Decluttering Club thread 20(22)!

[Mommabear20]

Let's go!

Earlier in the week I sorted out the linen cupboard and ended up with a binbag of textiles to donate. Had to visit three different charity collection bins before I could find one that wasn't overflowing (the 2nd one just had piles and piles of plastic bags next to it and clearly hasn't been emptied for a while). But managed to get rid of that yesterday.

We've bought two storage units (the homebase version of an Ikea kallax - nearest IKEA is an hour and a half away, nearest Homebase 2 minutes away) for the office. It's still got unopened boxes in their from when we moved a year ago...oops! Hopefully going to get that built this weekend.

@RaspberryBlonde - bought it from this guy on ebay - he does a range of different sizes.
www.ebay.co.uk/sch/a.playford/m.html?item=272793454668&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

@Nordicmom - sorry to hear you're struggling and have more bad news. Don't be too hard on yourself if things aren't done as quickly as you would hope - remember one piece of paper in the wastepaper basket still counts as a win!

Agree @Nordicmom be gentle on yourself.

One of the tips from Dana (Slob blogger forgotten her surname) is to look, just look because you might think you know what’s there but be wrong.
Opened a stamp album I was sure had loads in in, it’s empty 🙄

Then put some loose ones actually into my old album and piled up the rest to give away with the empty one and a bag of stamp hinges.

So, out:
Empty stamp album, bag of hinges, envelope of random stamps

Also out:
Finished kids puzzle book
Too young maths wipeable work book
Unused colouring book

Wasn’t even really planning on attacking the bookshelf they were on!

Out:
60 + 6 = 66

In:
10

Out 1 ebay sale and one bag of clothes to the charity bin in TKMaxx.

I finally have started on my actual wardrobe. I realised last night that the reason I was delaying doing it was that there isn't enough space in the bottom of the short hanging as I had all my non everyday shoes hanging in fabric shelves. So I moved all my evening shoes to the spare shelf in the accessories cupboard so I now just have the smart leather ones hanging up. I reused one of the hanging shelves for stretchy mini skirts and non sport leggings and all of a sudden there was loads of space. I then split my clothes into navy, black and other colours and put the other coloured stuff in the middle so I will not pick up a black top and a navy pair of trousers in the future. Result.

A load more stuff waiting for my new Thrift bags to arrive and another bag for the charity bin tomorrow. I also threw out all the horrible wire hangers from the dry cleaners as we have plenty of decent ones to use instead. Long hanging tomorrow which will be tougher as I have lots of evening dresses with happy memories but are a bit "too young" for menopausal me to wear anymore.

Those who are unwell - hope you get well soon and have the help and support you need.

Today's area revisited was the back door lobby. Returned some unused spare bathroom tiles to the shed where we keep spare items like that. They have been sitting on the windowsill for ?18 months having been moved from the utility room where they sat for ?18 months.
It took 2 minutes.

No real outs today but some organisation.

I bought two new pe tops for dd2 as her current two are tight. The old ones will be donated to school.

I also ran around putting some of dd2s art work in a plastic folder.

I tidied away a few things that had been sitting around - Xmas decorations, pencils, pens.

I also went to sainsburys as they are the only local supermarket that give away cardboard boxes. I started to scan books into ziffit to sell. They’ll go into the boxes. I’ve been sifting through the charity shop donations and putting them in bags. I am going to take them tomorrow if I have time and maybe get the ziffit books taken.

As I absolutely have to declutter one thing I have thrown away a small toy that that came in a Christmas cracker.

When h has hospital appointment I’m decluttering loads of stuff then

Everyone is doing so well. I'm exhausted today. It's been a busy, tough day. Did look through my sandals and 6 pairs to go. I think 4 are good enough for charity but it's hard to know. One is a bit worn down on the soles?
Kept one pair that I like, they are comfy, but red smart casual heels. I don't normally go for red, I don't like to stand out. I bought them for a wedding. Might see if I wear them this spring/ summer, if not they have to go!

I threw out half a dozen items I had enjoyed making but no reason to keep. I am finding it hard to keep on top of taking donations to charity shop/clothes bin or posting eBay items so identifying things to bin was easier.

remains of Christmas cards-out
opened unloved cleanser out
very little I know but I want to keep going
free toothpaste from sensodyne rep-in

Today I:

Did the dishes
And a load of laundry
(These are still daily achievements for me!)

