2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Jellybaby

Hello 👋 , sorry too much happening and chat to respond to everyone but I’m reading along and enjoying everything you get up to and all the pet and flower pics.

I’m still working away on the house and have reduced my clothes, shoes and handbags quite significantly along with the cupboard of doom I used to keep towels, bed linen, spare blankets, duvets etc in. I’ve kept the things I love and they’re all folded and boxed neatly. I bought some cheap shelving units from the Swedish place and what a difference they make!

Kitchen cupboards have all been cleared and washed out, very OOD food binned and table and oven ware sorted. 

Next on the list is my late DH’s tools. They’ve been lying, mostly unused, in the garage for over ten years. DS has taken what he wants and I have a friend coming to take the rest. He supports a community workshop and they will check and test the things they want to keep. Apart from garden furniture, the garage will almost be empty once they go!

Photographs might be tackled next but if the weather stays nice then reading my book in the garden might win 😁

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

Tuesday is another lovely sunny day with a forecast high of 23°C & low of 9°C ☀️ Straight into cheerleading now that I have my first cuppa 😉

Dizzycap, so sorry to hear that babyface has been so unwell 🤤 It is a good job that you understand her so well & that you took her to the vet so quickly 😮‍💨 Everything crossed that the antibiotics do their work quickly & that babyface recovers fully over the next few days 🙏 Now you just have to persuade her that gentle exercise & plenty of rest are the orders of the day 🙏 Good luck building the new ramps 🍀 I now have visions of you bombing round the garden testing the ramps 😉 & babyface looking all grumpy whilst she waits her turn 😠 Excellent decluttering 👏 Surely it won’t be too long before there is nothing left to declutter 🤔 I am getting very excited about the swans, as Mr & Mrs Swan seem to be getting ready for the big event 🥹 I especially love This “Mr Swan is preparing the river gliding along proudly and magestically while giving anyone and anything the eye-ball! 😆” as it sounds like the swan equivalent of pacing up & down the corridor 🥹 Very relieved to hear that babyface recognises that Mr Swan is the King 😂

TC77, pleased to hear that the stationery culling is still going well 👏

Good luck with your assignment YBR 🍀 It sounds like you are training your children well in the art of preventing clutter 👏

Lovely post Moorviews 😊 Excellent decluttering 👏 Please have a medal🏅 for tackling the waste pipes 👏  plus 💐 Good luck potting on your seedlings 🍀

Dizzycap, what a busy morning you had 🤩 although a bit concerned that you were up so early 😢 I do hope you are managing to sleep a bit better 🙏 Very pleased to hear that babyface is feeling & looking better 🥹 I imagine babyface is getting quite excited about having her new ramps & the prospect of having both you & your Mum at her beck & call 😅

Another excellent week of decluttering Florenceem 👏

Lovely post vulpix 😊 Hope the viewing in your old village goes well 🙏 Good luck with your story writing 🍀 & keep up the good work decluttering yarn 👏 I am looking forward to seeing pictures of the completed items 😉

Nice to see you Muddy_Walker 👋 Very pleased to hear that you are seeing light at the end of the ‘medical issues tunnel’ 😮‍💨 Hopefully now that your husband has finally booked a GP appointment he will soon be on the path to recovery 🙏 

Lovely to see you Jellybaby 👋 Wow, you have been busy 🤩 excellent decluttering of clothing, linens, kitchen cupboards etc. 👏 A Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way 😊 Great news that your late DH’s tools will soon have new homes 🥹 I would definitely ignore the photo sorting & make the most of the good weather 😉

All caught up again 🙂 DH & DSis have gone into Lewisham to sort out a transfer of monies from her French bank account to an English one. The final confirmation that she won’t ever move back to France & that DH & I will have a permanent 3 person household 😉 I hope that everyone is lucky enough to have some good weather & managing to top up their Vitamin D levels 😊

See you later 👋 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’

DSis Awards:

Decluttering Target 2025: 769/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £116.00

TC77

Mrs SD , a gold medal and  starring for catching up - no mean feat!
Just left work and pff to try tai chi tonight so u sure if any decluttering will happen. Will report if it does 

Brie

Gers said:

This is a radio 4 programme about decluttering. I thought that all those who are doing such a great job in their homes can take a rest and listen.

interesting but I don't agree 100% that clutter began with the Victorians.  I can't believe that there weren't any neanderthals that had cluttered caves given that getting the right flint, skin, stick would be prized and very hard to replace so if there were not quite right ones they would be saved "just in case".  No different than those of us who fill a drawer with off cuts of ribbon or elastic bands or whatever.

QueenJess

Just checking in for today.  Nothing used up in the kitchen department (apart from some pasta which wasn't on the use up list), but I am slowly making my way through using up more things in there.  I've also been sorting out a shelf/surface a day with DS as he can no longer keep his room tidy again.  I can't quite work out what it is, but he needs regular interventions.  Maybe I need to do a big paper sort again with him, but not up for that right now as I am battling a sore throat.

