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30 bags in 30 days decluttering method

(639 Posts)
Guesswhat Mon 23-Jan-23 22:14:03

Would anybody like to join me in this?

I’ve read about a method where you chuck out/donate one bag of clutter every day for 30 days. As an inveterate hoarder who wants to get on top of things at last, I’m going to go for it! (Only a carrier bag, mind. Not a big refuse sack.)

Tomorrow I’ll start with a bag of books to take to the charity shop. The day after, maybe some clothes. By recording my progress on here, I’m hoping to keep up the good work.

Wish me luck!

Callistemon21 Mon 13-Feb-23 15:01:00

I found the shoes I had for DD's wedding, how on earth did I teeter round in those? I changed into more comfortable sandals after the photos so they were worn for about three hours. They're going, along with the matching clutch bag.

Might I wear the hat again one day?
🤔
No, but it's staying.

Norah Mon 13-Feb-23 14:53:59

We finished the reception rooms. Nicely.

Mugs? I give them away all year long filled with treats I've made for whatever occasion. This week each of my husband's workers are receiving a mug full of choco biscuits, clear cello wrapped, tied off with red ribbons.

I'm adept to recycling crockery, especially mugs & plates.

Callistemon21 Mon 13-Feb-23 11:19:53

I bought several new mugs recently but I'm not that keen on them, I prefer china. They're very nice but pottery.
So why did I buy them 🤔

Right, break over, Upward and Onward.

Doodledog Mon 13-Feb-23 11:14:27

Mugs are difficult, as they tend to be little presents for particular occasions. I have a couple of Mother's Day ones from when the children were small, and Best Teacher ones from students. I don't use any of them, as I prefer white china and these are all colourful pottery, but I'm hopeless at throwing things away, worse at throwing presents away, and dreadful when they have some sort of sentimental value.

I have people over later, so I don't know that I'll get much decluttering done today, but I will try to fill some bags if I can. I have 6 to go to the charity collection mentioned upthread, but as the next one won't be for a month I wanted a lot more than that to go, so there won't be bags lying about for ages. They are coming on Wednesday, so I need to put them out on Tuesday night, according to the website.

Casdon Mon 13-Feb-23 10:31:30

Callistemon21

We did mugs last week!

I should have thrown out more.
Why do I need more than 20?

It’s hard isn’t it, they seem to carry memories. I’ve done it though now, I’ve packed 17 into a box to take to the charity shop. A bit more freed up cupboard space.

Norah Mon 13-Feb-23 09:58:43

Before lunch we're going into the reception rooms with open eyes. I'd like to be rid of nets, excess scatter cushions, and trinkets.

Callistemon21 Sun 12-Feb-23 21:07:13

We did mugs last week!

I should have thrown out more.
Why do I need more than 20?

Casdon Sun 12-Feb-23 20:29:39

I read somewhere that grouping like items together was a good way of reducing what you have. I did the mugs today, gathered from all cupboards. I had 37. I do not need 37 mugs. It’s hard because some are in a range I collected years ago, some were presents, and some we use daily. They are still on a worktop in the kitchen, I want to reduce by half, but I decided to sleep on it - the only definite keeper is the pink one with a Frenchie in a ballet skirt, because for a reason I don’t understand that’s my favourite.

Callistemon21 Sun 12-Feb-23 19:25:41

Two medium sized items went to good homes.

Doodledog Sun 12-Feb-23 18:53:26

I haven't managed anything today. I had planned to fill bags with clothes, but couldn't muster up motivation. I'll try to do better tomorrow.

Norah Sun 12-Feb-23 18:07:38

Today our daughter dropped over to help sort rag drawers, rag bags, rag cupboards. She took 2 bags home, she's no longer paying a window service (we shall see how long). We put 2 bags in my husband's work spaces for the workers to use/throw away with oils/ chemicals.

We've only decent rags in a deep drawer & cupboard, brilliant!

SueDonim Sun 12-Feb-23 16:25:44

My effort today has been to turf out some knitting yarn I’ll never use. Quite a big bag of it but there wasn’t enough of any one colour/weight to do anything with.

