Need help with cleaning and decluttering...

[withaspongeandarustyspanner]

DH is unhappy in our relationship and wants to leaveand has cited my housekeeping/lack of ability to get rid of stuff as a factor. I'm overwhelmed. Don't know where to start.

Any tips?

Good morning Sponge,
I think seeing the GP is a very positive move and hope you get an appointment soon. Vital you eat, even just toast or biscuits right now, whatever you can manage.

I may have gone out last night and might have decluttered a fair bit of wine so I am a little delicate today, so I think I need to potter a bit and have gallons of tea. I really need my OH to do a tip run, that will be a huge help and today is really the only time he has.
I just realised there is a bag of Christmas decorations still on the landing which need to go in the loft.
Does anyone know how I can dispose of broken computers? I am clueless about that.
Do you have a plan for today Sponge?

GP sounds like a great idea. Even mild depression can seriously affect your motivation for anything.

I struggle to concentrate on things I don't like too. I suspect a lot of people do.

I've just shut the door on our walk in wardrobe so I don't have to think about it! I had to clear space to actually get the door shut so just chucked stuff anywhere. I'm going to tackle the floor in there tomorrow.

Grumpy - I'm very good at decluttering wine too. And apparently yesterday was National Wine Drinking Day so it would have been rude not to! 😜🍷

I think broken computers can go to the tip. Ours takes them I know.

Grumpy - that's so kind what you did yesterday helping sponge through it xx

I had no idea they could go to the tip cider I wonder if I need to remove the hard drive first, no clue.
I certainly joined in wine drinking day with gusto! On my 5th coffee and hoping I don't get any work requests today (normally work like a demon but uggh not today thank you!)

kyle this has become a very nice and supportive thread I think, lots of nice people encouraging sponge through a difficult time.
I need support through my nasty 'bug' today - not feeling my best after last night!
Have you managed a bit of breakfast Sponge? Someone make me a bacon sarnie please

This is my best ever thread on MN. Thank all so much. Today, I am going to tackle things because I WILL make some positive changes. But first thing first, I am taking my four children to the park for a run around. They've been stuck in the house all week while I've cleared out the airing cupboard and been a gibbering wreck the rest of the time. Fresh air will help. And the sun is shining.

Park sounds like a great idea. It was sunny here earlier but it's disappeared now.

Sunny here too, shows the windows need cleaning!
A walk in the park sounds lovely, and I can stick around a bit today if you want to continue checking in. I have a few more bits to run up to the charity shop and then a bit of a general tidy. I am going to grab a shower now, still feel poorly (self inflicted)

You've just reminded me. I have a half-filled bin bag of clothes. I'll see if I can fill it and, if so, I'll take it to the charity shop on the way to the park

Great idea - sun is out here too so going to the park for a while after lunch stopping en route at the clothes and shoe bank as well as the local shop which recycles batteries (from my cupboard of doom).

Hope everyone is feeling a little better this afternoon!

Showered and managed some toast, progress!
I have decided to charity shop a couple of coats which will give me much more space in the cupboard under the stairs, I just bought some 'push lights' for that cupboard, so simple but now I can actually see in there, why did it take me so long to do such a simple easy thing?
I have seen a really quite pretty necklace hanger in Wilko, black velvet with hooks along the bottom so I think I might get that as I love costume jewellery and this will keep them tidy, worth the £3.99 I reckon to have it all in one place.
We need to do some essential maintenance on the house before long, luckily we are getting a bit of cash soon which will pay for that and this decluttering will make the work so much easier as less stuff to pack out of the way.
My aim is that if we had to move, every single thing we packed is something we really need or really want to keep. I have moved boxes full of crap from one loft to the next in the past. Never again.
(still feel poorly)

My eldest made me eat some toast and jam this morning and made me a up of tea. We went to the park for a play. The sun shone and it was great. The boys got covered in mud so my already huge laundry monster grew a bit more. They had fun though, that was the main thing. Also, I started clearing the sideboard hot spot.

And I did two loads of washing. Tumble drier being a bit sluggish so drying is a pain.

I have just tackled dds room, it was a disaster area, its so hard to get kids to be tidy when you cant do it yourself. 1 bin bag of rubbish, broken toys, old bits of paper etc and 2 bags of clothes and toys she has outgrown. It looks so much better any tips on keeping it this way? This thread is awesome,I avoid housekeeping threads in general as I feel bad as I seem to change bedding or mop floors so infrequently compared to the average mnetter. They just make me feel like giving up completely so thanks for starting this one!

