2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Siebrie

@-taff [I want an applause emoji] very well said! Live in the now and don't postpone sending stuff to landfill

Before husband left for Africa, we had a friend of his sleeping over for 1 night in order to catch the flight from the airport next to us. Husband suddenly cared very much about the mess in our house and just flung everything into boxes that he hid underneath dds' craft desk in a corner of our living room. All surfaces looked very neat, I have to give him that, but I was constantly looking for things, and only finding incomplete items.

Last night, dd1 (15) pulled out a large cardboard box and constantly talking with her sister, went through all items. 3 quarters could go! And she found proper places for the other quarter. I put the 3 quarters in the appropriate places (paper recycling, etc) and then put the box with the paper recycling, too. Then, I gave dd2 (12) a second box, hard plastic with attached lid, and asked her to go through it. There, too, 3 quarters could go. The plastic box is now in the downstairs loo, containing the kitchen roll and toilet paper stash. As Marie Kondo said: everything you need is already in your home.

Floss

Siebrie, your daughters have obviously learned from your example!

2Scratters

@SiebrieI suppose we just need to take a win for what it is - a win.  

@QueenJess - your poor head must be mashed trying to work it all out. Trying to find what will work for you.
 Maybe only declutter Mon, Weds & Fri eg then Tues & Thurs dedicated to electronic declutter.

One day a week for each task that may allow bigger chunks to be done.

 A Timed rota for your visual areas & digital on a smaller scale.

Micro tasks i.e when the kettle is on remove an item to a bin or put it in its right place. Check a shelf in the fridge on something that should be moved on out. Move an item off a work top. Clean the vessels that hold tea,coffee and sugar. 

Filling the bath water check the window sill/cupboard top what can be moved. Does any decanting need doing i.e empty old shampoo into new bottle. Simply upend and leave to drain. 

When moving about the house I try to not move empty handed so have an object that needs to go where it belongs (like with like is a good start) then its easier to work with later.

You are doing so well, be kind you you too.

2 Scratters xx

Siebrie

Micro tasks work! I hardly ever clean my whole fridge at once; I do it 1 shelf at a time during the week, because that is what I sometimes have time for, and it does clean the whole fridge in the end.

2Scratters

@TC77 - keep doing what you are doing tackling before DD2 goes to Uni the impact when her stuff goes too will be so much clearer. 
Just been out to recycle plastic milk bottle and DH has put the bins in the wrong place! That has just thrown me off kilter. 

Decluttered from mother 2 hospital blankets and sheets - they are now having a drive around till I visit dad in hospital and hand them in there.

Saved water being used for the loo

Washed and dried mums stuff - back to her for her to iron.

Flowers left by a friend who had popped in whilst I was out put into water.

2 items of clothing from  mums binned. Had seen many better days.

Put 2 of my t-shirts into mums - a win win.

Note pads to work

DH WUDUPA

Soft plastic bag taking a couple of journeys till being dropped off

Ironing done and put away

DH selected a T-shirt declutter - has moved to his shed to keep (he has another lined up to go)

2 T-shirts of mine donated to son 1 still with labels on (not told DH as he had bought it me)

1 sock binned. 2 books were placed in the recycle bin, I decided to remove them and placed into CS bag. 3 items for CS  bag. Removed another 5 tops from mums which were far too big as she had lost weight straight into CS bag.

Cleared a top cupboard in the wardrobe of a double quilt and 2 pillows with the bedding still attached. DS collected it from me and my car. Up until that point it was looking like I was a bit of a hobo with clothes and bedding on view another swift decision ousted and collected. 

Sorry for the overload I don't usually document items. I had considered I'd only done a bit but in fact is quite a bit of progress all round and am quite happy with that. 

2 Scratters xx

P.S another piece of scrap paper used too

QueenJess

@Dfw38 I am in with that kitten... so cute.  If it was here I'd get nothing done!  I can't believe people are so cruel... I mean if you don't want it, just dump it at a shelter at least.

@2Scratters thanks for your kind words.  It does seem to be an everlasting process.  I know it is getting better, but it is exhausting doing it all on my own.  The library is particularly difficult as it seems to have accumulated all the stuff with things to do attached, sentimental value or is there because I didn't know what to do with it.  I would love to create a little routine, but I know from experience it doesn't work.  I have to do whatever I feel like in the moment on the day and that is the most efficient way for me to get through it, otherwise I just procrastinate and faff around.  I definitely need to do the mini tidying when waiting for dinner to cook or boiling the kettle etc and get better at taking things with me whenever I go downstairs/upstairs etc.

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger this will make you laugh.  DH has been out most the week on some residential training course and when he came back I said I'd cleared the side in the kitchen.  He wanted to know what happened to the candles and I said I'd got rid of them.  He said "Oh, I liked them".  I said, well they haven't been used for over 10 years and they are impossible to clean (they are on a tray with some pebbles and just collect dust).  And I did warn you that whenever you leave the house you will come back and wonder where everything is!  I knew he wouldn't actually be bothered.  He then jokingly said "What am I going to come back to in September - will everything have gone?!" (He's out the country for most of a week).

After my horrible week with two infections and trying to deal with the kids myself all week (plus work, plus decluttering, washing, etc etc), I announced that I gave away his hair cutting kit rather than selling it as I can't be bothered with the stress of it and if he's that bothered I'll give him the £30.  Unsurprisingly I got away with that and he didn't dare ask!

Feeling overwhelmed by this library still.  I am making progress, but it is glacial and it's difficult to know what bit to tackle next.  Even clearing the desk is a huge effort.  It's all high effort for very tiny rewards.  Instead I went through some more documents on my laptop and got rid of tons of them to make me feel like I've made some progress.  Can't face emails yet today (why did I get 10 emails and 3 text messages for one single delivery?!  It's madness...).  The mini decluttering mission today is takeaway menus, but I have zero of those, so will try to mainly tidy up today to try and make inroads and I'm sure I'll find things to declutter along the way.  More Buy Nothing people picking up today (when isn't there?!).

Digital:
18,752-19,285 - documents deleted

Physical:
19,286 - folder (tip pile)
19,287-19,292 - recipe (copied into app, then recycled)
19,293 - packaging (recycled)
19,294-19,295 - paper (recycled)
19,296-19,299 - Kitchen stuff (was to sell, but just threw onto Buy Nothing)
19,300-19,301 - soft toys (Charity bag)
19,302 - greetings card (recycling)
19,303 - bathroom supplies (used up)

Brie

Dfw38 said:

Just seen your post @brie. Taken a few seconds ago! 

poor exhausted kitten!!!  obviously needs me to come over and give it a real thorough cuddle!!!!

Wednesday2000

That kitten is so cute. I can't believe I forgot to comment on it last time I posted!

Florenceem

Didn't get up until 7. 
Popped to SA.
Went into town with Mr F - to the bank - he wouldn't have coped if I hadn't been with him. He has so many accounts - got 2 closed down.
Lot of post arrived for him - he was going to take it up to the office to open and read - no way - I need to know what is going on financially after the shocks of the past 3 months.

florianatwobob

Decluttered money yesterday at RHS Hampton Court. A lovely day out but very busy. So many beautiful flowers and show gardens. 

I continue to be irresistible to insects. After the bee which hitched a ride on my leg the other week, I had a moth do the same yesterday!