Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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:
EBearhug · 30/12/2013 21:22

It has been much easier having time off without it being time off to do things.

I have now taken my bags of clothes to the charity shop - this turned out to be a bigger deal than expected, as all the rain had swollen my front door to the point where I couldn't get out, and once I eventually got out, I then couldn't get the door shut from outside, so couldn't leave the house. Fortunately, next door neighbour was in and came to the rescue, and I'm now free!

Makingchanges · 30/12/2013 21:28

Wow we are a productive bunch. Finally attacked spare room today. Now 10 big black bags to go to tip and 4 black bags fr cash for clothes place. I now have piles of clothes on my bed to put away as we'll but they are sorted into piles so shouldn't be too bad. Couldn't see any floor in spare room and was hiding a settee in there so quite pleased with myself.

littone · 30/12/2013 21:37

Good luck with the towels penguinbear! Does DH have any great ideas on storing them all?
I have had a fairly successful due cluttering day here too. I sorted out tshirts and jumpers, both of which I have far too many of and filled two large carrier bags. Will be more to lose, but currently pregnant so kept a few bits to stretch out of shape before going in the rag bag. Also got DP to go through his wardrobe as fed up of moving a pile of clothes each week to Hoover and told him I would charity shop them unless he wanted to sort out stuff he didn't want :-) So ended up with 3 bags for the charity shop and got DP to take them today. Also have a sack of rubbish, a pile of outgrown clothes to put up in the loft tomorrow, a bag of paper to take to be shredded and some recycling. Am shattered, but a productive day!

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 30/12/2013 22:02

I am done in!

Just spent nearly two hours in ds' room and have come out with two bags of teddies, three bags of books/games, a huge pile of outgrown clothes and a bag of rubbish.

It's just never ending and still looks like a tip Sad. There was I thinking I could do this whole house in 5 days...I'd need a month off to completely sort it all out.

OP posts:
Makingchanges · 30/12/2013 22:38

I feel the same hiccup but I just look at the piles to take to the tip and feel better

littone · 30/12/2013 23:14

Just keep,remembering all the stuff that has gone. I still have loads to sort through but concentrating on what has gone helps. My decluttering is taking ages to achieve but is slowly happening and house would be in a worse state if the stuff that has gone was still here.

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 31/12/2013 06:08

Thanks, both Smile.

I fell asleep on the sofa last night and woke up about half an hour ago so am making the most of my early start and trying to work out how to use my new steam cleaner but it's not doing what it's supposed to. Going to google for tips.

Next on the list is to load the latest lot of charity shop/tip stuff into the car then pop out to take them and to get some emergency supplies from the supermarket...it's been well over a week since I last went and I don't think I can put it off any longer!!

OP posts:
Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 31/12/2013 07:04

Hmm, steam cleaner not quite as amazing as the reviews led me to believe...either that or my bathroom is a disgraceful health hazard that even the most powerful cleaner couldn't fix Blush.

Going to load the car now and get the shopping/charity shop drop off out of the way.

OP posts:
IsThatTrue · 31/12/2013 20:23

Well I've done my wardrobe DH has done his and we've also done dd's and ds1s. Ds2 isn't quite out of his clothes yet so that'll be another few weeks. Unfortunately our local charity shops haven't been open since the 23rd so I now have loads of bags hanging around ready to go to the charity shop. Hmm

missmapp · 01/01/2014 19:21

Hi all,

I've done my wardrobe and my socks/tights/knickers drawers!

I have two bags for the charity shop and one bag for the bin.

feel v pleased, but now have to face the paperwork bulging out of the bureau- wish me luck.

BTW, Hiccup, i have been wondering about a steam cleaner- did it get any better or is it not worth the money?

clara26 · 01/01/2014 22:03

Hi! Can I join? I love decluttering.

I've done my kitchen cupboards today! Some of my spices were years past their date! Lol.

Did my bedroom a few days ago, tomorrow I'll take down the tree and sort the living room.

I have a feeling I'm going to need a skip!Blush

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 02/01/2014 15:31

Well done on the wardrobe decluttering! I half-heartedly went through mine a couple of weeks ago but that was before the new, minimalist me so I should probably go back and clear the rest of the things that don't need to be there.

When I sorted through ds' cupboard, I freed up two units of plastic drawers. I'm trying to decide whether I actually need them or not. I suppose I should wait to decide until all the clothes have been sorted out and I can see exactly what still needs a home.

I'm working til late tonight so no major decluttering today but am only working til 1 tomorrow so will crack on tomorrow afternoon and all weekend. Hopefully, by Monday, I'll be able to see some significant improvement!

Clara - how are you getting on with your tree? I carry on using my out of date spices Blush!!

OP posts:
Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 02/01/2014 16:05

Missmap - I think I will learn to love it. I had a 'little yello' (? I think that's what it was called) that was amazing. It had a really high pressure so it shifted the dirt/grime really quickly and easily. I was a bit gutted when it broke and replaced it with something I thought was similar but turned out to be a total waste of money. The latest arrival was almost £100 (reduced from £150) and more than double the cost of my original one but I think it will grow on me. It's a lot neater than my first one and easier to store.

I'll give it a good test run over the weekend and report back Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 03/01/2014 13:54

Right, that's work over until Monday so really need to pull my finger out and get more clutter out of the house.

I've got a lady coming to look at my spare kitchen table this afternoon so need to tighten up the screws to make it look as good as possible and hope that she buys it and takes it straight away!! The kitchen looks so much better already and I've only moved it to the other side of the room Grin.

