2021 MISSION DECLUTTER and CLEAN

balabooberlies

Can I just say how lovely everyone is......I love this thread.

There are some like me that struggle to start the first job everyday.  Others that are further down the line.  But everyone either provides encouragement just by listing what they have done (it motivates me not to give up) or 'speaks' their support with kind words.

I bump into people on other threads....Sam, TC, bit-by-bit (bitsy to me) and the same glow of loveliness is always there.  (Sorry if I have missed someone).

And to our cheer-leading queen....Mrs S.D........heartfelt thanks.

bala

x

TC77

Thank you for support and encouragement - this thread has been so important over past 18 months to  move me forward where RL has been dragging me back.
Realise I have to rethink how I use my storage - mostly open shelves - low units in my bedroom - can have books double depth (Of course you can't seen half) but can't think how else to use these - maybe clothes i wear alot  (think lots of dust), ok for pretty storage boxes, kitchen lots of open shelves but mostly high up ( v high ceilings) so don't like having heavy pans/dishes in case they fall when I get them down (I am very accident prone). Too late to get built in cupboards as I've been here 25 years and hopefully will move somewhere smaller in a few years .
Also keen for ideas on dealing with phone cables etc - have work/home phones with different cable and same with work/home laptops, and when not in use can put in basket but all get tangled even if put in quite tidily.
Apologies for my rant - now off to try and see my home with fresh eyes! Look forward to catching up with what everyone is doing later.

vulpix

 Good morning lovely people.
 Thank you so much for my medal Mrs SD. I am strangely very pleased about it. It is the first medal I have ever had.
 Retired in France, I thought TH must mean The Husband . DD2 is only 19 so her Sylvanian collection is relatively new. They are very expensive in my opinion to buy in the first place. DD1 who is 28 took her Sylvanian collection to her house (yay) along with her My little Ponies. I believe older ponies can also fetch strong money. I wouldn't dare to give any more of their things away. DD1 and DS are still upset that I gave away their farm and animals when they were at primary school!
 Progress being made. It is due to having a cleaner start next week. I have put the Ercol chair in the loft, so close to completing the renovation but no where for it to go if I do finish it. The garden bench has had 3 coats of paint, tin thrown and a jam jar filled with the remaining paint. Today I will sand the oak drawers, they will go on the landing when completed.
 cats are still to embrace the cat house or cat flap *************************
 109. kingsize bed
 110. Massive chest of drawers
 111. Jumper.not very old but gone bobbly and a bit too big.
 Pounds lost  12lb
 Vx

mothernerd

TC77 said:

Thank you for support and encouragement - this thread has been so important over past 18 months to  move me forward where RL has been dragging me back.
Realise I have to rethink how I use my storage - mostly open shelves - low units in my bedroom - can have books double depth (Of course you can't seen half) but can't think how else to use these - maybe clothes i wear alot  (think lots of dust), ok for pretty storage boxes, kitchen lots of open shelves but mostly high up ( v high ceilings) so don't like having heavy pans/dishes in case they fall when I get them down (I am very accident prone). Too late to get built in cupboards as I've been here 25 years and hopefully will move somewhere smaller in a few years .
Also keen for ideas on dealing with phone cables etc - have work/home phones with different cable and same with work/home laptops, and when not in use can put in basket but all get tangled even if put in quite tidily.
Apologies for my rant - now off to try and see my home with fresh eyes! Look forward to catching up with what everyone is doing later.

I've seen cables/ wires organised inside a small box with toilet roll middles used to separate individual wires. All my books are in alphabetical order (use the author for fiction). If you did the books double but alphabetical, you would know where to look if you wanted a particular one. My house may look messy (well it's mainly one room at mum's for now - dread to think what state my house is like - DS3 and his Beloved are living there and they are struggling) but I have to have books, CDs, herbs and spices in alphabetical order - it drives me mad when people just stick them back into any convenient space.

When my boys were small they would take videos or games out of the box and put them in machines and then put the one that came out of the machine into the empty box (usually stacked on the floor in front of the machine rather than put back on the shelves). Sorting them all back into the correct boxes and putting them away took all afternoon. 

GrannyKate

DS2 did a second sort of the many electronic bits and cables (late DH was an avid techie from the earliest days of home computing). DS2 reduced the pile to store in 2 plastic shoe size boxes - one MrAp stuff and the other various electronic bits and cables I might also need.  Those not in regular use I have coiled and fixed with those plastic ties (I found a bag of those from somewhere). The rest he took away to his garage of doom. DH had a massive clear out when he was ill and DS2 took a big box to sell at a scrap place then.  I'm sure cables breed when left unattended. Laptop bits stay in the carry bag - not using it really so could probably do with getting it out for a charge and any updates.  I've tried to put like with like so anything to do with camera is in drawer with camera and holiday stuff is in holiday box in wardrobe. 
I think, like many on forums, I have a bit of a stationery habit (I'm always buying it) and have random half used notebooks, pads etc.  I have them on back of desk and working my way through them for scrap.  Pleased to report first notebook finished up today and cardboard backing in recycling. 
493 Pad finished up and cardboard recycled
494 Answered and deleted emails and unsubscribed from more
495 Jigsaw finished and will go to GD1 as it has horses in it (she is horse mad)
496 Mouse batteries changed and old ones recycled

gilly1964

It has been a funny first week, can't decide if I am unemployed or retired at 56.

