Decluttering thread 4 - progress rather than perfection

[Pigtailsandall]

Thread 3 got filled up so decided to start a new one - hope everyone can find it!!

And DD did one of her engineering boxes too …

Sounds like everyone is chipping away steadily, which I guess it is all about!
I had one big success this weekend - husband went through the last of his CDs and donated a huge pile - we still have several boxed but this has made a visible dent. So out this weekend

73 CDs,
2 food bin liner rolls donated as we compost
baby nail clippers
kids outgrown hoodie

At 966 items now

Amazing @Pigtailsandall. My big win on CDs a few years back was persuading my other half to put them into those big wallet folders. They are still unnecessary clutter but the take up almost no space now!

I’ve started another big charity bag and I’ve remembered some shoes I haven’t worn since before I was pregnant (so 2019) up in the loft, so I’m going after those after work!

@Nordicmom - I totally empathise, sounds like you are doing brilliantly.

Right, I'm going to do the 31 days declutter starting today, backwards! Got the find 31 things to go out now.

I'm not feeling it and want to crawl back into bed but I mustn't

@IncessantNameChanger Sorry to hear about your mum, I hope you are coping OK. My parents have been in their house for over 45 years and the thought of clearing it fills me with dread. In fact they have a Welsh dresser in the kitchen which I don't think can actually be moved out as the entrance to the kitchen has been remodelled since they put in there in the 80s.....

Few bits and pieces of kitchen surface crap have been binned, plus some OOD party bag sweets and a piece of birthday cake which was practically fossilised in a forgotten tin 😬I have a bag of textile recycling stuff which I will try and remember to take with me on the way to work tomorrow as there's a bin at the station. Also decluttered the caterpillar growing kit which the DC had for their birthdays as they have all turned into butterflies

Rather productive day yesterday!

46 Shoes/clothing bits went to the donation bin including an excessively large and poofy bridesmaid dress. I intended to sell it and did try a few times but it’s erm… a rather specific taste I think. 4 envelopes of old paperwork out of the living room and into the shredder, and an old bag of frozen cherries have been made into purée for DC.

I’ve been trying to declutter my mind a bit by starting the massive to do list for moving. Things like DC’s EHCP and medical stuff we need to do sooner rather than later, same with school and nursery places. It’s not helped to be honest. I need to get my formative assessment submitted by the end of this week for uni but I just can’t concentrate. We should find out which of the suitable specialist schools DC will be going to in September this year this Wednesday, so just feeling really unfocused.

Total is now 78.

The freezer will be getting a declutter today as hello fresh have delivered my order to god knows where but not to my house …

@LifeOfBriony don’t hold me to this, but isn’t perfume meant to be good for removing grease from clothing?

@RidingMyBike haha, most of my ‘outs’ usually end up at a halfway house (known as the car!) remembering to take stuff is the hardest bit I think.

Nothing major today actually out as very busy, but have thrown a few more things in the charity bag, got the other half to do the same, and put a few bits of junk/ broken things in the bin. One eBay sale posted off too.

Up to 131 now.

Thanks realfastfoodie dc used to be obsessed with playing ninjas which is why I named myself that. I did the right thing with the toaster, I put it in a drawer on Wednesday and have only got it out once. I’m eating less toast and I love that I am not clearing up toast crumbs. Anyway until Wednesday I considered that I had ‘finished’ the kitchen in lockdown but on deciding to tidy chopping boards away I ended up getting rid of 5 baking trays, gone off custard and two gone off icing. I then found a frying pan to go. In fact I have about three more frying pans that could go as I have a favourite pan that I use 100% of the time. They’re quite expensive so I am going to think about whether they should go. It’s so stupid, I usually find decluttering decisions easy.

incessant I’m sorry to hear about your mum. (And the house clearing will really bring back memories so sending hugs).

I sorted a black bin bag for rags and a bin bag for the clothing bank. Some is Joules and Boden but I don't really want to list it right now on vinted. I keep saying I will get to a sensible number than do seasonal listing a few times a year. However I never get to this stage.

Dh did the tupperware draw. I need to count those too.

Also sorted ds15 wardrobe. A few things put away for his younger brother to grow into. I'd normally feel sad they are growing up but I'm a bit numb still.

@Jaberwockky Really? Perhaps I should move the perfume to the cupboard under the sink, instead of keeping them in my bedroom. I could even pour the contents of one bottle into the other and recycle the left over bottle.

No time to do anything today.

