Decluttering in 2014 - onwards and upwards!

Antwerpen

Hello I have lots to sort out too!Such a hoarder in a flat, isn't working out to well lol.

I have two weeks off work, I plan to:

Sort out the kitchen, create some inventories, including when it goes out of date. I also need to start meal planning as well

Hallway cupboards, these are a mess. I have a black bags of clothes I need to sort through in one, this isn't going to be fun!

I also NEED to use up shampoos etc in my bathroom, I have loads of half filled bottles.

nearlyrich

I have just put out the recycling from the party last night bottles too many to admit to gone in the bin for collection on Thursday...

charlies_mum

nearlyrich wrote: »

I have just put out the recycling from the party last night bottles too many to admit to gone in the bin for collection on Thursday...

We missed our recycling collection as they came at 7.45 am last Thursday and our bin is nearly full. Didn't used to recycle until we got the collections and its amazing how much we now recycle !!!

nearlyrich

charlies_mum wrote: »

We missed our recycling collection as they came at 7.45 am last Thursday and our bin is nearly full. Didn't used to recycle until we got the collections and its amazing how much we now recycle !!!

We used to take stuff to the bottlebank etc before having five bins made it compulsory round here...

swingaloo

Ive started on the kitchen drawers today. the OH kept saying 'Are you mad, sit down and rest' which really means 'I feel guilty for sitting here whilst you are doing all that'.

I find that to de clutter you have to be in a certain mood. Some days I will throw everything out without thinking twice but other days I cant part with an empty biscuit tin or a naff cd.

I was once told that if you have a problem getting rid, do this -

Put things into 3 piles 'keep', 'dump' and 'not sure'. The not sure pile are the things you think you cant bear to part with but never look at or use.

Put the 'keep ones away, put the 'dump in the bin or charity bag.

Put the 'not sure' into a black bag. Tie the top and put it away somewhere for the next 3 months.

At the end of the 3 months if you haven't untied the bag to recover something you miss take it straight to the charity shop without opening it to see what's inside.

Ive done this myself and it does work. However its a bit disconcerting when you are in the charity shop later and see something interesting that you pick up to buy and then realise that it was yours!

Gwendolyn

I am feeling quite pleased with myself. I managed to sort out a few children's toys and books. Perhaps 10 items to go today. I need to get rid of more but my youngest (4) still likes to play with the toy food, dressing up and cars etc. They fit in the cupboards now. Just got to tackle the shelves behind the Christmas tree that are full of Puzzles and games.
My big problem is books. I am huge reader and whilst I am mostly buying e-books, I am afraid not everything I want to read is in e-book format. I am also a re-reader, some of my books have been read 5 times and I simply don't tire of them. I looked at e-book replacement but most of these (if they are even avaiable) cost in the £4+ category and so they are staying. I also have a lot of collector's books. I have taken the attitude if they all fit on the bookshelves then I can keep. No room? One has to go to make room for a new book. However, they are stacked two deep in places. This is a constant job for me.

tiny_courageous

We appear to have two decluttering threads! Just shows how much of a stress clutter can be and how keen we all are to fix it. Have reported to BGs to see if the two threads can be merged.

swingaloo

I have a huge problem getting rid of books. I don't want a Kindle, I actually like to be holding a book.

My problem is that I go through favourite authors and have to get 'the set'. It used to be Danielle Steel years ago but they are way gone now.

A couple of years ago it was James Patterson and I couldn't bear to throw any away as I was splitting the set. I got past that but now its Lee Child and all my Jack Reacher books are set on a shelf in a row. they all have various pastel shades of cover and I have to have them in a particular order. The purples, then lilacs, then blues then greens.

How sad is that!

I know without a doubt that I will never read them again, no matter how good a book, once I have read it then that's it. So why keep them? But Im not ready to be parted from them yet without surgery!

charlies_mum

Books are another of my big problems. Ito love the feel of a book and don't think I would use a Kindle. I am going to have to be ruthless as I will never read all the ones I have

Ali-OK

I started a 'small steps' decluttering process to help motivate myself along the way just before Christmas.

Easy rooms first like bathroom, with its tiny cabinet, cupboard under sink and airing cupboard on day 1 Moved onto the dining room on day 2 which just has a coats/shoes/accessories cupboard and a small unit. Then did the lounge on day 3 which was CD/games chest and 2 small drawers in tv unit.

Now onto the biggies, which I broke down so I try not to spend more than 1-2 hrs max at it. Utility room I did by 1-2 cupboards per day, the kitchen is proving harder and longer. 1 cupboard and 3 drawers completed today.

Recycling, binning and piles for car booting down the inside of the garage as I go along.

I've finally cleared a cupboard of all alcohol - I rarely drink, so I don't know what to do with 7 bottles of champagne, and new bottles of Baileys and Bacardi that are currently sat on my worktop! Any ideas for moving these on?

Christmas tree and cards I wanted to get done today too, but that will have to roll over to tomorrow.

Once I'm back at work on Monday, I'll be tackling small piles of things, whether that be DS's bedroom or study. They'll probably take the best part of a few months :rotfl: