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)

I've also managed to completely clear the bathroom - it's been used as a dumping ground for about a year since we completed it as we've been renovating the bedrooms either side of it. I found 4 vac-pacs of DP's clothes that had been lost since moving in 😓.
It took me a whole day but I'm really proud of the effort and how good it looks plus not having to squeeze round everything just to clean the kids' teeth.

I also managed to clear the top of a low bookshelf on the landing which has been piled high for a long time.

I have a good pile of stuff for the tip tomorrow too 😊

Wow that's great progress @PissedOffNeighbour22 , so many outs!

We are away so no decluttering.

Re:shells, we have a few floating around to. Agree that schools and nurseries might like them. I also saw a friend who had put her hand soap in the bathroom in a larger dish aand then put the shells around the soap Sotherton soap was nestled in the shells which was cute

One too small knickers binned and one shower gel used up (I have 3 more). Total is 1701

RealFastFoodie yes to counting those presents from the stash. They're clutter now. I wouldn't count it if you bought it last month to give at Christmas with a specific recipient in mind, but those general ones that have been purchased as a false economy bargain for an unspecified person then hung around for ages - they definitely count.

realfastfoodie some of the items I’m selling at the moment were presents in the stash. I had a whole box of presents suitable for primary aged dc that I’m now getting rid of as they’re at secondary now. If I was counting items out I would definitely include them.

To the poster who asked about important papers, I have a small lockable fireproof box where I keep birth and marriage certificates, my exam and professional qualification certificates, family passports, driving license. I often wonder if I have slight adhd (dc do) so it is a ritual that as soon as we get back from holiday the first thing I do is put the passports in the box. Otherwise I’d lose them. The keys are hidden in the same place always. The box is kept in the loft.

I have thrown away some cardboard I don’t need, delivered playmobil to my friend and finished an unwanted shower gel of dd1s. I have thrown away a cleanser that dd2 didn’t like. I started using it myself and after a few days realised it was drying my skin out.

Today's challenge is clearing the landing, stairs and hallway. My DP has an unexpected day off work and I'd already booked leave so two pairs of hands should mean it's do-able.

So far out is:
6 more eBay parcels
Maternity winter coat sold (very happy with this as it's taking up a lot of space)
Another modem
2 extension cables
4 knackered wardrobes

Total 1441

My DP is on the way to the tip with a huge amount of cardboard boxes and packaging from the outbuildings. This should make way for a load of tools and building materials that have been in the house for too long. I've told DP that if I trip over one more bloody tool I won't be responsible for my actions. I'm beyond fed up of it.

Lots of things in transit here as we've ordered some coats for the DC which need to be tried on, see which fit/are suitable and then return the unwanted ones, so a few parcels hanging around and annoying me On the plus side I rediscovered a coat my grandma gave me years ago, which I'd never worn as I thought it was a size too big and would need to be altered. I tried it on the other day and it turns out to be the right size and fit perfectly - 97% wool as well!

Second list for today's outs:

8 t-shirts, 26 books, 6 games, Baby seat cover, cushion, tote bag, Radley handbag, brand new pram umbrella, new baby photo blanket to charity.

Also out are 2 shelves, 2 pairs of flippers, goggles and a snorkel.

Total 1492

DP has also taken a second full car load of cardboard boxes and packaging. I think we have a serious box hoarding problem as there's probably a few more car loads of boxes to get rid of when we have time. I'm struggling to keep DP on track with the house as he's more interested in what's in the outbuildings 🙄.

It's so rare we have a day off together when the kids are in nursery that I want to make the most of today.

Wow! @PissedOffNeighbour22 - you are absolutely on fire 🔥

Thanks for all the shells ideas and @stealthninjamum and @IndianSummer78 i think you are right - anything out of the box which was bought more than 12/13 months ago - which effectively means it’s probably moved house with us - is a declutter.

Ive gone on a big spree and photographed and listed a bunch of things on marketplace. No idea how many will sell, they are probably bargains (furniture etc) but not free so they may not go.

Another 5 things today for me:
2 pieces broken train track
1 Toaster
1 parts of a solar panel
1 broken burglar alarm

522 total for November
1945 total

I finally did a trip to recycling centre. Cushions can't be recycled so general waste - which pains me!!

Recycled textiles, sauce pans, baking trays, broken toys and electronic items.

Also posted 3 packages.

Now I'm fully in the swing of vinted I can say it's far better than eBay for clothes. Only criticism is that I'm having to go to different locations to post. I'm going to have to limit posting packages to set days so that I'm not constantly doing it. Still selling other bits on eBay.

My method is to just start doing a tiny bit every day and I end up doing far more than intended!

Forgot to say that it was donation day at school for the Christmas fair, so the bag of toys destined for the charity shop after yesterday's clean out just came with us on the school run and were dropped off by the gates. Out of the house in less than 24 hours - absolute win. Now to stop the DC going to the toy stall at the fair and buying them all back

Questions if disposing of cushion middles is upsetting you could, instead of buying new ones, cut up old clothes destined for recycling and stuff the cushion covers with these scraps

Another book out today. Total is 1702

Thanks @Realfastfoodie I just wish it looked like we've actually done something 😄. How can we be getting rid of so much stuff yet it make no real difference 😣.

