2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, awake very early for some reason and it is still dark 😁. 
Saturday was a complete wash out decluttering wise and weather wise. All I did was order some meds, listen to the footy on the radio and then watched the womens rugby.
Yesterday was better. The shed was taken to the tip 😁. It took 2 trips and a bag of hard plastic went as well. The kitchen bin and kitchen recycling were emptied and 4 loads of washing were done although only 1 LDFPA, the rest are still on the line and will have to be sorted today 😁 but at least they are out of the wash basket 😁. 
We are going out for lunch with ln today so there might not be much else done 😁. 
I tried to speak to Dnephew yesterday but we kept missing each other, he has sent a text to say he will phone today, he is still at my sister's and Dniece had just arrived so I should be able to speak to them both at some point. I also got a message to say someone I worked with 20 years ago was visiting from Australia so I am hoping to sort out a meet up with them 😁. 

@surprisinglynice and @purplevamp welcome aboard 😁. I look forward to following your journey. It's a friendly place here and Mrs SD is an amazing cheerleader 😁.

Right well the sun has arrived so I am going to have another cuppa and see what the day brings.
Hugs to everyone who would like one

1330 meds ordered
1331 - 1334 shed to the tip
1335 hard plastic to the tip
1336 kitchen bin
1337 kitchen recycling
1338 LDFPA
Take care everyone
1338/2025

GrannyKate

Morning all.  Not much decluttering done but checking in.  To those who mentioned claiming on insurance for pipe - the cost was less than my excess and when I had to claim a few years ago following a major leak they doubled my insurance premium.  Can't blame current workers as screw that had originally nicked pipe was very old and rusted and had plainly been screwed in at an angle.  I have contacted builders though as problem with part of kitchen tiling near boiler which has come away.  Turning heat on caused problems all round!  Tv was off Saturday and then Hive on Sunday - must have been some sort of blimp on internet whilst I was out.  I managed to restart both as DS2 was away. U-Tube and google are very useful.  DS2 away all this week as well on course, DD in London and DS1 just returning to UK after trip to China and Australia.  

I am doing some painting of bedroom - DS2 came and put 2 coats on ceiling yesterday so I am going to try and do woodwork top coat so he can finish when he is back.  I just realised I won't see him for a fortnight as I will be off to Scotland Friday.  One coat done on walls and I'm really pleased with colour.  Second coat will have to wait for ceiling to be finished.  I was very impressed with myself as I worked out how to use caulk in an applicator (U-tube) and filled in some joins in door frame where there was a small gap. In the end it was easiest to just use flat butter knife and a wet finger.  Looks good.  I went and chose and ordered a carpet which can hopefully be laid when I get home from holiday.  I have the curtains and poles so can put a single bed in there and the room can be used whilst I order new bed and wardrobe.  I will wait for those to come before I decide on any other furniture or nicknacks.  Looking forward to being able to store all my spare quilts and bedding under a double ottoman bed in there.  I got some voile curtain and cut it down and rehemmed to fit my small toilet window.  It is new obscured glass but still quite exposed.

I went out shopping but didn't get much as I will be away.  DiL has had covid and was off work all last week.  Children and I just seem to have had a sore throat and sniffles but both children had high temperatures.  Not sure if this was covid as well.  I have started the diet seriously again using the app I used before.  I am a stone lighter than I was at the beginning but I need to lose lots more, get my sugar even lower and tackle chlorestrol.  Scotland may be a challenge. 

I had spring bulbs for my birthday and I have planted them out with new compost in my 'new' sitting corner planters.  I got some purple asters which should last a while.  I have two large empty pots in the area and I want to get some small trees to put in those.  I have a gift voucher to use so I may take myself out tomorrow.  I have chiropody today, then meetings Weds and Thursday.  Guess that means I should pack for Scotland today and tomorrow. 

910 Bedroom carpet ordered - money decluttered
911 Plumber paid - money decluttered
912 Dentist for filling - money decluttered
913 Planters filled with bulbs - packaging recycled
914 Door frame repairs with caulk done
915 Weeding, tidying pots, filled up brown recycling bin 
916 Swimming pool empty, pipes disconnected, just the bottom to clean out.  Floaties deflated and washed off to store.
917 Two paint tins - one empty; one gone off - binned
918 Payments processed for part of Scotland trip.  I am covering our tour accomodation and DSis has booked Edinburgh.  
919 Some frogs and digital declutter done
920 Toilet curtain altered and fitted. 

Right frogs to do and possibly some painting before my appointment at 1.30 for chiropody.  I am going to get my case down before I change my mind - I hate packing. 

Willowtree222

Hope everyone is ok and sending love to everyone that needs it.

A friend collected some items that were his and two car cleaning kits that he wanted keeping. 

I am gathering my old candle jars to be recycled. A lady refills them. 

