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)

Few more outs today: a poster I never put up into recycling; jar of honey with dregs in it (I won't use it); two pairs of holey socks and roll of compost bin liners to a neighbour.

I feel like I'm starting to have an almost-normal number of socks and underwear.

Total is 1984.

One earring that fell out of my ear and got run over by a car into the bin. One bit of bubble wrap that I was saving in case it came in useful also binned. Total is 1695

5 bags to charity shop yesterday.
one car load to the dump.

That sounds really sensible. Also post the ideas here - we may have tried them!

Really useful boxes - genuinely worth it especially I have found for toys or bits that you need to access regularly but need a container - medicines, Lego, train sets, etc

Collapsible storage boxes - I’ve bought some of these for storing sentimental items - memory boxes

Any kind of drawer dividers for clothes - don’t work for me - total faff (open to suggestions but we have tried a few types)

Christmas wrapping storage - quite good and would work if you weren’t prone to keeping too much of this (I’m not a hoarder at all but I have a few things where I keep too much)

Drawerboxes for kitchen cupboards - we adore these. You can turn all your kitchen cupboards into bespoke drawers so much less wasted space or difficult to use storage. Expensive but game changing.

Would love to have everyone else’s recommendations for storage that works.

I've started new bags for charity and textile recyling. A load of canvas bags and some kids clothes added to the first, a stack of old socks and some holey jeans to the latter.

Gifted an old mirror that was so heavy I was scared to put it on the wall, and about to go post a jacket sold on Vinted.

Hurrah hit my target for the month. 1,600 out - got rid of a high chair and its box and a few big plastic toys to a friend.

Now to keep the pressure on for December!

I have no storage in my house so struggle. I do like the drawer dividers that are essentially just fabric boxes, for clothes, and the collapsible plastic crates for kids clothes between sizes.

I'm looking for a hats and gloves storage solution if anyone has suggestions! Currently we have a bigbox and nobody can find their own bits. I'm thinking i want some sort of divided long box that can sit on the shelf in the hall but such things don't actually seem to exist.

@Realfastfoodie thats a great idea to share storage solutions. These are some of mine

https://www.amazon.co.uk/IKEA-Boxes-Organiser-Keep-Drawers/dp/B007PFEOJQ/ref=asc_df_B007PFEOJQ/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=256255917267&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=147538832577195558&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9044997&hvtargid=pla-421410033962&psc=1&mcid=802d7ef614f73c78b00ec58654b1bdb4

these aren’t the exact ones but I do have little boxes in my drawers with different items in. So I use small ones for make up - eyes in one, lipsticks in another, face (foundations and blusher) in another. I don’t own much makeup so it could all fit in one but it is organised. I use a larger one for tights and one for thermal vests.

Because I had a kitchen cupboard filled with bottles I bought these. They’re small trays. One has about 6 bottles of cooking oils, one has vinegars and one has condiments like salt, Worcester sauce, soy sauce. I used to have a mess with about 20 bottles all together and maybe 3 olive oils or white wine vinegars and never any soy sauce if I needed it. Now it’s really easy to have one of everything and I can see it to get things out when I cook. I also keep stock cubes in an old biscuit tin.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-Plastic-Organizer-Accessory-White/dp/B07RWK355K/ref=sxts_rp_s_a_sp_1_0?content-id=amzn1.sym.f84819a4-07b1-4706-b2d1-d0dcd86c3a96%3Aamzn1.sym.f84819a4-07b1-4706-b2d1-d0dcd86c3a96&crid=1IYRT68LLQ6DQ&cv_ct_cx=plastic+tray&keywords=plastic+tray&pd_rd_i=B07RWK355K&pd_rd_r=fd8908f1-8801-4353-885f-1f4f6988652c&pd_rd_w=JKYbF&pd_rd_wg=9FwxL&pf_rd_p=f84819a4-07b1-4706-b2d1-d0dcd86c3a96&pf_rd_r=T8EKBNF8QH20BZTDZ9XK&qid=1701005167&sprefix=plastic+tray%2Caps%2C88&sr=1-1-3e71b174-79f6-4f59-86e0-8355a51fbb63

in my airing cupboard I have two ikea dimpa bags. One contains towels and one contains bedding for dcs. I also used to store things in the loft in them - mainly empty boxes that had contained toys to protect the boxes.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ikea-Storage-durable-transparent-65x22x65/dp/B09SD3N9SP/ref=asc_df_B09SD3N9SP/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=599488593826&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9213437434441023944&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9044997&hvtargid=pla-1659526338689&psc=1&mcid=ed87ff0f9ad83d769e9da29c7a42da40

With hats, gloves, scarfs, I tend to keep them in a drawer in my bedroom in summer and move to a random place in the winter. We used to have loads and I’d store them in a food bag in a drawer for each of so that there would be three see through plastic bags of gloves in a drawer. Since we’ve decluttered we tend to only have one or two pairs and as I type this I realise I have no idea where they are.

I actually use a lot of food bags for temporary storage. When I sorted through playmobil and Lego I’d put obvious matching bits in food bags and to tidy up I’d put those bags in a box or drawer without losing my work. I’m still doing the Lego - that’ll take months.

