Dedicated declutterers welcome

[LushLemonTart]

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

It's always lovely when you see space opening up.

The move has definitely helped. I got rid of so much before but still doing it. 3 big bags went to charity shop yesterday. I'll be using my old one next time. They wanted to know everything in the bags. There was allsorts. They wouldn't accept tupperware type stuff. My usual take everything.

I'm starting another pile.

I dropped off this thread, just checking in to say I have two more charity bags of clothes waiting to go in the Sally Army bin, plus a really big box of random stuff filling up nicely for an Anglo door step collection.
Sold some riding clothes on ebay, waiting until the weather starts cooling off to list some winter coats.
Hope everyone is OK!

Hi @CherryogDog . Sounds like you're doing well.
I'm constantly getting rid. Sold a telescope. Gave a sleeping bag away. Gave a big tent to a friend today. All progress.

Some personal items accidentally got thrown away during my house move. I'm ok about it now. Some irreplaceable things. But just things.

I feel guilty, but I threw out some plant pot covers and wax melts that all came in as presents. They weren't good enough to give to charity shops.

I have a bag of clothes ready to go into the rag bag container at the local tip - again, they're not good enough for the charity shops.

Never feel guilty. It's all going in the right direction.

I’m going to join you in the hope of being influenced by you all!

Welcome. We can do it!

please can I join? I have a possible exchange date for our house move in approx 6 weeks. I Want to do a big declutter over the next few weeks ready to pack. - writing that just made me think I should have already started 😅.

I have just booked an Anglo Door step collection for Wednesday. I’ve got a 16 DD and 10DD to help me declutter over the summer holidays. Plan is to start in the morning and will report back to the tread for accountability 😌.

Anyone else fancy joining?

@ThatAgileMintBiscuit good luck. Be ruthless. Try selling some stuff too. Facebook marketplace and quid bid sites can be good. Vinted for clothes. I didn't bother with the latter though.

Don't keep multiples. Think about what you actually need. And what can easily be replaced.

I have a box with photos ect in. The old ones are irreplaceable.

Good luck. It's so freeing once you get started.

Did I mention that I also have a gardening hoarding problem?

I've been using up the free seeds from magazines by scattering them in bare patches.

Again, I feel guilty - but I chucked out the beetroot seeds that I'm never going to use.

The garden gate padlock had jammed. WD40 didn't work and I couldn't get through it with the bolt cutters, so finished up cutting off the hasp.

I've put on the new hasp that came from Amazon and have chucked the other new bit - I forget what it's called - in the bin, instead of keeping it 'just in case'. I have a house full of 'just in case'... It feels wasteful, but I can't go on like this.

Oh...and I have too many things that were unwanted presents. Came across a motion sensor that someone gifted me for the van I no longer have.

It's in the car, ready to go to the charity shop. If they don't want it, it's going in the bin.

Keep going. Sounds like you've had 'the shift' in mentality? I've had it too.

Yes, that's right. Tired of being held down by clutter.

I just keep thinking about who'd need to clear it when we're gone. I've been reading about Swedish death cleaning.

I’m having some success, despite the hot weather, the fatigue, the holidays and other things going on:

34 items of school uniform to the school shop
2 blouses to the charity shop
Some things boxed up and put in the loft
8 items of clothing to the baby/children’s bank

The first blouse (nice, linen, M&S) when I took it to the charity shop I ironed it and put it on a hanger. The lady immediately took it off the hanger, threw the hanger away and crumpled the blouse into a sack! You can’t win sometimes…😂

My main aim is to improve my office/workroom as it just becomes a dumping ground and I feel oppressed by it in there.

Oh can I join? My dining room/home office has become a dumping ground. We haven’t used the dining table since Covid when I shifted to wfh and now there is a narrow pathway from the door across the other side of the room where I now have a desk with piles of stuff either side. The rest of the house is also cluttered but not as bad (but still bad ☹️).

I’m starting to sort out the dining room today as I’m on leave but fear it will take so long that I just don’t have the energy or stamina to finish.

Hi @BadSkiingMum . Sounds like you're progressing brilliantly.

Welcome @HoardingDoozer . Try not to overdo it. Even doing one area is an achievement. Sometimes we can go for it and then get despondent and tired. Plus overwhelmed. Well I do.

Yes.

I keep thinking back to when we had to clear a great-uncle's house. He had all my great-granny's things, including carefully laundered doilies which were full of holes.

@WearyAuldWumman we cleared mils a couple of years ago. Thankfully wasn't too bad but still took a lot of doing. The salvation army did well.

I'll clarify that the holes in the doilies were in addition to those that should have been there. Poor Uncle - just couldn't bear to part with Great-Granny's things.

Been to the tip today and got rid of lots of cardboard and plastic bags. Then to the charity shop with about 30 books. Most travel and hiking books.

I've just sold a camping stove on Facebook and am selling a board game (new). All means less at ours.

I've had a mad purge today, three bags of clothes to go to the charity shop, 5 bags of my riding clothes that I can't squeeze my Pilsbury dough boy rolls into (I'd started selling them but I can't be bothered) are waiting to go to the local horse charity for their 2nd hand shop.
Enjoying looking at all the empty clothes hangers (I'm easily pleased).
I might kick myself at a later date but the clutter all over the house is really affecting my mental health.
Still loads to do.

I've sold some stuff on Facebook and gave away packing boxes.

Well done @CherryogDog .

What happened to the poster who was helping a friend to clear his house? Ele-someone? Is she still about?

I don't think I've seen her for a while.

Put out a bra that I don't like and is looking the worse for wear. Also a plant pot cover that I don't like.

Still feel guilty about chucking out, but my house is ridiculously full of things.