Decluttering Club thread 2 2022 - trying to reduce stuff a little at a time.

[londonmummy1966]

New thread for those wanting to declutter

Old thread here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4441273-decluttering-club-thread-20-22?pg=1

Binned a baby thermometer (one of the timer tippee egg ones) as it refused to work.

used up a shampoo, a mascara, a face wash.

charity bag - pair of trousers which are too small for me, phone case, skirt which doesn’t fit and a jumper I never wear.

binned another pair of ds’ trousers which he’s knee slided through.

Today's out: a pair of slippers which fell apart and a top with a hairdye stain on it which won't come out

Today's out: a pair of slippers which fell apart and a top with a hairdye stain on it which won't come out

I'm still in a right mess. I was all set to tidy up today but realised I have to buy dh and BF birthday presents so I have been out in the car all day. Dh said he would tidy up Saturday but didnt so the house is a tip and I have bags of presents etc added to the mix.

I've not been very good at checking in but I'm still chipping away. I found the back of an old drawer today, the rest of the drawer went ages ago so no idea why that was still here!
Made a start sorting out my summer clothes today, I have 3 tops to go so far but need to try some things on.

Our motorcycle panniers finished at the action at a really good price and are hopefully being collected on sun . I’ll be happy when that happens . Spotted another old towel that went to ragbag and too small DS pyjamas in a bundle I washed . We’re trying on a bunch of shorts and a few T-shirts tomorrow since I’m packing for his trip so possibly something else going too .I threw away a few plastic art folders when I did the kids art boxes . I will look through dog toys again . And after checking a few more empty storage boxes we’ll put the old ones on olio . Dining room is now empty of stuff from the locker except for those panniers that are being collected soon . Dining room chairs are in there now out of our way . DH has been deep vacuuming more skirting boards etc . I was cleaning quite a lot in the day and doing lots of laundry but still need to wash another sofa cover . First came clean of the chocolate DD put on it at least . Tomorrow a school tour if I can walk otherwise it’ll be DH going without me . I will get back to looking through those remaining 4 boxes next week after we’ve sent DS off on his trip . I know I need to keep the momentum going ! There’s still the rest of the attic and the garage to do . I’d like to think one day in the not too distant future we’ve done these jobs and it’ll be maintenance .
annoyingly an ornament I waited to be delivered for months arrived broken today so I’ll have add arranging that to be returned to my endless to do list grrr

Have been really busy at work but calmer now so trying to have a go at things. Got rid of a load of small child 'masterpieces' aka splodges and some colouring books - my kids have never had any interest in colouring but we get given them.

I have been in a position to declutter for the last two weeks, almost.
Would love to report there is a vast difference in how the house looks, but sadly not the case. I am able to carry on decluttering for a few more days. Hopefully more of a difference will be seen.

I thought the house was relatively ok, but it is all taking me ages.

Should say I am doing a total house declutter.
Having enough space in cupboards to put things, is rather essential.

Yes I find it takes sooo long as well. And I feel guilty getting rid of the (young) children's things without asking them even when they clearly haven't touched them and aren't going to use them... I am trying to tell myself that there is so much clutter they can't access things they do actually want to use so it does benefit them...

that is one thing I didnt get rid of - children's toys
But I am prob older than you and are now using them for the grandkids.
Toys and games are expensive, and glad I didnt get rid.
Didnt keep all the clothes, by a long way.

All the stuff they've grown out of has gone to a younger relative (except a couple of sentimental items like a newborn babygro). But things like used puzzle books are not going to be useful even if in the future I'm lucky enough to have grandchildren. So we definitely have stuff that is just getting in the way.... For example we still have two pushchairs and younger one hasn't used one for about a year... So far the toys I've cleared are toddler stuff that is easy to pick up in charity shops... Will be different when it comes to expensive stuff like lego but clearing that out is a long way off for us.

Went on the school tour despite feeling crap and then ended up realising I couldn’t do it with this dizziness and pain thanks to wast grounds so ended up sitting in the car while DH had a private tour with a girl from DD current school who just started this year . It’s a great school ,we just have an issue with the school journey and a few other things but we’ll have DD sit the exams I think anyway . On the way back we did decide to go out for a meal so me getting out of bed wasn’t entirely wasted .
DH who might be getting sick decided to keep the rest of the day off and got a bunch of admin and some more cleaning and laundry done . I’ve also tried to do admin and am sorting out DS clothes for his trip . One pair of shorts to charity but other clothes fitted . i looked through rest of the storage boxes and found 3 more shattered ones and one broken lid that will go to dump . 7 are going on Olio so that’s 10 decluttered and rest of a few different sizes are new and going to the attic for my organising. Now I do need to make a few more calls quickly …

Seems that our plastic storage boxes just went in 4 min 😁! If they’re collected promptly like the Lego and the books with no issues I’m very happy with Olio so far . I know we are giving out stuff for free but It’s very convenient getting stuff we don’t want to / can’t take to charity shop but not to landfill either out of the house quickly ! I recommend if you guys haven’t tried it yet . In our area there’s quite a lot of food from Tesco , Pret etc . We have just given out not requested anything so far .