Good work sponge glad you ate and had a good time at the park.
mudandmayhem brilliant name! I think it is very hard to keep on top of kids rooms, but you have made a start. maybe a monthly blitz? We have a regular hair band amnesty, they end up everywhere, same with pencils, drives me crackers and people do pass on such rubbish don't they? I mean, "Auntie Doris, if you don't want that chipped china cat ornament, what makes you think we do?"

I took some excess sheets and 2 coats to the charity shop, very glad to have the extra space.
I have really nice dining plates and cutlery, a real pleasure to use, but I hate my side plates, chipped, mismatched so they are going, I have enough nectar points to replace them with ones I like tomorrow. (How dull am I?)
That necklace hanger I mentioned upthread is actually £2.50 so definitely going to get that.

Toast and tea are always more delicious when supplied by helpful children - lucky you.

We enjoyed a cold but sunny trip to the park too. God rid of a couple of carriers of clothes and shoes. I do not want to add to your work load but have you checked the tumble drier filter is fluff free - if you can find it and clear it you just might speed up the drying.

Came home to tackle a bag on the hall floor which was full of small sewing and mending jobs. Discovered I had already done most in the autumn when I had put the bag there - managed to complete the rest and rehome the clothes to cupboards - hooray!

Necklace hanger is sounding tempting - mine hang on an old wire coat hanger at the moment.

Park trip sounds good and your eldest sounds fab. My DS is 14 and has never made me toast!

I changed beds and washed bedding and towels today and did a general quick tidy. Main rooms take so much less time since I have decluttered most of the crap.

She cooked dinner the other night. She's only 10!

She sounds great. How are you doing today? Any plans?

I'm about to head out to an exercise thing I do.

When I come back I'm getting DH to re-jig the shelves in a cupboard to fit some boxes I need to store. Then I'm moving a pile of gardening books up to spare room bookshelves as that is where DH usually uses them. He is really into the garden. Then I have some extra space on a shelf unit downstairs for some of my bits.

Then I'm doing some ironing which will help declutter the ironing pile AND the Skybox planner as I will watch TV while I do it! My dirty little secret is watching Home and Away while I iron. . Love it.

Grumpy - necklace hanger is a great way to store jewellry. I have a lovely one I bought a few years ago and even if everything else in my room is a mess I always know where my necklaces are!

Morning, hope you are ok today Sponge?
Cider what is this 'ironing' of which you speak? I am getting the necklace hanger today I have decided.
I am taking a bit more to charity shop today and then a bit of shopping in town, but, I have warned my family that nothing is to enter this house unless it is totally needed or gorgeous.
Later I am going through my daughters knickers and socks to see what she really has.
I have a bit of work to do over the weekend but nothing too heavy.
Hope everyone has a good day, and I look forward to hearing about more progress on the tidying/decluttering front.

Grumpy - a husband who needs shirts for work unfortunately! And yes he could do them himself but he does most of the cooking so I iron. And I'm a weirdo who irons bedding. Spent 15 years living overseas where all our bedding was ironed and although I have tried to get used to non ironed bedding I much prefer it ironed. A couple of hours every couple of weeks does it. I find I can keep the airing cupboard much tidier if everything is ironed and folded properly too.

I've continued filling the bag of clothes for charity. Have had a big sort out with DH of the boys' room before constructing bunk beds. Major sort out and throw away. I have been sorting the washing as it dries and putting it away so it doesn't become overwhelming.

Although I have done loads of washing, my laundry baskets are still overflowing. It's depressing.

Btw, GP put me on anti-depressants and beta blockers yesterday. I got some sleep last night for the first time in a week.

Sponge that is marvellous you slept and the ad's will help you heaps although you may feel a bit dodgy at first until you are used to them. Sleep and food are vital for wellness both physical and mental aren't they?
You are still doing great with the house, really, well done.
You must be seeing a real difference now?

Good news about the medication Sponge. And more importantly the sleep!

Are you starting to see a difference in the house?

With regards to the laundry - do you all have just enough clothes or too much? Can you cut down a bit that way? I know I have far too much. Which means I can go ages without washing for me which isn't good as it then gets ridiculous. I'm really keeping on top of the washing lately and noticed I'm wearing a lot of the same things.

I'm planning a big cull of my stuff this week.