Decluttering challenge

[klarakluckbag]

I've put some tins of food out on the worktop to annoy myself to get them used up.

This is such a good idea, I had to come back to say thank you!
I found a tin of tomatoes that were going to expire, so I had those on toast for lunch. My husband rediscovered his love for tinned spaghetti bolognase, I didn't even remember buying that lol.
And best of all, a small tin of potatoes, (which has been annoying me for ages, the tin is a different size to all of the others so it can't be stacked), has FINALLY been used to make a potato salad.

 

[Parklady]

Had a good start to decluttering, aimed for 5 items in the week & got few more. Will start again today and aim for 5 this week. Little by little will get into the habit of getting rid

 

[no-no]

Has anyone used one of those clothing banks at Tesco? Thinking of taking some bags there at the weekend. I’ve been decluttering and vac’d a load of stuff but thought, I wouldn’t miss them if I couldn’t open them again so might just donate instead of storing. I can’t be bothered selling on.
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I’m being pulled in all directions this week and I’m exhausted.
I have a few hours to myself on Sunday though, and in a slight change of plan, I’m going to clear out my cleaning cupboard and food cupboard old jars of herbs and nearly empty cleaning products that I’ve not really liked, should mean I’ll easily get rid of at least 5 things!

I done my herbs/spices recently and it was very therapeutic. Need to tackle the cupboards next.

 

[Chocolategoggler]

Some words I've just read.....
"Regret is like a favourite old cracked vase, it should be chucked out and not kept in the back of the cupboard for sentimental reasons."

 

[NowIsGood]

I recently had my garden shed cleared out - completely - by a 'dump-run' guy. Years of clutter. I know there were probably loads of items I should've rescued but just had a little talk to myself; let's face it, once something goes out to the shed, it rarely ever comes back in.

It's my guess a lot of us on this thread are of the 'I can't get rid of that ... sentimental reasons' brigade. Sometimes it pays to be ruthless and just not think about it too much.

Now it's the house-junk's turn. Be prepared, house-junk!

Exactly! I think I've spent more time dusting my dvd collection over the past 5 years than actually watching them!

 

[Jellycat369]

So far so good. Have decluttered some skincare and makeup (shared on the Share Your Empties thread) but so far decluttered 16 products. Sorted out the baby clothes yesterday that no longer fit my youngest. Have kept the suit that he and my eldest wore home from the hospital and put aside a few nicer bits to sell on Vinted. Rest of the stuff I'll put as a bundle on Faceboon Marketplace. With the bundle should I just keep it as newborn to first month clothes or add in the 0-3 months too? It's a decent sized bundle already but is limited by size. Any thoughts? Also, would weeding count as decluttering the garden?

 

[mee43]

I’m being pulled in all directions this week and I’m exhausted.
I have a few hours to myself on Sunday though, and in a slight change of plan, I’m going to clear out my cleaning cupboard and food cupboard old jars of herbs and nearly empty cleaning products that I’ve not really liked, should mean I’ll easily get rid of at least 5 things!

 

[Chocolategoggler]

Have measured up for the shelving I didn't think would fit in the under stairs cupboard, as mentioned above, and they do easily!
So off to Argos to pick some up.
Might even be able to finally get the vacuum cleaners in there, and maybe even my tool box!

 

[adviseplz]

The bathroom is a really easy place to start as there are usually a handful of lotions and potions which you last used 3 years ago - and are you REALLY going to use the pink box-dye? Plus permission granted to bin the holey face cloths, manky loofahs and pumice stone containing 3649 unique strains of bacteria.

Bet you can find 5 random pieces of shite in the kitchen drawers too. Hello Nepalese hand-crafted salad servers, dog shaped biscuit cutters and a bag of screws left over from an ikea Billy bookcase.

5 things in a week is child’s play. 5 things per room minimum and you can do the bathroom and kitchen today. Boil the kettle and do the kitchen - and next time you go to the loo do the bathroom.

The holey face cloth hits me deep… earlier I put into the textile recycling a looney tunes flannel I’ve had since I was probably single digits and had somehow formed an emotional attachment to?! I gave myself a talking to and put it in the pile with a few other (not as old) ones!

 

[50degreesnorth]

How’s everyone getting on? I won’t make the charity shop drop off this week as it’s only open a couple of times which just don’t work for me this week. Made it to the tip which was great as two of the items had been sat in the garden for 2 years while I tried to figure out what to do with them.

 

[Jellycat369]

Hadn’t th


Hadn’t thought of that so thanks for the suggestion. I had a look there and cash sale exchange you probably going to get 20-30 less than eBay. But it does have convenient element of one drop and not being worried about things being declared missing in the post.

