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.

I was sorting out the too small Halloween costumes but on close inspection most of them.are stained at the back (how?). I'm not sure they will stand up to washing, but if the don't, they don't.

Still got what seems like a bin bag or two of clothes to get rid of. Some will sell on Vinted like dd has 5 identical school skirts. But the boys school trouser is just too much faff. Unless I find a few of the same sizes to bundle up.

I still might just donate it all.

One face wash and one body scrub used up. Total is 2780

Another two vinted sales to send off tomorrow including a big one. Then a few bits and price binned as I take a look through the kitchen stuff.

Folder of unwanted music passed along at orchestra.
another pile being collected tomorrow hopefully.

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: blue badge started
3. my British passport application - need to get on with this
4. garden generally tidied for end of summer - started
5. loads of scout badges onto blanket - 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, bumped up
spare Taylor Swift poster from DD to neighbour’s DD - delivered ✅
knackered suitcase to put on FB - posted

Out:
1182+2=1184

1 broken lock box out
1 new lock box in
Neutral
1 small parcel of stuff to family out

Binned: lumpy cushion, fake lashes. Total is 2782

Three bags of stuff taken to
rhe charity shop. It included some clothes, jewellery that dd2 didn’t want, a craft set dd2 didn’t want. I also threw out some old hair bands and clips that no one would want.

i have also filled about two bags of old school work of dd1’s that will go out with the recycling.

My decluttering has suffered from a hiatus as my dentist decluttered one of my teeth yesterday 😬

Normal service will be resumed tomorrow; she was adamant I mustn't do anything strenuous for 48 hours!

Ouch re dentist, definitely take it easy!

DS1 has friends round for a farewell party today. Loud but they’re fine, just taking over the kitchen so not sure how to plan dinner 🤔 hoping they go for a beach walk or a pub trip….

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: blue badge started
3. my British passport application - need to get on with this
4. garden generally tidied for end of summer - started
5. loads of scout badges onto blanket - 8 left

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, bumped up
knackered suitcase to put on FB - posted
old school PE shorts to a friend
DD to return borrowed flute to old school, oops

Out:
pile of music collected, approx 10 pieces
broken tray in the bin (thanks dog!)
1184+11=1195

@IDareSay <gets excited in dental nurse>

Top that is too small
Bra that has fallen apart
DVD I don't like

Total is 2785

10 x clothes to be packed up for vinted. Selling for pennies but it's leaving the house. 8 of the items had been up for a few months too so that's positive.

Have listed another 2 bundles as well.

Bundle sold so will post that today along with yesterday's sale. I find it strange what sells and doesn't- maybe it's something to do with the algorithm.

at my wits end with school uniform again; school won't take any/the 2nd hand lady 👋🏽 only takes them at certain times/loads is unworn coz DC will only wear a certain option/charity shops won't take uniform/no reply from school FB 😤 I'm sure parents just aren't looking who wouldn't want free unworn uniform?
also kids tikiboos not selling on official group joined vinted listing away like a good thing then it permanently banned me! 🤬 so I've got a chat open appealing this waiting for a response 🙄

Another small bundle sold so will post that this afternoon.
Listed 2 items this morning, and hoping to do 6 at the weekend. Keep the pace up!

@Riverswims It is annoying, isn't it? Our 2nd hand uniform shop is opening 3 times a week, but they're not taking any new stock at the moment, so I have two bags sitting in the hallway until goodness knows when. I think the textile recycling banks will take them if you have any near you, as a lot of the stuff gets shipped to countries where school uniform isn't easily available.

Two used up candles de-waxed and empty jars put in the recycling - resisted the temptation to keep them "just in case". Also decluttered a couple of cherry Jaffa cakes which had gone over the BBE date

One pair of knickers and one dress both with holes in. Total is 2787

One pair of trousers gone.

i also bought a label maker. I have bought a few storage boxes for the kitchen so thought it would be nice to lanel
them. I had one already but had to declutter it a few months ago because it no longer worked.

I'd love a label maker. Ds is off to uni tomorrow so about to declutter him and a lot of his kit and the boxes all the living room. Must. Not cry.

Still lots of easy wins close to hand and teeny dd looks like she is growing at last so lots more of her stuff going including a brand new Ballet unit I bought on Monday!

For every in, I'd 10 outs so is the ballet leotard a out, or do I not count it as a in it never been worn / very recently bought?

Hoarding support is going well. I feel like I'm on fire right now it's,all going so positively. Ds will see a new home at Christmas. Going to list Halloween dress up on Vinted soon. Feeling good about my progress. I can finally see some drastic changes.

I've got rid of 3 100% wool blankets. I put them in our suburb big linen/quilt/sheets bin.

I've also cleared one wardrobe of crap - old pashminas, swimsuits and a few silk scarves. I've held on to them for years because they were either silk, linen or 100% wool but it was time to let them go.

I've vacuumed bagged winter blankets and quilts except for goose down ones. I still can't still believe how much space I've made.

Next stop is organising the linen cupboard with different size sheets/quilt sets.

@Alondra did mine last year and it made such a difference. It's not as tidy anymore, so good reminder to put that on the to-do list. At Christmas I can finally get rid of the cot sized bedding too, as dc is getting a single

Excellent progress @IncessantNameChanger

Not much happening this weekend due to period pains. But have started a list in my head of next things to do : bring down present box from loft and store in spare room for easier access; linen cupboard tidy; find Christmas and Halloween clothes to sell; donate unsold vinted listings; continue listing toys (about 2 bags)

My problem has always been keeping natural fibres stuff. I get rid of things I don't use without a problem, but I hold on for dear life to personal or household items with 100% wool, linen or silk, even if I haven't used them for more than 10 years.

Letting go to make space has been quite freeing.

My new label machine hasn’t arrived yet but I’ve been clearing drawers in the ikea units where we keep crafts stuff as they are beautifully labelled at the moment but full of crap that I’ll want to get rid of. I have advertised a huge bottle of Christmas crafts on freecycle cos it’s missing some bits and also sticker sets. I’ve managed to clear a drawer. We also had a case with sewing and knitting equipment and scraps of material that I’m about to give to dd1 to sort through and tell me what she wants to keep.

Put one tshirt for recycling which rides up my tummy. I'm good enough to wear clothes that fit me even if I have gained weight. No need to make myself feel worse by having ill-fitting clothes.
3listings done.