2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD

Brie

Well you will be pleased to hear that I have put the Christmas decorations away.  Now it's not as bad as it sounds as they had all been taken down what few we had, actually it was only 1 decoration (bizarre now I think about it) but there was a lot of table cloths, napkins and tea towels.  Plus the wrapping paper.  Major roadblock to putting away is that all this is stored in the little loft room access via our bedroom.  The door is about 4 feet high and the highest bit of ceiling is 5 feet so it's not too easy.  But it's done.  And I noticed how very cold it is in there (no insulation at all) and wondering again if the big wool rug that's rolled up in the garage could go in there to at least keep the room below a bit cosier.  Assuming the rug hasn't rotted being the garage over the last year or so.

Also tidied up OH's dumping chair - i.e. where clothes get dumped when he gets undressed.  I try to blank it out most the time but with him elsewhere I thought I'd ensure there was no laundry lurking (there wasn't but there's a fleece he's worn and a shirt that both can go in the wash.)  Surprised to find no less than 6 pairs of shorts that have obviously been there since August at least.  Found places to put his laundry as well which might cause confusion when he returns home.

Have also managed to cancel an hospital appointment for Thursday which I don't have the head space for.  Very annoyingly I've tried to do this on two previous days repeatedly but there's a huge cue and it's fairly standard to get cut off after a couple of minutes.  Turns out there's a text option. 

Need to take the excess kitchen items back and find a decent dish rack for the draining board.  Got one from Lakeland but I'm not convinced it's sturdy enough.

Also wondering for those that like Birtwhistle (interesting cleaning ideas!!) ....I see she has a recipe for a cleaning liquid that involves citric acid.  As chance would have it I've discovered a litre of fresh orange juice in the fridge that's 4 days past it's best before date and it will not get used.  Wondering if pouring that in the toilet would work as well as B's magic cleaning stuff.  I have 2 other bottles of juice BBD 2 Feb so will try to drop those at the food bank for immediate distribution.   

Floss

Brie said:

Also wondering for those that like Birtwhistle (interesting cleaning ideas!!) ....I see she has a recipe for a cleaning liquid that involves citric acid.  As chance would have it I've discovered a litre of fresh orange juice in the fridge that's 4 days past it's best before date and it will not get used.  Wondering if pouring that in the toilet would work as well as B's magic cleaning stuff.  I have 2 other bottles of juice BBD 2 Feb so will try to drop those at the food bank for immediate distribution.   

I would chuck it down & leave it a while before flushing.

I have an IKEA magnetic knife strip on the side of a wall cabinet - the knives are easily accessible but out of the way 😉

Brie

@Gers & @Floss
Thanks for the idea about the magnetic knife thingme.  I hadn't thought of that.  I know there are in drawer knife holders too but wonder if they would hold the variety of knives we have - the largest are heavy 8 inch chef knives so I'd be cautious about how well that would hang on the wall so maybe it's better in a drawer....hmmm.....think I'll check out lakelond too.....

Gers

Brie said:

@Gers & @Floss
Thanks for the idea about the magnetic knife thingme.  I hadn't thought of that.  I know there are in drawer knife holders too but wonder if they would hold the variety of knives we have - the largest are heavy 8 inch chef knives so I'd be cautious about how well that would hang on the wall so maybe it's better in a drawer....hmmm.....think I'll check out lakelond too.....

Mine is very strong indeed!  I'd also hesitate to have kitchen knives in a drawer as they can that can dull the edges and is considered by many to be a safety hazard. No reason why you can't have two magnetic racks.

bit_by_bit

So much going on here. Congrats to all those who are managing to get rid of something and hugs to those struggling.

I am finally recovering from the horrible virus. Almost stopped coughing and have a bit more energy.

Yesterday was big frog day - the tax return. All done and dusted thankfully. A second frog, ordering money for my MiL for her Norwegian cruise has also been done.

Also yesterday I took a bag of bric a brac and 3 bags of in and outs to the cs.

In and outs are items given to me to pass on or dispose of. I am trying to take less this year but have developed a good startegy for these e.g. The bags/boxes come in, are sorted and relocated outwards again. I hanging onto none of it.

