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.

All those who bin pens, Ryman's office stationery shop has recycling bins for all type of pens.

DS2 having a n asthma flare up with a chest infection, dr offered an appointment on Oct 30th 🤔 managed to go there and talk them into an appt today so have sorted him with new meds.

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: blue badge started
3. my British passport application - after half term trip to Belgium
4. garden generally tidied for end of summer - started, must put bbq away
5. loads of scout badges onto blanket - found 1 more
6. DS1’s room: wardrobe, chair
7. DS1’s gaming, PC, nerf collections to go through and tidy away
8. bring down the wardrobe; DH & I failed on this, too heavy, need another adult
9. IKEA wardrobe for DD to order; sort her clothes, her wardrobe to my room for DH

Not quite outs yet:
Running leggings to go to a friend - remember to take to next Parkrun
spare tap left from building works - on FB, bumped up
knackered suitcase to put on FB - posted
old duvets bagged up & donated to dog charity - waiting for collecting lady, need to chase
curtains poles - listed on FB free site
random chair stool thing from MIL to put on FB

Out:
charity shop 6 items
1503+6=1509

think I will have to bin the stuff on FB as it’s not shifting.

Next on my list is to tackle under the stairs next and a good portion of the space chock full of tester pots of paint - any ideas how to get rid of these safely and in an (hopefully) environmentally-friendly way?

there's "only" 2 DC here today and I'm off work shifts cancelled have to explain to UC again until weds pm so I'll try to do a bit of a clear up and clean tonight ahead of viewing weds pm and keep that time free for myself. my best slippers ever are going out after 8 years but I've bought the same again so neutral

how are you all doing? I'm doing ok but almost reaching that part of WTF not another item to have to find to get rid of (trying to do 1 or 2 per day). In reality I know I can easily find these things but I am losing motivation a bit and going through drawers and not finding anything! So need to recompose and refocus somehow on the more difficult annoying stuff.

Orpmoa maybe you need a few weeks break from it?

Two old pencil cases
One dress that just isn't me

Total is 2842

Sagittarius our council takes paint tins for recycling, maybe yours does too?

Lots of piles of things ready to go but as in previous posts, nothing has yet left.

@orpmoa how close to ‘finishing’ are you? Are you close to doing the really awful time consuming / boring bits? For me it was paperwork, wires and photos and it felt like it took forever but was awesome when it was done.

Today’s declutter was a handbag whose zip broke. It’s annoying because I don’t have many handbags these days but I don’t think I will be replacing it. I also sorted through some Lego.

10 things out to a friend.
1 bundle listed.
Still can't locate missing piece.

I have put 11 things into the boot for the kids charity shop at the weekend from Vinte. I'm not doing to bad right now. Got some of my clothes to list on Vinted as well. I'm digging stuff out of my wardrobe and wearing them as well. Text ds but as per he isn't replying to me.

W/E 13th October

Decluttered
Final sweep of kitchen and general pottering. (Amazing how much more can be found on a second pass).

Work email still open but I guess they will get around to deleting it. I won't be checking it anymore. Password manager deleted from all IT.

To be donated (in boot of car)
Trinket dish, large seashells x 2, hand weights x 2 sets, small teddy, child's poncho, sequinned scarf, serving dish x 3, pasta bowl x 2, frying pans and lids x 2, bathmat, hand mirror, rucksack (to go to charity shop)

Binned
1 x pair socks

Recycling centre
Two big bags garden rubbish.

6 photos
4 art works
1 dried up pen
Total is 2853

Today’s out is an old torch whose battery had leaked, it was in the dining room drawers. It surprised me as I thought I did a cull of torches years ago.

15th out, two hangers, two dd school tops and two joggers.
In Vinted denim jacket,
out 8 hangers, vinted dd jumper
16th 11 out kids to charity, 1 out dd trainers ebay, 1 hanger out, dd 2 ballet leotards, I character shoes, 2 tights

In = 3
Out = 112

Total for 2024
1772 out
159 in

If I'm really good and don't any more ins I might surpass 11 outs for every in which would be great.

