2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering

Floss

They're gorgeous, the BLH is a little ball of fluff!

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 is a dull overcast day with a forecast high of 15°C, low of 9°C & apart from the very early morning rain (03:00) no more rain is forecast. I brought the laundry down, opened the washer/dryer only to find that DSis had already done a load. Her load is now drying, so mine will have to wait 😞 I am sure she reads my mind 😉 Before settling down with a hot drink & starting the cheerleading I sorted out a bit of paperwork but still have more to do. 

2076 - 2079 Two magazines, 2 cardboard boxes - recycled 

Now starting with posts dated the 4th & 5th of November

vulpix, another extremely busy day 👏🤩 It sounds like you want everything unpacked & put away yesterday 😱 so I am pleased to hear that you are still finding time to fit in more relaxing pastimes like craft club 😮‍💨 😊 Please, please be careful when moving furniture 🙏 I am not surprised you are both very tired as you seem to be determined to get the new house shipshape & Bristol fashion in the shortest time possible 😥 

Great work oceanspirit 👏

TC77, very pleased to hear that your DB has noticed how well you are doing with the decluttering & tidying 😊 Hopefully whilst he is visiting he can help out with Tip runs and/or furniture moving/rearranging 🙏  Good luck with the printers 🍀 I am keeping my fingers crossed that one of them can be made compatible with your PC 🤞Pleased to hear that DD1 will be taking care of the cats whilst you are away (but memory like a sieve so will be nosy & ask when, where & how long you will be away 🙏) I will also keep everything crossed that DD1 takes a few more items to help with your decluttering 🤞

DSis’s laundry is dry so wm now has my 1st load in & as I have reached the bottom of a page it seems the ideal time to post 😉 I hope everyone is having as good a day as possible 😊 Cwtches are available for anyone who wants one 🤗 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 2079/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £569.00

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:

vulpix, I have never understood why anyone would replace carpets if they are perfectly serviceable 🤔 ……… unless they are psychedelically garish & give you a headache every time you see them 🙊 Thank you for sharing that snippet about your DMum ☺️ Reminds me that some of my Italian relatives didn’t have an indoor toilet until the mid 60’s 😉 They owned a farm in the foothills of the Alps & had an outdoor privy a few minutes walk away from the house 😦 I remember my DMum telling me that you had to check for snakes before you went in 😱 Now that the carpets have been cleaned, please be careful moving the furniture back into the bedroom 🙏  Being very cheeky, can I ask how you will clean the roof of the oven - I struggle as I know that I have to avoid damaging the heating elements ☹️ Fingers crossed that you found the passports on Thursday 🤞

Lovely to see you tibawo 👋 & absolutely no need to apologise for not reading back 😊 Our Declutterati family have been very busy 🤩 (although not me 😬) I imagine it is nice to have your DD home, but as you say having duplicates of everything & just hiding them away is not a good idea 😉 Good luck with “Operation Declutter/Sell/Donate Duplicates” 🍀 I have made a note of your goals for November & wish you every success 🥹 especially with your 2nd goal as that would would allow for flexibility now that you are caring for your DMum full time 🥹 Again it is so lovely to see you back 👋 & I look forward to hearing how you are getting on 🙂

Nice to see you Muddy_Walker 👋 RL does have an annoying habit of interrupting decluttering journeys 😞 I do hope everything is OK now 🙏 Good luck sorting out your main bedroom 🍀 The bedroom furniture you are replacing has definitely given good service - 25 years 🤩 Reading This “…. a Christmas cake recipe dilemma……but discovered a Zero Waste shop in my town and they were selling cake kits with the exact amount of ingredients needed so I went with Delias recipe. It was soaked in alcohol for over a week and then baked Monday. I would like to say how incredible it is…..but it is well and truly burnt all round the edges so I will be cutting those bits off and feeding it with more alcohol.” sent me down a rabbit hole about why cakes burn at the edges 😉 as I had the same issue when I used to bake Christmas cakes 😞 Some reasons I knew about - oven too hot, shelf too high or uneven heat distribution but I never realised that dark coloured cake tins were an issue 🤔 & This “Not giving up though…. But the air was very blue 😜” made me giggle as it reminded me of my reaction when it happened to my cakes 🙊 Good luck 🍀 

