2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

GrannyKate

Morning all.  Very heavy frost here but I don't think it's actually snow although I know nearby village has it. I almost changed my plan not to go out today as I am out of plastic meal boxes (think I must have sent them all back to DS2).  I then realised that my large pot of mince and random veg could be made into shepherd's pies as I also have a large bag of potatoes which I need to use.  I have several freezerproof small dishes that can be filled, wrapped in foil and plastic bag and then put in outside freezer.  Will keep one portion out for tea tonight.  

If it warms up a bit I may go out in shed to just sort the outside freezer.  I have a 'utility' room brick built on back of garage with its own door.  About 9 feet square and new lighting and power points but no water so not really a proper utility room.  It even has a double glazed window and I have already bought some rubber squares to line the floor when I can get help to move contents outside.  I asked DS2 yesterday about putting some wall shelves out there as I would like to be able to store some spare drinks etc somewhere. I buy large packs for ecomomy but have nowhere to store them in kitchen.  Washing machine is in kitchen but I have tumble dryer (rarely used) and a new small chest freezer out there.  There is also a storage box for most of my garden chair cushions.

I think my overall 'decluttering and redistribution' aim is for everything to have a home and to know where they are.  Cooking for guests after Christmas was a wake up call as I realised that there are some things I have put away and have no idea where they are.  I also have a large cupboard in my new kitchen which I love but top and bottom shelves are full of glass, china and other bits which could go somewhere more accessible or could be grouped together in plastic boxes I could easily lift out.  I have spare plastic boxes in the garage.  That's a job for another day.  

I have adopted a policy (that sounds a bit formal!) to recheck the drawer or cupboard as I put things away so yesterday I put some Christmas tablecloths away in a nice lidded box that I keep in my wardrobe for table linen.  It was not full but I identified several items for CS Bag which I will not use again as I have a smaller table and less places to use runners.  I have some really nice ones handmade in various places round the world which I have visited - I have a strict rule for holiday souvenirs and only buy the occasional one of these and they have to be locally made. I also got two small Christmas tree decorations in Helsinki which were made in Finland not imported from China.  

Right I need to get dressed and get on with the frogs.  Sox made a quick trip outside but he does not like the cold weather. He has a scab on his nose so guess he has been fighting. Worrying world situation - DS2 has Caribbean holiday booked for his birthday at end of month. 

49-54 Plastic box drawer sorted - two babyish sets of containers, one I never use and two lids with no pots out
55 Set of large placemats to CS bag - I have already replaced as these are not heatproof
56-59 Two table runners, large table cloth and bundle of small cloths to CS bag

I need to start emptying bedroom 3 particularly the large kallax unit which is just too big for the room.  I can store the things in there in my wardrobes short term.  DIL will put the kallax up for sale once it is empty.  I must remember to put old mattress outside for collection on Weds.  

pinkprincesz56

Mrs_Salad_Dodger said:

1. Daily To Do list - written the night before
2. Sort out sleep patterns - initial targets: bed by 03:00, up by 10:30
3. 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
4. Commence ‘Operation Financial Frog Tickling’ using the acronym - I.R.I.S. (Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off) - One per quarter
5. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed
6. Plan & execute ONE Major Project - 2026 New Bathroom
7. Target 2026 items out

Friday continued. Whilst making my coffee I did the little bit of washing up & then before settling down to continue cheerleading I put a new black bag in the wheelie bin. DH & DSis got back 15:45. Fairly uneventful journeys - 3 buses there & 2 buses back + a 5 minute walk. Of course DSis is having trouble seeing as she had eye drops. I made hot drinks for them as they were both rather chilly. DH has made himself a roll with the last of the turkey & DSis is cooking a couple of shop bought wraps. Very adventurous of her 😊 so I do hope they taste nice 🙏 Back to the cheerleading 🙂

Lovely to see you Brie 👋 I have made a note of your 2026 aims & look forward to following your progress ☺️

Welcome back Foofoopuppy 👋 Well done on being another member of the MDC 👏 How exciting to be planning a house move 😊 Remembering how ‘curious’ I am, have you found anywhere yet or are you still looking? Hopefully being in the MDC will mean that your packing will be relatively easy 🤞 Good luck in your quest to use up food & drink 🍀

So lovely to see you weenancyinAmerica 👋 Not too sure how many items would be on my Good Intentions List (if I ever get around to writing one 😉) but I am positive there would be more than 70 & many of them would be at least 5 years old if not older 😟 Just wondering if there are any on the list that could be delegated to your roommates 🤔 ………. ignore me, if they haven’t helped yet it is unlikely that 2026 will be any different 😞 Just wondering if it was always your intention to become a professional Genealogist?  Apologies, I have my curious head on 😉 Good luck reconciling the two files 🍀 Please, please be careful cleaning house 🙏

That is the 2nd page finished 😊 I have decided to post each time I finish a page, hopefully I will catch up by the middle of the month 😉😉

MrsSD Awards: 💐

DH Awards:

DSis Awards: 

Decluttering Target 2026: 3/2026

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £0

I’m a newbie but I’d love to join for 2026!

vulpix

 Excess doorbells binned.

