30 bags in 30 days decluttering method

We used to shred, but I got a gizmo like this for a lot of confidential waste so it can go straight into the bin. It’s a lot quicker and easier.

AreWeThereYet

Guesswhat I'm with you on the paperwork. We started during lockdown and shredded bag after bag of paperwork. We're very bad at doing it, so end up with piles of shredding. We use the recyclable charity bags that come through the door for the shreddings so they can go in the recycling bin.

No!

Shredded paper jams up the machines and must NOT be put in with recycled paper.

Has to go in general waste unfortunately, even though it’s paper.

Nothing much to report.

I went out 😃

Thank you. It was in November Guesswhat but Dh hasn’t been ready to part with the cat food until now.

Aw, sorry to hear about your cat, SueDonim. I have a cat myself so I can empathise.

Not exactly getting rid of a bagful but I’ve found a home for an unopened bag of specialist dried food for cats. We lost our cat suddenly hence having the bag. A local pet store takes donations of food for Cats protection so it can go to them.

ixion

How many bags equals one bin liner, please?
😂

I’ve been deliberately vague about this, ixion . But if you’ve got a bin liner full, that’s pretty good going!

Day 9 - poor effort today as I haven’t been in much. I did manage to cobble together a small bag of dvd’s, though, to take to the charity shop.

Well done, those of you who are cracking on with this.

Germanshepherdsmum

I’d wait if I were you - there’s a fair bit of winter still to come! And they’ll have a long shelf life.

yes. I should sit on my hands. Thanks for the wake up call

MayBee70

I’ve got a cupboard full of chalk paint that is no longer useable. I don’t think our local tip accepts it and you have to book a slot now.

I’m sure any recycling centre would take used paint cans of any kind Maybee70. We have to separate into empty cans (which go in with metal or plastic waste), and cans with paint still in (sorted into oil based and water based bins). I’ve found that actually there is very little they won’t take, but it’s an art sorting it all out for the right bins. I now keep boxes in the garage, and sort it before I go as it saves a lot of time, otherwise I’m going from one end to the other with bits and pieces.

I’d wait if I were you - there’s a fair bit of winter still to come! And they’ll have a long shelf life.

I am going to get out all the tinned and packet instant soups that I bought for any contingency this winter. Destined for the foodbank.I am sure that will be at least a full bag. I may have to use my shopping trolley

How many bags equals one bin liner, please?
😂

I’ve got a cupboard full of chalk paint that is no longer useable. I don’t think our local tip accepts it and you have to book a slot now.

Our loft is a mansard roof line over the back of our home. Holds too much in side storage room. Tackled today. Five big black bags out to tip.

I am another two bags down . I took yarn to my craft group, and it was snapped up. Definitely a case of one woman's clutter being another woman's treasure.

I would love to have a friend who would help me to get organised. I'm on my own with it, I'm afraid, and I'm not very good at it, so the progress is slow. Still, some progress is better than none, and since this thread started I have got rid of quite a lot, and even though it doesn't really show yet, I have more space in cupboards and drawers.

Well I'm a bit behind due to family emergencies but am now back on track
We still have to book a slot to donate to charity here. I booked for Monday but didn't have a full bag so it's Friday now and I had a friend round to "organise" me .
She's now away till Thursday when she will re organise and relabel the contents of the filing cabinet.
She's a sweetie but has no concept of how much stuff's contained in this house. She hasn't seen the attic yet.

I have attempted to find homes for my late DH's collections and books but no luck so far.

I have a cupboard filled to the brim with board games. The DGC may love them when they are here but they are not here very voften

Today: towels and sheets.

Boxed up for our dogs' vet (used for dog stays after surgery).

Day 8 - started yesterday evening as I was feeling quite energetic.

Tackled kitchen cupboards and a small amount of food got chucked out. Not much, as I hate wasting food and am not averse to eating out of date stuff, within reason. It was mostly condiments and little sachets of sugar etc. snaffled from cafés .

This morning I cleared out some glass jars I’d been saving to use for storing nuts and seeds. Had too many of them. They were empty and taking up space, so out they went. You know the sort of thing - cute Bonne Maman jars and the like. Also Douwe Egberts coffee jars that I’d planned to make lanterns out of.

They’d been lurking in the cupboards for years!

I am not a hoarder but reading this thread has inspired me to sort out my medicine cupboard and I was surprised to find how many of the over the counter medicines were out of date!

I am 90% through a declutter (and refurbishment) which has taken two years. I have not done a bag / box a day, probably one a week. At first it was simply a practical necessity (we moved into my late parents home) but we had also accumulated a load of stuff ourselves. It has fundamentally changed me and saved me loads. I now only buy things I really want or need. I sell what I don’t want through Marketplace and if it doesn’t sell after a couple of weeks, I donate it to charity. It is so much easier to keep everything tidy, looks better and I just don’t fritter money on crap. I would definitely recommend it as a strategy. Starting small is good too, doesn’t feel overwhelming. I will do a bag, box or drawer for example. Good luck

First bag down! (just started today). Bathroom cabinet sorted of things past their date and all the part used toiletries that don't suit. All binned - assuming half used shampoos etc that were bought years ago and such luke cant really be found homes.

Doodledog

I wonder whether the ones who are picky about what they take will find that people stop donating, as it's easier just to take everything to one place?

Absolutely! I already do.
At one shop it depends which member if staff you get as well.

Guesswhat I'm with you on the paperwork. We started during lockdown and shredded bag after bag of paperwork. We're very bad at doing it, so end up with piles of shredding. We use the recyclable charity bags that come through the door for the shreddings so they can go in the recycling bin.

Guesswhat

Thinking about your question, Callistemon, aye, why not?

Let this thread be a celebration of all our efforts. 30 bags or not

Oh good!
Mind you, most of them were DD's but we were left to get rid of some of it.

At least DH is quiet doing one of the jigsaws which he hadn't noticed before in his stash.

Thinking about your question, Callistemon, aye, why not?

Let this thread be a celebration of all our efforts. 30 bags or not