30 bags in 30 days decluttering method

We had about 100 books at MIL's house and decided to drop them at a National Trust place nearby - they were very pleased with them!

Jaylou

Before this thread started I booked a charity shop collection, so yesterday 2 chests of drawers, bed & mattress, 2 other cupboards, 5 bags and 5 boxes were all collected, so I can now continue decluttering on a more normal scale. My biggest clutter is books, I have so many, but must be ruthless.

Please tell me how to be ruthless with books.
Charity shop collection? I didn’t know about that so I’ll look into it.

I’ve recycled some clothes via Cotton Traders, which helped me part with some stuff.

Before this thread started I booked a charity shop collection, so yesterday 2 chests of drawers, bed & mattress, 2 other cupboards, 5 bags and 5 boxes were all collected, so I can now continue decluttering on a more normal scale. My biggest clutter is books, I have so many, but must be ruthless.

Casdon

Callistemon21

Casdon

I decided I’d go through all the stuff in the bathroom cupboard today, and found a load of hair products I have tried and discarded - about 10 or so, including shampoo that made my head itch, conditioners that made it greasy, and gel that made it crispy. All good until I looked up how to dispose of it. I’m into recycling, but you can’t recycle unless the container is empty. So I looked up what to do, as it can’t go down the sink either. I ended up with an ice cream tub full of a disgusting mix of it all, which I had to seal and put in the general waste. By the time I’d done that and washed all the containers out the job took me over an hour! I think that counts as my bag for the day.

I've tidied and rearranged cupboards in the dining room today.
Not very strenuous. How long can you keep coffee liqueur?

Yes, I was squirting the contents of old lotions and potions into general waste yesterday and hoping that it will rot and that the washed containers can be recycled.

I don’t think I could bring myself to throw away the coffee liqueur, I’d make lots of tiramisu!

Yes! Silly me, I threw away a packet of sponge fingers which were bb October 2022.
All that sugar then doused in coffee liqueur and the tiramisu would have been fine.

Good idea, Norah. I'll do that on Monday.

Callistemon21

Casdon

I decided I’d go through all the stuff in the bathroom cupboard today, and found a load of hair products I have tried and discarded - about 10 or so, including shampoo that made my head itch, conditioners that made it greasy, and gel that made it crispy. All good until I looked up how to dispose of it. I’m into recycling, but you can’t recycle unless the container is empty. So I looked up what to do, as it can’t go down the sink either. I ended up with an ice cream tub full of a disgusting mix of it all, which I had to seal and put in the general waste. By the time I’d done that and washed all the containers out the job took me over an hour! I think that counts as my bag for the day.

I've tidied and rearranged cupboards in the dining room today.
Not very strenuous. How long can you keep coffee liqueur?

Yes, I was squirting the contents of old lotions and potions into general waste yesterday and hoping that it will rot and that the washed containers can be recycled.

I don’t think I could bring myself to throw away the coffee liqueur, I’d make lots of tiramisu!

Doodledog

No bag today, as I've been busy with other things, but I hope to fill two tomorrow, so it's all good. I have a storage coffee table, and plan to muck it out tomorrow. Amongst other things, there are numerous adult colouring books in there - I bought one once, and my daughter kept getting me new ones, along with coloured pens and pencils. I virtually never colour in, so they have to go, but most, if not all, have at least a couple of the pages coloured. Is there any point in sending them to charity, or are they for the bin, do you think?

I'd call around to nice elder care - I'd imagine they may take lovely supplies for their craft room. After all, each person can only do a page at a time, no matter any other pages have been done.

They may also say 'what gave you that horrid idea' - but I think not. I donate lots of lovely things (Mum's mostly) to elder care.

Casdon

I decided I’d go through all the stuff in the bathroom cupboard today, and found a load of hair products I have tried and discarded - about 10 or so, including shampoo that made my head itch, conditioners that made it greasy, and gel that made it crispy. All good until I looked up how to dispose of it. I’m into recycling, but you can’t recycle unless the container is empty. So I looked up what to do, as it can’t go down the sink either. I ended up with an ice cream tub full of a disgusting mix of it all, which I had to seal and put in the general waste. By the time I’d done that and washed all the containers out the job took me over an hour! I think that counts as my bag for the day.

I've tidied and rearranged cupboards in the dining room today.
Not very strenuous. How long can you keep coffee liqueur?

Yes, I was squirting the contents of old lotions and potions into general waste yesterday and hoping that it will rot and that the washed containers can be recycled.

No bag today, as I've been busy with other things, but I hope to fill two tomorrow, so it's all good. I have a storage coffee table, and plan to muck it out tomorrow. Amongst other things, there are numerous adult colouring books in there - I bought one once, and my daughter kept getting me new ones, along with coloured pens and pencils. I virtually never colour in, so they have to go, but most, if not all, have at least a couple of the pages coloured. Is there any point in sending them to charity, or are they for the bin, do you think?