13 photos
2 cards
Total is 2868

I donated 8 carrier bags of clothes to the clothes bank yesterday and passed on a dehumidifier to someone. Didnt count but I reckon about 25 bits of clothing maybe more. So much more to go!

Total 26

When I did the first big Kondo clean my DH was a dreadful hoarder. Slowly he got the message. Although he still has far too much stuff at least now it is neatly confined and only half of what was there.

Yesterday he bought a new winter coat and immediately took two coats to the Hospice shop. My heart gave a secret leap of joy.

How great that your dh is going on board with the decluttering. I'm wearing some of my mega old stuff I was going to donate and getting some complements so I might kerp them.

Mid night shifts, should be sleeping but my sore throat and cough is keeping me awake.

Off to Devon for the weekend, MIL is here to mind the dog & DD as she’s staying here. Then getting ready for halfterm trip away, so not going to be focusing on the house much for a couple of weeks.

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS2 paperwork: blue badge started
3. my British passport application - after half term trip to Belgium
4. garden generally tidied for end of summer - started, must put bbq away
5. loads of scout badges onto blanket - found 1 more
6. DS1’s room: wardrobe, chair
7. DS1’s gaming, PC, nerf collections to go through and tidy away
8. bring down the wardrobe; DH & I failed on this, too heavy, need another adult
9. IKEA wardrobe for DD to order; sort her clothes, her wardrobe to my room for DH

Not quite outs yet:
Running leggings to go to a friend - remember to take to next Parkrun
spare tap left from building works - on FB, bumped up
knackered suitcase to put on FB - posted
old duvets bagged up & donated to dog charity - waiting for collecting lady, need to chase
curtains poles - listed on FB free site
random chair stool thing from MIL to put on FB TAKEN ✅

Out:
stool
2 x toiletry bottles from DD
2 x clothes of mine to recycling
1509+5=1514

To be donated (in boot of car)
Trinket dish, large seashells x 2, hand weights x 2 sets, small teddy, child's poncho, sequinned scarf, serving dish x 3, pasta bowl x 2, frying pans and lids x 2, bathmat, hand mirror, rucksack (to go to charity shop)

All dropped off this afternoon.

I was sewing today and cleaned the bathroom so not really decluttering, just cleaning. But did throw out a hanger, candle and ten blunt razors.

A top that isn't me and a gory DVD.
Total is 2870

Out today-
A pair of tatty pyjamas
A damaged CD that won't play
A book I've finished reading
Total is 2874

Not much to report here - house is generally a mess with visitors, but just before they came I listed a very bulky cardigan I had been on the fence about on Vinted and sold it immediately. Should have asked for more!

Also out: a cat tunnel which was getting very mangy, a kids jewellery bit, 2 more crappy candles, laminated set of phonics sheets, a plastic book folder, electric toothbrush head which is not compatible for our actual toothbrush.

Year total is 1564

Good day today without even trying. 2 of dd school skirts, suddenly too tight. A pair of ds tatty boxers, 2 hangers ( getting rid of the smallest hangers) and 6 kids Christmas jumpers sold on Vinted. I'm currently excepting any offers I get as I want to donate all of it by next week as that's half term. The boys started half term today but they are in indi SEN schools.

The nice things is that now I'm really getting to point where I'm almost needing to replace stuff I declutter. Like my bras, I'm almost getting close to needing replace some as I have three that look on their last legs. But I'm going to see if I can cope with a bare minimum. Same for dd school skirts. Last year she had 7 that fit, and 7 to grow into. Today she 4 that she wears that are really to small ( extremely short, age 7-8 and she is 10! But wears football shorts under her skirts and im just greatful she can cope with them with her sensory ASD issues) and two that fit age 10-11. Normally I'd be looking for 3 more 10-11 skirts but once she ditches the smaller ones, I'm going to see if we can cope with 2 ( very unlikely) and buy more at that point.

So a big mental shift for me.