Decluttering

I am using my mothers china plates for everyday now instead of my assorted everyday...which I have ditched. She only used them for best. I like them and I think she would be pleased I am using them all the time. They probably shouldnt go in the dishwasher as they have a gold rim. But they are looking OK. So I have decluttered my old ones.
But I must send to charity a tea set. .... or 2. Job for tomorrow as I have some useful cardboard boxes to get rid of and bubble wrap.
I also have some big cardboard boxes the spin dryer came in. They should go in the recycling...but what if I have to send it back???

I'd love to be de-cluttered but just loathe actually doing it. I have two wide, deep drawers in the kitchen full of "stuff", most of which isn't kitchen stuff and much of which is never actually be used. I'd like to get it down to just my keys, my glasses, a pencil or two and a diary.
But where would I put the rest of it - it's clearly useful, that's why I've still got it?

(sorry, a type or two in that but I think you get the gist)

My major decluttering triumph in the past year was managing to sell my "best" china to a dealer on EBay. I got a decent amount of money and feel really good about it, expecially the huge amount of space it freed up - which is now partly used as a toy cupboard by my grandchildren.

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?

Very good idea. We have two local WhatsApp groups and if people have things they don't need they offer them on there, either free or for sale. Everything I have put on has gone to a good home and as the people are very local they can come and pick them up.
I offered some good quality white cotton fitted sheets recently as I have downsized and need deep sheets for a new mattress.
Also some old ramekins, the grandchildrens' high chair and some over-large dinnplates. All were graciously received by my neighbours!
We're lucky to have a Salvation Army clothing recycling bin very close by, and also a bookcase on the estate where we can leave books that we no longer want. The trouble is that I almost always find a book there that I want to take home with me which rather defeats the object.

Azalea99

Clothes aren’t my problem as much as ornaments with sentimental value. Treasured mementos of my grandmother for instance, or Lladro statuettes which my mother had lovingly collected. And so much silverware! All given with love. Nearly all now in boxes in the garage. I’ve been told my time is limited, which should spur me on to save my children the problem, but live -and feel - as if I’ve got a good fifteen years to go, so Mañana rules!

It sounds as though some of your treasures might be worth something Azalea99, would one of your children put them on EBay for you?

I use Anglo Doorstep Collections, missdeke. They take books, clothes and bric a brac, sell them, and a percentage goes to charity. They come to each postcode once a month, so there is a deadline each time, which I find useful.

MissA, for now I just want to make room for the jumpers, but at some point I will reassess them, and think about unravelling some to knit up again in a new lease of life.

I have managed to clarify the kitchen ready for the decorator tomorrow, which is a start. Sufficient unto the day.

That's excellent news! doodledog.
Very good decluttering
🙂

I have used Anglo too Doodledog and found them to be very efficient. I am filling up some boxes for them again now.

3 large bin bags of clothes went off to the charity shop this afternoon.
Two bags last week as well as I am having a big clear up and want to seriously get to living minimally ( although I do go mad on qvc shopping channel ) when it comes to toiletries from Liz Earle , Loccitane , and Molton Brown .

My two items today are one white glove and some old tablets, not ones that have to be given in at the chemist.

MissAdventure

That's excellent news! doodledog.
Very good decluttering
🙂

Thanks. I didn't clarify the kitchen, incidentally - I cleared it

Many thanks, FriedGreenTomatoes2 & Doodledog. I’ll photograph the Lladro then send them, plus a couple of ramekins in due course, via the Doorstep Collection site. Granny’s things will be harder to part with but you’ve relieved me of at least one headache.

Here is a cautionary tale against decluttering.
Three years ago we downsized and went through every cupboard and shed and box to throw out every bit of clutter and gear we had hung on to over the years. Charity shop mania. Ruthless, ruthless. We moved into our new bungalow and the amount of space was freedom personified.
Three months ago DS downsized from a life of hoarding to a tiny apartment. ('Can you hang on to this just in case I might need it' became our main topic of conversation.) Our conservatory is packed to the ceiling, - the spare bedroom, the lounge, the shed, even the garden, the same.
The upside is that he visits a lot more than before to pick up stuff (and leave other bits he has no current room for).
lol

I aimed for two but got rid of nine items today.Four jumpers, two pairs of jeans, a skillet, a pair of plastic egg poachers and a very small tin.
Does this mean I don’t have to get rid of anything else until friday🤔DD has just asked for one of the jumpers.

It depends how committed to the cause you are.

I seem to have spent most of the day moving stuff around.

2 little bottles of "gray stop" (unused) into the sewing thingy, instead of in with the tools.
One spray adhesive empty can into the bin, and a new sticky stuff box started, here.

Tsk.. fray stop!

I have been working on five a day for a few months but two a day will be more manageable now.The first couple of months were relatively easy but getting trickier now.

Are you at the point of having to decide whether to keep or get rid?

Yes definitely.We emptied the big under the stairs cupboard yesterday so we could paint it.We have a pile of should we keep it or not.Second coat of paint tomorrow then decision time on Wednesday🤯

MissAdventure

I keep falling asleep mid declutter!
And those damn stick on hooks keep falling off, too!

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07DD8DFRT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8

These really stick, been up for 5 years

Oh thank you.

Susan56 9 items are fine just try not to go below 2 items. This system is working for me and slowly but surely I can see a difference.

I’m too lazy/tired to do a proper job, I usually give up after a day or two if I set myself too big a task.

I am having my second new knee tomorrow so any decluttering will have to wait a while, then i will hopefully be able to get stuck in

Today I decluttered a massive pile of paperwork, mostly into the recycling bin, though some needs to go in the shredder.