Decluttering and organising thread 8 – it’s nearly summer

[stealthninjamum]

These threads are accountability threads for mumsnetters who are decluttering and organising our homes.

We’re all at different stages of decluttering from the beginning to the maintenance phase and use different techniques. Join us for support and chat .

We discuss all things to do with decluttering, the things that stop us decluttering, how to get over them, where to dispose of our clutter, how we can encourage our families to join us, and pretty storage solutions which is the fun part.

I’m doing one last big push to get rid of loads of stuff before the long summer holidays when it’ll inevitably turn to chaos again.

Useful tips
Some of us have found the Toss app (on apple) a great place to start with decluttering.

Many of us love Dana K. White (A Slob Comes Clean) on youtube and podcasts.

Many of us at the start just take a timer for 5 or 10 minutes to just make it seem less daunting. I used to start by clearing surfaces.

If you want to make a big impact quickly then increasingly charities will pick up your furniture, books and clothes so you don't even need to leave the house. Or if you have hundreds of books / CDs it's really easy to use the Music Magpie, ziffit or We buy books apps to get them taken away and earn a (very) small amount of money at the same time.

The BBC TV Program Sort Your Life Out is particularly inspiring.

When I do housework I listen to podcasts from a Slob Comes Clean, Clutterbug, the Declutter Hub and The Art of Decluttering. If you think you have ADHD then Clutterbug talks about this a lot as she has ADHD, and Amy from The Art of Decluttering did an ADHD season about 8 or 9 months ago which gave some good tips. My dc have ADHD so it’s something I’m very interested in.

Got back onto the “Toss” app. Did a massive sort of my medicines box - binned 27 things but more importantly now it’s a bit more organised with things in freezer bags.

I really do feel that having less stuff serves our family better. I need to find a way to access that feeling, that sense of calmer living. I’ve been sorting out the kids’ drawers and just need to get braver. We don’t need so much of anything, we really really don’t.

I sold a skirt on Vinted which I had totally forgotten about in my cull. It's been listed for 9 months. Everything else that old, I took to the charity shop but I must've missed this. I posted it immediately and was quite pleased t make £5 (then immediately spent £6.90 on coffee and pastry)

Also out a pair of laddered tights and a shoebox. Total is 921

One coat donated that I've realised I already replaced with a better version of it. Total is 2392

New charity bag started with three items of kids clothes and a new with tags on travel wallet. This was one of five that my ILs have gifted us over the years. As there are now no travellers cheques to keep safe figure we can dispense with the very spare one! Two broken kids bags unearthed and into rubbish.

Recycling trolley - out-of-date weekly planning sheets and all election leaflets.

Repurposed skipping ropes with broken handles for tying back branches in the garden.

One leaflet
One shacket (do these suit anyone at all?)
One coat with a loud pattern that I'll never wear

Total is 2395

Still on it! Around 200 books to charity shops, 2 black blags of rubbish to the tip, an IKEA bag of Home Ed stuff gifted and two bags of children’s craft stuff gifted. Oh - also broken fridge freezer to the tip. Two boxes of Home Ed ‘evidence’ boxed up to go into the attic (13 years into home Ed and no one in authority has looked near, but I still like to be prepared).

Just need to keep the momentum going!

I’m going to tackle the kitchen this week. Look out random plastic tubs!

38 things out today which is mainly dd clothes as I'm donating things I don't sell after a week on Vinted. I think I can easily get rid of some more today.

Haven't opened DS's gifts from his birthday party yet 😬On the plus side there seemed to be quite a few cards with vouchers or money, and we managed to palm off gift the spare party bags to the church secretary when she came to lock up the hall at the end of the day, as she can use the bits and pieces for Sunday school activities. Fridge is now full of leftovers and we'll be eating quiche and sausage rolls for the rest of the week

@SydneyCarton kids birthday parties do often create "stuff". I was glad to stop doing party bags!
Had my quickest ever sale on Vinted, posted an item and it was sold in less than 5 minutes! All packaged and I'll drop it off tomorrow. If only everything went that easily.
Got rid of some soft plastics this morning.

Fortunately this is the last whole class party for us and party bags will hopefully become a thing of the past…. To be honest the only one we’ve ever had which stood out was because it was so low key (in a good way!) and it was just a book and a piece of birthday cake. Eat the cake, read the book, job done.

Very glad to be out of party bag age range, both giving and receiving!

Re sets of china, we had some on our wedding list but the company went bust so we never got it. A blessing now really, we just have plain white tesco/ikea/asda stuff. Some days I hanker after prettier things but only if dishwasher proof/microwave safe/teenager proof.

