2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

charlies_tribe

Good afternoon. Yesterday started well. I started sorting through the table and putting things away. Then I got a phonecall from DD1 and sat down, there was then a series of phonecalls between family members about a very sick relative and nothing else got done until late. I emptied out the DGC toy box, threw Broken toys and empty bottles. And put it all back in neatly. Took the play gym apart, washed the mat and dangle toys tgat could go in the washer, everything else wiped down and its all bagged for the loft.  Might be a long while before its needed again.
Just a quick clean of the living room today, nothing left yet. I really need to make some phonecalls but trying to help the 2 at college today that are absolutely hating their course (doing the same one).

1143  Box
1144  Coat hanger
1145-1147  3x baby toys
1148-1153 broken stuff from toybox

purplevamp

Green_hopeful said:

@suzeesu2000 i had to get rid of a tonne of paperwork for my in laws. Our little shredder wasn’t going to be happy. I cut the personal details out and threw the big piece of paper in the recycling bin. It worked much quicker than shredding and did the job. Your shredder might be fab but it might make it quicker?

I do this too.  If I have a lot to do I use herb scissors.  But I usually just rip the address part into strips. 



Sorry, first time poster, long time lurker 

suzeesu2000

Green_hopeful said:

@suzeesu2000 i had to get rid of a tonne of paperwork for my in laws. Our little shredder wasn’t going to be happy. I cut the personal details out and threw the big piece of paper in the recycling bin. It worked much quicker than shredding and did the job. Your shredder might be fab but it might make it quicker?

Great minds think alike - that’s just what I did. Thank you though xx

Goodness me that’s was a BIG pile! It literally took the whole day, excluding making dinner and mugs of teas, to scan it all. Got it all filed on laptop but showed I need to do some laptop housekeeping so, while shredding tomorrow, that will be being done. So glad I got the decks cleared earlier this week. 

Dinner for me was freezer totally and DH was from pantry shelves, poor love isn’t too well. I think he’s only unwell because I mentioned clearing the loft🤣

DH wanted a big jumper today as he’s feeling chilly, was so good to go straight to it and there is was. 

Have a lovely weekend all, night night xx

Dizzycap

Good evening all  Long time no post, although I have tried a couple of times last week to have my post wiped out when posting!  So I'll try again! 

StickyTheStickInsect - So very sorry to hear about your mum. Sending you both big (((HUGS))) at this time & hoping for a speedy & healthy recovery xxxx.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger - That 'Vampire' bruise is absolutely shocking, to say the least. How many times did they try to take blood? Please don't say once, as clearly the nurse is using a textbook method rather than common sense feel & touch! 

I'm sorry to hear that a number of us are going through the wars in different respects, but things can only get better 

It's been mayhem here with the 2 very healthy daxie girls being little she devils when they are together  Fruitloops up and down the ramps complete with a selection of toys grabbed from inside and thrown in the back garden about like 2 completely out of control kindergarten children, along with 'chatting' to the swans every day when it's feeding time! The noise  I've been exceedingly busy on the decluttering front, garden wise, with all my back garden pines being cut down due them being dangerous and then having a total clean up, putting in new plants that have been gifted and sorting out bulbs ready to plant in September; now done, and November which have all also been gifted to me  You would not believe the amount of garden rubbish there has been, but it's finally all been decluttered today! Hooray  I also have to include the 2 daxie helpers who have both had me in fits of laughter with their helping / digging antics when trying to put in the September bulbs  Mud up to their armpits & loving every second of digging and gardening persuits - Little tykes!  Gorgeous Gorda has been staying with us on and off since early August as she became very unwell  & so did her owner who had to spend some time in hospital. Needless to say, both are now back to full health and at home togther, and I collect Gorda in the morning for a few hours of daxie play and a walk every 2-3 days as she's an oldie and doesn't want/need as much walking after her running fruitloops stints as babyface does!  The decluttering sales are still ongoing and I usually send out a few parcels each day, so hoping to have cleared everything by the end of November!  I've also been very good at decluttering paperwork asap. Once I'd organised & cleared out all the excess paperwork, I found I really enjoyed not having my desk cluttered up, so I've tried to keep it that way as much as possible xx Plus, bayface does love a potter around on the desk at night, so the less that's actually on it, the less likely she'll accidently knock something off so she can grab it on a crazy wild run around for an hour when she gets down  I was speaking to a lady in Lidl this morning who said she has adopted 3 older daxies over the past 3 months and what a handful they are!  My brain went into total overdrive at the thought of 3 when I know how crazy it is with 2! 

