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)

Can I ask what it's like using a professional declutterer? I've always been tempted but wonder how useful they actually are of if it's just helpful to have someone there to get you going and keep you engaged when it gets too dull!

Can anyone give me any advice (or a kick up the arse) about boxes? We often hold onto the boxes things came in (small appliances, mobiles, etc). I think it's partly in case we need to return it. We don't really have the space for all these boxes. What do normal people do? Do you chuck boxes or do you store them all in a cupboard or something?

I cleared out the bottom of my wardrobe yesterday, as I needed to make space for the bag of 1 December decorations (Advent calendar, Xmas books etc). Packaging from presents that had been hidden in there has gone into the recycling, and I sorted through a bag of toys and put four craft kits and a duplicate Paw Patrol toy into the charity bag. These were from a bag of stuff I was keeping ‘for later’ and never got round to using them. I bought the craft kits the week before the first lockdown when it seemed clear that schools would be closing. Almost four years ago now!

I feel that I’ve done a lot over the past week, but now I’m back at work things will slow down. Also, none of the things I have decided to get rid of have left the house yet, which is frustrating.

@WhereAreWeNow I feel the urge to keep boxes as well, especially for something we’ve bought, but make myself recycle them as we don’t have the space.

@WhereAreWeNow have you ever actually returned something and needed the box to do so? Was it of a huge value if so? Sometimes we spend a lot of time focusing on the what ifs rather than what's actually happened.

For me I tend to think that once it's opened it can't really be returned (reassured by a good check over whilst opening it) unless it's faulty in which case they'll accept it back without the box anyway. Perhaps it would make you feel better to take a picture of the item in the box alongside the receipt for any potential return reasons? Digital clutter is smaller at least :)

I was out most of yesterday and my two little ones decided to tag team for my attention today so slow progress.
I did drop stuff to food bank yesterday so have got rid of following

Food bank x 12
Broken toy x 2
Old play clay

I’m up to 144.

@WhereAreWeNow I don’t think I’ve returned anything in its box for about 8 years so try to throw boxes away - unless it’s a small item I might sell and then the box adds value.

I used to keep nearly all boxes in the loft but then learnt that if there was a house fire they could help spread it. So now I think the only large box I have kept is the one that my PC came in. Even at Christmas, someone bought me a coffee machine and I threw the box away and dc got headphones for Christmas, I threw the boxes away. That’s quite new for me.

I do have small boxes but they are mainly Lego sets that I’d like to sell. They’re in either the tops of dcs wardrobes or the playroom. I think I probably keep boxes of things like phones and iPads but they go in our electronics / wires drawer.

I probably do A Slob Comes Clean’s container concept so where I have decluttered so much stuff now the boxes of things I might sell can be tidied away.

Toss didn’t want me to go through any new areas so I did my new list on my ‘Tiny Decisions’ app. It asked me to declutter / tidy a bookcase in the sitting room. So far I have decluttered a magazine and puzzle book and advertised some Sainsbury’s Lego card books. Dc don’t want them any more but didn’t want to throw them away. So I agreed to advertise them for a couple of weeks and only get rid of them if no one else snare them. It’s taken years to bring dc onboard with the decluttering and they know that things only go if they’re 100% sure.

ive also advertised an old camera for sale, but if I don’t get any interest in a week will put it on freecycle.

only rubbish/recycling/fridge tidy out after this but at least I'm still going
to be fair it would take up to 5 minutes to get to my stopcock too and that's after I tidied/condensed the cleaning cupboard last week @daffodil2023

I also seem to not be able to install Toss as its for an older version of Android :(

Super tired today but pushed myself to chuck some old plastic bags, loyalty cards and stickers off the windowsill. I've also sorted and put out the recycling.

