All I Want for Christmas is a tidy house - Decluttering thread 9

[Pigtailsandall]

New thread!
Hope you all find this! It's not letting me tag people..

That's one easy method of decluttering...

Day 21 - pair of slightly too-tight shorts to the donation bag

Gosh this thread is busy! There's definitely an energy about January!

Re:Taskrabbit, I did consider that. But here in London it's pretty pricey, almost the cost of the wardrobe! Plus I'm pretty deft with ikea furniture so I know once I get going it won't be a problem putting it together

Load of outs today. My MIL died 12 years ago, DH five years ago. No other family so I've been the custodian of a lot of personal stuff. I've cleared almost all of DH's stuff a long time ago, but his mum's and grandma's jewellery, costume jewellery etc has all been in boxes and boxes and boxes in a suitcase. I cried every time I looked at it.

This thread has given me the courage to tackle it. 15 bags/boxes to charity shop, + 2 silver plate sugar tongs. Sorted out the better-quality items and sold 15 at local jewellers - £800!

These were not big-ticket items, generally very thin rings with gem chips, little pendants etc. The jeweller said gold prices were very high at the moment so it's a good time to sell.

Take heart if you've got emotional things to deal with. I feel a LOT better knowing I don't have those emotions locked up in a suitcase now.

Total: 124

Been playing catch up on some admin today. Whilst on hold to the bank, I deleted 500 emails.
Wrapped some birthday presents today which finished off two roll wraps.

Sent some orders back to whence they’d came (Amazon and next).

2 water bottles put in the charity bag along with 3 Christmas towels and 2 normal ones.

some cami tops
some pyjamas in the charity bag.

have also used up some things:

• Clarins mini travel size mascara
• a face wash
• lip balm
• a Clarins day moisturiser

also finished chemo today and as such will be throwing out my chemo book. A couple of tops I wore for each session. And the bag I put it all in to carry about with me. Too many hospital memories….

I went a bit mental the last two days and have chucked out over 80 bits of plastic, paper and other cluttery assortments. Also bagged up about three bags of stuff for the scout's monthly jumble sales. I stopped counting the rubbish stuff after 80. I won't list it all here, would take me forever, but I did a tally to keep me motivated. Haven't counted the jumble sale stuff yet, but will do before it goes out the house. I'm so pleased but also so emotionally drained from it all . Felt guilty getting rid of half of dd's certificates but it's not like she ever asks to look at them or anything like that. I'm trying to be ruthless. I still can't bring myself to donate the two boxes of clothes and things I gathered for vinted, but I've told myself if I don't make a start on uploading them by Spring, they'll all go to the scouts or a charity shop. My house does not feel homely yet, but I'm sure it will soon. Once, I've cleared so much more, I'll start buying some nicer bits to decorate the place with. I keep visualising the spare room empty, so can start making a home school/study/sensory space, and it's keeping me going. Still miffed about wasting time and money on cleaners who didn't deep clean and the sheer amount of corners which still need a deep clean, but I know things have turned a corner today with the amount I managed to get rid of. I've missed checking in, so going to go back and read how everyone else has been getting on!

That's such an inspiring story, I'm glad you've managed to create some emotional space. I've also got some ornaments from past deceased relatives which I know I could sell, but wouldn't even know where to start or if would be worth the time. There's an antiques fair once a year I could ask at, so might look out for it this summer.

@HellonHeels I'm sure that's such a relief, it's so hard to tackle the emotional stuff. I have boxes in the loft which I need to look at

@ememem84 that's amazing! I hope you're keeping well. I can certainly understand the need to get rid of things that bring back hospital memories

I've sorted under my desk, half of DD's wardrobe and my shelf in the bathroom cupboard.

Out today: 4 picture frames, 2 unwanted food jars, load of old papers (counting as 1), 4 unwanted opened 5 to 10 years ago beauty products, 3 items outgrown school uniform, 1 pair shoes, 1 gift bag full of stashed sweet wrappers!, 1 empty box that used to contain christmas stuff, 1 craft supply item

Sold: 3 beauty products, 4 craft supply items

Total 86

Well done @ememem84 I threw out post surgery bras late last year. Marked a turning point. Wishing you health and happiness ❤️

Been a crazy busy day with work unfortunately so only had chance to select some trousers and a top to go but they haven’t left the house yet.

I did wrap and give one gift so that’s one thing out.

total outs, 128 - hoping for a better day tomorrow

Day 21 of 31 days of decluttering: Nothing today after a full day at work. I often just don’t have the energy during the week. Still decluttering the Xmas chocolate, though - does that count? 😀

I got rid of so much today
Old books that my kids have read so many times and felt stale
Lots of jewellery that hadn't been worn
Toys that they didn't play with or were broken and felt stale as they had played with them so much
Daughters winter clothes she's outgrown
Plates that were old

I've said to myself that I'm going to consume less and declutter more this year!

