The Great Declutter Part 3 - 2011

Skint_but_Optimistic

Kaz, no wonder you are shattered, I think you are doing fabulously.

Love that kind of decluttering penny, i find those wine bottles are cluttering my house up alot....

Im at work but thinking ... hmm... what shall we delcutter tonight....

Kaz2904

Skint, I found that making a plan of what area I was going to tackle next whilst I wasn't "in the thick of it" so to speak was far less overwhelming than looking around and trying to figure out where to start. I'm also more realistic then.
So, I came home and stuck on the WM and the DW. I was right, DH didn't empty the TD but he has moved the note and turned it over the other way . I took all of the paint tubs and have stacked them up in the downstairs toilet. The bag of cement got heaved through and is now in residence by the front door, ready to be mixed up and poured into the hole it was bought to fill (4 years ago?). All paint trays have been put with the others in the cupboard under the stairs on top of the freezer. I will be able to get to them easily enough in there. The tiles are in the loo too so that I have to look at them every time I go to the loo or put on some washing.
I have sugar soaped the whole thing so it is now ready to be tiled and then painted. Or vice versa. The dehumidifier has now got space in the utility so it's not crammed into the loo. I have managed to get the plug into a socket in the utility so there isn't a wire trailing through into the kitchen. This still needs work but I need DH to remove spiders before I start trying to stick my hand down the back of cupboards to get wires through small gaps!
Washing machine has finished, it's lush outside but I've been really naughty and just shoved it in the TD. I'll regret this later because it'll take longer to sort and will all need ironing but it means I'll get into bed quicker.
The window has been cleaned. Despite it being filthy on the outside, I can see already what a difference it has made to the inside.
DH was asking last night if I was going to go round with the paint brushes again (more cutting in). I might but am not that worried about it. So I said "No, I'm happy with it. It's good enough." I need to get less fixated with things because it really is true, it's been decorated, it's not perfect but it is good enough (apart from one bit on the ceiling which I do definitely need to do because that's not good enough ).
I have kept the sugar soap solution because I do still want to try and have a crack at the cupboard tops or perhaps the outside of the windows but I think I've done enough now. I'm tired and have to get up at 2.50 so will let myself go to bed.
Catch you all later .

Oh, and to contend with my feeling of disgruntlement with the work load, I have decided to think of myself as a person with an injury which stops them decorating/housework/whatever. This will help my sanity and stop me getting at him I hope. After all, if I prepare for no help and he does something, it's all a bonus isn't it?

Oh and the sewing is not a chore, that is ME time. It's a pleasure (tell me that later when I'm cursing the infernal machine and the threads which keep snapping )

jess1011

WOW your all sooo motivated! Iv got three things in the bin cupboard waiting to be collected by freecyclers, just chucked a load of newspapers in recycle bin (I swear the newspapers are breeding!) Now Im doing some very important research into what other people are decluttering! Very tired today, no motivation whatsoever!

Yorkielass

I've been AWOL for nearly 1 month now, had some time offline when I was off work after Easter and then I find if I break the MSE habbit it's hard to come back sometimes, but doing it gradually.

Not a huge amount of progress to announce here, but the recycling boxes are constantly full so we must be doing something right! Major in's I can remember are 1 cardigan and 2 pairs of shoes for me, a few magazines and lots of stuff for OH's new train board he's building - but it keeps him happy!

I need to find my decluttering mojo again, last September when we decided to try and sell the house I was so keen and did really well selling stuff and charity shopping etc, I did ebay, sold stuff through work, did music magpie, hatton garden metals, weeebuy and on another forum. I was so pleased with myself and made a bit of money as well as getting rid of stuff. House was on market for 4 months and no interest and nothing round here is shifting at all, even those who keep gradually reducing the price and so we aren't on the market at the moment. I need to get back with my decluttering though so if we do move it'll be so much easier (trying to be positive).

Will try and get back into posting, I've read back and it's great to read everyone's progress.

