Decluttering Thread 3 - Decluttering on bit at a time

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Just realised we filled up Thread 2 without a way to link to this one, can’t see that anyone else has started one?

I did drop back the borrowed boots, go me!

didn’t tackle the umbrella pot/dumping ground though

I'm sure there a few dead lice stuck in our combat, right next to a part of my will to live!

I'm doing OK. Just under 100 outs for five ins. Ds15 is unwell and off school. I seem to be in right mess again. More going than coming in but I really am overdue a good tidy up. Two pairs of jeggings very close to ripping and I won't be replacing them. I think I need there pairs max. One for wearing, one for in the wash and one clean spare. I've currently got about six pairs.

It's all making space I hope

incessant 100 outs is amazing. I hope ds gets better soon.

I have done some ‘everyday’ decluttering. Two crop tops, a pair of slippers and a coat that’s too small for dc. They’re in bags, with the socks dd1 decluttered a couple of weeks ago, and in the car ready for the charity shop.

Well done Incessant with getting 100 things out!

I did manage some decluttering at the weekend. Two Xmas tops have gone in the too small clothes bag, and the Xmas jumper from last year still fits DD so I didn’t need to buy another. I had a sort out of one of the ‘hot spots’ in the dining room where stuff accumulates, and got rid of a few leaflets and receipts.

On Monday I took the latest bag of baby clothes that I’d sorted previously to the charity bank, and added a hoodie to the charity bag as DD says the pockets are ‘too scratchy’.

Lots of Xmas stuff going on this week, plus DD’s dance exams, and I need to do Cmas shopping, so I’m not sure whether I’ll get much done this week!

Hi everyone, I dip into these threads every few months or so then lose momentum/life gets in the way!
But I had a really productive day last week which resulted in almost 100 things gone. I’ve also listed a few things for sale on FB/Vinted and am trying to stick to a one in, one out rule.
There are still a few clutter hotspots around the house which I’m hoping I can tackle over the next few weeks/over Christmas leave.

I see your dead lice and raise you dead lice foam on school t shirts; before I discovered nitty gritty I was using some foam/comb combo on DD's hair in the living room coz best light I hadn't realised but the dead lousy foam was flicking onto the clean school tops in ironing basket, I thought "oh what's that?" looked awful couldn't be wiped so needed a hot re wash 🙊

I have been busy actually getting things out of the house. I took some broken electrical items to the dump and clothes / rags to the charity shop. In total it was a car boot full.

Old photo frames x3, framed picture, one book and the clothes bag to the charity shop today. One more sideboard drawer sorted and notes from a work educational meeting into bin (meeting was in 2019!) no idea how or when the notes ended up in there 🤣

Haven’t updated for a while .
Quite a lot happened . DS had both of his uni interviews and felt them went well . Now we wait … DD finally got her offer from the guest school she did exams for and to our surprise it came with an academic scholarship so she did very well ! Now both have a bit of a break although DS is revising for mock exams in Feb and DD will have to prep for 3 more schools entrance exams in beginning of Jan .
Now she’s on her first school ski trip in Austria and it looks like there’s lots of snow , I hope she’s having fun .
We had the shower sealant done windows were washed thankfully before this cold weather . Gardeners were meant to come end if this week but maybe not in this weather !
I will try to book some of those remaining maintenance jobs for Jan . Have to add gutters into the list and there’s 3 broken parts on things replace like a fridge fruit drawer front . Trying to do things as they come and not procrastinate but it’s hard when I need DH and he then procrastinates or is too busy . He’s all wrapped getting ready for his kit car parts arrival soon . Granted the garage has never looked this tidy just before he’ll make an awful mess there and probably for a long time while building the car . Need to take before and after pictures I guess and weep .
trying to summon the energy and motivation to put my cleaning stuff etc back in the cupboard there before the boxes come but been frantically doing Christmas after getting DD on her trip a few days ago .
planned to do the charity shop last weekend but forgot they weren’t open on sun so will have to be next in between getting a tree and decorating and baking with the kids trying to get into Christmas mood . I’m fantasising about getting a car full out if the attic there should be a few boxes worth by now again .
btw this time Olio took 3 tries with DS gaming steering wheel but we didn’t give up . Previous 3 collections were prompt .
A couple of things out since last time I’ll try to remember where I got to then do not listing things twice . might have to correct myself in a bit
-dd too small hockey stick that’s worn out too
-dd chewed up mouthguard
-dd worn out school shoes
-2 pairs of destroyed school trainers
-another face mask used up
-1 more old dog toy , he got his monthly toy and treat box a Christmas one so I went through his toys as usual
i’ll check my last post now and see what I’ve forgotten

