2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

QueenJess

vulpix said:

Joanne🤣🤣🤣🤣

 regnbue 🏆congratulations on your wrestling title 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Also you are the first person I have Ever heard of who has finished a bottle of nail varnish. 

 Crazycatlady2 could you put your dog in another room while you vacuum?

 Can you tell we’re without a telly? Don’t want to start looking for things to declutter, we have enough mess atm. 

 Vx

I’ve finished a couple of nail varnishes before. The glitter ones are thicker and easier to use up. I’m currently attempting to use up my small stash and then just have a max of 3 colours… you might need to check back in 10 years for that though!

Not much decluttering happening at the moment. Struggling to know where to start. It’s so much easier when you know there’s loads rather than the odd thing here and there to maintenance declutter. Whilst I’m dithering I have been upcycling the Xmas cards into new Xmas cards (so at least reducing my craft stash) and I even had a go at making an origami envelope from some coloured paper I’ve not used for at least 10 years. It turned out ok, but definitely won’t win any prizes!

I’ve also been washing DD’s next size up clothes to file um somewhere in her room? It’s getting the stuff out of the cupboard of doom at least, but still not quite worked out how DD’s clothes should work. It’s the larger sizes that are tricky because there’s so many years between her and DS. There will be less as she gets older though; not least because DS regularly wears his clothes right through until they can no longer be mended!

Decluttering:
171-172 - Xmas cards that couldn’t be upcycled (recycled)
173 - bib (charity bag)

TC77

58-59 painting clothes to ragbag

StickyTheStickInsect

D123456789 said:

keeping up with daily hoovering downstairs and steam cleaned the floor in the kitchen. @StickyTheStickInsect I haven’t managed to break my steam cleaner Kercher yet - I love the results but I don’t use it often enough! 

Excellent ! I, on the other hand have another busted steam cleaner since we last spoke about this 🤦‍♀️

Maybe it’s me, maybe I am the kiss of death to steam cleaners! I follow all their instructions and still end up with leaking all over the floor. I thought for a while it was just how it was but I don’t think I should have to mop after steam cleaning or break out a roll of kitchen roll!
Hope you are well.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

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

2. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ I have an acronym - I.R.I.S. being Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off

3. Implement a new sleep/wake up regime - start going to bed earlier (target before 2:00 a.m.) get up earlier (target by 9:00 a.m.)

4. Deal with daily mail immediately 

5. Don’t put it down, put it away

6. If I spot a mini task deal with it immediately e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

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

Wednesday I was up at 11:15 a.m. to brilliant sunshine - working my way back to getting up at a sensible time 😉 Sadly by 2:00 p.m. it was dark & wet 😔 Just pottered today - started knitting a 2nd ear warmer headband - cable pattern memorised 🙂; located writing pad & envelopes; used los + bottom of fridge vegetables to make soup; finally put away wicker reindeer plant pot holder; took DSis’s dinner from freezer - risotto cakes; retrieved HF meal bag from garage fridge.DH visited M - she was sitting in a chair by her bed 🙂 & is definitely getting better. A tentative date for her discharge is being discussed - possibly Friday. DSis has gone out to pick up the missing part of her prescription. She was gone for about 90 minutes because the prescription hadn’t been written 😖 I heated up lo cabbage to accompany the risotto cakes. Our dinner was a creamy pasta dish with green beans, peas, roasted tomatoes & pesto sauce - it was yummy & the los will be made into a pasta bake (for one) with Parmesan grated over the top. 

71 - 77 Kitchen recycling, 3 cardboard boxes, paper packaging, newspaper, drinks cans - recycled 

78 Kitchen detritus binned

Great decluttering Kittikins 👏

Excellent decluttering wort 👏 Minimalist Mom sounds very interesting 🙁 You are helping workmen by making them cups of tea/coffee 😉 & probably tidying up after them 😉 Great decluttering to niece 👏

Nice to see you Gers (I follow you on the Daily threads 🙂) 👋 Well done on your daily decluttering 👏Fingers crossed that your niece treasures the item made by GGM & doesn’t have a full treasure chest 🤞 Good luck with your broadband negotiations 🍀

