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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.

Grandmabatty Tue 24-Sept-24 14:02:57

I have my decluttering eye on the large hall cupboard. There's a child's buggy that needs removing for one thing. I have already done my Swedish Death Clean and revisit it regularly. I wait til January though.

MissAdventure Tue 24-Sept-24 14:19:32

I've got to undo the blooming blind on order to give it away.

The nextdoor app want to know the ins and outs of a... well... you know... when you list something.

fancythat Tue 24-Sept-24 15:39:09

Skydancer

Every time I find something to go to the charity shop - or if I am not quite sure about getting rid of it - I put it in a box in the boot of my car. Then I wait a while to see if I miss any of these items. If I do, I retrieve the item from the car. If not, eventually I drop off the stuff at the charity shop. It's quite good because generally I don't miss any of it.

I was forced to do that with DH.
He was more ruthless than me in the past.
So ruthless, that it wouldnt be more than a day or two, and he would ask if the items were still about, and not thrown!

We worked out a system that they would be taken away where he wouldnt find them.
Left for two weeks.
If he hadnt claimed them back after that, permanently out they would go.

NanKate Tue 24-Sept-24 17:39:34

I’ve got rid of an out of date bonjela today. I may even find a second item. 😀

MissAdventure Tue 24-Sept-24 17:44:07

I seem to have done very little, but I have thrown out some of my girls hats, scarves, and wooly headbands.

I didn't enjoy that much, but they serve no purpose sitting in a bag, in a cupboard for 5+ years.

Macadia Tue 24-Sept-24 17:53:40

MissAdventure

I think I'll put some music on, and try to do 5 songs worth of work before I rest.

I love this idea!

Allira Tue 24-Sept-24 17:56:34

NanKate

I’ve got rid of an out of date bonjela today. I may even find a second item. 😀

Oh, I should check the date on mine.
It's probably way out of date and I used it the other day 😮

I'm steadily working through my yarn stash. 😇

MissAdventure Tue 24-Sept-24 17:56:44

Me too.
I might even manage it one day!

It's a victory for me that I'm awake though, so that'll do for now. smile

MissAdventure Tue 24-Sept-24 17:58:40

Bags for life.
Any suggestions on how to store or fold them?
They're the bane of my life.

Allira Tue 24-Sept-24 17:59:55

MissAdventure

Bags for life.
Any suggestions on how to store or fold them?
They're the bane of my life.

Mine are all folded up inside another bag and hanging on a hook in the under stairs cupboard.
Lots of them.
I even use some.

MissAdventure Tue 24-Sept-24 18:03:29

I don't know how to fold them!
My daughter was my bag folder upper.

It drove her mad, the way I just scrumple them up.

MissAdventure Tue 24-Sept-24 18:07:35

Then I think I wonder if these bags would be better to store stuff in?
Would fabric bags be better to store?

Tizliz Tue 24-Sept-24 19:12:31

MissAdventure

Right.
The plumbing in pipes are now listed on nextdoor.
I'd like to barter, really, because I desperately need my toilet seat fixed. smile

Do you have something like this locally www.ilmhighland.co.uk/
they do the work for free you just provide the parts

MissAdventure Tue 24-Sept-24 19:34:28

Oh, how I wish!!
Our council used to run a handyman service, but that's long gone, too.

Jenz48 Tue 24-Sept-24 20:00:02

If you need to get rid of household linen - bedding, tablecloths, tea towels etc Dunelm have a recycling scheme in their stores. Just take stuff in a black plastic bag. Great for getting rid of old duvets and manky pillows!

MissAdventure Tue 24-Sept-24 20:06:46

That's worth knowing.
Not for me, because I couldn't get to Dunhelm, but really handy for a lot of people.

Woollywoman Tue 24-Sept-24 20:19:15

Love this thread! Currently staying in a holiday let which I am itching to declutter… 5 of everything but can I find anything at the right time? Nah…
You are all doing incredibly well. Doodledog, you are an inspiration!

Allira Tue 24-Sept-24 20:36:07

Jenz48

If you need to get rid of household linen - bedding, tablecloths, tea towels etc Dunelm have a recycling scheme in their stores. Just take stuff in a black plastic bag. Great for getting rid of old duvets and manky pillows!

Yes, we've done that, it's very useful.

Allira Tue 24-Sept-24 20:38:49

MissAdventure

I don't know how to fold them!
My daughter was my bag folder upper.

It drove her mad, the way I just scrumple them up.

Mine are mostly cotton.
I bought my first one from Modbury 🙂
www.theguardian.com/environment/2007/apr/28/plasticbags.frontpagenews

MissAdventure Tue 24-Sept-24 20:43:51

I've just got the supermarket bags for life, but they're very cumbersome.
I suppose I'm stuck with them for life, now, though.

Jaxjacky Tue 24-Sept-24 20:53:12

MissAdventure

I've just got the supermarket bags for life, but they're very cumbersome.
I suppose I'm stuck with them for life, now, though.

If you don’t want them a charity shop may take them

MissAdventure Tue 24-Sept-24 20:57:17

Ah, you're right I'd think.
Then they'd not be taking up room in my place, but I'd need to buy other bags to replace them.

Doodledog Tue 24-Sept-24 21:37:13

I’ve filled a bag to go out tomorrow with the books. Not with as much as I’d hoped, but it’s made a gap in the wardrobe, which was the point.

MissAdventure Tue 24-Sept-24 21:53:25

Brilliant work.
You've really got into the swing! smile

petra Tue 24-Sept-24 22:02:59

Jenz48

If you need to get rid of household linen - bedding, tablecloths, tea towels etc Dunelm have a recycling scheme in their stores. Just take stuff in a black plastic bag. Great for getting rid of old duvets and manky pillows!

Please give bedding etc to charity shops. We get rag money for it. 30KL just today.