Before I was ill I was doing well microjobbing around the house. It has taken ages but I have restarted. Overnight I emptied 5 small boxes into like with like e.g. craft, documents, toys, a box of new items for a charity tombola now all in one plaace. Some has gone to recycling and the bin. 

Have a great day all.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Moorviews

I have ransacked the pantry cupboard and disposed of several packages of OOD coconut and nuts, blancmange powder and superfoods which will no longer have superpowers. On my previous going through, I thought that I might get these used up but it was not to be and they have gone beyond what is reasonable. I have forced the family to finish the jars of jam that they have left with a mere teaspoon of jam spread around the jar. Nobody wants to be accused of “finishing all the jam”! That’s several more jars gone from the fridge. I might declare open season on the more expensive cordial that is in there too as it was opened before Christmas. To give everyone their due we have done well on decluttering the chocolate and biscuits! I can feel the waves of disappointment when people open the fridge though 😂 In my defence, nobody is going hungry here but the Moorviews delicatessen is temporarily undergoing a refit and will resume service in February. 

@Brie - I second weenancy on washing up liquid and bicarbonate of soda on kitchen greasy dust. I put a splodge of the  washing liquid on the cloth and a teaspoon of bicarb on that. It makes for a degreasing gentle scourer without leaving a horrible strong smell. I hope you are enjoying finding homes for everything in your lovely new kitchen. 

Rootle

3/52 - just a little one but belt and jeans that were done are now in the bin.

flamingo747

Tuesday is a very popular day for bins it seems! Nothing to report here, though I am in the middle of the repainting frog. 

vulpix

This is for those of you who watch Shetland. 

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks + a weekly Jettison Junk in January

2. Sort out sleep patterns - target bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 9:00 a.m 

3. Deal with mail & email on a daily basis

4. Don’t put it down, put it away + deal with mini tasks as soon as they are noticed e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

5. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ using the acronym - I.R.I.S. (Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off) - One per quarter

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

Everyone was late getting up this morning which might have something to do with how grey it is outside 😔 No sunshine at all although still mild. DH is having a quick bath & he & DSis will probably head out about 13:30. 

Siebrie, such a difficult situation 😔 Hopefully the conversation between your husband & his sister will result in some practical & money saving solutions 🤞It sounds like your dear Mum is keeping busy - loving your description of her “is a little diesel engine decluttering and taking on admin tasks” 😊

Brambling, sounds like you had a good senior manager - proving that there are some about 😊 Although your immediate manager seems to have been a grade A …………. insert appropriate word 😉 

bamboo_socks, exactly the correct use of the word ‘frog’ - Well done on tackling the clothing pile & not only listing but also bagging up for CS 👏 I will keep everything crossed for quick sales on V*nted 🤞

QueenJess, sorry to hear that you are getting so stressed 😔 However please remember that you are an extraordinary declutterer who also knows how to prioritise 👏😊 With so much decluttered, it should make the tidying easier 🤞Please, please take at least a few minutes to rest in between tasks just to appreciate how much you have done 🙏

Great work Crazycatlady2 👏 

Excellent decluttering Millie2008_2 👏 Good luck with your listings 🍀

Excellent decluttering Radish72 👏 I have just had a random thought - ‘do the volunteers in CS prefer sorting a bag of clothes or a bag of mixed & random items 🧐’ sorry completely off with the fairies & only brought about by my thinking that I would love to sort through your bag of donations 😜 Good luck with the fence panel 🍀

QueenJess, excellent start to your current round of tidying 👏

tibawo, re decluttering money planning your DD’s 21st, I bet your first thought was “where have the years gone” 😉 As to DD2’s trip, perhaps the college should have given all the students something in writing 😔 Re the client causing issues I would say that they are the ones being awkward NOT you 😯 Although I do think that whilst Ofsted inspections seem to be a good idea in some ways, they do cause pandemonium & fear as the results can often seem arbitrary 😔 Congratulations on becoming a Great Auntie 🥳 I hope mum & baby are doing well 😊

I have caught up a little but need a short break to make another cuppa 😉 Back shortly 🙂

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Decluttering Target 2023: 182/2024

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