2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

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 continued: back again 😉 I had been so engrossed in the cheerleading that I didn’t realise that it had rained 😅 I have drunk my 2nd cuppa & have been watching repeats of GoT & TWD.  I now have another fresh cuppa & have decluttered a uu pen (1991) 

ruby_eskimo, maybe your DH missed his calling 😉 I love This “I think I'm having a bit of a reverse mid-life crisis; rather than wanting to speed up and relive my "youth", I'm actually embracing the slower side of life.  I've recently really got back into cross stitching (only 1 project at a time, with plans for all of them so not adding "clutter"), have read quite a lot so far this year, made chutney for the first time ever using all the tomatoes that DH grew (despite him being very adverse to eating them) and re-starting my sourdough starter again.  I've even asked for a knitting kit for Christmas because that's another useful hobby I can take up!” ☺️ Congratulations on meeting your 365 target for the year 🥳 A Gold Star ⭐️ is on its way 🙂 Good luck tackling the kitchen this weekend 🍀 

daisy_1571, thank you for that 👏 I am still lmao 🤣 Loved This comment for Spiky “Anyway glad yours ended well too and if it ends up with some enforced ds decluttering then all is definitely well that ended well” ☺️

florianatwobob, thank you for your story 👏 I was only just recovering from reading daisy’s tale & again lmao 🤣 so now my sides are positively aching 😉

Brie, thanks for letting us know that Florenceem is still about 🥹 I will join you in wishing her well & hoping that she feels able to post again in the future 🥹

Green_hopeful, very quick thinking 😊 but I am still giggling 🤭 as lmao 🤣 has become too painful 😉 

Excellent decluttering TC77 👏 & well done on dealing with a frog 👏

Well said daisy_1571 ☺️

A belated Happy Birthday Willowtree222 🥳 🎂 🎉 🥂 

Excellent digital decluttering oceanspirit 👏 Good luck clearing up the “mess” 🍀

Excellent decluttering London_1 👏

Lovely to have you back vulpix 👋☺️ I was very relieved to hear This “Day 8 in the house, we like it, we have no regrets about moving. Of course there was drama and mild peril on moving day, but we are here, in a complete mess but here.” 😮‍💨 especially after all the delays when you appeared to be starting to doubt your decision to move 😉 Sorry to hear both that the “house is MINGING” & that the previous owner left behind ‘minging items’ 🤢  Very, very impressed at how much work you, MrV & DD1 have done in just a week 🤩 A Gold Star for each of you ⭐️⭐️⭐️ + a few bouquets 💐 💐 💐 to mask the smell of bleach 😉 Also some excellent extra decluttering 👏 - you are a woman of your word 🥹 Very pleased to hear that your DiL & new grandson are both doing well 🥹 Hope DD1, DS & DGS1 enjoy the rugby 😊 Just wondering if DD1 is aware that she has been “pencilled in to do some decorating”  😉 🙊 Again welcome back 😊

Broke off here to sort out dinner. Today is a ‘use up day’ so have taken several single portions of meals out of the freezer + DSis is finishing off her toad-in-the-hole 😊 Everything decanted out of containers into suitable dishes & currently being heated in the oven. 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 1991/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £469.00

Willowtree222

purplevamp said:

Happy belated Birthday @Willowtree222 xx  Another Libran or do you just cross over into Scorpio territory?!

Libra. Last day though, so only just! 

suzeesu2000

I’m sorry if I’ve missed sending birthday wishes, please forgive me. 

Lovely to see you again @vulpix and pleased you like your new home. Many years ago, we did a swap with a lady. I scrubbed everything to within an inch of its life, I used to be VERY particular. When we got to her place my heart sank, it was filthy. I was so worried she would not think my place was clean enough! I’m sure you will knock yours into shape soon.
Dinner was freezer and pantry shelves.
sorted the Vinted issue. My very dear friend next door but one, works in the SM where the Post Office is, she said if I send her the code, she will do the posting thing for me. She really is a good chum. So this afternoon I Decluttered some time relisting. Fingers crossed that it’s been worth it.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend, sleep tight xx

purplevamp

Willowtree222 said:

purplevamp said:

Happy belated Birthday @Willowtree222 xx  Another Libran or do you just cross over into Scorpio territory?!

