Decluttering at the speed of life

[Sallygoroundtheroses]

The follow on from www.mumsnet.com/talk/housekeeping/4709904-im-doing-the-31-day-declutter-challenge?page=21&reply=123534967 as we go into February and maybe beyond. We are no longer doing the numbers challenge but chucking, recycling, regifting and reselling the clutter in our life.

*The title is a nod to Dana K White, someone who has helped me declutter.

@Hottytotty Oxfam used to accept rags/worn clothing and take it for recycling which also raised money for them. Presume they still do that. I know some items were used to make mop heads. Might be worth checking with individual stores if you're making a special trip?

Little and often is definitely the way forward. I am committing to something out every day and after six weeks or so, am starting to see the difference with more space available and the house feeling a bit tidier.

I am so close to finishing the bulk decluttering.
I am looking forward to the day where everything fits into its assigned place, and I can then just flutter through and gently get rid of more so drawers and cupboards are less than full capacity.
I love the concept of a curated home and I love white and space, but in a situation where my home is technically classed as overcrowded, I have to be much more ruthless than many!

H&M take any textiles in any condition. And if you're a member they will give you a £5 voucher. Hand bags over at the counter.

Also M&S i believe.

I'm plodding along, not getting anywhere fast though. I took 3 large bags to the charity shop yesterday, and have 4 parcels to post today.

@Hottytotty our council recycling centre take old clothes towels bedlinen etc they do say no duvets / pillows though

Slower day today, couple of gift bags out along with a folder with some notes from a training course that I attended pre-covid and have never looked at since. Also had a second sweep of our DVDs and have a pile to drop off tomorrow.

I've put a couple of DS birthday presents straight in the charity bag. He really won't even look at them, or they are very similar to things he already has.

Our local authority takes textiles with the bins, you have to leave them on top of the bins in a carrier bag or bin liner on collection day.

Not much focussed decluttering this week but I’m getting better at chucking as I go.

I did the January challenge and continuing into Feb. Yesterday ds (12) and I went through some of his old toy boxes and chucked any random or broken items, counted ~30 in all. He also started building some of his Lego sets again and we agreed to take some of his least fave pieces to charity.

Went to see my mum at the weekend and took a load of books to her charity shop as it’s an easier drop off. Unfortunately she gave me a load of gardening magazines to take back with me 😅 I will pass on once I’ve read them. Say no to more clutter!

Goodness it's tough this decluttering business, isn't it? I'm another one who is paralysed partly by hatred of waste. Finally bagged up some old bits from my medicine cupboard. Only things OVER 10 years old, though, as have read that most things are still just fine until around then. Very short list of medicines that can be harmful if taken after expiration date. Shows how much I struggle with this stuff!!!!!

Also - many thanks for tip about H&M's fabric recycling programme. Most places seem to want clothing rather than rags/odd socks etc. Needless to say I have plenty of the latter that I don't want to go into landfill.

Charity shop run - 12 DVD's, a book, trousers and two random items. Have also agreed to gift aid so the emails from the charity will hopefully inspire me to continue.

Ten minutes in kids room and also got rid of an entire biscuit tin of random shit. It's all in the bin, including the tin for recycling!

I managed to get rid of two storage units today so that is a win. I have three bags ready for the charity shop too.

@Bellaisoneluckywoman I think to make it easier on yourself you have to view waste a different way sometimes. if things are broken beyond repair or outgrown or past their best, or not used they are already waste, you are just postponing the disposal. Keeping these things in the house can just make you feel guilty for either wasting money on them not using them or not utilising them in some way
The money has already gone if you keep them rather than selling / binning / donating / recycling them it just becomes someone else's problem to bin them later, it doesn't alter the fact that lingering under your stairs for 3 years before going to landfill isn't any better than going to landfill now. Unfortunately there are some things which are not recycleable or donatable or sellable and for long term peace of mind just dump them.

There is no point in regretting the past it is unchangeable the only thing you can do is try to avoid future waste by not buying what you do not need, or buying too much so future buying with intent is better than guilt over the past.

