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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:
Zippidydoodah · 09/08/2016 20:54

I have a bin bag of toys to donate, woop woop!

Itshappenedagain- how on earth does your stuff sell in the first hour?! What are you selling? My stuff usually takes a week or even two as I let it automatically relist!

Zippidydoodah · 09/08/2016 20:55

Bear- 5 bags is fab, well done!

Womenareliketeabags · 09/08/2016 20:56

Hiiii I've only just found this thread but I've also been on a major declutter nesting rampage for the last two weeks. Thrown away so far probably about 8 bin bags and 2 boot loads to the tip.
Also planning on doing a car boot to sell more decent stuff junk.

I'm fed up of my house being full of shite.

Original poster
NickNacks · 09/08/2016 21:23

zip yes i am a childminder. Have been doing it a few years now and as mine have started to grow up I've needed to find ways to make it still work for us as a family.

OP posts:
bearleftmonkeyright · 09/08/2016 21:29

Thanks! So glad I found this thread. It is stopping me from procrastinating.

bearleftmonkeyright · 09/08/2016 21:31

Teabags, I know what you mean. I'm forever picking up random bits of stuff off shelves and window ledges. I really can't believe how much I've got rid of today.

Leeloo2 · 10/08/2016 06:18

Thanks for the pics NickNacks, they look awesome. I love the removable tags - i hope the kiddies leave them in place for you.

Would you mind taking 1 of the whole of the outside, with the labels on, so I can see how much you have and how it looks overall? (still trying to work out if I have too much and what to cull!). :)

itshappenedagain · 10/08/2016 14:35

I love the boxes with tags. I'm thinking of something similar fir under the stairs.
I'm currently sorting my lounge, it's clean but needs a a thorough clean and the bookshelves need declutering.

Zippidydodah I put them all on. Buy it now or offer, at a price I'd want to pay. I now gave the mindset that if rather have the money and be rid if them than have them lingering and no money. Plus I was selling micro scooters and childrens designer clothes bundles.

itshappenedagain · 10/08/2016 14:35

I love the boxes with tags. I'm thinking of something similar fir under the stairs.
I'm currently sorting my lounge, it's clean but needs a a thorough clean and the bookshelves need declutering.

Zippidydodah I put them all on. Buy it now or offer, at a price I'd want to pay. I now gave the mindset that if rather have the money and be rid if them than have them lingering and no money. Plus I was selling micro scooters and childrens designer clothes bundles.

woodhill · 10/08/2016 16:57

De cluttering going well. Ds is helping and dh. Sorting out old games and packs of cards. We have so many pens and pencils, umpteen sharpeners

Original poster
NickNacks · 11/08/2016 18:49

I have a total of 16 drona boxes for all my toys and resources.

OP posts:
Ditsy4 · 12/08/2016 00:35

I also love the labels and might pinch that idea for my craft room. Will pop back next week as I am on a course all this work. I have tidied out the medicine box, top of the fridge and notice board/fridge.

You have all done so well.

Leeloo2 · 12/08/2016 09:15

Thanks NickNacks, :) it must be a lovely relief to have it all so organised. :) do you have all the dc's toys included in those 16 boxes too, or just your childminding stuff?

grumpypug · 12/08/2016 09:42

Upstairs is almost done - I feel like I can breath again. I need to do a charity shop run today to get rid of 5 bin bags of out grown clothes and toys.

We have loads of big playmobil (barn, police station, fire station etc) how and where do people store big toys? Also our house has no storage - only under stair cupboard. I'm struggling to find a proper home for Christmas decorations etc. Aargh!!!

woodhill · 12/08/2016 12:44

Terrible crockery clutter and tablecloths. Half the time the things are gifts then I feel guilty

Ditsy4 · 12/08/2016 20:41

Yep which is why I have so many mugs.
Not sure how many maybe I will count them tomorrow.

woodhill · 12/08/2016 20:54

We did take some stuff to the charity shop. I managed to sort out 3 cupboards today. Even if the stuff goes back in, I know what is in there and I have out things in the correct places.

What to do with 2 crystal decanters, lovely but never get used.

Womenareliketeabags · 14/08/2016 16:48

My clothes drawers and the shoe rack sorted today! 1 charity bag of clothes removed and 1 giant beast spider gone from under the shoe rack + lots of grime

Zippidydoodah · 14/08/2016 21:48

I remember reading somewhere that Sunday evening is the best time to list stuff on eBay-I keep forgetting until I'm in bed on a Sunday night when it's too late!! Hmm

Maybe I'll try the buy it now option, thanks!

woodhill · 14/08/2016 22:39

Yes just listed some stuff and sold an item my fm dumped on me, so happy :)

Womenareliketeabags · 15/08/2016 16:28

Today I have sorted through the toy box, pulled apart the living room and hoovered up all the fluff from the corners and rearranged the furniture a bit to create more space!

itshappenedagain · 15/08/2016 16:34

Today I have tackled the garden, after cutting the grass yesterday. I have completely cut back the plant that smelt like piss and was blocking all the light from the house behind me.
Just need to spend another few hours out there tomorrow and it should look lovely again.
Tonight I return to the kitchen as it never stays clean.
Just 2 more rooms to go now!

grumpypug · 15/08/2016 18:30

I took a load of clothes to the air ambulance clothes bin but it was full. I had about 5 bin bags to drop off!

They're in the back of my car now so I will hopefully take them tomorrow. I listed a couple of bits on eBay and made a start on the kids toys. They have far too many but won't get rid of any!!

babybear77 · 15/08/2016 18:37

I've partially decluttered the wardrobe. 4 bags to charity shop. Feels great but a long way to go. Motivation is need a new carpet and painting done so furniture needs to be light enough to to move! Have even vacuum packed winter stuff!

Leeloo2 · 16/08/2016 08:05

I spent all Sunday tidying and decluttering. All the brio trains are out of my bedroom.(where they've lived for the last 6 years Hmm)! They're now in an underbed storage box in the kids' room - and what didn't fit in the box is either in the charity bag or put aside for friend's little boy. If the kids don't play with them by November then I'll eBay them! ;)

I sorted through the kids books, mostly just put like -with-like for ds, so all series/non-fiction etc are back together and any I know he doesn't like have gone. I also put aside a bundle that are too young for him for small dc to grow into. It looks sooooo tidy now (cos he's on cub camp!) so I hope it lasts.

For small dc, I already rotate the books, so they're kind of organised, but there are some that are never chosen (brought downstairs for childminded kiddies) or that I dread being chosen (in the charity bag)!

So overall 3 big bags went to charity yday and I think I'm starting to notice a difference in the house here and there. :)

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