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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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

1000 replies

Pigtailsandall · 26/10/2024 21:21

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

OP posts:
LivingInaBuiltSite · 16/11/2024 18:16

welcome newbies, and yey for house sale!

week 1 of course completed, 5 weeks to go. Was a bit tedious this week if I’m honest. Lots of younger people who don’t seem keen to learn and do a lot of moaning.

Jobs:

  1. Hang up framed pictures: hung up 3 on a whim just to get started!
  2. DS2 paperwork: blue badge started
  3. my British passport application - need to ring the helpline re my Mum’s passport
  4. garden generally tidied for end of summer - get DH on the case, must put bbq away; more done
  5. loads of scout badges onto blanket - found 1 more
  6. DS1’s room: wardrobe, chair: small wardrobe taken into his room ☑️
  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: DONE with DS2’s help☑️
  9. IKEA wardrobe for DD to order; sort her clothes, her wardrobe to my room

Not quite outs yet:
spare tap left from building works - bumped, last go
suitcase on FB - bumped last go
old duvets bagged up & donated to dog charity - waiting for collecting lady, need to chase again - emailed again: Collected ☑️
curtains poles - bumped, last go
scooter hooks x 3 onto FB
folder of music to handover on Tuesday at orchestra Done ☑️

Out:
think it was about 3 duvets and 3 pillows
2 empty bottles from DS2’s shower
last pair of tatty knickers into recycling (bought a pack from M&S a while ago and they all fell apart while my Primark ones are still going strong!)
1544+9=1553

Pigtailsandall · 16/11/2024 18:26

@LivingInaBuiltSite I get so excited for you when you stick stuff off your list! I'm really rooting for you to sew that last badge on.

I did a lot of cleaning and got rid of a lot of recycling and rubbish. Our garden also desperately needs a tidy. Not a huge amount of decluttering (2 tatty small toys, bag of expired seeds and baby mittens which I randomly found) but I do have a friend who might collect some 1-2y age group clothes tomorrow so I set a bag aside.

Total = 1682

OP posts:
LivingInaBuiltSite · 16/11/2024 19:38

Haha DD just found 3 more badges for me 😂🙄 and she’s due to leave guides soon so will have more to move to the blanket. Oh well.

IndianSummer78 · 16/11/2024 20:12

Two CDs and two DVD's out today.
Total is 2959.

I've finished my huge stash of tealights now, I've got butterfly ones in all the candle holders and one small packet of fancy smelling ones on the shelf. I've still got a small stash of big candles though so I'll start working through those now. I need to get to the point where I only have the one that's in use.

IncessantNameChanger · 16/11/2024 20:17

Found a few more things of dds to list on Vinted, she was very upset I had touched her system.and threw it all back into the bottom of her wardrobe. Dispite not wearing any of it any more! Sold two bits straight away. She has so much room in there it doesn't really matter. So close to year target! I need to bag up lots of Nerf guns for ds Christmas fair so hopefully get into gear and do that tomorrow. Its just occurred to me that I also need to add on my "ins" yo my yearly target too, so will do that once I have reached 2024.

Nothing is ready for ds to return from uni. It will be. Hopefully done enough to make him notice yhat I have really tried hard. But overall he didn't try hard so we are both imperfect. That's just how it is. I should really do all that tomorrow.

My ds17 had his,award ceremony last night for his gcse certificates at his SEN school. Passed everything at least grade 4 plus. 8 gcses. Doing something right at least. Head if year said he is a amazing caring young man

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/11/2024 20:30

Decent sized bag out to Charity Shop today

Cleaned the bathroom . Had a new shower fitted .

I am still unreasonably excited by my new Shark vacuum that has the lift off handheld bit to clean stairs . I see the cannister fill up one site with dust and the other with hair ( it's one of the Anti-Hair Wrap ones , my old one drove me barmy as the rolller got clogged up with hair )

Yesterday I took a load of roasted veg out of the freezer and made some delicious lentil soup .(I save any leftover vegetables for soup , usually roast potatoes but I had a kilo of carrots last week )

Mistralli · 16/11/2024 20:55

Moved all the toddler clothes from our bedroom into her new wardrobe and chest if drawers today. Sorted through and put the "now too small" stuff aside to go into the attic. Nothing out, but the cardboard from her new furniture (had to wait til the recycling bin had room).

Riverswims · 17/11/2024 09:56

on Friday decluttered a very important legal form to the court so hopefully that’s it now
Saturday nothing I recall just some calories parkwalking, the buyers came again and were happy tho
I don’t get on with the lift off bit @70isaLimitNotaTargetI just get a reluctant child to hold onto the shark vacuum at the top of the stairs and use the crevice tool on the hose but enjoy 😋

Mymanyellow · 17/11/2024 10:03

Sorted my garden, well half sorted. Cleaned both bins, covered up table and chairs, put cushions in bags into the shed, hope it’s dry enough.
General tidy of pots. Grass needs cutting really but it’s far too wet. My son did a tip run for me old microwave gone and he screwed the back gate hinge back properly, don’t have to lift it to close it now.

