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.

I'm a one thing a day girl big lists make me curl up in bed and crochet til they go away. Today was the dog bowls and bin area of the kitchen. The rewards are starting to kick in even my husband has noticed and almost every cupboard and drawer in the kitchen is now done

I wish I had seen this on the first of November!

It’s not too late @SquirrelosaurusSoShiny .. I think I saw most progress in the first couple of weeks so if you did two weeks from today you’d definitely see a difference by Christmas.

I still haven’t done the windows 😳

Tomorrow (as well as normal stuff) I have a couple of parcels to return, presents to wrap and another parcel to send then I need dh to decide which of the boxes he needs so I can flatten the rest and put them out for recycling. I also need to shop for cake and birthday dinner ingredients and make the cake. The windows may not happen tomorrow either!

Not sure this counts but I sorted out my under bed wool stash found 2 unfinished projects and donated 3 bags to Guildcare. Todays plan is my make up drawer which I did about 6 months ago so a quick and easy one hopefully. My windows still haven't happened either and I think may well be shelved til next year

Still some catching up to do!
1
2
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 ✅
9 Lego display unit 😩
10 charity shop drop off
11 meal plan to run down pantry, fridge and freezer
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

I have been burning papers. Its the only way to get through it.

The next phase is emptying the garage…

Still some catching up to do!
1
2
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 ✅
9 Lego display unit 😩✅
10 charity shop drop off ✅
11 meal plan to run down pantry, fridge and freezer
12 Monica cupboard in bedroom
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

Sorry dropped off thread. Got in trouble with DH for tidying “his” drawer haha.

But today I have had a rush of action – tidied car boot which is a good one – mine was full of way too many shopping bags for life but also a load of tat – old receipts, wrappers, etc.

Also tidied away a bag full of boxes from beauty products that I have bought and need to buy again bc they were good (yes I am on that thread too) – I do not need the empty boxes, I just took photos of them all and made a new album on my phone – bingo - big chuck!

I’ve been using up bags for life taking charity donations to shop…2 birds 1 stone and all that!

Yes I think I have enough definitely to sacrifice some of those big plastic ones (as opposed to the nicer fabricy ones)

Still some catching up to do!
1
2
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 ✅
9 Lego display unit 😩✅
10 charity shop drop off ✅
11 meal plan to run down pantry, fridge and freezer ✅
12 Monica cupboard in bedroom ✅
13 oven, hob and hood
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

Still some catching up to do!
1
2
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 ✅
9 Lego display unit 😩✅
10 charity shop drop off ✅
11 meal plan to run down pantry, fridge and freezer ✅
12 Monica cupboard in bedroom ✅
13 oven, hob and hood ✅
14 outside doors
15 outside windows
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

argh I’ve fallen really behind with posting and now I can’t actually remember what I’ve done 🤦🏻‍♀️

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. Cardboard mountain ✅
10. Treat houseplants for fungus gnats✅
11. Passport renewal ✅
12. Another load of stuff from mums house to tip✅
13. Bathroom grout✅
14. Probate paperwork ✅
15. Dishwasher filter (again 🙄)✅
16. washing machine filter and drawer✅
17. ?
18. ?
19. ?
20. ?
21. ?
22. ?
23. ?
24. ?

Well done everyone who is actually managing to do this!

I’ve started this week because I’m off work. I can’t seem to do anything when I’m at work. I wish I could just remove 80% of the contents of my house. There is just SO MUCH STUFF. So fa this week I’ve done the utility room & all kitchen cupboards bar two. Hoping to do them tomorrow.

I had a massive clear out earlier this year…I mean utterly ruthless. It was a chore at the time but I’m so grateful for having done it. The house and every room (and us as a family) just all ‘works’ so much better.

I’m definitely ruthless! I just want everything GONE! I don’t think we have great storage. Lots of cupboards in the kitchen but other than wardrobes, no real storage for toys etc. we have 3 DC & while the eldest doesn’t play with toys anymore we’re holding onto stuff for the youngest. It’s infuriating

The main benefit for me personally now is not spending (wasting!) money on crap we don’t need. Every bag/box that went to dump or charity was effectively £100-200 getting thrown out…and I’ll never do that again.

I was one of the ‘we need more storage’ people. In fact, I just needed less crap!

Good luck with your journey!x

Hi All

I dropped off this thread for a couple of weeks, life just got in the way. Pleased everyone is soldiering on.

I did sort out the fridge this week, throwing out numerous past sell by date condiments that DH always buys and never uses. I also asked DH to start using more of the stuff in the freezer for dinner to make space for Christmas food.

Lastly our hall console table was sorted out and junk thrown out.

That’s exactly it! All that money wasted. In the past I’d keep stuff, it because I need it, but because it cost X and I don’t want to waste the money. But the moneys gone and the clutter is driving me crazy.

I wish I could get my husband on board with this. He is terminally disoragnised, and will not be able to find something, so will buy a new version. Things like tools. It is such a waste of money.

We moved house 3 years ago and I got rid of so much crap that I refused to take to the new house. And that is part of the reason I keep on top of things as best I can now, so that we don't end up with more crap again.

DH likes to be organised but is bad at throwing things away. So it’s a weird combination of loads of stuff, organised in straight lines. MIL does some cleaning for us & I did the utility cupboard yesterday. I have 7 unopened boxes of colour catchers - why??

I was thinking only yesterday how much easier it would be if the house only contained my things 😂

DH said a couple of days ago as we walked past the hardware shop he needed to buy some diy product or another. I said is there not any in the cupboard? He said yes but it’s easier to get more than to try to find it in the cupboard 😤. And so the problem grows.

I love that he is so capable, does all of our diy, plumbing, car maintenance stuff himself. But it does lead to having a lot more stuff than if we got a builder in to fix the roof or took the car to the garage for new brake pads. And he won’t get rid of anything! We have like ten rusty old saws but apparently he can’t get rid of even one.

Sounds like he is very similar to mine. Easier to buy more, argh! As we tear our hair out.

It’s been interesting since clearing my parents’ house. Me: “ugh so much crap, I never want my kids to have to do this, I need to declutter our own house”

Him: “ooh a useful bit of wood, ooh a big box of wall fixings, that’s too cool to get rid of (even though it’s broken)”

Don’t get me wrong it’s good to have useful things but I’d like them to be organised and easily accessible and not surrounded by superfluous and broken things. I’m fighting a losing battle I think!