2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Rootle

39/52 - an old crocheted table cloth and the 'C' section of the filing cabinet to bin or recycling.

BlueJ94

Afternoon all

Black bag of rubbish gone, one more to go! Not much else going on really, I may meet up with a friend later on depending what time she gets home.

Soontobeoap

So today we got rid of a bin bag full of old cloths, trays, roller heads ( paint won't wash out of the dark blue ones completely) an old bucket, paint brushes and newspaper that we used for protection after a lot of hard work we are ready for the floor fitters on Monday and Tuesday. Clean up day tomorrow.

suzeesu2000

Evening chums. It’s a little bit chilly and I’m loving it🥰 
 Mrs_Salad_Dodger thanks for medal. I did all the shredding today and cleaned the shredder blades and oiled them, should last a few more years if I take care of it. The shreds filled a big bag and went straight into recycling bin. Job jobbed!
I made a start on the laptop folder housekeeping job. I did manage to get through a few this afternoon which I’m pleased with, Sunday should see the job done as no one is calling and DH doesn’t want a roast. 

I’m hoping, fingers crossed to have one raised bed totally empty this week. Then, when he feels better, DH can do manly stuff and make it into smaller bits to go in recycling. Got to weed killer the slabs too, need to get some stuff to go between the slabs to stop the weeds. They are on the membrane - it’s the blimming birds dropping seeds. But that’s a job for another time perhaps. 

Dinner totally freezer again for both of us. Not sure what tomorrows might be, may even declutter the fridge veg box and make some soup. 

Have a good rest of the evening all, night night. xx

dND

Good evening all, and love and best wishes to all with health issues be they your own, friends or family.

@Mrs_Salad_Dodger Thank you for my medal 😁💕

@vulpix I think the English/Welsh system of house selling need a complete overhaul, hang on in there. 💕

Still no idea which way is up as the house looks like a bomb has hit it. 😱  I’m just trying to do too much at the same time – it’s something I’m prone to – but at the moment there is so much that feel like it must be done now.

I was thinking that I hadn’t done any decluttering, apart from a head cold that started Friday a week ago and has now gone, but today I finally finished laying the last of the fiddly edge pieces of the kitchen carpet tiles and I can declutter the remaining tiles to the shed. 

The tiles are really only a temporary measure; some of the kitchen units date back to 1945 and the rest to the 70’s.  After all the work I had done on moving in, I won’t be able to afford a new kitchen for a while.  I therefore didn’t want to spend a lot/anything on flooring that would probably be ripped up in the hopefully not to distant future.  Throwing good money after bad sprung to mind so jumped at the opportunity to get some ex-office carpet tiles.  The result is a much more comfortable floor and as it only cost £25, I have no worries about it.

The garden has jumped up the list as well.  Most of the outdoor tomato plants have been decluttered although that has resulted in lots of time being decluttered processing them and checking over the ripening ones to make sure they aren’t rotting.  Cardboard boxes have been decluttered to the garden to give some protection from stones under the first pieces of weed suppressant that I’ve got down between the raised beds and a bag of garlics from a friend has been planted.

Time is also being decluttered prepping a tiny area, about 2ft by 6ft, ready to seed with grass seed, for a lawn for the cats in their catio area. 😺  I thought it would be an hour or so’s work.  Oh no, this garden was/is full of invasive plants and in this area it’s Houttuynia cordata – think bindweed on steroids.  I’ve weed killed this a few times a year for the last 2 years but as I dug over the ground I was finding masses of roots so they are being carefully picked out and being decluttered to the garden waste bags.  We have bags here, not bins, because the council area covers some very long and steep hills.  You would want to be on the receiving end of a wheelie bin if it careered off down one of them. 😱

I then end my day by decluttering a few hours on reading parish registers and going quite cross-eyed over some of the writing.

Right, I need to return to 1739 Hampshire and see if any of my possible relatives put in an appearance. Well done everyone and happy decluttering.

Love to you all. Dxx

vulpix

 Hello surprisinglynice, and purplevamp, welcome. Now you have de lurked you must tell us all about your de cluttering. Hearing what other people get up to certainly spurs me on.

dND, I don't like houttuynia, it gives me the creeps, it reminds me of blood. Completely irrational I know. I had it in a previous garden and fought a battle with it.

 LiverpoolAnne, The woman not only didn't do time, she didn't believe in it! I assumed like you she really meant she didn't want to be controlled by a clock but you never know, it could be some existensial movement that I haven't heard of !
 As for the septic tank... I know not who made that clanger. It was only discovered when we were all at the stage of exchanging contracts and showing we had the funds. It is being inspected next Thursday and will need a certificate before anything can move forward. Sadly I do believe in time and it has been a long time we have all waited to move house. Luckily we are all just accepting our fate and waiting patiently.
 Fingers crossed that your sister will start to feel and get better soon.x

 I went to a mill shop and bought some fabric for the bench cushion. I am thinking of going a bit more modern in the next house. This house is Victorian and suits a cottage style. The new house is Edwardian and has larger rooms, I want it to be more light and pared back.
 I also bought some wool in Aldi. I am going to make a blanket for us. Undecided on a pattern. I am currently using up green yarns on a crochet lap blanket.

The freezer is almost empty. Just one drawer in use with peas mainly!