Excellent decluttering Rootle 👏

Brie, sorry to hear This “All the glass ware taken to the charity shops plus a large glass vase.  But what are some people like?  I know they have the right to say "no, we can't sell that" or whatever but at least be gracious about it.  OH took in the second box of glasses and was bluntly told "that's too much, we're too full!!"  No attempt to redirect us to another shop (of which there are many).   Went to a second place and I was told "we don't take donations after 3".  It was 3:10!  Again nothing polite in her comment and no attempt to refer me to the place that was literally right next door.” 😞 Absolutely no need for this attitude, leaves a bad taste & is completely unnecessary 😔 

Lovely post TC77 😊 & great work decluttering the drawer 👏

BlueJ94, well done on decluttering OH wardrobe 👏

I am struggling to concentrate now so will break off, do a bit of pottering & knitting & hopefully come back refreshed 🤞 See you later 👋 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 2079/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £569.00

suzeesu2000

Almost all laundry done and finished, just a couple of dark bits on airer. 

Had a very late start to day so was too late to use the washing line.
Dinner for both was totally freezer.
Delighted with Tesco, got DH his favourite coffee and saved MORE than I spent, 3 of them came to £10.25 and I saved £11.75…fantastic offer. Also got a 1.66kg piece of beef. Should have been £24 but paid £14. Thank you so much to the person who posted about that offer. 

Made a sale on eBay, my last craft item ever. Very happy with price too. All packed and ready for collection, same with item sold on Vinted yesterday.
Been a beautiful bright, sunny autumnal day here today, really lovely. 

Hope everyone’s weekend is going well, have a good evening all, sleep tight xx

tibawo

Hoping to do a car boot tomorrow. i have to drop DD2 at work so have to get up so makes sense!
Well, the plan for operation declutter is coming together. I’m busy sorting out zones. The idea is by tomorrow night everything (apart from the bin bags of washing) will be in the dining room. 
This means i can get the christmas decorations out, put up and get rid of any not needed. Then both the living room and kitchen can remain stress free as we’re not having to look at everything. 
I have been pottering and collating like things together. Best one today is that I’ve located lots of small cello bags. In excess of 500 so far. I’d buy some, use about 10, put them away in a random place and then have to buy more as couldn’t find them!
Next time, i’ll update my goals!

Brambling

I may have a touch of kitten envy 😍 although they have the look of fuzzy trouble makers 😁 I have been known to tell mine that I'm going to swap him for a younger less grumpy model but not sure if I'm brave enough to cope with two kittens again 🙀 

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: Yesterday’s shopping trip wasn’t entirely successful - MrS didn’t have any of DSis’s milk - so DH decided to give the motorbike a run out to MrS. He managed to get to sm no trouble, did the shopping & headed home. Then the problems began ☹️ 17:15 he called to say that the bike had ‘died’ but fortunately he managed to coast into a safe place (about 3 miles from home)  but had to pay parking until 18:30 😖 Then he contacted the RAC. He was quite lucky in that he only had to wait an hour for a mechanic to turn up (18:20) but the luck ended there 😞 Apparently the alternator is kaput so no chance of roadside repair ☹️ so a tow truck was required. Initial estimates were for a truck to turn up between 22:30 & midnight 😱 DH was not a happy bunny 😢 However he received a message at about 19:10 that the new eta for the truck would be between 19:30 & 20:30. 😮‍💨 The truck turned up at 20:15 🥳 & DH was back by 21:05. Unfortunately a new alternator is very expensive + DH will have to get the bike taken to the garage - so more expense 😞 it had been booked in for an MOT on Tuesday so hopefully DH can get the bike picked up 🤞 Dinner was quiche & boiled potatoes. Wudupa. 2 loads of laundry washed & dried. 

