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.

Sympathies, we’ve had bereavements this year too. Not only has it added a huge practical load sorting everything out but it’s been so emotionally draining too. I keep wondering why everything is on top of me but I need to be kinder to myself really and remember that I’ve had a lot going on this year on top of normal busy family life.

I’ve done the under sink cupboard and also tidied my tea towel drawer and one shelf of the baking cupboard that I still wasn’t happy with after I did it the other day. I bought some stacking containers so candles are in one, cake cases and sprinkles etc in another, pastry cutters in another. They were in takeaway containers before but didn’t really fit properly and things kept falling out. These are bigger and much sturdier. Looks better but still need to use a few things up to create more space.

Tidied the top cutlery drawer – so utensils. Found a missing bit of the mouli grater but nothing to throw away. Tho I did hesitate over a cherry stoner... I might see if I use it in the next coupla months

I’ve completely finished decluttering my kitchen now, but I haven’t completed the deep clean yet. I want to do that before moving on to the next room.

@Keffert Good job on the kitchen drawers and under the sink!

Well I made a start today after procrastinating for a week. Tackled one kitchen drawer but was amazed at what I found, some useful most not. Paperwork is the worst. So hard sifting through everything to check if it’s important.

Awake early on a free day so tidied my running kit drawer (! I'm not running right now but can't bring myself to bin all the race tops) - chucked one plain top that doesn't fit. All a lot tidier too

@ticktockitsNCtime well done on completing a room! Must feel very satisfying!

@pittapat paperwork is hard isn’t it. Currently dealing with my parents’ paperwork as well as my own and they kept everything! It’s taking forever to filter through. Then have a big box full of probate and other legal paperwork in my wardrobe which is constantly in my way.
I always get a shock when I deal with my own too as I feel like I’m on top of it and only keep what’s important but then suddenly find loads of crap I don’t need mixed up in it.

@clary it’s good to have things on your radar as a potential get rid of, I usually find it easier when I next consider them.

Made the error of not having a plan for today. Think I’m going to do the bathroom cabinets. Although the under stairs cupboard is calling me but I don’t know if I can face it…

Thanks for this! I've got as far as downloading the app, scanning a bunch of books, apparently enough of them are worth 48p to enable me to make a trade. (Interesting to see what it won't bother with.) They said they'd send a courier in two days!

Now I need to find a box. Do I need to put any particular information on it?

You just need to put the order number (like an eight-digit number - it tells you when you complete the trade). I write it on twice but there's no need really.

I take mine to the nearest InPost but it is on my way to work so no hassle. Courier also good.

ETA: if you can stand to do this, it's worth putting aside any that are rejected, as next time you scan they may be accepted.

Thanks so much! They have just got around to telling me this so that much is clear.. Packing guidelines say stuff musn't move around. How do you ensure this?

Plus, they say they accepts CDs. Have you used this option?

Nope I've never sent CDs, don't have many tbh. Make sure it doesn't move around by packing the box full? or padding it out with whatever you use for packing out eBay items or whatever padded out your last Amazon purchase? Or crumpled newspaper if none of the above applies.

Thanks!

Sadly I'm not an Amazon/Ebay user, or a newpaper reader. (I'm old.) Perhaps I'll add in all the N/A books they didn't want, to wedge the valuable 48p ones in place. 😋

Ah ok (glances briefly at mountain of spare packing stuff to use in eBay items :) shame I can't drop it round. It's not a big deal as long as they are not in a massive box I think. Could you not use free mags from Aldi or the local mag that comes through your door?

Mmmm.

Oddly, the main reason I'm trying this is my local Aldi has a 'free books for charity' set of shelves where I might leave them and I thought I'd get 48p for few instead. Plus, I now feel smug that the local mag barely lands on the mat before it's flung into the recycling bin.

I'll sort something out tomorrow.

PS my nearest collection point (also at the Aldi) appears to be 'full' so smaller quantities of books can't be left there. How quickly might these clear, in your experience?

@CrystalSingerFan do you mean the Inpost collection lockers? I think they are usually emptied daily. if my local one is full one day it usually has space on the next day.

Thanks. I'll check tomorrow.

I tidied my cutlery drawer and threw 50%in the recycling bin. It's just me and DH and we have a boxed set of posh cutlery in a cupboard so I've kept 6 knives 6 forks 6 teaspoons I set of measuring cups one bottle opener one peeler etc. It was incredibly liberating and the drawer has stayed tidy. The grandchildren have their own pot of cutlery and even that got decluttered!

I decluttered the bathroom today, including my makeup bag and nail varnishes, makeup brushes etc. Got rid of a few things but i don’t have much excess. It’s one of the easier rooms.

I did the bathroom cabinets yesterday. Couple of bits went into the recycling but otherwise they were just given a tidy up. Dd1 seems to have left quite a few products here so I’ll see if she wants them and if not add them to the never ending list of things to use up.

Had to replenish the loo roll stocks in every bathroom and also put some clean towels away so half of the airing cupboard also got tidied, the other half will get done if it ever gets cold enough to change to our winter bedding! Our bedroom is still 20 degrees and we haven’t used any heating yet.

I did a very half arsed attempt at the under stairs cupboard. It’s clear enough to be able to get to the Christmas decorations now anyway.

Today is a busy day so just going to be a small one and will do the cutlery and utensil drawers in the kitchen. I am 99% certain there is nothing to get rid of in either of those but I will report back!

Wow! I was panicking slightly about the six of everything until I saw you do have a posh set too. That drawer must be so tidy now!

Good work @Keffert and all.

I did the pan drawer today as it is the last drawer in the stack; as expected, nothing to chuck (it's just saucepans! which I need!) but man it was grubby. The base of the drawer was full of bits of crud, and then the inside of the drawer, which luckily I was able to reach by contortion, was manky. Don't think I have ever cleaned it! Chucked a bendy straw that lurked in there.

Inspired, I also attacked the shelf above and cleaned and dusted it; binned various mystery pieces of plastic and a dead battery stuck there by DH; also rehomed a handful of pens.

Is everyone else enjoying the fruits of their work? My grocery cupboard is so much more manageable, my pj drawer has space! and I can find the knives and the spatulas in the utensils drawer.

I have a list as long as my arm to get through since the start of the year and absolutely feck all done. I shall list here what needs doing and hopefully by NYE some things are done. Day to day stuff is fine its all the other stuff half done or needing doing some years now.

Clearout the attic. Have been doing it years and only have a few boxes to go so this year has to be that year.

Paint ceiling in my bedroom from a leak that happened over a year ago and just needs painting over one area.

Take up 2 sets of curtains already bought and on the windows but far too long.
Fit bath panel. The new panel has sat looking at me about 4 months.

Paint front door.

Paint garden shed and fences.

Powerwash garden as it is grubby.

Clean out all gutters around the outside of house.

Paint internal doors.

To add to above I have already bought all the bits for everything like the paint is sitting looking at me about 7 months, paintbrushes etc but other things always seem more important. I need to get a wriggle on with everything though.

Just to add recently we have cleaned out the bedrooms and thrown out all old clothing etc and my kitchen has been sorted out too in recent weeks but still lots of stuff to do. I have spied a box of personal paperwork that really needs going through today as they recyling bin goes out tomorrow and it would be good to get that sifted through and shredded into the bin.

Made some great progress with our pantry today, reorganised and threw out a disgusting amount of stuff that had gone out of date. washed and repurposed some containers. Now I don’t cringe when I walk in there.

Listed several items on eBay today. Loads of stuff for charity. It’s really exhausting though . I just feel I could spend all day every day and not get the clutter sorted.