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 finally managed to find time to make a start! The state of the house has been bothering me for ages, and was actually getting to the point where it's been really getting me down and I find it embarrassing, to the point that people haven't been allowed round! It's been hard to find time with a 9 month old baby and working full time, but I've finally started with the built in wardrobe in our baby's room! I need to remember that taking small steps will lead to big results. I'd love to be able to click my fingers and it all be done 😅

Despite having decluttered the whole house many times whenever I redo an area I always find something I missed. Last night I found a small John Lewis bag with screws and raw plugs that would’ve been to attach a bookcase to the wall. I bought that bookcase in about 2003 and got it taken by a charity shop about 2 or 3 years ago.

I finally cleared out my car which was dreadful! It still needs hoovering but all the crap has gone from the doors etc.

1 blouse donated. Total is 4148.

Congratulations on finally getting the passport livinginabuiltsite

Chucking a necklace I never wear & a Blue Cross tote bag.

Donating a brand new throw plus 2 pairs of rarely worn gloves to a shoebox appeal

Gave away 1 large toy and 1 pair of trainers.

total outs: 1160

@stealthninjamum I never attach anything like that to the wall and probably have loads of those sorts of screws hanging around. I always used to worry I was being a crap parent by not doing it but my kids have managed to survive (youngest is 7) so far without ever pulling wardrobes or bookcases onto themselves.

Just done a big cardboard recycling clearout as there was some sort of cockup with the bin collection last time and it hasn't been taken for about a month. As well as the usual stuff we got rid of some larger boxes which have been hanging around, plus properly boxed up some bits of broken glass and china to put out with the next rubbish collection.

I have a bag of uniform bits for the school secondhand shop and a bag of stuff for the charity shop, which I will try to take into town at lunchtime, plus some unused craft bits to drop off at Brownies on Thursday. Slowly chipping away.....

Old bra and old boxers in the bin
Total 1848

I never attach things to the wall either, those were never a thing until about 15yrs ago and everyone survived just fine. I'm guessing they're a covering arses thing so if someone does experience death by bookcase the shop or manufacture can't be sued.

One top out today. Total is 4149

When DD was about 5, she opened all of the drawers of her dresser and it over balanced and fell on her. Thank god her bedroom was a tip and there was a massive toy in front of the set of drawers. It stopped the thing from falling completely flat. It was horrific- her scream, the massive thud. I ran in and I didn't know what I was facing. She was fine, just scared. We've screwed big lumps of furniture to the walls since.

I keep nearly giving up on vinted and then another sale comes though. I’m down to 1 bag though, as I got rid of some bits to charity instead.

So much more to do though, and I’m suddenly feeling overwhelmed.

Slower day, still small steps forward 😀
Cleaned and decluttered the cutlery drawer, couple of things out and 3 things moved to a more relevant drawer
Paperwork completed, will send tomorrow, so I'm counting that as it will be out of the house!
2 loads of washing, and most of clothes from clothes airer put away
Medication sorted for the week for me and my daughter in our daily tablet boxes, and started to look at ordering some clear toiletries bags to store the actual medication boxes in so they can be kept in a cupboard. Since I've been unwell I've got so much medicine, and it's everywhere 😩 so Im thinking seperate clear bags for our medicine and general family non prescribed tablets which I can put into a storage tray I already have that will fit nicely into the cupboard so everything is in one place but all to hand and separated so it's easier for everyone. Then I'll only keep the daily tablet boxes out, and this will keep one part of the kitchen worktop clear.
Also gathering all my unused meds and expired, will take these to the pharmacy next time I have to pick up a prescription, there will be a lot!

Recycling
2 x old Calpol spoons
1 x old Calpol syringe

Bin
1 x broken mug
1 X pair of socks with holes
1 x deflated birthday balloon

1 x Paperwork completed in envelope ready to post

Out-7
Total out-83

Cutlery drawer - that’s a good one! I noticed that DF’s really needed a clean the other day & it made me think how long it is since ours has been done. Need to get rid of a few mugs too as we have loads. DH eventually folded the indoor rabbit cages & put them away so now I can reach to clear out the rest of the storage cubes.

I’m sorry, that must have been so scary. I think it’s one of those things which is so rare but can be a total disaster.

W/E 16/11 (Week 46)
2025 – (1853 + 37 = 1890) = 135 to go

Digital
More Vinted photos deleted, label downloads deleted = 2

Stuff used up and not replaced
Fruit tea x 2 = 2

Recycled/binned
Flaxseed, vol au vents, candied peel, carpet samples x 5, packing boxes x 5, garden waste x 2, plant pots x 6 = 21

Charity shop
Bag for life, wallet, phone case, lanyard, tote bag, cookery book, gardening book, dress pattern, knitting patterns x 2, beanie, storage box = 12

Vinted
= 0

Donation - nine outgrown school shirts and three triple hangers.
Two children’s books.

Two table lamps unearthed in kitchen and found to be working. Very useful find and reduces the Stuff mountain.

Recycling - three jam jars into the. glass bin.

Binned - one used-up bic pen and one broken coathanger.

yes I agree with securing furniture to the wall there’s been some sad cases 🥺
I finally went through 1 annoying full stair basket which was my dream to have one lol and 1 annoying bag of misc in my room which generated
few handfuls of Lego found
few pairs of socks found
single compression sock out
FoF’s old black box out how we ended up moving house with it I don’t know? 😝
few books out
gift size bag of unrecyclables out

When DS2 was on lots of medications, they took over a bit so I can sympathise.
now it’s DH’s meds but he has an office so they all stay in there - and I don’t look at his chaos!

Poss other running friend may do the shelves for me, 🤞

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures
2. DS1’s gaming, PC, Nerf, Warhammer & D&D sorted and tidied and put away into eaves cupboards
3. Bathroom redecoration: Mirror & pictures up
4. Shelves in DS1’s room
5. Irish passports for DD & DS2

Not quite outs yet:
pile of clothes for DD to sell on Vinted - DD has taken the pile so let’s see
pastry cutters on FB - poss bin/recycle metal ones

Out:
Random papers from desk 5
old pjs and old jacket to recycling 2
733+7=740

Storage cubes almost done & I enjoyed sorting them out. More stuff binned & a few bits given to charity.

Small dog walking bag sold on vinted & posted out this afternoon. Have got rid of 3 small, previously painted for me but now very chipped & just getting dusty mugs. I have 1 small bag for life of vinted stuff & that will be donated at the end of the month if it doesn’t sell.
Will take the next lot of needs to be thrown away but I’ve washed it again so can’t undies away with us when we go to Disney.
& found a box of dog tranquillisers that need to go back to the vets to be disposed off- because as much as I like a sedated spaniel he really doesn’t need to be anymore 😂

I had a clear out of toys and games and manged to gift a stack on the local free site, making room for Christmas. Have a load of Brio train bits which I may try and sell as it was expensive. Still a lot of paper work to sort out, hopefully get to that soon.

2 x jeggings too small
1 x body lotion used up
1 x pyjama top worn out

Total is 4153

Small steps forward

4 more things sold on vinted.
4 small bits of toy/party bag binned
1 broken light binned

A few more things getting ready to give away / found new homes. I think I’m getting more ruthless, but it’s hard and there’s just so much to give away or get rid of. Our house isn’t actually that full, but I’m really craving simplicity now. And fighting my hoarding tendencies

Brio is totally worth selling. Even basic track sells well.