Decluttering

loopyloo

Oh yes, much needed.
Where to start?

Bathroom is always said to be a good one.
Quickest room to finish.

Thanks Norah, it is.

I'm on the lookout for people that can't manage all the trappings of christmas, so I can give it to them, and feel like the christmas fairy.

Its not just the height of it, but the circumference too.

MissAdventure

I took some things out of Brian and put them back a bit tidied.

Picked up the stick on hooks which had fallen off into the mire, and have stuck them back up.

I declutter my drill away last time I did it, so now have to use stick on things.

In the depths of Brian is my daughters christmas tree, which is huge, and beautiful.

Thats a real issue for me: i wouldnt mind giving it to someone who would really appreciate it, but i can't dictate that they must.

It has beautiful lights and ornaments, because she loved Christmas, but it's too big for my place, and a bind, to be honest.

I can't imagine how difficult this will always be for you. I'm so sorry.

We bought cotton sheets recently!

I don't iron --but I know someone who does--

My bedlinen is all 100% cotton, and it's me that irons it. I just love the coolness of cotton so ironing is a price worth paying.

In other news I am so jealous of you all with your big cupboards. My teeny house has very little storage so I should declutter frequently, should being the operative word
I am going to start again. I did the sideboard in my living room a couple of months ago and it has been a pleasure to open the doors and drawers and see what's in there at a glance, rather than rifling through the jumbled contents.

HelterSkelter1

I have single striped blue flat sheets and striped pink sheets from when I was 14 at home. Really good condition for 60 years old and made from good quality cotton. I will never use them and didn't for my 2 daughters as they would have needed very good ironing. Thry had poly cotton duvet covers and fitted poly cotton sheets.

I feel so attached to them but who would want cotton sheets needing ironing now? They would create a block of space in thr underbed drawer. My daughters would send straight to the charity shop if I were not here. Suggestions please.

We bought cotton sheets recently!

I don't iron but I know someone who does

I took some things out of Brian and put them back a bit tidied.

Picked up the stick on hooks which had fallen off into the mire, and have stuck them back up.

I declutter my drill away last time I did it, so now have to use stick on things.

In the depths of Brian is my daughters christmas tree, which is huge, and beautiful.

Thats a real issue for me: i wouldnt mind giving it to someone who would really appreciate it, but i can't dictate that they must.

It has beautiful lights and ornaments, because she loved Christmas, but it's too big for my place, and a bind, to be honest.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

It’s a first world problem. Lucky us in some ways I dare say. But too much of anything can be overwhelming really.

I use Alexa all the time now to play music. I ought to get rid of the sound system. I culled CDs down last year to just 10 favourites - but haven’t played any of them since.

It is a first world problem.

But my family have no wish to go through much stuff when I am gone.
I cant blame them.
It was after watching others go through a house of someone who had died, and seeing the effort involved, that kick started me in the first place.
Well that, and, who knows what is around the corner type thing for anyone, so wanted to get on with it while I can.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I have 35 years of diaries stored in a wicker box ….
I stopped writing them after health scares in the family. I’ve never read them. Tip them? Shred them? Leave my innermost thoughts and emotions for our two girls? No wonder they just sit there.

That is part of the problem I have had. It has taken me a while to realise.
I have several bits and pieces which I think, what shall I do with them?
So they just sit somewhere. For months or more. Or worse still, move around, according to which room someone uses, when they come to stay.

As to your diaries - get a 2nd opinion from your two girls?

I have part solved the problem by getting in a second opinion from someone who I know well.
She helps me with keep, throw, or recycle. And she enjoys it!
I would like to say sell as well, but my old stuff to get rid of is not worth much, on the whole.

I also have a feeling of wanting to prepare for winter and in my case it's getting my small garden cleared out and ready for spring.. so I have someone coming to replace a fence and cut my big ivy hedge, paint the walls and to clear all the debris.. I've had a new raised bed built and will have a herb garden next year.. it's lovely to be planning it..

Only yesterday I took a heavy bag of good condition cookery books to a charity shop - they’d been sitting there for ages but one was ‘Cooking for Christmas’ so I was waiting for a slightly more suitable time.

Last year I made a resolution that once the clocks changed in October, I’d go through one drawer or cupboard every day, and chuck a lot of stuff - not that we’re hoarders but I know there’s a lot we no longer use.
Last year I did maybe one kitchen drawer! 🤞I’ll do a bit better this year.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Can I join? We live in two small places. Himself is Very Good at getting rid of stuff. I’m good at most things (out of space necessity really) but decluttering clothing I find hard. My weight can fluctuate depending on my anxiety levels so I have ‘big’ and ‘slimmer’ stuff.

I really must try harder. Only keep what I believe to be beautiful or useful is the mantra isn’t it? (Not 20 year old tops two of which my mum gave me). I feel emotionally tied to some clothes. “I bought this when …”

I need to let go.

