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Housekeeping

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Anybody want to join me in a mega, whole house declutter?

551 replies

LilllyLovesLife · 04/03/2014 10:03

I am desperate to have a clean and tidy home. It's always ruined my life and I always feel very lonely, partly because I can never have anybody over without a week or so notice to clean up! I am fed up of being like this and want to make a change for good. I know that the biggest step is to declutter, as it will make it so much easier to keep tidy.

I have delcuttered lots of times before, and I then end up filling it up again! I don't want to do this again! I want this to be the last time!!

Anybody up for joining me?

I have already done my girls room (They share a small double and it was always so full that they couldn't ever have space to play in it!). It is so much easier now, I finished it about a week ago but have actually kept it tidy!

I am now moving onto my Son's room. It's a TEENY box room with just a cotbed and one chest of drawers in, no spare space and I have an extra baby to fit in their soon as we are expecting again. Baby will sleep in our room for as long as possible but no idea where the baby's clothes etc will go! So iv culled his clothes and now have 2 spare drawers, and got an under bed drawer now which I can use although not really space to pull it out!

Anyway, would anybody like to join me in my mission? We could support each other and keep each other going? I have also strarted looking into flylady and hope to use some bits from there, but not follow it fully as I like to do my own thing a bit.

OP posts:
ChaffinchOfDoom · 11/05/2014 18:52

you can never have too many cuddly toys! Grin

Grin Grin Hmm

ChaffinchOfDoom · 11/05/2014 18:53

I want to get my cutlery drawer done - may get chance tomorrow

JKSLtd · 11/05/2014 19:55

Chaffinch my DC x3 agree with you!
Mil was a bit meh but I said it gives them so much pleasure, the money went to charity anyway & in years to come they won't even want to come out with us let alone be ecstatic with a new cuddle monkey or three...

JKSLtd · 12/05/2014 15:53

Some toy sorting today - somebrokenbits for bin, some stuffy charity.

Also pile of hangers for school PTA uniform sale.

ChaffinchOfDoom · 12/05/2014 20:55

nothing doing here. baby rules this house and he says No Tidying!

ChaffinchOfDoom · 13/05/2014 14:14

did a general lounge tidy/hoover as a hv type came round today

JKSLtd · 13/05/2014 15:36

Nothing today as at work, sch runs then out tonight.

JKSLtd · 14/05/2014 18:16

Dh took a pile to work & I have back a book I'd borrowed ages ago.

Not quite a decluttering job but something I've been meaning to do for ages - dentist. 2 big fillings being replaced under sedation later. Am hopeful I'll wake up without toothache for the first time in months/years.

ChaffinchOfDoom · 14/05/2014 21:03

decluttering your mouth is awesome! dedicated to the thread, good on yer.
Similarly, I had a haircut today - decluttered my scalp Grin

JKSLtd · 15/05/2014 14:48

Well done!

I took another couple of big boxes to ds2's sch for the PTA. Also posted off some dvds dh borrowed years agoBlush

The neighbours are busy decluttering my view! By cutting down their horrid Leylandii hooray Grin

Mid cake bake for ds1's bday tomorrow. Sch run now though.

IorekByrnisonsArmour · 15/05/2014 19:05

I unpacked my summer clothes ( it's now or never, this is summer) and put my -hundred- woollen jumpers away. I should have de-cluttered as I packed, but once again I didn't Hmm

I managed to find a box of old toys in DS1s room to charity shop and I have a large box of assorted items to go at the weekend.

