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Decluttering

(999 Posts)
Doodledog Sat 21-Sept-24 11:36:44

It’s that time of year.

Who is looking to get rid of extraneous items and declutter their houses ready for winter and associated upcoming festivals?

I have two boxes of books waiting to be collected on Tuesday, and hope to add a few bags of clothing before they get here. My decorator is coming to do various bits and bobs, and I need to clear the decks ahead of that, which is my motivation for starting now.

I also need to clear out a huge kitchen cupboard which will become a walk-in larder if the carpenter ever gets back to me.

What’s on your declutter list? Record your successes and difficulties on this thread and support one another.

No lectures on why we shouldn’t need to declutter, please? We know grin. Start another thread about people who are disorganised or who shouldn’t buy too much in the first place and we can choose not to engage with it. This one is for support, encouragement and celebration of clearing ‘stuff’ from our lives.

MissAdventure Sat 14-Dec-24 02:28:41

It's kind of like a bulky felt tip, but it's filled with paint.

So it's almost like colouring in when you use it.

I think they're used on car paintwork, and tyres, but mine will be touching up the edges of my cupboard doors, as the insides are white, and the outer part is dark grey.

That's the plan, anyway.
Bodge it and make do is my method.

MayBee70 Sat 14-Dec-24 02:32:29

You know, if I’d known about paint pens I could have used one in the bathroom because there was only a small amount of wall that needed paint on it. Still, better that I’ve repainted it all I suppose.

MayBee70 Sat 14-Dec-24 20:22:16

Methinks your gunpowder might sort out Winnie’s string problem ( still no sign of it sad) but I now have the canned pumpkin which might help it on its way. Had to get up early today to go on a whippet walk which I’ve been looking forward to for ages. Then, just as we were about to leave I noticed that my purse wasn’t in my handbag and went into a blind panic looking for it as I’d made a rare excursion to the world outside of my house yesterday. Turns out I’d put it on the dining table as I’d changed the date of my next dental check up and wanted to put it on next years calendar before I forgot when it was; the appointment card being in my purse. Why didn’t I put it straight back into my bag? We made the walk just in time. Seriously though, sorry to hear about your hospital stuff. Hope all is well x

Doodledog Sat 14-Dec-24 20:39:22

Gunpowder sounds drastic, MissA. I hope it goes well, too.

My cupboard is done. I'm not fully organised with it yet, as it's so close to Christmas. I'm going to have a proper sort-out in January, but for now it's a case of putting things away and seeing how the system works. It should make life easier, as I'll have to buy less food, and as there are now fixed shelves and drawers I will have to put things somewhere specific instead of having a range of options as to where they will fit.

Allira Sat 14-Dec-24 20:50:18

MayBee70

I want to go to sleep but I’ve lost the sellotape dispenser. I want to seal a couple of wooden jigsaws to take to the charity shop. I saw it the other day and thought’ so that’s where it is’ but I can’t remember where ‘there’ is. I don’t have to do it tonight but I can’t deal with not finding things. I need a lightbulb moment.

They don't work after a while unless you de-gunge them regularly.

Does everyone tidy up after doing Christmas present wrapping?
There seems to be bags of presents, bags of paper, bags of bags, unwrapped presents and still I haven't finished.

Chocolatelovinggran Sat 14-Dec-24 21:17:36

Allira ,I agree: my dining room table looks as if a Blue Peter presenter is mid - project.
I'm working through the wrapping pile and haven't the energy to tidy away until the job is finished.

fancythat Sat 14-Dec-24 21:21:53

I cut out paper for the last few presents I have left to wrap, and tidied the rest away.
I got fed up with it hanging around.

Allira Sat 14-Dec-24 21:22:05

Chocolatelovinggran

Allira ,I agree: my dining room table looks as if a Blue Peter presenter is mid - project.
I'm working through the wrapping pile and haven't the energy to tidy away until the job is finished.

I wish DH woul write his cards then I could clear the cards up.

Doodledog Sat 14-Dec-24 21:58:46

Allira

MayBee70

I want to go to sleep but I’ve lost the sellotape dispenser. I want to seal a couple of wooden jigsaws to take to the charity shop. I saw it the other day and thought’ so that’s where it is’ but I can’t remember where ‘there’ is. I don’t have to do it tonight but I can’t deal with not finding things. I need a lightbulb moment.

They don't work after a while unless you de-gunge them regularly.

Does everyone tidy up after doing Christmas present wrapping?
There seems to be bags of presents, bags of paper, bags of bags, unwrapped presents and still I haven't finished.

