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

Gosh, typing rubbish
i said "For info, I'm moving from a small place to a small place today"

I'm not moving today! In about a month.

And from a small place to a smaller place, that should say!

emmaemarald welcome! I can relate to what you’re saying. I used to have a tidy, organised home and then fifteen years later I was living in chaos and mess (having acquired a chaotic husband - now ex and children). I know you’ve got a deadline but do it bit by bit.

in terms of crockery, in my area, British Heart Foundation pick a load of stuff up so they might help. Or you could put it on freecycle or Facebook and get someone to collect it.

stealth thank you. I don't want to deal with the CFs that seem to turn up in those situations. I will def see if any charities will pick it up.

on one hand, a month seems ages but then I look at the list - I have at least been organised enough to make one - and just feel incredibly irritated by it. My sister suggested a packing service to take out one layer of stress, but I have a feeling I better do it myself...otherwise it's going to feel like a waste of money. No idea how much such a service would cost. But packing seems easier than the rest of it.

there are two big storage cupboards in the new place and I'll be able to keep winter and summer clothes on rotation at mum's so that should help.

i'm off tomorrow but I will look at the to do list in the morning.

did a lot of cleaning before work then accidentally decluttered my favourite water bottle by dropping it and smashing it on the way out 🥺 the cup remains

Mascara and eyeliner used up yesterday.

Oh no! Sorry that happened.

I am feeling a bit less irritable about it today.

my plan today is to start organising small stuff, toiletries, medicines etc. I figure it's a "start anywhere" job.

I have realised I can't avoid a couple of charity shop runs but hopefully it will seem less awful when this effing cold weather calms down a bit.

Btw anyone else find MN is their worst procrastination habit?!

I have a bit of an irrational dislike of charity shop drops and also tip runs. Most people I know love going to both but either activity seem to send me into a tizz and if I can pass the job onto anyone else, I will - usually, though, the stuff just stays in the house because I also don't like asking for help/favours which is why it's such a chaotic mess - and so it goes on

I totally understand. If I drove, I don't think I'd be enthused by it either.

Have done about an hour of sorting. I feel like I don't even know what some of it is.

I do think it will be easier when crates are here. Maybe I'm starting too early? So confused rn.

for example
tub of liquid silver cleaner

what do I with that?! No idea how to dispose of it. I used to actually clean jewellery..l used to have jewellery and wear it. I used to go glamorous events. Seems amazing now.

It's really silly though because I feel a great sense of relief when I do go and drop everything off.

I'm sure any kind of sorting will help.

Nearly at the end of my last crazy work day of the week (thank goodness!!) and feeling excited about having a bit of sort out this evening. I've mentally prepared a bag of things to get rid of and will be passing a charity shop on my way out tomorrow so can drop it straight off.

I have moved a million times including abroad, and also had my stuff in storage when I lived abroad.
My tip is to start with the low-hanging fruit. Don't agonise over a single item, instead, grab a rubbish and a recycling bag and fill those up. When you come across an item you definitely don't want, take a pic and set it to one side. Then, one evening, set down with a glass of wine and list those items onto a local fb group or freecycle. There are some time wasters but 80% my stuff is collected within a day.

Then go through bathroom items, empty out stuff you know you wont use and recycle the containers. Empty out expired food and take to food bank if poss, if not, put in your council's food recycling.

Don't start with the complex bits, start with easy wins. You'll see how it frees up space and then the catharsis will set in.

I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed today too.
im halfway through my 5 weeks off before starting new job when I feel life won’t be my own until I get a set rota and know what I’m doing. I certainly won’t have 5 weeks off again anytime soon.

But our house feels no less cluttered than before. Not helped by DH bringing home loads of crap from a flat we’ve been renting out and are thinking of selling. He wants to put useful stuff aside for our DC for when they move out, eldest is only 16…

for bigger charity shop drop offs I find it’s easier to use the charity shop that is by a supermarket as I’m driving there anyway, can get a trolley for:the car park and wheel everything over, then do my shopping. The sense of relief when stuff is gone is worth the work.

DH did break one glass earlier, that’ll be the limit of outs today I think!

293+1=294

I understand the 'no less cluttered' thing. The times I feel like I must have freed up some space is when I need to panic-tidy and I can hastily shove things in cupboards that were previously too full to fit anything else in [grin{

I'm sure it's the same everywhere but every time I go to any of the local charity shops, there's always at least one thing they're not accepting so I have to bring it home again.

I tend to put stuff on the street on a sunny day and it goes quick! I do live on a fairly busy street though. If it's tons of stuff, how about a garage sale? Is that a thing in the uk?

Bagged up the dc’s duplo today. Offered it to a friend but she doesn’t want it.

will try and sell on fb. Have a huge bag (one of the £2 ones from the entertainer).

I did this a few times in lockdown and most things went.