I've continued on the basic HH daily usual bin decluttering / cleaning tasksalong with loads of washing which has started to decrease; thank goodness, but healthwise, I've not been so good with some very ambiguous blood test results, hours of daily fatigue, and infections needing copious amounts of different antibiotics etc along with as much rest as I can get when  I can. Easier said than done!  I've got my handyman coming tomorrow to secure a few things outside ready for winter and those sometimes high winds! 

Now finishing up a last coffee before we potter off to bed as I'm feeling absolutely exhausted tonight and would like to be up fairly early to potter about and get the basic HH chores done before the handyman arrives and I can leave him to it while I rest for a while 

Sending everyone hugs, as I'm sure a few will be needing them xxxxx Take care all & ta-ta for now xxxx

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

Friday was a dull cloudy day with a forecast high of 17°C, low of 10°C. I have managed to strain a tendon in my right wrist - presumably on Wednesday with a combination of cleaning the wm & using the weeding tool 😞 I am right handed so cannot currently do anything without a degree of pain even struggled to dry teaspoons 🙁 The wrist support we had seems to have vanished, so DH has ordered a new one which should arrive tonight 🤞 Meanwhile I am trying to keep wrist movement to a minimum….. Some time later. DSis had a bit of a tidy in her room & has recycled a cardboard box, binned a bag of detritus & given me some bubblewrap to start the next CS bag - now 1809. The new wrist supports have arrived & I am wearing one. DH went for an afternoon walk including popping into As*a as he offered to cook dinner - cheesy pasta, which was delicious 😋 To round off my very lazy day my DSis did the wudupa 😊

1810 - 1811 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled

1812 Kitchen detritus - binned

BlueJ94, sorry to hear about work 😔 Sounds like management are useless 😖 Please try to rest as much as possible so you don’t become ill 🙏 I will keep everything crossed that the weather stays dry so you can hang your washing outside 🤞

GrannyKate, seems to be an early start to this year’s cold & flu season 😔 Hope your DiL recovers soon & that you don’t succumb 🙏 Yippee to hot water & heating 🥳 Just wondering if that particular bill can be covered by insurance 🤔  Sounds like you are leaving plenty of time for the floor to dry out before laying the new carpet & putting in the new bed 😊 Great work dealing with frogs & already starting your Christmas shopping 👏 DH & I hung onto our NHS dentist in West London when we moved to East London. Then he had the cheek to sell his practice 😉 although it is still NHS but also does the expensive private work. Time has definitely flown - my nephew is 34 😧 & I still remember seeing him for the 1st time when he was just a couple of days old 😊

Excellent decluttering charlies_tribe 👏 As to This “I did send the bag with DH last night to put in the recycling bin but there was about 60 bags already in front of it so the bag is still in the car at the minute.” it sounds like your entire neighbourhood is decluttering 🤞 Either that or whoever is supposed to collect the bags is on strike 😉

BlueJ94, good luck with the potatoes 🍀

Lovely to see you Pennypincin 👋 Some excellent decluttering especially the lawn mower 👏 A medal 🏅 is on its way 😊 Good luck with the weight loss 🍀

suzeesu2000, love This “I really am sticking to my mantra: Don’t put it down, put it away.” very impressive 👏 Excellent decluttering of paperwork 👏 a medal 🏅is on its way 😊 Hope your DH is on the mend 🙏

Great work decluttering the cutlery drawer Brambling 👏 & Good luck with decluttering you 🍀😊

BlueJ94, hope you have a lovely restful weekend 🙏 Do remember to pop into the TLC Carriage 😊

Green_hopeful, great idea 👏

Soontobeoap, excellent work with the decorating 👏 & congratulations on solving the masking tape & straight line issue 🥳 Hopefully DH cooked dinner 😉

daisy_1571, it is a shame as DH had been hoping the same 😔 For some reason & for the first time ever she was following Satnav instructions instead of what DH had told her 😞 

Excellent work decluttering picture frames Brie 👏 a medal 🏅is on its way 😊Good luck with decluttering the rest 🍀

BlueJ94, how typical 😣 just a bit surprised that it has taken so long 🤔 

Oops, just noticed the time so will post & go to bed. Sleep tight 😴 

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

DH Awards: 🏅 ‘Squirrel Whisperer’ ⭐️🏅🏅⭐️😇

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1812/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £469.00

TC77

2 diy type items on thursday as emptied under stairs cupboard in anticipation of smart meters but they couldn't do it. 
Found the curtains I wanted to put up were too narrow and so going away as I may use elsewhere. Tired after work last night and forgot friends going out but stayed in rehung the curtain that fell.down cleaning the window and feenxh door paintwork. Very old and draughty so.filhty esp upper section. Felt.good being clean and now warmer..broken curtain hooks out.
Tidied kitchen..hoping some out this weekend and tidying bedroom. 

