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.

@daffodil2023 everyone will have a different way but you have to find what works for you. I would tackle it as not trying to get rid of loads, just sift through and see if there are any slightly easier to let go of items. Carefully store the rest until next time you feel ready to go through again.
Sometimes I find I’m definite about keeping something until some time later my mind will think of the the thing and wonder about letting it go. Kind of letting your subconscious filter through the things it’s seen and realising those things can be let go.

its also ok to keep some sentimental stuff, although I want to label my box as ‘bin able after my death’ like the Swedish death cleaning advice. Then you don’t lumber the next generation with your crap 😃

out:
2 x duvet sets
1 x mattress protector

295+3=298

but we are selling a rental flat and a lot of crap will be coming home from that. Will easily undo my efforts so far, ho hum.

daffodil my opinion is there's no point in keeping things if they're in a box, unseen and forgotten about. So either something is important enough for me to display it or it isn't. I have a huge scrap"book" (it's a shallow A3 size box of loose pages) where everything paper-based goes including artwork, certificates and photos. The latter of which I have no qualms about cutting up to make a display on the page if eg the background is out of focus etc. That's it. Everything else sentimental is either in use or on display. If I don't want to look at it or use it, I don't need to keep it. As a result my home décor is both eclectic and personal to my family. Coming home is like walking into a treasure trove of memories and I love it.

If you're proud of your A-level art work frame it and put it on the wall. If you want your old childhood teddy sitting on your pillow after you've made your bed, do it. If your nan gave you a heirloom rug, put it in your living room and paint your walls a suitable colour to match. If your dad gave you a treasured sentimental watch, get it serviced and wear it. That's my take on it.

I don't worry about things getting used up, worn out or falling apart. If something is broken it gets disposed of or repaired just like anything else, however sentimental it is. I never keep anything for best any more, things are supposed to be used to the point of destruction then disposed of, unless you wish to display them instead.

That's great advice, thank you! I need to remind myself that this isn't an area I'm trying to completely clear, I just want to know I've actively engaged with it rather than just left boxes in that cupboard without even sorting through them, so I won't try to be ruthless, I'll just try to get items shifted into proper plastic boxes and labeled. Maybe over time I can consolidate the boxes. Love the idea of binable upon my death as well - wish my older family members took on the same approach! 😅

Sorry to hear you've got another influx of stuff coming in - hope it's quick to sort through at least!

Had a whip through the dc wardrobes today.

managed to get a bag of stuff for charity. yay.

@daffodil2023 my take is a bit similar to Indiansummer's. I do believe in using sentimental items. When my grandma died (I was very close to her) I took her teatowels, clothes pegs and one piece of jewellery. I do dishes and laundry all the time so I'm often reminded of her. It makes me happy. Even though the tea towels will wear out that's OK- my grandma would have been happy to see them in use.

I do several rounds of declutter on everything. I find that time, with sentimental items in particular, really helps. What seemed impossible to part with in round 1, I can part with in relative ease during round 3. I also only keep things that bring happy memories. I kept little from primary school where I got bullied relentlessly, but lots from when I volunteered in Africa as a newly-qualified doc because those were such happy times. I have shamelessly decluttered baby photos people have given me of their kids, and I had a whole album of photos of my old dog. I kept a few, but I certainly didn't need a huge album.

Keep going back and revisiting items. You might find you'll unearthen the few actual gems.

I think I have posted on a random wrong thread!

22 items out today as I start to remove and donate my vinted listings. I was keeping some things back for a residential trip for dd but its so unlikely she will be able to go now. One carrier bag left of Vinted things to get rid of by the end of Easter

Total out 119
Total in 7
---
Total for 24
673 out
23in

I keep a memory box for some things. And have been a bit ruthless with others.

the kids baby grows - the first ones they ever wore I’ve stretched over embroidery hoops and hung up on my bedroom wall.

their first bits of art from nursery - framed and on the wall on the stairs.

our wedding cards - binned.
my 18th birthday cards - binned.
the handkerchief that my granny was given at her wedding and given to me - kept in a freezer bag in memory box.

shoes from every horse I’ve ever ridden - on shelf above front door.

find ways to keep or display the important stuff.

im not a fan of keeping it for best. Wear the sparkles. Use the nice perfume. Etc.

8 unnecessary boxes and 1 stained bathrobe are gone. Total is 2010

I dip in and out of this thread. Not a massive fan of parting with stuff, you'd never know just how much stuff I have as I keep everything in closed cupboards!
Last week I put out 4 duvet sets for charity, 4 hats, 2 pairs of jeans, 4 tshirts. Binned 4 bras a t shirt and 4 pairs of socks and put 3 pairs of waterproof pants in the shed.
I can now pull the drawer out to get to the rest which I suspect will be going as its a massive underbed drawer and I have to move furniture to get in it. I've not been in it in 7 years.
I also got rid of 12 books( I have hundreds of books and refuse normally to part with them but I've bought more and something has to give)
Also got rid of a big bag of kids bric a brac to a local parks jumble sale.

Today I'm doing the kitchen as all my cupboards are now at the open door slightly, chuck stuff in, slam door shut stage and not just the tupperware cupboard of doom.