My problem, too. I have so many leggings and have to label them, long, short, ok, bit tight’ish etc. Then a month later they’ll be too tight or too loose. I’ll often start wearing something that I haven’t worn for years. I was going to sort out dresses etc that I’ve bought for weddings and sell them in the second hand clothes shops that there used to be lots of, but they don’t seem to exist any more; sales are done on the internet now. They’re too good to just give to a charity shop and, although I do give to charity shops I’m not rich enough to part with what were quite expensive clothes. Away from home at the moment but am, as usual, overwhelmed by the mess awaiting me back home.

The only thing I have to do is bring out the blankets and throws, and change summer clothing for winter. Log stores are full, as is the oil tank. Roll on winter. I love it.

I have 35 years of diaries stored in a wicker box ….
I stopped writing them after health scares in the family. I’ve never read them. Tip them? Shred them? Leave my innermost thoughts and emotions for our two girls? No wonder they just sit there.

It’s a first world problem. Lucky us in some ways I dare say. But too much of anything can be overwhelming really.

I use Alexa all the time now to play music. I ought to get rid of the sound system. I culled CDs down last year to just 10 favourites - but haven’t played any of them since.

Great tips, Crosstitchfan.

I was going to start a thread at some point, with exactly the same title.

As some will know from a long running previous thread, I am 4 years and some months through what I thought orignally would take 1 year! Then 5 years. I do think I will be finished by end of next year. I jolly hope so!

I do go at my own pace. Very much so,
As I said I on the other thread, I have largely, old paperwork, [lots of] and the loft, to go.

I have made a start on the loft.
And paperwork is an ongoing and slow process. Not made any easier as I write lots of things down in my life, so am adding to it all the time.

I am normally fairly organised and tidy but when I moved from a 5 bed house to a 3 bed flat after my husband died, I had a real problem about what to get rid of, and how.
These are the things I have discovered work for me for successful decluttering:
Don’t try to declutter the whole house at once.
Pick one room and arm yourself with rubbish bags.
Don’t try to clean the room at the same time. Get it free of unwanted items and then clean.
Make sure you have already got a meal sorted for the end of the day. A naughty ready meal could be allowed here as you won’t feel like cooking after all that work! Or a take-away, maybe?
Pick a day when you are unlikely to be disturbed.
Pick a day when you are feeling energetic and optimistic!
Try not to be distracted by things you might discover that you have forgotten about (photos, letters etc); Put them to one side and look at them later.
Stop for drinks, snacks and little rests throughout the day.
Ignore phone calls if it’s someone who chats for England! You can phone them at the end of the decluttering time..
Don’t worry when you don’t get it all done in one day. Pick another day as above, and repeat.

I love decluttering and the satisfaction it brings with having an organised home. It makes my whole life run more smoothly.
Enjoy!

Starting on Monday, or maybe even tomorrow, I am going to start gradually clearing my living room ready for the decorator. I’ve got four weeks. There are five small bookcases, shelves of DVDs, CDs and vinyl and the kits to play them on plus four large speakers. And a whole lot more. I am not minimalist, but it is all too much stuff. No idea how to get rid of it all. I can’t bear to walk past the charity shop and see 10 CDs for £1.

I need to declutter clothes. The usual winter/summer changeover simply didn’t happen because of the weather. So they’re both taking up space and some have to go. I’ve got one charity bag and one bin bag so far, and my incentive this afternoon is that I can’t get into bed tonight until at least some of it is sorted.

P.s. MissA I had a good chuckle at your cupboards having names and why!

Can I join? We live in two small places. Himself is Very Good at getting rid of stuff. I’m good at most things (out of space necessity really) but decluttering clothing I find hard. My weight can fluctuate depending on my anxiety levels so I have ‘big’ and ‘slimmer’ stuff.

I really must try harder. Only keep what I believe to be beautiful or useful is the mantra isn’t it? (Not 20 year old tops two of which my mum gave me). I feel emotionally tied to some clothes. “I bought this when …”

I need to let go.

I sorted out some old creams which are waiting patiently by the door to go in the dustbin and am now condensing some diary stuff.

MissAdventure

I have a big, walk in cupboard in my hall (it's name is Brian)

Brain has ended up with so much stuff ; all loose, with nails, and paint, and glue, and Christmas stuff.

You do make me laugh, MissAdventure 🤣

Could you put them on freecycle?

Presumably, someone would come and get them because they could do with them, not just so they could discard them?

HelterSkelter1

I have single striped blue flat sheets and striped pink sheets from when I was 14 at home. Really good condition for 60 years old and made from good quality cotton. I will never use them and didn't for my 2 daughters as they would have needed very good ironing. Thry had poly cotton duvet covers and fitted poly cotton sheets.

I feel so attached to them but who would want cotton sheets needing ironing now? They would create a block of space in thr underbed drawer. My daughters would send straight to the charity shop if I were not here. Suggestions please.

I've used duvet covers and sheets to make roman blinds. At the moment I am using curtains to make chair covers. There is loads of material in them. Alternatively use them to make a rag rug to go by the bed. I've seen someone using old sheets to make a duvet cover by cutting them in strips and crocheting them - it looked absolutely lovely.