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.

Binned:
1x hairbrush (the least-used of 5 that I own)
1x broken toy

Recycled:
2x industry magazines I’ve finally got around to reading

97 + 4 = 101

PlantDoctor try toy rotation. She doesn't rule your house and it's ok for her to learn this. There is not enough space so some toys are put away in loft/garage etc. Once a month she can trade in some of the toys that are currently out for others that were packed away. New purchases strictly one-in-one-out (minimum), no exceptions.

Shrunken knickers binned. Total is 2738

Thanks all, it was very stressful at times, but also a lovely holiday too by the end of it. Leaving all the compensation paperwork to DH as I have no fight left in me.

@PlantDoctor i do remember the feeling and we had far too many toys too, esp as DS2 with his developmental delays stayed on some toys for years. My youngest is 13 now and toys are basically gone. We have a small pile for when my nephew comes to stay. It is a good Decluttering feeling when a big toy can go like a toy kitchen for eg, hold onto that in the future!

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: blue badge started
3. my British passport application - need to get on with this
4. kids pool to be put away for winter
5. garden generally tidied for end of summer

Not quite outs yet:
3 x old duvets to find a home for - emailed local dog charity place
Running leggings to go to a friend - Need to message her to meetup
spare tap left from building works - on FB
pile of unwanted files - on FB
spare Taylor Swift poster from DD to neighbour’s DD
bag of bags - on FB
knackered suitcase to put on FB

Out:
holey socks
too small rash vest
forgot I gave a bag of nephews back to brother on holiday too
1132+3=1135

@PlantDoctor Dana k white (a slob comes clean) has the container concept. You own what will fit in the space. So if your container is overflowing you get rid of the thing you like least. I find it helpful- although at this stage your daughter might be too young. It’s worth thinking about for the future.

@PlantDoctor I know you said she would remember things but personally I'd just choose toys she doesn't play with and put them in storage for a bit (a binliner or cardboard box she cant see through). If she does ask for something back within 3 months, get rid. I did that with my DC and I was convinced they would notice - but I even removed the play kitchen and they didn't notice! I do think it's good to teach kids to declutter but at 4 they are just so small and will struggle with the concept, so I feel it's OK at this stage to make decisions for them.

I listed some kids' clothes on Vinted yesterday and I'm stunned that quite a few sold. Just making parcels and will tally up soon

Might make you all laugh - guess who was cleaning the space in my bathroom cupboard where the bath bomb stash had been and found ... a bottle of Waitrose Essentials Camomile Bathfoam.

So no nice new bubble bath for me, until that is also used up! Hoping I get through it by Christmas and then I can hint my husband towards some of the extra nice expensive stuff that gets used up and doesn't bring more stuff into the house!

Also parcelled a load of baby stuff up for a family member with a big bump...

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: blue badge started
3. my British passport application - need to get on with this
4. kids pool to be put away for winter
5. garden generally tidied for end of summer

Not quite outs yet:
3 x old duvets to find a home for - currently DS1’s friends keep using this when they sleepover so keeping for now
Running leggings to go to a friend - Need to message her to meetup
spare tap left from building works - on FB
pile of unwanted files - on FB
spare Taylor Swift poster from DD to neighbour’s DD
bag of bags - on FB - going to try and use up at home
knackered suitcase to put on FB - posted
new charity box started (currently 6 items)

Out:
4 x empty toiletry bottles out of boys bathroom 🙄
1135+4=1139

Recycling trolley - one cardboard delivery box from DD’s Avon days more than twenty years ago. It had been lying flattened out, on top of the garage worktop. No-one knows why; it had simply become part of the scenery.

One shampoo used up. Lots left. Total is 2739

2 x changing mats
Large toy
(And can't remember if I posted this but a garden toy and another large inside toy gone)
Bed to the tip, plus some broken small electricals.
2 big boxes that have been stored for family have been collected too, and making plans to drop off another 3big boxes in October hopefully.
Dc2 moved up a clothes size so now to start the process of listing.

5 kids clothing bits sold and posted on Vinted
Rusty padlock out
Hyaluronic acid used up (2 left)
Magazine read and recycled
"Useful" shipping box recycled

Total is 1356

DH has now joined in and things have left the garage of doom!!

w/e 1st September
Decluttered
One year of work emails
One side of my shed: washed all plant pots I'm keeping and tidied/sorted seeds into mouse proof box; made a list of ones I need to buy.

Recycling centre
2 bags garden rubbish
2 dog crates
2 dog beds
2 x monitor boxes and polystyrene
Various broken plastic pots and plant labels

Donated
Plastic plant pots to garden centre reuse bin
(Which means I went into the garden centre but we won't be discussing that...)