Oh and DH started cleaning the shutters but hasn’t finished them yet . Want them done by Christmas hopefully . I’ll send kids school blazer and trousers to dry cleaning once DS finishes his term week later than DD ( he’s going back later too in Jan ). I’m trying to get ready for the next term in advance . Then realised I should plan for DS 18 th birthday as well since DH won’t so yet more work for me . I suggested a weekend away but not sure yet . Around that time will be possible Uni offer date and his practical driving test too .
more outs
-2 pairs of old socks
-8 pairs of old school socks
-dd old leggings
-dd stained pyjama bottoms
-dd stained pyjama top
-dd old sweatpants
-dd stained T-shirt
-DH old swimming trunks all to rag or clothes bank
-dd small unused sweatpants
-dd small denim skirt both to charity
-dd trashed pencil case with its contents
-3 more rolls of ribbon to charity
-2 old water bottles to recycling

And
-2 pairs of old pants
-14 more pairs of socks
-1 faulty ceramic soap bottle

I've been slipping a bit. Got a quiet week this week after Christmas shopping and socialising so need to get on top of things. Several jobs I need DP to help with so they haven't been done.
Sold an item on Facebook last week. Got rid of all the packaging from online purchases, I was holding on to some in case I needed it for posting. Sorted a lot of paperwork too so lots went in the recycling. Go lots of plastic wrapping for the supermarket recycling, got rid of some yesterday but hardly made a dent!
I've got a few shampoos on the go, finished one this week.

Haven't updated in months, sorry! We moved last year and I wanted to declutter loads beforehand, but it was so stressful and OH was not on board at all with decluttering prior to the move. As a result we probably moved half a van's worth of stuff we probably didn't need. I'm now getting rid of dozens of cardboard boxes for recycling, have a giant bag of clothes and three large boxes of great quality toys for charity. I've also found a few items to regift or rehome. I've tried to chuck as little as possible but filled half the wheelie bin regardless. Still have a large cupboard to sort and our hundreds of CDS... what do you do with old CDs? Do charity shops even want them?

I've binned a broken room thermometer. I had my suspicions for a while so I took it into my icy hallway where the thermostat is on 18°C with the boiler chuntering away in it's cupboard, put it right next to the thermostat for half hour and it said 24°C! So into the bin it went.

I've given up on selling things Lazyakita , you can ask a charity shop about the CDs or try something like MusicMagpie if you've loads of them. But I put the card sleeve into recycling, the plastic box into recycling and the disk into the bin.

Some progress here . DD came back from skiing a bit late yesterday and although we have unpacked right away to check for mess and wet stuff etc in her bags I haven’t looked through every bit of clothing to see what’s missing if anything . She’s sick now so hoping it’s not covid or Strep A !
we had the gardeners to tidy last leaves etc the other day . DH managed to take one charity shop box today and tomorrow will do another dump run inc some bags to rag and clothes bank . He vacuumed shutters from the topfloor and in general deep vacuumed there for Christmas. He also got my new glasses for me and the Christmas tree which will be in the garden for a while longer we’ll put it up in the week so it’ll be nice and fresh on Christmas still . He hung up the wreath that came from the florist yesterday it’s all decorated with cones and berries and moss etc and reminds me of the forests in my home country ! He then went to tidy more in the garage in preparation for his next big project arriving . He is getting rid of 3 medium storage box fulls of his old project remnants and tomorrow he and DS will look though DS EPQ engineering project leftovers so they can go as well ,he’s got the finished product saved .
when he was leaving for charity shop I finally went back to the attic to find anything else for them to take and then stayed there all night slowly beavering away . Found quite a few things and organised a bunch so some freed up boxes to use for other stuff and a bunch of stuff leaving the house . We looked through several boxes of DD craft and science kits and she agreed to let go of few and took some down to use up inc a robot beetle that turned out to be pretty useless and not really working but hopefully she enjoyed making it at least . I was able to let go of a few more of my own things too and some kids clothes so happy about that .
this week we also got more teachers and friends presents out of the house although 2 small things were given back to me . Oh and DH finally did his latest big mail pile so that’s decluttered too . also I opened the parcel mountain last night so all that packaging going to the dump tomorrow and folded all the clean laundry yesterday and there were a few out from that as well .
Out today :
-5 pairs of DD small pyjamas
-4 pairs of my old sweatpants
-5 pairs of old pants
-17pairs of school and other old socks
-1 DH old T-shirt
-1 slip cover for a footstool we don’t even have anymore all to clothes and rag bank
-1 model movie making kit
-1 egg painting kit
-1 new dress up costume
-1 pair new too small kids school trainers
-2 pairs of new leggings I don’t like
-1 kids new sticker book
-1 pair of new kids flip flops
-1 kids puffy vest
-1 kids puffy coat
-2 pairs of too small kids ski gloves all to charity
-3 beads sets possibly to charity too
-1 pair of new welly boots going to grandmas
-1 paint by numbers going there too
-10 packets of old Easter food I found to bin and am recycling the packaging
-3 dry cleaning metal hangers to metal collection
-1 old storage box to dump maybe to reuse area
-1 bug dig kit
-1 crystal growing kit both to my school fair / charity box
-1 open bag of old balloons to bin
-1 used up engineering kit to bin and recycling ,the product was no good it didn’t work but now we know!
-3 boxes of DH garage workshop project remnants going to dump
-1 box of DS engineering school project remnants to dump too
-1 dog toy that’s lost it’s squeak to bin
-1 half used paper planes packet to recycling
-1 piece of padding from a pull up bar that’s long gone to bin
-1 doormat the dog soiled to dump
I know we got lots done but plenty left to do and now I fear DD is sick and maybe will make us all sick so then nothing will happen . I am now so sore I can’t move and still need a shower then sleep . Hope I can get up tomorrow ! I’m elated about getting stuff done though ! The only way it up !!!

