Decluttering Thread 6 - hit those targets before New Year!

[Pigtailsandall]

So the last thread got filled up and I think I seem to have taken it on myself to start a new one every time, lol! I hope everyone finds us because I'm too lazy to tag everyone, but here's few who spring to mind. It also doesn't let me add some people, for some reason

@realfastfoodie
@IndianSummer78
@stealthninjamum
@cornedbeef451
@EllieQ
@Gassylady
@IncessantNameChanger

@nordicmom
@Vinorosso74

Now it's the last push until the holidays to get it all out and done (before new cr*p comes in)

Got motivated by watching Joshua Becker for a few days and really needed help. I can't stand clutter and grew up in a house filled with everything. Partner doesn't understand and he's unwilling to get rid of anything so it's really hard doing it alone. Dd6 helped me do some which was great. Bless her.

I keep on trying to crab stuff in the course of the day when I notice it if not actively decluttering so out:
-1 iPhone box
-1 Apple pen box both from bedroom drawers but now gone
-7 gift boxes from presents all to recycling
-1 old hand gel ,we just don’t ever use these so pointless clutter
-1 old hand cream that’s been in the kitchen definitely more than a year so will go now
-1 unopened packet of biscuits I’ll send off with DS to his Uni halls I didn’t like but he did
-1 plant and container
DS also returned some too small football boots , and I booked a collection for a hamper sent to me in error with the food I ordered . Now on track with any returns .DH went to dump with all the Christmas cardboard and wrapping paper and more bags to ragbank and some shoes too .
Next week DS will take a charity shop load for me I’ve been collecting since September when he left to Uni so there’s probably quite a bit in those boxes by now . I loose track as I sent stuff into them in the attic room …

only managed to set aside 1 sweet tub yesterday it's not ' out' coz the recycling is full and the area around the recycling is full 😶

Sorted through DD’s books with her yesterday and found 11 books to donate, plus a box set of 50 ‘early readers’ books from a couple of years ago. This has created space for the two books she got at Xmas to be put away.

DH also gave a parenting book to our neighbours who are having their first baby soon. It was a funny guide for dads that I got him as a joke, but was actually very practical and useful!

I'm waiting for DH to go to the recycling centre too. Every bin in our house is full and all the extra recycling clutter is giving me anxiety.

I've got rid of dds sistema plastic bottle. Had mould on the inside at the bottom and it just won't clear.

Also got rid of hair clips that are rusting or having the paint come off. One loofah out too.

Went to the clothing bank and it was full. So went to another one. Guess everybody is decluttering now after Christmas.

Currently sat in the living room wondering why is it still so cluttered but one day at a time.

Had a clear out of my wardrobe, 3 bags later!

• One shower puff a month old, I read it somewhere this is their lifespan due to bacteria build up, I don't like them anyway prefer body scrubs but thet came as part of a gift so thought I'd use them all up before buying anything else.
• One body moisturizer, have about 10 left.
• One filthy door mat which has reached the stage of not coming up clean even after being washed in the machine.
• One bag of bags which had built up again because I always get convinced I'll use them then never do.

Total is 1788

Out today, my prettiest bra. Honestly i wore much psst its best-by date. It's got no life in it.

Total is 2023 for the year!

Crikey @IndianSummer78 only one month?! I only replace mine when it’s practically falling apart! I have a Salux washcloth which I use as well but it doesn’t lather so well with soap.

We’ve just gone through some boxes in our downstairs storage cupboard and binned a bunch of old cables and chargers, bits of a broker steam mop and some other stuff, taking it down to only one box (although the others are still stacked inside it). It’s freed up space to move some suitcases downstairs although the room they’ve been moved from is still a tip 😫

Perhaps you should throw yours in the washer occasionally Sidney! 😅 I don't usually bother about things like that or dates on open bottles etc, but I did always wonder about those because they sit around wet all the time and don't get washed except when you're using them

Aww RIP pigtails bra 👼 at least now you've a valid excuse to go shopping Pigtails

Dipped in and out of this thread this year.
Not really binned much- but my sheds rammed!
2024 will be the year!
For the first time before putting the tree and decorations away I've binned the tat and got rid of stuff I don't use- including the bottom third of a tree.
I think my issue is I hate waste and no way could I have put any of that in the bin. Fortunately a local charity is looking for stuff so I have a bin bag full for them.

Well done to everyone on this thread however big or small your decluttering numbers are- one out is one less.

Only some baby cutlery out today so total for the year since February is 1625.

I'm full of cold and feel terrible so haven't done much clearing over the last few days but have been slowly clearing the living room. Have put a pile of dvds ready to sell in the new year and a pile of things for freecycle. Can't wait for the tree to come down so I can rearrange the living room.

My DP is working tonight so I've decided to declutter the Christmas chocolates 🫢

Great efforts everyone and I'll definitely be continuing with the declutter next year. I want to finish clearing the house and start on the outbuildings.

Gave away a number of bits for free today, bringing my total to 358 since 1st October. I definitely feel like I'm on a roll now and motivated to continue! Will this thread continue into the new year or will there be a new one started?