I suppose I will know better when I get my final payment what I need to do.

Decluttering is continuing, although DH is being a PITA and buying toys for our DGS to play with when here - two large boxes of Toot Toot track and cars for £15.  It is a bargain but takes up so much space.

Garden table and 4 chairs plus cushions taken over to DS girlfriends Mum to store for them, they are hoping to buy a house this year.  I was getting silly offers for it, so when they asked if they could have it, thought why not.

Decluttered a ball of wool by finishing a scarf I have been knitting for two years - I have never been a fast knitter but that was ridiculous.  It has taken so long I now can't remember who I was making it for!

Lots of listing on Ebay all with watchers but won't count that till it is gone

Decluttered 2 lbs this week

Now up to 149 items, with remainder of loft, garage, under bed, spare room still to do.  

Have a good weekend all

Best wishes
gilly1964

skint_chick

Not much decluttering the last few weeks. Lost the plot this morning with the boxes of half used toiletries and decided anything I'm trying to use up and won't be repurchasing just needs to go as there is stuff everywhere! So I've dropped off a massive bag of goodies for my 14 year old niece;
170-192 - 3 half used conditioners, 2 shampoos, 2 hand creams, 1 deodorant I hate the smell of, leave in conditioner, 2 face masks, bath foam, 3 lightly used body butters, mousse, 2 nail polishes, nail polish remover, unused lipstick, unused eyeliner, 2 eyeshadows and an eyeshadow brush. 
193-195 - embroidery patterns that came free with a magazine ages ago to SIL
196 - two person tent donated to friend
197/198 - two half used bags of compost donated to friend (we still have 2 unopened bags and a compost bin)
199 - (broken) eyelash curlers to bin
200-202 - wall pictures I bought over a decade ago to CS donation box
Hoping to get through more this weekend, we need to paint the living room and hall over Easter and already have the supplies, just need to declutter first!

bit_by_bit

balabooberlies said:

Can I just say how lovely everyone is......I love this thread.

There are some like me that struggle to start the first job everyday.  Others that are further down the line.  But everyone either provides encouragement just by listing what they have done (it motivates me not to give up) or 'speaks' their support with kind words.

I bump into people on other threads....Sam, TC, bit-by-bit (bitsy to me) and the same glow of loveliness is always there.  (Sorry if I have missed someone).

And to our cheer-leading queen....Mrs S.D........heartfelt thanks.

@bala - that is why I keep checking in. I love it here too. Such great support. seconding the thanks to Mrs SD.😊
Thankyou @MrsSD. The PWTB are not that interested in me happily. Thanks for your thanks. I am definitely planning my retirement - specifically a bespoke campervan 😍

nannywindow

Hello all, I have been a bit lax on the decluttering front of late due to some re- surfacing medical problems with DH, so an endless round of scans and appointments lie ahead which are taking up my time/headspace. Anyway today I have binned a plastic bag from the car seat bought for DGS when he was about 1, he's now a strapping 11 yr old  Why we kept the bag for so long is anyone's guess but I'm going to say it was because it was heavy duty with a zip and blame Justin 

Recycled 4 OOD fruit shoot bottles, the contents were poured down the sink (   ) and the bottles are in the recycling box. They were bought for the DGC  last year just before the virus hit and got pushed to the back of the cupboard, that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it ! Gone into the rag bag a T. shirt no longer in a shape I could describe. It had been worn for going out, then in the house, then for DIY/gardening, now for rags so it did well for a £1.50 bargain price. Recycled some cardboard packaging from a kitchen cloth and a dusting one, also out the usual daily rubbish and recycling.

I'll try to do more when I can get my head together but don't hold your breath it could be a while with my brain   Apologies for prattling on.

Take care all

nan

mothernerd

I have compost, I have replacement for the broken spade and yard brush, I have filled two trays of large yoghurt pots (before the courgettes and other triffids burst through their containers), 6 large mushroom boxes and six small. I went to town to pick up my new glasses and did as many additional bits as possible (W did not have a trolley so was using 3 wheeled baskets with spades etc sticking out). I am on my bed (on not in) and have no urgent plans to do anything else at all today.