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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.

Doodledog Wed 08-Jan-25 19:45:51

Another 'flitter abouter' here. I think that more organised types are less likely to need to declutter, as they do it as they go along.

I keep nodding off just now too. My B12 jab is late, and I've had a virus of some sort (not flu or Covid, but I am wiped out). I've made zero progress as a result, plus I am having physio twice a week and hurt in places I didn't know had muscles grin. Still, there is always next week.

MissAdventure Wed 08-Jan-25 19:16:15

My mum didn't have dementia, but she changed, over time, and she could be really nasty (to me, in particular)

I always tell myself "you always hurt the one you love", so it must be that she loved me a lot.

Whether we're flitters or organised, every little tiny thing out must count, and it's better than adding a tiny bit to the clutter every day.

That's my take on it, anyway. smile

Susan56 Wed 08-Jan-25 19:08:43

Thank you re mum’s mood Miss Adventure.

I am definitely a flitter a rounder too.Also every bag full of stuff that goes makes me so happy!

MissAdventure Wed 08-Jan-25 18:43:51

I can fully understand why your mum's mood has affected you.

I'm not very good at being methodical - I wish I was, but I get bored and despondent if I'm doing the same space for ages.

I'm more of a flitter arounder.
I little bit here, a little bit there.

I'm mostly on cupboards, as I need to clear spaces in there to put away the stuff that's starting to build up around the home.

Susan56 Wed 08-Jan-25 18:31:29

Yesterday was a write off as mum was vicious when we visited and I felt exhausted by it.

Today I have sorted some tops that I will take to mum and DH has shredded a bin bag full of paper and another bag of paper for recycling.Up to now I haven’t noticed much difference as we have been decluttering cupboards but the study looks so much better after DH’s efforts today🌟

I think we need to be more methodical though🤦🏼‍♀️

MissAdventure Wed 08-Jan-25 18:17:23

I've had a few really tired days, when I can't even do what I need to, let alone any extras.
I really want to at at least carry on with the under sink declutter, though.

A cup of tea, first though, I think.
If I can get off the sofa.

Doodledog Mon 06-Jan-25 23:44:50

I’ve been at physio all afternoon, so haven’t done much. I’ll be sore tomorrow, so doubt I’ll do much then, either.

I still need to sort the doom bags, and go through the wardrobes. I’ll get that done by the end of the week. As the physiotherapist said, it’s better to do things slowly and deliberately than to rush at them and then have to take time to recover. Wise words, IMO.

Allira Mon 06-Jan-25 23:36:47

I've done nothing today.
Well, no decluttering.

Allira Mon 06-Jan-25 23:35:44

Shove things (as tidily as possible) back into the kitchen cupboards then forget that, pack the Christmas stuff in boxes and then look after your knee, give it some tlc so you're ok for your trip away.

MayBee70 Mon 06-Jan-25 23:29:55

I can’t stop sleeping and eating crisps. Going away on Sunday so need to get some work done before I go. Partner has got the dog for a few days. Trouble is I jarred my bad knee last night so hobbling a bit. And I keep binge watching things on catchup. Got to get into gear. Still haven’t packed the Christmas things away and I started to reorganise the kitchen cupboards the other day.

MissAdventure Mon 06-Jan-25 19:02:25

I've cleaned out half of the shelf under the sink.

I just need to find the energy to do the other half.

I must have about thirty or so flannels under there, and I've no idea when the collection became so important to me. blush

Susan56 Mon 06-Jan-25 15:50:39

Today we have managed to dispose of a carrier bag of underwear, some new items that were gifts and have never fitted us have gone to the charity shops.Three of my husband’s worn out shirts have been cut up ready for DGD to use while learning to use the sewing machine.

Time for a cuppa and a read now.I am liking this little and often approach to decluttering.

MayBee70 Mon 06-Jan-25 00:32:11

I’ve got a new decluttering mantra after watching the new Wallace and Gromit. Clean and tidy. This is added onto my Box of Delight’s ‘but where are the servants’…I’m currently putting away the Christmas decorations saying ‘clean and tidy’.

MissAdventure Sat 04-Jan-25 18:15:49

Grrr. Daft!!

MissAdventure Sat 04-Jan-25 18:15:26

The dart thing is, I doubt I've got more than 1 full bag that's even worth passing on.

The rest is just stuff that I might use one day, for my diy bodges.

Doodledog Sat 04-Jan-25 18:07:05

Those who can't get to charity shops, remember Anglo Doorstep Collections will come and get your items and sell them for charity.

anglodoorstepcollections.co.uk

They don't take furniture or bedding, but take most declutter-type items, including books. I've used them a lot, and although they stood me up once they have been otherwise reliable, and I find that knowing I have a date on which they will be coming makes me want to fill bags for collection. You book online, and they seem to have one date a month for each postcode.

MissAdventure Sat 04-Jan-25 16:10:05

It's like having a big family, having all these named cupboards.

I got the idea from my aunt, who had two barns, named Bill and Ben. Its easier to say a name than
'In the first cupboard"
"I'm looking in the first cupboard, and it's not there!"
"Not that first cupboard, I mean the first one next to the kitchen!!"

My aun said she and her partner would go all the way to the bottom of theor meadow, and shout up "Which barn?"
"The one nearest the fence"
"Eh?"
"The one nearest the fence, where its always been!"
"What? The one nearest the house, did you say?"...

Doodledog Sat 04-Jan-25 15:54:36

MissAdventure

That's excellent progress.
I think you've spurred me on now, to taclethe bathroom cupboard (which is unnamed!) smile

Barbara?

Too often I suffer from JOSOYB - the Joy Of Sitting On Your Bottom, and it prevents me from feeling HAHEC (Happiness At Having Empty Cupboards 😢. It's a trial.

MissAdventure Sat 04-Jan-25 15:44:24

Allira

^'The unease felt when sitting on a seat which is still warm from someone else's bottom'^
😂 Oh yes!

I wish I could remember the word for the fear of not peeling enough potatoes.

Maybe a thread in the making there.

Allira Sat 04-Jan-25 15:43:07

FOTOSYMN?
Fear of throwing out something you may need?

MissAdventure Sat 04-Jan-25 15:42:30

That's excellent progress.
I think you've spurred me on now, to taclethe bathroom cupboard (which is unnamed!) smile

Allira Sat 04-Jan-25 15:41:06

'The unease felt when sitting on a seat which is still warm from someone else's bottom'
😂 Oh yes!

Susan56 Sat 04-Jan-25 15:38:22

Well not as successful a day as yesterday but I have managed to throw some old gift bags.DH has sorted a stack of paper from his study which is huge as he hates to throw anything.
We have also taken the decorations down and tidied the under the bed storage which looks so much better so progress is being made.

MissAdventure Sat 04-Jan-25 15:07:27

It's a start, silverlining, even if just a small one.

I need to clear out under my bathroom sink (still!)
It's not even a hard job, but I just can't seem to start it.

MissAdventure Sat 04-Jan-25 15:04:04

If there isn't, there should be.

My sister had a book full of funny words to describe things such as
'Fear of not peeling enough potatoes'
'The unease felt when sitting on a seat which is still warm from someone else's bottom'

I remember 'Wittering' was the pattern left on the backs of your legs after vacating a wicker chair. grin