 All the Christmas decorations dutifully sorted and stored. Trees are in the loft. This took me all evening.Well every time ads came on the TV. Knitting when programmes on, tidy dining room during ad breaks. The kitchen is in need of a good tidy next. I have just put everything I am not sure what to do with in there for now. Too tired to do it last night.

 The new to us fire surround is propped up in front of the current surround. The proportions are so much better than what we have now.

 Fronts cut off Christmas cards, Backs recycled, fronts in the chazzer bag. The manageress makes them into new cards.

 Dawn W, we had a similar meal to you. Stuff out of the fridge fried with onion and mashed potato. It was actually really nice. Only 2 tiny tins of biscuits left for Mr V to eat up and that is Christmas food finished.

 Floss, looking forward to your "after" pics.

 I want to clean the oven and fridge freezer before we stock up again. Today is the kitchens lucky day. Washing to be done and find a home for everything on the breakfast bar. The kitchen is not a warm room so no sorting of cupboards or emptying of the last 2 moving boxes today. I will count the kitchen tidy as this Mondays snagging.

Unfortunately I have to go to the bank later, bloomin miles away over country lanes. ( 30 mile round trip) Would rather stay in and knit.
 Snow not as bad as forecast but enough. Mr V couldn't get the car up our hill after work so he had to park up and walk home.  Currently -7.

 Take care folks Vx

oceanspirit

Hello and welcome to all newbies and returners.

@crazy_cat_lady, love the busy cats photos.  Fingers crossed your operation date comes through very soon.

@purplevamp, that’s great news re the decision to return the dressing gown.  It would have become clutter had it stayed - I am very guilty of “it’ll do” , only to realise several years later that it won’t and has just been in storage in my wardrobe, preventing me from accessing things I actually do want to wear.

Managed to break a favourite plate so the pieces went in the bin.  Started going through Christmas decorations - I don’t have many but there were still a few that are broken and have been binned.  I also gave OH his back - I don’t think there’s anything else of his to go now.  Found some more cardboard and paper recycling to go.  All in all a satisfying start to the decluttering year.

Am behind with laundry but it’ll have to wait until the snow has melted.

mickly

Definitely up for this although been saying it for thd last few years problem is have a daughter and wife who both don't like to throw things away. 
However definitely need to declutter so hopefully this will make me more determined

ionafan

GrannyKate said:

 I have a 'utility' room brick built on back of garage with its own door.  About 9 feet square and new lighting and power points but no water so not really a proper utility room.  It even has a double glazed window and I have already bought some rubber squares to line the floor when I can get help to move contents outside.  I asked DS2 yesterday about putting some wall shelves out there as I would like to be able to store some spare drinks etc somewhere. I buy large packs for ecomomy but have nowhere to store them in kitchen.  Washing machine is in kitchen but I have tumble dryer (rarely used) and a new small chest freezer out there.  There is also a storage box for most of my garden chair cushions....

I need to start emptying bedroom 3 particularly the large kallax unit which is just too big for the room.  I can store the things in there in my wardrobes short term.  DIL will put the kallax up for sale once it is empty.   

@GrannyKate is there enough floor space for the Kallax unit in your utility?  If necessary, you could cut it down to size and use the cut-off section on top of your tumble dryer, or wall-mounted - but not immediately above your chest freezer or you won't be able to open the lid!

daisy_1571

Great idea ionafan 

Mickly lots of people over the years have come on these threads wishing they could clear the place but partners and/or children were keepers.  It seems that if you start - strictly on your own stuff, never ever throwing anything of the other family members away -  you might feel you are getting  nowhere but over time the partners begin to voluntarily start tidying up their own and also,  shock horror, chucking stuff 😆   The key seems to be no pressure (as that will likely induce a white knuckle grip on the item) and to start saying things like 'which of these t shirts shall I keep' when you are doing your own stuff - a very different sentence to 'which of these tshirts do I have to get rid of'.  Good luck.

Dxx

Bobbie_D

Hi, newbie here.  I started decluttering over Christmas and New year period, so this has come at a good time, hoping that reading about everyone's experiences will help keep me motivated and accountable.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi everyone

I'm back to work today, thankfully from home as it's snowy and icy out  
I've been deleting emails - home and work - as I have thousands in my inbox  I'm unsubscribing as I go along too  

@Crazycatlady2 - thoughts are with you, hope your operation date comes through soon.

Love Deni x

Wednesday2000

Wow, there have been a lot of posts since I checked this thread. I am getting the chairs picked up this week. I couldn't find a charity that would take them so I am selling them to a local furniture store. It is only a small amount of cash but at least they will be out of the house. I am getting rid of some clothes in the textile recycling this week too.

I did almost 40,000 steps on Saturday and Sunday as I went on two local walks. I still managed to get a disrupted sleep last night. It is cold and sunny again, although not as cold as it was on Saturday as the wind was bitterly cold.