Enough is enough - the great declutter

onredbull

charlies_mum wrote:

I know exactly what you mean, I lost my Dad last year, and Mum 4 years before, and have inherited lots of old photos, and I don't recognise anyone, so why can't I throw them away

Hiya charlies_mum,
I'm sorry i cant advise on the photos, i threw mine out as they were all photos that i had taken while down the pub and clubbing about 5-10 years ago and were of people i have not seen since or complete strangers.

I had some photos of random people in ibiza and majorca (i think) so was easy to throw them out.

I would probably keep the family photos as you may not know who they are now but may want to find out in the future.

charlies_mum

onredbull wrote:

I would probably keep the family photos as you may not know who they are now but may want to find out in the future.

That's the problem, I don't know whether they are family photos as Mum & Dad aren't on any of them.

I will probably stick them in the back of a cupboard (not quite de-cluttering is it ?)

nodwah

I know what you're all saying about photos and stuff that's hard to throw out - did hex2 call them clinging hang ons? How about clingons?

Well clingons in our house are photos and now cd's now that we have gone digital and really bad clingons are the kids drawings and other 'artwork'. DH catalogues them all and dates them etc won't let me touch them (but I do when he's out) Such a huge volume of artistic output we can't possibly keep it all so I'm trying to keep just a small representative sample.

Other main clingon is stuff belonging to people who've passed on - this is mainly DH's dad in our house tho' I admit I'm a bit guilty of this too.

Had a schoolfriend of DS2 and mum in today and the place was a disaster - boxes everywhere, bags for charity, it had just started to rain so I'd grabbed all the washing in off the line and on top of that the gas engineer came and was servicing the fire. Why does no one ever visit when the place is tidy (it is sometimes)?

charlies_mum

nodwah wrote:

Had a schoolfriend of DS2 and mum in today and the place was a disaster - boxes everywhere, bags for charity, it had just started to rain so I'd grabbed all the washing in off the line and on top of that the gas engineer came and was servicing the fire. Why does no one ever visit when the place is tidy (it is sometimes)?

Reminds me of when DS was little, I had a friend I used to visit and he would play with her children while we had a coffee in her immaculately clean and tidy house. I called one day unexpectedly, and it was a bombsite - after that we never bother tidying for each other again :rotfl:

Firehorse

............because it was mending.....and I hate mending!!!

Had a great time yesterday going through the dining room. Decided to go full-hog and clean out the cupboards as well, only to find all those horrible jobs I've been putting off! So I've dusted off the sewing machine and today is mending day :eek:.

The other horror that materialised was 8 dustbin bags of clothes for dd to grow into. This then raised the job of going through her wardrobe (hopefully clearing some stuff out) and then going through the bags, which are now cluttering the lounge. This will be done by Friday. Nothing is getting back under my stairs.....they look pukka :j .

A thought re the photos. We have some old ones, going back about 4/5 generations. I've been slowly scanning them into the computer, with a view to storing on disks. That way it preserves the originals, very important thinking about how many times the kids have taken them to school for various projects.

hollyh

Hi every one.

My aim for today is to sort through the bag of baby clothes i've just washed and list them to sell.

Then start washing another bag.

I've also got to gloss the wood work in my dining room.

I'll let you know how far i get.

onredbull

Hiya,
My aim for this morning was to tidy & dust around my tv area in front room, my bedroom and DS bedroom as NTL/Virgin were coming to fit box in DS bedroom, although i wanted them to put new box in my bedroom, and put the freeview box from my bedroom into DS bedroom.

I was also going to be cheeky and ask if they could lengthen the lead/ariel for my freeview sky box in front room, although they couldnt.

But im glad i did, there was so much dust everywhere, it was disgusting!!!
I was embarressed and no one saw it.

I know where it is coming from and that is the old broken hose i have attached to tumble dryer in kitchen and the dust must be from that. (I live in flat - this is how it is getting everywhere, i need to get that sorted asap-have found a few threads that have some advice.)

Anyway they had to get behind my computer - this is where i piled all the stuff from tv corner - so quickly had to move it all to kitchen - so tonight i will sort through all the stuff and boxes before putting it away so in a way its a job that i have been leaving forever and now it has to been done.

Just popping round to friends as she needs yellow pages - and its not an excuse, i will do it but when DS is in bed as he will only want to "help" me but not in a helpful way - bless him.

Im hoping to throw loads out but Probably wont through anything out and will end up moving it as usual !!!

Hope everyone else is going ok ?

hollyh

Hi

Onredbull i would recommend one of those box things you fill with water and stick your td hose in.

It's one of the best things i ever bought. It stops the dust.

Well i've kind of achieved my aims for today.

I've washed the next bag of baby clothes to sell i just need to get my backside off the computer and sort them into piles.

I didn't manage to gloss the woodwork in my dining room because ( hangs my head in shame) I couldn't get the lid off the gloss:o

I will get oh to do it later so i can do it tommorrow.:rolleyes:

I did however paint the ceiling and the coving :T so alls good.

How's everyone else getting on?

charlies_mum

Well, I'm doing pretty well, I can see half my front bedroom floor and I have bags for the skip, some for the charity shop and a box for Ebay.

I have tried in the past and given up, but this time I am determined to succeed.

Well done everyone who is joining in, how good will it be when we have finished :T :T

Shortie

I've done sweet FA so far today... in late from work (AGAIN...), had dinner and put DS to bed a little while ago. Found I'd left my little 'To Do' list (tiny, tiny jobs on there, but just to keep me going) in work :mad: , and did a quick Valued Opinions survey before nipping on here

Soo... in the rest of tonight I'll be: in small bedroon - putting the clothes horse behind the sofa with the other one (okay, not the right place but that's where it's been hiding for the last 3 years, so it might as well have a companion :rotfl: ), and put the books away into DS's room or mine dependin on who's is in there.
Then emprty and refill the DW, and wait for the WM to finish so I can tumble DS's one and only school jumper (goodness only knows where the other one has wandered too... a good hint that I need an all over house tidy? :rotfl: )

Keep up the good work eveyone