2022 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

bit_by_bit

Well done in the cupboard of doom @vulpix. I know it has been bugging you.

@TC77 . You and me must be sisters. Chaotic and disporganised is me.

So all the bags for the CS Christmas stash have been removed from the loft and in DD room. I have two weeks to give them back so plenty of time. I think there are about 10 bags plus four trees, two of which are Christmas shop props.

Also from the loft are 3 big rolls of insulation which DH took to MiL yesterday. DS2 'helped' and typical style managed to fall through the ceiling. Managed to bruise his elbow but otherwise ok. Very luck that lad. This is his third accident in as many weeks.
Counting as 3 large items. 

In the loft we have a wooden tallboy from tem IKia. We put it up there ages ago but I think it may be a solution to the mess in the porch. We have a tall deep shelf with shoes and bags. I want to hide the lot (obviously after a cull) and have wanted to get rid of the shelves for some time.  I can forsee a change around which will improve the whole house.Maybe when the weather is too bad to do outside stuff and when I have the energy.

Got a bag of books for the garden centre charity shelf today and a small list of things to do.

Siebrie

We had to move our upstairs furniture, etc from 1 storage space (our gardener's shed 2 streets over) to another storage space (our new neighbours' garage, while they are making their new home habitable) and took the chance to go through it.

Out:1 suitcase and 1 banana box full of too-small or too-ugly clothes (both waiting, labelled and all, for transportation to sea container for export to Africa).

Some necessary school supplies were found, so that will stop us from unnecessary spending.

DDs' winter clothes were found, tried on, and stored in the appropriate place (many in the abovementioned suitcase )

My father has decided to try at least one round of chemo, which consists of pills taken at home at regular intervals for 3 weeks. There is a 24-hour helpline available. He is now waiting for the Oncologist's phonecall to give the start signal.

Wednesday2000

One of the donation bags has gone out today. I have gone through the "office" and only found some paperwork to declutter. I did go through the fridge and freezer last night and had to bin a couple of things. I looked through the under sink cupboard, but just tidied up and didn't find anything to get rid of.

I wanted to try my heated throw tonight so I just went through the airing cupboard as that is where I'm keeping it. Oh, I did find a cushion, a cardigan and a top to donate. I'm not sure why I was keeping any of that in there!

Rootle

Just a small update,

36/52 - 2 broken glasses and a broken pen to the bin.
37/52 - 1 item sold and posted. For a few coppers only this time (probably didn't cover fuel to post office) but an item out of the house and hopefully useful to someone else.

I have been trying to recycle 18 BBC Sounds classical CDs but the recycling bin I used to use has gone. They don't have codes on for entering into selling sites so trying to come to terms with landfill option!

GrannyKate

Just checking in but not much to report. Hugs to all who need them. Thanks for checking my medals and stars Mrs SD.  @Liverpool_Anne do try and visit the Autumn open day at Knowsley as well worth it.  I got my tickets from website back in April when they went on sale. 

My 'excitement over wet floors coming up' was premature as chap who bought humidifier said he didn't do that and someone should have been to do them. Now scheduled for this Thursday.  Humidifier is very noisy and eats electricity although they said I will get something back to cover costs.  Will wait and see.  I can foresee a floor less Christmas.  

I gave away 4 hours of my life (which I won't get back) trying to talk to internet/phone provider about why I have no bills and no access to my account. They are taking direct debits for random amounts.  After two attempts it appears that my account exists but is not set up to use but they don't understand why (???), the charges are wrong and will be refunded and I now have to wait for them to contact me - so not holding my breath.  They actually referred to the situation as a mess.  I do now have copies of the incorrect bills although getting them was like pulling teeth.  

I also tackled an IT frog which I have been putting off re a committee email which I struggled to access.  After several calls, emails and one to one Zoom meeting with a lovely lady it is all sorted. 

1151 Phone/internet frog tackled but not solved
1152 Committee internet frog sorted 
1153 Committee meeting attended and papers shredded
1154 Plastic to recycling
1155 Broken mug binned
1156 Rusty baking tin binned
1157 December Europe trip with DD all booked
1158 Renewed travel insurance - ouch - extra £30 because of the cellulitis I had in July.  No hospital treatment only antibiotics but I had it 10 years ago which seemed to be a factor. 

