The Great Declutter Part 3 - 2011

Caty

Last night I sorted through some stuff belonging to a deceased relative that's been sat around since last September. Now, when I say 'stuff' I mean it was bags of things like supermarket offer magazines from 5 years ago, dirty tissues and old tissue boxes......it has all just been thrown in carrier bags and was sitting in our lounge. Other stuff that we might want to keep is now in just one carrier bag for my dad to sort out when he has a chance (it was in 5 large carrier bags).

Have also just made a start on the bathroom. We have a carpet in the bathroom It truly is horrible.....a long, fluffy, forest green thing Hoping that if the floor is clear, we might be a step closer to getting a laminated-style thing in there. Got rid of a large, plastic box full of plastic children's toy food and foam alphabet. Will have a go at selling them on ebay, but will take to the charity shop if I have no luck.

silvasava

Had a stinking cold (passed on by DA) that went on my chest so energy levels at an all time low over the last 2 weeks. However, mojo beginning to work again! Decided to make some Shepherds pies from Sundays left over lamb & discovered (when I was looking for suitable dishes) that I'd kept all the attachments from my old Kenwood Gourmet that died about 6 years ago! - I had LOADS in a trug so they went on freecycle along with the old microwave plate that doesnt fit my new one & my 'new' processoir attachments are now in the trug giving me some more space in the cupboards. I did manage to list about 20 items on eBay too & a few have watchers - fingers crossed.
The weather report for the weekend looks pretty good so I hope everyone manages to enjoy some sunshine - if you're outside you're not cluttering up the inside!

cat04

I've been out of the house a lot today as DD2's pre-school had a picnic and bouncy castle this afternoon which was lovely Posted an ebay parcel this morning too which was a nice plate of my mum's so that's off the (deep!) window sill now and of the 7 things that finished tonight 4 of them have sold and one has been paid for already so will be out of the house tomorrow.

This morning I took down the kids pictures from a cupboard front and took down all the certificates that DD1 has had from school over the past 2 years so it's all ready for next year that were plastered over the door to the cupboard under the stairs in the dining room. Makes it look all tidy and more open. Gave me an excuse to give the door and frame a good clean. Also did the inside of the door where a calendar hangs (was still on March as I have another one on the kitchen wall) and school dates etc are stuck so there's not much left on there either.

Can't believe I'm saying this but I can't wait to have a day full of washing tomorrow as our new washer is being delivered and I can declutter the 4 sorted piles of washing - will probably take 6 loads!! Can't wait to get the girls involved in some serious tidying/sorting/chucking/selling/recycling/donating over the summer hols both inside and out

elaine12022

Well, decluttering has taken a bit of a back seat, partly with life happening, being too ill, & partly because my OH seems to think it's his mission in life to keep accumulating more STUFF so it seemed like a losing battle.

Anyway, this week have started again in a small way, where I can I tell myself to do one thing (just one) in each room (& hallway, landing) when I am going in/coming out. This can be as small as picking up an old receipt from the floor & putting in the bin. Sometimes of course I can then do more than one thing, & sometimes I do have to think about what to do that isn't too energetic. I find then that over a few days it can make a real difference. I sorted out some papers in the living room last week and put them in recycling, have moved some sewing equipment from the study into the dining room sideboard (the idea being I will miraculously become proficient & super keen on using the sewing stuff ). The papers in the hallway have been reduced slightly and at least are in neat piles now, although my OH doesn't seem to realise that empty envelopes etc do not make it to the bin on their own, still he has done some DIY recently, and is going to polyfilla some walls to try & stop the ants coming in. )

Keep on cracking everyone, i was intrigued by talk of mildew - I left a pillow in the tent in the garden, the covers & the pillow are riddled with it now, i have tried washing the covers but it hasn't made any difference. I may just get rid of them all.

Sue14

OMG how good did I feel today!! I was doing some exercises on the wii fit at about 9 this morning, before breakfast, when there was a knock at the door. I opened the door and there was a man who said he was there to do a condition survey on behalf of the housing association (we’d had a letter about it but I’d forgotten all about it), luckily because of all the work I’ve done this week I didn’t feel too bad about letting him in. So he came in and did all his checks, then while he was putting all the information into his gadget he says “It’s been a real pleasure doing this house!” I said “really?” and he replies “Yes, it’s so nice, clean and tidy, you should see some of the houses I’ve been in while doing these surveys!” I didn’t admit that it would have been different if he’d come earlier in the week, lol, and I dread to think what he would have thought if he’d come a year or so ago before I started decluttering! I did say that it was messier than I would like it to be (I hadn’t done the washing up and there was drinking chocolate powder spilt on the kitchen worktop from last night, plus the bed hadn’t been made), and I said the spare room was a mess due to my DS leaving a lot of his stuff when he moved out, which is partly true! The only truly embarrassing thing about his visit, apart from the bed being unmade, was the fact that I wasn’t dressed, and was just wearing knickers and a robe, lol!

Mind you I have had a totally CBA day today, but I think I deserve it after all I’ve done this week, and all I’ve done is one load of washing and went out for some milk and eggs. The washing did get dry today but I’ve not ironed it yet, may do that tomorrow if I get time.

Caty

elaine12022 wrote: »

Keep on cracking everyone, i was intrigued by talk of mildew - I left a pillow in the tent in the garden, the covers & the pillow are riddled with it now, i have tried washing the covers but it hasn't made any difference. I may just get rid of them all.

Try washing it with bicarbonate of soda instead of washing powder and white vinegar instead of fabric softener. Might do the job. If that fails, try soaking it in bleach overnight.

Becky_2

Morning all,

I washed all my towels this morning and they are now drying nicely outside. In the garden we have several sacks full of garden waste from when we tidied up the garden a few weeks ago, as much waste as possible needs to be transferred to our garden bin since it is being emptied on Monday.

I have old credit card bills and utility bill from 2005 and some of that can be shredded which I am planning to do this weekend. I also have payslips since 2001 and some of that can go as well.

Good luck with your decluttering this weekend.

elaine12022

Caty wrote: »

Try washing it with bicarbonate of soda instead of washing powder and white vinegar instead of fabric softener. Might do the job. If that fails, try soaking it in bleach overnight.

How do I wash with bicarb of soda? How much do you use? I don't use fabric softener but do have some white vinegar. I can't really use bleach on everything as some of the covers are colours

Don't think I'll be doing much today, but will have to try & do some washing up later.

Caty

elaine12022 wrote: »

How do I wash with bicarb of soda? How much do you use? I don't use fabric softener but do have some white vinegar. I can't really use bleach on everything as some of the covers are colours

Don't think I'll be doing much today, but will have to try & do some washing up later.

You put the same amount in as you would use of washing powder. You put the bicarbonate of soda in the compartment that washing powder would go in, and white vinegar in the compartment that fabric softener would go in

Becky_2

Evening all,

Garden bin is now full and ready to be emptied on Monday. Great feeling.
Credit card bills have now been shredded.
7 x paper logs for the winter have now been made of the shredded paper and finally I have created a space in the house where they can be stored while they are drying.

Hopefully I can do some more shredding tomorrow.

Enjoy your Sunday