The Great Declutter Part 3 - 2011

Sue14

cat04 wrote: »

Nice to see I'm not the only one who likes using lists of jobs

One of my problems is I come on here to see how everyone is getting on then end up reading other threads and wasting my tidying time on here!

I also like to write lists of what needs to be done, it's so satisfying to cross things off once they are done, and I am also guilty of spending time on here when I should be de-cluttering, lol!

I've finally got around to sorting some of my dad's old paperwork, about 4 big carrier bags now down to a tiny pile to be kept, after filling and emptying the shredder 4 times, a little bit more still to be shredded which will be done later in the week. I can't believe some of the crap he'd kept, empty used envelopes, old catalogue paperwork from about the 80's, amongst other things, even a catalogue payment card where the agent was someone who moved away 44 years ago!

I've washed all his laundry and took some of it back yesterday and the last lot has finally dried, after being out in the rain for most of the week, so that just needs to be ironed before I take it back to him later in the week. Four boxes and a bag of stuff he sorted out for CS, (which we brought back here so I could check what was in it, in case any of my late mum's stuff was amongst it) was taken to CS yesterday, along with a bag of clothing & bedding which I put out for collection on Monday, but was not collected. This gave us a bit of space in the shed, but we have now filled the space with another 4 boxes of stuff that we brought back from my dad's, which again I need to look through before taking it to the CS.

Today, OH took all the recycling to the recycling centre, and then we took the old double bed from the spare room to the tip, and that has now been replaced temporarily with the single bed which my dad didn't want, so that gives us a bit more space in the room and also vacuumed the carpet where the bed was, which I'm ashamed to say just about filled the vacuum cleaner, as the bed hasn't been moved for years, :eek:!

Now my dad is settled in his new home I will get back into my de-cluttering again, but we're spending most of my day off this week doing my dad's garden, as OH is off work this week, so I won't get much done on that day.

mcculloch29

As people age, the 'hoarding' instinct seems to kick in big style. When my Mum died in '91 (aged 67) my brother and sister found a drawer full of neatly folded paper bags. Some of them had stripes on - the style that retro-lovers will recognise as belonging to the 50s.
A friend's father had around fifty pairs of identical black socks...
Sue, the paperwork may have been a pain but you could have got off lightly!

Kaz2904

Not much decluttering done this weekend. Have bought 12 new highball glasses and got rid of the old nasty assorted ones. They now fit properly in the cupboard. The others are now in the recycling. I also bought some new scales for the kitchen as my old ones had bust and didn't go high enough. The new ones are to live on the side and the old ones have gone to recycling. A couple of lidless bowls have gone to recycling too. I need to spend a fair amount of time in the kitchen tomorrow so I will endeavour to sort out at least 2 of my cupboards in there. The narrow one which holds all of the not often used stuff and the double one above the work top which is for tins and dried stuff but collects all sorts of gibble.
We also bought a new cafetiere as ours smashed when I pulled it out of the cupboard one day . It too is going to live on the side for the time being. I think I will get all of my vases and jugs out and put them on top of the bookcase in the dining room and make a nice little display. It'll free up the space in the cupboards a little. I have a kenwood chef on the way from ebay too, I can't wait! I think that will have to live on the side aswell.
I've cut the grass and tidied the back garden today. Need to have a really good sort out and get rid of some weeds though so I can finish my side path and get the gate replaced (too bad for a repair). The side will then be accessible- woohoo!

Skint_but_Optimistic

Morning all,

Ive been decluttering the freezer ready for the great deforst, so have made up meals and stored in the other freezer...

Made:

A blackforest gateux
24 cheese scones
2 huge shepherds pies
3 fish pies
a beef madras
Beef in red wine sauce
Mince and onion pie
corned beef and potato pie.

decluttered the bottom shelf in my bedroom, two huge bags for charity shop (collected Saturday morning) and some stuff for ebay.

Did all the ironing too!

Eltee12

Afternoon

#19-25 . . . more empty this that and the other from Bathroom to recycling
#26 . . . . . old kn*ckered skirt to rag bag
#27 . . . . . another marathon shred/recycle/filing session
#28 . . . . . attack on Mount Ironing Pile (my own fault it re-appeared after a week or two of CBA)

El

mineallmine

mineallmine wrote: »

Morning everyone,

I've been missing in action. Lots of stuff going on.

