Dedicated declutterers welcome

[LushLemonTart]

Thought I'd start a thread for us dedicated to streamlining our homes 🙂

Such a great feeling 👏🏻

Hi all
We have a 'rule'. If something new comes into the house (except food) then something has to go. It doesn't have to be an older version or even linked in some category way.

Ive just bought a new coat and trousers. Just sold some boots on vinted but know I have some items in the wardrobe that I've not worn forever so will either charity or sell

We have lots more to do but try to tackle something every week.

So helpful. Thank you. We have a few small bits, not really worth a tip run, but didn't want to throw.

Well, it's killed me to do it, but I've put a pair of red patent leather Gabor heels in the charity bag, together with a pair of beige suede heeled sandals/slides that I bought on holiday in Italy. The Gabor heels have been worn probably three times; the latter sandals have never been worn.

I love both of them, but after having an operation on both feet, my feet are too wide for my pre-op footwear.

Vinted is abysmal now. I only buy from there but no more.

A cousin tried to persuade me to sell my clothes and shoes on Vinted. I've told her that it's not worth the stress - I'd rather donate to the local charity shops.

They've screwed up the sizing. It's a nightmare now.

Ah - I wondered what was wrong.

Have the shoes left the house yet? If not then keep them. (Not if it will upset you to see them.)
Hopefully you will be able to admire what good taste you have and take pleasure in the ownership of such lovely shoes. Wearing them not strictly necessary

Due to my health I too am unable to use my loveliest shoes. My husband encouraged me to change my mind when I was getting rid of them.
Also my very well used bamboo knitting needles of which I have three full sets plus odds. Sewing machine etc etc. I've kept them . I'll never be able to use them again.

I felt I was giving away my whole self. So I kept the important stuff. The things that made me me.

A decluttering habit I'm going to try to start now and then see if I can maintain in the new year:

Get rid of 1 more thing a day.
Mon 1
Tues 2
Wed 3
Thurs 4
Fri 5
Sat 6
Sun 7

Stuff is non-perishables and obvious rubbish - so not food or tissues but clothes, cosmetics, trinkets, kitchenware etc.

Get rid means put in the rubbish, recycling, e-waste bag, clothing bag or listing on Vinted or Olio (but have to audit regularly to stop things piling up if they're not being taken).

I can get rid of more than that amount each day but that's my minimum, so if I find 3 things I want to get rid of on a Tuesday I can either chuck out all 3 straight away or get rid of 2 and roll 1 item over to Wed.

If it works, I'll get rid of 28 items a week and 1,456 items a year!

@24HoursFromTulseHill that sounds like a great idea.

Thank you.

I did take them to the charity shop the other day and they were pleased to have them. I took photographs of them first - that helped.

In the end, the charity shop got two carrier bags (including the shoes). I'm simply overwhelmed with things in the house.

I was unwell Friday night and worried about anyone seeing the state of the house if I had to call for medical assistance, so that confirms for me that I need to get on with emptying the excess.

There are some things that I know that I can't put out - there are 4 musical instruments in the house...Well, actually more if you include my late husband's harmonicas...

There was another instrument, but I asked his daughter if she wanted it after he died and I managed to find a carrier to take it to her. (To be honest, giving up that particular instrument was hard, but I'd asked her so then had to send it.)

I'm still going through my wardrobe and I've bagged a dressing gown that I don't like. (I have two of my own that I do like, plus two of my late husband's that I'm keeping for now.)

I think that I might now be ready to put out some more of my husband's things. Might. I still have his hearing aid, but the private firm that sold it to us takes in old hearing aids for Bolivia. They already got his old NHS hearing aid. (I phoned the NHS first - they didn't want it back.)

I already moved on a tuxedo that predated our marriage and a jumper that he didn't like. I've been using up his socks!

I used his wide-fitting socks as dusters. I told myself that if he comes back, I'll buy him new ones. Daft, but it let me let them go.

Probably time to do the same with his underpants, but I'll keep a pair.

I've actually been wearing some of his tops for the gym. I'm reasonably tall for a woman, so his stretchy sports tops do fit me. I'll wear them until they fall apart. I've been doing the same with one of his sweaters. It's currently only fit for the garden.

So many other things that need to go out.

I won an ornament in a raffle last week, so I put it straight in the donation bag before I went to the charity shop.

