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.

Managed to go through my clothes, just a quick sift.

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: started blue badge
3. clear out/check through shed contents
4. Application for training course at work

Not quite outs yet:
more stuff on Vinted & a few bits to list - 1 item sold, need to post
21 items in a Music Magpie box but waiting for password reset email to actually confirm sale - system is not working for me - need to try this again: tried again, think I need to set up a whole new account… will try Ziffit next
3 x old duvets to find a home for - need to contact local dog charity place
craft stuff listed on FB

Out:
3 x old knickers to fabric recycling
3 x old bras ditto
1 dress & 1 top to charity bag
930+8=938

I'm holding myself accountable on this thread.

Tomorrow will be a clean of. My office and sort out the bathroom cupboard

Just checking in, no real big outs here. Although eldest leaving uni and returning home soon means there will be lots of ins by the beginning of next month. Lots will go in their new much smaller bedroom. But space will need to be found for kitchen stuff etc.
Thanks for the you tube recommendations IndianSummer78 I think I need an inspiration boost and they will make a change from Sort your life out rewatches and Dana K White re reads!

I’ve decided to join those of you counting because it seems so motivational.

I have donated to the charity shop:
8 mugs
3 glasses
1 candle
14 items of clothing
1 Pyrex jug
1 baby bowl
1 book

So that is 29 items since 1 June.

I had hoped to have done more but my toddler is currently in a ‘challenging’ phase.

I didn’t really manage any decluttering when the DC were younger, so well done for even thinking about it!

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: started blue badge
3. clear out/check through shed contents
4. Application for training course at work
5. 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:
more stuff on Vinted & a few bits to list - 1 item sold, need to post, have taken photos of last lot
21 items in a Music Magpie box but waiting for password reset email to actually confirm sale - system is not working for me - need to try this again: tried again, think I need to set up a whole new account… will try Ziffit next
3 x old duvets to find a home for - need to contact local dog charity place
craft stuff listed on FB

Out:
5 old school tops from DD (changing to white shirts now)
6 pairs of old trampoline socks (still have plenty for the main place)
938+11=949

Over the weekend I actually took my bags to the charity shop. Sometimes I fill a bag and then leave it and it never goes anywhere, so I am really pleased with myself. I also sold another item on Vinted and posted both items off.

I am at the hospital today, so dropped off all my old tablet bottles which had been building up in my bedroom.

@IndianSummer78 Thanks for the YouTube recommendations, I enjoy watching SYLO while I declutter but have already watched them all, so am now enjoying Real Life With Ali - thank you.

One eye cream used up. Total is 2251

Spotted an old broken electronic chessboard yesterday, and it’s now in the electrics pile for the recycling centre.

Need to get to grips with the coming changes to landlines, and get rid of unused cables, etc.

We don’t have a landline phone anymore, just the internet comes through it. Our house alarm uses it too but I think we’re thinking of getting rid of it soon. May replace it may not, it keeps texting me to say it’s going off when it isn’t 🤷‍♀️

I actually sat and read a book after so long not reading. Last One At The Party, can highly recommend. Was on my kindle so not an out though. I don’t really understand how to use the kindle properly so need to find out how to delete unwanted finished books from there.

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: started blue badge
3. clear out/check through shed contents
4. Application for training course at work
5. 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:
more stuff on Vinted & a few bits to list - 1 item sold, need to post, have taken photos of last lot
21 items in a Music Magpie box but waiting for password reset email to actually confirm sale - system is not working for me - need to try this again: tried again, think I need to set up a whole new account… will try Ziffit next
3 x old duvets to find a home for - need to contact local dog charity place
craft stuff listed on FB

Out:
pile of painted dominoes from a DD craft idea
2 x painted canvases DD doesn’t want anymore and no one on FB wants either
949+3=952

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: started blue badge
3. clear out/check through shed contents
4. Application for training course at work: started
5. 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:
more stuff on Vinted & a few bits to list - 1 item sold, need to post, have taken photos of last lot; all listed, one posted. Will have a break from Vinted after this lot sells/doesn’t sell and goes to charity.
21 items in a Music Magpie box but waiting for password reset email to actually confirm sale - system is not working for me - need to try this again: tried again, think I need to set up a whole new account… will try Ziffit next
3 x old duvets to find a home for - need to contact local dog charity place
craft stuff listed on FB; due to be collected in 2 lots

Out:
vinted item
952+1=953

Earlier I decluttered my dressing table again. Out goes -
3 necklaces,
2 hair clips,
an earring,
a pendant without chain,
2 metal decorative bits taken off something I'm keeping,
a broach,
a belt,
a bowl

Total is 2263

i have just take two bags to the charity shop of various things I’d decided to declutter in the last week - books and box files.

