Feeling low with clutter

ailuro2

Another thing, if you've decent paperback books, ask if your library would like them. Our library always appreciates donations of hardback books in good condition, and it frees up a bit more money in their budget to buy more new books.

I'd use black bags to sort the stuff out - a bit of paper in front saying bin, donate, relocate, that way in the bin bag you won't see what you're getting rid of and be tempted to haul it out when you get to the skip.

As previously mentioned, anything you have fond memories of you can take a picture of, or save a scrap of each thing and make up a collage picture for a photo album. One photo album will take up less room than a wardrobe full of old, worn out and probably too small clothes.:)

also most instruction booklets are available online, so if you really need the instructions for the dishwasher they will always be available free somewhere online, though be honest and admit there's only ever two settings used for the dishwasher or washing machine!! Same goes for phone and iron instructions, they can go to the paper recycling basket.

Mupette

JennyJewell wrote: »

Ahh thank you Mupette and Brighton belle - you stars
I am feeling much happier already and you have both given me a boost to start on my bedroom tomorrow evening - not today though, I'm enjoying Mothers Day too much
Happy Mothers Day all
Jenny

no no its definitely a day off today.

But tomorrow yes, same here although that's a relatively tidy room, i do have a mountain of books in my bedroom that needs sorting out. have picked up a banana box from supermarket (brilliant for storing books) will sort them and give away those not needed.

I used to give to amnesty books but they don't collect. because of illness there is no way i can get these books out, anyone know who would be happy to collect.

Brighton_belle

Mupette wrote: »

I used to give to amnesty books but they don't collect. because of illness there is no way i can get these books out, anyone know who would be happy to collect.

You could try your local frrecycle group? And sometimes Oxfam or other charity shops have volunteers that collect.

poppy - lol, I had loads of boxes in the attic - both from products long past warrenty and any large box that seemed a waste to chuck as it would be "really useful for something". They were all flattened and taken to the carboard recycling bit of the dump.

It became apparant when clearing the attic my real weakness was odd bits of wood that might come in handy. Once the 'declutterer started putting them all in the same place, it became obvious I could open my own wood timber merchants:D. I have banned myself from picking up any more. Haven't quite started getting rid of what is there yet though.

OP - now you know there are many of us out here, do you feel better and motivated to start clearing out?

jellyhead - look forward to hearing about your kitchen windowsill tomorrow,
and operation bedroom Jenny:just think how restful it will be going to bed in a calm uncluttered space.

Mupette

Thanks for that, will do the clear up and make a few calls

kingfisherblue

Brighton Belle and Muppette - thanks for the encouragement. We now have four binbags and a box to put out for the BHF this morning :j

All of the stuff is decent - anything broken or incomplete has been binned.

Jellyhead, my kitchen windowsills need clearing too . I'm going to set myself a small target each day (anything additional will be a bonus). Today's target is to clear the two sills and to bag up some books for the loft. I don't want to set too high a target, as I am always shattered. I care for my disabled son and I'm up several times a night, so I sometimes go back to bed to sleep during the day, to catch up . Today I have a badminton class and I have to get everything ready for Brownies tonight as well (I'm a Brownie and Rainbow guider - most of the stuff for guiding is together, but I admit it could do with a good sort out )

So, the kids are up, I'm feeling reasonably energetic - that will soon stop when I get to badminton - and I have four bags and a box to put outside.

See you later x

chazsucks

clutter gets me down too! unfortunately for me its all my boyfriends crap!!

i do make a mess.. but when i tidy i put it all back in proper places... the house is full of piles of ohs stuff and boxes where he's just dumped everything in. he hates getting rid of anything and we have boxes of old wires and things from old appliances it's crazy

and i study at home and sometimes i really can't concentrate thinking about all the crap everywhere.

and my 10 month old has a million toys but they are all in plastic storage boxes in his room and in the playpen in our living room.

i just wish oh would throw away all his old crap... or at least cut it down!!

xxx

Mupette

Ok I have started.

Oh had a box of stuff in the corner of the living room, asked him to take it back to his, finally he agrees, currently said box is on sofa awaiting him to take it later today.

And 2 big glass bottles.. you know the ones that you keep to put your pennies in.. well it never really gets filled that much, i kept one because it was an old fashioned glass pee bottle... (its clean).

i can actually see a part of the carpet in the corner.

Thinks i should pack up the Wii as it is only occasionally used.

I will tackle to toilet later as it's due it's clean, very lucky it is a tiny toom. got the bicarb, lemon juice, why is it men just can't pee in the bowl.

bestpud

Can I join you please?

I can't begin to describe bow my house looks at the moment - there is stuff everywhere!

Mostly it's because I flit from here to there all the time and so I have jobs on the go all over the place!

Anyway, I have sorted all our clothes out and got rid of a load to the charity shop this morning - the rest I am going to photograph and stick on Ebay, on the understanding it goes to the charity shop if it doesn't sell first time.

Really though, I'm looking around this morning at all the needs doing and I'm wondering whether to hire a self-storage until for a fortnight so I can pretty much clear the house and start again...?

What do you think?

They used to do that on one of the declutter your home type TV shows - but they put it all in the garden and I can't do that.

It would cost me about £35 for two weeks and it is just down the road so I can take stuff in the car and access anything I need pretty much on the spot.

I'm not talking furniture but things like books, toys, kitchen stuff I'm not sure I need, air beds, bags, winter coats, sleeping bags... All the things that take up space and make deep cleaning/decorating harder to do!

DD is having a playroom downstairs so I'm decorating her bedroom and the playroom, but the playroom still has stuff in it that needs storing under the stairs, but under the stairs needs painting... I also need a new floor fitting in what will be the playroom so it needs to be empty for that. Arrggggghhhh!

I don't really have enough space anywhere in the house to keep shifting the stuff around iyswim? Plus I think it may be easier just to move it all the once...

I'd like to have a near empty house that I can then decorate easier, give a good clean, and think carefully how to put the items back, and only put back what we need.

Am I mad?

floss2

Mupette wrote: »

....Anyhoo on the rehousing list, and i was hoping to of moved before next month, but that is not going to happen. But the living room ceiling, desperately needs a coat of paint. h/l/s need a fresh coat of paint on the wall, looks grotty and i've not been well enough to do it myself, and can't really afford to get a professional in for less than £150

If you are hoping to be moved within a few months, can the redecorating wait until you are in your new place? Or have you asked the HA if they can repaint it for you, as you are unable to do it yourself?

floss2

bestpud wrote: »

....Am I mad?

Maybe - but not if you promise to only have the unit for 2 weeks maximum!