2080 - 2081 Kitchen recycling, cardboard box - recycled 

2082 Kitchen detritus binned 

suzeesu2000, well done getting the cupboard sorted so quickly 👏 Good luck decluttering DH’s books 🍀 Hopefully you can arrange a collection by the CS 🤞Frankie sounds like he keeps you on your toes 😉

Some great decluttering vulpix 👏 & fingers crossed that the table is not too big for your new friend 🤞 More 💐 for LCL - how wonderful that she finished cleaning the oven - she is a gem 🥹 

Not quite caught up with posts dated the 5th but have just noticed the time 😥 Sleep tight everyone 😴 

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

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

DSis Awards: ⭐️ ⭐️ 🏅

Decluttering Target 2025: 2082/2025

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £569.00

Moorviews

Oh no, Mrs SD! What a traumatic evening! Whether two or four wheels everything is so expensive. I’m very glad he didn’t end up having to wait until midnight though. 

@charlies_tribe - the kittens are totally gorgeous 😍😍 Never take siblings to view kittens or puppies together - that’s how we ended up with 2 puppies!
@2Scratters - I am sorry to hear that you lost your dad suddenly and are now having to process all his belongings on top of everything. I know it is never an easy thing to do so well done 💐

We have taken up and got rid of a very old carpet in preparation for new. I have disliked it the whole time as it was the previous owner’s choice in the early 1990s. Decluttering has slowed down due to decorating. I always think it will take me a week to do a room (true of my 20yr old self) but a month is more realistic now 😂 Now that we have less stuff it is so much easier to tackle the decorating. My eye is on the DC’s rooms next so will hopefully get them to take away more of their belongings soon. 

vulpix

 Good morning,

2 Scratters, I am very sorry to hear about your Dad. Nice to see you back, take care. xxx

 Mrs SD,  What a bloomin pain about the bike. Poor Mr SD.
 That's hair raising to have to check for snakes in the loo. Where my Mum was brought up had a toilet right at the bottom of the garden. There was a bucket on a rope which you threw in the river to get water to flush. Poor peoples housing back in time. Instagramable ,desirable air B n B's now!
 My cooker is gas and has a solid roof. The foam spray doesn't like spraying upwards but will do it with perseverance. I almost asphyxiated myself several times from the fumes. That's why I was loath to get on with it.
 LCL says she uses a dishwasher tablet to clean her oven, so no fumes. Thank you for her flowers. She is indeed a gem. I think just wiping round the electric elements is all that can be done after mastering the yoga positions of an Indian mystic to be able to  get at the bloomin things!

 I am pressing on with tidying the house but the knee I hurt in the summer makes sure I don't do too much. This next week will be all about getting ready to go on holiday. Haircuts, trying on of clothes due to weight gain!! etc. Also moving stuff again for the electrician who is rewiring most of the house whilst we are away.

 Yesterday was the first family meal at our new to us dining table. I had forgotten how nice it is to sit around a table with family and socialise with good food.

 I know I said we had more stuff than I realised when it's all in boxes in front of you but honestly it isn't excessive really.I exaggerate for comedic effect. The volume of boxes containing Mr V's sheds is a lot. The previous owner has left a couple of those little plastic sheds which are full but a lot of boxes of electricals are in the house as they can't get damp. The massive, no exaggeration toolbox is in the hall.

 LOVE all the kittens. Thank you for the pics. Charlies tribe and Daisy. Kittens, even a photo are such a gift.xx

 DGS age 2 can't say our cat Fomo's name, he says Fono which is quite apt. Our builder accidentally  calls him MOFO, which takes it to a whole new level!

 LiverpoolAnne, when our last kitchen went back to brick, we stayed in an air b n b for about 4 or 5 days. I would recommend it. I would say stay away even longer than we did. It is quite depressing living in a building site.Worth the disruption in the end though. We went back every night to feed the cats and it was great to see the progress.

tibawo, I am Mrs Christmas but have I read you are putting your Christmas decorations up? You go girl!

 Moorviews, slow and steady wins the race. It will be so nice to have your own choice of carpet.You will be all smart for Christmas. Funny how this time of year everything relates to Christmas. I do hope you don't have my Mothers problem with getting your kids to take their stuff. The box of rocks taking about 40 years to move could be a record.

 I am off to scoff leftovers from our get together. Yum. DS and DD1 both brought contributions. I made sure they liked cooking as kids. Method in my maddness!

 Laters Vx