Decluttering Thread 12

[TidyClutterIsStillClutter]

Whatever your speed or method, whether it’s a few shelves, a couple of boxes or entire attics, rooms, or garages, come here and share both your successes and your struggles. There’s support and commiserations, and lots of good ideas.

Out

a holes pair of leggings

total outs 2!

@Cyclingmummy1i got a email for music magpie this morning with a 10% code: TIDY10

I'm going to do this. I'll count the ins, and as long as we are on more outs than ins by December, I'll be happy. Our house probably has about 5-10% excess, so for every 4 ins I need 5 outs. I am going to need to replace things like pants and socks this year - so many have worn out - and dc will need clothes, but i hope this will curb my book-buying habit...

So far we have the 2 bags of duplo and 2 cat toys out. Ins are 2 books for dc (who got book tokens for xmas) and one book for me that imalready reading.

So ins =3
Outs=4

Another laundry basket worth of stuff filled;
Charity collection:
2x fleece throws
1x dress up kids costume.
Outgrown trainers
Outgrown kids clothes.... so many 🫣

Recycling:
Rusty muffin tin.

I can still see sooooo many things that need to go but the stuff isn't being collected until Wednesday and I am running out of room to store it.... it seems like there is so much more when it is in black bags rather than scattered around!

One conditioner used up
One book I've finished reading
One itchy jumper

Total is 4233

Random decluttering from all over the house today. Low hanging fruit 🤣

Out
Charity shop: 6x toys, easel, jigsaw, mug, 2x drawer dividers, 3x plates, lamp, unopened pack of post its, 2x unopened craft kits, unopened pack of stickers, 2x unopened facemasks, new water bottle, new eye masks, cushion

Bin / recycling: broken toy, "useful" jam jar, gift bag

Must buy less stuff. Getting rid of new and unwanted things, however cheap they were, is painful.

Total 79

That’s an awesome feeling @Iceisnice when the piles of things to go actually start to really accumulate. I don’t count them until they leave the house though, so it’s quite a brilliant feeling to suddenly get rid of 200 items!

@CheesePlantFeet - I’ve been forcing myself to do this a bit more. I always feel new things are harder to declutter, but maybe they should be? Was it @Pigtailsandall who said (ages ago) that it was good when we really have to work hard to rehome something because it makes it more likely we will restrain ourselves with buying in the future? My (fairly limited!) sale shopping has arrived and I’m already wondering how I can make sure to at least go one in/one out…!

My big (but slightly painful) win recently was to really take a hard look at things I had bought for the present drawer, including a couple of nice things I’d put in there for regifting. I’ve really made myself empty this down, so it’s gone from 3 boxes plus overflow into just 2 boxes all fitting. It’s such a better feeling also not to have anything in there that isn’t useful. I pushed myself to give more as presents this Xmas and also just a gave a bunch of stuff away. Feels better for sure!

I haven’t managed to spend as much time clearing things as I’d have liked and my few days off are now over 😕. I made a start on the spare room which has all the overflow wardrobes and sets of drawers in. Moved a few things into use, a few to donate and a large pile to the under-bed storage to save for if I put weight back on. That freed up a drawer for my DH to use so he can stop annoying me with his floordrobe.

I’ve had a few more Vinted sales too. Haven’t counted anything yet but it’s a positive start for the new year. This year I’m aiming to finish the porch we’re building which will help keep the hall less cluttered (hopefully) and to redecorate the dining room which mean that box mountain in the corner cannot stay. It’s getting higher and higher and makes it look like we’ve only just moved in 🫣

I am proud of what I’ve achieved but I have a long way to go as I find it very difficult to part with certain things, especially if I have a sentimental attachment to them. Think I mentioned the big bag of soft toys. I read somewhere, possibly on here, that a good idea is to take a photo of the item & then you can still see it even though it’s no longer in your possession.

I haven't updated my progress for a couple of days but I have been reading what others have been doing and it has been a good motivator.

My 'outs' are as follows:

Olio
3 drawer unit
6 small drawer unit
Framed TV show prints

Charity shop donations
Several gift bags
Duplicate birthday cards
2 rolls of cellophane
Some children's books
Several items of clothing
Wedding photo props

I have listed a few items on Ebay/Vinted today. One has sold so can use up old boxes/wrapping to send that.

