2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

QueenJess

Still chipping away at the clutter and trying to be utterly ruthless... is it something that sits out reminding me I don't have time to deal with it?  Then it's gone.  Does it need to be out at all or could it be put away somewhere? Am I realistically ever going to have enough time to deal with it?

I saw a video online which had a 5/7 rule - if you use it 5 days out of 7 then it can stay out, otherwise it should go away.  I'm thinking about that as I look around as the less I have out, the easier it is to keep things clean.  Obviously the plants can stay!

Digital:
15 - download files deleted

Physical:
1 - food cupboard overstock used up 
2 - books I won’t re-read (charity box)
1 - paper shredded
1 - useless stickers (binned)
1 - lunch box that’s too big (Buy Nothing)
2 - packaging reused
2 - kitchen containers I don’t need
1 - broken plastic bag (recycled)
1 - baking overstock used up
2 - freezer overstock used up 

New total 3,848
Use it up total 328
Big kitchen declutter challenge 105/150

regnbue

Thank you Mrs_Salad_Dodger for my two gold stars.

Oops you are absolutely right about me being unable to count properly.  Apologies, and even worse, I think I added 21 more (not 20 which is bad enough) so I have adjusted my total down on this post.

Thank you for keeping me on the straight and narrow 

Decluttering 389/500     Nail polishes 8/28        Cleaning products     3/22    Hair mousse    0/7   

Make £350 in 2025   £132/£350        Sell 50 items fleabay/FB   15/50      Items in 110

Beauty face masks 3/9     Bags dishwasher salt 0/3      Puzzle books 0/12

2025 ⭐️ 🏅💐💐⭐️⭐️

2024 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅💐

2023 🏅🏅🏅 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💐 💐 💐 💐

TC77

Arrgh.... think I may have the longest running frog.  Jan 2024 thought resolved and through out some.paperwork and then realised Jan 25 not so court today with ex and judge gave him benefit so have to see later in the year if he pays - on going for 12 years in some shape or form. Always do lots of copies but have more of some stuff than others. A cull tonight and back for shredding and 2 small lever arch files empty.  
D cousin funeral yesterday went as well as it could and my dearest cousin ( his sister) was amazing and so many lovely friends  and family there to support her with all her children home and she has a lovely DH. 
Dropped off bag at donation hub and one f dd2's friend coming to pick up some perfume and hopefully other toiletries I told dd2 won't keep well  for a year. 
So paper and broken plastic file out. 
Nice surprise found an item sold, only.pennies really but glad to see it find a new home. 
Sorry for the ramble and tomorrow start other multi stage/ year but not as old frogs! 
Take care everyone. 
I do recall @charlies_tribe conservatory so how fab of you to make it into a living room.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, another busy day here but I am on the home stretch of the things it is possible for me to clean, dust and tidy by tomorrow afternoon. Not that I have nothing else to do, just no more time 😂. 
OH suggested that this would be a good time to look for a cleaner as there are some areas that are positively gleaming so it would be nice if they can stay that way while I work on other areas 😂. 
So the scores on the doors today are 3 LDFPA except the lr curtains are waiting until I have cleaned the windows tomorrow to be rehung, very old pair currently up to stop the nosy neighbours looking in 😂. 3 rags worn away and binned, kitchen bin, lr bin x 2, lr recycling x 2, shower slip mat binned, 3 dead house plants disposed of, cleaning product overstock uu, booked tickets for dniece and I to go to a thing called beyond Monet for Thursday as weather wise the forecast isn't brilliant and it's inside. OH has moved 3 more bags of stuff upstairs and the bedroom and room of doom are a proper mess but that's life 😂.

@Mrs SD thank you for my medal, I now have a clean dusted and clear mantle piece to display it 😁

@suzeesu2000 1114 WOW 😁

Right off to bed now so hugs to anybody who would like one

Numbers now at 1110 😁
Take care everyone
1110/2025

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 continued: 14:05 DH phoned - he went the wrong way on one of the buses & didn’t notice for 8 stops 🙊 so will probably not be home until 15:00 ☹️ With all the talk about dropping off donations to CS, I have just phoned to make sure my preferred CS are taking donations. Fortunately yes, so I will stir my stumps & make sure I drop off 2 bags worth of donations by the end of the week. Added bonus is that it will bump up my numbers 🤣 DH got home about 15:00. This week there were several people missing from the WLP meeting including the only other male. This week’s instructions were to increase daily step count by 10% & use an App to calorie count. Dinner was linguine in a creamy bacon and pea sauce 😋 Wudupa

1423 - 1426 Kitchen & office recycling, drinks cans, plastic jar - recycled 

1427 - 1429 Kitchen, lr & office detritus - binned 

Sad news from France - nephew phoned & his dad had suffered a pulmonary embolism & despite doctors trying to resuscitate him for 45 minutes they were unable to revive him 😢 

Resuming the cheerleading as still on Sunday’s posts

Sounds like both you & Rogan had a good weekend Muddy_Walker 🥹 & that it was very cathartic for you 🥹 Apologies for being so tardy in handing out your awards 😔

Willowtree222, thank you for sharing 🥹

Excellent work cleaning, tidying & decluttering Liverpool_Anne 👏 Hopefully your OH will remember his lightbulb moment & tidy up the kitchen after his batch cooking sessions 🙏

Now starting the cheerleading for Tuesday’s posts 🙂

Dizzycap, love the idea that you had a busy Monday spending other people’s money 😅 A busy Tuesday & I hope Gorda’s visit to the vet went well 🤞 As to babyface, I do hope she is OK & hasn’t done too much damage to herself 🙏

Soontobeoap, fingers crossed you can keep the grandchildren entertained 🤞Perhaps you can start teaching them the art of decluttering 😂

YBR, yippee to sourcing more banana boxes 🥳 sounds like your packing is going really well 👏

Oops, so much for another consecutive night of going to bed earlier 🙊 Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️ 🏅 

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1429/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £299.00

Wednesday2000

Liverpool_Anne said:

OH suggested that this would be a good time to look for a cleaner as there are some areas that are positively gleaming so it would be nice if they can stay that way while I work on other areas 😂. 