They do offer 20-30 quid more if you would take payment as voucher. So might have a chat with my partner about that later as he’s might want a phone. Working outdoors a new one is wasted on him and they do 24month warranty.

My OH usually gets a voucher and then puts it towards blu rays that he wants His idea of decluttering is selling crap to buy more

 

[usefullyuseless]

We've just done a massive clear out of our home. I'd been putting it off for months but we're getting work done and the house needed to be empty so I was ruthless and it was for the better. I donated about 50% of my wardrobe, stuff I hadn't worn in years and styles that don't suit me anymore. We also got a charity to come and take away pieces of furniture we didn't want, all good quality stuff but just not our style anymore.

Seeing the house so empty was a great feeling, I definitely want to keep it that way going forward, with regular clear outs. I want to enforce a 'one item in, at least two items out' policy particularly with clothes and only buy cosmetics and toiletries when I've used stuff up. It was a huge wake up call seeing how much stuff I had accumulated over the years and realising how little I genuinely use or need. I even feel mentally lighter knowing the house isn't full of clutter anymore.

If you're thinking of decluttering, definitely do it! Start with one cupboard or one room. Don't spend too long thinking about items, if you haven't worn/used/thought about them in 3 months then donate or dump! It can be overwhelming starting but you will feel the better for it when your house is clutter free.

 

[Tea and Toast]

I did my wardrobe the other day. .
So satisfying to finally be able to see what I've got in there.
Loaded a few bits in vinted, charity shop for others . .
Love this thread
Will definitely do the bathroom next

 

[pinkmug]

What do people do with products that are open but they're not going to use up? Is it ok to empty them in the sink then get recycle the packaging or is that not very environmentally friendly?

I ask my friends and family if they would like to use them. More often than not I have plenty of takers. I also do this with books I've read but didn't enjoy enough to keep.

Some women's shelters or homeless shelters accept lightly used products, if you have any near you, you can check with them about their donation policy.

 

[Jellycat369]

A few smaller decluttering jobs I've finished. Sorted out my pjs and socks, got rid of anything that was falling apart and no longer of use. Cleared out my hair accessories and earrings. Sorted out my purse, actually found a couple of vouchers so used those for some meal deals! Need to figure out a plan of action for the rest of the house, think I might plan for a job per week starting August. Need to get some extra cash from selling unwanted things, as mat leave money doesn't go very far.

 

[Justherefortittle]

I’m in the decluttering zone, house in chaos as I set things in visible accessible piles for selling/relocating/rehoming!
You forget that you need to make space in rightful places for things you want to keep or use in the longer term,
But I can live with that now!

Clothes and shoes I just did a civic duty and left at charity shop as couldn’t be arsed with the faffing about with taking pics and online sales. 3 huge Ikea bags full which was great as I got it out of my way there and then. Helped spur on the rest.

Started to put things on Vinted for the first time ever. I have made £70 on 3 items this week so happy with that, all posted today.

Just frustrating you can’t use it to sell electronics, as have some new and sealed things like tablets & wireless speakers. But they took those down as violations.
Have never been one for eBay so don’t know if I can be arsed with doing that and marketplace is just a breeding ground for scam replies and people wanting something for nothing.

 

[lilyannrose]

Does anyone else have the problem that they can never seen to get rid of enough? I try to be ruthless but there's still always too much stuff, and I don't think I have a lot compared to some.

It feels like a neverending slog. I need some motivation.

 

[OhFFS]

Ugh I need to declutter so badly, I want my home back and it feels so very overwhelming at times. I attempted the Marie Kondo method at one point but just ended up with all my clothes on my bed and no where to sleep until I lost all motivation and put them all back in the wardrobe and on the floor I have found a method which works better for me - check out A Slob comes Clean - but am still lacking momentum...any suggestions for a kick up the arse?

 

[Chocolategoggler]

I was once quoted a speed declutter tip, which did actually work.
Putting a charity bag in each room, then going round each room individually and putting in the bag anything that you didn't use or find beautiful. Then putting each bag in a corner of that room till you had a moment to go through it.
When I first sat down to go through a bag I could easily see what had to go to the bin or charity, and I was left with things I'd actually just bought, which made me try them out, rather than immediately sticking them in a cupboard and forgetting about them.
It breaks down the declutter process into more manageable chunks I found.
I've nearly finished decluttering my house, but I'll use this to do another sweep as I've left tapes, music, books and paperwork, which really needs to be gone through, to decide if I really still want them.
By sweeping them into one container in each room, I can have my shelves/cupboards as I want them immediately, and then I can go through the bag in my own time.
This tip doesn't work if you have a helpful relative/friend, who decides to take your charity bag to the shop without asking you first!!!

 

[mee43]

I’ve made a start too. Magazines, old jars of spices, etc.,
Not 5 rooms but more than 5 things, so some progress