Decluttering thread 7 - as the days lengthen we’ll feel more motivated to declutter

[stealthninjamum]

Sorry for the long thread title, I’ve just seen that the old thread has reached 1,000 posts.

For newbies this thread and the old one a day threads are for a group of mumsnetters who are decluttering. We’ll share tips and advice and inevitably the conversation moves on to organisation tips, pretty storage solutions and persuading our families to join in.

We’re all at different stages of decluttering so join us for support and chat.

@DifficultBloodyWoman - I keep wondering if you are actually Teresa May…

Got rid of a second load of books via ziffit. Over 100 gone. 🙂

I'm feeling quite down about the state of the house, decorator isn't free until next week so its just limbo until stuff can be moved into the new room.

Hopefully it’ll be short lived and once the decorating is done, it’ll be worth it.

thats what I kept saying anyway!

Did actually get a lot of the PIP form done, it’s been decades since I wrote that much 🙄😂💪

tomorrows jobs:
finish PIP
stock up kindle for trip away
pack for trip away

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No, but I did like her mug and took my name from that.

Can I ask what you all do with the multiple hoover heads that come with a new hoover? I've been moving them around for appx 3 years now...
Also paintings, I seem to have stacks of paintings and not enough wall space.

I actually found someone who wants my old knife block today. My hot tip is to get a magnetic strip for your knives and regain some surface space!

New bed is coming on Friday ekk!

I might need to do a mad panic declutter in my room, but I have no time to do it now. It's an ottoman bed so once it's in I can store so much more crap clutter, but unless i declutter i dont think it be assembled. Another day of shuffling clutter i think.

Can I ask what you all do with the multiple hoover heads that come with a new hoover?

I have a place that used to be for junk, before I removed all the junk (because really, what is the point?). Now it's a neatly organised (with those little trays and some pretty boxes) home for:

Lightbulbs, candles and torches
DIY tools and spare screws
Padlocks and spare keys to proper locks
Batteries and chargers
Spare earphones and power bank
Sewing repairs kit and shoelaces
Tape and glue of various kinds, plus string
Spare parts that came with washing machine, hoover and fridge

Yeah I know your right I just feel like I can't move for stuff thats in the wrong place.

Think you may have me muddled, I am not doing a PIP claim but I do need to fill in my sons ASD screening forms which seem equally complicated!

I lose them! Spent a hour looking for the stair attachment yesterday and its still gone.

My spare hoover parts are in a bag that they came in that says Henry on the side. I sort of have a crap cupboard in the kitchen with things like furniture polishes, various cloths, shoe polish that hasn’t been used since primary school photos 2021, shoe brushes. It’s a corner cupboard with a carousel which sounds like it could be useful but it really isn’t. As I type this I’m wondering if the shoe cleaning stuff could be thrown out or get tidied in the utility room big cupboard which is well organised and has a lot of space

Last night I emptied a storage box from the playroom. Dds allowed me to get rid of about 25 things. They included 3 nice children’s bags, a torch, some palace pet toys, minion toys, a lol Surprise doll, some see in the dark glasses, a fairy gate, fidget toy and other stuff. They only wanted to keep 3 small toys and I kept a few things they didn’t know if they wanted to go. Dds are great at decluttering if I sit with them but I never get rid of anything unless they say they are absolutely sure it must go.

I haven’t done it yet but I am posting here so that I will stay focused:

My goal is to sort through the pile of crap on the dining table and out into two piles, one for reselling and one for the charity shop. And if I am really focused, I’ll get the charity shop stuff into bags and into the car tonight.

My stretch goal would be to photograph the stuff to resell (half the Tommee Tippee online shop).

Wish me luck, I’ll check in later.

I don't think they'll fit into my clutter drawer, but I do have a kitchen crap cupboard! I never remember what they are all for but I really should as when pp typed "stair attachment" I did suddenly realise that would be rather useful...

I've got a decorator coming over the weekend just for the hallway and need to take down all pictures/move all hallway coats and shelves of shoes and the side table with gloves/scarves etc. I might hang around on this thread to give me a push!

