Anyone want to join a decluttering and cleaning thread?

[QwertyWitch]

I want to get my house clean, decluttered and organised before school starts in September.
I started on the shelves in the living room today which are meant to be for some books and ornaments but have become filled with random paper and objects.
This seems to be the case everywhere I look!
Time to tackle it.

I've been getting through things, though slowly. I have a small house with too much stuff in it.

So far, in the last week or so, I have cleared out a massive bag of books, two bags of other stuff for the charity shop, a bag of electrical waste for recycling, loads of terrible tupperware (actually things like takeaway pots - now replaced with a much smaller volume of decent tupperware). All in all I reckon I've moved maybe 8 carrier bags worth of stuff out the house, maybe 9.

Still got plenty of work to do, but just trying to do it one step at a time and not beat myself up for not doing it all at once.

I figure it's like weight loss - as long as the trajectory is in the right direction there's no point thinking you have to do it all at once.

Currently one of my main challenges is a massive quantity of leftover booze from a party. I think I'll have to have another party just to get rid of it

My decluttering is still going slowly but surely. We took 4 bags of books and clothes to the charity shop yesterday and listed a load more stuff on Vinted.

We emptied my daughters bedroom and put everything into stacked tubs in the living room. I then bought her an open wardrobe and the the tallest chest of drawers I could find in Ikea. We have filled both of those and are now starting to move other stuff back in, and sorting /throwing out stuff.

She is 15 and still had her Year 6 books!! so it is good to get it all sorted.

I have allowed her 1 tub for "memories" that will go into the loft, and only allowed to keep minimal items. (like the pupil signed Year 6 top is ok to keep, but not "I wore that to my first trampoline party top" .

Next on the list is the tallest book case that we can find, and a new bed with drawers underneath.

"Progress not perfection".
That's what DH and I keep repeating back to each other. One drawer or cupboard or general crap gathering zone at a time, as and when we have the time over the past few weeks and our house is feeling so much better already.
Everything that crosses my path is assessed as to whether I'm tidying it back into a cupboard or into a bin. Had my tea yesterday morning and immediately chucked the mug in the bin. It was all faded and I've never liked the feel of it. Bye then!
DH has just text me to say we have no less than 43 bags for life in the garage so seems like he's cracking on while I'm out with th kids!

Wow! You guys are doing well! Was about to congratulate the PPS who got rid of multiple bags, and then saw the post where someone has got rid of 43 bags!!! That must have made a huge difference.

I can only dream 😁
It's recycling night tonight, so I'm getting rid of a load of cardboard.

Well done everyone, by Xmas we will be clutter free! (I hope 🙏)

DH found some moth holes in a jumper yesterday which prompted me to do a big wardrobe clearout. I have a bad habit of throwing items for textile recycling in the bottom and it was definitely building up in there!

I set up a clothing rail to put all my clothes onto as they came out and that worked really well.

I already keep my clothes under regular review, so just a few to go to the charity shop, but now have a big pile for textile recycling. Plus various sundries, bits of packaging, broken hangers etc

Feels good. A few items to wash or dry clean. So those are staying out until they are sorted out!

Have been doing things gradually. Also had a sort out and clear out of bags and bags for life. I picked some of the nicer patterned sturdy shopping bags (Strawberry, bumblebee, and a woodland animal pattern), dumped the rest. For some reason I detest Sports Direct bags. Got great pleasure recycling. Also, about a dozen useless plastic syringes (the ones that come with animal medication and Calpol six plus). Still lots to do. Hasn't been helped by quite a few things going wrong in the house (electrics....🫣). I think most importantly ive made some decisions about larger items - not actioned yet, but decided.