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!!

Omg what a good thread!!! Just had a mini break down about the house so very well timed. Has anyone got any trips about how they store their clutter. DP’s a bit of a hoarder and we’re in a tiny 2 bed flat, just constantly trying to ram stuff into the wardrobe it feels

Tips, sorry

@Gassylady nice your child is bucking the trend 👏🏽 and Theo 🤣
I know I always say this but I've got 2 off sick again they were red hot last night so definitely no school. it's just a merry go round of illness with 4 of them and me in healthcarethe irony
any spider catcher recommendations for awkward corners and anything to make washing walls easier? I'm thinking a clean mop but anything else?

@seperatedmum I just use a magic sponge thingy for marks, don't really wash the walls. It works great on kids pen marks etc.

I found 2 beautiful postcards when decluttering and actually wrote them out to my friends last night! I thought that's a nice day to declutter, actually sending them out to people. I posted them on my way to work andfelt accomplished. Also recycled a full colouring book

418 items out now.

I'm going to list yen more things today but sorting out a pile has taken far too long. Too much procrastination. My daughter hasn't even worn some of the bits she has outgrown. I'd really like to get rid of everything but her favourite things and start again. Luckily most of it was second hand to start with so it's not the financial loss, its just a pointless loss of storage space! Not many views on vinted so I might start bundling things up in under a month. Then if the bundles don't go I will donate to the clothing bank as we have a few. I have used them in the past ( covid, growth spurts, no uniforms in school and shops shut). I need to speed up but starting is always the worse, which I had done now

4 games my son has outgrown gone to a new home today.

1 big bag + half of recycling from living room and a bundle put on olio looks much better but not finished

Yesterday I threw out a sheet of gift aid label stickers from Oxfam, as I wouldn’t use them, and took a bag of previously sorted clothes to the charity bank. I’ve got another bag that could go later this week, if I remember to do it.

That's impressive TidyClutter!

Out today -

one top of mine, new with tags, looks like someone has tried to iron it and it's started to melt. Must check things properly when they arrive.

one babygrow to charity bag.

Total is 354

flowagurl I'd suggest separately to DH, otherwise however minimal you get he's going to take over your space. If he has to get rid of some of his stuff so there's room for you to have your own cupboard/wardrobe/chest of drawers then so be it

I’ve had to be a bit careful not to do too much physically since I felt bad last week . An issue noticed a few years ago had suddenly gotten worse and I might need some surgery but we want to go see my parents for Easter first so I’m not doing anything extra especially lifting etc . Need to see another doctor and to get a scan soon . In the meantime I keep on putting things away when I notice them so some progress . The two large charity shop boxes got finally dropped off last weekend and our two latest Olio listings were finally picked up today . Now nothing left to list atm . I’ve also changed my old pillows , DH still has two to do then they’ll all go to the dump . I folded the clean laundry and went through DS pants from his drawer and removed all the too small ones he says are uncomfortable.
Despite me not being very well we at least got a few medical appointments done last week and the gardener came (and “decluttered “the garden which looks tidy again ). We also went for a nice Mother’s Day lunch out to a restaurant I’ve wanted to try for a few years . Window cleaner’s due this week . Haven’t managed to schedule any more of the maintenance jobs yet since other admin and health stuff has taken priority. Need to get ready for our trip and sort out DD birthday inc a party and Easter while we’re away . Annoying I can’t do stuff when I have those boxes to still to sort out in the attic . I got DH to move some stuff around though now that I can’t .
On the plus side I’ve managed to declutter a lot of weight in the last month too!

Out:
-1 old blood pressure monitor back to MIL
-1 old ear thermometer to electronics collection
-1 useless coffee maker
-1 Tupperware box back to MIL
-6 pairs of old socks
-3 pairs of broken pants
-22 pairs of DS too small pants
-1 old pencil case of DD
-26 pieces of manky stationary
-1 pair of DD school trainers

After my excitement of selling an item on Vinted early last week, I've not sold any more and am awaiting the payment.

Have done really well today. Had a bit of time and replacing a desk so went through a drawer. Lots gone, make up stuff that has expired, nail varnish colours I am not likely to wear etc. All stuff I have looked at before but decided to keep but having to take everything out of a drawer does make me more realistic.

Yesterday I cleared out the desk
Today we had forced declarer of the filing box as DH needed a piece of paperwork and couldn't find it. Massive pile for incinerator tonight.

I boxed up a pair of outgrown roller blades and safety gear for DD to sell online. I also found a few more items of clothing that got missed in the clear-out on Monday. I've designated one spot in the hall for decluttered stuff waiting to leave the house. There were hotspots appearing in every room.