There's someone else coming to view a food warmer tomorrow and if that goes, it'll free up a huge space in one of the cupboards...I've already mentally filled the space Grin.

It feels like a switch has been flicked in my brain and I am on a mission to rid this house of all clutter...well, almost all clutter Grin. After years of collecting crap and not wanting to throw anything, it is a bit of a weird feeling but I am loving it and trying to make the most of the time I have to do it.

OP posts:
Mirage · 03/01/2014 14:20

DD2 has just moved into the spare room,so all the toys,clothes,books,stuff in the wardrobe had to be cleared out.Dh did a good job of clearing it out,but then just left it all over our room,DD1's room and the landing.Angry. I have been utterly ruthless and put 4 binliners of clothing out for a charity collection,only they didn't come,so I drove to the shop and dropped them off before they got soaked and ruined.Got ride of 2 carrier bags of books and games too.

DD2 can't get into her room for all the stuff DH has piled up in there,and he has now decided to board the loft before putting anything back up there,and has piled up more stuff on the landing.I know it needs sorting,and have got rid of 3 more bin bags of old paperwork ect,but we have visitors tomorrow and I'm wondering why he had to start a major job now.

The guinea pigs need cleaning out,the ponies need to be moved to a new field and re fencing,so I could have done without more jobs today.Hmm

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 04/01/2014 06:34

I love my FB local selling page! Strictly speaking, I have only sold one item but have three more being collected today Grin.

As a regular eBay user, I think I have been converted...especially for the big stuff that's a pain to post.

I gathered a big sack of stuff, for the charity shop, out of ds' room yesterday evening. Also, a suitcase for the tip and a big bag of rubbish. Poor ds, most of what I cleared was my unsorted crap that had been hidden in his room BlushSad. There are still a couple of piles of stuff that need to be sorted through before we even get to his own things. I feel so bad for making him live this way for so long.

Things will never get this bad again. Ever!

Mirage - how did you get on yesterday? I think I might be like your dh...I'm really good at pulling everything out but lose interest before it's time to put it all back Blush. I hope you managed to straighten things out ready for your visitors.

I'm up early and packing away all the Christmas decorations and tree. The sitting room needs to be ready for work on Monday. That is today's goal.

OP posts:
NK5BM3 · 04/01/2014 13:29

Hi! Last couple of days of the holiday period and I've decided to tackle the paper pile... Shock

Quick question - how long do we really have to keep all the bank statements? For regular accounts, not work related...? Can I start shredding stuff from 2012??

Mrswellyboot · 04/01/2014 13:35

I am joining in too. I am here in an old pair of maternity pj bottoms while I take down the decorations. I have gone through two wardrobes ( everyday wear and special occasion) this morning, shoe cupboard and bags, have a bag for charity shop, rubbish bag and bag of good dresses to sell.

I have also sorted baby clothes for storage in the attic, had a bowl of soup and washed sitting room floor.

Roll on round two Grin

Nice glass of McGuigans Wine tonight!

Losthearts · 04/01/2014 14:13

Can you scan them NK5BM3?

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 04/01/2014 14:27

Yay! Second (large) item paid for and collected! Just waiting for two more buyers to come.

I seem to have almost ground to a halt Hmm and just keep moving little things from one place to another. I think I need a rocket up my arse to kick start me into action!

Nk5 - my friend used to get rid of anything over a year old. Do you have Internet banking? You could get rid of the lot then.

Mrswelly - well done. Sounds like you're having a productive day. I'm yet to venture into my room but must get up there today to take photos of the drawers I want to put on FB later. If only I could figure out how to do an album on there, then I could put more than three things on at one time.

OP posts:
JayneJam · 04/01/2014 14:28

God this thread is so depressing.

People just buy crap thinking it will make them happy. Then they fill their house with all this crap and it just ends up making them depressed.

So they go and buy more crap to store the crap in, hoping that buying more will make them happy.

So many bags of crap taken to the charity shop or thrown in landfill and not even missed.

When will people stop buying into the myth that buying stuff makes you happy?

NK5BM3 · 04/01/2014 14:36

Hi hiccup
Thanks - I do have Internet banking so will at least shred the ones more than a year old.

Jayne - did you mean to be so judgy?
I for one am throwing away broken kids toys/missing parts. And shredding bills. And you?

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 04/01/2014 14:52

Jayne - if it's depressing you so much, go and find one that doesn't and keep your unhelpful comments to yourself...like I frequently have to remind the children, if you haven't got something nice to say, don't say anything at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 04/01/2014 14:54

And, fwiw, how do you know it's crap that is being taken to the charity shop?

OP posts:
lostinteaching47 · 04/01/2014 14:56

Hi everyone, can I join you all? First time on this forum but regularly lurk/post on others on MN.My whole house is in desperate need but just off top of head our bedroom /the back room and DS's room are the worst.I really don't know where to start it is so utterly depressing.I was in our room yesterday and clearing the clutter actually made me sick.I don't know if I believe in stagnant chi or whatever they call it but some of that stuff had been there for 5 + years it's embarrasing.I can't even get into my wardrobe I have so much stuff(mostly clothes) in front of it.Can clearly clutter make you vomit? I still feel queesey today but am determined to do some more.it could just be I'm detoxing too, doing the Dryatholin etc and trying to lose weight/be healthier so it is probably an unfortunate coincidence.I just get really bored, quite quickly.I can see I hoard and I know it's not healthy and it's got to the point of being quite stressful especially before xmas when friends would just pop in and the house was a mess(sad face).