2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks
2. Concerted effort to sort out sleep patterns - Realistic targets: bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 10:00 a.m 
3. Continue dealing 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

Forgot to post last night 😔 DH & DSis got back & I put away the shopping. The fridge is now rammed, so I need to empty & re-populate in a more suitable way 😞 DH had a cuppa, then went out for his walk. Today he was serenaded by a song thrush 😊 Dinner was fish, chips & peas for DH & me whilst DSis had chicken & chips. Wudupa

670 - 673 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans, glass bottle, plastic bottle - recycled

674 Kitchen detritus binned 

weenancy, all things considered & for the sake of my blood pressure, I have decided Not to make any further comments but just to thank our fellow Declutterati (Muddy_Walker, Floss, Liverpool_Anne, daisy_1571, CRANKY40, nannywindow & vulpix) for their (very restrained) comments 👏 All I can do is offer lots of cwtches 🤗 

Good luck with your listings Willowtree222 🍀 Hopefully you can discreetly declutter some of DD’s items without upsetting her 🤞Well done on the decluttering 👏

vulpix just googled Cadiz - it looks beautiful 😍 I will keep my fingers crossed that your garden doesn’t go wild whilst you are enjoying the rest of your holiday 🤞Lovely comments for TC77 😊

Liverpool_Anne, sorry to hear that your OH’s reluctance to discuss his health issue is causing you such stress 😔 Excellent diy work on the fence 👏 & how pleasing to find the tools you needed immediately 😊 Great cheerleading ☺️ I think I might look for some more pale coloured yarn & knit another scarf 🤔 

daisy_1571, This “Morning all, I've finally decluttered some house guests - an extra 7 people here for almost a week.  It all got a bit much !!! Lol, went to bed and slept for 2 hours when they left lol.  Sooooo nice not to have pounding feet running about this morning and if I never heard the word mummy again it will be fine by me.  Hats completely off to all you mothers on here, gee whizz I don't know how you stand it.” had me in stitches 🤣 I completely understand where you are coming from & will join you in a hats off to all mums 🤩 Very insightful comments about releasing items to new homes 🥹 & such empathetic comments for weenancy 🥹 Very eloquent despite your exhaustion 🥹

Lovely cheerleading post CRANKY40 😊 & thank you for the lovely compliment about the scarf ☺️ Hope DS’s exams went well 🤞

Sleep tight 😴 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐 💐 💐 🏅🥉🏅 🎂 🌟⭐️⭐️❤️ 🍫🐾 😍

DH Awards: 🏅 

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 674/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £41.00

Muddy_Walker

Well after being incredibly grouchy yesterday felt much better after food and a shower and slept for 12 hours solid 🙄🙄🙄

I have attacked the front with a lawnmower - it is soooooo humid here!!!! Sprayed my holly and roses with watered down washing up liquid - it’s supposed to stop aphids. We will see…..at least it looks better even though there is stacks to do.

Biggest job at the front will be sorting out my rockery but that can wait. There are 2 dogs inside who want their mum as I can here Rogan 🤣🤣🤣

Dizzycap hope you get some decent pain free sleep and that Baby face is better.

MrsSD love to you xxxxx

Brie

Odd declutter (beginning to think that all of my declutters are odd) ..... 

OH had bought something from the diy place about 5 years back and left it in the car port.  It was likely leaning against the wall originally but it's a bit blowy out there so ended up on the ground getting dirtier and dustier.  But it was wrapped in plastic so who cares.  Fast forward to this wee at the food bank and one of the chaps was trying to add something to the bottom of the large chapel doors as there's about an inch gap so it's always cold and breezy.  His plan didn't work and he was doing a good natured grumble and it suddenly occurred to me that what the OH had bought was a pack of those brushy draft excluders.  So took the plastic off and binned that so as not to get the car dirty and have left those at work to do a bit of good for everyone who works in or uses the food bank!!  