LivingInaBuiltSite · 17/11/2024 12:18

well done to your DS @IncessantNameChanger 👏

I am seriously procrastinating as I have loads of ‘homework’ to do for my course and I haven’t started. Doing everything else instead!

Jobs:

  1. Hang up framed pictures: approx 10?
  2. DS2 paperwork: blue badge started
  3. my British passport application - need to ring the helpline re my Mum’s passport
  4. garden generally tidied for end of summer - get DH on the case, must put bbq away; more done DONE ☑️
  5. loads of scout & guide badges onto blanket - currently 4
  6. DS1’s room: clothes into wardrobe ☑️ Now just needs a chair & for me to make the bed then it’s done and ready for him to come home at Christmas
  7. DS1’s gaming, PC, nerf collections to go through and tidy away
  8. IKEA wardrobe for DD to order; sort her clothes, her wardrobe to my room

Not quite outs yet:
spare tap left from building works - bumped, last go: put in metal recycling for DH to take to the tip
suitcase on FB - bumped last go - DH to take to the tip
curtains poles - bumped, last go - DH to take to the tip
scooter hooks x 3 onto FB
sweatshirt of DS’s that DD might want?

Out:
Old pair of socks into recyling
old tiny hoodie of DS1’s into recycling (hope he doesn’t notice it’s absence!)
1553+2=1555

IncessantNameChanger · 17/11/2024 13:53

Just smashed my years target. 56 toys,and bits of tat out today. Four bin bags of toys ready for ds Christmas fair ready now. I'm going to work on my ins now by adding them.to my Total.

Very happy, but still not got a functioning room for ds to return to. More to do this week I guess

Total for 2024
2250 out 26 over target
191 in

291-26= 165 more things to go before 2025

LivingInaBuiltSite · 17/11/2024 16:33

@IncessantNameChanger well done on reaching the target! I’m nowhere near and won’t make it but I know some things have gone out that I haven’t counted, from DH for eg. And I don’t mind if I’m short as I feel I’ve achieved quite a lot this year.
definitely ending the year more organised than I started.

Jobs:

  1. Hang up framed pictures: approx 10?
  2. DS2 paperwork: blue badge started
  3. my British passport application - need to ring the helpline re my Mum’s passport during the week
  4. loads of scout & guide badges onto blanket - 4 DONE ☑️ there will be more in the future but for now this job is done
  5. DS1’s room: Now just needs a chair & for me to make the bed then it’s done and ready for him to come home at Christmas
  6. DS1’s gaming, PC, nerf collections to go through and tidy away
  7. IKEA wardrobe for DD to order; sort her clothes, her wardrobe to my room

Not quite outs yet:
spare tap left from building works, suitcase, curtains poles - to tip during the week hopefully
scooter hooks x 3 onto FB
sweatshirt of DS’s that DD might want? She does so it’s staying.
2 old leather sofas listed on FB and offered to other group, otherwise will pay the council to take them away

Out:
1555

IndianSummer78 · 17/11/2024 16:44

Went through paperwork searching for something I'd lost. Didn't find it but got rid of 12 expired guarantees, instructions in foreign languages, and other bits I didn't need to keep. Found some editing software for my camera that I'd never realised I had. Total is 2967

Pigtailsandall · 17/11/2024 18:11

Incessant that's amazing! You've done so well!

BuiltSite I'm thrilled you can tick off you sewing job! I was really invested in it!

We tidied the garden, back and front, and put the garden furniture away. Lots of general cleaning and tidying. I did wipe down some drawers so I have some miscellaneous decluttering from there. Will make a list later after I tally it all up.

OP posts:
Mistralli · 17/11/2024 20:48

Did some filing and shifted a bunch of old papers. Enormous pile of "things to shred" generated. Couldn't do it at the time, as was worried about waking the toddler - napping in her bed, in her new room, for the first time!

Realfastfoodie · 17/11/2024 22:00

IncessantNameChanger · 16/11/2024 20:17

Found a few more things of dds to list on Vinted, she was very upset I had touched her system.and threw it all back into the bottom of her wardrobe. Dispite not wearing any of it any more! Sold two bits straight away. She has so much room in there it doesn't really matter. So close to year target! I need to bag up lots of Nerf guns for ds Christmas fair so hopefully get into gear and do that tomorrow. Its just occurred to me that I also need to add on my "ins" yo my yearly target too, so will do that once I have reached 2024.

Nothing is ready for ds to return from uni. It will be. Hopefully done enough to make him notice yhat I have really tried hard. But overall he didn't try hard so we are both imperfect. That's just how it is. I should really do all that tomorrow.

My ds17 had his,award ceremony last night for his gcse certificates at his SEN school. Passed everything at least grade 4 plus. 8 gcses. Doing something right at least. Head if year said he is a amazing caring young man

Read this @IncessantNameChanger and honestly I was just so delighted for your DS17, and you. That is just the most wonderful complement and says a lot about you both.