Libra. Last day though, so only just! 

The best sign 😉 x

TC77

Belated happy birthday @Willowtree222
@vulpix glad to see you back and wow to how much you've done ( and shame you had to do.much of it).
@charlies_tribe I'm so sorry to hear the sad family news and sending hugs and sympathy.

Dd2 homesick in aus and dd1 still looking for work, got an interview for part time job but not nursing and not what she wants really so not going after days of trying to find interview clothes ... I sent photos from cs today for future opportunities (some random small.clothes in cs as she's tiny). 
Went to the renowned inexpensive clothes shops ajs bought some l/s tops which replace others (.note to self]  and a thermal top which  is already a pj top ajd sooo cosy. 
Mrs SD my heating went on today.
Decided to go through some paperwork in a wire basket..noticed half way through it was alp soggy! Realised little cat must have used it when I left it on the floor and I just added papers!   so out more paper including a note book and plastic wallets..
Pillow  case and new glasses case in cs bag. Ood food x 3 
Listed item and within about half an hour sold so pleased, fleeting thought that too cheap but really just glad it will be going. Won't count yet.
1750

oceanspirit

Charlie’s tribe, so sorry about young relative.

vulpix, glad the move has finally happened and that you like your new place despite the state it was left in.

I seem to have created more untidiness today even though it feels that progress has been made.  Found a couple more packets of food that can be uu.  

SpikyHedgehog

Bedding changed today,  winter duvet on bed.   I saw when the duvet was on the washing line that the filling has gone into clumps.   So when it comes off the bed again,  it can leave the house.   I'll replace it with another lightweight duvet and sew chunky snaps on the corners of both duvets so I can put them together.   Hey ho.

Used up an open packet of grated vegan cheese i was given on Thursday,  by making macaroni cheese for dinner.  Younger son's favourite meal, so he was happy.   

More yarn used up.

Oh,  I took the fountain pen off the kitchen table!  I remembered there was an old clear pencil case in the box that's lurking on the kitchen floor,  so added the pen to that and put the pencil case on my desk.   It does need sorting out,  but if I've not used the pen by the time I sort the case,  it can go. 

Younger son changed his name a few years ago,  but the opticians keep sending letters to his old name as their computer system thinks they haven't seen him.   So the letter that came in yesterday,  I wrote 'not known at this address' on it and put it in the post box.   

I've nearly caught up with the posts!  Currently in early September 😂

Moorviews

SpikyHedgehog, that always happens to me when I wash pillows. They go lumpy and I have to get rid of them anyway. At least with pillows I can use the washable protectors and keep the pillows going as long as possible. Some duvets are a lot more stable than others when it comes to being washable so I too layer up the thinner ones. 

@vulpix - it’s great to hear that you are in and happy even though it involved a lot of stress and hard work. 

@charlies_tribe - my condolences to you, your relative was far too young 💐 
@Willowtree222 - very belated happy birthday wishes! 🎂 

Mrs SD - my sympathies regarding the dentist as I had a bit of a session recently. One of the many annoyances of ageing, although I am very glad to have a dentist even if he isn’t NHS. 

I have been decluttering apples from the garden and trying to get them processed. It feels both overwhelming and luxurious to have such plenty! I have been bad at opening non urgent post lately so had a good session with that and reduced the piles to a small amount that requires filing. I am still finding food OOD by years in the cupboards. So far, I have been pressure cooking extremely ancient beans with success, then frozen them. It will be the winter of the pulse based meals for us! A bag is ready for the CS to go asap as some things will be suitable as Christmas presents. 

I hope everyone is enjoying the extra hour of rest this morning 😊 

vulpix

Forgot to say, many banana boxes given away to 3 different people. I stacked loads in the porch when Mr V went out the other night. He couldn't get back in as the porch has a sliding patio door which I had blocked!   Earlier a thrifter rang the door bell but the door knob came off in Mr V's hand and he was stuck in the sitting room, me just about in earshot upstairs! I got to the front door, no one there, hear knocking at the back door, went to the back door to hear knocking at the patio door in the dining room.The Brian Rix farce that is our life is the gift that keeps on giving! 