A PP made a good point about thinning out their Christmas decorations while packing away. I'd not considered that but will endevour to do the same. Gradually the feeling of total overwhelm is lifting. There's still an enormously long way to go, but having managed to finally make a start after years of wanting to, I'm celebrating the positives!

Does anyone have any good recommendations for storing Christmas decorations (and lights and tinsel etc) and wrapping paper/cards/gift bags? Christmas decorations will go in the loft, through a rather small/awkward to access loft hatch (I physically couldn't fit through it beyond 5 months pregnant and I had a pretty small bump!). Gift wrap is likely to go under a bed or under the stairs depending on shape/size of the container.

Sold our old buggy and all its accessories- slightly cheekily calling it 6 things! Nothing else apart from normal rubbish done today. So that’s a wrap for me.

2113 total for the year, starting in May. Huge thanks to @Pigtailsandall for these threads and to all you wonderful people for the encouragement and inspiration.

Well done everyone one. It lovely to look around and see the progress but its even better to realise how much less stressed I feel with reduced amounts of clutter about. Onwards with my three areas in 2024 once those are done i think I will actually be at a maintainence level. I wanted to know what I had as well as where it could be found. I think I have made good progress to that overall throughout the year.
See you all on 2024 😀🍾🥂

Your achievement of 2023 items pleases me no-end! Well done and happy new year!

Happy and clutter-free 2024 everyone!

Thanks for your nice words @Realfastfoodie :) I hope everyone had a fun NYE. we had a kid-friendly party with early fireworks and were asleep before midnight.

What are your decluttering goals for 2024? I feel like everyone did so well and had a great end-of-year push in December.

I only reached my 2023 goal of decluttering 2023 items by the skin of my teeth, but tbh it did push me to let go of a few things (like the bra!) That I'd ummed about for ages. I'm also doing a low-buy year but there are things I genuinely want to buy/will bring me joy to buy this year. I just have to be a bit mindful about it and operate a wishlist which works well for me.

I'm going to aim for 2024 items again this year. Last year joined at the end of Jan so this year an earlier start means I hopefully won't struggle so much! Lots of it will be just maintenence decluttering.

@Pigtailsandall Hello, and I feel inspired by this thread! I tackled the permanent pile of boxes yesterday. Recycled and rehomed enough stuff to get rid of one cardboard box. My aim is to dispose of enough stuff that I don’t need cardboard boxes for overspill.

Will there be a new thread for the new year?

1 1/2 bags of recycling/rubbish from kitchen drawers/on top of cupboards out
1 small bundle ready for olio
cleaning cupboard cleaned and condensed
1 working fire tablet found neutral
1 apron found neutral quite appropriate I thought....

Happy 2024! Think we usually just run with these threads until they are full.

I was aiming for 1800 for the year but only got to 1,797 despite a last minute clear out of my make-up bag.

Target for this year is 1425 - equivalent of 4 items a day (please don't check my maths!). I have a big pile of stuff waiting to rehome.

2 outs today, unneeded cardboard packaging that's been hanging around a while.

Am loving the Toss app!

Thats 26 items from my glove compartment and passenger side of my car (yes, it turns out I’m a car slob) straight into the bin, and a couple of cloths into the wash. Happy with that start to my 2024 declutter. I’ve put another couple of things in the olio/freecycle pile from around the house. It’s amazing how liberating it is to say “I don’t need this!” 😁😁😁😁

Jan total - 26
2024 total - 26

Last year I got to somewhere between 1400 and 1500 but I’m mainly doing maintenance after several years at this now and have already gotten rid of somewhere a bit under 6000 items in the last few years so I’m happy with that . These threads just keep me going so I think I’ll stay .
Back from MIL just now and happy we did our weekly clean etc before leaving ,it was nice to come into a tidy clean house since tomorrow it’s back to work for DH . Kids still have a week off school / Uni and a few things planned . I need to tomorrow sort out what we brought back which isn’t thankfully too much. Feels like more went out really to other people .
A Couple of things going :
-1-2 pairs of DD small new slippers
-1 year old face cream

This year we've got big house reno starting (next week!) So a lot of decluttering to be done, the old rooms are being gutted so I will make sure to put back only what we actually need/use/want to keep. I'm so excited to declutter as much as I am about having a reno!

Out today -
2 perfume samples
1 empty old body wash bottle
5 plastic shapes (the shape sorter toy long gone already)
2 car window shades

January Total: 10
Yearly total: 10

Joining in the hope I’m motivated. I usually go in fits and starts but hoping by following this thread I might be able to go a little most days.

today I binned an oven tray that doesn’t fit in our oven, gave another unused to someone (again doesn’t fit in our oven), returned a borrowed container and donated two full bags of kids clothes to someone who works with refuges (guessing there was a min of 30 items in there) but didn’t count it up individually so loosely guessing.

January 33

total 33

would love to hit 2024 but right now will focus on just keeping going!

Ive followed these threads for a while but don’t comment much. Got the xmas decoration boxes down ready to start putting it all away. This year we are getting rid of stuff we didn’t use. So 2 sets of lights and some baubles out and a pair of joggers that are too low so uncomfortable to wear

Jan total 3