2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Brie

here's an interesting read....though it doesn't actually list what you don't need just gives general principles.  Some nice ideas though.

’I decluttered 70 per cent of stuff from my home - here’s everything you don’t need’

daisy_1571

3 years is nowt vulpix!   Im still wearing ones i bought in florida Feb 2019, getting a wee bit thin between upper legs but not into a hole yet!

Dxx

QueenJess

As usual some tidying up managed to oust some stuff from the house.  Not much else going on, although I have left some hm Welsh cakes in the tlc carriage.  Better get them quick before DH and DS scoff them all!
1 - puzzle book used up (recycled)
4 - baby plants (with pots) gifted (Buy Nothing)
1 - recipe book (charity box)
2 - paperwork binned

New total 4,019
Use it up total 345
Big kitchen declutter challenge 114/150

Edit: I should say that in my current journey (very far through decluttering now) I have hit another maintenance plateau.  What I am concentrating on is:

1. Tidying up the sticky stuff - my house is generally tidy (I am not a tidy person and will not put anything away unless it's very easy and therefore the cupboard/drawer etc needs to be relatively empty to do that), but I have things lying around on the flat surfaces which are generally things I need to do/reminders I need to make decisions about something.  Sorting them out often leads to decluttering.  The end goal is to have a tidy house and when it gets messy (kids) I don't want to spend more than 10 mins tidying.

2. Not buying anything for now.  I am living with what I own and trying to use what I have.  I don't need anything.  I avoid shopping, browsing online, adverts and if I really want something it is added to a gift list on my phone so I can provide people with ideas for xmas/birthday as they never know what to get me.  Very little stays on the list when I check it later.  If I realise I am not using something and don't want to, then it is going.

3. Reading.  I love reading, but I do seem to have a backlog... I am not allowing myself to buy any books until I clear the backlog.  When I read them, I assess if I will read them again, if not, out they go.

4. The kitchen - I am also trying very hard not to overbuy in the kitchen and use up what we have.  It's hard for me as I love to cook.

I will stop waffling now, but just thought it might interest someone/be useful.  I should also say I have some digital clutter in the form of photos, but I can't quite face those right now... someday I will get onto that!

suzeesu2000

Was nice and cool again this morning so I started, after usual morning chores, to do some ironing. Cant stand for too long but managed to iron a few bits. If I tackle it like that every morning, it will soon be done with. I used to love ironing, would allocate Saturday afternoon for it. Would put a play on the wireless and do the whole lot in one go. Sadly, those days are long gone. But, I did some, which is better than none so Yay me! 

Found 2 big empty  glass containers on pantry shelves. 1 has gone in recycling the other has been reused as a container for my washing up brushes. I had them in a plastic tray which always looked grubby so that’s now in the recycling and a jar takes up much less space and looks cleaner.
Dfriend came today to collect 8 containers of liquid plant food plus a box of blood, fish and bonemeal. She bought herself a bottle of wine but dropped it when she got home and it smashed. Luckily I had a bottle in the kitchen from a raffle last Christmas so passed that on too. 

Hope everyone is doing okay xx

oceanspirit

Haven’t posted for a while and am behind with reading the thread - will catch up soon as I like to see how you are all doing.

Made a start on the shed again. I have a system for putting things away, like with like, on their allocated shelves however OH has a different system which is a ‘just bung it anywhere’ system.  OH’s system results in the shed slowly becoming less accessible until eventually we can’t get in at all and have to clear it out again at which point he is re-shown where everything goes.

Anyway, lots of rubbish disposed of, some tins of paint earmarked for use in the next couple of weeks and some dust and webs cleaned up. Session 2 hopefully taking place tomorrow.

Dizzycap

YBR said:

vulpix said:

O, YBR, you didn't think you would get away that easily did you? I am sure there will be more that you find you can release when you unpack, that's my plan.

well, if you're really interested ...

