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.

I remembered the sideboard! Got rid of 10 serving dishes that I’ll never use

plus 3 packs of crayons to the kids school

TOTAL outs for 2025: 1222

Wow!!!

W/E 14/12 (Week 50)
2025 – (2015 + 25 = 2040) = Target achieved! 2040 items out of my life.

Digital
My WhatsApp was playing up, so I scrolled down and exited/deleted myself from over 100 group chats! I didn't even recognise some of them, most were from work (I retired 18 months ago....) some were from 2019 😳 (but counting all these as 1 even though it took ages). = 1

Stuff used up and not replaced = 0

Recycled/binned
2 x jars mouldy peppers, pair shoes, storage boxes x 4, pants x 3 = 10

Charity shop
Christmas garland, vase x 2, 3 x pairs trainers, sweatshirt with annoying neckline, books x 2 = 9

Vinted = 5 (a late flurry after I had almost given up!)

So that's it for this year. The house is tidier, my wardrobe now has (a little!) room in it, and I am on first name terms with the charity shop staff. There is more to do, definitely, but I feel like I have broken the back of it. I'll do another pass next year (I'm certainly going to give up more clothes now I can see they are going unworn after a full year of retirement) and I am definitely buying less 'stuff'. I've taken great inspiration from this thread, so thanks OP and everyone else who has contributed.

One used up nail polish
One tank top that doesn't suit me and is weirdly shedding itself all over the place
Total is 4205

I was so pleased to get a whole 10 things listed on ebay a couple of weeks ago but sadly have only sold two of them. Still two things that are no longer in my wardrobe though!

and…..

I also boxed up a ton of cleaning products where the nozzles have died or are half used and are unlikely to be used again and earmarked for the tip. Also added a few “never to be completely finished” shower gels and face scrubs.

My bathroom feels quite a bit lighter now 😄

I’d like to join (if i haven’t already). Decluttered a small basket of stuff this morning. Fridge later this week. Also got a small bag of clothes to drop off at the charity shop.

I’ve also learned that getting rid is half the job of decluttering. Not buying is the other half

Just started today, 1 duvet into bin. This could take years!!!.

I love that you have promoted yourself! I'm never going to get to prof at my speed.

I'm in Paris for holidays so I need a catch-up session when back!

Well done @CheesePlantFeet that is truly amazing! I still want to hit 2025 and I think I will. I can easily do 2026 next year too! I have the toys yet to do and the contents of my bedroom. Ekk! I bet I could do several hundred just on my socks. I have hundreds of them. A lot I don't wear. Another job I'm dreading really but I'm not ready to start on my room yet. Next year I'm going to split the amounts into months and areas I think.

I started team TOM again today. Also got rid of three items on Vinted. There is a lot of the vinted stuff that I should really donate now. As long as it fits into one or two carrier bags I don't mind keeping it.

About a dozen pairs of boys’ outgrown underpants added to donate bag for DD to take to charity shop.

Good morning folks - just cleaned some jewellery & about to advertise a green amber ting that is sadly too small for me. A few more odd bits have made their way into the charity shop bags but I need to have another blitz before Christmas.

Hi everyone, we had a really good clear up of the conservatory which led to a car load of packaging going to the tip, along with a bin bag full of textile recycling and an old duvet. It feels lovely to get so much stuff out the house.

One book finished and passed to a friend.
Total is 4206

One out yesterday - took an unloved mug into work. We have a large communal kitchen where mugs often go missing (I made the mistake of bringing in a favourite mug a few months and haven’t seen it since), so it’s a good way to get rid of mugs I’m not that keen on.

But this was counteracted by me ordering three mugs with DD’s Xmas artwork on from school (along with the usual Xmas cards), so I need to take two other mugs in to balance it🙈 The comment from @Specialagentblond that half of decluttering is not bringing more stuff into the house is very true!

I really need to have one last push before the kids break up on Friday to hit my 2025 items. I need to get rid of about another 250 things but just not feeling it today. Still trying to do my team Tom as well. Maybe if I do 50 items a day until the end of the week I will get there.

