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Original poster

Anyone want to join me for a school holiday decluttering thread?

227 replies

NickNacks · 21/07/2016 20:30

Slowly but surely our little house has developed a problem. She's run out of space!

Added to the problem that we are all a bit crap about putting things away after we are finished with them and I am a childminder, something has got to give and some serious getting rid has to happen.

I have a fairly quiet school holidays approaching so plan to sort it out in time for a stress free start to the school year.

Would anyone like to join me?

OP posts:
MrsHathaway · 26/07/2016 17:53

I've been quite inspired by this list of things to chuck.

Brighteyes27 · 26/07/2016 19:49

Had a very slow start as only managed to think about clearing clutter for a few years.
But today as well as going to the opticians and the beach.
I have gone through two big bags sorted out into
Things to sell on eBay (Boden and decent makes). Listed 16 items from those bags.
Things for my niece
Things for charity
Things for a little boy I know
Now in need of a glass of wine.

PolkaDotFish · 26/07/2016 20:56

You all sound so motivated! I would love to join in. Since having dd2 in feb, we just have so much more stuff, and I feel like the house is bursting at the seams! I have pre-preggers, preggers and post-preggers clothes (ie fat clothes) in all the wardrobes, the contents of what was the study and is now the nursery are cluttering up the spare room, there are baby toys/jumperoos/playmats everywhere, and I have just been tipped over the edge by bringing out the enormous pile of next size up baby clothes. I just don't know where everything is going to go!!

I did do a bit of drawer and cupboard decluttering before the school hols which made me feel great but now it feels like fiddling whilst Rome burns Blush

Will pay attention to all your tips and activities and hopefully I can make a start somewhere!

PolkaDotFish · 26/07/2016 20:58

Ps sorry if this is a stupid question, I was thinking of selling some of the baby clothes as I go along but how do you decide what's sellable?

wobblywonderwoman · 26/07/2016 21:25

Dump the videos for sure

I have got on really well over the summer. I gave all the kitchen cupboards cleaned and decluttered. Also the freezer ready for another batch cooking session

DC clothes - recycled or charity shop except for a few branded items in perfect condition I will pass on to whoever

Books - thinned out but could be more ruthless

Toys - anything they show no interest in had long gone. Can always pick up things in charity shops if needed

Before the weekend I will go through linen. I have several double duvet covers and curtains I will give to local charity

Other bits and piece such as lamps have gone to family who are happy to have them

LadyMumble · 26/07/2016 22:25

That's a useful list MrsHathaway, I haven't done anything yet this week so might begin working my way through that tomorrow.

Original poster
NickNacks · 27/07/2016 08:27

Good morning all! How are we are doing?

On Monday I tackled Dd's room and got another three bagfuls out the door. Yesterday was less fruitful as I had too many mindees but today I have a littke one who will sleep for three hours this afternoon so I hope to get something done then.

leeloo2 eithh regards to toys, I'm doing them last! I use my dining room as a sort of playroom and currently have trofast storage. The whole room can be seen from the front door and I don't like the look of it when I'm not working. It gives the wrong impression of the rest of our house. So on Friday I am off to Ikea to purchase some Kallax. I'm getting a 4x2, a 2x2 and a 4x1 so in total 16 boxes and I will only keep what fits in those boxes. When I realise how much we are out and about anyway, we don't need thousands of toys.

One tip i would say, i would choose to keep open ended toys, they have more multi pirpose to be mix and matched to different activities. I don't have thousands of books we just visit the library often, i only have two small boxes of craft- we just buy what we need as we go along. I also don't have masses of baby toys these days- most dont come to me until around 11 months and we have plenty of other things they can play with (dolls, happyland figures, instruments, wooden blocks, balls, etc)

Please share your cm decluttering tips too ;-) I'm always looking to improve.

OP posts:
user7755 · 27/07/2016 08:44

I spent six hours doing clothes and shoes yesterday (mine and the kids).

Sadly DH was at work so I haven't done his, but I did lay all his shoes out in pairs on the bedroom floor so that he could see how many he has - he has got rid of some! However, there is a pile of his clothes (about 3 foot high) on the bedroom floor - he also has a chest of drawers full, a wardrobe rail full and the floor of the wardrobe is covered in his clothes (probably another foot or so high).

Am off out for the day but tomorrow the kids WILL be cleaning their rooms (have told them they can trade in some games so that they can get some new ones) and DH WILL be sorting his clothes out.

Currently on about 15 bags for charity shop.

SnugglySnerd · 27/07/2016 10:23

I'm feeling much more positive and energetic today. Have sorted DD's craft box and done some cleaning and washing.
I found various pieces of coloured paper that DD has scribbled on a bit so I cut them all up and we have made a collage!

LadyMumble · 27/07/2016 13:02

I've been using the list today MrsHathaway, it's good having lots of smaller tasks, I feel like I've accomplished lots.