We've killed a large wardrobe today, having decided it really didn't work in DD2's bedroom we attempted to move it and the chipboard gave up. I'll take a couple of shelves and some fittings but the rest has been dismantled and will need to be cut up to go to the tip. I've rejected a few other things but it's mainly packing paper and card board that's filled the recyclables bin 10 days before collection (opps) 

there's stuff coming in too ... 4 deliveries due tomorrow and someone coming to fit blinds.

We had a plan to unpack mornings and do something touristy afternoons, but it seems that's not happening, the kids are not so interested so we're pressing on. Some fun is being had - having realised that there's a mysterious hook above the newel post of the stairs, this is what DH thinks it's for:

Hidi Hi all  Just popped in and landed on YBR's disco ball feature    . Hope everyone is doing ok and by the looks of the posts I've been ready through it been decluttering full pelt for everyone  I've certainly been doing my fair share of decluttering over the past couple of weeks - Everything from decluttering parcels, gardening & garden rubbish, off loading to the CS, decluttering piles of washing & putting away, decluttering endless appointments, cleaning & tidying, batch cooking to cluttering up on quality time with the 2 Madams who are both well & healthy now, and absolutely full of it! Presently cluttering up on a lovely mug of coffee while the washing machine is completing its night load ready for pegging out early in the morning before I pop off to bed to see if I can get some sleep, which has been exceedingly poor over the past week      Needless to say, I'm on my knees  Oops it's getting late so time for a last coffee & a second washload on before I go join babyface in bed - ta-ta for now & take care all xxxxx

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 a cloudy day with a forecast high of 25°C, low 16°C & humidity 68%  I was up 11:15 & have my 1st cuppa which I hope will be enough to get rid of a slight headache. DH left before 10:00 to attend WLP meeting, fingers crossed he is still on a downward trajectory 🤞 Depending on his mood he might tick off a few more buses before coming home. 12:15 DSis headed off to Lewisham to buy some shoes to match her wedding outfit & just as she left the sun came out 🙂 DH phoned 13:00, a teeny gain of 0.2kg 😕 He is ticking off 4 more buses so should be home at 15:00 🤞DSis got home home about 15:00 - shoeless & bemoaning the waste of time 😔 DH finally got home 15:50 but had stopped off at the barbershop for a trim. Dinner was chicken fried ina little olive oil & butter, boiled potatoes & peas. Wudupa.

1518 - 1521 Kitchen recycling, glass bottle, 2 newspapers - recycled 

1522 - 1523 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned

Yippee, I have reached the 3 quarter mark, so am awarding myself a Gold Star ⭐️ Now to catch up with the cheerleading:

Excellent work in the bedroom Brie 👏 definitely worthy of a medal🏅which is on its way. I see that OH’s decluttering training is still ongoing 😉😉 Please remember to have a rest once the last bit of the bedroom cleaning is finished & before you start any work downstairs 🙏

Liverpool_Anne, sounds like you had a wonderful albeit exhausting & busy weekend 🥹 Still finding time to declutter the ironing & repeatedly empty bins 👏 This “Today we have had a further update on the car. It wasn't the alternator 🙄, they now think its the power steering motor which they can't fix so it will have to go to the dealers garage. OH has it booked in for a diagnostic on Thursday and the garage where it is will get it there somehow. Obviously it won't be fixed on Thursday as parts will have to be ordered etc so the saga continues.” absolutely beggars belief 😠 🙄 Your OH’s file for making a claim must be getting really thick now 😉 How ‘kind’ of your OH came up with the suggestion of moving furniture but leaving all the preparatory work to you 🙊 Good luck 🍀

Lovely to see you weenancy 👋 Excellent work especially decluttering the dead bird 👏 Not impressed that two ex-Marines are such wusses 😟 A good job you are made of sterner stuff 🥳 Well done to Di for sorting another box of books 💐 Good luck with the rest of the kitchen cleaning 🍀 Yippee to your handyperson making a new ramp so that you are safe 🥹 Hope you can stay cool in the high temperatures this week 🙏

