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!!

That’s so true @IndianSummer78. I buy two kinds of clothes now - direct replacement of an essential that has worn out, when I will spend a bit more and get exactly what I want; and secondhand stuff that I’m comfortable giving to charity if it doesn’t work out.

Well done realfastfoodie think of all the time you save next time you need a medicine. Not sure if this is helpful but I write expiry dates on medicines with a thick sharpie and so whenever I need a paracetamol I can view the medicines and declutter anything as soon as it passes the useby date.

I have put a playmobil set into a charity shop bag with some clothes. It just hasn’t sold after a few months. I have also put a couple of dd2s trousers into a rag bag as they were holey.

Yesterday I organised my bathroom drawers and one bedroom drawer as both seemed to have similar things. Items going include 3 pairs of tweezers, some makeup that’s very old, a makeup bag. There’s also a necklace that dd2 broke and the beads seemed to be in three places. I think I’m going to throw it away because it would cost too much to fix and it was a gift from exh. My need to be green and never throw things away has conflicted with my need to destroy everything that exh bought me so it would probably be best for my mental health to just throw them away.

So far today:

1 stained blanket
2 stained tea towels
1 throat spray with a clogged nozzle, it was almost empty anyway
1 stained dress
1 dress that makes me feel frumpy

Total is 577

Ooh, well done @IndianSummer78. I wonder if I need to be more brutal with my wardrobe again. There are a few things that I like which don’t fit pregnant me, but I’ve no idea whether they will fit me in a year. They aren’t doing me any good, are they?

Save yourself the angst RealFastFoodie of worrying about whether you'll return to your pre pregnancy size, when will you find time to diet and exercise, if your body shape has been permenently changed by pregnancy or childbirth, are these clothes still in fashion, does my butt look big in this, am I frumpy etc. Unless you're totally broke and likely to have "not naked" as your post pregnancy wardrobe criteria, just get rid of them. Maybe keep any total favourite bits, but lose the rest. After you've pushed another human out of your special place you definitely deserve new clothes

@IndianSummer78 😂😂

👏👏👏👏👏

I am going to remember this!! 😁

2 jigsaws gifted on our local free site.

I tried a new technique yesterday. I carried a big bag for life around with me all day (while I was home) and every time I saw something was out of place I put it in the bag. Then as I wondered around I put things back where they should go. Just the simple act of opening drawers/ cupboards to do this meant I found clutter and items not in the right place.

so I found lots of plastic bits of crap, receipts and papers to throw out. But also found a broken tablet I have been meaning to take to the dump, a cardigan, a handbag, some costume jewellery.

im pleased I put lots of things away so the house is much tidier on the surfaces and in drawers. One of the reasons why things get put away in the wrong place is I have a cleaner who is amazing at her job but tends to put things away in the first drawer despite me asking her not to. I keep thinking when I have ‘finished’ the time consuming things like Lego and playmobil I’ll be better able to keep on top of the tidying.

@Realfastfoodie, good advice from @IndianSummer78. If you can afford to buy new then do. I'm stuck in that decision mode of will things ever fit me again and I just can't bring myself to get rid of things.

I think my main worry is the amount I've spent (wasted) on all those clothes that don't fit plus the cost of buying new in that size if I ever lose the baby weight.

@stealthninjamum - that’s a great idea. I used to declutter/tidy by putting everything out of place into a box but then I found I didn’t actually empty the box… yours sounds much more effective.

@Pigtailsandall and @IndianSummer78 - I think I should be able to afford to replace what’s needed, I think I need to reduce the things I’m keeping down to really the mainstays (like good quality jumpers and suits) and crucially which fitted me between pregnancies. If something is lovely but I haven’t worn it since 2018 then the chances of me wearing it in the next two years is probably zero.

Sorry that should have been @PissedOffNeighbour22 tagged!

I agree with the waste thing, and I have a voice in the back of my head going “you’ll be glad of that one day!” but I think I just have to get a grip! I don’t have a lot of clothes but they are definitely overflowing the space I have, so they need to go.

I have been in the same position with clothes where I kept them for years because I was unsure of my weight but when I finally dieted into them they looked wrong. Fashions / cuts of clothes change subtly every year and we often don’t notice but about five years ago I realised my dark blue bootleg jeans just looked wrong and suddenly they were very easy to give away. I am not a fashionable person - I tend to have a style of clothing I like - but likewise I don’t want to be unfashionable.

8 books to the charity shop today. And I’m going to tackle the clothes when I get back! Small steps.