Charlies tribe, good news about your health. I am very sorry to hear about your relative. xxxx

I know what you mean about processing apples. It is so time consuming to peel and core them but home grown apples are so good.

 I let the cats out for the first time last night, left the patio door ajar. Woke at 5 to Fomo snuggled in between us and Fluffy sat on the landing waiting for breakfast. That's a relief that they came back!

 I need another coffee then the plan today is to clean more upstairs windows and frames then back to the greasy, sticky, dusty kitchen. The cooker top is clean, Mr V had to get in the crevices with his pen knife.

 I have a lot of post for the previous owner, and there is a key safe outside which we don't know the number for. It would be a useful thing to have in use. I will have to contact the sellers solicitor as there is no forwarding address. I don't know if she was deaf but there are 3 doorbell boxes, but only 2 actual working door bells, both on the same door obv.

 Vx

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, well the builders have been cracking on for the past few days and lots of rubble has left the house which they have taken away 😁.  I have had a discussion with the builder about if there will be space for the sink unit I wanted and he said yes so that has been ordered and I have decluttered money to pay for that 😁. No builders here today so I am having a bit of a relax but I do have to pop out to get tea bags 😂, plasterer was here yesterday and the builders will be back on Monday. I have had 4 different lads in who are all very nice and friendly but it has been a bit stressful as it has been very noisy, understandable but I made the most of my trip to the bank on Thursday and on the way home stopped and went for a walk in the park 😂. We have been very lucky with the weather for the past couple of days as although it has been cloudy at times we have had very little rain during the day so the lad digging the drains has been ok to work away without getting wet 😁. All the decluttering I have managed is 300 emails but I did spend a while doing that, tackling some of the more difficult ones rather than just the easy ones and even managed to delete a whole file so that is some progress but the noise did make it hard to concentrate. 4 cardboard boxes have been recycled and some banking stuff has been sorted but I found out the bank are now not doing face to face stuff with you about investment advice, they are only doing it via teams which I don't like. I used it quite a lot during covid for various meetings but as I didn't like it I have decluttered it from all my devices. I will have to have a think about this and it may involve a change of bank 🙄. Bedroom bin, bedroom recycling, kitchen bin, kitchen recycling and lr bin emptied. Load of apples processed into 12 portions of apple crumble in the freezer. The leaves in the front garden have been swept up again, I estimate another week and all the leaves will be down from the trees in my road and hopefully the road sweepers will be round to clear the road and pavements. I do love the trees in my road but this time of year they can make life challenging . 😁.
Today I am going to attempt to remove all the dust from everywhere it has got to and the hall floor needs a good going over, the builders have tried hard to keep the floor clean but it's a meds 😂. I also have broken out the maiden for a load of washing as the forecast is for rain for the next week or so though I will have to hoover the landing first to try to get rid of the dust.
Tomorrow the car is going for an mot. It is not due until November but I might need to be at my sister's so it is booked in as early as I could get it justin 😂. As it is 15 years old I am expecting something to need doing , just keeping my fingers crossed it's not too expensive 😂

@Willowtree222 belated birthday wishes, I am also a libran 😂

@charlies_tribe so sorry to hear about your young relative, big hugs

@Vulpix so glad the move finally happened and you have no regrets 😁 and the cats have found their way home after their first trip out 😁. Food is usually a strong motivator for cats 😁. I bet you are glad to be getting on with the unpacking and disposal of the banana boxes 😁.

Right time to get weaving, thank goodness for the extra hour in bed as I am proper knackered 😁

Hugs to everyone who would like one

1470 rubble 😂
1471 - 1473  emails permanently deleted
1474 banking stuff
1475 - 1478 cardboard boxes
1479 kitchen bin
1480 kitchen recycling
1481 bedroom bin
1482 bedroom recycling
1483 lr bin
1484 apples
1485 leaves
Take care everyone
1485/2025