I also use a 'Don't Dump, Donate' group on fb and whilst there are many no shows, everything goes fairly swiftly.

@ememem84 I'm sure it'll get snapped up quickly on FB

I just had a box of 20 books collected which I'm very pleased about and have started to fill a bag for the charity shop tomorrow.

Ooh and I've thrown a pair of slippers away that I loved but were very passed their best quite some time ago.

DD dropping a readybed she’s too big for round to a neighbours.

we have a Whatsapp group for the road, I might start listing more stuff on there as it’s easy to drop stuff off then. Listed the readybed an hour ago and now it’s gone.

294+1=295

Oh and garage sales, not so much of a thing here. Carboot sales, yes but I've found people want things for under £1 round here and I come home with the car just as full. FB and eBay are a much better option for me - and I made the decision many years ago, if an item won't get at least £10, I'm better off donating it - unless it's a random item that wouldn't sell in a charity shop

I love that kind of quick turnaround!!

Pigtails low hanging fruit is done already - I had a move fall through last year. Also I am good about that stuff because lack of space kind of forces that IYKWIM.

I think I am not very realistic about how big a job it's going to be. Or I just whine more than I should? 😂

I've sorted toiletries and medicines, and thrown out stuff that was no use to anyone.

I'm not here for three days now. Hopefully the crates and bubble wrap will arrive soon, like Monday or Tuesday. I think that will help.

Having almost finished our decorating, DH now wants to put the car back in the garage so lots of the stuff we have been storing in there since early December now needs to be put away or got rid of. DH has been bringing things indoors this evening to sort out - as most of it is my stuff I will have to do the sorting. I'm not ready for that quantity all at once - I'd like to be able to put away the stuff I want to keep, then deal with the rest of it. So that's my weekend.

Anyway, last weekend I went through an old file full of bank statements and associated letters and leaflets. I shredded a lot of it which was very satisfying. Also got rid of some boxes and bubble wrap, and an ink cartridge for our old printer. One printer out and a new one in.

Just a couple of things this week . not getting anything much done on top of daily housework and a few appointments except some admin and shopping for random things people / dog needs . I’m so happy we finally got the dining room emptied a while ago thought and last weekend DH successfully moved the big display cabinet with DS so it now covers an tv outlet in the middle of a wall that we won’t use there and because of its new position in a recess the ceiling lamp will hang in the middle above a dining table I’m still looking for and not to the side of it . Finally got DH to list first of the items I have put aside for olio ; a painted large canvas I was going to put in front of the tv sockets but now I won’t need to so it’s going . I’m hoping I can get him to add an unused planter , some wire baskets I won’t need unless he wants to use them in the garage cupboards, a couple of brand new items for dogs . We decided we needed the telescope stand that I thought was going to for DD so that’s not in the pile . Possibly also some storage containers . DH hates dealing with people on these things but I declutter so it’s his jobs to dispose of the items .
I have ordered the new suitcases for our half term trip so the earmarked 3 suitcases are also going once the replacements arrive.
I don’t quite remember where I got to last time on my master list so I’ll have to check .
Out at least :
-6 DD scented markers
-1 pair of DD jeans that aren’t a good colour to charity
-another random tennis ball I found
-1 metal hanger from the dry cleaners to recycling
-a couple of more packets of Christmas food from the larder
-1 old bottle of vitamins
-1 painted canvas on olio
-1 DD broken keychain from her school bag

We are still working through the remaining maintenance jobs in the house , I think we’ve now got the gutters, solar panels , skylights cleaning booked for soon at least . Then need to get the same company to do the carpets after half term , and DH has contacted the water softener company since he noticed a small leak with the unit ,also need the kitchen filter changed . These jobs seem never ending but hopefully most are just yearly . DS received his driving license in the mail today woohoo ! We’re still waiting to hear from one Uni plus DD schools , DS 18th birthday is next weekend and I have to prepare for travelling in the halfterm . I managed to get one medical app done for myself and some more booked but I feel pretty depressed and overwhelmed atm again so feel like I’m walking in treacle and not getting anywhere . I’m up all night then sleep all morning . There’s just too much going on atm and I always feel physically unwell let alone mentally . I’m trying to keep going though …

Bag of duplo listed and has been claimed. Will be picked up on Sunday.

also sifted through and have got two huge bags for charity shop. And one bag of dds clothes for a school mum.

win.

@ememem84 I'm sure the Duplo is in demand! I bought some for my 3yo second hand and it wasn't even that cheap.

@EmmaEmerald So you've already made a start! I'd still recommend a rubbish sweep because new rubbish/recyclables might have accumulated in the last year. Also get rid of anything you were on the fence about last time, if you haven't used it since. Or maybe just start packing - getting just one or two boxes ready will feel like you've made a start and it can be motivating :)

I'm wfh today and I have a half a day, so I'll sweep through a few drawers after I finish work.