88 total for June
367 total

At the weekend we put up the spare wardrobes in the newly decorated spare room. We started emptying the bags/sacks of clothes into the wardrobes and I honestly could have cried. There's just so much.

I'm not feeling well at the moment so couldn't do much with it but my DP put some of my clothes on eBay last night for me but he only took one item out of his own excess clothing wardrobe unfortunately.

It's going to take time to go through but getting it all into one room will be a massive success for us (when we finally manage it).

Give yourself a break @PissedOffNeighbour22 . Sounds like you have a plan anyway.

Good progress @Realfastfoodie and yes be kind to yourself @PissedOffNeighbour22 , you are doing stuff and sometimes it takes a while.
I sold another 4 items on vinted - 2 tops I'd fallen out of love with, kids shoes and a bag. I'm going to go on a vinted hiatus because it's been a bit intense packing and sending stuff, but I have a healthy balance which I'll withdraw soon.

1018 items down

I got rid of a babygrow and an extension cable. Total is 579

Bag of dds clothes set aside for a school mum

binned some of the kids artwork

finished an eyeliner pencil.

another bag almost full for charity shop

I hope it's allowed but I get overwhelmed with food. I've tried to do some batch cooking but 'decluttered' some baguettes, plums and an avocado to someone on olio. I normally pay for snacks for school but my 6 year old said she wants to take it from home so that's more 'decluttering' instead of me worrying about finishing it up before it goes off.

Clothes wise i got rid of dhs joggers that had holes in them (he said he wanted to keep them for diy work but he has enough. My own joggers, night dress that were both a bit worse for wear but I wanted to 'keep' for the wintery weather have gone too. No point keeping something if it makes you feel rubbish.

I'm just reading the comments on clothes from pregnancy or pre pregnancy. I've got a few to declutter because once baby weight comes off i realised I don't want to go back to wearing old stuff that makes me feel miserable. I've not got a lot and it has been fairly worn so it can go.

We got rid of a bulky dining table and 6 chairs. Husbands friend bought it off us. Also a desk and computer table. The less clutter the more space we have and the more relaxing everything feels. Still got a few things left to do but it's progress...

pissedoffneighbour that sounds like a big achievement, it will be great when you’ve sorted through the clothes. If you find it overwhelming to go through them all now you could put them in the wardrobe in binbags to get them out of the way and then declutter them at a more leisurely pace.

I had another day taking my bag of mess around the house and put loads of stuff away including things like old merit badges and house captain badges that have been sitting around for months. They’re now in the memory boxes. I filled two carrier bags with stuff for the charity shop and they’re now in my car. I also shredded a load of papers, jammed the printer, spent ages unjamming it and then shredded all the old papers sitting around.

Last week of exams for DS here with 1 left . Of course he and DD got sick while we were away for my birthday so is having to do the 4 exams this week while ill and DD was home for 2 days too . We’ve tested seems just a cold but I’m trying not to catch it . I really suffered with the heat in the weekend there was no proper aircon and in general things were less than perfect . It was a mixed experience so wouldn’t go back but was nice to have a little break from everyday life . Too much going on atm in general in the last weeks of the school year and some is now getting cancelled inevitably. I have to get DS ready for his end of school trip next week as well , seems like I’m always sourcing stuff and packing for people . im feeling quite a bit worse with my own health and not up to much just praying the hot weather ends . I’m scrambling trying to do everything so no active decluttering or organising getting done . More admin is constant , a few house related jobs are off the list and another by the developer is scheduled for next week hopefully will get sorted in 1 d . DH managed to use a new product on kids bathroom shower sealant that had started getting discoloured again and it’s bright white now . I’m so relieved I don’t need to book the sealant people to replace it again since there’s many many jobs like that left around here . DD has drawn on her carpet so no we definitely will have to soon get the carpet cleaner booked finally , ditto the oven and extractor fan just have to decide who . I have a few things to put on Olio so have asked DH to do that . Garden and windows both got done . I cleaned and decluttered kids bathroom drawer .

Out a few things lately :
-1 metal candy tin
-a bunch of birthday cards both to recycling -5 kids old toiletries
-an old dish drying rack is earmarked to go
-15 pairs of old socks
-3 old pants
-1 old T shirt
-more clothes will be returned

Today got rid of

1 x knickers
1 x top
2 x dresses

All too small
Total is 583

I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed with stuff at the moment. I've got some things to go but they haven't left the house!
With working, I just haven't had the time. I'm finiahed next week so will have time back. Had a morning free yesterday but not enough time to achieve anything other than some plastic wrapping to the supermarket! Got some textile recycling which I'll drop off en route to gym this morning.