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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Seeking Tidying/decluttering buddy/ies

195 replies

petal2019 · 23/06/2019 06:49

Does anyone fancy a tidying buddy? Or in fact a virtual decluttering buddy? I need to do some major decluttering and tidying... I wonder if anyone would like to join me in this and we could cheer each other on!!!?

OP posts:
RosaWaiting · 30/06/2019 15:31

petal I hope your headache has gone.

CuriousMama · 30/06/2019 17:43

How is everyone getting on? I've cleaned the whole of downstairs and rearranged the dining room. I've sorted through shoes and thrown some away that were worn. I've also sorted some more clothes for the charity shop.
We bought new dining room curtains yesterday from Dunelm. So much choice! What a difference they've made. If anyone knocked now I'd be proud to let them in Smile

RosaWaiting · 30/06/2019 18:29

Follow ooh that must be exciting.

Curious did you do all that today?!

The hoarding thread gave me the chills as well. I thought I was kind of self-limiting here but I've found a few bits in the under sink cupboard that I don't need. Sadly I also have many plant pots to give away - I didn't realise it was so insanely hot in this flat and such terrible conditions for plants to grow (or not!)

what do people do about paperwork? I know I was asked for a lot of stuff in regards to money laundering checks when I got the mortgage. I don't like keeping payslips and bank statements but the mortgage people told me it was very good that I had kept so many.

I've thrown out some things I'd like to keep - e.g. flyers from visits to places like Blenheim Palace last year. It's a shame but there's already a bulging scrap book and photo album so stuff like that has to go. I would like to be able to keep that stuff. Oh well.

CuriousMama · 30/06/2019 18:32

Rosa Yes I did it all today. You can always look at Blenheim ect online. I'm about to recycle my birthday cards. I used to save them but don't now.

RosaWaiting · 30/06/2019 18:43

Curious I feel inadequate. Grin

Yes, I recycle birthday cards too, I don't know what I would do if I had a house?

Magneticred · 30/06/2019 19:01

I've done all my list and sorted 1 bedroom out. I found bags of clothes I had put away when older dc had grown out of, for when younger ones grow into them. I have no idea what there is so going to have to make a list of it all. I now have bags ready for charity shop and school fair. Oldest has left school so he's going to help me take them tomorrow as I don't drive and they are big bags. Back is hurting now think I'm going to pay for all this tomorrow. But it's starting to look nicer and that's spuring me on.

lljkk · 30/06/2019 19:09

I will join you guys.
I try so very hard to buy nothing, and to sell anything we're not using or wouldn't likely ever use (give away/throw out)... and yet, still so much stuff here.
I'm better at not hoarding than I used to be, that's something.

DD is hoarder and actually complained this morning that she has too many clothes & will get rid of some. This is amazing (!)

CruCru · 30/06/2019 20:31

Hello, can I join you too please?

I’d started this but have had a couple of weeks where I hadn’t done anything. So far I’ve:

  • gone through the big bookcase on the stairs and got rid of a load of books I’ll never read again;
  • gone through the upstairs bathroom and donated a load of unopened toiletries to a lady who was running a fete;
  • gone through the cupboard in my daughter’s room (we’d been using it as a place to dump old baby stuff) and got rid of it so she can use it;
  • gone through all my old paperwork;
  • got rid of half my clothes and folded them in the Marie Kondo way - I now only have a third of the wardrobe;
  • gone through the shelves on my side of the bed and got rid of all the stuff that isn’t useful any more (guides and switchers for electronics that we no longer have);
  • gone through the contacts on my phone and deleted those where it would be weird if I got in touch again.

I still have so much to do. The next things to do are:

  1. Go through all the toys and donate those that are still useable but no longer needed;
  2. Go through the children’s old clothes and donate the ones that are too small (slightly tricky as all the charity shops near me have announced that they don’t accept children’s clothes);
  3. Deal with the piles of crap all over the living room (ugh).
9Greenbottles · 30/06/2019 20:49

Rosa and Curious and anyone else, have you considered scanning or photographing some of your cards and all of that creative writing or just all of the old paperwork that you probably don't need?

It is a bit of a wet afternoon job but oddly satisfying when finished - and you have memories to keep (or paperwork to refer to). One very bad winter when I wasn't able to leave the house for days, I did 15 years worth!

RosaWaiting · 30/06/2019 22:14

9GreenBottles

my writing is really not worth that kind of effort Grin

anything that was decent is on the computer anyway so that's okay.

re the bank statements and things - yes, I suppose I could do that but I was wondering about the legality - is it necessary to keep more than 5 years paperwork? I am very careful with stuff and always chuck out info leaflets and envelopes. I mostly bank online now but just wonder about the old stuff.

CuriousMama · 30/06/2019 23:30

9G I don't want cards ect. I like them for a week then they're gone.

WidoWanky · 01/07/2019 00:32

Can i join??

I have 20 years of memories i need to purge!! My favourite method at the moment is to take a photo of a specific area then work on that. Each snapshot only takes 5 mins to clear so it makes the huge job so much more manageable at any time.

