Dedicated declutterers welcome

[LushLemonTart]

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

@HappiestSleeping I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Life is so cruel sometimes.
Regarding things to sell is there a local quid bid group on Facebook? Or maybe try marketplace? Or even a freebie group if you really need rid of some items?

I'm so sorry @HappiestSleeping .

The advice that I've been given by other widows is to take my time over my hsuband's things.

So far as electrical items are concerned, Barnardo's will take some electrical stuff - they have people who do PAT testing for them. Ditto, the British Heart Foundation.

Yes, I'm trying to get the house sorted so as to avoid leaving a mess for my cousins and my nephew through marriage.

It's easier to find charity shops that take books in university towns - I have a load in the back of my boot ready to go to St Andrews. Oxfam and the BHF both take books.

The council recycling centre here also has one of those dump bins for books.

Does anyone know of a charity that takes wedding dresses, perhaps for those who are terminally ill but want to get married in hospital/hospice?
I’ve tried to sell it, no interest. Tried charity shops near me, they won’t take it. I didn’t actually wear it to my wedding so it’s only ever been tried on!

How strange charity shops won't take it? We're lucky with our charity shops they seem to take most stuff. And freebie Facebook pages take the rest.

Sorry for your loss @HappiestSleeping.

British Heart Foundation furniture shops will take household electricals. It's probably also worth asking the local council housing team if they know of a local charity that helps people coming out of temporary accomodation who need stuff to furnish a new place. There's one near me but they tend to be pretty localised. Some Trussell Trust foodbanks have household boutiques as well.

For books try somewhere like World of Books - they have a huge online and ebay store that is my go to for esoteric stuff so they aren't too selective https://sell.worldofbooks.com/en-gb?utm_source=worldofbooks.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wobnav&shortlink=wobuk&c=wobnav&pid=WOB&af_xp=custom&source_caller=ui

@NinePoppadomsAndASaagAloo - this is a charity that does that with wedding dresses https://weddingwishingwell.org.uk/dress-donations/

@WearyAuldWumman sorry for your loss. I was widowed 22 years ago. I've got my husband's dress uniform that I want to rehome, my children don't want it. I don't want it to go to a charity shop and someone maybe buy it for fancy dress, feels a bit disrespectful.
I'm trying with the idea of having it made into cushions or something as a keepsake.
Two weekends ago we pulled everything out from under the stairs, mainly camping stuff. I only want to keep a small box of bits. DP can't decide what to do with the rest so my dining room yet again is full of junk.
Bit frustrating because the understairs could be a useful bit of storage but can see the stuff just being pushed back in there.

Yes, I totally get where you're coming from with all of that @CherryogDog .

I only had my DH's lapel badges and the blazer buttons plus beret and cap badge that he purchased more recently. As discussed with them, I sent his children and grandchild some of the regimental blazer buttons. I can't bear to part with the rest yet.

Thank you so much for the wedding dress link @Londonmummy66 ! Perfect!

Yes @LushLemonTart I asked all the charity shops in my town and none of them would take it as they didn’t have enough storage space apparently.

I got some paperwork clutter sorted out yesterday and haven’t had time to do anything tonight but I’ve got time off work for a few days after tomorrow so I’m going to blitz some boxes then!

Glad the links were helpful. I threw out some makeup I've never used as it isn't the right colour. I was hesitant as the DDs bought it for me for Christmas but Ill never wear it so it is a waste of space.

I decluttered the bathroom today. A whole bag of old lotions and potions etc. We've just had the bathroom floor done and dh has decorated and put new tiles above the sink. It looks rather posh now. No clutter.

Note * it's a carrier bag not a bin bag 🤣

@NinePoppadomsAndASaagAloo we went to the Indian restaurant tonight. Lovely 🙂 Keep us updated about the wedding dress.

Glad you enjoyed your meal @LushLemonTart and hope you’re feeling better! And will do 😊

@NinePoppadomsAndASaagAloo I'm a lot better thanks for asking.

DH has chucked out half of the contents of his box full of random leads and chargers!
I never thought that would happen. It’s made me feel a bit more motivated.

That's good news @NinePoppadomsAndASaagAloo .

I'm loving our tidy bathroom. Had a friend over last night and she's well impressed. We tidied a lot yesterday so the whole house is guest ready. It's much more relaxing. I've put little Christmas trees with lights in the house and fairy lights around the fire.

How's everyone getting on?

Well...I had two panes of glass blow out of my greenhouse. One had gone previously and I'd procrastinated fixing it for fear of falling.

Anyway...had one slipped roof pane to realign and re-fix plus the one that originally blew out to replace that. Managed to do it.

In the process, stomped over various pots that I couldn't bring myself to bin...so they're now out.

Managed to re-fix the large, gable end pane yesterday. Used one of the spare pieces of glass in the greenhouse to replace the apex of the gable end.* In the process, chucked out more stuff from the greenhouse.

I might actually be able to use my greenhouse in the springtime.

*When we had to move the greenhouse 12 years ago, the contractor - without checking with us - ordered and charged for a lot of spare glass.

Long story. I previously used one of the spare pieces, when someone broke a pane in the roof. (Glares in direction of neighbour.) That's probably why the glass blew out - I didn't know what I was doing at the time. Experience and Youtube has improved my expertise. I think I now have 4 panes left. Too damned expensive to throw out.

I've continued with my strategy of getting rid of 1 - 7 items a day.

I've noticed the surfaces are now quicker & easier to clean because there's less stuff on them.

I've been in a few shops looking for bits to go in my Christmas stocking but because I'm in 'get rid' mode I don't want anything - it's just a multipack of black socks at the moment from Santa!

I've cleared most stuff out of my dining room. I've been trying to give away a small TV for ages but no one wants it, so I've got that stuck under the table.
DP brought home a huge TV that he "might" put in his room. So that's just getting in my way.
It's taken 4 weeks after pulling everything out from under the stairs for him to sort through the stuff he might keep, but it's in a pile in the hallway annoying me.
I've got three boxes of books/kitchen stuff to go to charity and that's my big sort out finished.
I intend to go through cupboards and drawers on a rotation to keep things under control.
There's a lot of inspirational declutter inspiration on this thread!

I’ve decided to go BIG … got the decorations out of the loft and a lot more “stuff”
can’t see the spare bed … we live in the TINIEST terrace .
it’s all going , have a list
. New allocated happy space here
Charity shop
freecycle
sell
bin
hoping I don’t need to spare bed for a while ….

Hello everyone. I have been quite busy but a few tiny bits of progress:

A few kitchen items went to a charity shop that was asking for bric-a-brac;

In the last few days I listed and sold a couple of Christmas jumpers on EBay! It just goes to show that when an item is in demand it can fly…

Not much else, but I will gear up to do a Mum-to-Mum sale in the new year.

Well done for keeping at it.

I haven't done much lately. I'll get back to it after Christmas.

Hope everyone has a good one 🎄

I did some Christmas baking for my last day in the office and took the opportunity to clear out the "miscellaneous baking equipment" cupboard.
Discovered some bits I'd forgotten I had and got rid of some stuff on Olio that I've only used once.