I have gone through dds entire wardrobe and draws getting rid of things that fit, but she has too much of. I wasn't going to do this because my thinking was that it wouldn't fit next year and could go then. But I changed my mind thinking I need more space now.

27th 32 dd underwear and socks out
25 the clothing bank

Total out 177
Total in 7
---
Total for 24
732 out
23in

I am about to enter the preteen bedroom.
If you don't hear from me again... thank you for the support with the rest of the house!😂

Good luck @PuttingDownRoots when I go into my adults son room I feel like i need a hazmat suit. He says he is tidy he us so dillusional.

Good luck @PuttingDownRoots
We just quietly close our 17 yr old dds door.

I have uncovered a square foot of carpet!!

@PuttingDownRoots best wishes. haha

i took a parcel to the post office today. also bought aload of reduced hot cross buns from waitrose. £1 each for a pack of 4. todays date. but they've gone in the freezer. I LOVE HCB!

Feel like there have been a few ins recently. I have absolutely got my vinted/second hand habit under control - only buying things for immediate use and even then I’m jealously guarding my balance!

Not many outs since the last update, given away a bit of stationery. Got a few bits of rubbish out of the door but not really anything worth noting down. Bag for charity has a few more bits though so can do a drop off soon. Am noticing that the house is slightly less of a pain in the bum to keep on top of though. I don’t feel like there’s loads of stuff going to waste or piling up on top of me. So that that’s something?

I’m loving all the strategies for inherited, old, sentimental things. I’m definitely using a bit of all of them. Love the idea of novel ways to display things, using things for real rather than saving them for best, and definitely a fan of @LivingInaBuiltSite’s multiple sifting and permission to store and make progress elsewhere.

Am loving the new series of Sort Your life out….

Thanks @Pigtailsandall and @ememem84 for your really helpful advice! The responses I've had are everything I needed.

I watched a Dana K White video last night on sentimental items too and that was helpful. I kind of then went totally against her no mess decluttering rule by pulling out some more boxes from the cupboard BUT the method to the madness being that deeply sentimental items are mixed with 10+ year old office bits, and already I've seen a box I can probably go through this evening and bin most of as it's old folders/bills etc. I think I need some quick wins to counter slowly passing through the important stuff!

Also loving sort your life out @Realfastfoodie I love how non-judgmental they are, although I do find it funny that on the month later re-visit they only ever do close up shots of the family, so I wonder how sustainable some of the methods are 🤔

@daffodil2023 I wonder that too about Sort your life out! All those glued-up bits of furniture...I'm wondering if they actually last! But it's fun to watch, DH is doing DC bedtime and bath tonight so I'll pour myself a glass of wine and watch the latest episode.

I sold 3 things on Vinted - kids jeans, and a bundle of 2 of my tops. Sales have definitely slowed down but every now and again something shifts. Also inspired by the sentimental thread, I looked at a semi-sentimental box I have and got rid of 5 old cards, a fridge magnet and a user manual. Total for the year is 388

@daffodil2023 Same! I also find the endless obsession with decanting into containers really weird… i literally have never managed to find a way of making decanting work without bits left over.

I love the warehouse, and I’m always getting ideas for ways to enjoy things rather than storing them (like I think I’m going to make some bunting with some favourite baby stuff, rather than keeping too many, maybe)

I have removed a pile of dirty cups, 2 bin bags of rubbish and 4 baskets if dirty clothes from DDs bedroom.

In the charity bag there is...
85. Childrens handbags
86. 2 outgrown dresses
87. Fancy dress clothes

In the bin
88. Outgrown slippers
89. Broken flower pot
90. A lot of empty boxes!

I also removed 40 books from her bed

Over Easter we are sorting through clothes, books and toys.

Lots of outs today as my brother finally came and collected a load of stuff for their first baby who is due in a couple of weeks:
2 boxes of microwave sterilising bags
Box of disposable bibs
Baby bottle
6 x formula pots
Perfect prep machine
Bottle warmer
Car bottle warmer
Bottle bag
Recipe book
2 baby books
Changing mat
2 pairs baby shoes
10 x baby clothes
Mittens
Maternity clothing
Seat cover
Baby handprint cast set
Large baby ride on toy

Also had a radiator collected on freecycle and got rid of an unused pot of eczema cream.

Total 611

Three old tatty faded boxes went today. Total is 2013

I was very naughty today as I was in town for a meeting ( I try to avoid it so I can avoid the shops) and went into Primark. I bought 19 things but it was needed. I bought 3 different pairs of leggings ( as they are all crap but trying to decide on the least crap style) a bodycon dress to wear under a wrap dress to stop me getting arrested for flashing, hairbrush, dds socks to replace the 36 I threw out yesterday. Two pairs of shorts for her and two pairs of jogging bottoms.

I know I have leggings somewhere. I just have no idea where they are.

Sold ten items on Vinted.

Feel guilty BUT I did need leggings. I think...

Still way on target for 2024 things out

745 things our this year

Loads of extra plates, glasses, etc in from the flat, useful I guess. May store some in the sort of shed/garage area for inevitable breakage replacements in the future.

nothing much out, although I’m on nights atm so it’s just survival mode.

298

Another trip to Charity shop, the bag was in my car for a week 🙈.