitchen looks so clean now (bar the washing up from tea tut tut) and it makes me go aaaaah when I walk in. Just need to maintain it while tackling the others now. Maintaining is the hardest bit I find!