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)

Today has been a busy one but productive. Given away a large bit of furniture that will now allow me to start decanting the garage ready for the conversion works to start late feb. I've also just waved by other half off to the tip, he's taking a bin bag of textiles recycling including old towels, hoodies and socks with holes in, old jeans and some old kids pants. Also loads of the cardboard left over from Christmas and an old mop handle. I've also given away some craft stuff.

1 of my Christmas presents from family in yesterday it's lovely and I'll be wearing it
Chester Draws 😋 1 out 1 in neutral
Christmas decorations away
have a slightly ill child so not much more done

I now have a big bag of Christmas decorations to go to the charity that was asking for them.
1 bin bag full of clutter in the bin.
Car full of cardboard and a third of a Christmas tree.
1 full charity bag
Made enough space in the spare room so the rowing machine will stand up in it now.
However I've kept about 10 items dd was throwing out just in case.
I may well get round to them again next time😁

Our council has changed our bin collections lately, so they only collect black sacks every 2 weeks, and they'll only take what fits into a Wheely bin. I've booked a trip to the trip, which I think will be a regular occurrence!

Our bins are on 3 weekly collection, so grey bin that does general waste is only collected every 3 weeks. It was a nightmare when my son was in nappies but its just about manageable now.

I wouldn't mind but we can't really recycle a lot of plastic, its only plastic bottles, so lots of packaging needs to go in the grey bin.

Two car loads to the dump.

allocated some bits for friends.

broke a glass.

keeping 4 baby blankets. Three for just keeping. One is being turned into a cushion cover.

Out goes a coat, a winter one that's not big enough for the amount of layers I wear in winter and is restricting my movement. Total is 1797

Just sorted through the ridiculous amounts of toiletries/makeup I have. Not actually got rid of anything, but I know exactly what I have and where it is.

I did get rid of a load of make up bags though.

Binned - five out-of-date writing icing tubes

Ratty cotton teeshirt cut up for cleaning cloths.

Three trades catalogues and more leaflets in recycling.

Four expired bottles of vitamins into food bin and the bottles in plastics recycling bin.

Not so much wandering down memory lane today, and that made it easier.

@pinknsparkly let us know about the doormats, I need something for the dogprints!

Have finally put felt feet on the kitchen chairs, loving the lack of scrapey noises 😃

I’ve spent most of the day sorting out Christmas music from my orchestra. I’ll file it away in the office where we store it in the next few weeks but no rush. The main thing I need to do next is fill the folders with the summer concert music which I’ll start on tomorrow then I can give the folders out on Tuesday, not exactly Decluttering but makes a mess when I’m doing it!

Only out today:
returned a borrowed jigsaw puzzle (I’m counting it lol)

= 10

I reorganised the tin shelf in my pantry and feel so much better for it, it looked rammed before but I have removed expired items (basically soup my DH buys every time he feel ill and then never eats, a flavour only he likes), also made a bag up for food bank of items less likely to use (and soup still in date).

Also finally changed my scruffy purse over to a new one bought for me ages ago, cleared out my receipts although not including them in my count. Found a couple of notes stuffed in to pockets of the purse I’d forgotten about.

so out today

Broken Christmas advent calendar
Toothbrush
Old purse
Out of date tins etc x 15

up to 129 now

I reorganised the tin shelf in my pantry and feel so much better for it, it looked rammed before but I have removed expired items (basically soup my DH buys every time he feel ill and then never eats, a flavour only he likes), also made a bag up for food bank of items less likely to use (and soup still in date).

Also finally changed my scruffy purse over to a new one bought for me ages ago, cleared out my receipts although not including them in my count. Found a couple of notes stuffed in to pockets of the purse I’d forgotten about.

so out today

Broken Christmas advent calendar
Toothbrush
Old purse
Out of date tins etc x 15

up to 129 now

I was sat in bed watching tik toks and decided to sorted through my underwear draw. I can get rid of the bags at the local recycling centre tomorrow, so that's one job done, and it'll be out of the house too.

@LivingInaBuildingSite - I'll certainly let you know about the mats. They're from turtlemat.co.uk, and I have high hopes for them! We also have felt bottoms on our dining chairs feet, though ours are little socks with felt bottoms as my 3 year old tilts the chairs at about 45° before dragging them across the room, so pads on the bottom wouldn't do the trick 😃I've been counting returned borrowed items items as well! I gave three bags worth of baby clothes to a friend today, one of which was being returned to her. I've massively downsized how many clothes I've kept. We're currently in 0-3 month clothing and I've kept about 15 vests (about a 50/50 split long and short sleeves), 10 babygros, 6-8 dungarees/trousers and a couple of jumpers. I still have a stupid amount of bibs and socks though as I've not gone through those! I found with my oldest I tended to just use the same few items so this time round I sorted through everything and picked out the really lovely bits to use just those! We do a laundry load every day so really don't need huge amounts of clothes for any of us!