Sounds like you & the DGC had a wonderful time GrannyKate 🥹 Shame on the plasterers - a month late & presumably no apologies 😠 Thanks for the reminder about birthday cards - I need to buy & write cards for September through to December 😥 Good luck dealing with frogs 🍀

Excellent decluttering Happy_Kitties 👏 Very kind of the CS to open up just to take your donation 😊

vulpix, lovely the disco ball ☺️ I do hope you are taking it with you to your new home 😉 I have managed to find a fall back outfit for the wedding (not the skirt you are referring to though), so if I can’t find a new outfit at least I can still attend 🤣 I will post a picture of whatever outfit I wear 🙂 Excellent use of DD’s old diary/notebook 👏 Be careful not to rag MrV’s favourite jeans 😉

Excellent decluttering & cleaning Pennypincin 👏

Excellent decluttering Rootle 👏 &  slightly ahead of target 😊

Brie, thanks for that 👏 A very interesting read 🙂

daisy_1571, might be time for some preventative patching 😉

Excellent decluttering QueenJess 👏 Sadly I missed out on the Welsh cakes ☹️ Very interesting reading - no waffling & definitely useful ☺️

Excellent decluttering suzeesu2000 👏 & very kind of you to replace your friend’s bottle of wine 🥹

Lovely to see you oceanspirit 👋 The shed situation sounds horribly familiar 🙊 Excellent work today 👏 & Good luck completing the tidying & decluttering tomorrow 🍀

Wow you have been exceedingly busy Dizzycap 👏🤩 A medal 🏅 is on its way. Also very pleased to hear that both Babyface & Gorda are now back to full health 🥹 Sorry to hear that you are having trouble sleeping 😔 I will ask the Sandman to pop by 😉

Sleep tight everyone 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️ 🏅 

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1523/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £379.00

CRANKY40

Good morning 😊 I'm awake early because the bin men were also early and woke ds who went and made me a cuppa (much appreciated) a bit earlier than usual.

@oceanspirit our shed system is a bit like your OH's. Everything is fairly tidy but we throw anything for the tip in the middle until we can't get in and then we do a tip trip. I'm now thinking that today would be a good day for a tip run as it's dry enough to throw everything out on the garden before packing it in the car. We like to give any spiders a chance to escape....

Just the usual 5 things out yesterday followed by some cleaning. The kitten does not like the vacuum cleaner and hissed at it. That's the first time that we've seen her hiss 😄

Mrs S_D  I used to live near Lewisham when I was 16. My mum and dad moved to Charlton to run a newsagents so my sister and I had to go too.

Off to make more coffee......take care all of you 😊

Willowtree222

Sorted the Ottoman yesterday, which cleared some space so the laundry basket has now been emptied of clutter that isn't laundry and can now be used for it's intended purpose. 

I have the cupboard of doom to do and the spare room to organise and sort out. It desperately needs doing. 

TC77

Been reading along and love the disco vibes..I'm.sure I have jeans from many years ago although in recent years have passed out or recycled clothes which were decade's old. Best was dd2 taking a rust lillywhites I think womens golfing jacket from the 1950s ( my mum's) suede with knitted arms, which I wore a few times in my 20s and and then kept for hmm decades and looks fab on her.
Work taken over so little done but spare kitchen scales in cs bag and taken down some cookery books I will never use ( and look brand new) and love the little bit of calm in that bit of the kitchen.

Had lots of watchers for things but no sales:( a sale motivates me to give more to cs so in a quandry whether to try and sell other things or give away..have a cs bag full already. 

Have scaffolding going up Friday for the front of the house to be painted for work after bank holiday but with rain forecast can see it there for ages! 

Been watching and listening to Japanese minimalism videos, and also noticed some comfort eating which is a sign of overwhelm.

Brought in a few pairs of cs £3 trousers which I'm fine about as I accept I'll pass other things and worn one pair already. Ordered selections of jumpers but all going back..I find online so difficult as often v different in real life with textures, colours and shape.

Anyway off to work but will keep reading along and have a blitz at the weekend ..