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

Still not doing very much but had to sort out sailing kit for 2 kids for club next week. Resulted in being able to pass along 4 items of too small stuff, plus one item for the charity bag.

275+5=280

hoping to start getting organised soon as building work is nearing its end…at last!

Two bags of kids toys for charity sorted out yesterday.

today have listed a radiator on fb for sale. Fingers crossed.

one bag of toys binned.

Random lump of African wood (a broken pineapple from a set of carved fruit kept by my parents from my childhood but have all the other unbroken bits still) passed onto a carver guy to see what he can do with it.

280+1=281

lots of uniform ready to go just need to find the people for it

then need to buy the next lot!

4 old meds to the pharmacy (although 3 new in)
Sold 10 items on vinted so that's 10 items, 10 envelopes, 10 bits of tissue paper out, and a wee bit of cash in. Spent more than I've made though.
3 coats and 3 pairs shoes in the charity bin

Trickling along.

Anyone mind if I trail in? I actually did the Konmari declutter in 2016 but with 2 babies since then things have built up a bit, though never as badly as before. Just trying to get rid of that arrgh too much stuff everywhere feeling! I think my clutter threshold is low though, and our flat is small!

Out today

• a book I used for Uni


• stained und torn clothes


• used up a random selection of fridge stuff so a sort of edible declutter


• have also earmarked a toy box to go but have to wait till DS1 is in nursery or he’ll want to keep it…

Someone is supposed to be coming to get the rad today. Woooo

Hello, can I join in?
I had a literal cry last week when I went into the room of doom attic to look for the electric pump for the paddling pool. We have so much stuff and it stresses me out.

I've got rid of quite a lot of the last few days - out of the sheds especially, which is already making life much easier. Plan is to go through the entire house (again!) this summer.

Despite this success I now feel overwhelmed and not sure where to draw the line. I guess not overthinking it and tackling the obvious stuff first is the way to go...

I sorted out my packets of seeds. Throwing out about 40 packs, out of date, opened or nibbled, but wondering if I should just put a pinch of each into an empty bed and see… or put them out for the birds. Sounds quite a little job but it really wasn’t

I haven’t been on for ages, life is still busy with dc. One was finally diagnosed with adhd and asd and the other has been having anxiety attacks since February which is when I stopped posting. It’s hard to say if things are better with her as it’s the holidays but neither child really wants to leave their room.

Anyway I had aimed to finish decluttering to sell it but it’s such a massive job and I have loads of unfinished diy jobs to do.

I am up to 1990 bits decluttered but would like to reach 3000 by the end of the holidays. I’m including lots of paperwork in this.

I have also had the start of a digital declutter and got rid of a couple of thousand photos and files.

I've re-discovered the joy of selling/giving things on FB marketplace/selling group...thankfully with realistic expectations and clear boundaries now I find it amusing rather than irritating!

Got rid of a bulk garden item, some tool storage and some children's toys today.

We’ve now booked a trip to Mauritius end of August so praying that won’t be cancelled too. DH has been going to work for a bit and seems better from covid but I think he’s feeling the after effects still but has gone to do a sport yesterday so can’t be that bad .
have been getting more shopping for random items we need and admin done and the daily cleaning and laundry and errands . Kids went MIL for 5 d when we couldn’t do Finland but are back now since DS started his course for 2 w . Been scheduling things for DD so she’s got something to do as well and planning some more days out for her and DH too . He might take the kids out surfing for a day as well . I’m down in the dumps and nothing extra is getting done with dd littering or organising I have the suitcases out from thinking we’ll go see my family and am next packing for the Mauritius trip . I’m shattered physically and mentally didn’t even get vivid from DH . I’m trying to look to the future and plan nice things which often helps a bit but I’m very unmotivated . We were meant to have the builders in to paint some cracks etc this summer but no word from them yet also landscaper hasn’t gotten back to us I think the lady is on holiday . A few things in our new house will need servicing too so need to schedule those in . We got the ventilation annual one done at least . List is endless and DH back at work and super busy . I feel like I have about a hundred things on my list that need going soon and today just so tired I didn’t manage one phone call but will try to get a few bookings etc done online tonight .
throwing things out but by bit and stick to that habit . Windows just got washed again by our excellent guy and DH keeps on mowing DH watering the lawns that are looking a bit dry by now to be honest . He did a dump trip with recycling , clothes and rag bank stuff etc so garage is emptier, had to wash the dogs cover again after DD 10 drew on it unbelievably after being banned from after last chocolate biscuit eating on it ( there’s another sofa in the tv room ) . Now there’s an armchair cover going in next one of the kids has gotten some black ink looking marks on that too ggrrrrr. I normally wash them maybe twice a year now just washed so very annoying . A bunch deep cleaning jobs like cleaning the million shutters and inside windows have been added to the list as well . Dining room still has the decluttered contents of the garage utility cupboard and I have to go through the utility room under sink to organise them back into it . The elliptical still there too and a cupboard I want to get rid of to get the dining table and a low different type of cupboard instead also need an electrician to hang a lamp. I just feel too tired for my life . I have medical stuff for myself I should deal with but again too tired . Kids issues have come first .
out recently :
-1 little dead tree went to dump with lawn cuttings and weeds not sure if I’ve mentioned and I think the other tree can go too now that we’ll have our garden done
-2 damaged pots for the trees are going too , please I think they blew over in a storm and got a bit scratched / chipped and I don’t really want to use them in the new front garden because the marks annoy me
-3 metal hangers from dry cleaning to recycling
-15 pairs of old socks and 1 pair of pants
-1 more charity running shirt of DH
-1 more pair of DS small pe shorts
-1 DS old long sleeved T-shirt all to rags
-2 pairs of DD new tights to charity
-1 pair of old shin guards
-2 biscuit tins to recycling
-1 old pencil case
-1 much used board game we’ve had enough of finally going too but we have two cupboards full left