I watched some video lessons from the Take Your House Back course and did a no-mess declutter of the hall cupboard and kitchen side: have a pack of puppy pads to take to work (vets) and a small box of donations for charity shop (unwanted sock gift box I was given for Xmas, rainbow lanyard, apple shaped kitchen timer in original packaging, and a few other items I can’t remember). 2 whole carrier bags stuffed full of other carrier bags to take to recycling with next supermarket trip and a whole bunch of other rubbish/recycling in our bins. Yay!

My declutter also produced a pile of DP’s things that Did Not Belong and when he came in from work I went through them with him quickly and credit it to him about a third was got rid of, a third put away properly. Another third that I think should have been got rid of but is now just back in another junk drawer to await another declutter day…..but any win is a win!

Further drawer sorted and lots of mismatching or simplt tatty knee highs into the recycling textile bag

Will also check out the organising thread

Yesterday nothing happened as dd was awful. Tantrums all day- no idea what upset her so much!! However 2 things sold on vinted so counting those as a small win. And booked a holiday which definitely cheered me up!

Moved out of the old fridge into the new one last night. Resulted in binning loads of random OOD stuff, and loads of those little pots of sauce they give you with takeaway pizza. Probably about 10! DD always says she’ll use them later but never does.

First aid training later but need to get moving this morning to try and get something productive done.

Stamp stuff collected already though so that’s gone.

Oh so approx +10 items from the fridge (not even counting the OOD stuff)

Out
76

In
10
(Am expecting some Amazon shopping later though so this will go up)

Name hope DD has a more settled day.

I am continuing with the return to previously sorted spaces to do a 'new year' sweep. This morning was eldest DC's room - now left home - where I cleared some rubbish from the bottom of the wardrobe and found a 9 pack of toilet rolls. So have decluttered the toilet rolls listed on this week's shopping list and put the found loo rolls in the bathroom cupboard where they are stored.

Have a positive decluttering day.

Massive clear out of the conservatory today, in the hope that making room to fit a dishwasher will relive some of the stresses of life. So much old paper work and broken toys which are just being chucked. Also lots of stuff has ended up with mildew on it as we haven't really used the space for the last year to 18 months so trying to clean up some soft toys etc so they can be donated instead of binned.

Thanks @pollyannaperspective shes at the childminders today and I'm at work so she's not my problem 😂😂

@LivingInaBuildingSite We are overrun with pots of barbecue sauce and ketchup as DP always gets about 400 every time we go to McDonalds, despite the fact that we only ever use the BBQ sauce with their nuggets so really don't need to maintain a constant supply . Fortunately he gets very worked up about BBE dates, so if they're getting out of control I chuck a handful out and tell him they'd gone off

Went through the cups, glasses and mugs cupboard yesterday and decluttered several bits for charity - novelty beer stein, kids doidy cups, mugs that came with Easter eggs, that type of thing. I also need to go through the espresso cups and saucers that we have as part of my parents' wedding china set. We use the ordinary dinner plates and side plates all the time, but we're not coffee drinkers, and it's a nice Royal Doulton set, so I'll see how many cups and saucers I can match up and let the charity have them.

@SydneyCarton my partner is also a sauce pot hoarder, I honestly don't get it :P

I've not done really well this week DD was ill and I've been busy with work.

Two unexpected outs though as I managed to break two mugs when they fell out my cupboard 🤦🏻‍♀️ the sad thing is I decluttered mugs last year and got rid of loads so couldn't really afford to chuck any more 😂

A charity bag came through the door to be collected on Monday so I'm pleased about that! No joy on any of my listings and I've still not set up a Vinted 😂

I have achieved a life goal of ordering drive through mcds without getting any plastic. It took a while to navigate their rules,
For eg if you mention the word ‘meal’ they get very agitated if you don’t want to order a drink and force you to take bottled water. I drove off before they could throw it into my car once, sure they think I’m nuts 😂

So for the dc I now get
A sharing box of nuggets - NO SAUCES said v clearly
A plain burger - don’t say meal!
3 fries

That way, no drinks, no sauces.

But haven’t worked out how to get the Dominos pizza people to stop putting the little pots in their holes in the boxes. Trying different delivery companies now, a local one doesn’t do sauces so I prefer them.

Oh and have listed a folding gym beam and a Lego game on FB today.
And generally tidied the board games - we have too many and don’t play them enough. We need to be more disciplined and start playing one before various DC disappear after dinner I think.

namechange poor dd (and you!) I hope she’s having a better day today.

my name is stealth ninja mum and I hoard Nando’s sauce sachets.

I have put six toys in the charity shop pile which now fits into three bags. I have also arranged ziffit to pick up two boxes on Monday. I’m now going to drive to the charity shop. Yay, stuff is leaving the house!

Total this year 82 items