Two outs today. A gloopy nail polish and a bath towel that keeps shedding fibres on me when I dry myself. I have plent others of both Total is 462

A couple bits from the clean laundry :
-1 pair of DD stained pyjama bottoms
-10 pairs of old socks
-2 pairs of old pants
-1 DS old T-shirt
-1 pair of my old pyjama bottoms
all to rag bank
I’ve been resting my injured leg so not done all my usual daily cleaning etc just a bit of tidying and minimal cleaning . I folded the 5 baskets of clean laundry , a couple of beds got changed rest tomorrow , all the towels were changed too , the last one of the winter duvets to wash and some dry cleaning was collected , I did a bunch of never ending admin to do with kids stuff mainly ,some online shopping for presents ,and the Ocado order for tomorrow . We also washed a lot of laundry like always and got DD to write rest of her birthday present thank you cards which I’ll try to get mailed tomorrow.

Yesterday was:

A bag of fake cobwebs, an old letterbox flap and a pair of trainers. And two unidentified planks of grey painted MDF.

Going to attempt to get into the bedrooms this afternoon to see what I can find. I’m trying to do TOMM too which I’m hoping will help me keep on top of the clutter once is down to a more manageable level.

Dress has arrived so just need to try it on and decide if I’m keeping it. If so my old midi dress will go in the clothes recycling bin.

35 out yesterday. I did pick a few bits when I dropped my donation with the clothing bank so that will come off today's total. I can still some easy wins to get rid of so hopefully can hit today's 30 without to much of a problem

Slightly different afternoon than planned, DC fell asleep on the sofa after school so stayed downstairs to keep an eye on him as it’s pretty out of character and he’s not had a nap in three years. So cleaned the utility room and kitchen.

2x old car seat covers, 2x expired multivitamins, 7 empty packets of paracetamol, a broken thermometer and pack of covers, and a useless mould spray I bought a few years ago. Need to add up my overall total but feel off to a really good start.

I think DC are generally coming down with something. Both are asleep and it’s only just gone 17:00. Probably need to wake the one on the sofa and get him to actual bed if he’s that tired. The dress is perfect, so I’m the charity bag the other one goes.

Out one pack of novelty nail files I got in an Xmas stocking approx 30 years ago(!). They must have moved house with me at least six times?!?!

So a few outs today, an old lunch box donated, 2 items of clothing sold on Vinted, and two ink cartridges sent for recycling.

Feet have finally started to peel, so I have been mostly decluttering skin It took about 7 days to start, and I wouldn't say it's been dramatic, but definitely noticeable and my feet are certainly softer. I think you're meant to soak and moisturise them to speed it up, but I haven't done anything apart from give them a quick scrub in the shower in the mornings. Will definitely give them another go but make sure they're in date this time!

@SydneyCarton I’d argue decluttering skin counts 😁

Had a day off to get a load of stuff sorted. I did loads of jobs and sorting and organising. Not just decluttering but I did manage a big charity shop bag and fabric recycling drop as well as big load of rubbish/ packaging/clutter for the bin and a few odds and ends. Actually most proud of a few things I used up, including finally sorting out some wall stickers for my son’s room which have been sitting on the side since we moved in!

big jump up to 182 total!

I try not to think about how long clutter has been with me. Some of the clothes I am chucking haven’t been worn for 5+ years 😳

Oh I have some clothes like that too! I have just started a diet plan as a last attempt to see if I can get to the weight I'd like to be and wear some of this stuff again. Otherwise it's going.

I've had a pretty limited wardrobe for quite a few years because of pregnancy, then WFH so haven't bought much, but have only cleared out things with holes in etc!

sydneycarton that’s great news knowing the peely thing Is having an effect, one of the great joys of Mumsnet is hearing that a complete stranger is shedding foot skin!

Anyway today I spent ages sorting out more playmobil, I sold a couple last week so I’m keen for it to go. I think if it’s not gone by the summer holiday I’ll put it all on freecycle.

I also put four bags of toys and clothes and kitchen stuff in the car for the charity shop.

im still decluttering my kitchen, today I ate a can of chickpea curry that I bought in the first lockdown when I think sainsburys gave it as a substitute for something else but I wasn’t about to turn food away!

My partner had a real push in the office so I've been able to get in and clean some areas that have not had any attention for a while. I've also donated 2 rugs and a box of baby bits (creams, lotions etc).

I’ve been on a little mission. Not that much out of the door yet but another eBay sale to post, a box of things taken for free, and another big bag for the charity shop to go tomorrow.