TC77

@Muddy_Walker glad you're feeling better.
Just home 6 trains ( including tubes) and a bus replacment journey instead of 2 trains back fro..my dads. Came back to chaos; dd2 rummaged through drawers for wrapping paper and everything left out and open and she's got rid of nothing more and what she did the other day isn't that much with recyling not making it to the outside bin while I was away she'll he 21 in a few months so abit frustrated. She is super stressed but some of the waste drives me round the bend!
Sorry for the rant!

weenancyinAmerica

J being especially nice since his talk with BiL. Di on second batch of books to go back to the library for the book sale, Friend Handyman came over and cleared half of the backyard all by himself, and J paid neighbor boy to mow front lawn. So the outside is looking much better. Today I will try and tackle the inside of the refrigerator. Already have almost three full trash cans - regular, recycling, and yard waste here. Some cleaning will have to wait until trash has been picked up so we can refill the cans. May have to see what our trash company charges for a small dumpster to clear the rest of the backyard weeds. 

Have figured out if I put a box in front of Di and talk her through cleaning it out she is able to do it. Left on her own - forget it. Should have remembered what we had to do when she was in her old house and it was being sold. I would go sit on a chair and point to what she was to clean next - the only way we were able to do it as I had just had knee surgery. I would stay for a couple of hours at a time. Otherwise, nothing happened. We were still cleaning out the garage when the new people were moving in.  

Many thank yous and hugs to those who have been posting. I really appreciate it. Add my own depression with the state of my country - I am avoiding watching news, trying to think lovely thoughts - really hard to do. We may actually get some more Spring weather before summer hits. Not today - supposed to be 24C here today. But going back down for awhile. 

Wishing all of you a good day today and tomorrow. 

Happy_Kitties

157) back of a picture frame-binned
158) cat ornament of DDads that was sitting in my living room-binned. It was missing a tail and different bits, just a small ornament, no idea why he kept it.
159) a very hardened pack of sweets (only 5 years old) found wheelchair I gave away yesterday, sweets into recycling.
160) more paperwork shredded and disposed off
161) a small trashed paper crafting booklet into recycling 
162) old highlighter pen thing of DDs from a few years ago now-into recycling
163) I’ve been given some mugs for the shoeboxes, one mug chipped so binned

thinking of you @weenancyinAmerica

Dizzycap

daisy_1571 said:

Morning all, I've finally decluttered some house guests - an extra 7 people here for almost a week.  It all got a bit much !!! Lol, went to bed and slept for 2 hours when they left lol.  Sooooo nice not to have pounding feet running about this morning and if I never heard the word mummy again it will be fine by me.  Hats completely off to all you mothers on here, gee whizz I don't know how you stand it.
Daisy xxx 

@ daisy_1571 - This was the first post I came into this evening, and it had me rolling with laughter 😂🤣🤣🤣So Succinctly, but truthfully said 🤣😇

@ TC77 - I hope your dad's house clean & clear up went well, and hopefully finish? I hope you can still move around your own place after having to brings items hope to pass on. It's always so difficult I just caught up on your terrible retrun journey and finding the place a little messy. Never mind, we've all been there or will be at some time in our life. Decluttering is a slowly but surely marathon and often takes one; which you are, to encourage another or others, eventually

@ YBR - "A beautiful day here, and especially so since it's the beginning of 17 days off work, so I took it gently and walked to an appointment rather than contesting with rush-hour drivers. I finished off preparation for Sunday's service, did laundry, read a (text) book in the sun... You can see this is leading to not a lot of decluttering today!"  Sounds like a lovely relaxing decluttering of quality time to me

