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!!

Well done @EllieQ. These sound like hard jobs, and worth doing! Great effort @IndianSummer78 and @Nordicmom and @stealthninjamum (I still read that as “stealth in a jam” which is also a cool name!).

@heartbroken22 - we are all willing you on! I’m a good few weeks behind you (getting on for 24 weeks) and thank goodness the sickness is finally improving so I can bend over to pick stuff up without vomiting! The pre-baby declutter must be a known phenomenon now 🤣

No declutter for me this week as I’ve been on holiday, but I’ve resisted the urge to buy almost anything so that’s a win I think for clutter overall! Have accepted some handmedowns but strictly useful ones, and I will go through them again to be sure.

Challenged my other half to find five books to go (as he often moans the bookshelves are too crowded 🙄) he amazed me by finding 12. Even better is that he is taking them to a charity shop himself today. Few old pants socks and face cloths into rag bag. Two pairs of very cheap but definitely no longer cheerful sandals of mine to go but I will replace with at least one pair. Few things to list on eBay as it is an 80% off fees weekend.

Well done ellieq I’m sorry to hear about your cat, that must be so painful but you’ve done well. And your mum’s things must be so hard, just do them bit by bit when you’re ready.

My sandpit has been collected, it’s left such a space in the garden. I’ve also emptied the cupboard under the sink. I’m going to use up the duplicate cleaning products.

i also found an out of date fire extinguisher that I’m sure I have mentioned on here before, I suppose I should take it to the dump although I was wondering if anyone had used a clearabee or hippo type service whereby you hire a big bag and they take your stuff away. I have a few bits of garden / shed / garage rubbish to go and I hate going to the dump, I’ve been procrastinating for ages about doing it.

@stealthninjamum -I’ve used hippo, it’s easy and convenient, but not cheap. Do check the ts&cs for whether they take fire extinguishers. Council busy waste collection a good option in our area if you have a few things.

@Realfastfoodie thanks, clearabee seemed cheaper cos I could have a smaller bag.

the fire extinguisher is really annoying, you have to legally have them in the car when you drive to France so we spent a small fortune on extinguisher, first aid kit, lights ie things we never used and now have to get rid of. I’m sure we drove there 9 years ago so it’s been sitting around for 9 years!

messed about by olio again. more later 🥱

@stealthninjamum - As an alternative - I remember being a kid and someone’s parents had an out of date fire extinguisher, we were allowed to practice “putting out fires” with it. Very memorable, if messy, afternoon!! 🔥

Took a trip to the dump yesterday to get rid of some bits and a load of leaves and green waste that DH had ripped from the garden.

@IndianSummer78 you're right my children don't notice the missing toys. I really need to get more done. I'm finding it hard being the eldest in my family and having to 'look after' my parents house and my house. I'm slowly learning to let go of my parents house as my siblings don't help and it's really unfair.

@EllieQ I can't function in clutter. I feel paralysed and suffocated. I'm so sorry to hear about your cat xx

@ememem84 I got rid of a pair of black jeans I had too. They were faded at the knees and looked worn so had to go. I really regret buying some emergency jeans (4pairs) from next on sale. I'll have to cut and restitch and wear them out this winter before buying any new ones as I honestly don't have the room. It's better to spend a bit more cash and have things 'proper' as I honestly don't have the time to mend the jeans. I'm not sure where this saving mentality comes from even when we are doing okay.

@Realfastfoodie thank you so much. It's really hard when you're pregnant. Get as much stuff as u can now. Mind you I only got rid of my baby clothes last week as they were making me feel miserable. We're having carpets fitted on Monday so more picking up to do lol

@heartbroken22 - getting rid of things now I think is the only way, although I’m pretty sure baby 2 (on the way) is the last,
so I can do some decluttering as they grow out of things.

I’m trying to be much more mindful about what I buy, if anything. One good pair of jeans is better than 2 that don’t fit etc. I too have this “can’t waste a single penny, can’t bin this, I might be glad of it some day” worry which I’m lucky enough to not actually need to think. It’s not helpful!

@Realfastfoodie i thought about letting the extinguisher go to teach dc but then I’d still have a heavy metal canister that can’t be disposed of with my normal rubbish.

I have been moving it around the house so this time I am going to actually take it to the tip. I once timed the drive to the tip and it’s only 7 minutes from my house but in my head it’s a huge job that I always avoid. I’m just going to add a box of stuff and take them next week - including a child car seat that must be ten years old and has been sitting in the playroom for a year.

Im not sure if it counts as decluttering but I am going to throw away two old summer dresses today - but I’ll provably replace them with two new ones.

@stealthninjamum - trip to the tip sounds like a great plan! Definitely count the dresses, in my opinion - if they aren’t used any more they are clutter.

surprise "out" that's been listed for ages, someone contacted me while we were out and was waiting when we returned

A too small suit sold on Vinted posted today. I was in the process of rearranging the garage but then we went away and now there is still chaos everywhere.

Well, I have decluttered on holiday and out go a skincare sample I used up, a face mask I'd had for over a year, and a kids colouring book we used up yesterday.

1000 items!

Woohoo @Pigtailsandall !

Started a new declutter bag this evening! Totally thwarted in even basic sorting this evening by my toddler who is refusing sleep 🤦‍♀️

One pair of uncomfortable knickers binned. Total is 491

Not been doing too well on this recently (again)! Had a lot going on and BIL was staying. I did drop a bag in the textile recycling on Saturday.
Our washing machine died last week, 4 days until the new one arrives so it's a good chance to wear clothes I don't often wear and see if I should keep them. Hoping DP may do the same.
I'm running the freezer and cupboards down. I've gone round and made sure every bit for recycling has gone out.
Think I might admit defeat on Vinted and donate to charity shop.
Finished a sample size perfume and moisturiser at the weekend.

I'm on a roll today!

One item sold on Vinted and posted (I was pleased with how easy the print the postage label in the shop thing was)

About 30? things taken to the tip including boxes, clothing with holes etc.

About 25 items to the charity shop including baby toddler stuff!

Forced myself to get ruthless with a pile of clothes that fit. Out went -

• a top that just doesn't hang right on me. It's pretty, I like it, it's new... but I have better things to wear
• a top that doesn't work with a bra. I never go bra-less. It looks great in and it's beautiful, but it's not for me. I clearly got sucked in by its gorgeousness in the model with no thought to my own mode of dressing
• a cheap and nasty, unflattering hoodie that was just a mistake and should have been sent back, but wasn't
• an unflattering, scratchy cardigan. It's new but I never wear it. I'm overrun with cardigans so out it goes

I need to do more of this and get beyond "does it fit" and "is it tatty" into: does it work for me?

I've started a pact to not buy any more pyjamas but instead to repurpose clothes I already have which are suitable. Today I relegated a comfortable cotton long sleeve top that doesn't suit my figure into the winter pyjamas pile. That doesn't count as an out though.

Total is 495. I honestly thought I wouldn't get rid of even one thing per day. I'm amazed we're almost 6 months through the year and I've already surpassed that amount

I forgot to mention I chucked half a bottle of whiskey down the sink yesterday. I bought it for my mum about a decade ago and she hasn’t been over for about five years. I googled to see if there were any good recipes but that’s stupid really as I just don’t like the taste of it.