Soontobeoap

Thanks for the cheerleading @MrsSalad-dodger. DH has been working just as hard on decorating as I have. He has had the very difficult job of ceilings and walls whilst I do the edges which need a steadier hand. I did the indigo because I couldn't wait to see the colour on the walls 🤣. It's really good when you do something like this together. We have been able to support and encourage each other through the trials. I feel a bit daft now telling you all about my low point when people have much more worrying things to deal with. Thanks for listening all, I can now see the end in sight and I can get back to decluttering with a vengeance next week.

Hugs to all those who are struggling with family friends or their own health issues. 

suprisinglynice

Hi.

First post on here but I have lurked for a few months.

I have decluttered A LOT this year and reading the posts on here have helped with that so Thank You to everyone that has posted, even when it's not going well.

I may still lurk, but I have made myself known now so I don't feel quite as stalkerish.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, sorry I have not posted for a couple of days, not massive amounts done but the day has just gone😂.
Quick update on Dsis. Still has a problem with low bp so no progress on the learning to use crutches, she has had a blood clot in her lung so has had to have injections twice a day for that and had an x ray and has a chest infection. To top it all someone got covid and had to be isolated so she has been moved into a ward from her single room which she isn't particularly happy with as she can't see the tv from her bed and has had a disturbed night. All in all not a cheerful chat this morning 😵. 

Over the past couple of days I have paid my cc, ordered the flowers for a birthday present, 3 bags of garden chopping into the green bin, deleted 200 emails, deleted 200 messages from my phone, emptied the bedroom recycling and the bathroom bin after a sweep around, been to the optician to collect my new glasses after phoning them as it had been 5 weeks since my eye test and had heard nothing from them, 1 LDFPA, pair of tracksuit bottoms binned as too disgraceful to send to the cs and the shed has been dismantled ready to go to the tip tomorrow. It is due to rain here today so I decided to leave it until Sunday when it should be better weather 😁. 

I have been very distracted by my Dsis and have found it hard to focus on anything else but it is going to be a long haul so I will have to just get a grip 😁

@Vulpix, septic tank issues! Surely the mortgage provider has been aware of this issue for a while? Words fail me. As for the lady who doesn't do time, well that's a new one on me, though I must admit to not wearing a watch for a good few years. I started by removing it at the weekend as I was fed up being ruled by the clock during the week at work and I found I didn't actually need it as there are clocks everywhere 😂. She must have a very good internal clock to be able to function without time. I would have had to ask for more information 😂. A conversation with Brian Cox would probably blow her mind 😂. 

@Mrs SD sat nav can be great but they can be confusing sometimes if you are not used to them ( I often have arguments with mine 😂), so it's not surprising your Dsis had a problem, especially in the dark when everything looks different. I hope your Dsis wasn't too upset but if she feels she needs a confidence boost she might think about contacting a driving school who could give her a couple of lessons around using a sat nav while driving, it's part of the driving test now so they should be able to help 😁.

Right I am going to get another cuppa and see what I can get done.
Hugs to everyone who would like one

1316 cc paid
1317 flowers ordered
1318 - 1320 garden choppings
1321 & 1322 emails permanently deleted
1323 & 1324 messages permanently deleted
1325 bathroom bin
1326 bedroom recycling
1327 LDFPA
1328 tracksuit bottoms
1329 shed dismantled
Take care everyone
1329/2025

QueenJess

Very behind after a long week and now with a second cold    The fun of back to school...

Brambling said:

I sorted my cutlery drawer whilst cooking dinner tonight I'm sure everyone keeps the radiator and gas metre box keys in theirs? I've removed everything which shouldn't be there and thrown away or put in their correct home.  I think my teaspoons have been breeding!! The other drawers can wait until Sunday.

Yep - that's where I keep my electricity box key as I can then always find it (plus the drawer inserts that came with the drawers have a silly small square space that I have no idea what to use for, but the key fits it perfectly).  Don't have gas or radiators in this house, but if it did my key would have some friends.

Not much happening, but I am slowly using things up and I did just did to the bottom of the freezer to take a look.  It's not too bad and I've found some easy things to heat up for work lunches.  I've stopped counting ins and outs for the freezer as it's just too hard and I keep losing count.  Instead I'm concentrating on getting the stuff out that has been lingering for too long in there.

Digital:
1 - app deleted
1 - bookmark deleted
9 - filed emails deleted

Physical:
1- baking cupboard overstock used up
5 - plastic bags donated to school
1 - medication used up
4 - freezer overstock used up
1 - paper reused, then recycled
1 - food cupboard overstock used up

New total 5,153
Use it up total 372
Big kitchen declutter challenge 128/150