Spring cleaning / Kondoing / getting organized

[FrustratedFrugal]

I'd like to sort through my wardrobe, get rid of items that are worn out or too small, return, recycle, repurpose, declutter, aiming to decrease the amount of random clutter in our house.

Will do it room by room, aiming to declutter for at least 30 minutes twice a week for the rest of the month. First goal: - 10 items! (Ultimate goal: -100!)

Starting today!

Want to join? What are your goals?

[dudsville]

I do! I have 3 huge bags to charity this week and I'm uncomfortable. Have to keep reminding myself of my goal and of my own new view that is confusing, cluttering and wasteful to have so many clothes that never get worn. How do you manage it Sweat?

[SweatLikeAPigLookLikeAPig]

Does anybody else find it really hard to part with their belongings? I get really anxious about the amount of crap but really anxious about parting with it too!

[CiderwithBuda]

Hoping to achieve something today!

[dudsville]

That's a lot frustrated! I've been thinking is been so long that I've had mow clothes than could fit in my wardrobe and drawer space so I've always had stored clothes. I don't just mean seasonally either as it became a dumping ground for items. When i was getting rid of shoes this week I thought about how I've kept this or that site for so many years because it's good quality in good condition. But the reality is that if I wanted to open up my shoe options I would want to buy new, and I'm choosing not to do that right now, and I realised my real goal is to have only clothes I actively wear, and for those to fit comfortably on my one rail and 2 drawers. I'm the closest I've ever been ane am hoping to achieve this by autumn/winter when I can finally sort my sweaters and give serious consideration to the remains of my stored (hoarded?) clothes!

[FrustratedFrugal]

I had a burst of energy yesterday and got rid of 14 items in my wardrobe. Discarding things is super hard for me so I put them in interim storage and will hopefully make the next move soon.

[dudsville]

Well I still have a pile of duvets cider!

[CiderwithBuda]

I didn't do the larder. DS was doing an exam at the kitchen table (he missed it at school) and it would have been too distracting. ,I did some prep for our holiday instead.

[dudsville]

Frustrated that's good work for 20 min of effort! I know what you mean about your place looking nicer too as a result, I feel that way.

[FrustratedFrugal]

Duds and Buda well done - and I want to be more hardcore with my clothes. My sweater storage is overflowing!

I don't usually have extra time in the morning but today I did. I took some used children's toys up to the attic so that they don't clutter up DC's room. And I binned an used-up pair of wellies and put some of my cool season shoes into storage. About 20 minutes worth of work, tangible results! Somehow our apartment looks more beautiful when the clutter is gone.

[dudsville]

Come on Cider! I had a little nap and am now having a cup of tea. I then think I will do this. I'm thinking the actual task will only take an hour although it seems monumental.

[CiderwithBuda]

Larder. My ladder is quite tidy.

[CiderwithBuda]

Well after saying I would start two weeks ago I've done nothing until this morning.

Sorted out my sweater drawer and bagged up a few to get rid of. Swapped out summer stuff so now have a pile of washing and ironing but feel I at least accomplished something.

Dudsville - I do indeed have a ladder to kondo. That could be a good job this afternoon.

[dudsville]

So, earlier today I'd just emerged from the shower and decided to have a go on my clothes hoard while I was in a state to try things on.

My rail is full of only things I have already considered and want to keep, and there's a nice amount of room on the rail to be able to see it all and for stuff to hang properly. HOWEVER, I still had a massive storage of clothes, size 10 to 16. As I went through them I discovered that I was keeping a lot because of the brand or quality of the item when the reality was that something about it made me not want to wear it at the time or I've since learned that the colour is wrong for me. Also, although I've gone through my shoes a gazillion times I clearly still had tons I don't wear - I stopped wearing heels a decade ago Why do I still have several pairs? While I cannot say that I have been as ruthless as I would like I am proud to say that 2 bin bags of clothes and another of shoes and randoms like a handbag and books and dvd's we didn't like!

One of the more odd things I discovered was that I had a large collection of socks. I don't wear socks often. Why did i have so many socks?

I now have about a medium (?) sized suitcase worth of things to still be got rid of but I couldn't push myself any harder today. Some of that is a sweater collection so I've just decided to leave the rest for now and revisit the idea in Autumn.

Now, anyone with a larder to kondo want a buddy for the task?

[dudsville]

Ooh, that's a terrible job but so satisfying once it's been done! Did you find any long list bags of peas and whatnot? !

We ended up having company so I still have the pile of duvets and duvet covers to go through today (a charity bag arrived, haven't had one for months so I think this is fate! ). My oh saw the pile and asked what I was intending. I told him and it worried him. I said that we have 7 duvets and 2 beds and only ever use the 4.5 tog ones and if he would just look the other way for a moment he would never know they were gone and isn't that the point?

I really want to go through my wardrobe with that last more cutthroat approach... I have a place to store items... why is it so hard?

[FrustratedFrugal]

Fridge defrosted , a corner of the kitchen kondoed, plus I took out the trash. Very happy.

[FrustratedFrugal]

Wow Duds that is so impressive!

DH took children to a world music festival. I am defrosting the fridge (don't ask - there is a glacier on the back wall) and contemplating an extra round of kondoing.

[dudsville]

Ha ha, hi frustrated! I've just set all of my not-new, not-fabulous bedding to one side, oit of the cupboard. Something is going to happen to it but I'm not sure what yet!

[FrustratedFrugal]

Coleus that sounds fantastic!

I went to DC's room with an empty bin liner and continued culling until it was full. Plus I asked DD1 to take out a few broken bulky toys. And I found a place where we can store or DVDs - I have to empty it first but it will be much better than having everything in our living room.

And I might be able to get rid of a bagful of kitchen stuff (stale spices etc).

When I have time, I will take a bagful of books to the local library - they have set up a place where people can exchange used books.

[coleus]

I've discovered my default button is set at 'easy'. I love the idea of lots of lotions and potions but in reality I use very little.

With that in mind I've whittled down my stash of skincare and makeup to just the things I use. Out went armfuls of samples and old lipsticks and I'm left with the bare minimum. It feels so good!

Thanks for the inspiration 😀

[FrustratedFrugal]

An unexpected visitor arrived yesterday: the house was a tip. We just have too much stuff: tables: full cupboards and countertops, tables and side tables full of stuff, some of it spreading onto chairs.

I've empties cluttered-up sufaces for half an hour and will do so for anoher 30 mins but what we really need is a proper sort through.

[FrustratedFrugal]

I kondoed four drawers of clothes and discarded a bagful of stuff (worn out pyjamas, limp tees, knickers that have lost their shape). And I downgraded some tees to nightwear.

I've almost stopped wearing skinnies as slim straights look and feel so much better, so I am storaging them for now - will reassess this fall.

Did this listening to old songs, so it was fun actually.

[FrustratedFrugal]

Heyhey that is incredible - c'mon over and stay with us for a while as well!

I sorted out the laundry. A 15-minute effort but now I can lounge on a clutter-free sofa

[Heyheyheygoodbye]

I've Kondo'd DM's whole house as a thanks for having us to stay while our house purchase goes through. I've run out of stuff to Kondo now and all my own stuff is in boxes so can't do that! It's terrible! I love a good organise

I have just re-folded everything in the airing cupboard and will now settle in to vicariously enjoy all your efforts through this thread

[FrustratedFrugal]

TeaPlease I love your before and after. Well done!!!
Work is really intense today and tomorrow so I am allowed to lie on the sofa doing nothing