Clutter Clearout - Countdown to Christmas

[chubbachub]

@MNHQ im unsure if there is a more appropriate topic for this, feel free to move if you wish.

There are 135 days until Christmas 2022. Christmas feels like a good goal as I know more things will come into the house so i want to use the time until then to have a good clearout.

My house (and mind) is cluttered with toys/mess. It's not unclean, it's just that 3 kids and summer holidays = mess and it's stressing me out. Luckily they are back to school next week but I'll still have a tornado of a toddler roaming about so there will still be plenty of mess.

Earlier today I was thinking about how the last few Christmases and birthdays we have been more minimal with what we bring in to the house but I know there is tons of stuff and toys the kids have outgrown/don't play with anymore that could be donated or sold or just chucked in the bin if it's broken etc.

Anyway I have decided I am going to go on a clearout journey and address different small areas of my house every day until a Christmas and try and get rid of at least 3-5 things per day. That could be literally putting it in the bin, in a donation bag or listing on Facebook etc.

Would anyone like to join me ?
We still plan on keeping it to a minimum regarding what we bring in to the house so I am just hoping to achieve a calmer space around me. I will be reporting back with what I have cleared out to keep me on track.

Areas that need immediate attention

Kids toys in their bedroom
Soft teddy toys
Big cupboard in kitchen which holds bakeware, pots and pans, blenders and such. Shit tip.
Two storage baskets in the bathroom that are full of products, some of which I know are empty.
Bath toys - some need a good clean or to be binned.
Garden/outdoor toys - we have too many scooters/bikes/skateboards due to outgrowing them
Toy box in garden is full of bits of things
Toddlers wardrobe, need to go through and see what she has grown out of that can be donated or sold on Vinted
Sort kids books and see what can be passed down to the younger ones and what can be donated

I'm sure there will be more things I find along the way.

Feel free to join or add your to do list even just to get it out of your mind and down in black and white.

I've just started to this but I think it's going to be very slow progress. The kid's wardrobes are full of clothes and toys and every room seems to have toys in it!
So far this morning, I've cleared out some toys that are well past their best and got some clothes and toys ready for charity shop but that's just one bag and I feel like I've barely made a start!
I also have a tornado toddler so I know how you feel!

I usually follow the Holiday Grand Plan as it makes it nice and structured :) it starts on the 29th August although I won’t start until DS returns to school in September.

I'll join
Rowing machine
Sewing machine
Maybe a Kenwood multipro
Beach chairs
DVDs
CD's
Knick knacks of all sorts
That's just the loft.

Have been through lots already. Got clothes to sell too. Gah.

Well done for getting started!

I'm still sat in the garden while said toddler naps (she was randomly awake for hours in the night which is SO unlike her and I'm feeling it today) and the older ones are out playing.

I will start today... but later.

Oh what is that? Sounds like it would help me. I need structure as I have adhd so I need lists or else nothing will get done. Hence the shituation I am in with the mess.

Oh no don't mention the loft.
I was ignoring that part of the house 😂

Truthfully I think ours is ok as that is DH's domain but I reckon there are piles of clothes that are kept for different seasons or for kids to grow into etc so they could do with a look through.
Well done getting started

I've been setting myself a summer holiday challenge - 10 items on eBay per night!!!! I've made about £300 so far some bits don't fetch much but it all adds up.
People seem to be very grateful for a bargain and ALL of the kids clothes are selling - I'm finding with the cost of postage it sells better if you make a little mini bundle rather than paying £3-4 postage for one item!!

I have a skip coming soon can't wait and 2 bin liners of soft toys will be being re-homed x

I could do with doing this as well. What a great amount you have made so far. I use Vinted for selling but you can really do bundles the same as on eBay. I just like that the buyer pays for the postage label on vinted and there's no fees taken off sales.
That said, anything I've made I always spend on kids clothes for the next season or sizes 🤦🏻‍♀️

I've got two chairs, they're lovely but nowhere for them. We had them reupholstered years ago, I love them but no space. Really got fingers crossed for eBay there. I got rid of a few books a years ago (I had many doubles and I passed on text books). Also going to sell my wedding dress. Blimey it's a lot when you type it out.

I will join you! Spent the last 4 days cleaning my DDs bedroom whilst she's away. I've come to the realisation there's just too much stuff in this house and it's making me miserable. I can't keep going g round in this endless circle of moving and cleaning stuff. So far 8 bags of rubbish out ...... now wheelie bin is brim full with another week until collection!