Where I believe normal people dispose of them as packaging when they unpack the item. So that's what I've been doing. "Just in case" items are some of the easiest things to hoard and I was guilty of the boxes too. Then they get filled up with other stuff you don't really need to keep or meant to put elsewhere but didn't. If you sell and plan to use them as packaging that's different, when I was doing that it was useful to have various boxes and bubble wrap hanging around. I don't sell any more though so out it all goes. Cardboard degrades over time, is flammable, some insects feed off it or can live in it and boxes takes up a lot of space. Overall I think it's better not to have it all laying around

@tallsmallmum well it's only a small kitchen cupboard and it's not under the sink so I think it's different if it's the cleaning product cupboard which gets frequent use :) it was mainly the loose bits that got on my nerves anyway, falling out everywhere. I do love a storage box!

Thanks @daffodil2023 @stealthninjamum and @IndianSummer78 - you're right. I haven't needed a box to return something in years so there's no reason to hang on to the packaging. I hasn't thought about the flammable aspect. That's the kick up the arse I needed to clear out some boxes this week.
What's the toss plan? Toss out some junk every day?

@WhereAreWeNow Toss is an app someone found that’s really simple. It asks you to declutter a small area a day. When you complete that day you put in the number of items you decluttered. I love it but as I have done much of the areas it suggests I have made my own version. For example Toss suggested I got rid of perfumes / colognes today and a couple of other areas that I’ve already done.

Persuaded DP to do another tip run before going on his night shift. Gone is:
Outdoor light
2 dining chairs
Large underbed storage box
2 bin liners of coat hangers
2 smashed Christmas ornaments

Total now 149

Also gone is another pile of cardboard and boxes.

The first of our outbuildings, stable 1, is actually starting to look like things are happening. DP has started mounting things on the walls and hanging things from the ceiling so the floor is looking much clearer and he's put racking up for better storage.
It's one of the only outbuildings that is dry and not half knackered so will be a huge plus to keep useful things in there without them going rusty or damp.

This one is via Adult MH team so a council one ( I have 4 kids, three with sen, two of which are in sen schools hence shot MH resulting in hoarding - I asked for the help, I'm a very low level hoarder).

The key is to click with someone who does not judge at all and has zero expectations. I paid for one as well. Both got me instantly and made me feel safe. If you can get that, they are great. The private lady was telling me decluttering was like a treasure hunt, and we unearthed list treasure. I'd definitely recommend it.

The current one has a disabled child, so he fully understands that life is hard, and sometimes, you just want retail therapy and to crawl under a pile of stuff that keeps the world out.

Unfortunately, i stopped shopping over 12 months ago, so I cant get my little buzz anymore. So instead I rant away with him. I think he is 50% therapy, 50% dort the house out.

Re boxes. When will you next have access to another box? Be honest here. When you need a box, one will appear naturally. Boxes are low hanging fruit. I used to love keeping boxes. Never NEEDED any of them.

@IncessantNameChanger thanks for sharing, that's so nice to hear that it was offered as part of MH services. Sounds like you had every reason to seek a little buzz from shopping, but I'm guessing decluttering and connection with someone supportive is a more productive outlet :)

Will have a think about using one. It's mainly for a cupboard full of sentimental bits that feels overwhelming to tackle but really I just need to start somewhere myself rather than throwing money at the problem!

Went through a few bedroom drawers mainly rehoming things but a few things out too .
I’m definitely still sick with something I keep on getting my nausea due to underlying condition from the exhaustion. I get insanely tired doing anything and feel like I have a cold so not achieving much today I’ve just been in bed all day while DD was still home but I did do some admin at least and she helped me do some laundry . DH did his small mail pile tonight finally, more laundry and the daily jobs downstairs after coming back from work plus both dog walks and dinner . Tomorrow DD is back to school so I’ll have to manage by myself from now on and look after the dog too who’s luckily pretty easy and chilled . I’ll just have to do everything at a snails speed and take breaks . Atm it’s mainly house maintenance and getting up to speed for the new school term plus trying to get little extra jobs done here and there .there’s lots of admin too . We have a bunch of yearly maintenance jobs to schedule outside but a bit later for the spring thankfully , a couple of things inside as well like carpet cleaning but several got done in the fall . Got to get my new calendar up to date with all the school stuff etc . Mentally I’m still in the getting stuff done mood when not down in the dumps which is rest of the time .
A few things going :
-1 dog Christmas sweater
-1 dog Christmas toy
-1 pile of opened mail mainly to recycling
-1 pile of old loose feminine hygiene products
-1 half eaten box of chocolates + some chocolate coins
-1 new moon ball to charity
-1 pair of small pyjama bottoms
-3 pairs of DD old school socks
-1 pair of DD new small school shoes to charity
-1 huge cardboard box from DD Lego to recycling
Need to look back to check my total …

