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Decluttering

(228 Posts)
MissAdventure Thu 14-May-26 16:31:34

Anyone?
We had a nice little thread going, no rushing, just sharing, discussing, and encouraging each other. .
I've fallen out the loop, but still have a long way to go.

HelterSkelter1 Sat 16-May-26 16:11:29

Today should be a good day for decluttering, but it's cold and grey and I am fed up with this weather. Of course it is forecast to be too hot shortly.

ShewhomustbeEbayed Sat 16-May-26 16:27:56

We are moving in a couple of months and I don’t want the new house to be cluttered like this one is. I’ve been offloading over time, Anglo Doorstep Collections have bern good but various things they don’t take.
Have found a local Makerspace with a Scrap Store and took a load of my old craft stuff there this morning, it felt good that it would get a new lease of life.

Kittycat Sat 16-May-26 16:34:53

I feel like I’m going to spend the rest of my life decluttering my house very depressing. There’s so many other things I want to be doing! I try to take 6 items downstairs with me every morning to get rid of, my daughter has now adopted this idea in her house too. This is in addition to daily sorting out various things. It’s never ending and getting rid of the stuff is a nightmare!

Allira Sat 16-May-26 16:58:12

MayBee70

I love my cd’s. Along with my old vinyl they’re the story of my life. I’m beyond help I think.

CDs will be the next 'big thing'.
Just as soon as I've got rid of mine.

HelterSkelter1 Sat 16-May-26 17:07:17

Thats exactly how I feel Kittycat.

Doodledog Sat 16-May-26 17:10:31

I like the idea of taking six things downstairs every morning. (Then they can lie around down there for months until I get rid of them😂)

Seriously, I might give that a try, but will start with three things, I think.

We are going home tomorrow, and the plan is to start on Monday. I'm always better at the planning stage than the doing one, but I'll start with a burst of enthusiasm, so there should be some progress at first.

keepcalmandcavachon Sat 16-May-26 17:21:19

It's a bit like dieting, full on at first, getting fed up with it then crashing right off the wagon (I'm looking at you - Flea Market!)

MissAdventure Sat 16-May-26 17:46:08

I've not done anything today.
Not even the basics of housework .

Still, the nights young (ish)
Said hopefully.

MayBee70 Sat 16-May-26 17:59:36

I’ve got to clear the kitchen because of the ants. And I nearly drove my car without insurance as the renewal letter arrived before I went away and I put it on one side and forgot about it. I’ve always been meticulous about paying bills etc but I’m overwhelmed by everything. And I’ve got to not go away while I’m in such a mess. It all started when I had to stay there indefinitely during the pandemic.

MissAdventure Sat 16-May-26 18:04:28

I have a hospital appointment coming up (i am afraid to check when it is, because i know its soon)

Bit i need blood tests done before the appointment.
Now i can't find the appointment letter or the blood test form, amd the wait for blood tests is pretty long.

WithNobsOnIt Sat 16-May-26 18:31:05

I have got so.much stuff and rapidly running out space. My place looks like has been ransacked!

It is so overwhelming and all rhe local charity shops will.no longer pick stuff up.

Thought about writing a begging letter to Tracey Solomon and hubby Joe to come around and help me.

.

Nannan2 Sat 16-May-26 18:31:54

Yes,started very well, at begining of year,then got time consumed by a few medical/hosp appts.So really need to try again. Recently did sort a few drawers,& adopted Dilly's idea (from 'Sort your life out' fame)- of reusing containers to tidy drawer items.(Used two chocolate tubs leftover from xmas chocs) excellant idea,and so easy.Thing is where do i store the things i'm keeping, when its a tiny house with no storage? I have donated a lot,and given some good stuff to family.But now i'm stumped.

MayBee70 Sat 16-May-26 18:36:42

MissAdventure

I have a hospital appointment coming up (i am afraid to check when it is, because i know its soon)

Bit i need blood tests done before the appointment.
Now i can't find the appointment letter or the blood test form, amd the wait for blood tests is pretty long.

My house is a trip hazard on top of everything else. And I’m worried about getting any extra health problems ( I’d be kidding myself if I thought at my age that wasn’t possible) with my first thought being ‘ but I’ve got to organise my house’. When I thought I needed a hysterectomy a few years ago I got myself quite organised but then it all went to pieces again.

MissAdventure Sat 16-May-26 18:43:02

I can't remember the exact quote, or who said it, but its along the lines of owning so many things, that they end up owning you.

I have thought about paying for a decluttering service, once and for all.
Well, hopefully just the once!

MayBee70 Sat 16-May-26 19:43:51

MissAdventure

I can't remember the exact quote, or who said it, but its along the lines of owning so many things, that they end up owning you.

I have thought about paying for a decluttering service, once and for all.
Well, hopefully just the once!

I’ve thought about doing that.

MissAdventure Sat 16-May-26 19:49:45

Maybe we should check out the services amd charges.
The one i saw had three different tiera of decluttering, depending on a person's wishes

MayBee70 Sat 16-May-26 19:51:01

I think I’d just end up arguing with them and telling them to leave.

fancythat Sat 16-May-26 19:53:24

I feel like I’m going to spend the rest of my life decluttering my house

fwiw[i am regularly on another ongoing decluttering thread], I have taken 6 years so far. Going at my own pace.
Another 6 months, or possibly, one year, and I should be finished.

Hope this helps someone.

MissAdventure Sat 16-May-26 20:51:35

Have you done a bit each day? .

I can certainly see myself waking around aimlessly with arm fulls of stuff.

fancythat Sat 16-May-26 21:37:26

Have you done a bit each day?

No. As and when.

Quite often I have other things going on, or even just general tidying that I would do anyway.

fancythat Sat 16-May-26 21:38:38

I am going out less.
Which is a bit sad.
But I really really want to finish it.

MissAdventure Sat 16-May-26 22:25:43

I admire your staying power.
That's really something, devoting years and keeping going
smile

Allira Sat 16-May-26 22:43:05

MissAdventure

I have a hospital appointment coming up (i am afraid to check when it is, because i know its soon)

Bit i need blood tests done before the appointment.
Now i can't find the appointment letter or the blood test form, amd the wait for blood tests is pretty long.

Have you got a letter rack? Just a little one so you can find important letters.

I've got two. They do hold lots of stuff (but no letters 😁)

fancythat Sat 16-May-26 22:49:02

MissAdventure

I admire your staying power.
That's really something, devoting years and keeping going
smile

Thank you.

valdali Sat 16-May-26 23:11:10

I started decluttering when I retired & kept going for 9 months (putting things on eBay /freecycle/ Vinted). Then we had the builders in renovating about half our rooms, they were really good but have left quite a lot of building things (I've used some eg I tiled the upstairs loo floor with the bathroom excess, & carpeted a small lobby area with the remnant from the dining room). So I was then decorating the "new" rooms & it's taken me ages, I'm just starting on round 2 declutter. Put some things on Vinted & one carrier bag to charity shop yesterday.
Books are a problem as they're mostly my son's & he doesn't have room in his flat.
Very pleased to have a new decluttering thread to compare notes on.