KonMari 2017 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Siebrie

I tend to buy the overly large bottles of showergel, and then decant them into a smaller bottle for use in the shower (the large bottles are to heavy to lift, and usually have a large hole that lets out way too much gel); I'm always happy when I reach the second decantation, after which I can throw the large bottle in the plastic recycling and the lid in the charity bucket . If that made sense, you may be Belgian

GreyQueen

My office's kitchen has a bucket for lids, Siebrie, someone does something charitable with them, I believe. Although lids are welcome on bottles in most UK domestic recycling collections. They help preserve the shape of the bottle as it goes thru the sorting process where plastic bottles are usually moved around by air jets.

I have my 300 ml shampoo bottles (only one bottle on the go at any one time) upside down in a mug in the bathroom, to support it so the dwindling supply remains at the accessible bit of the bottle. Be glad when that's gone.

I have been guilty of hoarding various supplies in the past and presently have enough shampoo to see me through to the end of 2018, so will aim to be on the last dregs of the last bottle before I re-stock again. I am also disciplining myself to only have one spare of things I use daily, like olive oil and jars of olives.

I agreed with my pal that I will spend a couple of hours at the juntique shop today, to help with some sorting out (tells you a lot about my warped personality that I perceive this as a big treat rather than a chore, lol). If the shop's relatively quiet, I may venture into the cellar! If it's busy, I might even end up selling some antiquish item to a customer, I'm quite gregarious and like to help people.

I also went looking for something of the paperish nature in a half-hearted way yestereve and found some gift bags (just at the right time, forgot I'd even stashed those) and some no longer relevent paperwork for shredding.

It never ceases to amaze me how things keep coming up to the surface when you think you've been really thorough about decluttering.:p

greent

2 pairs of outgrown trousers (DS3, 8yo) donated to school yesterday - that boy is growing like a weed at the mo (2 whole clothes sizes in 6 months) A pair of too-small and very faded (worn by all 3 DS) swimshorts to fabric recycling. Also 'up-cycled' 6 bars of freebie soap into laundry gloop

We are having a new kitchen in January, so my kitchen needs to be fully packed up straight after Christmas - I am expecting lots of little bits to go on first pass (packing) and then more to go on second pass (unpacking and sorting into new homes) Due to the design, I'm actually losing 1.5 cupboards and declined any new cupboards in areas where there currently aren't any. We have a good sized kitchen and I really don't see the need to fill it with storage space to then fill with stuff... (Don't get me wrong - I have a lot of kitchen stuff - there are six of us and I have a 10 place dinner service - allows for all of us, the teenagers to have their bf/ gf here and also my mum to be here - and 1 spare in case of breakages - I bake a lot (all of our bread, cakes, biscuits etc), I make jams etc but I still don't want to expand the volume of stuff - quite the opposite.

I'd like - but I'm not sure I'll be able to persuade them - the small 2 to sort through their things before Xmas - esp DS2, as he also has an early Jan birthday.....

camelot1001

Bras, bras, bras.

I have just counted 30 of the blighters. I tend to buy 2 when I see them in store in case they don't have my size again (not likely but I don't go into town very often) so seem to have too many, most only worn once or twice.
Anyway, they are on the bedroom floor and after wearing are either going in the bin or in the wash where they will have the pleasure of being in a drawer. I have to say I am guilty of having 'favourites' but some of those have seen better days!

I can imagine you are a great sales assistant in the Juntique shop GQ, bet they all leave with something!

silvasava

Greent - I am planning a new kitchen next year and am seriously thinking of not replacing my top cupboards as the new layout ( wall being knocked down) means I will have some extra bottom cupboards (and much needed workspace) There's just the two of us and I have culled lots of old bakeware and replaced with better quality where it's been needed. Just realised I have a dinner service in one cupboard that's rarely used - need to have a serious think about that as my mum bought me it over the years. It's difficult to release things that have a sentimental attachment it makes me feel as if I'm rejecting her somehow even if I do thank it for past service.

Floss

Camelot i daren't count my bras...they do live in a drawer, divided into three columns for lacy, t-shirt & balcony There are favourites but when washed they go to the back of the drawer and get worn in rotation, unless under a particular outfit.

I will be home alone from Monday lunch until Wednesday evening, so am planning an attack on my clothes. Having landed a new permanent job, I can clear out some of my old corporate clothing, not worn for 2 years.

Floss

Silvasava could you upgrade that dinner service to daily use & pass on the current one? We are about to do that - the 11 year old cheap unbreakable ikea daily stuff is to be moved out and DH's 17 year old "best" white porcelain will become the daily stuff, mainly because it's nicer to eat off!

greent

camelot1001 wrote: »

Bras, bras, bras.

I have just counted 30 of the blighters. I tend to buy 2 when I see them in store in case they don't have my size again (not likely but I don't go into town very often) so seem to have too many, most only worn once or twice.
Anyway, they are on the bedroom floor and after wearing are either going in the bin or in the wash where they will have the pleasure of being in a drawer. I have to say I am guilty of having 'favourites' but some of those have seen better days!

I can imagine you are a great sales assistant in the Juntique shop GQ, bet they all leave with something!

If they are still serviceable but not liked/ don't fit there are several charities which take them for Africa - wearing a bra in some areas means a female is less likely to be seen as 'available' and become the victim of a sexual assault/ rape. From memory, M&S and Tesco have collection bins and probably other places. Think 'smalls for all' charity take good condition second hand bras too, for a similar project

silvasava

Good idea Floss - only trouble is my everyday is a Denby set - made a huge haul in a CS a couple of years ago to supplement what I already had. The other set ( includes a coffee set too) is a willow style blue and white and not as robust. TBH my tastes have changed and seriously thinking about it it's time to let it go and let someone else appreciate it instead of spending it's days sitting in a cupboard.

greent

silvasava wrote: »

Greent - I am planning a new kitchen next year and am seriously thinking of not replacing my top cupboards as the new layout ( wall being knocked down) means I will have some extra bottom cupboards (and much needed workspace) There's just the two of us and I have culled lots of old bakeware and replaced with better quality where it's been needed. Just realised I have a dinner service in one cupboard that's rarely used - need to have a serious think about that as my mum bought me it over the years. It's difficult to release things that have a sentimental attachment it makes me feel as if I'm rejecting her somehow even if I do thank it for past service.

Kitchens without top cupboards look fab - very clean lines

Another vote for using the dinner service if you like it - we used to have a cheap daily dinner service and only use our wedding present one for 'special' dinners. We now use it for everything - when the children were small they had 1KEA plates/ bowls for a short while and then graduated to our 'best' (only) crockery. And over the 20+ years we've had it, we've broken only half a dozen items at most - worth it for the 'joy' of using something nice all the time and the space saved in only having one set
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