Lovely to see you mehefin  (I also follow you on the Daily threads 🙂) Sorry to hear how ill you have been  🙁 That is a huge weight loss - a stone a week in old weights & measures 😥 Hopefully it won’t take too long build yourself back up to a healthy weight 👏 I seem to remember someone on the Daily Thread recommending that you eat lots of pies 😉 Your council is a bit mean - 2 bags of rubbish per fortnight 🙁 Definitely a ‘Glorious 2 weeks of unlimited bags’ & 14  bags 👏 must have practically emptied your house 😉 

Excellent decluttering DundeeDoll 👏 Thank you so much for the photo - a lovely looking new bed & I really like the wallpaper 😊 birds of paradise? Excellent use of 23 minutes X 2 - over 100 emails dealt with

Excellent decluttering 2Scratters 👏 I need to borrow some of your bravery to tackle the hanging clothes in my wardrobe 😉 Shame about the unintentional decluttering of soap powder but hopefully it had a pleasant fragrance 🤞 Ooh you get to go through your new button box 😲 - I am sooooo jealous 😉

Absolutely excellent decluttering Dfw38 👏 I did smile at the fact that you have to declutter away from prying eyes 😉 Good luck with box 4 🍀

Excellent work with the photos joanie 👏 So many got rid of on the first pass - no wonder you are fed up sorting 😩 I am awarding you a 3rd Gold Star ⭐️  I have now revised my notes to show your new Target of 23 items per month 🙂 Very droll joanie - a spare Spare 😂

What a wonderful sentiment Brie 😊 Sorry to hear that OH has used being ill to avoid doing the laundry, especially as you have continued decluttering & completing tasks even though you are also ill 😞 As you have acceded to the decision to take the laundry for a service wash (for the sake of peace in our time 😅) I think that you should insist that OH takes it to the laundry & pays for it 😉 However, I see that you you have gone the route of doing the laundry yourself 😉 If he doesn’t put the clean stuff away he should get sent to bed with no supper 🙃 Brie, I don’t have Netflix but do have Sky & am guilty of recording lots of programmes to watch later 😔 However like you I am getting better at deleting rather than watching 😉

Wednesday2000, a good result having a decorator you can trust to be left alone in your home 🙂Another good result that the second hand furniture store will collect the items including the sofa cushions & the garden chairs 🥳 It will be a hive of activity in your house 😥 Two copies of Spare for the price of one - no wonder sales numbers appear to be quite good 😂 

vulpix, how exciting progress is being made 🙂 I can almost ‘feel’ your impatience - wanting all the work to be done so you can declutter something 😅 Sorry to hear that you didn’t manage to sleep for worrying 🙁 & then to receive a bright & breezy call from your dear Mum, go figure 😔 Hopefully you will sleep tonight & be able to visit MiL 🤞 Lovely post vulpix 🙂 Not sure I could cope without a telly 

Well done on decluttering a ‘medical’ frog, GrannyKate 👏

Excellent decluttering of both items & tasks, D123456789 👏 Re the inherited jewellery perhaps you could sell it & use funds raised to have a special piece of jewellery made 🤔 something that will be worn by you & then passed on to LO.

You have been busy, mhagster, excellent decluttering 👏 So much ‘stuff’ going to CS 👏 What a nice way to spend an evening - a friend coming for dinner & then leaving with extra food items 😊

Excellent decluttering Crazycatlady2 👏 Any chance of putting the dog in the garden whilst you are hoovering or maybe getting someone to take the dog for a walk 🙂 

Excellent decluttering regnbue 👏 Your CS will be very pleased to receive such an eclectic mix of items 🙂 Re ‘pineapple sunglasses (love these so much I had to take a photo before letting them go)’ - I am awarding you a medal 🏅 for your bravery 😊 “I am pleased to report I have managed to retain my title of Regional Xmas Tree Wrestling Champion for this year and it's back in its box.” - 🥳 Also I have noticed that you are over a quarter of the way towards your decluttering target so one Gold Star ⭐️ is also on its way 🙂

You are very welcome gettingthrifty 🙂 Sorry to hear that a productive morning of which you should be very proud 👏 was ruined by receipt of an unexpected official parcel which ruined your mood 🙁 Enjoy your time in the TLC Carriage - a bit of self care will hopefully raise your mood 🤞

Well done on getting so much decluttering & cleaning done during a working day ~FlowerPot~ 👏 Sorry to hear about the mould in eldest’s bedroom 🙁 

