The Great Declutter Part 3 - 2011

mummysaver38

Just gave a box of books, two pairs of shoes and a box of crockery to a lady from freecycle who is carbooting in order to raise money for exploratory work on her poorly dog. Also gave her some old quilts for her dog to lie on as the dog is having, ahem, toileting issues due to her illness.
A good incentive to look out for more things to help her.:j

System

Just back from a freeeeezing morning at the car boot again. Didn't get rid of much (in-laws gave us some extra things to sell though so probably seemed worse than it was). Never mind, some stuff gone and another £30 for the Christmas food shopping fund. I know I said that if it didn't sell this time I would just put it all to the CS/clothing bank but think I might give the DVDs and MIL's old knitting magazines a go on ebay. They won't take up too much room in the wardrobe if I get rid of the rest. Had a look at the bank balance yesterday and it's not a pretty sight esp. when there's only one more payday til Christmas, eek!!

victory

I am having a nightmare with the way the kitchen surfaces have just mounted up with things, need to tackle but not sure how, shall I ...

a) take everything out putting it all in the hall way and start again?

b) what is absolutely necessary to have on the work surfaces to be functional and practical in the kitchen?

The task seems so overwhelming keep putting it off but need to do something....

All the kitchen inside cupboards are fine, they have those little plastic boxes so can get loads in each one and everything has its place it is just when you walk into the kitchen you get an eyefull of endless stuff, there is nowhere else to put it as the cupboards are to bursting....

mmmsnow

You have to work out what's essential to you. I keep out the kettle, toaster, breadmaker, knife block, bread cutting guide, chopping boards, standmixer and food processor. Everything else is in cupboards. I have a bad back so I tend to keep out heavy items or things I use every day so I don't need to bend to get them up from a cupboard.

maman

Since I had a new kitchen a couple of years ago I make every effort to actually see my new worktops.

Things that had been out permanently (mainly electric steamer) were found homes in new cupboards. Result? I don't use them at all now, I just have one of those stainless steel baskets that goes inside a saucepan.

My message is do you really need all the things on the surfaces. Try putting them somewhere else and see how often you get them out.

Similarly, do you need all the things inside the cupboards?

I think it's a really good idea to have a declutter regularly and bin/recycle/donate anything you hardly ever use.

sharalee99

Ok, ok, you're all making me feel bad now, you're all so motivated!
I am going to start tomoro, with the kitchen :eek:
We have far too much stuff we don't use-will sell what I can, the rest goes to charity!
I am going to be brutal!
I would make a start today, but I am overhanging slightly due to too much vino last evening and I can't be bothered to move

seafarers_wife

i would go with being ruthless. grap a couple of bin bags and a couple of boxes and go through it all, worktops, cupboards, understairs cupboard etc and charity shop/ebay/bin things that are there just in case or very rarely used.

katieclampet

I keep the things I use all the time out on the counter top, but since I am not really into cooking, there isnt much out. I find having a place for everything, eg steamer, makes it easier to keep things tidy.

I also found that having a good clear out recently meant that I got rid of a lot of stuff that I didnt need, or use, but kept just in case it came in useful I now have a lot less stuff, but use what I do have.


katie

BitterAndTwisted

Do you have any wall-space where some decent shelves could be put up? Hang absolutely everything that could be hung up on cup-hooks, I quite like those pulley things which you can hang saucepans and whatnot on if the ceiling is high enough. The only problem with stashing things away out of sight is that: 1) you just find other things to clutter the work-tops up with and 2) you stop using things because you can't remember where they are.

To my mind, the only things that should be on the work-tops are those which you use every day OR bulky ones like breadmakers where it's a huge effort to get them out to use them.

victory

Thank you for the replies much appreciated, I have taken the lot out and put it in the hallway, a few black bags and started, I was going a bit backwards where I put everything in cupboards but then that is just hiding the problem and not solving so left on the surfaces, kettle, toaster, bread bin, saucepans, tea/coffee/sugar/tea ceramic pots and working from there....

No there is nowhere for shelves to put up, I do have a nail screwed into the side of the boiler cupboard and it has the wok/paella dish and a deep pan hung up to it because they took up so much cupboard space it was daft not to hang them.

So, so far have thrown a few bits out but seem to be relocating more than throwing....