@ Muddy_Walker - "Well after being incredibly grouchy yesterday felt much better after food and a shower and slept for 12 hours solid 🙄🙄🙄" Welcome to the 12 hour sleep club, although my burn out sleep has clocked in at 18 hours with a short 20 minute coffee break and to let babyface out & feed her, then off we pottered back to bed again - I woke up 2 hours ago wondering what day it was, never mind what time I've manage to peel my clothes off and dump them in the washing machine which is happily washing away, have a shower, put on my lovely PJ's, put out babyfaces dinner, and decluttering a lovely fresh coffee, the first of many Those are the major wins for me today, that'll do nicely thank you and I'm more than happy to repeat the whole cycle again tonight & tomorrow Babyface has only just surfaced , so she obviously needed the sleep, and boy can she snore when she's in deep sleep I love the sound of her pounding feet as she bounds down the hallway proceeded by fruit-loops in between the kitchen, lounge, hallway & bedroom She's eaten all her dinner and is presently crunching away on a homemade peanut cookie; she burried somewhere, with waggy tail while I repeated the much needed coffee cycle  

Time to potter off and feed the foxes, so wishing everyone a very peaceful & well rested night xxx Ta-ta for now xxxxxxx

Dizzycap

Morning All Up nice and early after another good sleep session and with copable pain - Hooooooray!

Slowly pottering about with the usual HH recycling bin clearout & kitchen surfaces, draining board & dish rack cleaning, along with emptying the fridge and cleaning the shelves, door holding racks & wiping over the fridge freezer doors while waiting for the kettle to boil - I need buckets of coffee to wake up this morning

Not much planned today as the washing lines are already full of washing from last night, except having another lovely shower, taking babyface for a short morning walk, enjoying sitting in the garden for a while, and resting. Having said that, I've just listed a few decluttered items on Mr. eBy and forgot that I had scheduled auctions to start, so I was productive up until Wednesday on the decluttering listing front, but forgot about it! I've got a few items to pre-pack ready to declutter off to postie on Monday, but still haven't managed to get to the chemist to return meds - you can't win them all! 

Babyface is loving slobbing about with cuddles and kisses & long sleeps. She thundered down the hallway 20 minutes ago to see what was happening, popped outside, threw a few toys around the lounge, & then demanded breakfast before snuggling up in her clean bunty bed snoring & snorting her head off! How the other half live Wishing everyone a super peaceful & relaxing Sunday Toodle-pipsy for now xxx

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks
2. Concerted effort to sort out sleep patterns - Realistic targets: bed by 2:00 a.m. & up by 10:00 a.m 
3. Continue dealing 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

Good morning from a bright & sunny London - forecast high 20°C & low 8°C I was up at 11:00 to say goodbye to DH as he is off on his RBR travels. He had packed his overnight bag last night & after squeezing into his motorcycle gear 😬 & loading the bike, he headed off at 11:25 - not quite sure where so will report tonight when he phones. Back to cheerleading Friday’s posts: 

 Muddy_Walker, This “Suitable words for Weenancy BIL……um……non repeatable here!!!!!!!” precisely my thoughts 😉 Hopefully the new washing machine is plumbed in & the weather stays fine enough to catch up on any laundry 😊 Great work in the garden 👏 & good luck with the 2nd attempt at the scarf 🍀

YBR, totally agree with This “It's so wrong that you should be shouted at in your own home, or that you should be left shaking. I hope that actual help materialises without strings attached, and not just more shouting……” What a great start to your time off work 😊 Hopefully the weather will stay nice for the remaining 16 days 🤞Great work cleaning & tidying the shed 👏 You must be so pleased that there is now room to stow tools etc as they appear around the garden 😊

Lovely to see you back nannywindow 👋 Sorry to hear that ill health & RL knocked you for six 😢 Hopefully you are now on your journey of recovery 🙏 having started with a holiday 😊 Excellent decluttering all round especially in the garden 👏 Just so happy to have you back 😊 

DH has just phoned (he went as far north as Manchester) & is now in a hotel 60 miles south. The restaurant is shut due to a wedding, so DH will have a pub dinner after he has showered. 