Great work stellata 👏 Small steps eventually accumulate into a marathon 😉

I am a little bit cross with you Florenceem but do understand why you went to SA 😊 My crossness abated when I read that you did 6,500 steps as opposed to your usual 10,000 😉 Please, please take it easy & rest your ankle as much as possible now 🙏 Well done on being ahead of your decluttering target 👏

Good work X 2, TC77 👏

A very thoughtful post daisy_1571 😊 Never an easy decision to make whether or not to visit someone in the last part of their life. What a great post daisy - I think we will have to call you the Dog Whisperer 😊

An emotional day EnergyShifter but you have handled it well especially by being very restrained with emotional spending 🙂 You are obviously very good at your job - 2 people wanting to engage you privately 👏 Tulips are such cheery flowers - the added bonus of fake flowers is there is no water to change 😉 I really like the jug 🙂

Sorry to hear that you have had a ‘bad health day’ Millie2008_2 🙁 Hopefully when your course of iron supplements is completed your GP will be able to decide how to proceed to get you most of the way back to your previous fit & healthy self 🤞Meanwhile well done on ploughing on with your decluttering 👏

Sounds like a very successful landlord visit diminua  😊 A bit inconvenient that the shower unit needs to be replaced but a lovely silver lining - using very flash showers at work 🙂 I had a huge grin at your mention of keeping your home tidy for you rather than just for visitors 😁 You have done the hard work so now you deserve to reap the rewards 😊 Great decluttering 👏

Ouch to decluttering ££££ nannywindow 😓 but at least you have all your decorating bits in the house now 👏 The trouble with decorating is all the hard work required in prepping - moving/dismantling furniture, emptying the room, stripping wallpaper, wiping down & sanding skirting boards etc 😔 and that is without the unexpected added work of having to repair plasterwork 😔 Well done on stopping the demolition/clearance before having an accident 👏 The bonus of all that hard work is how much stuff you have decluttered including the desk 👏 Thank you for the lovely compliment 

Great work short_bird 👏

Excellent decluttering of paperwork Keiths_Mum 👏 What a lovely idea to gather together all the personal/emotional paperwork to go through with your brother 😊

Excellent decluttering ilovetea 👏

Great decluttering Muddy_Walker 👏 you must have been pleased that all the pens worked 😉 That sounds very wet - an ocean raining down on you 🙁 Please stay dry, warm & safe 🙏

Lovely supportive & informative post bit_by_bit 😊 Looking after children who are ill always strike me as one of the most tiring things to do - the physical aspect fetching & carrying coupled with the emotional toll of worrying about them must be exhausting 😪 Must have been a relief that 24 hours has gone by with no drama from Manchester 😮‍💨 Hopefully with SW on the case & in full possession of the facts there might be some real help available 🤞 I think you will enjoy brunch with your friends more than a lie-in 😉 especially if you can treat yourself to some decluttering in your own home 😅

Excellent decluttering mfwin2019 👏 It makes such a difference when there are no interruptions 😊

Two nail varnishes finished QueenJess 🤩 Keep up the good work, remember you don’t have to declutter when you are at the Maintenance stage - it is more a case of stopping clutter coming back into your home 🙂 Well done on the upcycling 👏

‘Oh dash it’ StickyTheStickInsect 😖 the politest way I could express the sheer annoyance on your behalf 😔 You are having absolutely zero luck with steam cleaners 🙁 I think I would give up 🤔

Caught up with the cheerleading so off to do the wudupa & then to bed 🤞

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖 💐 🤩 🏅🦸

Decluttering Target 2023: 78/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5.00

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, pages to catch up on again everyone is doing so well. I really don't like having workmen in, like others have said I always feel I should be helping but I moved out for a week when we were rewired and seriously regretted it. They moved light switches, shortened light wires so I can no longer just use the small ladders to change a bulb and I had to get them back in to move 1 socket as the under cabinet lights in the kitchen couldn't reach the socket, plus they hadn't connected the conservatory circuit in, my washing machine is in there. They suggested I use an extension lead. They got very short shrift on that one. Then to put the top hat on it they had blocked my hoover picking up chunks of wet plaster which meant I had to buy a new one. On the other hand I did leave the plasterers to do the hall stairs and landing while I was on holiday but they had done every other room in the house by then and I trusted them with a key. 