5 things to declare as in... 2 cubs uniform for DS and 3 bits of packaging for it!  No wonder I have so much packaging.  I also have a bag delivered today from my parents that they want to open when they get here on Monday (not sure why they didn't then get it delivered to them?).  I assume this is the start of the stuff I shall be receiving..  Not counting that until it is opened up.  I am going backwards today

4 - DS random tat (charity box)

New total 1,235
Use it up total 103
Net physical things in/(out) +48
Mini kitchen challenge 16/50

Brambling

Brie said:

Gers said:

This is a radio 4 programme about decluttering. I thought that all those who are doing such a great job in their homes can take a rest and listen.

interesting but I don't agree 100% that clutter began with the Victorians.  I can't believe that there weren't any neanderthals that had cluttered caves given that getting the right flint, skin, stick would be prized and very hard to replace so if there were not quite right ones they would be saved "just in case".  No different than those of us who fill a drawer with off cuts of ribbon or elastic bands or whatever.

Not sure when it started but I think definitely WW2 had a hand in making a certain generation become hoarders. My parents married in 1940 and up until they died it was difficult to break that 'keep it just in case' mentally or keeping a supply of tinned goods in the larder.  As a child of the 70s I remembered the embarrassment of my dad sending notes to school written on any scrap of paper folded into its self to avoid envelopes, my elder siblings said he was the same with them. I know there are many times where I have to make myself get rid of something rather than keeping it for justin!

His lordship was nearly declutterred outside at midnight last night and I keep him in overnight! The little **** decided he wanted out at 11pm and played up for a hour, being very vocal and clearing the dressing table three times.  He did eventually use his litter tray which he hates and settle down whereas I clock watched all night 🙄

Mainly a lazy day other than changing the bedding, I did start to tackle the plastic containers from the kitchen but gave up, too many tops not matching botttoms there must be some more somewhere as I haven't thrown any away, I think I have to face the under the stairs cupboard to see if I've thrown them in there  after given up I had a small nap and then did some crafting this afternoon 

QueenJess

Brambling said:

Brie said:

Gers said:

This is a radio 4 programme about decluttering. I thought that all those who are doing such a great job in their homes can take a rest and listen.

interesting but I don't agree 100% that clutter began with the Victorians.  I can't believe that there weren't any neanderthals that had cluttered caves given that getting the right flint, skin, stick would be prized and very hard to replace so if there were not quite right ones they would be saved "just in case".  No different than those of us who fill a drawer with off cuts of ribbon or elastic bands or whatever.

Not sure when it started but I think definitely WW2 had a hand in making a certain generation become hoarders. My parents married in 1940 and up until they died it was difficult to break that 'keep it just in case' mentally or keeping a supply of tinned goods in the larder.  As a child of the 70s I remembered the embarrassment of my dad sending notes to school written on any scrap of paper folded into its self to avoid envelopes, my elder siblings said he was the same with them. I know there are many times where I have to make myself get rid of something rather than keeping it for justin!

His lordship was nearly declutterred outside at midnight last night and I keep him in overnight! The little **** decided he wanted out at 11pm and played up for a hour, being very vocal and clearing the dressing table three times.  He did eventually use his litter tray which he hates and settle down whereas I clock watched all night 🙄

Mainly a lazy day other than changing the bedding, I did start to tackle the plastic containers from the kitchen but gave up, too many tops not matching botttoms there must be some more somewhere as I haven't thrown any away, I think I have to face the under the stairs cupboard to see if I've thrown them in there  after given up I had a small nap and then did some crafting this afternoon 

I would love to do that from an environmental perspective, but also bring very little in so I’m not cluttering the place. I see waste everywhere and I hate it.

I read a news story earlier about authorities having the ability to impound and crush cars that are involving in fly tipping to stop people doing it. All I could think of is what a horrible waste that is to crush a car that works perfectly well 🤷‍♀️

Floss

Brambling said:

 As a child of the 70s I remembered the embarrassment of my dad sending notes to school written on any scrap of paper folded into its self to avoid envelopes... 

Oh I remember that! A sheet of writing paper folded into 3 and then again with the end tucked into a fold!

TC77

@Brie ...I laughed out loud thinking for the cluttered caves and saving sticks in case they came in useful. I think I heard 5 minutes on decluttering on your and yours today but maybe it linked back to women's hour. Thanks for the link @Gers
I take envelopes out of the recycling bin to write my shopping lists on and keep ribbon etc.   WW2 and rationing definitely had an impact as the number of very small pencils my dad had, left over paper, diy stuff etc.
Can't believe the chaos I have made on my own now DD2 back at uni. I am doing alot more outside the house, so long walk sunday, creative textiles last night (3 hours) after work. We did applique - fun and as many know here I am a total beginner on sewing etc. Tonight Tai Chi  - first for over 20 years so can't remember and a different 'form' so clothes not put away and work bag from being in the office unpacked. I also went to neighbour's funeral yesterday, very sad as he was young (and his widow) and the children are mid teens and my loveliest neighbours.
I did manage to start to sort out a kitchen cupboard and decided things I rarely or never use (Oven doesn't work but may one day so baking equipment can go on a top shelf) can be moved out of prime space. Found candles and gift bags - small ones but counting all into CS bag- 35 in total. Also posted item with packing I sold at the weekend so 37 plus a random lid in with table tennis bats. 
Emptied dishwasher tonight and will put washing on tomorrow before working at home and physio visit.
765

weenancyinAmerica

Many years ago, the local government used squashed cars to shore up the banks of a raging river that was being wiped away. They used over 50 cars this way.