We need a new bathroom (unplanned aaarrrgh) but managed to clear a path way through the house for the guy to come and quote! So that's positive in a way!

But stuff has definitely built up again. I can see lots of other challenges (for July) (and undersinks stuff). Who's up for a mini one this weekend?

The weather is nice so if you make if your garage or shed or sit outside sorting a box that's all cool.

I'm going to aim for 25 things to go this weekend

Hia, a late report but got rid of:

--Loads of recycling - about 10 plastic bottles everywhere (grrrrr)
--A teapot. (charity)
--T-shirt (charity)
--Magazines (friend)
--Fridge badge (charity)
--Packaging from recent delivery used to protect glass in charity bag
--2 odd glasses from cupboard
--odd toiletries used up (shampoo, shower gel, bath gel)

That makes about 21 things so not too bad.

Did a big sort out of the stairs and landing which were cluttered beyond belief. Not a sausage on there now and do we miss anything - nope!

Bought a new shredder today. It's about the 3rd one so hopefully this one will last a bit longer.

Happy decluttering everyone

greent

Out:

large bag of toner & ink cartridges to school for recycling
2 bin liners of clothes & shoes sold to cash4 clothes
4 items of clothes binned
printer & leads to electricals recycling
manuals for printer recycled
3 trees cut down from garden
broken plastic plant pots to bin
jigsaw with missing pieces recycled
torn books recycled

Pending
large box on freegle filled with toys/ books/ dvds/ cds/ videos/ household stuff/ jewellery etc
1/2 bin liner of clothes already towards next cash for clothes sale
large bag of items to list on ebay


IN;
some school uniform for DS1 (changing school in Sept)
new gas BBQ

Kaz2904

Skint_but_Optimistic wrote: »

Morning all,

Ive been decluttering the freezer ready for the great deforst, so have made up meals and stored in the other freezer...

Made:

A blackforest gateux
24 cheese scones
2 huge shepherds pies
3 fish pies
a beef madras
Beef in red wine sauce
Mince and onion pie
corned beef and potato pie.

decluttered the bottom shelf in my bedroom, two huge bags for charity shop (collected Saturday morning) and some stuff for ebay.

Did all the ironing too!

I've thanked you because you prompted me to go and actually defrost the freezer instead of just keeping on saying it needed to be defrosted . I would like to know the recipe for the black forest gateaux and the cheese scones if you could spare the time?
So, I didn't do the cupboards yesterday but I did the freezer and all of the washing which was good because it was blazing hot yesterday so it all got done- yay!
My new kenwood has arrived and fits lovely on the worktop. Less space to collect gibble there too if there is something permanent there . DS is home today so trying to persuade him to do some baking with me but doubt he'll do it. I shall just whack it all in the kenwood later when I'm getting tea done. I'll only have to use the oven once then. Trying to cut down my energy usage because it's just too high. The bills are scary and I think we're still suffering from last winters usage. We should be well into the black by now but we're £150 in the red so I think we're in for a chilly winter .
Anyhoo, have lots of carrots so will make lots of carrot cake today and shove a load in the freezer. It will fill the freezer so I'm not wasting energy and will use the oven whilst it's on and give the kids sweet treats to eat which are better for them and better for my pocket! (and it'll use up some of the garam masala I have lurking in the cupboard. I need to get the spices used up as there are so many of them! I actually put 2tsp of chilli powder in our minced beef wellington last night in an effort to use some more chilli!
I'm happy with the layout of my baking cupboard, I feel it's working for me so I don't need to do that one. Best get cracking and get out the other ones. I'm dreading it, can you tell?!
DS is very good at sorting so I'll get him to help me now

Skint_but_Optimistic

Kaz2904 wrote: »

I've thanked you because you prompted me to go and actually defrost the freezer instead of just keeping on saying it needed to be defrosted . I would like to know the recipe for the black forest gateaux and the cheese scones if you could spare the time?

Aww hey, mines still not empty and you have beaten me to the great defrost!!:T:T

We had cornish ice cream last night. To "help". Will make fish kebabs tomorrow, but tonight is stir fry!


Im at work at the moment and I will send on recipies, no problem, once I am back in the house!

Kaz2904

I had to empty my freezer into cool bags to defrost it because I never get it run down enough to do otherwise !