9 games, 3 books, 21 dvds and 38 CDs sent off to music magpie.

I had a look through the boxes of stuff we're taking to the car boot next year and I've thrown away 23 items.

Total now 1328.

Only small outs today - pair of too-small kids pants, another pair of socks with holes (always by the big toe!!) And a pair of flight compression socks I didn't even know I had.

Total is 1987

A stained baby cardigan gone.

Total is 1696

looking for a hats and gloves storage solution if anyone has suggestions!

Mine are in IKEA under-desk drawers. They're basically a box shape with 7 shallow drawers for papers but work beautifully for hats, scarves, gloves, swimwear etc.

Thanks so much for the various storage recommendations. They look great. Especially the drawers you can add to your kitchen cupboards, and the wrapping paper storage bag 😁

I totted up my total so far and am up to 169 items decluttered since the start of October which I'm very happy about!

I've also this evening ordered Christmas stocking fillers for my toddler. Having joined this thread has dramatically reduced the quantity of "bits" I've gone for compared to what I suspect I'd have ended up with! I've also gone for predominantly arts and crafts bits that will get used and then disposed rather than cheap toys that will hang around for months not being played with which is a big win 😃

Anyone available to give me a massive virtual kick?
I'm lying in bed (post covid x 2) reading mumsnet, had a lovely day out yesterday, there's an estate agent coming tomorrow to value so I could really do with getting up and just doing any random throwing away that is in my eyeline, anything at all and then tidy and hoover but I DON'T WANT TO!
Someone kick me, please?
Ok I'm getting up now. Sigh. I guess I kicked myself...

lol @heldinadream hope you’re feeling better and get some jobs done today.
I only got up at lunchtime too.
I was out running yesterday and today is my only clear day off with no jobs (until a parents eve online later) so wanted to make the most of it.

I’m going to try looking at signing up for vinted, maybe, I’m not convinced about posting stuff rather than just donating to people who can collect.

@LivingInaBuildingSite I'm up and on it! I'm deep in an eaves cupboard and immersed in the discovery that we seem to have about a thousand empty shoe boxes, some of which are very sturdy.
I've just messaged DH as to whether we should keep'em for packing small items (we're aiming to move hence all this activity) or crush'em mercilessly for recycling.
He's seen the message but not replied yet... so right now everything's looking much worse with stuff all over - argh!

We freecycle a lot of stuff, cannot be arsed with the whole vinted/ebay nonsense. Just want rid by fastest route possible mostly.

Well done all. And thanks for the storage suggestions/thoughts.

I sold a table today, so that’s £35 and more space in the house. And gave away a spare extractor fan left over from our bathroom work. And listed a few things for sale.

I like Strata Smart Storemaster range of clear plastic boxes with divided clippy lids . We have these in different sizes and styles in the attic, inside study cupboards , garage cupboards , in the understairs cupboard and all over the house really .
https://www.plasticboxshop.co.uk/home-storage-c1/pack-of-4-40-litre-smart-storemaster-plastic-storage-boxes-with-lids-p122

I also like Home Edit clear plastic containers from John Lewis . I have them in kitchen cupboards , in my larder ,in the

bathroom under sink drawers and in some chest of drawers too
https://www.johnlewis.com/brand/the-home-edit/_/N-1yzhxcy

I love rattan in a kind of thick brown / grey texture so I also have lots of rattan baskets inside wardrobes and in book cases , hall coat cupboard top shelf , as paper bins , for spare loo rolls is bathroom etc .
https://www.gardentrading.co.uk/products/bembridge-storage-basket-small.html
Also have white plastic strapping baskets
in wardrobes for smaller items . They used to sell them at The Holding Company but I’m not sure if anymore . They are making a new website but they have a sister company
https://www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk/category/storage-boxes-and-baskets

Hope this helps !

Hello all. Four items sold on eBay. One cheeky offer turned down as it wasn’t worth the fuel to take it to dispatch point! The unsold craft and STEM sets are going in the next charity shop bag along with several kids clothes items and I will of course find a couple of DVDs. Will drop it in tomorrow on way back from work and also plan to drop a bunch of scrubbed plant pots into the garden centre as they apparently recycle them. A productive couple of days.

I've got a very large amount of stuff just waiting to leave the house.

I have had more luck on vinted than ebay. So a few small items of clothing have left the house but that's about it. Reached a bit of a standstill!

One jumper gone. It was killed by the tumble dryer. Total is 1697

I’m lucky in that I want the space more than I need the money so happy to donate. Some stuff that is a bit more niche I feel bad about putting in where it might linger for ages. Still haven’t tackled any of the areas where I open the foot and then quickly close it. But hey at least t be y are behind doors. Parents photos are the only thing out in a storage basket that I keep avoiding- too emotional

Door not foot 🙄

I may have had a glass of wine with supper!

i put about a dozen items for sale yesterday and haven’t had any interest in them - a couple were brand new craft sets and toys so I’m a bit surprised. I suppose I’ll take them to a charity shop if they’re not sold in a fortnight.

i also had a delivery today, 3 presents for dd2. I’m not really in the mood for decluttering now but I’m going to at least try to get three equivalent sized items out of the house.