Another committee meeting at 2 so I'd better get organised.  In person this time so probably need to change my top which has an attractive frayed pattern round the neckline!

grandmanerd

35 for yesterday. I took a test and I don't have COVID, just normal winter bugs so it might carry on like this until March. Decided I had to get something done (with lots of rest breaks and a serial to watch). At least 3 bags each of rubbish, paper, cans and bottles and the third of each of those included going round collecting items - junk mail, washing out tin cans to go in the recycling. Plus a couple of bins needed sorting to make better use of the space (and bricks on top to squash it down for more bags).

The hose, mask and filter were all washed, managed to wash my hair as well as having a shower. Bags, boxes and baskets were used to group items (seeds, books, jars of sauces, felt shapes and the wooden ones used as templates, pots and cutlery to go down for washing).  I need to empty the over door hanger as one joint has broken. I'm hoping it can be fixed (if not the basket shelves can be used individually) but it needs to be empty before I can start fiddling.

2 trips across the kitchen to complete emptying the DW, then reloaded it gathering !!!!!! many kitchen knives and items of cutlery as I could find. Couldn't get it to go, so left a note for DS3 (nearly midnight when they woke up) and he's set it off for me. WM had a fault code. After fiddling I got it open and it was half full of water. left it on a drain and spin as it  too dark to see the filter That worked so it's been filled and set off this morning.

Lots of tins, toiletries and cleaning products used up including a bottle of white vinegar to clean the shower head and the remainder on cotton wool to drape around the taps. Two old pens discarded and the quilt went over the window sill all day to freshen up. Cleared the bed, did what I could with all the stains on the mattress (fumble fingers, coughing and sneezing fits), turned the mattress, pulled the mattress cover of the floor, dragged it across the bed and smoothed it out. Brought the clean dry sheets and pillowcases upstairs.

One pile of garden stuff taken outside to join their friend, one tarpaulin spread on the floor, folded and walked across to get out all the air. Total 560/ 2022. My leg is hurting this morning but not a lot more than usual. I am washed and have used various creams and pots to tackle the sore, dehydrated bits, eardrops and lavender massage balm for my headache. Sophisticated diet of a cupa soup, tinned rice pudding and tinned mandarins (also cleared out a lot of very ood stuff from the fridge last night - it was hidden at the back and in corners but the using up has brought it into the light of day. I did use some deli items (fine until they were opened but went off rapidly when exposed to the air) but one of the throw outs was dated May. I also did a mini stock check of condiments (lemon juice, cider vinegar) and sachets of microwave rice and pasta sauce (more mum favourites, think I gave the food bank any that were in date) - not something I normally have in but must make an effort to use them up. 

retiredinfrance

Thanks so much, Mrs SD , for my gold star and apologies for taking so long to get back with a post 
Hugs, Siebrie, for you and your dad and for all of us who are going through difficult times. 

40 books
3 necklaces 
3 pairs of earrings 
1 pile plastic bags
1 pile packaging 
1 pile photos from phone 
1 very small pile of real photos 
8 magazines 
1 soap uu
1 body lotion uu
1 shower gel used as shampoo uu
1 lovely winter coat 
1 jacket 
1 scarf

total 272 +64=336/365

The coat is an expensive one but I can’t wear it as it is long and can trip me up on steps and as I have osteoporosis - well someone will get the benefit of it and my local CS were delighted with it. 
Books
i have just about managed to keep to my goal of no books on the floor, but I had a great / not great haul from a trip out to further away Charity shops and Free Book Boxes. Too good to miss . So, for a total of 4 euros I came home with 46 books.
Action needed. 
1. No more visits to CS in the meantime.
1. Follow plan outlined here in a post- for books kept that I might read again- I will read 2 chapters and if I’m not hooked , the book goes out. Similar strategy with the free ones and other very cheap ones- life is too short to spend time reading a book in the hope it will get better. 
Still none on the floor , but cheating with a big bag on a chair!
I’ve also got a small start on the photos, Actually, I’m at the difficult spot in that the “easy “ stuff has gone but decluttering is a way of life now. One motivation is thinking of it as the Swedish way ....
In case anyone was wondering , I also put books in the free boxes as well as my favourite CS. 

