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.

I know. Its stupid. People keep buying us socks!

@PuttingDownRoots I used to have a ridiculous amount of socks. I didn't buy any for about 3 years. I binned those that wore out and still have more than enough pairs.
I have different types of socks which possibly doesn't help: gym ones, thermal ones, trainer liners and the usual type of sock.
I'm currently in a similar situation with knickers!!!

Its socks for the whole household.
School socks
Sports socks
Ski socks
Walking socks
Trainer socks
Work socks
Normal socks

My sock plan... weed out the outgrown and threadbare ones.

@Pigtailsandall i think you need to relax and enjoy the rest of the holiday, I can imagine dealing with older relatives stuff is hard. Luckily my parents are minimalists (not that I see either) although my mum also has a fur coat that I know she will leave to me to spite me. She’s written me out of the will but she bought the coat in about 1995 when it was well known how cruel the fur industry was and I asked her not to do it. I know she’ll want me to have it and she’ll think she’s being kind.

Last night I decluttered three dead mice. It seems to be a feature of this house that they get into the loft, I’ve had all the lower down holes blocked up and don’t know how they get in. Anyway I went to find old Lego boxes and three of the traps had been set off. I found two bags of old Lego boxes which is great. I also found an old washing up bowl that I thought my exh had taken to the rubbish dump. Both dc deny it but have adhd and are now saying they don’t remember if they put the bowl there. How could you forget this stuff? We’ve got a loft ladder but it’s not like easily walking to a room. No wonder I used to struggle so much with clutter with a family like that.

Anyway I have saved up two decluttering podcasts so I’ll listen to them while I spend an hour on getting the house spotless for the weekend and maybe I’ll do some more Lego.

Continuing to tick along with the usual few DVDs, books etc into ongoing charity bag. It is an eBay 80% of fees weekend so will list those few serving dishes I recently found. May try and list a few of the Lego sets too after OH has spent hours reuniting pieces, boxes and instructions. Horrified to say that we probably have 60 or so to go. The vast majority bought for the kids by ILs and quite a few I couldn’t ever remember having seen. Not sure as OH may sell some via a site called bricklink which specialises in Lego.

DS 15 had chosen some furniture from next for his new room, when first item was opened lots of the little clips that click it together were broken. Hall currently impassable as all boxes heaped up waiting to be collected. So lots of outs but no progress in making his room more suitable for storing all his stuff!

One t-shirt damaged by hairdye, into recycling. Total is 2044

@Gassylady that is V frustrating!

I have tackled the patio, not bad, I learnt as I went along, have to move the cleaner slower, so the second half is cleaner than the first. And I didn’t have the energy for the steps on the side so they still look manky. But overall a success.

1. clean patio with new patio cleaner thingie that’s still in its box from January - DONE
2. hang up as many pictures as poss/get rid of some
3. decide about the shelves we used to have as cat shelves/put up or get rid
4. go through kitbag and repack for work - DONE
5. drop off too small dance clothes to a friend
6. scout badges x 10 onto DDs blanket (long overdue job)

big cardboard box assigned for charity shop stuff but not out of the house yet
Easter egg packaging recycled

Not really getting anything out, or even more organised, atm but hopefully in the next few days.

319

Did some of my shoes today

114. Two pairs of heels in charity bag
115. Two pairs Worn out shoes binned.
116. Two books in charity box

Weeded out more outgrown clothes from the clean laundry when sorting it. Some empty packaging sorted. Pile of stuff for the Scouts tombola/raffle prize donations growing nicely.

Sympathy @Gassylady -absolutely hate it when something that’s meant to help is broken and causing more grief.

@LivingInaBuiltSite - sounds like you are making progress, even if not lots of outs just at the moment.

Tomorrow I plan to tackle a major dumping ground in the hope that getting rid of rubbish/recycling and bagging donations will reveal a significant amount of extra space.
It's a big jumble of stuff shoved out of the way or dug around in by various family members. If I succeed I will then do a dump run, already loaded some stuff into the car.

It's daunting. Doing it by DKWs method will mean I can make progress and it really would be a massive relief to tame the area.

In amongst everything there are lots of empty boxes...

@BeanWriting genuinely excited to hear how this one goes. I love chucking a box out because they take up so much damn space! Good luck tomorrow!

Planned to declutter today but we had a slow morning and I ended up spending this afternoon with a friend which was better for the soul than clearing boxes. I did come back and do a small folder of my old school work though and kept a few bits, but nothing much, so recycled the rest. It meant that what was left in that box could fill up another incomplete box so I've now reduced about 6 boxes down to 2.

Tomorrow I'll tip a bunch more stuff onto the floor and go through it - not using Dana K White's method in this instance because I feel like I need to see it all, but will only do it in manageable sections so it's always getting better.