I found a few things that belong in my car, and I'll take them out later today when I lock up.

Hi everyone new and old.

I continue to declutter but will probably read more than I post because mumsnet does this annoying jumping around thing as I type.

538/2023 for me so far but 400ish was in Jan before I started a new job and new childcare arrangements- finding it hard to get round to just now but I'll get back to it eventually!

No physical decluttering today but I have deleted 6000 emails!

After feeling great decluttering/running on Tuesday and working yesterday bit fatigued now so will be pacing myself coz work tomorrow. need to temporarily declutter eldest to college first before anything 🤣

@LivingDeadGirlUK that's amazing, well done!!

@seperatedmum lol!!

I recycled a cache of Christmas cards I found, plus a small pile of shredding to work. Also binned 6 glowsticks that no longer glow, and shredded 10 nursery accident reports! I was really holding onto them but not sure why...

436 now. Should really hit 500 before end of month if I am to stay on track but unlikely!!

No energy for nothing extra here atm I’m on a gruelling diet before the holidays and just managing the every day stuff . Need to do a lot of admin let alone more decluttering . Kids will go to MIL for 4 d on their holidays which start after tomorrow and DH for two of those with the dog so then I can get something done possibly if nothing else then packing . Tomorrow I’ll have to get some stuff done ! Window cleaner will at least , dog will stay home from doggy daycare because of the rainy weather forecast . Will ask DH to list 3 extra home edit containers I don’t need I have lots in the attic .
Got rid of some old food from the pantry and DH cleaned the fridge before the food delivery yesterday. Need to go through the whole cupboard soon but it’ll be after the Easter holidays …
Out :
-2 packets of food to food bank
-9 packets of old food to disposal and some of the packaging to recycling
-1 pair of DD too small walking shoes
-1 pair of DD filthy trainers
-3 home edit containers to Olio
-2 old water bottles to recycling
-earmarking 2-3 dog toys ( he’s got a small mountain again with his monthly box so the most chewed up can go )

On the positive side which is hard to see atm we had exiting news of DS getting invited to his school’s Apposition to receive 2 Prizes in his last ever school year which is just excellent, we’re so happy and proud . He’s especially surprised about one of them .
Also I think I’ve finally solved DD’s birthday present conundrum and we’re getting her something for outside that both kids and DH can use .

Now slowly heading towards bed and my lovely new book which I’ll then pass on …

Under stairs storage today...

• wellies, beach shoes and waterproofs ready for friend with younger children
• 10 odd gloves and 3 odd slippers gone
• random umbrella covers
• table relocated to somewhere it will be used not just a dumping ground
• bag with broken zip disposed of
• unwanted shoes in charity bag
• shoes with holes disposed of
• rubbish binned

Under stairs shelves now returned to order!

Also cleared out car. Sttuff returned to ptiper homes, old receipts binned, and the interior demudded (joys of rugby training and Scouy camp!)

First look in ages into a cupboard in attic room. Found a bag with a few pairs of kids beach shoes and a broken RC toy. The shoes can start a charity bag along with an outgrown rash vest I know is lurking in youngest’s bedroom drawers. The toy can go in small electricals skip at the tip. Lots of cardboard packaging from bathroom refit for the tip too. Hopefully will all get dropped off tomorrow.

Hey!!! Found you.

so I’ve earmarked some of my clothes for charity. However my washing machine has broken so I can’t get them washed to send there. Sigh.

finished some under eye patches last night though. Yay.

separatedmum should I be washing walls? That sounds like a big job. The only time I wash walls is if I see a dirty mark, usually around a light switch. I do, however, paint over dirty bits of walls about once every 18 months. Because I have the same paint every where in the house I always keep a tin and do a top up coat on dirty bits. When exh still lived here we had moths and he used to squash them against walls. They make such a mess the only way to clean them off is to literally repaint. God I’m so pleased he’s gone.

Ive been busy tidying away the big bag of crap I removed from bedroom doors. Last week I found a phone contract from 2019, yesterday I found one from 2018, both have now been shredded.

I’ve also just put some playmobil sets for sale as I’ve nearly finished sorting through them. I seem to have loads of playmobil that isn’t in sets, that I’m not sure where it came from. I’m really organised at keeping all boxes and instructions, so I might give some bits away on freecycle. I wish I wasn’t so obsessive about making things before I sell them. I have dozens of tiny playmobil flowers, I wish my stupid brain would let me bin them instead of complete all the sets with the right flowers!

well they get filthy in this house and I was going to paint before I go away but I've had a major upset now and I don't know what's what. Olio bundle was collected last night