Keep safe everyone, Covid  and other nasties are still out there.

TC77

DD2 spotted a huge cat tree outside in the street nearby. Foolishly I went with her taking the car - just got it in the car with a push but had to take into back door - front door is 2 narrow doors ..... huge but DD2 has cleaned it, abit scruffy but the cats have sat on it and DD2 pleased. Hoping we may pass on to someone at some point
going to party at the weekend and have 2 dresses from CS, not a dress person, or currently the right shape so cardi (more bolero, shawl to cover arms and back...
More in than out:(
Somehow I still think that chaos will go one day...sorry to hear others as disorganised and random as me!

Have got through some frogs and trying to focus on these and physical declutter is more at the weekend.
Take care all, and stay warm

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks

2. Deal with Old Frogs & potential frogs ASAP but at least one on FROG Fridays.

3. Reduce/Restrict time watching TV during daylight hours 😉 AB2 playing zero - 20/9/2022

4. Declutter/Relocate one item every time I stand up.

5. Don’t put it down, put it away

6. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed

I stayed up until 6:30 a.m. then went to bed & woke DH up - wanted to leave early for Round Britain Rallying in South Wales - with an overnight stop. I fell asleep almost immediately & didn’t hear him set off 😔 Woke up at 10:00 a.m. to yet another bright crisp day. Washed & dressed. Whilst having my cup of tea I phoned plumber to book boiler service. He answered phone but was driving so said he would call back later - I waited in all day but he forgot 😔 Cleared down several programmes from planner. Had a bowl of hm soup. DSis popped out to pick up the last part of her prescription. DH phoned about 6:15 p.m. from his hotel room. When he left this morning it was pouring with rain but once he got to Earls Court the rain stopped & he had a dry day.

His dinner was pate & roast lamb with all the trimmings. DSis & I had bacon, eggs, roast tomatoes & mushrooms with oven chips. Wudupa.

1677 - 1679 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, plastic bottle - recycled 

1680 - 1681 Kitchen & bedroom detritus - binned 

So sorry to hear that DD is unwell & teething, QueenJess 🙁 Hopefully Monday night was better & you have managed to get some sleep 🤞 Great decluttering especially as you are running on empty 👏

Excellent decluttering bit_by_bit 👏 Your loft is proving to be a treasure trove 😉 Poor DS2 🤕 he is in the wars. Sounds like the tall boy is the perfect solution for the cluttered porch 🙂

Excellent work Siebrie 👏 & how lucky to have such nice neighbours 🙂 Sending your father good wishes for a successful round of chemo. 

Great work Wednesday2000 👏 Now that is what I call a magic airing cupboard 😉

Great decluttering Rootle 👏 As to the BBC Sounds classical CDs, can you donate to a cs or maybe a library?

You are welcome GrannyKate 🙂 Everything crossed that the dehumidifier works quickly & well & that the floor is sorted before Christmas 🤞Not much of a consolation that the internet/phone provider admitted the situation is a mess 😖 Excellent decluttering 👏

What a busy day you had grandmanerd 👏 I  was exhausted just reading about all the work you have done 👏 

You are welcome retiredinfrance 🙂 Excellent decluttering especially the winter coat which someone will be extremely grateful for if we have a hard winter 👏 It would have been extremely rude not to have bought 46 books for €4 😉 but do keep up the good work of keeping your floor clear 👏 Loving the way you are dealing with your book collection 🙂 Decluttering the Swedish way - what a great catchphrase 😉

TC77, you never said you are a Womble 😅 Excellent work dealing with Frogs 👏 Wishing you every success with weekend decluttering 🍀

MrsSD  🏅🏅🏅🏅🥇 🌟 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I AM A STAR 🌟 

Decluttering Target: 1681/2022

2022 - 1p Savings Challenge: Running Total £469.22

flamingo747

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger that view is amazing! 

I have been on a big declutter for several weeks but not counting. I feel like there's not much more of my own clutter to be rid of. How do you handle other people's clutter, especially children's? Thank you