Enough is enough - the great declutter

charlies_mum

Calley

If you needs lots of new stuff and can't afford it, try Freecycle. My friend has had loads of brilliant stuff of there, free.

Don't know if you have heard of it, but there are some threads on here, and you can PM me if you need more info.

Natlou_2

Well I've finally tackled my pantry - everything off the shelves and given them all a good clean and all the food has been put back, Found a few dodgy things that had to be binned (packet sauces with a best before of 2006 - yuk!) but surprisingly there wasn't as much to bin as I had expected. I now have a much clearer idea now of what we have in the cupboard which will help with meal planning

calleyw

charlies_mum wrote: »

Calley

If you needs lots of new stuff and can't afford it, try Freecycle. My friend has had loads of brilliant stuff of there, free.

Don't know if you have heard of it, but there are some threads on here, and you can PM me if you need more info.

Charlies_mum,

Thanks for the heads up about freecycle I am on two local groups.

I don't need anymore things need to get rid of stuff and most of it is rubbish and needs to be chucked.

We have been through my husbands office it is tidier but we have yet to go through the drawers and cupboards and hoover up that is another day.

He drives me mad. What a way to spend valentines day night.


Yours


Calley

Olliebeak

My 2 DS's always shared a room and I took full responsibility for keeping it reasonably tidy, changing the beds and collecting the laundry from the room. I don't know what made me finally snap altogether. Around the time when they were aged 14 and 9, I just decided that if it wasn't put into the dirty laundry basket - then it wasn't getting washed and that included school uniform and PE kits! After they had both had to wear friday's trousers to school on monday, they got the message on that score.

I have to admit that the ex-OH never helped matters, whenever I asked for help in the home, his reply was always the same - 'That's what you're here for!' Naturally, as their father didn't respect my role in the home, then neither did they. Obviously one of the reasons why he's the ex-OH - it just took me a long time to stand my ground.

I also stopped entering their bedroom altogether. I would knock on the door and hand them the clean sheets for the beds (they had duvets so it wasn't difficult for them!) and requested that they pass out the dirty bedding. It wasn't that I stopped caring about them - I just wanted them to take some responsiblity for at least one area of the home and that was THEIR room. Their clothes were always washed, dried, ironed and put on coat hangers for them and they were told to hang them up in the wardrobe - but only if they had put them in the laundry basket for washing.

They were not allowed to have friends visit their room at all and when we had visitors who may have needed to use the bathroom, their bedroom door was always shut tight - so as not to offend the innocent of mind!!!

They are both soooo houseproud nowadays and we often laugh about how they were when younger!

melvis

Woohoo! Ebay auctions end today (within the next 7 - 15 hours) ... seems like forever ago that I listed them!

Present status: 19 items for sale, 12 with bids, total so far £56.42 and 87 watchers!

Off to work soon so shall be online later to announce my totals. Then tomorrow is my day off so shall be listing more items

kscour

Hope today's a better day for every one!

I've found true friend's don't visit you to look at the state of your house and they never judge you on it either - they accept that we are all different and have different priorities.

missyg you made me think about just how much there was still to do:eek:

So scores on the doors are:-

Done
Sitting Room - 9lb (not bad as it was already pretty clear so that was cassettes & some videos)
Downstairs Toilet - 0 lb
DD1's room - 7 stone 4lb
DD2's room - 9 stone
Shed - 0 lb
Upstairs Hall - 0lb
Airing cupboard - 0 lb (went through last year)
Attics - 4 stone 8lb (still have some shredding to do but I'm sick of the paper trail through the house!)

Sort of done
Garage - 25 stone 11 lb (had to estimate the furniture but was more likely to have under estimated than over, want to move a workbench cupboard thing but will need OH's help to move it and sort his stuff in it)
Office - 9 stone 8lb - awaiting OH to sort his desk

Made a start whilst toy hunting/stuck in room for some reason
Kitchen - 2 stone 10 lb (about 2/3rds way through)
Spare bedroom - 3 stone 3lb (made a dent:o )
Our bedroom - 2 stone 3lb - just a few clothes and some boooks, more to do
Small Hall - 11 lb (off DD2's room and their libary about 1/2 done
Garden - 7lb (mostly done)
Bathroom - 1 stone (old shampoo etc:o ) 99% done

Still to look at
Our tiny bathroom
Downstairs hall
caravan
outside porch
inside porch
boiler cupboard

Some rooms seem so tidy and yet I know every cupboard is crammed to hilt just waiting for me to open them. Like our downstairs hall it looks the picture of tidyness yet there is a wooden box, a table with a drawer, and a cupboard & 2 drawers sat there untouched and full of stuff.

Also I have to confess that some of the done rooms would probably give up more if i did them again in a few months but slowly I am gaining:T

vivw_2

well done kscour.......I wish I could be so disciplined. Have just listed a few items on freecycle but I'm not sure I'll get any replies.

RedSpecs

Hello everyone, I feel like I'm no longer alone!

My house is full of junk - its been depressing me for, well, the whole time I've been in it. Had the odd go at tidying up, but me and the hubby are such hoarders, and now I've had enough of it. I feel inspired reading this, and this weekend I'm determined to make a big dent in my clutter collection.

I've got a HUGE collection of clothes, make-up, shoes, and there's papers (old bills, junk mail, the list goes on) and just stuff I have no idea why its there. It needs facing.

Thank you people, I used to think I was the only person who had let my house get that out of hand, but now I know otherwise. I also know however that there is hope!

I always felt ashamed to have people over, and always apologise for the state of the place. I don't want to feel like that any more.

icandream

Hi Redspecs

I'll tag on with you, Redspecs, if I may... if I know somebody else is beginning their journey to decluttering this weekend, it'll help me to get more motivated. I've been trying to attack our bedroom this morning, but just can't seem to focus on it and keep getting distracted. Perhaps I'll go and sort out my wardrobe - been putting this off for ever. Please post and let me know how you get on.

vivw_2

Can I join you in the wardrobe declutter? I so need to get rid of stuff and has any one any hints on how to get their OH to also declutter?