Adding
-1 packet of dried up wipes
-1 unwanted new kids alarm clock
-1 old kids alarm clock
-2 packets of old medicine
Total is 132

It's been....a day.

Out today:

• the entire family bathroom (this renovation stage was expected to start today - well prepared and bathroom decluttered in advance)
• the entire kitchen except the kitchen sink (this renovation stage was not expected to start for another 3 weeks, totally unprepared and not yet decluttered and now I can't even find the tea bags)
• bathroom cabinet sold on market place
• small pedal bin
• poinsettia plant, dead
• a plant pot
• out of date puff pastry
• empty jar formerly containing cinnamon sugar
• empty bottle of chilli sauce
• 1 pair of toddler leggings with holes

Total 103 (not counting kitchen and bathroom)

Finished a novel, good book but really dislike the main character because she's got a horrid streak, so it's in the donations pile. Total is 1801

I'm so jetlagged which is why I'm up at 4.45am reading MN...

I also say toss the boxes.DH seems to hold onto boxes for a few weeks to see "if things are working", but the only time something broke within its warranty period we didn't need the box to sent t back. I tend to hoard shoe boxes but I'm getting better.

I'm actually doing the opposite of decluttering and making a list of what I need to buy. Dc grew out of their pj's and school trousers so we need new ones; I binned two pairs of shorts so I'd like at least one new pair.i also wrecked my white jumper so I'd like a new one; dh needs pants. Also dc is now at an age where I think we'll get rid of duplo and buy some generic little lego instead. I think there might be bundles on ebay. Plus I can sell the duplo. Hoping for one in, one out on these categories.

2 x Christmas puzzles due to be collected today - so not quite out yet.

Also, I may try to go to the charity shop today as the weather was too rubbish to venture out yesterday - that’ll be 19 items.

Nearly finished sorting out the music folders so they should all go out this evening but not sure I can really count them as they aren’t mine.

Still at 16.

There were some late night posts last night, hope you’re all ok.

i have been anger decluttering. Dd1 lost an important book for her GCSEs so I went a bit mad last night. I know she has adhd but I spend my life looking for things her and her sister have lost and I do think we need to be even more ruthless with our declutter. The book was last seen on the post table so I was up til about 3 giving the house a huge tidy. This involved emptying the cupboard under the stairs, tidying / filing post, tidying my wardrobes etc.

Outs so far include
slippers
2 pairs of boots
pair of shoes
3 Lego sets
6 books
2 handbags
2 paper bags
5 dust bags from handbags I’ve decluttered.
Some game cards that were in one of the handbags

Total so far is 112

Second dump run in three days has decluttered the old Christmas tree, a binbag of textiles and a mini Vtech football goal thing (I say mini, the bloody thing takes up, or took up, a load of space!). There is a bag of charity shop things waiting for me to take the next time I walk into town, plus a pair of DS's football boots to be binned.

In a shock move, we bought a new mattress yesterday on impulse (well, not impulse as such because we have been moaning about the horrible old dipped lumpy one for ages, but this was prompted by the Dreams sale ending today, so we went down, tried a couple out and made a decision). It's not due for delivery until early March but the manager said it's almost certain to be available before then. They'll take the old one away as well, and I'm planning on replacing the old pillows also, so really looking forward to this although it's a replacement rather than an out.

@KCSIE suddenly losing the kitchen would really make me scream, hope you are able to manage @stealthninjamum did you at least find the book? It is a running joke with my kids that I’m the one that knows where everything is. So frustrating when I’m constantly being asked where stuff is