Today's 7 items gone were:
*3 x lipsticks that I don't wear in the bin
*3 x old pairs of shoes gone in the clothing recycling bag which I'll drop off tomorrow.
*1 x maternity coat which has been washed, listed on Vinted and added to my Vinted sales pile. If it doesn't sell by the end of December it'll also go in the clothing donation bag.

@WearyAuldWumman I'm so sorry to hear you lost your dh. Do you feel able to tell us more about him?

Thank you. It's been a while - nearly 5 yrs.

He was the love of my life.

@WearyAuldWumman 5 years isn't so long. I'm glad you found such love and have wonderful memories.

Thank you. That's very kind.

I think I need to join you here. I just moved house last week and all I managed to declutter before moving was the contents of the loft. Still! That was two van loads of stuff gone.

Now we’re in our new home and I can’t believe how much stuff is still sitting about in boxes with nowhere to call home just yet. I find it so hard to get on with unpacking boxes like that. Almost mentally blocked from doing it because I know some difficult decisions will have to be made about the contents.

I have about twenty carrier bags of books because I don’t have a bookcase here, but when I get one I will let some of those go.

I also have a coffee table that is absolutely covered in stuff. I’m trying to convince DH we should just get rid of it, the (small) living room would look so much nicer without it. It’s just a clutter magnet.

So. How to tackle it all. Bit by bit, a box (or coffee table!) at a time I suppose.

Good luck @NinePoppadomsAndASaagAloo I hope you get some done? Definitely get rid of the clutter magnate. Also I was debating whether to get an Indian takeaway or not and you've been a sign from the curry Gods 🤣
I've not been well overnight and today so a curry will cheer me up. Dh makes amazing ones but sometimes it has to be from a restaurant or takeaway.

Ahh I’m happy to have been a curry sign for you @LushLemonTart and hope it does the trick and you feel better. Now looking at your username and wondering if you might be a sign for me too 😂😂

I’ve a pile of paperwork to sort out this afternoon and then I’ll start on a box tomorrow after work. A box a day maybe, so it’s not too overwhelming.

I once did a month-long declutter where I got rid of 31 things on day one, 30 things on day two, 29 things on day three etc down to 1 thing on the last day. So nearly 500 items! I don’t have it in me to do that again just now but it did work well and thought I’d mention it in case it inspired anyone else!

It's mad isn't it how much 'stuff ' we accumulate.
We decided to go out another night as when I was tallying up the cost of the takeaway it's cheaper to go to our favourite Indian restaurant.

Today's decluttering:
1 x almost used up, expired eye shadow in the bin.
Bonus item - 1 x candle that I finished burning last night went in the bin.

Also dropped off the shoes I'd bagged up yesterday at the clothing recycling bin.

I'm hoping a slow & steady approach every day will help, as well as some big purges when I get time.

In January I did that thing where you turn all your clothes hangers round to face backwards, and then as you wear stuff over the year you face them the right way again. Sooo much of my wardrobe hasn't been worn so I can sense another clothing purge session coming on in the new year.

Can I join? We're in the middle of a big refurb so I did a lot earlier in the year but need to get going again now for the next stage. I managed to drop a few bits off at the charity shop today. Also I did a big go through of the linen cupboard yesterday and have a load of old bedding to go to a charity that will rehome it later in the week. I have a feeling my sewing books are next on the hit list......

In the process of decluttering the wardrobe in the spare room yesterday, I came across two quilted jackets that I'd forgotten about. One is still too small; the other just fastens now, on top of a vest top, a long-sleeved polo shirt and a jumper. (All 3 at once.)

That's saved me a wee bit money - I'd intended buying one in the Matalan sale today. Result! Now I can go ahead with putting out my size 20 coat.

Like many others on this thread, I have suffered bereavement recently, and have been presented with two problems. One is what to do with my late wife's things, and the other is that I don't want to leave all my shit for someone else to deal with. The former I am not ready to deal with yet, but the latter I need to get to grips with.

My issue is that I have so much stuff that works, but nobody seems to want. I tried boot sales, but even at £1 nobody wants air fryers, George Forman grills etc. Or books it seems. I am struggling to just take perfectly working things to the tip. Charity shops don't want them either.

Any hints or tips gratefully received please?

@WearyAuldWumman I feel your pain. My wife was the love of my life too. I am earlier into the journey than you, but I don't imagine it gets any easier. Hugs to you, and all others who have lost their loves.