Out: baby thermometer and some nursery clothes back to nursery.

@Nordicmom I've been v impressed with Olio too. Stuff seems to go the same day and there's a lot less faffing than with listing stuff on Facebook. I tend just to leave whatever it is behind the bin and off it does!

hmmm Olio's been a bit stop/start with me, I'm still "chasing" a lady around to collect a pop up crib (won't the baby have grown?) and now it's very rainy it's not always an option to leave it outside. I did have a lady collect a book that day even earlier than first suggestion but then she seems to collect stuff which I suppose is fine and her business

2 pairs of trousers and 1 bike arranged collection for but not actually collected, neither is the pop up cot 😕

Glad your paniers reached a good price Nordic

I'd relist the crib separated, people like this are a PITA. She probably doesn't want it any more, but doesn't want to tell you that because for some reason people seem to have a general dislike of honesty, so is making excuses.

Light you'll get there. When I look around I don't see anything that can be decluttered but I'm slowly getting rid of the odd thing here and there and eventually it does start to make a difference. I find when I'm tidying up now I'm not just tidying, I'm deciding whether to keep something or not.

Today's out: a CD I don't listen to any more

I'm getting much better at chucking stuff as I go now, sort of like you @WildBlueAndDitzy doing bits as I tidy.

Today I was looking for a nail file and whilst I was scrabbling around threw out an old lip balm I've never liked and a load of contact lense pots (ok not loads but previously I would have left them where they were). My mentality is definitely changing.

I am new to this thread but would love to join. I am currently trying to clear out many years worth of clutter and hoarding.

Today I sent a whole bag of good clothes that no longer fit to Thrift+. I know I wouldn't ever get around to selling them so this way they are gone but I may get a little credit back to buy new (second-hand) things if they sell them.

I then read and disposed of two old magazines from a pile that I am enjoying working my way through while having a cup of coffee.

I also threw out an old tube of lipsalve after trying it and realising it was so old that it tasted off.

Well done nordic. Your house must be almost empty now!

Still no noteworthy outs here. I'm instead cleaning a area a day then each area cleared is wiped down daily / weekly to keep clear.

I've done the draining board ( terrible for not clearing that right down each day)
One kitchen counter
Dh has done both coffee tables
Bathroom window
Bathroom shelf. This was indeed a despot of junk dust and caked on toothpaste. The shame. I can not remember the last time I cleaned it!

I'm still not in the decluttering mindset But I do need to start again. My eldest tripped over the kitchen steps/ stool which I had left in the middle of the living room so that made me feel guilty.

Just been to IKEA to buy a kalax unit for my sewing hoard. So that will be put away soon. I guess I need to tackle the toys at some point. It feels unmanageable now. The small areas suit me better right now. I'm almost there mentally with looking for secondaries for my son. I need to view another boarding school really then I think I have exhausted my options. He is a private SEN school but all the private secondaries are boarding distance. I'm realising I cant board him so I'm finding peace that it's a choice if perfect but boarding or a compromise to keep him local. His elder brother goes to an amazing private secondary Sen school but he is very bright.

Anyway I'm still a bit frozen in the headlights and ticking alone. Which is better than drowning I guess

We only just started using the Olio app so maybe we’ve just been lucky so far that every item has been collected at the agreed time . We put them out and puff they’re gone . Also same with EBay although DH is feb up answering endless stupid questions . The cancelled sale has been the only one so far in the last few years I think and I’m really hoping they’ll come collect in the weekend , the panniers are practically new but we don’t need them . Some rooms are indeed pretty empty now except for furniture and that’s how I like it although I am slowly getting a few decorative touches as I see items I like but only a couple I don’t want dust collecting clutter . We have still too much as drawers and cupboards I have gone through get messy and fill up again if they’re anything to do with kids especially . Haven’t been actively decluttering in the last few days am just trying to get DS out on to the trip now ,he’s going on Friday morning and his bag is very nearly packed .

We have the aircon repairman coming early in the morning and my MIL at school pickup time . DH will work from home luckily so he can help I still need to clean a bit I’ve been just doing a lot of admin today , he did a bunch of cleaning . I’m in pain and dizzy so I wasn’t up to anything more today luckily I’ve done deep cleaning jobs earlier and packed DS bag the day before .
our winter duvets came back nice and clean with the laundry app I’ve only used for dry cleaning before so am sending the two remaining ones tomorrow .

I am relatively new to this thread myself.
As far as I am concerned, the more the merrier on it. It helps to have the thread keep popping up on I'm on.

I am like you, decluttering years worth. At first sight, my house doesnt look too bad. Some rooms dont need much doing. But bedrooms, and the loft do.

I didn't do so much today as I went out for lunch but still made progress with the magazine pile. I tried on a few more of my summer clothes before I went out but decided to keep them until the end of the summer and if there is anything I don't wear this season then it will go.