Still determined for the pile of old boxes and new storage boxes to be out of the living room by the end of the Easter holidays. Whether I can manage the whole cupboard of doom as I promised myself I don't know as work is busier than I expected, but we'll see!

Holey underwear binned, also manky false lashes (tons left) binned and too small sweatshirt donated. Total is 2047

Good luck @BeanWriting and @daffodil2023 💪

A few random outs for me. A couple of wooden spoons that were broken, a big piece of kitchen equipment that has found a good home. Two candle holders which I tried to clean but ended up breaking in the process (!) a small box full of bits of clutter that I was keeping but not sure why…

I’m still processing some of the Dana K White ideas - the idea of useful things that you allow to flow through your house has really resonated with me. And the idea that things are replaceable and shouldn’t be kept if you would likely buy again. Picture frames and excessive numbers of storage boxes are some of my bulkier “just in case” things. Might try a little step forwards with those.

So hard letting go of the just in case items isn't it realfastfoodie.

One pot of ceramide capsules finished up (about a million face whatsits left) Total is 2048

Exactly @IndianSummer78 … especially things that you feel might actually be helpful in getting things organised, like boxes and bags and frames. I keep thinking “oh I’ll use this for something when I’m more organised”.

Loving your daily progress too. Keeps me inspired to try to do a little each day.

Well I have had an unexpected flurry on Vinted and sold 13 things. I might try to do a tip run at some point too. Sold dds swim cover up and now can't find it to post out! My Vinted pile to sell is tiny now. Ready to be donated when the kids go back to school.

Ds12 has had a growth spurt so I do really need to go through his clothing again. He has got some of his brothers hand me downs and when we went out for a day at a local gardens his top sleeves was too short. As he's disabled he rolls around a lot in the dirt and gets filthy but I want him to look good. Saw a disabled young man out with his carers at the garden and I did wonder if ds will be still rolling in mud at 20 or 30. I think he will be!

1. hang up as many pictures as poss/get rid of some
2. decide about the shelves we used to have as cat shelves/put up or get rid
3. drop off too small dance clothes to a friend
4. scout badges x 10 onto DDs blanket (long overdue job)

put away big coats, scarves and hats, etc. found 2 odd gloves - into fabric recycling.
plus a pair of holey socks.

319+3=322

We are stacking up stuff in boxes for charity, hopefully send DH during the week.

Another extremely good day.

I decided to tackle the pile of clothes in my bedroom. Then got carried away. As a consequence I've sorted out two bin bags of stuff for recycling, and the equivalent of 3 or 4 for the charity shop. All the clothes in my wardrobe and drawers are now stuff that fits, in season, and in good condition.

117. T shirts

118. Trousers

119. Pyjamas

120. Sportswear

121. Jumpers

122. Dresses

123. Suits (I haven't worked in an office for years!)

124. Coats

125. Formal wear

126. I've also binned the hanging bit of a wardrobe box, 2 pairs of pants and random packaging that was also in my drawers
     4 tea towels have relocated down to the kitchen... instead of my drawers

127. I've also earmarked a dressing gown to move to my parents house, and my one there will be recycled... its seen much better days.

Loving reading everyone's progress, it's keeping me motivated.

Got rid of some nursery furniture outgrown by my little ones. Hurrah. (Passed on as it was passed on to me)

It's been busy on Vinted over the holidays. Need to stop selling, I've nearly run out of boxes and bags to send in! Still have plenty of clutter to list . . . (I'm not going to buy bags BTW, I'm sure I'll run out of steam soon and then they can build up again of their own accord)

I've also been working through my candle/tealights stash over the winter. Progress has slowed due to the lighter nights but I'm down to a child's shoebox full, started with a large Amazon delivery box full.

Oh numbers, 280 this year

Some progress here as well. DH has finally tackled his man drawers, unearthing all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff. He has agreed to leave half of it on the kerbside, where it's proved surprisingly popular 😊

We also have a zillion of boxes, but I am hoping we can use at least some of them to sell some stuff...although that's probably another form of "just-in-case" procrastination..

DH did a quick blast through his clothes this morning so we have a bin bag ready for the charity shop.

I tipped out the 2 remaining boxes sat waiting for a sort through in the living room and so far have 1 bin bag full to get rid of, and a bunch of bits sorted into categories in plastic storage boxes.

Still have a while to go but I reckon I can get everything on the floor done this evening (if I actually focus of course..!)

Posting this for accountability!

Some good progress here everyone. I’m mostly just holding it together at the moment with kids, colds and other illnesses and so much going on.

I am realising though that I’m able to find things just a little bit more easily, that I’m able to do small sort outs rather than the whole house being in chaos, and actually that there’s just a little more space for our house to breathe.

I’m also realising how the “let it flow” (out of your house) and “where does this belong/container” principles can be applied in so many ways!

(That is sounds way more sorted and smug than the state of our house deserves but it’s a kind of progress.)