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.

@toomanyhobbies sorry for your loss..just stick to light decluttering. Like putting things in their rightful homes. Don't take too much on right now.

Off to good start. Two sales on Vinted today which I'm surprised about. I'm going to give up a hour a day to Vinted for a few weeks as 1) it's good way to work out what has any real value and what can be donated 2) it keeps me in the decluttering mood.

Dh car has now decided to break down as soon as mine was fixed so that needs funding. Quite grateful for the vinted profits this week.

Will be looking through the boys underwear this week and trying to get the last 125 ish items for 2025. Will be at the charity shop tomorrow!

Happy New Year everyone!

My total number of items decluttered in 2025 was 437 - slightly higher than the 403 of 2023. I’d like to get up to 500 in 2026! I’d also like to declutter this cold that DH & I picked up over our Xmas travels. The house is a state as I haven’t had a chance to put everything away after unpacking and find homes for presents ☹️

However, this evening I went through all the photos from 2025 on my phone and deleted duplicates or anything I didn’t need. Didn’t count them as I was doing it, but I’ll count it as one item so my 2026 total is 1 😀

Happy new year everyone, hope I can join you. I've set a target of 2026 things out of my house this year. I've tried for the last few years and lose track, hopefully this thread can keep me accountable!

I've lurked for years now with a few Failure To Launch episodes, but this is my year! 40 items per week should get me to 2026 by Christmas, so that's my target.

01/01
Over a hundred photos from my phone
Lots of junky emails
2 big cardboard boxes
Unnecessary paperwork
A small box of Christmas chocolates 😁
Damaged carrier/postage bags (and I organised the rest)

Outs = 6

6 fabric scraps
1 too small jumper
1 too small joggers
1 face wash

Total is 4228

I’ve binned-
1 baby grow
1 pair boxer shorts

today is going to be my year to free myself of too much stuff!

Unexpected day at home so I’m on a mission! Moved the new storage boxes off the kitchen table & put the Christmas ornaments etc in one. Started to fill the other with paperwork, magazines etc. DD17 away so we’re hopefully going to get rid of a whole heap of stuff!! She just won’t be pinned down so we have to set deadlines. Or as when she was little, sometimes we just smuggle stuff out of the house. Obviously being careful not to throw away anything very personal or sentimental. I am horrified to read some threads where parents have thrown out precious childhood toys & books. Heartbreaking 💔
The pile on the landing is now down to one carrier bag of DD’s things. DH is talking in terms of starting to clear the office. It’s a pretty big job but would give him even more space for his turbo trainer bike. There must be 20 pillows in there for starters! I bought loads as really struggled to find one I got on with.

Happy new year! Sorry to hear your news @toomanyhobbies please take care of yourself.

Yesterday we visited family and they wanted help to declutter the linen cupboard. So many duvet sets and sheets that have been donated/disposed of it made me determined to sort my house out when I got back but I held off for this morning. Needed a blood test and scan this morning, was all finished by 10. Managed a small food shop - mainly fruit veg and milk.

I have filled 1 laundry basket from 31st/today.
Charity collection:
2 fleece throws
duvet set
T shirt
Jumper
Casserole dish
Gravy boat

Recycling/bin:
Leaking water bottles x3
Instruction manuals

Food to donate to the food bank

1/52 😃

I love how you have laid it out as charity collection and recycling collection. Would it be okay if I use the same format?

@toomanyhobbies I’m so sorry for your loss, especially at Christmas.

Absolutely @declutteringonedayatatime

Booked a charity collection for next weds and a tip slot too 🥳

The house is in such chaos after Christmas I’m just finding it so easy to find things to get rid of 🤣🤣🤦‍♀️

A hairband for the charity bag and another pot of makeup for the bin - it was old and didn’t really work for me anyway

Really chuffed with myself as getting loads done! Hardly recognise parts of the house now! The sun came out earlier & showed up the dust so that’s another task after I’ve finished sorting! Emerged in one piece from DD’s room with a massive pile of clothes to wash. Now about to put some stationery bits into the storage box & DH has all the Christmas stuff to put in the loft. I always promise myself that I won’t keep things on the stairs but still do - need one of those stair storage thingies.

Thank you @Iceisnice

I have been out this morning to drop off my charity donation and sorted out more boxes to go in the recycling bin.

Charity donation:
3 x picture frames
Bundle of craft/normal stickers
Hairdryer
Pair of shoes
Wedding items (Mr/Mrs mug etc)
House decor (picture frame, random Owl ornament 🤣)

In the car ready to go to the tip on Sunday:
Old broken/useless electronics (phones, shredder, landline phone, heater that no longer works & more)
Broken laundry basket
Glass for recycling

It's been stressful today in the FoolShack, mainly my own doing. I was aiming to be productive but instead just scheduled too much to do in the same couple of hours. I hope I'll improve with practice, but until then there will probably be more days like this!

02/01

• More junky emails, and I unsubscribed from a few more newsletters
• Two bags of veggies that need using up; instead of chucking them in the bin I made roast veggies for lunch and smug soup
• Expired medications to the pharmacy
• One and a half rolls of Christmas wrap that I borrowed when I couldn't find my huge stash, returned
• Three Christmas cards addressed solely to me
• One misshapen pair of pants that I'm wearing today and will put straight into the bin tonight

Outs = 12

Hi all, I’m joining in for 2026 after lurked a while last year. I’m in the stage of little children and have a lot of things in storage from my eldest but now the youngest is two I can finally start to declutter some of the baby items😭 I only work part time now and so I spend more time in the house and drives me round the bend when everything is messy. Hoping to tackle the garage first! Made a good start yesterday. Today I took the Christmas decorations down which is always a bit depressing but determined to use it as a kickstart to get rid of things and get everything freshened up!

We are in a similar stage @ProseccoBee ! It’s really tricky because the kids are at different stages and the eldest is so possessive over everything!

Two bags dropped at the charity shop! Another 54 (small!) things - mainly toy clutter and tiny clothes

Good point about expired medication - I have some iron tablets in date but no longer needed so I’ll drop them at the chemist. Also found a couple of pairs of glasses/sunglasses to go to the optician.

Table football game has had rabbit poo removed & now sitting in the hall to go to the top or be binned as it’s not really good enough for the charity shop. I will miss the bunnies looking as if they are playing with it - too cute 🐇🐇

Tip

Yes, I understand that feeling of doing too much at once in a short time. For me, it usually ends up half-finished and in a mess if I run out of time 🤣.

Wow, I've never seen these threads so busy! And so many new joiners!

I have started strong and given away 2 big bags of duplo. They have been in the loft for ages. Feels good to declutter such big bags.

So year total is 2. I think I'll do the same as last year- one items a day but excluding paper, recycling like boxes and magazines, and food items (so it really has to be something that makes an actual dent in the stuff)

Thank you for the kind words. I’m not doing much. I’m trying to get in better habits with everything and have been making sure to make the beds every morning and taking all the washing up downstairs in the morning.

today I have returned 2 of mum’s presents that she never got to open. Need to return 2 more to Amazon next week. Tomorrow I need to clear the car out as all going out for a family meal and we are taking dad and uncle.
I also took presents to my friend yesterday so that got the last Christmasy stuff out of the way.

This thread is one of my favourites! Really getting stuck into jobs that I have in some cases been putting off for years. And the more I do, the more I want to do! Might make a start on some folders from the filing cabinet after tea.