Now to keep giving Dh some hard stares 😐 until he clears a big pile of papers he’s been moving from pillar to post to evade inquisitive grandchildren. You’d think it would be easier to sort and bin them, wouldn’t you?

karmalady Sun 12-Feb-23 06:38:58

I little bit more re-purposing today, stockcupboard stuff and a batch bake ahead to use up several jars of my bottled gooseberries and a nut roast mix. That will clear a decent amount of space and make ready food in the freezer. Also making minestrone to freeze without the pasta, which will use up a few tins, beans and tomatoes

I may well get rid a few more garden things today, such as potato fertiliser. I could well gather together half a carrier, little steps do add up

MayBee70 Sat 11-Feb-23 21:58:02

I meant Stacey Solomon…I always get them mixed up!

MayBee70 Sat 11-Feb-23 21:56:30

I went through my spices just before the pandemic started when we did a massive stock up. I try to write BB dates on everything with a marker pen when I buy them now. I was watching the Stacey Dooley programme, too. I missed the end of it but there was a lot of criticism of the house where the rabbits were moved into a tiny hutch in the garden. I’ve got some pea protein that’s several months over its BB date. It was in the throwing out pile but I’m having second thoughts.

Norah Sat 11-Feb-23 21:33:41

Today we did the freezer, old or past dated - out, containers saved.

Doodledog Sat 11-Feb-23 19:14:54

Yes, I saw the ADHD chap, and really felt for him (and yes, all that money, when they were so hard up!) I understand the overwhelm - I may have ADD myself - and also hope that they can keep on top of their newly organised space.

I haven't seen Nick Knowles' version, but agree that Stacey is rather irritating. A friend put me onto the programmes, and I watched the shoe lady and the ADHD man on iPlayer this afternoon.

Yammy Sat 11-Feb-23 18:37:26

I sorted my spice and cookery condiments cupboard on Thursday. I could easily have given people food poisoning when I saw some of the dates. I replaced some on Friday and used the fennel seeds to cook. they really made a difference.
I only buy Sainsbury jars but find they last too long. maybe that's why the Christmas cake and pudding were not as good as last year.
Also found three half-used tubes of tomato puree so they went with the fennel seeds to make an Italian dish. Now I can see at a glance what I do and don't have.
It's cooking utensils on Monday away from prying eyes. I have found a system of moving unwanted ones to the back of a never used cupboard and they will go next week.
Unfortunately, my stash in the airing cupboard was found and is now walking around the house on DH.

SueDonim Sat 11-Feb-23 18:35:16

Thanks you, Karma! They sound excellent for what I want. There’s a smallish gap down the side of the house where I think they’d fit very nicely.

Callistemon21 Sat 11-Feb-23 17:54:51

Yes, I need Nick
It's slow progress at Callistemon Manor!

Perhaps too much faffing here.

Lyndylou Sat 11-Feb-23 17:52:38

Nick Knowles started off with a similar programme, I prefer his presentation style, Stacey is too huggy/kissy.
Callistemon21

Yes totally agree. I watch both programmes and Stacey is a lovely woman but all the hugging and kissing really annoys me. Nick is better at motivating people to get rid of stuff.

I could do with one of them coming to sort out my "summer house" otherwise known as the OH's dumping place and I would prefer Nick to do it! Stacey and her sidekick seem to spend too much time on faffy things for me.

karmalady Sat 11-Feb-23 17:11:54

googling will find best prices

karmalady Sat 11-Feb-23 17:09:53

my garden is new build and those keter units will never need preserving and they will never rot. They are also lightweight and can be moved. They all have an interior base and I put some slabs down for one of the large ones. Just slabs on soil, using a spirit level

karmalady Sat 11-Feb-23 17:06:45

Sue, oh yes I love my keter units. The 2 biggest are called store it out, from amazon. They have never been wet inside. Very easy to put together, every piece is marked and the pieces click into place. Decent pictoral instructions, step by step

The others are keter city outdoor also from amazon. A wonderful size for me to use for sawing wood, potting plants etc. I have several of those and again they do not leak. They were a doddle to put together

SueDonim Sat 11-Feb-23 16:51:24

Karmalady can I ask about your Keter storage containers? Are they easy to put together and are they pretty weather proof?

We have a new-build garden and I’d prefer not to have a shed but need some storage. I’ve seen a few reviews saying they’re a bit tricky to put together and bits such as hinges snap off. I’m hoping you’ll tell me neither of those things has happened to you!