Binned an almost finished eyeshadow pallet. All but one shade used up. It was time.

I have been pretty good at decluttering the last few years. Now main house pretty minimal.
cellar half done, shed in progress.

Im thinking a declutter of life though in general is needed. Sometimes we over schedule ourselves so we barely have free time. So the last few months we keep at least one weekend day free. No classes, no appointments, no hosting big lunches etc. it’s really nice. And helps with decluttering as we have time to clear those odd bits on a weekly basis now, potter around doing garden or just go for a walk or swim.

@stealthninjamum was only thinking yesterday that we hadnt heard from you in ages. Hope the summer holidays allows for a bit of decompressing/stress reduction for you all.

@MarthaMayWhovier welcome and good luck with your project. Pick somewhere and just start is my advice. These threads started off saying just one item a day but it is amazing how quickly those items add up without feeling like a huge pressure. If you have kids and are done with the big baby items then dealing with those can make a visible dofference really quickly. I really like the Dana K White books and recently reread them because i needed a decluterring enthusiasm boost 😂

Thank you gassylady I’m going to really focus on ‘finishing’ the declutter this summer. Yesterday / this morning I emptied a large box that I’m sure we haven’t looked in for ten years! The thing about my house is we have ridiculous amounts of built in storage so before Covid it looked clutter free / even minimalist in some areas.

The box was full of wires, papers, childhood possessions of stbexh, two old Walkmans. All items have been sorted and out in the tip bag, rubbish bag or stbexh’s boxes. The good news is that I’m up to 2022 items decluttered which was my target for the year.

Later I’ve got a play date with a friend who I promised a load of stuff for at Easter but this is the first time we’ve caught up. I think it’s about 40 plastic Easter eggs. It’s already included in my 2022 but it’s a whole bag leaving the house.

Good to see you @stealthninjamum

@Nordicmom you are doing so well, and I loved Mauritius so much! Hope you get there.

welcome newbies! Definitely recommend Dana White too.

finished a tiny bit of shower gel left in a bottle this morning which had been put on the side instead of left in the shower. Gone now.

nothing else out but am planning to tackle the boys clothes, started in DS1’s yesterday but he had mountains of laundry to do so didn’t get far…

281+1=282

I was just wondering, I'm quite visually motivated for decluttering and obviously not too bothered about confidentiality so are there any FB groups any of you are in for motivation? ideally UK based for relevance. thanks

I'd still stay on here if course 😋

room for one more?

I was going great guns with my decluttering at the start of the year, then we had the inspection phonecall in school, life went to hell in a hand cart and progress ground to a halt. Now that the summer holidays are here I'm determined to get my mojo back and finish what I started.

I've been having a read of aslobcomesclean for motivation. Today I have made a start on the kitchen. It wasn't awful as this isn't my first round of decluttering, but I have still found plenty that can go in the charity shop bag. I'm fed up of it being a struggle to put things away because cupboards are rammed. I'm trying to hang on to that feeling and use it to help me make the tough decisions and be ruthless about letting go of things that we're keeping 'just in case'.

One major bug bear was the tuppaware cupboard. I could never find a lid to match a container. I'm trialling Dana's suggestion of storing them WITH the lids on. Yes they take up more space but it's now easier to grab what we need or put them away. I've culled the manky ones, ones missing lids and ones we just weren't using.

Also culled

• travel mugs that aren't leakproof
• out of date food
• ramekins/glasses that shop bought puddings came in
• cafetiere (we have 2, neither gets much use since we bought a coffee machine)
• duplicate utensils

I'm enjoying decluttering a bottle of wine in celebration of having done half of the cupboards. Aiming to get a nice, round 50 items out of the kitchen. Already in the 20s so should be do-able.

Not sure if it’s what you’re after but there is a lady on FB called ‘this lady can organise’ or similar. Think she does challenges every now and then.

DH found a bag of my DParents clothes in the attic (which they don't need) , they went into the charity bag

I need to do a Kitchen Clear Out soon

Pair of shorts and a bikini top in the charity bag.

also made up 25 party bags for dds party on Sunday so these will go out then. Phew. they’re currently sitting in a box on top of the living room cabinets.

@LivingInaBuildingSite thanks

anyway, yesterday chased the council about black and brown bins collection which will lead to outs but had an ' in' off these. really wanted them. had another time waster so DS's uniform still not sold