Counting the baby clothes as three items as they were three large bags worth, plus another vinted order posted off, takes me to 29 items out this year.

And our recycling has finally gone so I can refill one bin with more cardboard from the garage 😂we have 2 recycling bins, but our bins are collected on alternate weeks (one week is recycling, 2nd week is general waste). I filled the 2nd bin several weeks ago as we rarely fill more than one recycling bin, and have been impatiently waiting for it to be emptied!

One more for tonight. A Christmas songs CD that I don't like. Total is 1798

New here and hoping I can join in :) started decluttering at the end of last year and was determined to get through the whole house by xmas. I managed a lot but didn't quite finish, which is a common theme surprise surprise! I don't count items but got rid of bags and bags full) and it's made such a difference. It's so much quicker to tidy up in those rooms now, but I've still got a cupboard of doom to sort (sentimental stuff in there - eek!), the kitchen and living room. Hopefully this thread will be the motivation I need to just get it all done once and for all, fed up of stopping at 70% finished and having to start all over again!

A couple of bits today :
-1 pair of DD leggings
-1 pair of DD small sweatpants
-7 pairs of old socks
-3 pairs of old pants alm tho clothes / rag bank

We have taken the trees down and are in the process of putting the decorations away . I’ll look through them as I do it . Maybe something to throw out if broken . I folded all the clean laundry and we tried on all DD Christmas present clothes they’re in the wash pile now . I’ll be taking out the small ones after washing . A bunch of household jobs got done. more tomorrow plus the dump and the foodbank . We need to clear that annoying utility cupboard too but the useless mop and floor cleaning clothes went after one more use already . Our big item to return got picked up thankfully so it’s out of here . Trying to get stuff done but DH is understandably reluctant and I am feeling weary easily . Need to get thank you cards in the mail as well . Once DD is in school I need to do a bunch of admin and plan something for our wedding anniversary and then DS birthday end of the month . Will try to sleep a bit earlier tonight my rhythm is screwed up because extra meds while I’ve been ill but without them I’m still getting nausea so I know i need them .
Oh , yes the new total is 115

Can’t believe I’m still trying to find a box to dispatch the books with one of the buying companies, may have to do any emergency wine order online just for a sturdy box! Few more hold socks and two pairs of joggers that have been outgrown. Few more toys/games that can start the next charity bag if kids agree that they can go. Husband has also suggested he might have a sort through of his clothes - will believe it when I see it.

Pair of jeans and a bra join the charity pile today. Along with a set of bedding and the dc’s bath towels. We replaced these though.

Oh @Gassylady, I feel your pain! Whenever I get rid of boxes I immediately need boxes! Do you have a WhatsApp group for your road? I find I can request things like that and pick them up from a neighbour?

Good luck @daffodil2023!

One dump run completed at last so a bunch of big cardboard boxes, a bin bag of textiles and the Christmas tree have left the building! Still need to get rid of the second textile bag and, ahem, last year’s Christmas tree .

In our defence we put it out on our balcony and then the contractors put safety netting around the scaffolding (the freeholder has been doing maintenance work for the last year 🙄) so we couldn’t drop it down to the ground. Had to bite the bullet and get it inside, tie the branches up and bundle it in some of the textiles to stop it shedding all over the car 😩

Not much done here as I'm still suffering with the Covid lurgy. DP is working all weekend so I haven't been able to get the tree and decs put away as I need DP to get into the loft to get the storage boxes.

Yesterday I cleared out the shelves in the downstairs toilet. Got rid of:

2 packs of new cleaning wipes that had dried up inside (thanks Asda)
A fancy hand cream that I've had years and never opened
A new bottle of floor cleaner that I remember buying for my first house in 2006 🫣
2 fancy toiletries that I'll never use
Large glass we used for filling the perfect prep machine, no longer needed

Didn't manage to get rid of a lot but it looks so much tidier. The shelves look half as full so am really happy with it.

I also made a start on the kitchen cupboards and got rid of:

Baby bottle
Formula storage pot
Drinks bottle
Small omelette maker
Large scales
Rice cooker
4 sandwich boxes
Mezzaluna & base
Storage jar
2 storage tins
Large omelette maker
Microwave bacon cooker
Medical cool pack
6 spare lids
3 breast pump accessories
2 microwave spatter guards

Total 141

I also managed to clear out a load of packaging from the kitchen cupboards so will ask DP to take it all to the tip in the next few days.

DP put up 4 pictures that have been lingering around for 3 years so I've been able to take down the storage crate they were in and bring the kids' table and chairs down to the utility room so they can play/craft.

I want to tackle the linen cupboard when I get chance.

Out:

itchy lacy bra I hadn’t worn for ages then remembered why
2 x holey knickers

10+3=13

DD promises she will bring down a pile of too small clothes, we’ll see….