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

Fell asleep on the sofa last night so forgot to post 😧 Must try harder 😞. Sunday continued: We had a short shower at 15:30 - enough to wet the roads & pavements & then a couple more showers to keep everything wet. 1st load of laundry is dry & folded. 2nd load washed, dried & folded. Also mended a couple of pairs of Sunday knickers. Will do 3rd load tomorrow. DH went for another 2 walks. Dinner was sausages, mash, baked beans & plum tomatoes. Wudupa.

1821 - 1822 Kitchen recycling, drinks cans - recycled 

1823 - 1824 Kitchen & lr detritus - binned 

Sleep tight 😴 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1824/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £469.00

charlies_tribe

Good afternoon.  Saturday should have been kids rooms but I was going to hospital to see my uncle for an hour. I was there 5 hours. I left about 4.30 to sort kids tea and by 5.30 my sister rang to say he had gone. I didn't declutter anything but DH did manage to drop the clothes in the clothes bin.

Sunday I was up and showere and left for the hospital at 8.30. Had my scan at back home by 9.30. She said id have results in a week but ive had a message from the doctors this morning to make a routine appointment. That scan lady didn't mess about. We did some bits in DD2s room but we didn't do a lot as DH is having pain in his shoulder.  

Hoovered through and sorted shopping delivery so far today. Hopefully will be more stuff sorted soon but want to post my list before I fall behind again

1154  Jigsaw with missing pieces
1155-1158  4 items from craft drawers
1159-1172  14x bras
1173-1181  9x pj items
1182  Pair of DD2 pyjamas
1183  Plastic cups from craft drawer

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

Monday has started bright & sunny even though the forecast is ‘cloudy all day’ 😉 with a high of 18°C, low of 7°C & a very light breeze. The wm is on & I have my first cuppa ready to settle down & catch up with the cheerleading.

dND, please, please don’t be so hard on yourself 🙏 After all, since you moved in you have had major renovation works completed, you have refurbished & decorated the spare room for your DS’s unexpected visit, planted up the garden - growing a large crop of tomatoes & generally made your house liveable 🤩 Plus apart from the building works you have mainly done this on your own 🥹 as I doubt that Jewel & Gino have been much help 😅 Sorry to hear This “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.” 😔 although relieved to hear that you are decompressing in the evenings by working on your family tree 😊 Very impressed at how MSE you have been with the kitchen flooring 👏 DH & I are big fans of ex-office carpet tiles as they are both cheap & sturdy 😮‍💨  Good luck with the eradication of the Houttuynia cordata 🍀 it sounds like a nightmare 😱 I have been very remiss in making awards for all your hard work 😞 so to redress that please find enclosed a medal 🏅 & a Gold Star ⭐️  Hope your search through the 1739 Hampshire records was successful 🤞

Lovely post vulpix 😊 & such a nice welcome to our 2 newbies 🥹 Still keeping everything crossed that the ‘septic tank issue’ gets sorted quickly 🤞Hope you enjoy the new Downton film 😊 Good luck to DD1 on her sponsored run 🍀 hopefully the weather will be kind 🙏

surprisinglynice, welcome aboard the EDT (Electronic Decluttering Train) 👋 So lovely to learn a bit more about you ☺️ Great work decluttering the ‘cupboards of doom’ & getting so many bags of ‘stuff’ out of your home 👏 Loved This “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.” 😊 Yes, you can mention the C word 😉 especially as you are obviously very ‘into’ crafting & the new makes won’t be cluttering up your home for too long 🥹 The ‘block snowmen’ sound wonderful, as do the “wooden decorative christmas trees” 🤩 

TC77, good news about finding your lost wallet 👏 although a bit annoying that it was only after all the work & worry of having to cancel cards etc ☹️ Grr to the phone 😖 I will keep everything crossed that you find the misplaced SIM card 🤞 Meanwhile please can I remind you of how much decluttering & tidying you have done over the past few months whilst holding down a full time job & helping out both your DDs 🥹 One idea that might help is to find a small box then methodically go through each drawer - emptying it & taking out anything electronic related & putting it in the box 🤔 Good luck 🍀 Also please remember that you can also spend time in the TLC Carriage 😉

BlueJ94, what a great bargain 🤩 

I have caught up a little but my cup is empty so will post this & be back shortly. I hope every is having as good a day as possible & that the weather is being kind 😊 See you later 👋 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1824/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £469.00

Willowtree222

Had a little spurt of energy and the green recycling bin is emptied tomorrow so cut back one of the big bushes at the front. Looks a lot better and less overhang. 

Cleaned out the furry animals as well. Got to get on top of the cupboard under the stairs. Everything needs a home in there. That will be a job over the next week.

