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Original poster

Join me in getting rid of at least one thing a day decluttering challenge?

998 replies

SandSnakeOfDorne · 21/09/2017 16:04

I am trying to declutter, starting with our loft and garage both of which need some work doing so need to be a lot emptier! After they're done I want to declutter the rest of the house. I've already got rid of loads of stuff but I'm starting to lose motivation alone!

We have quite strict rules for what we can put in rubbish so I'm selling, free cycling, taking stuff to the clothes bank etc. At least one thing a day. I'm hoping to be done by Christmas!

Anyone want to join me?

OP posts:
Tidy2018 · 11/01/2018 22:15

Eight carrier bags of outgrown children's clothes taken to donation site this morning. The lady asked whether it was adults' clothing; I think she was hoping it was. Maybe I have some things of my own that can be donated sometime soon.

PenelopeFlintstone · 11/01/2018 22:17

Lol at the second suite 😂. I know! Me too.It's lucky the room's big, but it still looks ridiculous and nothing 'deliberate second seating area' about it at all. LOL

PenelopeFlintstone · 11/01/2018 22:19

I just watched that typo change from 'It's Lucky' to 'It'sky' before my very eyes!! I saw it post and then change!! Maybe the typos aren't always the poster's fault!

StealthNinjaMum · 12/01/2018 10:06

Gibble you sound quite positive, I would be freaking out.

Betsy that's amazing, I hate painting so much. For me it's the preparation - mainly laying dust sheets. And because I'm short I hate painting ceilings and cleaning brushes rollers. I have been known to paint a large room with a paintbrush just to avoid cleaning the roller!

Chunkymonkey Penelopes given excellent advice. I also find food cupboards are good. I was in my baking / sweet things cupboard last night and I spotted some tinned rice pudding that's probably about 7 years old. As no-one in the house eats it except me my choice is to throw it away or eat it.It pains me to say I'm probably going to have to throw it away so that's another thing gone.

StealthNinjaMum · 12/01/2018 10:17

Tidy well done, 8 bags is loads.

Last night I GOT DH TO THROW AWAY A BROKEN PHONE CHARGER! We have millions of leads for iPads / iPhones and they never seem to last so probably 50% of the time you find your device isn't charged it's a broken lead. Leads / wires are another problem area in our house and I will need dhs help with this. When I took our broken pc and printer to be recycled before xmas I took the leads too. Dh removes leads on the rare occasions he allows an electrical item to be chucked out 'in case' they can be used for something else so we have two largish plastic boxes with random leads and wires in. One is in the Room of Doom and has been since we moved house (8 years ago) so presumably we could throw the whole box out but I know dh will protest about that.

So back to today. I am about to do 30 minutes in the Room of Doom sorting out paperwork.Then maybe 20-30 minutes putting washing on, and just tidying a few things away.

My 'jumper' arrived. I love it but it is very thin so won't keep me warm and too small. I have been eating soups and salads this week so hopefully will lose the weight.

HellonHeels · 12/01/2018 16:28

Stealth get in there and chuck the box of random cables away! Dump it in an electricals recycling bin.

Betsy86 · 12/01/2018 19:46

Stealth i cheated havent even done the ceilings and barely did any prep lol it wasnt too long ago really was last painted just the walls that get brushed past most were looking awful.
Slapped paint on last night just built shelf after work. Now have loads of things piled up in the room to sort.... debating what to do with dds play kitchen doesnt really use it... occasionally bashes it about. Mainly likes to makes cups of tea etc with it but could keep that stuff in one smaller box hmmmm decisions lol. Need to sort all that side out so can do other side and wash curtains.
They say dry clean only.... would u risk a machine wash i dont want to pay lol...?xx

Betsy86 · 12/01/2018 19:47

Good work on the broken charger your right its frustrating when you go to use things and they dont even work.Angry

SandAndSea · 12/01/2018 19:54

Betsy, it's a risk but I wash everything. (Unless they're too expensive to risk it.) I would do it on a low temp, handwash setting and don't tumble dry. Please don't blame me if it's a disaster though.

Betsy86 · 12/01/2018 20:51

Thanks sandandsea!! I think i will wash them there jus eyelet ones from wilko sins not massively expensive but they dont sell them anymore so really dont wana messit up eeeeeeeeek!! I washed similar ones before amd was ok hmmmm il go for it i think lol xx

Gibble1 · 12/01/2018 21:50

I bunged my wedding dress through the washing machine a few years ago. I wasn’t going to wear it again and it had a great big orange stain on it from storage. It came out fine 😁

PenelopeFlintstone · 12/01/2018 22:48

What are the curtains made of, Betsy?

Yesterday, I pulled two bags of crap out of our only built-in cupboard. Chucked a couple of old house phones, labelled three ice-cream containers and put the relevant bits and pieces in them. And vacuumed loads of mouse poo out of there - gross. Old house with gaps, in a wheat growing area. It's a constant battle...