Not making much progress here really. Have ordered suitcases online for holiday, more trousers for DS2 (any tips of where is good for very skinny teen boys?), and DD is making a pre-camp/pre-holiday list so more stuff will be incoming.

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: started blue badge
3. my British passport application (have an Irish one but life sometimes easier with a UK one and I’m allowed both)

Not quite outs yet:
3 x old duvets to find a home for - need to contact local dog charity place
craft stuff listed on FB; colouring books due to be collected soon? Forgotten about these, not sure where they are or who was collecting them!
Running leggings to go to a friend - maybe next week Parkrun?
2 x family tree certificates to a friend - must drop off, maybe tomorrow
spare tap left from building works - on FB
pile of unwanted files - on FB
spare PE kit as Dd is changing schools - maybe to friend
school blazer to friend - after Friday
spare Taylor Swift poster from DD to neighbour’s DD

Out:
1047

to do tomorrow as I have my orchestra here for the end of year bbq:
food shopping
some alcohol shopping
sort out patio
tidy kitchen
check/clean toilets

One coat that's too big. Total is 2396

I have bags of winter clothes ready to go in the attic (not going out they'll be brought out next winter) they;re in those vacuum bags so just need to deflate them and get them stored .

I've got a couple of handbags to go to the charity shop and some perfume but that might need to go in the bin.

I really need to crack on as I'm slightly behind on my 2024 out in 2024 target.

Got rid of some various tat I didn't count
1 of my dresses ( too dressy for my lifestyle, black cocktail dress)
32 of dd clothes
7 cushion covers

In 4 shirts for ds16 sith form.

Ins June/ July 29, out is 50

Year total
1061 out
93 in

Got to get rid of some of ds16 old school uniform next. I'm not sure if just two pairs of school trousers for ds12 ( with severe SEN) is going to be possible but I'm struggling to find him plus size trousers for his age.

Dd needs,a massive thin out of uniform too but it all still fits her so that will be done as she out grows. I honestly hardly buy them clothes any more but it's back to the point of not fitting away again somehow?

I needvto get rid of 120 things this month to stay on target 😪 I should have donated toys to the kids fate when I had the chance. Never mind, lesson learned for next year

@LivingInaBuiltSite depending on his tastes - patagonia and uniqlo? Otherwise check out dutch/scandi brands as usually good for height - sometimes you can get lucky with eBay or vinted depending on your budget

One hair mousse
One shampoo
One conditioner

All used up and in the recycling.
Total is 2399

Decluttered - Three half-finished puzzle books to someone who’ll enjoy them while away on holiday.

Doing annual declutter right now and then try to keep up with it with once a month mini declutters.

so far have:

• declutterred books, taking them all off bookshelves, got rid of some duplicates and ones don’t want to keep, dusted books and shelves and put back in height order.
• decluttered two shelves of home study cupboard - got rid of whole bin bag of things.

to do rest of this week:

two kitchen cupboards
hall coat cupboard and hooks/ shoe storage

don’t want to do it but so much better when done. Find it hard to keep up with general cleaning at same time.

any tips for motivation?

good luck, everyone. Keep going!

Got rid of the rest of the soft plastics recycling and some hangers at Sainsburys yesterday. No show for an item I had on Freecycle.
I'm now a bit stuck....

41 items to the children's clothing bank - I'd looked them out for someone who requested on a Facebook free group then she didn't turn up to collect. Grr.
10 items to the charity shop (and bought one book while I was there but not too bad!)

992 year to date. Off to the tip this morning!

Nonda I prefer little and often. I always have an eye on what can go and a pile in the hallway.

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: started blue badge
3. my British passport application (have an Irish one but life sometimes easier with a UK one and I’m allowed both)

Not quite outs yet:
3 x old duvets to find a home for - need to contact local dog charity place - Emailed
craft stuff listed on FB; colouring books due to be collected soon? Forgotten about these, not sure where they are or who was collecting them!
Running leggings to go to a friend - maybe next Parkrun?
2 x family tree certificates to a friend - must drop off, maybe tomorrow DONE ☑️
spare tap left from building works - on FB
pile of unwanted files - on FB
spare PE kit as Dd is changing schools - to friend
school blazer to friend - after Friday
spare Taylor Swift poster from DD to neighbour’s DD

Out:
charity shop trip yesterday (6 dvds, 2 shorts, other bits I’ve forgotten what was in there x 5)
1047+13=1060

Got rid if 10 items of ds school uniform but possibly had as many ins for his 6th form kit.

I'm also going to throw ds school shoes out as they are shredded. I will be glad to see the back of them