2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

grandmanerd

Used the last few wipes in a pack to clean myself and finished a 10 litre box of water (biggest use up so far). I have another 2 and they need to be used this month. I bought them last year as United Utilities said they would be doing some work over a 3 week period and there might be breaks in service (that's why I bought the wipes too). I part filled a bin bag and put my suitcase into the bath.

I packed 4 bags for life and one box with craft stuff to go downstairs but left them upstairs whilst I did more sorting. I took one of the drawers downstairs with my 'bag for the day (laptop, diary, notebook, pens, glasses, purse, phone, hanky, readiing book etc). Sat down then wiped inside the drawers and all the little cubby holes in the bureau with water and vinegar and a soft rag then moved my couch as far back as it would go (in front of the newly placed furniture). This enabled me to get at things which had been trapped under the couch (useful items picked up and put on the couch for now, the rest was bagged).

4 small bags packed and taken to the bin + 2 paper bags. DS3 hadn't retrieved the bug zapper so pulled the cubes/ desk back out again part of the way, picked up the bug zapper and turned it so it fit and pushed the cubes/ desk back into place. I'm doing as much as possible sitting down - I sat on a kitchen chair and pushed them most of the way with my feet and legs, only the final adjustments done standing up. My ankle is improving - I like writing the alphabet with my feet (exercise, good for my circulation and it's easy to remember). On Tuesday I couldn't do it, it hurt. On Wednesday I got to 'c' and yesterday I managed 'j' - could have done more but stopped when it got difficult.

Once the desk was in place I moved the microwave, the air fryer and the electric can opener onto it. The plugs didn't reach the socket but there was an extension bar in a tub of useful items I discovered a couple of days ago,  so tethered them all to one of the under stairs sockets. I vaguely remember the microwave should be on it's own so it's nearest the power but the other 2 are used less often and probably not at the same time so should be okay (I think the microwave and fridge freezer were both on the same bar at mum's so it might be an old rule that no longer applies).

I was definitely flagging by mid afternoon so I watched a film and occasionally got up to more sweeping/ sorting and bagging. I swept down the bare wooden stairs as it's been aggravating me but needed to wait until I thought I could do it (walking backwards down the stairs with one hand firmly gripping the hand rail at all times. That made me feel wiped out so back to resting. I've mostly cleared an area of roughly 12 square yards (3 x 4) and have one paper sack, 2 rubbish and 2 cans and bottles bags to go (included) and more upstairs and in the kitchen. It was too dark to go down the yard.

 DS3 came down just before I finished (I was waiting for food to cook), but asked where he should put his things and helped sweep more things from in front of his couch and the inaccessible corner. Ideally I'd have liked to get his couch away from the window and get out anything from under or behind (and sort out my poor orange trees which are in the window and looking rather forlorn.

It's all about accessibility (and too many things in a small house). To illustrate - DS3's exercise bike (very handy for hanging bin bags from) is next to the right arm of his couch, in front of the electric meter (luckily meter readings is one of DS3's job and he bought a special light/ mirror combination and sometimes still has to photograph it) and until yesterday, behind the bureau. There's also a table top and a pack of cardboard boxes on one side of it. Anything that falls into the gap is more or less stuck there (depending on the length and flexibility of your arms) until everything is moved. I pulled out 3 empty plastic bottles (obviously missed the bag at some time) about 5 books, several largish pieces of cardboard and there are still 2 blankets in there.

The big couch should be pulled out regularly but it's too heavy and it's one of those 'a step too far' jobs. I am persisting with what I want to happen but I'm aware that I'm not keeping up with other things by doing this - I need to sort meals out and check for stuff that needs rescuing. My orange trees need to go  outside (and be planted up into much bigger tubs) but I don't have a protected area for them and so much stuff needs to be moved round first. I'd love a shower but I'm not taking all the bedding out and putting it back after (DS3 will crack soon as he has a bath every day and sometimes two - I just need to be there to tell him where to put the things rather than somewhere they'll be more in the way). The kitchen looks a mess because chairs and smaller items have been moved so that larger items could be moved across easily. I also cleared 2/3 of the mattress and then couldn't find the stain remover (went out to buy an extra bottle at about 5 pm - it will get used) but I'm not putting stuff back until I've completed the task.

So 36 for yesterday, now on 659/ 2023. 
  

QueenJess

Dfw38 said:

Going to have the weekend off and if dh can help me move his wardrobe (he has more clothes than the rest of us....seems a common theme among dhs on here!)