Pigtailsandall · 17/11/2024 22:19

Right, whole load of random rubble out today from backs of cupboards etc whilst I was wiping them down:

Coat hanger
Ratty gardening gloves
Sticker set
Brochure I was keeping
3 huge boxes from loft of appliances we bought- DH finally agreed to let them go
Tarnished necklace
Tarnished tweezers
2 nicer candles, used up and recycled
2 coasters
2 birthday cards
Poster
Cocktail list from my sentimental box of items
3 photographs
Ratty pants
3 tupperware lids, no containers
Handful of party bag tat
Box of ancient lasagna sheets

Total is 1708

OP posts:
Maeploy · 18/11/2024 07:02

Well done everyone!

stealthninjamum · 18/11/2024 12:40

@IncessantNameChanger well done ds2! You must be so proud of him.

@LivingInaBuiltSite 10 pictures put up? That’s amazing!

I’m not doing much, mainly decluttering leaves from the garden and some Lego. During lockdown I organised my photos. I organised all the photos of my childhood and up to about the age of 40 but couldn’t be bothered with the thousands of dc photos. I’m going to try to finish this. So far I’ve chucked out about 4 photos of dd2. I know I’ll find it hard to throw a lot away but I have photo organising boxes so at least they’ll be organised. A separate project is to finish organising all my online photos too but maybe I’ll do that next year. I think I’m about 90% of the way through. I always get bored with these large projects but I really should finish them. I do think a lot about Swedish death cleaning and wanting things to be minimal for my dc.

JacksonBrodieJacksonLamb · 18/11/2024 14:40

Hoping to join in, or perhaps be redirected to a more appropriate thread if need be!

I was on minimalism threads about 14 years ago under a different name (and my favourite thread title was simply ‘m’) and over this time I’ve realised that my relationship with stuff is as complicated as some people’s with food.

My current challenge is that my partner and children like to have choices (of shoes, coats, etc.) and I’m minimally inclined, because dramatically limiting available choices is v helpful for my particular neurotype. (If I could, I’ve have a uniform and only one of everything I need or want.)

I’ve also got really obsessed with decluttering in the past at the expense of other more important things (like generating new work or arranging to see friends) and can fall into thinking that ‘when I finish decluttering, I can get on with the rest of my life.’ My main motivation to clear crap out is to make it easier to keep the house clean and tidy so that we can spend as much time as possible on things other than managing things.

My current approach is to ‘treat’ myself to decluttering for 5/10/15 mins or so when I’ve got other stuff done, but this doesn’t work for the big things that need doing like taking things to the dump.

I’d really value your take on how to declutter in a mentally healthy way.

Thanks!

LivingInaBuiltSite · 18/11/2024 17:44

Hi @JacksonBrodieJacksonLamb 👋

no @stealthninjamum , about 10 to put up. We need to move some furniture around/get rid of some, and decide where stuff is going then commit to hanging the pictures. It’s been about 2/3 yrs since the builders finished the walls lol but I can’t bear to make holes in them 🙄😂

DH went to the tip, yey. And also got someone in to properly clean the patio so that’s excellent.

Jobs:

  1. Hang up framed pictures: approx 10?
  2. DS2 paperwork: blue badge started
  3. my British passport application - need to ring the helpline re my Mum’s passport during the week
  4. DS1’s room: Now just needs a chair & for me to make the bed then it’s done and ready for him to come home at Christmas
  5. DS1’s gaming, PC, nerf collections to go through and tidy away
  6. IKEA wardrobe for DD to order; sort her clothes, her wardrobe to my room

Not quite outs yet:
spare tap left from building works, suitcase, curtain poles & fittings - to tip during the week hopefully GONE ☑️
scooter hooks x 3 onto FB
2 old leather sofas listed on FB and offered to other group, otherwise will pay the council to take them away

Out:
1555+4=1559

DH probably took other stuff but I don’t know what it was so can’t count.

IDareSay · 18/11/2024 20:42

W/E 17th November

Decluttered
Not done the spare room as scheduled as had a nasty fall when out walking on the hills last week. No serious injuries but battered and bruised so needed a few days to recuperate. Feeling better now so back to the plan, which I have rejigged a little. DH did some rearranging of the bedroom and spare room as we have a new bed on order.

Donated
Single wardrobe, like new (due to aforementioned bedroom rearranging). Put on our local free stuff group; lady who came to collect was the fourth person to request it after three no-shows! Grrr.

Recycled
MacBookAir accepted and cash on the way to my bank in the next couple of days. I'll send off the second one once it arrives.

Mistralli · 18/11/2024 22:16

Used 5 mins this evening to check through my sock drawer for ones looking worn thin or tired, put those and the odd ones "waiting for a pair" in a bag for fabric recycling...

I quite like the idea of a Dolly Dash (from Dilly Carter's book/writings/shows) but I do think there are relatively few sorting jobs that can be done in <15mins...

IndianSummer78 · 19/11/2024 01:25

Welcome mymanyellow and Jackson

4 leaflets recycled
One makeup powder compact finished up
Total is 2972

Mymanyellow · 19/11/2024 06:17

Sorted out dgc books and toys. Bag for life to the charity shop and bin bag full of tat got rid of. I wouldn’t mind but they don’t even live here.
Found an old version of trivial pursuit so got side lined reading all the questions.

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