I’m aiming to spend an hour a day sorting through Lego. There’s a lot to do but once dd1 has finished her GCSEs she’s offered to help.

@LivingInaBuiltSite I'm sure we don't need our landline phone either, although it feels like one of those "handy in an emergency" things. That said, the only time it has ever been used was when my then-two-year-old phoned 999 and told them Mummy was asleep in the bath . I was neither asleep nor in the bath and had to do some fast talking to stop the operator from sending the Met round to kick the door in....

A few ins here as it was my birthday last week, but handily they are mostly "temporary" things like chocolates and nice soap, and a new lipstick which will replace the current one I have, so nothing too horrendous. Still need to work on getting things out, as I have about three bags for charity and recycling. The living room is looking pretty cluttered at the moment, mostly with party bag tat, and I am tempted to go round with a binbag and bin a lot of it.

DD2 had "Roman Day" at school and has come back with an impressive looking cardboard shield, which I know will just gather dust for the next 4 months before I lose patience and chuck it along with DD1's Tutankhamun papier mache mask 😩

I did the bathroom cupboard yesterday . Years old, half used shampoo bottles, make up, pain killers, tampons, pads, cleaning products, hand sanitizer, hair bands, hair clips, pegs, bath bombs, face masks / you name it we had it. A 'bag for life n' full of shit I've not used for years. Some of which moved into this house 3 years ago from the old house. Looks so much better and I have about 2 extra shelves free

😂
My 2 year old hasn't got hold of the phone yet- reminder to move it out of reach!

Hello, checking in late. I'm still plodding along. Not much progress as have lots on with gcses, end of term etc

Aim was 2024 out in 2024 so far on track

Total for 24
990 out
43 in

I have realised that sometimes I hang onto things as I don't know what to do with them. Does anyone have any ideas on recycling old bikinis? It feels wrong to bin them as they are in good condition, they just don't fit.

Our town has a freebay Facebook group l, worth seeing if there is one local to you? Failing that clothing recycling?

I sometimes list stuff like the bikinis very cheaply on Vinted, or yes the freecycle/free stuff/ pass it on groups.

My handbag biro ran out,we had 8 dried up ones in the drawer, all binned.

Big bag of toys passed on and yet more Vinted sales. Some baby stuff on a free group but I have still more to go, the baby stuff seems to be never ending.

I had a mad period of makeup buying some time ago, I've just realised that was 2012. Most of it is unused powder and nail varnish. Think it's time for a clearout

808 so far this year.

Today was all about shredding -

Two old appointments diaries
Three old calendars
Four completed journals

Total is 2272

I gave underwear to charity shops in my rags bag so I would either put a bikini on a free website or do it as rags.

dd2 produced two bags of clutter from her room including four electric toys and a broken lamp that can go in my boot in my electricals recycling bag. I am still spending an hour a day sorting Lego but it’s slow progress.

5 pairs of trousers I was keeping in case I fit into them in the future have gone into donations bag today. Total is 2277

Luckily my DC never did the phone random emergency services thing with the phone. But the neighbours little girl did call the fire brigade as she saw ‘smoke’ coming out of our house. It was steam from the boiler vent 😂

Had quite a lazy day today, will have to crack on with jobs tomorrow, esp the work application.

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: started blue badge
3. clear out/check through shed contents
4. Application for training course at work: started
5. 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:
Vinted stuff: 3 items to post tomorrow
21 items in a Music Magpie box but waiting for password reset email to actually confirm sale - system is not working for me - need to try this again: tried again, think I need to set up a whole new account… will try Ziffit next
3 x old duvets to find a home for - need to contact local dog charity place
craft stuff listed on FB; due to be collected in 2 lots: one lot gone ☑️

Out:
1 bundle of ribbons collected
1 session of deleting old emails
box of random craft stuff binned
953+3=956

Two too small tops getting donated. Total is 2279

I tend to bin underwear, knickers at least, because I get a bit paranoid about who might be going through the clothing 😕Probably massively overthinking it but I do get a bit uncomfortable, especially with the children's old ones.

Used up a tube of leave-in hair conditioner - it was a gift from a friend, and nice, but not something I'd replace. Also a couple of candles have burnt themselves out, so I need to get the rest of the wax out - I think you can freeze it? - and then recycle the jars.