Sorting one thing a day

[Keffert]

My house feels like it’s got away from me a bit recently. I’ve decided to spend November trying to get it a bit more organised in the hope that it feels more under control by the time we put the Christmas decorations up. I’m going to try to go through one drawer/cupboard a day. Take everything out, clean the cupboard, put stuff back in a more organised way. Decluttering will hopefully be a side effect of this as I come across stuff that we no longer need but isn’t going to be the main focus this time.

Would anyone like to join me?

I’m going to start today with the fridge/freezer. It’s not overly full but it’s a mess and there are probably a few old condiments that can go as well as a few squashed grapes in the fruit box.

Dc decided a and e yesterday :( but home, so managed to burn some papers today while he was asleep. Totally didn’t anticipate how long it takes to burn stuff! Or maybe I have too much! Booked in with the handyman to come and move some furniture around which puts in extra pressure as his only free slot was thursday! Eeek but it will be so good to have this room being the room we need it to be.

I cleaned out a fridge drawer. Took all the summer shoes out of the kids shoe box, putting in storage for the baby.
put some things on Vinted and jumper sold immediately! Yay

I've not managed anything for a couple of days. The cat has been unwell and that stressed me out. I did list 2 pairs of trainers on Vinted today though, and one pair is already sold, so dropping that off later.

Ugh this virus has really knocked me for six. Barely been managing the basics. Got a bit to catch up on when I’m better. How’s everyone else doing?

Since last posting I have managed to sort my underwear drawer, ds’ pyjamas, and to clean the tops of the kitchen cupboards. Still feeling a bit rubbish so it’s slow progress.
Need to get stuff actually out now, my charity/sell piles are in the way.

Ooh meant to post earlier. So in the last few days I have tidied out the cubbyholes beside our ovens - where we keep paracetamol, plasters, cookie cutters and other bits. Rationalised some boxes.

Today tidied on top of our wardrobe VERY dusty - not chucked anything but tidier and moved a few things to elsewhere.

The room is looking more like a room! Yay. I have a handyman coming around tomorrow to move heavy furniture into and then we’ll be on phase two of making it nice enough so some one can stay.

Tops of wardrobes get SO dusty don’t they. I need to do ours and DD’s. They’re high though and I’m short so I need to get the ladder out which stops me from doing it. Years ago the tops were clear which meant I could kind of stand on a chair and flick a feather duster up there most weeks and stop them getting too bad but my husband loves to fill every surface so now there are pictures and ornaments and god knows what up there which means I have to do it properly.

@TakeMe2Insanity sounds like progress is being made!

I'm still finding this helpful so will continue to post :)

Yesterday I tided the drinks area (ahem) found a basically empty bottle of gin <glances over specs at DS2> and cleaned it up.

Today I remembered the multiple-drawer cabinet of tut in our utility room. Did one drawer – may things for getting rid of limescale (useful) ants and wasps (less useful) and using in the dishwasher (not useful at all as it has been broken for years and we are not that bothered about it). I left those in but binned a couple of empty bottles of cleaning stuff and cleaned the drawer as it was GRIM. yay.

Pleased it is helping you @clary , it’s keeping me focused too.
today I have cleaned the washing machine seal and door so far and I need to do the freezer again. When I did the fridge freezer at the beginning of the month I focused on the fridge and rushed the freezer and it shows. I’m about to put my oven shelves in to soak too.

Can’t remember if I said the other day I had tidied ds2’s room and organised it all properly. All the kids have their own little Christmas trees and I’ve told them if their rooms aren’t tidy they can’t put them up. DS2 is suddenly very keen on keeping his room tidy 🤣

I've skacked a little but today I cleaned out the fridge bought some plastic drawer thingies and threw out all the old condiments made soup with the old veg and a feta orzo bake for dinner whilst I did it.

Sorry I’ve been MIA last push happened and now we have our much needed guest room for an actual guest! Sorting resumes after the visit!