Donated 4 board games and some other random brand new toys to a local charity for families in crisis. I really hope they can bring a bit of joy and fun to some children again 😊

One hoodie, not needed, donated.
One jumper, scratchy, donated.
One toothbrush mug, manky, binned.
Total is 4209

A stack of books and a unused puzzle donated today.

I've also had a good clearout of rubbish the last week, the bin is already full with 2 weeks till next collection :/

ragbag - two clean rags that I intended to use for cleaning and dusting, but the pile of cleaning rags was getting too big and I’ve run out of steam for a pre-Christmas clean.

We have a very excited teen’s birthday here today, and he’s going to have a lovely day.

I wish I could move faster, think faster, just get this house sorted and give both of them the calm home they deserve.

Sorted the pile next to me on the settee yesterday & recycled a load of magazines etc. Also went through the piles on the kitchen table which will have to be shifted for the big day. Getting quite a bit of interest in my amber ring.

Hello👋 I’ve been lurking on these threads (and others) for a while. Been trying to get sorted all year. Got behind on house work as didn’t do any housework/tiding for 2 weeks in the lead up to Halloween as did a last minute craft stall and was busy making things for that (was my first one). Then just never got back in to it.

Anyway had new carpets in 2 rooms downstairs last week we’re supposed to re fitted on the Monday and didn’t get done till the Thursday. So house was upside down with furniture everywhere while waiting. In my head once the carpets were done and the new furniture in office was in the house would magically be sorted. It’s not! Then we found fleas on the dog on Sunday. So this week has been a mad clean/sort/fumigate session. And all I can think is that if the house was tidy clutter free how much easier all that would have been.

I have a dozen books, a box of old handbags (found in the loft while getting Xmas decs down) kids coat, picture frame, bag of baubles I bought from them for a craft project I’m not going to do now and a postcard collection all in my car ready to go to the charity shop today.

I need to sort out the eves cupboard to find the air bed for a sleep over tomorrow and
make room for the box of miscellaneous stuff that still needs to be sorted.

Two bags to the charity shop yesterday, plus an OOD bottle of emollient cream to the pharmacy to dispose of. I think it was prescribed for DS as a baby and he's now 7!

I'm going to try and do a last clear-out for textile recycling tonight as it's the last day of term tomorrow, so last chance to use the school bin till after Christmas.

I forgot about my one item a day -declutter for over a week as life got so hectic. I caught up yesterday, and I've mainly managed to use up things which is really positive, so not much to waste & buying less.

Day 344, a makeup sponge
day 345, used up a small body lotion (even cut it open to get the dregs out - recommend this as there's so much left in them!)
day 346, old steroid cream
Day 347, used up a perfume sample
Day 348, pants which were really way too small for me - I'm in denial that I gained and kept weight after DC
Day 349, dead plant and its pot
Days 350 and 351, used up two very nice handsoaps from my soap stash. I'm pretty pleased as they were pretty old (but nice). Now I only have a few left. I think I had 15 when I started this!

Hope I have recorded they days right as I sometimes forget to post, but we'll see on NYE 😂

Cleaned the kitchen today as that was job on team TOM. Obviously haven't done all the TOM tasks as I spent two hours decluttering. I only did three areas but it's better than zero areas. Still hoping to reach my 2025 items. Going to go back and do some more, but ds has just finished early for the end of term.

16th out 1 hanger, smashed teapot

17th out Slipper, toy knife. Two bits of tat. 24 bits of tat
18th 3 plant, pot of bolts,
1 plant, 15 tupperwear
16 plastic bottle parts
21 bits to charity dd

----

Out = 386
In = 0

--
Total for year
In = 169
Out = 1814

No good deed goes unpunished. After cleaning the kitchen the dishwasher has died. Good job I cleared the draining board as there's a lot of washing up for five people! Might have to clear more in the kitchen tomorrow to make it as clear as possible to get a new one in. The microwave is also rusty and the toaster blew up last week. We also need a dehumidifier as the house has a musty smell as soon as the temperature dropped. Happy days. Roll on the sales!