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

Monday continued: 15:30 it is still a bright pleasant day although not as sunny. DH has gone for a walk. As it is an 800kcal day today, I am only making dinner for two - sliced beef in gravy, mash & green beans. I have dealt with today’s mail & also written the last dozen birthday cards for this year. DH got back 16:20 & before taking his coffee upstairs he nipped into the garden & filled the bird feeders & refilled the water bowls. Back to the cheerleading 😉

purplevamp, welcome aboard the EDT (Electronic Decluttering Train) 👋 So lovely to learn a bit more about you ☺️ Thank you for sharing such a great & fun idea 👏 only decision needed is what tasks to include (which can be easily changed once completed), then a quick spin & away you go 🥳  Some excellent decluttering 👏 I also noticed your other challenges & would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on how well you are doing on your mortgage decluttering 🥳🤩 reducing not only the amount but also the term 👏 I look forward to following your decluttering journey ☺️

vulpix, out of curiosity what are you knitting/crocheting with your grey & cream yarn? Pleased to hear your wrist is also better 😊 Good luck with ‘Mission Use Up Freezer Contents’ 🍀 Very impressed that you are managing to do this with just a couple of unpacked pans 👏

Excellent work decluttering the freezer Willowtree222 👏 A medal 🏅 is on its way.

Soontobeoap, I hope you & DH were very careful moving the sofas 🙏 As to  This “Would you believe that I filled a hoover bag over the last few weeks just hoovering up at the end of the day after plasterer, electrician, plumber, Carpenter and us! It's amazing how much mess a few people can make! 🤣” I can definitely believe it 😧 Even without any renovation work going on, rooms seem to attract so much dust 😧 Great work decluttering the rest of the packaging etc as well as the 2 tins of paint 👏 Sorry to hear that your DH is so poorly 😔 Sending healing vibes that he gets better quickly. Another bin bag of rubbish out 🥳 you are definitely on a roll. This “When I went to singing last week I got home and DH said " I have sorted my sock drawer" I didn't see that coming! You could have knocked me down with a feather! As My dear old Mum used to say.” made me smile 😊 & I was rather impressed at his organisational skills when the decluttering was done 👏 Seems like your DH has caught the ‘decluttering bug’ 👏

D123456789, very impressive decluttering by LO 👏🤩 A Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way to her ☺️ Any idea which decluttering video LO watched? it might give me a bit of inspiration 😉 As to This “I only wish she would sprinkle some decluttering magic on DH who remains stubborn and holds on to everything !” if Lo has any “decluttering magic” left please could she send it my way 🙏

suzeesu2000, love the Dixon of Dock Green vibe 😉 Sorry to hear that your DH is still unwell 😔 Excellent work with the laptop clean up 👏The chicken & veg soup sounds delicious 😋 

Loved your post Brambling ☺️ especially This “My sister came around today….. I pointed her in the direction of my japonica so she could have the quince for membrillo, it also meant she had to prune it back to reach the quince 😁  I have tried for twenty years to kill the japonica even digging it up!  ……….. but at least it provided her with 2.5kg.” 😂 & This “I surprised her with my newly sorted and tidy cutlery drawer.” 🥳 always encouraging when someone notices your decluttering successes 😊 Well done on decluttering books 👏 & “5 out, 2 in” is a great ratio for decluttering: 👏

BlueJ94, that cheesecake weetabix looks scrumptious 😋 

I have caught up with another page of cheerleading but regrettably I am losing concentration now 🙁 I will see you later 👋 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1824/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £469.00

Happy_Kitties

607)-611) another 5 Dunelm Bags of Joy dropped off. Each stuffed with several items, def not counting the items individually (one bag had over 30 items as a request for bingo prizes). So that is 12 bags dropped off so far. Seeing some small patches of space but could do with more items going out which will hopefully be this weekend.

General decluttering is not really happening as I have had so much going on, but hopefully back to it soon.

suzeesu2000

Only gone and Blimming done it! Finished sorting laptop. I have Google eyes now from looking at a screen so much. Tomorrow I need to clear the external HD and start again as it has been duplicating files and folders the little stinker. That won’t take too long, it can work away in the background while I do other stuff.
If the weather is okay, will do 1 load of laundry tomorrow. 
Decluttered some mice beef from the freezer and some bits from pantry shelves and made the best spag Bol I’ve ever had, not bragging as it wasn’t my recipe. Making in the slow cooker was excellent. Used a liner, chucked everything apart from spaghetti in and then left it for 4 hours. Added broken up spaghetti as DH doesn’t like it long, made sure it was all submerged, left alone for about 30 mins and it was perfect. We don’t like it too saucy and this was just right as the spaghetti soaks up a lot of the sauce. Really flavoursome. Thanks to Mrs What’s-for-tea on YT. Bonus was not having to wash the slow cooker either.

Had a couple of deliveries of Christmas gifts arrive today, they were put into my Christmas box in the airing cupboard immediately! Just ordered 5 tins of Quality Street from Tesco as they have a Clubcard special offer ending 30th. Usual price £7 but Clubcard offer is £3.95. I get them to give to mums carers at Christmas. And that’s a good saving. 

Hope everyone’s day has been good. Night night, sleep tight xx