Be more productive in the last few days. Giving all the rooms a thorough clean. Living room done and a box from a similar sounding useless robot beetle went out. Got a couple of things aside for charity shop.
DD has been doing her room this morning and has got rid of a few small bits, mainly actual rubbish and broken things. I've started the kitchen, the only out so far some colouring I did during lockdown. I have put some things in a bag which I need to look through but they're all together. There's a pile of stuff for DP to sort through.

I'm aiming to get a Christmas pre-clean done too! Currently sitting on sofa procrastinating making lists.

Met my target, 2,028 outs this year - target was 2,022. Found a bag of rags in the Christmas box (no idea why!)

Target for next year will be just 1,000. Mostly kids clothes I expect.

We had a big in of a whole kit car 😁, DH next project but he had cleared out his double garage for it , most of the boxes fitted into the racking he’d emptied and thankfully he still hasn’t blocked the access to my storage cupboard I’m planning to finally arrange . After decluttering in the attic a few days ago I ordered more storage boxes to move stuff into from moving boxes and they came today too . I’m quite a sad person ,I even dreamed about the cupboard and it’s future contents so I think I’m ready 😁!
a few randoms outs :
-1 old broken umbrella of mine
-a few travel and other toiletries used up from my stash
-1 old toothbrush holder
-1 pair of DD small once used pool slides
-1 case for glasses I don’t need the optician gave me
-a few items of unlabelled clothing that came back from the ski trip in her bag , if no one claims it it’ll go to clothes bank I’ve posted about it and no interest yet , of course DD brand new second ski coat is gone too and that was labeled . At least she still has the nicer one and this was from a sale . I was prepared for lost items .

We took DD to the doctors and got antibiotics just incase it gets really bad over the holidays but it’s likely viral so we won’t use them . Had to cancel our dinner and theatre plus her riding camp though so that’s annoying . I’m sick too but not the boys yet . Will hope we’re a bit better by Christmas and new years so we can see DMIL and maybe do a few outings with kids next week , not just have illness and revision for both kids exams !

I have got rid of some more vinted bits but bought dd some Christmas outfits in the sale for next year but I'm still doing about 10 out for 1 in. Going to start a fresh in the new year. I'm going to start by sorting and packing away the decorations rather than the normal throwing them in mixed up into the box.

Not much done for the past couple of weeks, but today I took two bags of maternity clothes (which I’d sorted through a couple of weeks ago) to the charity bank. This has cleared some space at the bottom of the wardrobe, which has now been filled with Xmas presents. Sigh.

I've not been on here all year

But I am coming on to say I have got rid of a bin bag of clothes to a charity collection and a shopping bag of uniform to school. I am really pleased with myself.

(It's been a hell of a term)

I’ve pretty much given up for now if I’m honest, Christmas just overwhelms me, what with the decorations & cards (which I love in a way but do make the place look more cluttered) and the presents coming in, I just find it hopeless to clear anything away.
oh and the extra food and treats on the side, which of course are lovely haha!

I do have a big pile of paperwork to tackle and keep putting that off so maybe saying it here will encourage me…

DH is going to the tip (recycling centre) with various stuff, like old wires, an old sky box, batteries etc. tomorrow so that will clear some stuff I guess, but it mostly gathers in his office so it doesn’t impact on me.

the builders have nearly, almost, just about finished, and have cleared lots of their stuff from the storage area/not a shed/not a garage/ not sure what to call it.
when I have nicer weather and enthusiasm, we are going to move crap out of the old shed and move the strong shelves in there. Then hopefully ditch lots of the shed crap.

Yes Christmas isn't the time for it. I have got in touch with someone I did therapy with so that might give me some ides hopefully

Accidentally decluttered a plastic gravy separating jug by pouring water which was too hot into it. I will probably replace it at some point but it's not essential, so I'll count it as an out. Used up a packet of Oust I found in the cleaning cupboard and remembered why I switched to using lemon juice to descale the kettle - the chemical smell is gross.

@lazyakita some charity shops do want CDs. I tend to go into charity shops and ask if they want what I’m giving away. My favourite one says they sell loads of CDs and DVDs - I think probably because so many others don’t take them. Or you can try music magpie or ziffit. Failing that offer them for free on freecycle or Facebook. I have heard of people on allotments using them to scare birds away or schools doing craft activities with them. My dc had to take CDs into primary school but I can’t remember what they did with them.

My decluttering here has mainly been shredding. Dd2 has given me a dancing sloth to give away so I have a charity shop bag I’ll shove in the car til after Christmas.