Sorry I’ve fallen off the thread a bit! I’m happy with what I’ve achieved this month overall, there’s nowhere else in desperate need of reorganisation. Windows are still dirty though! (DH has been promising to do them for weeks!) We did put our Christmas decorations up yesterday, getting the advent calendars out of my wardrobe has made a big difference to that!
After Christmas I need to keep going with using stuff up and reducing what comes in , I’ve cancelled a couple of subscriptions - I had ended up with a whole kallax cube full of boxes of various herbal teas, coffee beans and hot chocolate flakes where I had them on subscription and wasn’t using them as fast as they were being delivered 😳 Normally I would have skipped/cancelled as soon as I got a surplus but this year things like that have been let slip. They’ll all get used but I don’t need any more!

@TakeMe2Insanity I’m so pleased you got the guest room done! Enjoy having guests to stay!

@Tontostitis bet it feels nice opening the fridge now. That orzo sounds great. I love it when I can make a good meal out of a random assortment of things!

I was up early this morning and I've just done the cupboard above the kettle 🤭. Generally used for tea coffee cake making stuff. So many random tea bags I can't tell you. I also found 3 open caster sugars 5 bags of various brown sugars. After decanting it all into proper containers and cleaning the shelves. I'm drinking a rather nice lemon, ginger and tumeric tea and planning on making a coffee and pecan cake later. I've almost done the whole kitchen now one cupboard a day. I read somewhere about having a 'freezer day's. When you think I must go shopping stop and spend 24 hours only eating what you can find in freezer and cupboards.

With all the spare tea bags and got chocolate stuff could you do a little Xmas gift hamper for someone? I'd bloody love to receive that.

I could but it’s my favourite teas so I don’t want to 🤣 I will get through them just need to not buy any more for a couple of months. A bag of coffee beans only lasts us a fortnight and the dc and dh have a daily hot chocolate so it’s not as bad as it sounds.

Sounds like you’re making great progress 😀

I’ve just seen something on Instagram “Avoidance Advent” where you do one task you’ve been putting off every day through advent. The idea being you don’t carry them through to the new year. Might be a good follow on to this thread.

Avoidance Advent

1. Clean cat water fountain filters ✅
2. Clean out robot vacuum✅
3. Box up stuff ready for Anglo collection on Thursday
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I like that @Keffert

So yesterday I moved pictures off a sideboard so ds1’s LEGO models could move to the sideboard from the floor…been bugging me for a while (this is the front room, full of his LEGO) and it took five mins.

Today task is to help him clear the area near his gaming chair - we need to be able to sit in here at Christmas haha

1. Clean cat water fountain filters ✅
2. Clean out robot vacuum ✅
3. Box up stuff ready for Anglo collection on Thursday ✅
4. Clean dishwasher filter and seals
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Trying to plan a day ahead as I find that works better for me.

Brill idea! I’m a few days behind but will catch up (and stealing your adventure!) x

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3 deep clean dishwasher and washing machine
4 declutter/clean/restock WC cupboards
5 tidy towel press
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1. Clearout the loft ✅
2. Clearout the loft ✅
3. Clearout the loft ✅
4. Bring all loft waste to charity shop and/recycling centre
5. Clearout home office
6. Clearout my wardrobe and dressing table
7. Deep clean both bathrooms
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3 deep clean dishwasher and washing machine ✅
4 declutter/clean/restock WC cupboards ✅
5 tidy towel press
6 under stairs cupboard
7 office desk drawers
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Still some catching up to do!
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3 deep clean dishwasher and washing machine ✅
4 declutter/clean/restock WC cupboards ✅
5 tidy towel press
6 under stairs cupboard
7 office desk drawers
8 patio and bin store ✅
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1. Clean cat water fountain filters ✅
2. Clean out robot vacuum ✅
3. Box up stuff ready for Anglo collection on Thursday ✅
4. Clean dishwasher filter and seals ✅
5. Make and attend gp appointment I’ve been putting off ✅ (and dh did the outsides of the windows)
6. Sort DD’s underwear into new organiser thingy ✅
7. Clean insides of windows on top two floors
8. Put away clean laundry mountain. Need to get back into doing this daily. Just seem to always be in a rush when I take it off and fold it at the moment so the putting away stage doesn’t happen
9. Ground floor windows (inside)
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Impressed with everyone else’s lists, you all seem to be way more productive than I am.