I think I'm going to take all my Vinted items to charity next weekend to make some room again. All of the winter things that are too small are sorted now. I will list the shorts and tshirts on Vinted at the end of April

Success!

I can now confirm I do actually have a dining table (technically, two but that is another thing to declutter and whole other post).

One box of baby clothes in the car for the charity shop and another box on the dining table still being filled. And the Tommee Tippee stuff is all lined up ready for photographs tomorrow.

I didn’t count individual items, I’m not sure I could count that high. 🤣 but I a, happy to say one box out with another on its way.

Annoyingly, DH has discovered Temu and bought a load of crap from them. So much for declutterring the kitchen drawer last week. 🙄

Re:hoovers, I only kept the one nozzle thingy I use. I never used the others and I managed with two so didn't see the point.

I have a free hour now - might try yo tackle a drawerwhichis always full. I've fallen behind but I did spend sbout 20 minutes yesterday unsubscribing to emails. My inbox is so neat. I'm counting that as one thing.

Also out a glass the dh broke which I'm not replacing as we have many, a school jumper to the school spares, small broken toy airplane, a hanger, a shoebox with random rubbish and a hat I sold on Vinted. Total is 333

I am always surprised how I still manage to find a few things, even though I'm not "actively" decluttering

66. 3 books to the school book swap.

Also... this week I've seen the bottom of three laundry baskets! The backlog is just about clear!!!

PIP form complete! 🎉 will post tomorrow before going away for a few days. Arm aches lol.

can focus back on Decluttering when I get home next Wed.

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I've taken down all of the pictures, moved the coats and bags on the hooks, baskets of scarves is out and I've moved a shelf of shoes. Shoe storage and stupidly heavy marble side table left. Might have to wait until tomorrow as I've got to figure out where I can move it to that won't stop me entering a room

Ooooh your PIP form, gosh I really need a good nights sleep lol. Well done I'm sure its not something they have tried to make easy.

We have managed to get rid of a load of boxes which has made some space in the kitchen, I don't feel like I'm drowning anymore and thats really a relief.

Well, it’s been a day.

The bags for the charity shop are still in the car but I have photographed all of the items for sake and posted them on Facebook.

And I had a friend round for dinner.

I think my bedroom has to be on my hit list next. Excluding the floor, every horizontal surface is covered in books or clothes or random crap. I have no idea why a travel plug I haven’t used in years is on my bedside table. <gives DH serious side eye>

Well I “decluttered” a nice glass sadly by way of breaking it into a lot of small shards. The resulting clean-up got me another 11 items (general kitchen clutter) so we are taking this as a win! I feel like things are a bit lighter and the main living/kitchen space is easier to keep on track.

I have just sold something else on vinted, and put a few more things in my charity bag. I am slightly sad about my current post-pregnancy shape, but keeping uncomfortable jeans so they can stare at me from my clothes drawers isn’t doing me any favours. I also read the “frumpy” thread elsewhere on Mumsnet with some horror as I almost exclusively wear things listed on the thread 😱

Wow! @DifficultBloodyWoman that’s a productive couple of days - I find getting the photos is often the time consuming part of listing things. Commiserations on your husband’s discovery of temu.

@LivingInaBuiltSite - amazing work on the PIP form. @Pigtailsandall - you are definitely my inspiration. I keep finding things in areas I thought were clear-ish but it’s much easier to see what’s what when you are not fighting the piles of boxes and accumulating crap.

One out today, a toy pony with wonky legs and it's hair comb accessory. Total is 1932

Success on the organisation too. I've been slowly decluttering bedding and now only have the best sets, the ones in good condition that fit properly and match the décor. The bedding box was only 3/4 full. There's a second smaller box with a spare duvet in and so I switched them over. Now all the winter blankets are in the bigger box with the spare duvet instead of being piled up on the side somewhere collecting dust all summer. I like it when decluttering adds up to real changes like this.