I was thinking of getting my house deep cleaned. I saw a local firm on FB and I might get an initial deep clean and then book someone for every fortnight.

I had a nice time at the Royal Albert Hall yesterday for afternoon tea. I have a donation bag to take today and I am going to go through my wardrobe again before I leave.

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

Wednesday: a bright sunny day with a high of 23°C, low 13°C & humidity 44% perfect drying day so first load in wm. Back to cheerleading:

charlies_tribe, wow you & DH did have an extremely busy weekend 🤩 Very impressed with how much you got done especially all the heavy lifting 👏 I am awarding you Each a Gold Star ⭐️ ⭐️  plus I see that your decluttering number is over halfway to your annual target so another Gold Star ⭐️ for you 🙂 I will keep my fingers crossed that the ‘teens’ will clear their room/s in 15 minute sessions & will do so happily & not reluctantly 🤞😅

Lovely cheerleading vulpix 😊 Great work sorting the office 👏 I have been rather remiss in making awards recently so bearing in mind how much packing & sorting/decluttering both you & MrV have done I am awarding you Each a Gold Star ⭐️⭐️  As to This “TBH, I thought I had our possessions down to minimum. Obviously not with the amount of banana boxes I am filling. It is quite sobering. I would think similar to a sort your life out programme experience. I obviously take after my Mother and have things put away tidy so you don't notice how much I have. To date the upstairs has yielded 12 banana boxes and 4 black bags of soft stuff. Still a little more of upstairs to pack and of course our wardrobes which I am hoping will fit in 2 large and 2 cabin suitcases.” just think how much there would have been if you hadn’t been decluttering over the years 😂😉

You are welcome Willowtree222 😊

GrannyKate, pleased to hear that DS2 & co had a lovely holiday 😊 Excellent work especially munching frogs & digital decluttering 👏 Lovely picture ☺️ I think Sox has the right idea 😂

London_1, what a brilliant result re the ukulele 🥳 The children who have Ben as their teacher as so lucky 🥹 Hopefully you have a large potato crop which will last a while as hg food is so much tastier than shop bought 🤞 Also keeping my fingers crossed that the sea is warm(ish) for Ben & his mum when they go swimming 🤞Just wondering if Imogen is already back on the mainland? 

Great decluttering suzeesu2000 👏 Wow 1114 - you have been working hard to get that far back 🤩 

Excellent decluttering QueenJess 👏 You are an inspiration to us all 🥹 The “5/7   Rule” is a great idea 🙂

regnbue, more like where is autocorrect when you need it 😂

TC77, how on earth can a judge give your ex the benefit (of the doubt?) after 12 years 😡 It is nice to hear that the funeral went as well as it could & that everyone was there to support your dearest cousin 🥹 Excellent decluttering 👏 & good luck with the next frog you tackle 🍀

Liverpool_Anne sounds like you have made a really good job of the tidying & cleaning in preparation for the arrival of your niece 👏 Fingers crossed she doesn’t open the door of your bedroom or the room of doom 🤞😂 I think she will just be happy with your company 🥹 It might have been nice if OH had offered to work on cleaning the ‘other areas’ 😉

Wednesday2000, what a lovely way to spend an afternoon - afternoon tea at the Royal Albert Hall ☺️

All caught up ……… again 😉 DH is out front trimming the hedge & I am just about to make myself a coffee & decide what to do………… if anything 🤣 P.S. DH has decided that I can bin a Sunday sock 😉

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️ 🏅 

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1430/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £299.00

GrannyKate

I started off well this morning but faded as the day went on.  Painting potting shed wall before 8 and setting out some sheets of weed cover for the area I am going to put planters and pebbles.  Sox was a great help as he kept going under the sheets - he is very nosy.  I went to hairdressers at lunchtime and popped in small sm where I used to live.  I need to write some quiz questions for tomorrow so that is my next job.  I did sort the bed linen out yesterday and some is in CS bag

692 All August cards (only 4) bought and one posted (DGD2 was 17 yesterday). 
693 2 quilt covers for CS bag
694 8 Pillowcases for CS Bag
695 Two bags of plastics to SM
696 Wall painted
697 Weeds and plants over hanging garden path cut back and into bin for collection Friday

Willowtree222

Rearranged my medicine cupboards. Had so many duplicates so combined the ones I could. Lots of boxes decluttered and the basket is tidy again!

Did bring a couple of items home from holiday that were too good to throw so added to charity bag. That will be disposed of tomorrow. That's another 5 things gone. 

Soontobeoap

 Thanks for the star @Mrs_Salad_Dodger .

It's hard to believe how much  packaging we have gained in the last couple of weeks in the form of cardboard boxes. Why would you put towels in a cardboard box?  Anyway loads of ot removed from house today . Another bin bag worth.