I haven't done very much as DD has injured her back in a fall at school Sad

And it's SATS week SadSad

Looking forward to a sunny weekend and decluttering the -jungle-garden Grin

ChaffinchOfDoom · 16/05/2014 12:52

bought various clothes from charity chop... and a sunhat for dd
so that's a bit anti-thread

do any of you follow the principle of one item of clothing in = must get rid of one too?
am going to look again at my wardrobe, there's stuff in there Ive never worn yet can't bear to get rid of.. why is it so hard to let go

also - wedding dress - Ive still got mine, was halfheartedly saving it for dd but am tempted to sell it... hmmmmmmmm what did you do with your wedding dresses

ChaffinchOfDoom · 16/05/2014 12:53

Iorek hope your dd is ok Sad

JKSLtd · 16/05/2014 15:07

Wedding dress - still in wardrobe ...

Agree it's irrationally hard to let go of some things.

Few more puzzles in box to go.
Bag for friends Ds going later.

ChaffinchOfDoom · 17/05/2014 20:40

OK OK this bleep is getting serious
I have bought a MOP and a bendy DUSTER STICK

in my defence I thought I had a mop but dh thinks he may have used it to mop the garage Hmm and kind of remembers putting it in the skip Hmm

so in a moment of madness Vileda Supermop came home with me.
I have removed the cobwebs in the lounge and hall; and my mop looks nice... unsure when I am going to have time to mop any floors however
babysteps

JKSLtd · 18/05/2014 20:01

Lovingthe mop buying! Maybe even use it one day Wink

Emptied out the toy box under the boys bunks. Have a bucket of bits to sort through downstairs tomorrow.

Tomorrow ismy most-child-free day so hope to tackle a few more places.

ChaffinchOfDoom · 18/05/2014 20:48

theres a MN swap thread happening for your unwanteds Wink

JKSLtd · 19/05/2014 12:03

Sorted through that bucket - some broken bits to bin, toys to correct homes.

Also went through the kids clothes (again) - some for clothes recycling, some put away for DS2, bag for friend's DD.
Summer clothes into wardrobes, DD has been given tonnes of shorts, she'll never wear them all!

Need to dig out my old list of areas to tackle...

JKSLtd · 19/05/2014 12:07

Right, old list:

GONE/SORTED:
ebay stuff + old phone posted today
ink cartridges from old printer
charity shop box new bag in car
more toys in 'halfway out' box
spices/sauces/pasta/etc cupboard cleared out & lots composted
toy cars mountain reduced
cot
last maternity bits
other random knackered sofa
pile of garden bits too big for bin
old keyboard
unwanted freebie coffee table
squeaky toy!
box of girls clothes for friend another bag ready to go
baby battery swing
general toy cull for anything too babyish
kids book cull
old cardboard box
balance bike
old big print
junk/rubbish from my wardrobes
boxes for school fair stuff
bathroom cabinet
drawers in living room
kids memory boxes
DH's study
under boys bunkbed

Still to go/sort:
baby swing seat - on Freecycle
potties/toilet seats
try and have a cuddly toy cull
DD's shelves
my desk
arts/crafts area (big area of doom!)

ChaffinchOfDoom · 19/05/2014 14:43

baby swing seat? pricks up ears which area are you? Grin

JKSLtd · 19/05/2014 19:43

South/Sarf! Essex Smile

It's one that attaches to a frame outside not an indoor one.

I bought it off eBay a few years back and though I'd freecycle it but no takers. Might relist it soon as the weather has improved.

JKSLtd · 19/05/2014 19:46

South/Sarf! Essex Smile

It's one that attaches to a frame outside not an indoor one.

I bought it off eBay a few years back and though I'd freecycle it but no takers. Might relist it soon as the weather has improved.

ChaffinchOfDoom · 20/05/2014 21:05

ye gods. last few days it's all I can do to just be a human being; no chance of doing anything remotely tidy or organised Sad

JKSLtd · 21/05/2014 08:14

Here too.
Sent off most birthday thank yous just 1 left plus a trip to the PO. Sort of decluttering as I used up a pile of cards we already had.

ChaffinchOfDoom · 21/05/2014 10:33

have hoovered and the playmat is in the wash. baby won't nap so stuck here rocking bouncy chair with my foot and MNetting. what hardship! Grin