No thanks . It's very kind, but I am systematically taking a bag a week to my knitting group, to free up space for any truly irresistible yarn that falls into my basket from time to time. Otherwise (in theory) I am being very abstemious, and sticking to works in progress for the time being. I have enough to last until I am approximately 107, and then I'll start on using up leftovers.

Done today's bag: a couple of ancient cushions with holes in... Three down, twenty seven to go.

I decided I’d go through all the stuff in the bathroom cupboard today, and found a load of hair products I have tried and discarded - about 10 or so, including shampoo that made my head itch, conditioners that made it greasy, and gel that made it crispy. All good until I looked up how to dispose of it. I’m into recycling, but you can’t recycle unless the container is empty. So I looked up what to do, as it can’t go down the sink either. I ended up with an ice cream tub full of a disgusting mix of it all, which I had to seal and put in the general waste. By the time I’d done that and washed all the containers out the job took me over an hour! I think that counts as my bag for the day.

Only problem I have found with this, is everyone has the same idea at this time of the year, but the charity shops are inundated, and putting up notices saying they're not accepting any donations, so now what do I do with all my bags?

Doodledog

*A double bedroom full of knitting things? Are you sure that is not treasure lurking underneath*

Oh there is, without a doubt - and it's not all lurking. That's why I don't see it as clutter, but as a hoard of goodies. My point was that Mr Dog looks on his tools in the same way, with is why I can't complain about it (or not too loudly, at least )

Perhaps I could give my bag of GC craft yarn, not in use, to help fill a spot in your room? I'd have removed a bag in my de-clutter quest.

Oh dear, I seem to be tidying cupboards rather than decluttering today.

Must be more ruthless.

Do tools go out of date?

DH stills uses some which were my Dad's.

RVK1CR

Georgesgran

The Ukraine collections here stipulate new clothing only. Ukraine was my first thought.

Very cheeky, I can't remember when I could buy new clothes, apart from underwear, everything is from charity shops or jumble sales. I am desperate for a couple of warm cardigans but cannot find any 'knits" in the charity shops.

When DD was staying she found some brand new clothes in local charity shops, still with labels. Apparently they had been donated as ends of ranges by firms, not by individuals.

A double bedroom full of knitting things? Are you sure that is not treasure lurking underneath

Oh there is, without a doubt - and it's not all lurking. That's why I don't see it as clutter, but as a hoard of goodies. My point was that Mr Dog looks on his tools in the same way, with is why I can't complain about it (or not too loudly, at least )

I started decluttering about 4 years ago. The last 18 months in earnest. Still going!
I dont think the house looked that bad. But the house is large enough that I could put things in corners and largely forget about them.
And one of the bedrooms had more in it than it should have done.

I started decluttering as helped a couple of other people empty out houses after a death.
Didnt want my kids to have to do the same after I was gone. And they wouldnt have known what may be important to keep and what not.

Tools are always useful, think carefully before you throw them out. I have many different tools and may need the odd one just once but it does save me getting a handyman in. Keep a variety and keep a good drill, plugs and screws. Any of us can do these practical jobs and if a mistake is made then a hole is easily filled and painted over. Keep any lightweight ladders too but not the ouside long ones, unless someone is capable of using them

I am not aiming to fill bags as such but do get rid of things, when I notice them. Last night it was hair and body products that I have had for far too long, at least half a bag worth

Doodledog

Give them to your children?

I think you'll find that if you tell them that anything they want to keep has to go to their houses it will concentrate their minds.

Mr Dog has a garage full of tools. I have no idea what I'll do with them if they are left for me to sort out. My children are not of the DIY persuasion, so might take a screwdriver each, but as for the rest I have no idea. Do tools go out of date? He won't be persuaded to part with them, which I can understand really, as my knitting stash and paraphernalia fills a double bedroom.

A double bedroom full of knitting things? Are you sure that is not treasure lurking underneath

Georgesgran

The Ukraine collections here stipulate new clothing only. Ukraine was my first thought.

Very cheeky, I can't remember when I could buy new clothes, apart from underwear, everything is from charity shops or jumble sales. I am desperate for a couple of warm cardigans but cannot find any 'knits" in the charity shops.

C minus - must try harder, here. It's an attitude problem, too. Why am I so very concerned about where my old clutter goes?

I don't want it, so should just get rid, but oh no - the agonising about the whether to leave it outside, which charity shop 'deserves' it - or to Freecycle etc. just doesn't make logical sense. I can put it in bags but they stay in the hall for a long time.

Callistemon21, I do too, only to get 'told off' last time I took a bag in - I took it to a 'new' shop and was told that it would have given them something to do. Weirdly, they seemed to be quiet on the donations front and were disappointed not to have something to sort through!

If you don't think clothing could be donated to the charity shop because it is damaged, take it anyway
I do that and stick a label on it "For the ragman" to save them going through it all.

We have an upcycling centre near us which renovates furniture and other items and then sells it all.