1 box of toys collected out

Some books, a t shirt and one more item sold on vinted

Just done the bathroom cabinet & cupboard. DD17 & I have SO many shampoos & showergels! Binned a few bits & there are half a dozen bottles to recycle.

Happy New Year Fellow Declutterers!

I last posted in May and at that point I was up to 112 items out.
Since then...

Binned:
1 towel, 11 pairs of school socks, 4 girls leggings, 1 ballet shoes, 1 winter gloves (slime, again!), 3 wash bags, 1 dress with broken zip, 1 blush, 2 eyeshadows, 1 jogging bottoms, 4 pairs of mens socks, 2 sport sweat bands, 2 nail varnish, 1 mascara, 2 leggings (stained and holes), 1 school dress with paint on, 1 kids tights, 1 coat, 2 dresses, 1 high heels, 1 vest (stained), 1 school polo shirt, 1 tights with holes. (64)

Given away:
1 x school polo shirt, 2 PE t-shirts and 2 school trousers. (5)

Vinted:
Loads and I'll do that count shortly

New total - 181

I've skim read the posts since May, really inspiring! I've been decluttering since July 2023 and have loads more to go. Congrats to everyone reaching and achieving their decluttering targets :-)

Vinted sales:

Girls - black trainers, water shoes, 2 sandals, checked top, bundle of 5 items, bundle of 3 items, baby yoga book, school uniform trousers, bridesmaid shoes, 2 school dresses, yellow shorts, 2 party dresses, water bottle, 2 school shoes, nike trainers, bundle of two items, slippers, nappies, newborn bundle (41)

Plus: pink trainers, navy swim top, summer top, foundation, fancy shower gel, t-shirt, hand cream. (8)

Vinted earnings for the above - £301.50

Total items out in 2025... drumroll.... 230!

I've been adding more stuff on Vinted, so still have 400+ items to sell. I've got some bags filled ready for the charity shop and I haven't touched the garage yet! Onwards and upwards in 2026!

Boots split across the sole whilst out today, so they've been binned on arrival home. Total is 4234

Took the candy cane cloth, glittery gold placemats/coasters & red/gold runners off the kitchen table & put on a cloth with lemons which only just fits. I binned the candy cane cloth. At the moment, there’s very little on the table & I plan to keep it that way! Just sorted through a bag for life which DD17 had dumped on the landing & got rid of a few bits plus put some odd socks to wash.

I only joined Vinted recently as a way of buying some cheaper and smaller clothes whilst I’m on WLI. Then I realised how much easier it is to sell on there than eBay so tried selling a few bits.
I listed and sold today:
Joules tweed skirt
BNWT trekking trousers
Dinosaur fairy lights.
All packed and ready for post office tomorrow

@Realfastfoodie You're not wrong and neither is @Pigtailsandall! I was pleased with myself for scratching my sales shopping itch with buying on vinted. Which although it's still buying clothes I don't really need, they were good quality fabrics and cheaper than the shops. I'm planning to sort through my wardrobe (again) soon so we'll see if I manage a one on one out (but honestly it's unlikely! Clothes are my downfall!)

I’m a fan of buying secondhand too @CheesePlantFeet for quality, environmental and price reasons! I think it’s always a balance, I think we deserve nice things too! But the value to me of space (over stuff) is increasing with my age I think. And I think it helps me get over my angst of getting rid of things to know they’ve gone to the right place, even if that is recycling rather than a skip.

I've put a bobbly top in the textiles recycling pile and a pair of joggers my son has grown out of in the charity shop bag. Had a big clear up of rubbish from the living room.

Still not sorted my office out ready for back to work tomorrow :/ need to get the shredder out really.

Is it fairly easy to set up a Vinted account? As it’s fairly hopeless trying to shift stuff on FB Marketplace - I end up reducing some things so much that I might as well give them away. DD17 has an account & was selling some of my clothes for me but wasn’t entirely honest about the profits 😢 so I need to have my own.

I found it very straightforward @MarmaladeSandwich7- I watched a few YouTube videos to get me started.

And I’ve made another Vinted sale! I’m not asking the earth for my items, just a few quid for the better quality items.

Tidied out 2 out of 3 drawers in the kitchen dresser earlier & got rid of loads. I’ll do the bottom drawer tomorrow & maybe a cupboard.

Tidied out a few drawers, and all the hats and scarves and gloves. 1 pair of gloves and 1 pair of boots for the recycling, and a few bits and pieces for the bin. Also added to my charity bag, yet to be counted up!