Oh yes. I tried to ban DH from buying work shirts (he has over 50), shoes and jeans. It is two out and one in. To be fair it is working and he is too scared to buy any due to my reaction 😆 

Shoes are still a bone of contention. He is apparently still “wearing” the box of shoes that don’t fit on the shoe racks and have been unopened since we moved in 7 years ago…

grandmanerd

Just popped on to add my praise for your excellent cheerleading and posting Mrs SD

wort

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger if you find Joshua Becker too slow going if you click on the comments someone often lists the significant points. So if he’s talking about 10 things to declutter they will do a 1 to 10. Or listen whilst doing something like cooking or sewing.

GrannyKate

I will listen to that Joshua Becker and see what I think.  Slow start with a few jobs done whilst waiting for GCs things to be collected.  Got dressed but needn't have as no show and now being collected this afternoon.  I may put swimming costume on and go for a slower swim this time.  Need to go get olive oil for DS2's cooking.  I am struggling slightly with eating as innards still unsettled and eating lots of greens to improve folic acid is not helping (sorry too much information there). I have to cut sugar as I am pre diabetic but think I need to be careful not to cut it out completely. Still no news from hospital.  

318 Bag of plastics dropped off yesterday for recycling
319 Dishwasher sorted with salt and rinse aid
320 Water softener refilled. Only one block left so I will have to order those
321 DS2 had made large pan of vegetable stock for gravy.  Some used for tea and then 4.5 pints in jars in freezer.  They fit really well in door of American style fridge/freezer. 

Onward - there is a frog croaking on the dining room table. 

EnergyShifter

Another one sending praise to you MrsSD - your comments are always so thoughtful and encouraging - thank you 💐

vulpix

 Grandmanerd, I do the alphabet ankle exercises too. I read about it as a young girl. It was recommended to maintain a trim ankle! I have always done them whilst in a waiting room,on a bus etc. If I am waiting ages I do lower and upper case. My ankles are the only bit of me that can be described as trim! They did help after my ankle operation a few years ago after being in plaster for 10 weeks.

 gwon then,I will join you in MMIM. All for one and one for all. First one is connected to a story ,obv. Our sheds at the side of the house don't fit flush to the wall. The wall has a small dogs leg. The front of the sheds are straight with a small gap at the back. We made a frame and covered it with small mesh to stop what I thought would be small animals like hedgehogs falling down. The frame rested on the top of the wall which supports a lane and the roof of the sheds. A neighbours dog was missing,you guessed it, she had walked across the top and fallen behind the shed.She was missing for hours,luckily Mr V was going to the pub and heard her howl. Now both Mr V and dog are shall we say portly.Picture the scene in the pitch black, many people looking down the hole,dog looking back.. We had to rope in a skinny neighbour with a ladder to shove the poor dog over head height onto terra firma. So job one is to fix the frame and add new mesh.

 Vx

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,
@QueenJess I love it . Not sure what your dh does for a job but my ex who did accounts had loads of work shirts, took up at least 5/6 of the hanging space and I banned him from buying more . 
@GrannyKate do you mind me asking who has told you to cut down sugar. I only ask because I have been type 2 diabetic for 14 years and attended a patient expert course. What they told me was no food is banned, it is more about healthy eating and all things in moderation. Oranges are also a good source of folic acid if the greens are getting too much
Take care everyone

QueenJess

Liverpool_Anne said:

Hi all,
@QueenJess I love it . Not sure what your dh does for a job but my ex who did accounts had loads of work shirts, took up at least 5/6 of the hanging space and I banned him from buying more . 

Hmm.. maybe it is endemic to the profession?  DH is an accountant!  He keeps complaining he doesn't have enough space in his double wardrobe... well that's because his shirts and some work trousers/suits take up all the space!  He works from home at least 4 days a week as well, so they don't even get used...

Dfw38

@queenjess, dh likes to hold onto old work uniform.... his company changes it yearly (tax reasons i think) but we have 9 years worth of uniform - mostly unworn..... he also only goes shopping once a year about Easter time and buys what he thinks he will wear for the year. Most of it goes unworn as he just stays in joggers and t shirts about 4 in rotation as he like them 🙄😁 I am hoping that he will have a huge clearout as he only has the space in his wardrobe- not a floor drobe and an on top of the safe drobe as in our old bedroom. I have told him anything not put away gets binned. 😉
I have finished my 2nd make in March late last night and waded through our room of doom with ds 'assisting ' as nearly 2 year olds do and found my sewing machine lead ! Wahoo! The boy must be a lucky charm 🤣. He is up having a nap so the sewing is going to commence.