I’m doing the 31 Day declutter challenge

[Sallygoroundtheroses]

I’ve done it before but not for a while. Despite a huge effort to declutter last year, the house is looking a bit chaotic again. So 1 item on day 1, 2 on day 2 etc.

I’m off to find an item…

Day 4: a pair of kitchen scissors, 2 pairs of worn out pyjamas and several old pieces of old costume jewellery. 10/10

Day four - four baby/toddler advice books that don't need to take up space on my book shelf anymore!

Great to see everyones progress! I have a few things in mind for later on, am at work til 6 and find it hard to get stuff done on my office days.

4 done this morning so on track with 10/496

Cable; puppy pads & 2 random cardboard cartons that I was saving in my "p&p" draw

Today - two jigsaws and several out of date things from kitchen cupboard. I’m ahead of myself at the moment and have put buy a box of old mags to have a last look at then throw.

Ok so 7 jumper/hoodies plus 1 book gone to charity shop today.
Two (nuisance hanging around) individual drink sachets consumed.
Junk mail, plastic shirt package thing, sundry cardboard little boxes, box from Christmas cards, paper hat, bits of card - gone into recycling
= counting as 14 so now running total 45/500 gone.

Plus, pending:
2 x generic IT manuals gone into next charity bag
Popcorn, confetti, gone into bag to give someone
Mis-shapen cushions pending, covers in wash
Drawer organiser pending, have cleaned

Mainly Christmas cards and outgrown toys and a few baby items. I'm on 27/10 now.

And DC can stay for now😅

So far....
1 silly bow tie
2 padded envelopes I'd been saving
3 bras that haven't fitted since I had my last baby (now in 2nd year of uni)
4 empty Pandora boxes

I'm back at work tomorrow so might do it for my office too.

• A carrier bag from Harvey Nichols that I only kept because it was from Harvey Nichols
• A zip up bag from pillows that I thought might be useful and never was
• A pair or pants beyond their best
• An empty selection box

10/10

I took a bag of 12 things to the charity shop this afternoon.

I bought something there but it was an item we need to replace anyway and I was expecting to pay about £70 so getting it for £15 has to be a positive.

HippoInABadWig I have a bag which I can't bring myself to get rid of as it is from a favourite local shop which has closed down. I also have a vintage plastic bag from the 70s, M&S when their brand name was St Michael. I've told the DC to list it on ebay when I die.

@HippoInABadWig I came across a zip up bag from pillows - but I've put it with similar items (vacuum suck out the air bag things) ...as I thought it might be useful.............😧

One fitted sheet that the elastic had completely gone on. Going to make it into cleaning cloths but still counting it!
Cardboard box from jigsaw puzzle roll to recycling.
1 pair of football boots into donate pile, 1 pair of school shoes in bin.

4 - old ski jacket and trousers not used for years to charity, likewise a thermal top and novel I will never read from my bedside table

Day 5 (I'm a day ahead)

2 x almost empty jars of honey that had gone solid. Washed out and given to a jam maker
1 x pair of Slippers with the sole falling off. Bin
1 jar of horlicks given away
1 ancient half eaten sweetie cone binned

15/496

I am so glad to be home after nearly a week at the PIL’s.

Whilst unpacking I’ve been checking the cupboards and drawers for bits that can be thrown out and have done 40 today. Some toiletries that will never get used (stretch mark oil from pregnancy - youngest is now 4!). I’ve also thrown out underwear and clothes with holes in and admitted defeat with some long-term residents of the odd sock bag.

Running total 43/500.

Cover for a rabbit hutch, never used as rabbits are inside a shed,
2 bags of plastic recycling taken to a supermarket
old Stamps sent off to exchange for new ones.

That made me smile!

chloechloe you have inspired me to do the odd socks box soon. I know there is a primary school uniform sock in there which belonged to DD, now in her mid 20s.

Stealth de-cluttering today.

Have put 10 of DH's old 'novelty' ties in the bin. They were at the bottom of a drawer and will not be missed as long as I don't mention them. 😂

2x jigsaws added to the charity bag along with a couple of scarfs that I will never wear.

This all sounds like excellent work.

Ive watched The Minimal Mom's latest Yt video in which she does a whole house declutter with tips for each room/space. Really motivating

Been ill today so nit done anything but yesterday dh emptied food cupboard and we threw out old pasta and quite a few old sauces that had been bought as xmas presents and other out of date dried goods , probably about 15 items
Also bagged up some old medication to take to the chemists

@WhereIsMyRollingPin and @CherrySocks have sort of nailed the main themes in their posts, I think.

1. Sentimentality
2. "It might be useful"

I think I can crack "it might be useful" more easily that sentimentality. I'm going to try to be really aware of the WHY I am keeping something, and decide if I NEED it.

Anyway, I sorted through my nail varnishes late last night and was delighted to find that exactly 5 of them had dried up or gone gloopy - serendipitous!
15/15

Has anyone watched the Stacey Solomon program "How to sort your life out in 7 days?" I wish I coukd do that!!

@RomainingCalm 10 novelty ties?! That's an impressive collection!

Yesterday I tackled the Christmas decoration box and definitely got more than 4, but lots were small bits and bobs so whilst it's good to do it doesn't make the house less cluttered, and I sorted out the Christmas cards. I'm at work today so I'll try to achieve 5 more substantial things when I get home!