A third car load of cardboard & boxes went to the tip this afternoon and DP is currently doing the fourth tip run which is mainly old diy stuff.

I have a few more outs to count though, yet another wardrobe, 6 pairs of shoes and a pair of toddler wellies.
Also dropped off a box at the courier to go to Ziffit - 7 dvds, 1 game, 1 book and 4 CDs.

Total now 1513

Everybody seems to be doing very well, I’ve had such a lazy day but just getting ready to go out for dinner I found a dress I thought I’d already donated so that’s gone in the charity pile.

also looked at my nail polish - don’t use it that often, at least 5 solidified ones in the bin.

I’m wearing a skirt this eve that I’m not sure about, depending how I feel after this eve it may go in the charity pile too.

Last week I was able to take a bag of previously sorted clothes to the charity bank, and I threw away three old sponges that no one was using. This week I’ve put two more outgrown vests into the charity bag, and today I recycled an couple of old instruction manuals (both for things we got rid of years ago).

I felt slightly organised yesterday as last year I’d put all the 1 Dec stuff (refillable Advent calendar and a few decorations) in a bag at the bottom of the wardrobe, so they were easy to get out. I had to clear some things off the mantelpiece to make space for them, but I made use of an old shoebox (that we’d kept because the cat liked sitting in it 🙈) to pack them away, which then went in the Xmas bag at the bottom of the wardrobe so they’re not cluttering up the downstairs like usual.

The house is still overwhelming me though, especially with needing to make space for the Xmas tree. I know all the things I should do, I’ve read all the advice about making a start, but can’t get there. Or something gets in the way, like this morning when I wanted to tackle the pile of paperwork on the dining table but had to help DH find instructions for an old baby gate (he’d looked through the drawer of instructions, but asked me to double check). So there went 30 minutes, somehow, then it was time to have lunch before DD’s dance class. It’s so frustrating.

So the garage conversion is happening in Feb and I'm already panicking about all the crap that is in there :/

@tantdequestions interesting re Vinted for clothes. I've been trying to sell some clothes, new with tags, on eBay and not even getting a sniff!!

@EllieQ have you tried googling for the gate instructions. Amazing how many can be found this way. We have two box files of instructions and whenever we are looking for a set we find several for things that are long gone. No matter how many we cull the boxes remain stubbornly full but never yield the ones we need 🙄🤣🤬

Saturday was another epic clearing day, mainly focussed on the dining room which has been practically unusable since we moved in almost 3yrs ago. We're not quite finished ready for visitors tomorrow and there's quite a lot of stuff just hidden behind the dining table, but the change is amazing. I'm really happy with it.

Outs:
2 pram covers
2 Baby toys
Baby book
Baby handprint kit
Lampshade
6 mini lampshades
Sheepskin slippers that feel weird so never worn
2 storage boxes
Aquarium lamp (we've never had an aquarium 😕)
Ornament
Diffuser
3 Venetian blinds
Gift set
2 Handbags
2 pairs of DP's shoes
Motorbike jacket
Motorbike gloves
Hi-vis jacket
My favourite coat that is now past it
Christmas lantern that I got out of the packaging and dropped/smashed 😓

Total 1545

DP also took another load of stuff to the tip and some to charity.

I am grateful for this thread!

I have decluttered the dining table today and making a plan to declutter kitchen cabinets

I helped at the local Christmas charity collection today so got rid of anything appropriate from my charity box (plus bought some food donations).
Even managed to persuade one lady to start a Halloween collection so passed on a too small Halloween costume.

have listed a spare table, person meant to be collecting soon…. Forced me to clear out a corner of the living room where it’s been living.

My visitor cancelled due to the snow so 4 days of crazy tidying and numerous tip runs were for nothing! 😄.
We weren't finished so was a bit of a relief that it was cancelled and rescheduled for 2wks time.

The only outs today are a pair of DP's work boots and a book. Total 1547.

DP has listed some things on Facebook marketplace that have had some interest.

We put the Christmas tree and decs up which meant we have had to clear out the corner of doom in the living room. I found several odd baby shoes so once I find the matching ones I can donate them. I also found a playpen that we never really used so might as well list that for sale when I find time.

I got rid of a pair of discoloured enamel earrings and a pyjama top with too-short sleeves that annoy me. Total is 1704

Small outs continue - a pair f stretched out ankle socks, a very dirty pair of kids socks, and an eye cream I almost finished and won't replace as I have many

Total is 1994. Excited to see if I can actually reach 2023 this year. So close.

Did a big clear out of the airing cupboard which was stuffed with cot bedding that we won't use again, plus various pram blankets and old towels. One of the mums at DS's football is expecting a baby and she said they need some cot blankets etc, so will let her have a look to see if there's anything she can use and the rest will get recycled.

Annoyingly as it was all in the cupboard behind closed doors it doesn't look like much of a change, but it has freed up a shelf which now holds a load of shoes and boots which were lined up in the hallway, so that does look less cluttered. The bin bags of recycling are still taking up space but DP plans to take them to the tip on Wednesday. I also unearthed a scuttlebug and a toy buggy so will put those on Olio to free up some space in the bottom of the cupboard.

Went through another couple of Kallax boxes and found some more preschool toys which can go to charity, including a whole Peppa Pig family of plushies They need a quick wash though!