Binned
5 x pairs socks
2 x knickers
(I have resolved to bin any socks, underwear etc. that is uncomfortable, tatty, or has holes instead of putting it in the washbasket 'for one more wear'; I deserve better!)

I did that too @IDareSay . 2pairs of socks which were thinning - put them straight for recycling instead of waiting for hole to wear through. It's a significant mental shift!
Got to go and collect some bits to donate to school too.

Trying on dd uniform. She has got no taller I swear but, dare I say filling out for a shoot up? About 5 skirts that don't go past her bum, 5 billion shoes that don't fit. 2 pairs of trousers. I will count them properly once they are actually going. I'm not going to try to sell any on Vinted. There are two new pairs of school plimsolls too but I'm just not in the mood for Vinted. My boost ends tomorrow so I was going to take everything off then list only Halloween and Christmas outfits.

I will just be happy to sort out this last area of dds clothes. Pack away her summer school dresses. Of course there's me thinking oh only two school skirts still fit, maybe I should buy too more, but no! There's four new ones to grow into stashed away! I'm never going to buy a bigger size to stash ever again going forward.

One pair of worn out trainers and one pair of uncomfortable knickers binned. One magazine read and recycled. Total is 2742

Listed 2 things. And taken photos of 2 bundles - hopefully can sell through nursery whatsapp, but if not will list those as well.
Sorted through the tip, charity, and listing bags; and found a bag that can go to school.

@IncessantNameChanger hear you on future stashing. I did way too much and now I only buy what's needed per year when dc grows. Sure, I'm having to buy mostly new, but I'm saving money overall as I hugely overbought. I've got 2 sizes left that are left of the overbuying, so in 2yrs time (once dc2 has gone past those ages) I'm hoping that I won't be vinted listing as there won't be enough to be worth it. I do not need more jobs to do like selling clothes.

definitely agree on binning tired socks and underwear, we deserve better!

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: blue badge started
3. my British passport application - need to get on with this
4. kids pool to be put away for winter - nearly done
5. garden generally tidied for end of summer - started

Not quite outs yet:
Running leggings to go to a friend - Need to message her to meetup
spare tap left from building works - on FB
pile of unwanted files - in charity box
spare Taylor Swift poster from DD to neighbour’s DD
knackered suitcase to put on FB - posted
new charity box started (currently 21)

Out:
jigsaw given to neighbour
broken goggles binned
1139+2=1141

@Maeploy yes I'm totally on the same page as you. I'm not saving overall stashing anymore. It was going pre age 6 as they shoot up and wreck clothes at that age. But now dd is ten, she hasn't grown more than 3cm in two years so I had accumulated a lot. The her taste has changed. She was living in leggings last year and now doesn't ever wear them. She is very much massive hoodie and shorts. In all wearhers. Loves her brothers hoodies. Still gets things a bit filthy. I'd rather she had less, loved it all and left it fit for the bin. I worked out that if I bought multi packs plain tshirts, a multi pack of shorts in sainsbury's it would be under £40 to buy it if nothing fitted. I can buy it as its needed. But this is a big mindshift for me. I like to be thinking ahead. Then I forget what I have and buy multiples again and again of what I already have!

A question for you all: I’ve got a bag of old phones and devices that I want to get rid of safely (without compromising any personal info that might be on them). Mostly it’s because of cracked screens, meaning I can’t use them, but they will still contain personal data if you knew how to get at it.

Any advice, ideas or reputable ways of getting these wiped before getting rid?

@SagittariusUprising microwave? Very strong magnets?

Take it all to Curries. They wipe everything.

For free , I should say if you donate it. They use the parts .

Amazing! Thank you!

I went through the pile of DC artwork and notes from reception again. Perhaps a bit harsh, but I just kept a few things. The pile was huge and lots was just scribbles. Counting the pile as 1 thing.

Gearing up to tidy and there's always outs from there, plus DH has asked me for help going through his paperwork tonight. Fun times.

Total is 1356+1=1357

I'm considering taking all our old tech to a PC guy who can retrieve any data first. If I ever get around to it

Counted dd outs today from her uniform and a few summer bits that was lerking in that general area. I keep a few things to try on Vinted but not really sure if I will list them or not yet. I'm going to list some Halloween stuff in October, so it's sitting on shelf until then. Found some outgrown stuff too that was dirty so it's being washed before I donate it.

Dd went back to school today so it's back to the big post holiday sort out soon I guess.

4th 17 out charity
1 out vinted, Pe bag, pe socks, tupperwear pot, trainers, 5 tshirts charity
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Total for 2024
1325 out
129 in
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I'm about 190 items short of staying on track for 2024 in 2024!