Here you go OP :)

holidaygrandplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/holiday_grand_plan_calendar_2022.pdf

This is how I feel too. It's a lot written down especially when I know mine is by no means an exhaustive list.

I always have good intentions but I am, by my very nature, a procrastinator.

For example, last night I loaded the washing machine and set the timer for it to be finished for 8am this morning ready to hang out in the beautiful sunshine. I even thought I may get another load done after this one, maybe some sheets or towels or something.

Well, that basket of washing has been sat next to me in the garden for hours and was only just hung up 10 minutes ago. The stuff at the top is dry just from sitting in the basket but nothing could will me in to hanging it up. Instead, sitting drinking iced coffee and planning a list of everything that needs done seemed to take priority over actually getting stuff done. Ugh I hate this part of myself.

But anyway, I have my list. I just need to get the ball rolling. I'm sure once I start I will get going and end up going OTT. (Like last night when I came down to put that washing on the timer and ended up putting all the dishes away and brushing/mopping the kitchen floor and cleaning out the fridge.) 😫

I will report back when I actually accomplish something.

Love your username.

Yes I know the feeling of clutter making you miserable. When everything is cluttered around me I feel anxious and like I'm irritable with everyone and don't mean to be.

Thank you.

I will procrastinate further now by taking a look at this link while I drink my coffee ☕️

@chubbachub I thought this was worthy of a suitable name change. The state of my house definitely has an impact on my mood. The mess I can see right now makes me so anxious it's unreal. I just want calm in my head and around me!!

I've also got to dispose of about a metric ton of soil and a load of bricks. We have a small low bed in the garden that has become a fox toilet. We've given up and need to take it out. Local cats crap in our garden and not their own. It must be disposed of, but it's a lot of work. Dreading that one. Might do a hippo bag for that one. 😔

I've been round the dining room with a black bag this afternoon getting rid of all sorts of junk! It's just not feasible to keep everything is it?
I am being brutal

I've found no end of junk and I'm now on bin bag number 3

@chubbachub thanks for the motivation!!

Oh I definitely need this!! Kids are back to school in 2.5 weeks and I'm determined to start a large declutter. We're possibly moving next year so there is 15 years and 3 kids worth of stuff that needs to be cleared to make the house presentable for sale.

I've printed off the calendar, thanks for that!

Still focusing on DDs room, 8 carrier sized bags of rubbish out of there already...... the girl can't seem to throw anything away 😕

I’ll join you! I was reading a review of a new book about decluttering and it said how all your clutter was decisions you haven’t made yet, and how bad for you mentally to be surrounded by so much indecision. Really resonated with me as I’ve got lots of stuff I’m just not sure what to do with, so it just hangs around the house!

I’ve found the app Trash Nothing very useful for getting rid of stuff for free.

I’ve also made a rule that if I’m going near a charity shop I have to take something in, even if it’s just a book. And not to buy anything while I’m there!!

Apologies I started this thread and then abandoned it. Probably because I've achieved nothing but keeping the kids alive during the heat the last few days. Some things I have been procrastinating on but weren't on my list were packaging up the sky box to return since we cancelled, and cutting the crash. I've done both of those.

Youngest is napping but when she wakes I'm going to start in her room and go through her wardrobe as well as sort out things I have bought for the next season for her. After this it will be time to sort the boys uniforms for going back to school on Weds (Scotland) and make double sure everything still fits as well as washing all shirts and polos - one son has sensory issues and doesn't like the feeling of new crispy shirts.

I've got to do these things today.
I also need to wash my hair which feels like such a task.
I wont do toy clearouts until the big ones are at school because there would be meltdowns.
I may sort the kitchen cupboard thats been bugging me later when I'm cooking dinner as the recipe im making takes a good 30-40 mins.

What else have everyone been decluttering/organising the next few days?

Cutting the grass, that should be.

Basically same as you @chubbachub

Have achieved little other than some sort of sleep (my only mitigation is that I'm recovering from surgery and cannot lift anything yet.) Just keeping up with the basics, I am a bit of a mess in the heat anyway but the surgery recovery is complicating it. I am still planning though!

I'd like to join! I got 3 bin liners of crap out of the kids rooms last week, and 2 bags to charity. Lost all my motivation due to the heat but thanks to this thread I've cleaned the long abandoned under sink cupboard and started sorting the cleaning chemicals. My big goal is to clear and redecorate the box room,

I've managed sweet FA..... its too hot and I don't do weather like this! I did a load of washing yesterday and two loads today so now need to put them away with the 2 loads still loitering from earlier in the week.......its not happening today as I feel dreadful and struggling to stay awake!