Amen to that @Cottagecheeseisnotcheese

“There is no point in regretting the past it is unchangeable the only thing you can do is try to avoid future waste by not buying what you do not need, or buying too much so future buying with intent is better than guilt over the past”

I was feeling lazy today and read the thread and thought I’d do a quick win declutter. So the fridge/freezer door has been cleared of old invitations, frayed pictures, appointment letters now attended etc.

Hi all. Love this thread! I've been on a decluttering mission for six months. Thinking that my home was really quite minimal but realising that I could live with a whole lot less. Wishing I had kept a tally of the number of items that have left my home but unfortunately didn't start counting. I'd imagine easily 2000.

The most helpful tips I've found are to monitor what comes into your home too and fill cardboard boxes as they come into your home. So, if I had an Amazon delivery and it arrived in a box, I wouldn't recycle the box but instead fill it with items to donate. It really puts me off ordering things because I know it may be a slog to fill it again!

I find Facebook marketplace and other online selling sites frustrating because the amount of time wasters is unbelievable 🤦🏻‍♀️ but I have a few large items of furniture (a brand new bed and mattress and a 3 piece nursery set) that I refuse to give up on and donate because they're immaculate (and we're expensive!). Looking forward to reading more progress as you all declutter more 💕

I'm selling my house at the moment which is helping. I emptied the rammed bathroom cabinet yesterday and only put back a few things. I won't get rid of everything I've bagged up but it was quite interesting how little of it I usually use!

Wise words, @Cottagecheeseisnotcheese. I am determined to be more mindful about what comes into the house in future - for SO many reasons (environment, stress of clutter, money etc.). In the meantime, I am chipping away at things - very very slowly - but still heading in the right direction. Determined to avoid landfill wherever possible so booking slots at local tip where most things can be recycled. Love the idea of forcing oneself to fill incoming Amazon boxes with donations. Genius!!

Hello everyone. Do you mind if I join in. Have been working on decluttering/being a bit more minimalist for some years. Last Saturday I got inspired by a minimalist mom/Courtney Carver joint video about clothing and sorted clothes for the current season. The premise was only having clothes that fit and that I feel good in! A bag of stuff is ready for the charity shop and other stuff is in a "time will tell" box. I've moved some summer stuff into a different cupboard and will also dip into the time will tell box for this as the season changes. My current wardrobe looks like this.
I do have tee shirts, trousers and leggings in another chest of drawers.

Today I managed to drop off DD2's baby clothes to be made into a memory blanket - she's 17! and I've finally been able to let go. I had a very difficult time after she was born and so it's taken many years to build up the courage to do it. I think she'll love the quilt.

Welcome @EducatingArti Love the pic of the tidy wardrobe! Very inspirational!

@MastieMum The memory blanket sounds like a lovely idea. Hope you can post a picture on here when completed!

@cleanthegutter good idea to reuse delivery boxes to fill for donations. I have one on the go currently that I'll hope to sell through the Ziffit app.

@PermanentTemporary Good luck with the house move. Great excuse for a thorough declutter!

Morning all. I’ve done 4 small bookshelves this morning. One shelf at a time, set aside the ones to go to charity, dusted the others and all back again. I think I’ll accept that might be enough for today.

That's great Sally!

I've got a couple of viewings today so was mostly cleaning. But a friend dropped off a bagful of books! I'm grateful- sort of. I've stuck them in the car for now.

I've just dropped a bag of at a charity shop. Two pairs of kids trainers, a hoody, t shirt, small decorative box that was an unwanted Christmas present and some unused sink drainer things that won't fit any of our sinks.

DH has just bought me a book on decluttering and home organisation. It was very hard not to just put it in the charity bag!

Last year I got rid of lots of books. It was hard as I was very attached to them but don't read actual books any more due to my declining eyesight. I kept a few that weren't available on the kindle and I will replace any I want to read again with electronic versions.

I did keep all the Terry Pratchets as I'm hoping my DCs will like them too.

Thank you for the welcome! I find books quite tricky to get rid of ! I'm liking all the charity shop drop offs. I'm struggling here with earache and what I think might be a sinus infection so I'm having a really slow morning. Need to do some bits and pieces though like my and my mum's finances ( she is deteriorating in memory etc and I have poa) as well as sitting and drinking coffee with manuka honey in!