My charity donation bags stay in my car and i drop them when the boot is full. My local hospice charity shop is loving me at the moment!😆

AdoraBell · 01/07/2019 00:41

Can I clutter the thread with a place mark please?

Seriously need to sort things out but currently away and my bloody frozen shoulder is hindering progress Hmm

Tidyhomewannabe · 01/07/2019 03:25

May I join please? I have been up from 2.30am worrying about how messy my home has become. I was going to wait until my youngest starts nursery in September, however I think I just need to bite the bullet and get on with it - especially if it’s keeping me up when I really should be sleeping!

Personal circumstances are difficult at the moment which has caused a massive slide in housework in general, I usually follow the organised Mum method , although it’s adapted to suit me, but I haven’t followed it for a couple of months and my home has really suffered! I honestly just don’t know where to start, so I’m procrastinating with a coffee, searching for inspiration/someone to tell me what to do Grin

AdoraBell · 01/07/2019 08:45

Sleep is super important Tidy so I would say try to get one room sorted. I’d say your bedroom, but you might feel the kitchen/lounge is more important.

Hope things improve soon for everyone.

FollowYourOwnNorthStar · 01/07/2019 10:28

Update from me - I did the laundry instead. It may or may not be because it is the smallest room :)

I:

  • arranged for someone to come and collect the old washing machine (instant space! Why didn’t I do that earlier!?!)
  • did as much laundry as possible, still another day of this to go
  • emptied the cupboards and benches and tried to be ruthless with the towels, linen and washing products that would remain
  • washed the floors, walls, cupboards and bench space before returning what made the cut
  • moves two plants from other rooms into the space, as it now looks so empty!

It may be silly, but I love the laundry now. I love that it is tidy, easy to clean and only has what is needed in it. If I lose motivation as I continue on the process, I will go back in and remind myself of how good this rooms feels and how wonderful it would be to have a whole house like that.

amicableAs · 01/07/2019 10:50

I threw away all the socks literally hundreds
I had 4 big baskets but never managed to pair them up so starting again
I just didn’t have the time so we’ve decided just to only buy the exact same socks so they are always a pair

Tidyhomewannabe · 01/07/2019 10:57

Well done follow , it doesn't matter whether it's the smallest or not, it's still an achievement to get it done!

I've wrote down a couple of things that are really irritating me so I've got my starting point, all small jobs but will feel huge when they're done because day to day living will go easier.

  • Make the laundry basket accessible so dirty clothes can go in it rather than around it (I have a pile of clean clothes on the top of it that needs putting away)
  • Clear out the shoe cupboard
  • Clear the part of the kitchen side which is used for a dumping ground
  • Make sure everyone has enough underwear and socks / tights in their drawers for the week ahead
  • Do some of the organising (fill out school forms , meal plan , pay bills, etc)

So far I have :

  • Tidied and hoovered living and dining area (no decluttering)
  • Ironed uniforms
  • 2 x loads of washing
  • Tidied bathroom
-
Tidyhomewannabe · 01/07/2019 11:00

Thanks AdoraBell , I have a feeling the sleepless night will catch up with me this afternoon! I have stripped my bed and thrown it in the wash , it would be nice to have a relaxing bedroom to retreat to.

Bunnylady53 · 01/07/2019 11:12

Oh my goodness I haven’t even thought about paperwork! And things like birthday cards. I used to keep them all! We also have tons of old photos that haven’t been put in albums. Another major job will be shredding, although hoping DH will do that as he’s clearing the office.

cikecaka · 01/07/2019 12:30

Had a lazy weekend, due to time of the month, seems to get worse the older I'm getting. Wash on line and one in machine. Tumble drier on with underwear. Will sort in a few.
Washing up
Sort kitchen table
Clear dining area floor
Shelves under counter

CuriousMama · 01/07/2019 14:28

I went for a clifftop power walk this morning then back along the beach. It gave me energy to decluttered some more clothes and do some cleaning and laundry.

Watching the Cure at Glastonbury on iplayer now 😊

Magneticred · 01/07/2019 15:52

I've managed to do laundry and bag up dc winter stuff and change most of beds couldn't do my girls room this afternoon as youngest was asleep so got stuff ready for dinner tonight and about to go up and sort the girls room. Didn't get much done as had an appointment.

9Greenbottles · 01/07/2019 18:21

This afternoon, I've painted the cupboard again, cut a piece of carpet for the floor and fitted it (no carpet fitters need fear for their jobs), built an Ikea Billy bookcase, then realised I can't fit it in the cupboard by myself. Just need my partner to help me - and I do hope it will definitely fit in. I was a bit blasé buying it knowing it was taller than the doorway...

I also did a heap of ironing last night and put all the non functioning electrical things from around the house into one box to go to the tip.

9Greenbottles · 01/07/2019 18:28

Rosa I think it's 6 years after the 31st January following the tax year end for ltd companies - so essentially 7 years as a rule of thumb.

I only keep very special cards, and have them in a wooden chest as a memory box.

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