So far I have sorted through unmatched earrings and while I was at it got rid of a lot of costume jewellery that I no longer wear, chucked out make-up, skin care and toiletries that aren't used by anyone in the house, chucked out old nail polishes and put my remaining ones in a funky make up bag that I found while clearing out old make up, selected a few old linen sets to give to my friend for the car boot that she is doing soon, paired up shoes and put winter shoes away in a box under the stairs, put unwanted pairs into the clothes recycling pile and put the others away on shoe racks. I think that is all I will have time for today as I have to go food shopping, cook food for the freezer and get some laundry done. Feeling very productive now I've listed all of that. Hopefully will keep up momentum over the next few days too.

MrsHathaway · 27/07/2016 13:52

Well done LadyMumble!

Looking at a whole house just makes me want to hide under a blanket with a multipack of Daim bars. Looking at that list makes it totally achievable.

SnugglySnerd · 27/07/2016 19:14

After making a good start this morning I've been out all afternoon! I think I might do medicine box/bathroom cabinet/make up tomorrow.

NotCitrus · 27/07/2016 20:27

Have shifted lots of furniture, found my driving licence which I haven't seen all year, and chucked a sack full of paper.
Listed a couple bulky items on Ebay. I suspect the children's rooms wont be reduced much until school starts again.

building2016 · 27/07/2016 23:35

I am MADLY excited to get on with clearing out the shed tomorrow. My husband thinks I am quite mad.

jclm · 27/07/2016 23:47

I'd like to join in. I have a new job starting in September so I want to get the house sorted before I start that.

Afreshstartplease · 28/07/2016 08:04

Can't decide what to tackle first today

Kitchen or bathroom

Kitchen has more clutter, bathroom has more grime

Also need to sort dds room

TrappedNerve · 28/07/2016 08:07

Mammoth jobs here but have decided to start on the worst room today that will make the biggest difference and that is our bedroom.

Due to replacing all furniture there are piles of clothes everywhere, bin bags of stuff etc, it's like an assault course getting to bed, wish me luck!!

Afreshstartplease · 28/07/2016 08:13

Good luck trapped nerve!

I did our bedroom a couple of weeks ago, it does need a tidy now but oh is on nights so it's probably not happening this week!

Hmmmm kitchen or bathroom?

Ditsy4 · 28/07/2016 08:27

Bathroom, in case anyone drops in.

I 'lol join in please. I started on kitchen the other day and have done most of the cupboards. Cleared the table( well almost) only to find DH has cluttered it up again.
Want to start on bedroom today because it is getting on my nerves. DH brought washing up but hasn't sorted or put any away. Why can't he sort out towels and tea towels and at least put those away. I emptied a box looking for something someone else could borrow for assembly but didn't have time to put it back so it is on the floor [ blush ]
I have to go out but thought if I get half done today and the rest tomorrow it would be good.then at the weekend I can finish the kitchen and do the bathroom. Then I will only have three rooms left to do and two sheds and a play house. Should get that all done by September. If I don't lose my motivation. Kondoed my knicker drawer. I need to buy that book I think. Some of it doable maybe?

user7755 · 28/07/2016 08:45

Kids bedrooms today.

I would like to sort out the kitchen cupboards but I want to do all the crockery together and I can't get into the cupboard with all our old crockery in because DHs clothes are piled in front of it, waiting for him to sort them out Angry

Does anyone know if it's worth putting plates etc on eBay? We have some Cornishware and also incomplete sets of next stuff too

1AngelicFruitCake · 28/07/2016 08:48

VHS tapes - awful as it seems I just chucked loads as charity shops don't want them.

Polka dot - I had my 2nd baby at a similar time and have a just turned 2 year old as well. The sleep deprivation is killing me at the moment! I find it so hard to declutter when keeping on top of cleaning is hard enough in itself. I've tried to be strict about baby clothes and get rid of clothes as soon as baby has grown out of them unless they're particularly nice ones. The next sizes up I've been through and got rid of clothes I wouldn't put the baby in. Still have loads though!

Afreshstartplease · 28/07/2016 10:30

Going to start with dds bedroom shouldn't take too long I don't think!

building2016 · 28/07/2016 11:36

Shed is going well.

Why do I have three blue plastic tarpaulins?

itshappenedagain · 28/07/2016 11:55

I'd love to join you all. I have written a list so will focus on one room at a time. Starting with my ds's bedroom. I've already se littered a lot but an returning to teaching full time after a year if part time and need to be organised for when I start.

grumpypug · 28/07/2016 12:37

Hi - another teacher here!

Currently drowning in a sea of toys, teaching resources, clothes that definitely won't fit (kept from pre-pregnancy - oldest DC is almost 13).

I have decided to do a major declutter over the summer hols but have spent the last week walking from room to room, shaking my head and putting my blinkers back on. Start small - today's job is the bathroom (as I made a half hearted attempt a couple of days ago).

If I get the bathroom finished, then I will make a start on the playroom as that has the most junk and is desperate for a declutter. I can't even sit at my desk anymore.