Sold another bundle and posted it off with 2 more items so they’ve gone!
Sorted some more of my son’s toys but they haven’t actually left the house yet!

total = 131

On night shifts this week so not doing much.
hoping DD will find time to clear her room for wardrobe assembly on Friday.

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures: this has now changed to critically go through the framed artwork as we’ve agreed we don’t actually want all of it?
2. DS2 paperwork: blue badge started
3. my British passport application - need references x 2, then make appointment
4. DS1’s gaming, PC, nerf collections to go through and tidy
5. Portfolio work -need to email tutor to mark completed sections - tutor replied
6. get spare bed ready for MIL ✔️ and she’s here sigh GONE HOME whoop!
7. get DD to clear out her clothes, move old wardrobe and drawers out, clear out my old wardrobe and swap over - has to be Thursday I think

Not quite outs yet:
scooter hooks x 3 onto FB, need to bump up
leggings to pass to running friend
unwanted running top
3 x Christmas puzzles - 2 collected, last one GONE
see if anyone wants a mostly working prelit Christmas tree

Out:
bag of Hama bead boards to neighbours
74+15=89

Today's outs aren't so much permanent as putting things where they belong, out of the house and into my car or boyfriend's car

Stack of CDs
Windscreen shade
Sunglasses

Total: 127

Ah may I join you? I'm looking for accountability to keep going with recent momentum.

Today I only managed to tie up 2 old duvets for recycling and bag up a pile of old bed linen that had built up. It's all in the car for a trip out tomorrow.

I've successfully decluttered some key areas. Finding other people in the house have a tendency to 'dump' on the newly emerging clean surfaces. V frustrating!

Need pointers on the next area to declutter. The problem is there are so many!

Sorted 2 of my desk drawers today

Bin: dried up pva glue, 14x run out pens, 2x sewing machine maintenance thingies 2x rechargeable batteries that don't recharge

Charity shop: 3x set of pens, 5x packs of photo card

Total out: 112

"2x rechargeable batteries that don't recharge"

Ooh I've got some of those somewhere @CheesePlantFeet

I'll go and dig them out tomorrow.

Thanks team - the relief at finishing chemo and getting rid of hospital things is huge! I tried to wear the same tops every time si I knew they’d be going once I was done.

it’s amazing how the brain works. Those things will always be associated with chemo. So triggering.

when I used the cold cap for my first four sessions they slathered my hair with the Aussie mega conditioner. That smell. Will forever haunt me. Eugh.

outs for me today. My make up bag. I treated myself to a new (to me, second hand one from eBay) mulberry one. It’s tan leather. Lovely and buttery soft. Used but in very very good condition. Arrived yesterday. I gave her a quick clean with some saddle soap and some polish and she’s in situe on my dresser. With all my make up in. My old one has been binned.

One used up mascara gone.
Total is 3145

Had a strong start to the year going through everything in my half of our study. The 45 not working pens disposed of was good for the numbers, not so much for creating space!

We're getting a water softener installed this week, (been on the to do list for 5 years - can't wait to declutter the limescale removing cleaning products!), but this has meant emptying and reducing the corner cupboard it was sat in. Quite a lot of large crockery items now earmarked for the charity shop.

Amy ideas what to do with a teapot, butter dish and sugar bowl that I made myself? They're top wobbly for charity shop, and I sort of feel I should keep them when I made them, but they've now sat in that cupboard unused for 5 years. I was sort of wondering about repurposing them as some sort of garden ornament...

I gave up ceramics, because it was filling my house with cluttery wobbley pots!

Day 22 and Day 23 declutters are two slightly worn and tatty grey jumpers from DH.
He, uncharacteristically, bought some new clothes recently and I've asked him to look at some of his old stuff. I think I can wrangle a few more things out if him.

I'm also decluttering Xmas chocolates 😁

a bunch more things

1 doormat
1 incomplete Tupperware
17 charity shop - mainly clothes and a few mugs etc
3 bin - bits from putting away Christmas
1 bag plastic recycling

2025 total - 70

Only 1 out:

Used up a pot of fancy body scrub. Pot now in recycling.

Total: 128

Scented tea lights that don’t smell any more x 8
Couple of old glass holders they were in. I’ve got loads of new ones for Christmas. Plus I’ve lit some of the ones that do smell instead of saving them ( for what?).
Dying to get out the garden and have a sort out but it’s pissing down, and likely to be for the next week.