I bought some of these bags, and have designated a bag for each person who'll be here at Christmas. They are about a foot high, and hold quite a lot if the presents aren't the size of skateboards or standard lamps.

The tree's not up yet, but the plan is to put them around it, which I think will look neater than a jumbled pile of presents, and make it easy on the day to prevent people getting the wrong presents. I haven't decided whether to give the bags as extra presents or put them upstairs with the decorations after Christmas and use them next year.

In an unprecedented fit of organisation I have wrapped everything, put the wrapped things into the bags and feel very pleased with myself. 😇

MissAdventure Sun 15-Dec-24 11:39:31

I think I underestimated the effects of the backside meds.
Suffice to say I didn't have time to do any "clearing out".
I was rather busy. blush

Allira Sun 15-Dec-24 11:59:07

I've got this horrible sore throat, feeling grotty, so nothing much is getting done. Today's plans are on the back burner.

Allira Sun 15-Dec-24 12:00:16

MissAdventure

I think I underestimated the effects of the backside meds.
Suffice to say I didn't have time to do any "clearing out".
I was rather busy. blush

Hope you feel better soon.
I'll wave my magic wand 🧚‍♀️

MissAdventure Sun 15-Dec-24 12:36:14

If your wand does the trick, I'll be a new Christmas convert.

You could wave it and grant me a new kitchen, please. smile

Doodledog Sun 15-Dec-24 12:48:58

I've never had bottom dynamite, but did suffer the joys of the prep stuff they give you before a colonoscopy, and that was bad enough.

I've had friends over this morning, and am going out this afternoon, so there will be no decluttering today, but tomorrow I'm going to sort the bedrooms. I've been promising to do that for ages, but I will brook no more excuses - it's happening tomorrow.

I have asked Santa for a magic wand, MissA. if he obliges, I'll let you borrow it after I've sorted world peace and George Clooney's busy schedule - he hardly has time to visit these days.

MissAdventure Sun 15-Dec-24 12:51:58

grin
Thanks.

Wouldn't it be great to be able to zing a little magic to someone (not necessarily George Clooney)?

Allira Sun 15-Dec-24 14:06:09

MissAdventure

If your wand does the trick, I'll be a new Christmas convert.

You could wave it and grant me a new kitchen, please. smile

I'm waving it around my own first.

After that?

Doodledog Sun 15-Dec-24 15:02:05

We could be the Christmas fairies, waving magic with our wands. Just think how decluttered our houses will be grin.

MayBee70 Sun 15-Dec-24 15:20:59

Doodledog

We could be the Christmas fairies, waving magic with our wands. Just think how decluttered our houses will be grin.

One of my favourite films! I thought Malificent was beautiful! Which probably accounts for me dressing in black for most of my adult life!

MayBee70 Tue 17-Dec-24 17:10:59

I’ve taken the first lot of toys to a charity shop! You can almost move in my living room, now, for the first time in ages.

MissAdventure Tue 17-Dec-24 17:22:23

Oh, that was a big step to take, MayBee and you've done it.
Fantastic! tchsmile

Doodledog Tue 17-Dec-24 18:15:36

Great stuff, MayBee. You might find that seeing the space you've made gives you an incentive to make more. I know when I start a big job I can feel overwhelmed, but as I make progress and there is less to do it gets easier. It's the 'eat an elephant a bite at a time' thing, isn't it? (I've always found that a strange, if useful, analogy, but there we are grin)

MissAdventure Tue 17-Dec-24 18:33:06

I think my elephant has packed her trunk, and said goodbye to the circus...
Nothing done at all here. blush

MayBee70 Tue 17-Dec-24 19:03:49

I’ve asked my son and his family over on New Years Day so I’ve got something to aim for. Moving some excess furniture into the garage tonight. Still not actually getting rid of any of it, though! A lot of it is upcycling projects. I also have boxes full of art projects that ground to a halt when my marriage broke up and my time was taken up with house maintenance.

MissAdventure Tue 17-Dec-24 19:12:28

You may feel more able to devote time to your upcycling and art projects next year, when the house is even tidier.

It goes without saying that you must be declutterer of the week again. smile

MayBee70 Tue 17-Dec-24 20:07:18

MissAdventure

You may feel more able to devote time to your upcycling and art projects next year, when the house is even tidier.

It goes without saying that you must be declutterer of the week again. smile

I’m starting from an extreme position, though. I didn’t post a picture of what it was like before. For the sake of balance I might take a picture of one of the bedrooms before I start on it. This is the little house. There will be two year old children all over the country that will be getting presents from Santa and other people that would get more play value out of something like this than all of their other toys put together!