The Great Declutter Part 3 - 2011

imataloss

horse76 wrote: »

It's not just de-cluttering on my list, as I've got various things that need mending, cleaning, re-cycling, projects/hobbies to get up and running, stop eating junk, buying no more takeaways, stop spending money, even on the little things as it all adds up. Going to do it one or 2 things at at time though. Problem is I'm a hoarder, I mostly keep things that mean something to me, but going to try my best to get rid of things that I really don't need/ have any use for.

You sound just like me. I have so many unfinished projects, knitting, cross stitch, fabric to make door curtain. I`m a hoarder too. Still have a box full of files from my C & G Upholstery Course sitting in the wardrobe. Must get them out and see whats in there.

Decluttering wise - didn`t do any yesterday. Went to DS`s graduation and then out for a meal with DH and DM.
Was so tired when I got home I fell asleep.

Plan to carry on the 30 mins a day work decluttering today and also have another go at tackling the ironing mountain.

Have a good day everyone

gillian62

I popped into the loft on Saturday looking for some knitting bits and pieces, and then spent 3 hours up there sorting out, decluttering and throwing out!!

We have had stuff stored up there for about 3 years after my last sort out (after 7 years) and had got to the stage where we couldn't find the floor.

Have cleared one side of the loft, which is one of the two big ones, piled up. Some stuff for recycling - about 4 black bags/boxes - all went Monday, a black bag of rubbish, 2 bags of clothes for recycling. I was even able to go through 3 black bags of papers from my mil after she moved house 2 years ago, and we just put stuff in loft as we hadn't had time to sort. I've found some real family gems - literal not physical - letters, photos etc that I will share with the family one eve when we sitting down together - which is a feat in itself!!

Probably going to start tackling the next big side today or tomorrow while not at work - as I'm struggling with anxiety at the moment, it's a good therapy to chuck and sort stuff. Unfortunately I also want to buy new stuff, which I will have to kerb before I get in the same cluttered position I have been in.

Anyway all in all I think I must have chucked/recycled/cleared/decluttered etc about 7 large black bags of stuff - too many items to count, but well chuffed.

GreyQueen

I have done my 15 mins and am that little bit closer to dejunking the rough notes etc. Go, GQ, go. :T

PudseyDB

After reading some of these posts, I'm inspired...................I'm contemplating decluttering the bathroom - which includes trying to find a better place for my daughter's bunny and the huge plastic cage he lives in! :eek:

He was moved in there when the plasterers were here before Xmas, and never came out. But he's in the middle of the only bathroom in the house so you can imagine the chaos when I'm in there with my youngest and the two dogs who insist on following me everywhere! Luckily the dogs and rabbits all get on fine.

There's also some random plastic boxes in there which need to be sorted through.

morganlefay

I have spent the morning 'doing' the boxes of food which for some reason lived under the kitchen table (the top of which we can't actually see or use YET)
Today's good resolution is: Don't hoard 'special' foods. Buy, enjoy, chuck or recycle packaging.
What did I think I was going to do with three jars of lovely jam bought on French hols 2 years ago one of which spilt itself all down my leg, the floor etc so I am doing this instead of getting cross. What was I going to do with four packs of now-out-of-date coffee beans, a jar of mayo, some sugar-free jellies etc etc. I conjured up a picture of me wanting all these 'special' things in my coffin - but then there wouldn't be room for me !

So far one bag jamjars I can't get the labels off - going to recycling this pm with OH, and a nice box of usable ones for me to fill with chutney and jam sorted from the huge clanking bagfull that was in the garage. 3 black binbags of rubbish (mostly VERY out of date food) And my trousers, top, legs, kitchen floor and slippers covered in once-delicious jam. So I washed that bit of the kitchen floor as well !

Kaz2904

Today has mainly been about cleaning rather than decluttering. I still count it as decluttering though because my aim is to have a nice clean, clutter free home.
I've cleaned the bathroom and the downstairs loo. Cleaned out the dishwasher which was blocked and put about 8 things in the recycling bin. 2 loads of washing done. May get the third done later. DD is home sick today. DS has made it into school but I don't know how long he'll last. They phoned at lunchtime yesterday. Apparently his teacher said mid morning "What are you doing Kaz's DS?" to which he replied "Oh it's ok Mrs ... I'm just having a sleep!" "Oh, well I'd rather you didn't!" so he waited until lunchtime, put his coat on, hood up and fell asleep at the table.
Poor fella, I didn't think he'd be well enough but he insisted he wanted to go back. He's done nothing but sleep since Friday.
Oh well. Ooh, and how exciting is it that it was light at 7.30 when I opened the curtains? I love summer

whitewing

Did anyone watch CSI last night? That was enough to put you off clutter! (The CSI team actually stepped on a decomposing body as they couldn't see it in all the mess in the house). It was interesting too.

DS has 14 pairs of new socks but is reluctant to start using them for some unknown reason, but I think DH is clearing his old socks out now. DH is actually like a whirling dervish today - swooping round the house, cleaning and decluttering. I wouldn't mind but I had other plans. Bite my tongue time I think and do the bits I can.

We're doing all right.

Sue14

This morning I had a sort out in one of the sheds, mostly to make room for the cassette storage case and 2 boxes of stuff that I’d sorted for CS (until it is taken there at the weekend), so I could get a bit of space back in the spare room. Almost 2 years ago, we had the kitchen refitted, put most of the contents of the old units in the shed while it was done, and I've had 4 boxes of kitchen stuff in there since. I did have a lot more originally but some was taken by DS and his GF when they moved into their flat, and some went to CS, but still had these other boxes which I was undecided about. I've now managed to get it down to 2 boxes, the rest will be going to CS with the other stuff, and most of what's left is things I only use occasionally, or things I'm still undecided about, so they can stay for now.

I emptied the 3 bin bags of jiffy bags/packaging which I keep for Ebay parcels, and I’ve sorted all the jiffy bags into sizes, and put each size into a separate carrier bag, and then put all the bags into bin bags, so it will be easier to find the right size in future. I found a load of tatty scrap paper in with the jiffy bags, and some old boxes, which have now all been put in recycling. Also found 2 carrier bags, containing cassettes that OH and I used to listen to in the car before we got CD players, and these have also gone in the CS boxes.

Another thing I’ve been doing the past few days is going through my mending bag, which I keep beside the couch, and doing a bit of sewing. It’s mostly OH’s socks, and he is now getting quite a collection of wearable socks, and my bag is taking up less room each day, hopefully I’ll get it all done by the weekend and that will be another bit of clutter gone!

TheDoolallyDilly

Phew, nearly 6 pages of new posts for me to read since I was here last, everyone's been busy!

My CS bags are filling up nicely. Following my 'slow wardrobe declutter' I've added a jumper that I put on the other day, and then thought 'no!' - so it went straight in CS bag. I did spot a couple of handbags on the shelf in my wardrobe that can go, but I've not started up there yet! I've started using photos of before/after organising and decluttering on my blog, so I've been having to take photos as I go along!

I started on some paperwork - went through our home/utilities file and shredded/recycled/binned some things. When I've sorted some more out, I plan to buy new files as mine are very old, tatty and the lever bits don't work properly (I worked it out they are about 25 years old!!) - I'm quite excited about this, as I love stationery, and I want my cupboard to look fresh and pretty, and to know that everything in there is needed!

phizzimum

very much lacking motivation today...so going to set timer to do 15 mins tidying up then try to find 10 things to fling...will report back later!