Florenceem, a busy Friday at SA 🤩 Very pleased to hear that MrF came with you & that everyone was so happy to see him & on his birthday 🥹 A happy birthday to MrF’s old friend on Saturday 🎂 

Excellent decluttering Happy_Kitties 👏

weenancy, hopefully whatever your BiL said to J & Di will stick & lead to consistent & long lasting help with the decluttering 🙏  Very pleased to hear that both your sugar level & BP have dropped 🥹

DSis & I had salad for dinner. DSis had treated us to apple turnovers for afters. Wudupa

675 Kitchen recycling 

676 - 677 Kitchen & lr detritus -  binned

Lovely cheerleading Dizzycap 😊 Sorry to hear that both you & babyface have been suffering over the last couple of days 😢 Hope that the new meds help you to get lots of sleep & that babyface continues her recovery to full health 🙏 Please take care & get as much rest as possible 🙏

-taff, excellent work with the Tip runs 👏 Good luck with the decorating 🍀

Excellent work at your Dad’s TC77 👏 & hopefully the estate agent will have some good news soon 🤞Good luck with the listings 🍀

Such a lovely post dND & thank you for sharing 👏 especially This “To everyone else stressed or in pain, there is so much love on this thread.  It may not always be written and posted but there will be so many good wishes in the ether.” Thank you so much for my medal 🥇 

Muddy_Walker, pleased to hear that you are feeling so much better after a shower & a long sleep ☺️

Brie, what a brilliant bit of decluttering 👏 Halo is on its way 😇 

TC77, what a nightmare journey back from your Dad’s 😣 Sorry to hear This “Came back to chaos; dd2 rummaged through drawers for wrapping paper and everything left out and open and she's got rid of nothing more and what she did the other day isn't that much with recyling not making it to the outside bin while I was away she'll he 21 in a few months so abit frustrated. She is super stressed but some of the waste drives me round the bend!…Sorry for the rant!” No need to apologise for venting 😉 this is a safe space ☺️ As I was reading I could almost feel your blood pressure rising 😥 

weenancy, long may J & Di continue to be helpful 🙏  just a shame that it took your BiL having a rant to get them both moving ☹️ However, still no excuse for him to shout at you 😡 What a nice ‘surprise’ that Friend Handyman came & worked so hard ☺️ I am hoping that he returns & completes the work 🤞 I can understand your depression, so no surprise that you are trying to avoid the news 😕 Sending lots of cwtches 🤗 across the pond ☺️

Excellent decluttering Happy_Kitties 👏

Beautiful post Dizzycap 🥹 such lovely cheerleading ☺️ Very pleased to hear that both you & babyface are getting plenty of sleep ☺️ So happy to hear This “Morning All ❤️ Up nice and early after another good sleep session and with copable pain - Hooooooray! 😆” especially as I am just off to bed 😉 Hope you & babyface have a lovely relaxing Sunday 😊

Sleep tight everyone 😴 

MrsSD Awards: 💐 🌟 ❤️ ❤️ 🏅 💐 💐 💐 🏅🥉🏅 🎂 🌟⭐️⭐️❤️ 🍫🐾 😍🥇

DH Awards: 🏅 

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 674/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £41.00

charlies_tribe

Good morning. A busy week has flown past. I've had 3 doctors appointments, DGD has stayed most of the week, some important visitors and children's appointments too. 

The other day DH cleared some of the smaller shed into the nos a bit emptier large shed and then we refilled the small shed with boxes that were being stored behind the sofa waiting for somewhere to belong. It looked a lot better when the important visitors arrived. Even when DSil dropped DGD off he commented that it looked empty and something was missing, yes all the stuff im not even sure I need. It does need to be sorted though as DH needs to bring the lawnmower back down.

DH was at work so no more was done on the skip until yesterday. We put some bits in, I'll have a look later to see if there's anything big I missed but he and DS1 spent the afternoon at DD1 helping them and the neighbours lift a shed over the fence that they had given DD1 then they had to rearrange the Playhouse and trampoline and things to make it fit.
Hopefully its nice enough the next few days to get the shed finished as it is forecasting rain.

DH has just got up so ill go make another tea and report back with my list later. Have a lovely day.