Do you act on “urges”?

Nannyme, couldn't you ask a best friend to come and give you a hand decluttering? It could be fun, but also a bit horrific when uncovering something awful, hoarded for years, and she asks "what on earth are you doing with that?" Go on, give it a go.

I usually find that after I have had an 'urge' clearout, and taken it all to the charity shop, I start regretting parting with some of the items.
As for the 'cleaning urge'. I usually sit down with a book and a cup of coffee until it goes away! I have never been an obsessive cleaner. Now, according to the health experts, I can attribute my excellent health, at 78, to not being over-fussy about killing the 99% of household germs!

Having had the urge to .clear out the drawers in my 'welsh dresser' asking myself will I need the contents at some other time ? Contents are then relocated to the drawers in the kitchen units.

Just sitting here reading this without any urges! My excuse is that I am waiting for my supermarket delivery and it would annoy me if I had to stop in the middle of doing something.... I suppose I should really clean the en-suite, but it can wait until after the shopping comes and when I've had a coffee.
I can't bring myself to go into DH's wardrobe yet either, I haven't had that urge yet. The only clothes of his that have gone in the charity sack are ones that have been sitting in an underbed storage bag for ten years! I don't feel guilty getting rid of those.

I took two bags to the charity shop yesterday and have filled another one today. I was disgusted at the amount of sandals I had. So, I've being wearing a different pair every day to see which ones are comfortable. The rest are being donated. I like to donate in season, so the shop can put things on the shelves straight away.

No, I'm afraid my urge is to sit down with a cup of tea. I never resist that.

18 years ago, before downsizing, my DS1 helped me to fill two skips. Eight months ago, he was back, de-cluttering my much smaller house, while I was incapacitated with a broken shoulder. Trouble is, now I can't find a number of things that 'might have come in handy'! I've been culling teeshirts this week - and have two new ones coming from Cottontraders today!
Correction - as I typed the last sentence, the courier arrived with the expected package! I do TRY to act on the principle that every time I buy a new garment, I get rid of an old one.

My life is lived on 'urges'. I'm too indecisive to decide anything so have to wait for an 'urge' to make me do anything really.

Elrel my DD was throwing out a pair of flannelette pyjama bottoms, nothing much wrong with the fabric, just seams ripped and frayed. So I cut them up into squares and overlocked the edges for her. Now she has a lovely pile of about a dozen or so cleaning cloths.

Of course, the drawer cleaning thing isn't really 'clearing out' in that sense is it? Everything goes back in!

Pittcity - I wash the discarded underwear, throw away the gussets and cut then old Sloggis in two. Still adult DS gives a squawk of horror if he sees one!

Virtually all my 'clearing out' jobs only get done because of an unexpected urge, or a whim. I'll be emptying the dishwasher while waiting for the kettle to boil, putting cutlery away, and notice some crumbs in the knife section. I'll wipe the crumbs away and then think, no let's just take all the knives out and clean that bit properly. Which, of course, leads to the whole tray coming out, all the cutlery being washed, the drawer being cleaned thoroughly..... and then all the other drawers too.
And I only went in the kitchen to make a cuppa

My husband and I have decided that we need a fresh start in a new house, a lot smaller thsn we have now but the thought of the amount of decluttering scares me to death. I know we dont need most of the stuff we/I have accumulated but where on earth do I start. Can you employ someone to come in and do it for you, which seems an option but not sure I want someone stramge going through my stuff. I am in a dilema! Any sensible suggestions welcome.

I often have clear outs, hate unused “ clutter” and find it very therapeutic to pass things on.

I am using the half term break and the fact that my grandkiddies are away with their other grandparents to sort out my granddaughters bedroom. They have far too many clothes (my daughter's fault) and far too many toys! I persuaded my daughter to buy another chest of drawers so I can split their clothes up and I have put a double hanging rail in so I can hang up their dresses etc. Just waiting for two toy nets to be delivered so I can get half of the soft toys up on the walls out of the way! They obviously take after my daughter as her room is cluttered too - but that's another job on the list to tackle! Only downside is I now have two loads of dirty washing that was hidden under their beds!

I make such a mess when I'm clearing things out!

I know Pittcity but the thought of cutting them all up put me off.
Actually, they are very good for silver polishing!

"gets polished every week"

That's terrifying! ?

Knickers make great dusters Jalima ?

petra
I don't get urges to dust that often!

However, I have just cleared out my undies drawers and nowhave a binful of knickers.

Maw, could I just slip my silver in with yours. I love it when it's done but very seldom have the urge to do it!

I had the urge at the end of last week to take out everything that is stored under our bed and vacuum the base. Then I filled two black bags with unwanted 'things' and tidied the rest away. Then I started on the utility room. Yesterday I went to the recycling centre with a car full and I still have a load of stuff for the charity shop.
It doesn't happen very often but I do feel 'righteous when it's all done.

Yay!
Nearly two hours later, feeling very satisfied with an attack on the tarnish, polishing no end of silver while I have watched the BBC2 King Lear which I missed on Mondaynight.
Anthony Hopkins amazing as always and Jim Carter (aka Carson the butler) as Kent.
Powerful stuff.

For those of you who want more 'urges' be careful what you wish for.
Example: one chest of drawers in our bedroom gets the sun on it. This bedroom is polished everyweek but when I see dust on that surface I can't leave it.
It's the same when the sun comes round in the evening and hits on the tv and all the gysmos that go with it. Out comes the duster. I must wipe water stains from the sink and surround a dozen times a day.
You have been warned

I had an urge early this morning and so I washed the kitchen floor! Then I changed the covers on the cushions and cleaned a disgusting hair brush - not mine. Then it left me so I visited a friend for a chat and now I am on here. I hope it comes back again...........sometime