The Great Declutter Part 3 - 2011

minuettoallegretto

Did really well Saturday decluttering and clearing up for birthday party - 2 black bags in bin, plus 2 carrier bags of stuff to charity shop. Unfortunately the empty floor space was irresistible to DS2 (5) and DS3 (3) who immediately filled all of it with their toys. Couldn't face any more Saturday evening, so started again on Sunday.
This time OH was home, but was editing photos he'd taken on his day out the previous day. All 3 kids were glued to the TV, while I was trying to clear up AGAIN :mad:. After half an hour of this, I threw the boxes down that I was moving, and shouted that the party was cancelled because I was fed up clearing up over and over with no help. I then phoned everyone to tell them not to come.
Who says tantrums don't work? Within an hour, OH was up and vacuuming, DS2 &3 were putting their toys back upstairs, and DS1 (the birthday boy) was helping me rearrange the furniture so everyone could sit down. I then phoned everyone back to tell them we were back to plan A.
We all had a great time.
Additional advantage - when my friend phoned to say she'd got to toddlers half an hour early (2 mins walk from my house) I was able to invite her round for a cup of tea without worrying! :T Never felt able to do that before - and I have to say I liked the feeling. Think I'll be working harder than ever - with help of course - to keep the place looking presentable.

mineallmine

museumworker wrote: »

Thanks for the challenge, I think considering we were out of the house most of the weekend it was a real success . Well done everyone else who managed it :T.

You've done brill. And every little helps :j:j:j

PudseyDB

Willow92 wrote: »

I started decluttering November last year and I keep my signature updated with how many things have been decluttered.

Love the idea .... why is some of it in red and some green?

230/250 things decluttered. SPC #1011

Rummer

Hello quick update! I have cleared the greenhouse getting rid of a whole bin bag a box full of rubbish and a pile of un-needed equipment has found it's home via freecycle. Finally got OH to clear out his clothes so a giant bag went to charity and a heap in the rag box.

I have also overcome my need to buy books and have become a regular library user saving money and space!

mineallmine

Rummer wrote: »

Hello quick update! I have cleared the greenhouse getting rid of a whole bin bag a box full of rubbish and a pile of un-needed equipment has found it's home via freecycle. Finally got OH to clear out his clothes so a giant bag went to charity and a heap in the rag box.

I have also overcome my need to buy books and have become a regular library user saving money and space!

I love using the library too. A friend had nagged me for years to rejoin. Now I can order books online and then pick them up at a local library. I'm also really keen to help keep the stats of books issued at this library too.

Back to the thread - wow lots of decluttering stories people. Sometimes tantrums do work! And think of all that *stuff* on its way to charity shops so that fellow MSErs can pick up bargains

I realised this evening that overall our lounge is now ok. I will clutter up surfaces (mainly two tables) so still need to find a home for papers that come in. So with a quick hoover anyone could come in!

However walk up the stairs and the story is very different. I'm determined to get one of the spare rooms sorted. So I'm going to aim to clear the larger spare room by the end of March. We can't use it as it is and if we wanted to move we'd have to move all that toot too.

Let's the decluttering continue until I have a home with *less things* less stuff * more life *
:A

Kaz2904

Hello, I did manage to get 1 thing gone today! I returned some paint brushes to B&Q as we didn't need them. I went to do this the other day but didn't have my reciept with me, grr!
Tomorrow will be spent decluttering the 5 loads of washing I did today, yay great fun (haha!).

mcculloch29

Some brilliant bits of inspiration. I know my lists make it look as if I got a lot done, but trust me there was, and is, an ENORMOUS amount to do. I can't clean as I would want due to disability now (truth to tell, I never did clean as I would really want to anyway) so I have a cleaner - but I have to make it easier for my cleaner to clean. Clutter has GOT to go!

caledonian_princess

I have been reading through this thread... how energetic you all are. I have a tidy house, I wouldn't even mind if my mother came for a visit (known as a Royal Visit) it's that tidy. Well, that's provided she doesn't go into my craft room or the spare bedroom. :eek: There isn't any furniture in the spare bedroom and yet it's full and I have trouble getting further than the threshold.

So, my rooms are:
Craft room: masses of stuff from various fads. A lot of it needs to go on ebay, that is going to take some serious energy to sort out so I think I'll leave that until last.
Spare bedroom: mostly old cardboard, packaging, my bikes, old duvets etc. A few tip runs should sort this out so I'll hit this first, starting tonight by filling my dustbin. It's collection day tomorrow and I haven't filled it yet so some of that polystyrene can be shown the door!
My room: oh dear... how many clothes do I have that I don't wear? Way too many, so I also need a rummage through my clothes, handbags and shoes. I must get rid of some things.

Willow92

PudseyDB wrote: »

Love the idea .... why is some of it in red and some green?

230/250 things decluttered. SPC #1011

Green is the target, red is what I've decluttered so far.

It's been under 200 for ages but I did a massive clearout last night.

CraftyMonkey

Here is my list.
1) Sort out the bookshelves and sell or give to charity any I dont want
2) Sell the enormous box of Lego
3) Clear out the old lentils/rice/herbs etc that are lurking in the cupboard
4) Empty the cupboard on the landing
5) Take all the wood from the porch cupboard to the allotment

I am giving myself a month to do the above list. my son has made a start and is selling all his old toys on ebay