Mumof2_2

Afternoon all! I've been really motivated and here's the evidence:

IN:
Nothing

OUT:
Black bin jam packed full of carp from attic (my absolute horror place I avoid like the plague)

OUT (Well will be on Tuesday and Wednesday)
10 x children's books (going to nursery)
The rest is for Charity Shop:
1 x coat
2 x dresses
4 x vests
3 x pairs of socks (never been worn)
2 x pairs of pyjamas
1 x bag
1 x belt
1 x pair of trousers
1 x pair of shoes (my old wedding shoes - I'll never wear them again )
1 x ornament
4 x DVDs
1 x single quilt cover
1 x steamer

I find decluttering really therapeutic and once I get started I really enjoy it - it's getting started in the first place that I struggle with !
16 x books

Kaz2904

After I posted earlier, I went outside and cleaned the outside of the utility window. Again, it's not perfect but it IS "good enough" .
Now harrassing the kids to fold up the washing because I can't face it. Am sooooooo tired it's not true but I'll get there. I can have a nice early night tonight .

cat04

After dropping the girls at school and pre-school I had the urge to clean out the car (needed doing for months now). Found a £1 coin in the seat belt clip hole which was a nice bonus! Got rid of all the rubbish, kids gloves (see, told you it had needed doing for months lol), odd bits of toys and hair clips etc from under the seats and gave it a good hoover. Looks like a new car inside (well almost).
Didn't stop there, pulled a few weeds up then ventured into the kitchen and did loads of cleaning jobs, during which I inadvertantly managed to get a small amount of water into the switch bit of the kettle and it tripped the RCD switch, tried it again several hours later and it tripped it again so looks like we might need a new (but shiny!) kettle
Emptied, cleaned and re-filled the cupboard under the stairs and did an inventory of all the cleaning products so I know which ones I have several of and don't re-buy.
Another cereal box to pre-school for craft
Chucked some manky old hand sanitizer found in the back of the cupboard

Got some workmen coming tomorrow to replace the fascias etc so no doubt they will declutter some tea and biscuits (even if the water does have to boiled in a pan!!)

lola34

Up bright and early this morning- I just can't sleep with these light mornings.

Another CB came through the door so I have been sorting through the car boot boxes for items to fill it up with, this will be collected on Monday and I am sure there'll be 2 bags full by then - its so good though to see the house finally looking tidy and decluttered.
Found an big old planter in the loft that I'd had from ages ago go I think I may go and find a nice big plant for the living room today and was also bought an azeala from a friend for my birthday don'th think it'll like my soil so again am off to look for a nice pot to put it in outside as all mine have potoates, carrots and broccolli etc growing in them

Happy De-cluttering!!!!!!!

nikki1986

heebie-jeebies wrote: »

Hi Nikki - welcome!
I'm new too and have found myself very motivated right now so I would suggest starting with an area you're really not looking forward to (if you're feeling the same way!). I worked through my filing pile last night for the first time in 18 months :eek: and feel much better now it's done.

Today, I plan to tackle 2 kitchen cupboards that need organising and will de-clutter along the way.

I also find that lists motivate me - so I know I have a load of recycling to get rid of this weekend but seeing it as 10 bags of stuff out of the house makes me want to get rid of it. I haven't started properly but the 100 things in 10 days could be a real motivator for me.

I'm so glad I'm not the only messy one! I have a rare day off work today so I'm going to do as much decluttering as I can be bothered to do. And I will force OH to take me to the tip on Sunday, our shed is full of junk and we've only lived here 9months!

cat04

Nikki we've been here 15 months now (just where has that time gone??!) and our garage always seems to have something in it for the tip! I'm planning on getting OH to take it this weekend too, then they'll be more room for all the carbooting boxes, boxes for charity as well as the stuff that should live in a garage.

To cut a long story short the fascia's aren't being done today after all, so instead of boiling up pans of water for cups of tea for workmen I've cleaned some windows with DD2 and had a play but once she's gone off to pre-school in about 10 mins I'll be off to get a new kettle and do some more decluttering. The recent sunny weather and reading everyone's progress on here is motivating me sooo much

Managed to sort out most of the junk at OH's side of the bed last night, which was a spur of the moment thing. Found several items for the wash basket - what a surprise lol