 DD1 is doing a sponsored 5k run tomorrow morning for an Autism youth club she works at sometimes. 
 I am going to see the Downton film with my friend. I have only recently discovered Downton. I like it for the house and costumes mostly.

 Better try and catch some z's. Vx

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

Saturday: I missed the dull & overcast morning as I didn’t get up until 13:00. It has brightened up considerably just in the last hour since I have been up - some blue sky & sunshine 😊 DH & DSis have been busy setting up some sort of cash card for T. Still no contact from his WS 😖 My rainbow yarn has arrived & included a little gift of rainbow coloured stitch markers 😊 

Pic

I also received a very cute change of address card from family friends in France. 

Pic

My wrist feels a lot better as I wore the wrist brace overnight 👏 Although the downside was a lot of itching 😉 DH is now on the phone with his DSis. DH’s motorcycle trousers are now indoors as completely dry - I only left them out on the line for 44 hours 😅  

1813 - 1814 Paper packaging, coffee tin - recycled 

DH & DSis went shopping at 17:00 with a medium sized list from me. Whilst they were out I cooked some mushrooms, bacon bits & peppers to be used as omelette ingredients. I put the shopping away. Cooked the omelettes which were delicious 😋 As my wrist was so much better I did the wudupa. Happy to report not a single twinge in my wrist 😮‍💨 DSis & I watched Strictly - a couple of surprisingly good dancers. 

1815 - 1817 Kitchen recycling, glass bottle, newspaper - recycled

1818 - 1819 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned

A bit of cheerleading but will catch up tomorrow:

Lovely cheerleading post vulpix 😊 I loved & totally agree with This “Thank you everyone for posting and our lovely little community.” 🥹 I was definitely very lucky to meet my DH & he is “my knight in shining armour” ☺️ I will be keeping everything crossed that the septic tank issue is satisfactorily sorted out & that everyone in the chain will soon be safely ensconced in their new homes 🤞🙏🤞 I am not at all surprised that you have “been stress eating” 😞 although hopefully once the house move is back on I do think that you will be so busy that you will probably forget to eat 😉 Please make sure you rest your wrist completely 🙏 

charlies_tribe, so sorry to hear This “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 ……...” Sending prayers & good wishes to you & your family 🙏 Great decluttering 👏 Good luck helping the 2 who are at college & “hating their course” 🍀 Fingers crossed that a solution can be found 🤞

Nice to see a new face purplevamp 👋 A great idea to use herb scissors 👏 Hopefully you will post once in a while 😊

suzeesu2000, yikes an entire day spent scanning & shredding/disposing of paperwork 😧 This “……DH …….., poor love isn’t too well. I think he’s only unwell because I mentioned clearing the loft🤣” had me giggling like a loon 🙊 Pleased to see that you are reaping the rewards of decluttering by finding items immediately 👏

Nice to see you Dizzycap 👋 Hopefully your issues with being able to post have resolved themselves 🤞Re This “That 'Vampire' bruise is absolutely shocking, to say the least. How many times did they try to take blood? Please don't say once ………” sadly I do have to say just once 😞 You have been busy - not only with the decluttering but also taking care of both Babyface & Gorda (who I am very pleased to hear are fit & healthy & are keeping you on your toes ☺️); gardening - a medal 🏅 is on its way; looking in on Gorda’s owner 😇 & doing all this whilst you are struggling with your own health 🥹 I do hope that the doctors can get you back to full health 🙏 

Great work TC77 👏 Shame that smart meters can’t be fitted  😞 Well done on the cleaning 👏

Soontobeoap, excellent work by both you & DH - you make a great team 👏 Please find a medal 🏅🏅for each of you 😊

Just noticed the time so off to bed. Sleep tight 😴 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1819/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £469.00

suprisinglynice

@vulpix Thank you for the welcome.

A lot of my decluttering has been the {several) cupboards of doom. Lucky to have so much storage space but things just get chucked in and forgotten about, but no more.
I have donated at least 20 black bags of clothing and books and have Free paged a lot more. 
Unfortunately, a few things are creeping back in but not for long as I make things for a lot of people around this time of year (can I mention the C word?) and they will all be gone to their new homes within the next few weeks to be gifted on. 
I was gifted an enormous pallet which has been cut up, mostly sanded, and the bits are being repurposed into block snowmen, complete with wooly hats and scarfs, so using up leftover paint and wool. Also making wooden decorative christmas trees with the children I work with, so will use up more paint and excess string lights.

TC77

Welcome newbies to posting.  Looking forward to hearing your decluttering  journey. 
Found my wallet lost over 2 weeks ago having cancelled all my cards.bonus of £10 being in it and having the wallet but can't believe it turned up having turned the house and my bags upside down.
Fed up of my phone which gets stuck as had the screen replaced cheaply and touch screen seems to be on strike often.  Also have to keep deleting things so checked sd card and only 16gb so going to replace it! As time consuming!

TC77

Aargh..... having to face the reality of chaos across drawers/desks/boxes of non clothing. I discovered a new (as in unused but bought few years ago) a month or two ago. Can't find in now but have opened many dozens of drawers and there is no real logic why anything is anywhere!!
Checked 3 memory sticks, labelled 2 and 1 cleaned for donation. 
Racking my brain where it is as would prefer not to buy a new phone.
Hope everyone doing ok and taking time in tlc carriage as needed.