Decluttering thread 11

[TidyClutterIsStillClutter]

Whether you’re taking days or decades, whether you’re glacially slow or galloping along, please come here for inspiration, encouragement, and congratulations.

I've just found this thread and I feel like I've found my people!

I'm feeling so overwhelmed by "stuff" in our house. My husband and I already had a lot of stuff, but our first baby came along in February and they come with a lot of stuff of their own! 🙈 I so desperately want to have a big clear out, but I don't know where to start and struggle to let go when I find things I'd forgotten about. But, if I'd forgotten about them, shouldn't I just get rid?! I'd love to hire a skip but feel guilty about just throwing stuff away.

I thought last night that maybe I just need to bite the bullet and go with the approach of trying not to get attached to things while I clear a room at a time, with the mindset of "would I buy this now?" and if it's a no, get rid of it. Or, "if we were to move house would I want to pack this and take it with me?" Has anyone tried either of these approaches?

Any other tips on how to get started would be much appreciated please!

Thank you ❤

Sold and packaged up a parcel to post this morning

total outs 1119

Put a boxed pair of heels next to the charity bag last night - was intending to advertise them but the zips on the back of the heel are too stiff to zip up fully. Found a beautiful but very heavy choker style necklace which I think I’ve probably only worn once so I’ll photograph it later & put it on FB Marketplace.

@newmumma90 I wrote a big reply but lost it! Listen to this podcast The Container Concept: I Can Keep It! It Fits!! - Dana K. White: A Slob Comes Clean share.google/j2lBorBN9rNs9zbrB

Thank you @IncessantNameChanger!

36 more things for the charity shop - 2 more bags. Mainly kids clothes and bric a brac

1119

sold and posted 7 items on Vinted

total ours 1126

2 more things posted for vinted!

Also recommend the Slob podcast, or her book is good too.
The Marie Kondo method is another approach that got me and DH started a while back, with easier stuff, anyway.
Or set up 3 boxes/bags; keep, charity/sell & bin and just get started. Some people like to set a timer for 10mins for eg just to get something done.
I read something years ago about just doing 15 mins of any big job you have, the next time you come back to it, you’ll be 15 mins further along than you would have been otherwise.
Different approaches work for different people so worth trying a few styles.

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures: Handyman is due to contact me on Monday; waiting for him to agree a time to visit
2. my British passport application - online interview booked for Wednesday
3. DS1’s gaming, PC, Nerf, Warhammer & D&D sorted and tidied and put away into eaves cupboards
4. Bathroom redecoration: Mirror bought but need help hanging it, plus have framed DS1’s Navy commission - Handyman job
5. Fix old parasol - will drop off after halfterm DONE ☑️
6. Book handyman for shelves in DS1’s room & to hang pictures/mirrors (gives us a deadline to focus); waiting for him
7. flu jab; booked for next week

Not quite outs yet:
old table listed on FB - needS to go to the tip plus 4 x old pillows GONE ☑️
pile of clothes for DD to sell on Vinted - need to check she has time
pastry cutters on FB - poss bin/recycle metal ones

Out:
fixed parasol
4 x old pillows
old table
717+6=723

Haven't posted much on here for a while, but have had a post-holiday clear out - well, more DP than me as he has gone through his clothing drawers and got rid of a bin liner full of old stuff (still kept the questionable stag do T-shirts though ), which will go to the textile bin at school, along with a couple of carrier bags I already had. I took a bag of the nicer things to the charity shop today and posted a couple of Vinted parcels as well. We had to buy a new suitcase for the holiday so not sure where that will go though!

I'm doing some pre Christmas cleaning, starting in my sitting room (which I've already decluttered once, but I still found more randomness in the drawers and cupboards.) Have still got one sideboard left to go through, but it's got DHs stuff in it, so need to get him on board.

Outs
Charity shop: 5x unused greetings cards, candlestick,

Bin / recycling: 20x envelopes, nail stickers, nail file, 4x pairs socks, perfume sample, 2x sewing misc, 4x electronics misc

Total 1792

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures: Handyman is due to contact me on Monday; waiting for him to agree a time to visit
2. my British passport application - online interview booked for tomorrow
3. DS1’s gaming, PC, Nerf, Warhammer & D&D sorted and tidied and put away into eaves cupboards
4. Bathroom redecoration: Mirror & pictures up - Handyman job
5. Book handyman for shelves in DS1’s room & to hang pictures/mirrors (gives us a deadline to focus); waiting for him
6. flu jab; booked for next week

Not quite outs yet:
pile of clothes for DD to sell on Vinted - need to check she has time
pastry cutters on FB - poss bin/recycle metal ones

Out:
random papers & rubbish from my desk - approx 5
723+5=728

Great day today! The landing is clear! Loads of DD16’s stuff sorted & some going to charity. There’s still a big pile of her clothes that I don’t know what to do with including jeans which if I remember rightly she was intending to put on Vinted. Still a couple of bits on the banisters too but SO much better! Going to advertise 2 packs of new Harry Potter socks & new IKEA spotty cushion covers. Also just advertised a statement choker which I have never worn & is ideal for Christmas parties etc.