I'm going to do a pantry today (luckily made of sheet asbestos and mouseproof). That will cover this thread and also is the task for my other thread - win-win :)

Tidy2018 · 12/01/2018 23:03

My declutter today was to write important dates in my diary then throw away all the scribbled bits of paper and notes. I get a bit panicky when I find a note obviously for myself but have no recollection of dealing with it. The other declutter was a phone call then wrote out a fairly long to-do list compiled from all my old scribbles, and now everything I need to know and / or do is in one place. My head feels so much less cluttered now and my desk is tidy enough.

lljkk · 12/01/2018 23:34

I imagine most of you with almost empty houses shrieking b/c you found a scrap piece of overlooked paper on the floor. I may not fit in

I have decided to sell my old ski jacket. Barely used. 20 yrs old!! OMG, a lot of space created in my wardrobe without it there. Blush

Any advice on my these sticking points?

Old picture frames. I guess break them up, burn the wood & recycle the glass? I hate doing it, though.

Lots of coloured pencils. DC still find them useful for the occasional school project (they'd keep for grandchildren one day, too). I planned to give all short ones to school and keep the long ones (at least 7 of each colour I'd keep). How many does a sane person keep? Can I give school a mix of long & short or will the precious darlings fight over them?

-Yours, A recovering hoarder

PenelopeFlintstone · 13/01/2018 00:36

My declutter today was to write important dates in my diary then throw away all the scribbled bits of paper and notes That's a good one.

I imagine most of you with almost empty houses Er, no. :) Did you see my post about two lounge suites in one room? LOL

Old picture frames. Spraypaint them and use them?

Lots of coloured pencils. I planned to give all short ones to school Do they want a load of short pencils?
and keep the long ones (at least 7 of each colour I'd keep) Whaaaat?? Way too many. Keep two of each and give all the rest to the school. Keep them all in one small pencil case. Nice and tidy.

Betsy86 · 13/01/2018 08:12

Im going to risk the machine im not sure what there made of *Penelope
There a shiny ish plain material nothing heavy or expensive i reckon then will n ok hmm!
Haha to washing wedding dress its true though it was £60 to have my friends dress dry cleaned so shes still not done it and wedding was a year ago lol.

Thats a really goof declutter on filling in your diary!! Must feel so much more organised i promise myself every year to use one and stop by end of jan then feel flustered remembering/forfetting things lol. Im going to do the diary you inspire me!

Betsy86 · 13/01/2018 08:20

Goo luck in the pantry!! I enjoy doing areas like food storage as i know if somethings gone off etc that well it has to go and dont mind getting rid. Its the not buyin multiple cand of food etc at same time I struggle with. Although have been trying to have a cull and eat things already have in freezer etc so counting that as declutter lol xx

StealthNinjaMum · 13/01/2018 10:22

Can't quite throw cables away - just want to make sure all photos from broken cameras and phones are downloaded and will need dh's help with that. I will get there one day! (Hopefully this year)

Well done tidy I am using one of my many notepads as a giant to do list organiser at the moment. So far the year has started well and I haven't forgotten any of dds multiple demands.

Lijkk Love it! If only my house was empty! It's slightly messy at the moment because I have been getting stuff out of cupboards to throw / give away but actually if I ran around for ten minutes putting stuff away you would have no idea and might think we were a tidy family. I would die if you ever went into my Room of Doom or the spare room but I'm working on them!

I find weekends hard because I have less time but I might look through my wardrobe when I get dressed as I think I have some cotton tops with holes in that I might chuck out.

SandAndSea · 13/01/2018 12:27

Lots of coloured pencils. DC still find them useful for the occasional school project (they'd keep for grandchildren one day, too). I planned to give all short ones to school and keep the long ones (at least 7 of each colour I'd keep). How many does a sane person keep?

This made me chuckle Grin especially the bit about keeping them for grandchildren. You really don't need to keep 7 of each colour - two's probably more than enough. If you ever have a coloured pencil emergency, you can buy packs for £1 all over the place.

(Disclaimer: I still have the same small box of crayons I had as a child.)

SandAndSea · 13/01/2018 12:36

Oo Oo!! I forgot to say... (we might need a drum roll for this)... I sorted out my mortgage yesterday!!!!!!! I think it's all done bar some legal stuff.

It's been on my list for ages so a gold star is definitely in order! Star

lljkk · 13/01/2018 13:05

I have crayons, too!
I am thinking about making some of the crayons into candles.
My eldest is 18yo, grandchildren soon not so crazy a possibility.
I think I have worked out that I will never again need to buy socks.

Gibble1 · 13/01/2018 15:53

DH and I are in the bedroom. I have taken outside a huge primark bag full of recycling. Lots more to report later.

Gibble1 · 13/01/2018 20:03

Just had tea, soon getting back to it. I have listed multiple items on Facebook to sell. Actually an estate car full if it all goes. Drawer from my side of the bed has been emptied so I can fix it. Bed was pulled out and hoovered underneath. Folding the sock basket 😩 and then continuing with the rest.

PenelopeFlintstone · 13/01/2018 21:48

Well done Gibble. Goodbye moths.

What were the items that people put out of their house yesterday? Mine was two bagloads from the pantry.

MajesticWhine · 13/01/2018 22:54

A minimal effort today. But I went through a pile of papers in the kitchen and recycled most of it.