@Vulpix, it's very traumatic when parents are ill, and I hope you feel better soon, and you have workmen in, you don't do things by halves do you. Hugs

There are some things being posted that have really made me laugh "spare spare"   ballerina hands and regional Christmas tree wrestling champion. maybe we should have a petition to get it made into an Olympic sport. I bet we have some real experts on this train

Back to catching up

Liverpool_Anne

@EnergyShifter, lovely tulips

@crazy_cat_lady, it might be the pitch of the sound that he doesn't like, and would still be able to hear in another room. Dogs do have very sensitive ears. It might be worth seeing if you could borrow a friend's hoover, different make, to see if you get the same reaction

@daisy_1571 such useful information there for dealing with a lot of dog behaviour, thank you.

Back to catching up

Moorviews

Phew, just caught up with everyone! What fantastic decluttering you have all been doing 👏
Dundee Doll- I love your pretty wallpaper and new bed. 

Declutter day 9 was going through the kitchen fridge and getting rid of a few bits I didn’t get used up before they were too far gone. A wizened and mouldy carrot, 1/2 lettuce, 1/2 pot of crème fraiche and 1/2 pot of sour cream. Also a large collection of butter wrappers, two empty tomato purée tubes (I always think I can squeeze out a bit more) and some sachets of leftover things from one of those meal delivery boxes. Note made to wash out the bottom vegetable drawer when it gets a bit emptier.

Declutter day 10 was cleaning the bathroom shower and caddy. There seem to be about a million components to it which all gather gunk. Conditioner bottle and moisturiser finished and the bottle and jar recycled. 

Today I need to empty a lever arch file from 2015 ready for this year’s filing. I keep them for 7 years then just select out the bank statements in their plastic wallets and put them into the filing cabinet. The rest gets shredded.  It’s a cumbersome system in some ways but helps me to find things when I need them. A nice little job for a rainy day. 

Hmmm, I’ve just had one of those horrible scam phone calls telling me that a criminal case has been raised against me. Despite knowing what they are, I find them very uncomfortable and intimidating. I feel so sorry for anyone vulnerable receiving them.

Baxtersmum

Why don’t I learn? I repeat the same behaviours every year, buy and incredible amount in the sales just because I get cheap price fever. 

This year I’ve sent it all back except one pair of jeans. Feel very daft. Bought some really silly tat for next Christmas, I’m waiting on that parcel and will return it, no one wants to receive it and I’d pledged to just gift cash then people can but what they’ll use! 

Beating myself up for sale weakness x 

Siebrie

DD1 (14) had a horse riding class, and I took the opportunity to bring along 4 'magazines' to read: from insurance company, clubs I'm a member of, and 1 proper 50+ magazine . I tore out the 3 interesting articles/important dates, and put the rest of the informative magazines in the paper recycling. The proper magazine will be handed over to a church member next Sunday.

vulpix

 Hello Chums. 

 Lovely bedroom Dundee doll, so inviting.

 Daisy 1571, fab dog handling advice. My other work avoiding suggestion was to let the friend who distracts the dog, take it a walk whilst the hovering takes place! 

 Baxtersmum don't beat yourself up. You have realised what you are doing so that is half the battle. It's hard to get out of buying gifts mindset. We do secret santa now in the family but it just doesn't feel quite right buying so little. Great though for the limiting stuff you don't want or need coming in!

 The electrician is due today. The new fire is electric so he will chase new wiring in at the back of the fireplace. I am also getting him to change the light fitting from a handsome Habitat shade to an ordinary pendant. The shade is ombre and is dreadful light to try and craft in. I bought a white glass shade from FB. No builders today as they are waiting for the mortar to dry out before plastering. My lovely builder took the old pine fire surround and hearth to my friends house in a nearby village. her husband is  going to install it in their dining room. Lots of rubble and the old gas fire have been taken to the tip.

  I do genuinely where I can buy secondhand for renovations. If it costs very little I have no qualms about selling it on or giving to charity. If I buy from a chazzer and donate back to the chazzer they proffit twice! It keeps me out of trouble, finding things,renovating them and then getting rid! Most things I sell very cheap so I am not left with them,some things I have made an obscene amount of money on, when I used to do ebay.

 Thank you for the kind words about my Mum and MIL, it's a double whammy.

 Vx