Gave away 5 books and some kids glasses put 4 things on Vinted but if they’re don’t sell they’ll go to charity so counting them now.

total outs 1135

Got the black bin liner and two carrier bags of rags out to the bin at school, and have another carrier bag of uniform to take to the PTA pop-up store on Wednesday. MiL may be able to store the new suitcase for us as they have more room so fingers crossed. Another Vinted sale to go out either tomorrow or Thursday, and a bunch of winter coats to go through to see what still fits or can be passed on/sold.

Banisters are now almost clear too! Just a couple of coats to be hung in DD’s wardrobe & some paperwork to file. Chucked a handbag of DD’s that she unsuccessfully painted! DD has temporarily gone off Harry Potter so I’m going to ask her if she wants to sell our Christmas ornament - can’t remember the name but it’s a hat! I bought it 2nd hand anyway. Sorting hat!

Wow you are doing amazing @BunnyLover7 im very jealous!

I have done more filling today. Got rid of lots of paperwork but not going to count that. Ds13 tried on some clothes that was too small yesterday so that's yet to go.

Will list some more bits on Vinted for Christmas then spotlight it. I'd be glad to see the back of my Vinted pile right now. Then it's the hard job of my bedroom floor 😭

Good morning fellow declutterers! Kitchen table is my mission today. I cleared it not so long ago but it’s being taken over by magazines, leaflets, you name it! My New Year’s Resolution will be to buy fewer magazines as quite often I don’t read them & scroll on my phone instead. I have a subscription for Woman & Home (6 issues for £6) & so far I’ve only dipped into the first one which was October. November arrived in September & I received the Christmas one in mid October.
The whole kitchen needs tackling really, although I did sort out the food cupboards fairly recently. Definitely want to do the dresser cupboards before Christmas so that I can more easily reach the Denbyware etc. Dresser drawers will barely shut!
Also found another couple of things to advertise on Marketplace - a pewter tankard & hip flask, both carved with an elephant. I actually bought them on Marketplace for a fiver ages ago but never got round to selling them on. Oh & some of those cute miniature cottages,churches etc - again bought very cheaply to sell on. Not sure they’re fashionable anymore.

Ordered 3 Christmas tops but I am still buying as a bigger person & they will drown me so I need to advertise them. Only Temu which won’t make a lot but hopefully someone will buy them.

I have asked a school mum if she wants a carrier bag of stuff. She said yes at the weekend but has yet agreed to collect them. Do you think it's OK to give them away if no reply by Friday? It's a massive bag for life in my boot otherwise. One week is enough time?

just remind her; “can you please collect the stuff before Friday or I’ll be going to the recycling centre because I need the space”

W/E 02/11 (Week 44)
2025 – (1770 + 46 = 1816) = 209 to go

Digital
More Vinted photos deleted, label downloads deleted = 2

Stuff used up and not replaced
Conditioning spray, orchid food = 2

Recycled/binned
Blunt scissors, old wonderweb, small fabric remnants x 3, pack of leather samples for new sofa, bag of flooring samples, dried up wetwipes = 8

Charity shop
Reels of cotton x 12, fabric remnants x 5, ribbon remnants x 3, beads and jewellery fixings x 12 packets, pictures x 2, = 34

Vinted
= 0

90% done now!

40 things out this morning from the kitchen which wasn't even a room I should be dealing with. However I thought I'd wash up, but the drainer was full, so I went to put away the tupperware, which was full, so I looked where the travel mugs should go, which was full of odd lids etc.......

A lot of these things I'd hang nto or feel guilt or keep the lids in case they fitted another travel mug but I was pretty ruthless.

My job for today really should be doing my dds working document of her EHCP for a upcoming appeal, prepair for governor important meeting tomorrow. Then read for book club as I choose the book, I should be decluttering the box room!

7 x medication
Box
3 x food wraps
Wheat bag
Lunch bag
Wrist band
Ball
Bowl
17 bits plastic tat / tuppawear
5 cups and lids
Freezer draw
Lunch bag

Out = 191
In = 3

--
Total for year
In = 160
Out = 993

Well done everyone! @BunnyLover7that’s awesome. And @IncessantNameChanger- I love those incidental declutters!

November is off to a good start!

2025 total -1458

November
36 bric a brac and clothes to charity
1 knife
1 banner
1 sandwich cutter
1 biscuit press
2 vinted

Been a bit slow here since we moved, waiting on our new bedroom furniture arriving and then I hope to sort out a few more bits and pieces to list on vinted. I realised when we were packing that I definitely have too many sweaters!

Someone did buy something on my vinted last night, a random game that has been on there for months. I absolutely love when that happens and it's the reason why I tend to just keep stuff in 'the vinted bag' rather than getting rid of it if it doesn't shift in a week or so, which I know some people prefer to do.