Decluttering challenge

[Algeronwashere]

I agree, I have never found a vacuum storage bag that has worked!

 

[Curiouscupcake]

I joined a decluttering membership to see if it helps.. today I tidied my desk area which tends to be a dumping ground/kids get stuff out and leave it there. recycled lots of paper stuff, binned a couple of bits, repaired something that was waiting to be fixed and generally tidied. Looks much better now. Wouldn’t have done it without the accountability so it’s working so far!

 

[pinkmug]

Nothing I tried helped with the stickiness so I chucked them out.

I have a Nars eyeshadow palette that got sticky and gross like this. I had to scrub it with acetone in order to melt that matte coating off. Took a fair bit of elbow grease but the box is normal plastic again. I hate this coating on all products and avoid it now, even if I like the products.

 

[Lalla]

I went through a big chest of drawers in my room and a couple of boxes - ended up with a wastepaper bin of rubbish, and an almost full bin bag of clothes to take to the recycling point. Also a bag of clothes that don't currently fit that I have packed away for now.

This week I'm going to carry on with clothes sorting and go through all the bathroom cupboards as I know there is stuff in there to get rid of!

 

[thetis]

I've watched the decluttering series of a lady on youtube for a while, her name is Erica Lucas. If anyone is feeling overwhelmed by the mountain of stuff waiting for them, I'd recommend checking her videos. It's not a 'Scandi-minimalist perfectly matching white furniture' type of decluttering, it's not perfect but the amount of work she has managed to get done has inspired me.

 

[Jellycat369]

Wow, you guys got a lot done! Congrats on the big boy bed and cotbed milestones. And impressive that you sold those items so quickly!

I was chuffed they sold but such a faff with so many chancers on Facebook. Like we priced everything fairly so people were getting a good deal but still got messages offering less than half the asking. Some people really take the pee.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

5 things per room sounds great. Let's just hope I remember to do it! I find I procrastinate and then forget about things

 

[DoseofReality]

I pop them in The Beauty Bank at Superdrug. Seems a waste to bin something I've only used once that didn't suit, especially when it's very popular. Not used make up though.

https://www.superdrug.com/dgfs/beauty-banks

I looked on the beauty banks website and it says they can't accept opened products for hygiene reasons, only new and unopened,which I expected to be the case.

 

[Piff paff puff]

Idk if anyone else does this but when you pack away your winter boots stuff them with thick winter socks to keep their shape.

 

[Flowergirl14]

I read this thread (from the savings thread) last week and it made me realise I have more clutter than I thought (someone said if you’ve not used something for 2 months it should be gone was pivotal so thank you )!

I’ve got 2 bags for life for the charity shop already, managed to sort my clothes whilst doing bedtime last night so a BOGOF of life admin moment there.

Has anyone got toddlers/pre school or early school aged kids and if so how do you de clutter their stuff kindly please? My LO’s type of play is definitely on the cusp of the next stage (more crafts, small world, puzzles/magnatiles, and less sensory/messy) which means I could clear some space in her playroom which is verging on being a bit overwhelming rn. I’d most like to get rid of a dolls house that she doesn’t play with (bought it before we moved closer to family, she prefers the old Victorian one at nanny’s house so saves her play for that?) but feel a bit weird of the idea of depriving her of access to anything as my mum was a major dick (for many reasons!) and would just bin cherished toys and not tell us.

I used to use NCT sales to sell my kids stuff. Mind you that was 16 years ago!

After following this thread, I have filled 2 bin bags of clothes this morning!!

 

[Chocolategoggler]

I’m getting my late teenage daughter to declutter her room at the moment and the challenge is finding time she will do it. Once she’s on it she is much more brutal than me! I just remember her happy little face when she got her first smiggle pencil case or whatever and find it hard to get rid of. Hopefully she will be less of a keeper than me.

I’m having a big clothes sort out at the moment and just divided some stuff into charity shop - husband taking as we speak - and Vinted. I’ll list Vinted a bag at a time I think

Memory boxes are good for this and taking photographs of some things to put in the memory box before they are decluttered.

 

[Chocolategoggler]

Tbf my house is neat but the closets are bursting with crap! I just need to start being more ruthless.
Like am I really going to use those odd sized batteries, etc! I’m always worried something will be needed once I chuck it. Even though it’s not been needed for the last ten years

I didn't know there was a use by date on batteries! So I've organised them into the Ferrero Rocher plastic boxes with lids. It's amazing how many I've got in such a small box. I've told myself no more buying batteries until you use what you've got!
It's organising paperwork including all the things I pull out of magazines. Also clothes. I need to sort out a capsule wardrobe and choose the colours I want in it.
I was watching a professional clothes organiser and I was able to be brutal about the client's wardrobe - then I realised I had a similar wardrobe with loads of mismatched things and shoes. When the professional organiser had finally stopped being diplomatic and organised the client she started to look amazing. I need to do that. Wish my friends were willing to help me. I'd love to organise someone else's wardrobe. I mean you can't stand off from yourself so it's easier to do someone else!
ETA. I've put all my winter throws, gloves, hats jumpers etc in one of those big plastic zipped carriers (£4) from IKEA so come winter I can just pull it out by the handles and pack away summer stuff in it - fans, clothes, throws etc. I've got one for all my bags also.

 

[mee43]

I saw this earlier and thought of us all; View attachment 2885510

This made me laugh so much.
Ive literally just stopped midway through the vacuuming.
I’m sitting scrolling with a cup of tea while it looks at me

 

[Closedeyes]

Glad to see this thread. I’ve been selling bits on Vinted and eBay and donating some. I’m going to go through all the clothes I didn’t wear over summer and probably charity shop them cos I just want them out. Going to chuck all my years old pants and socks too.

 

[Jellycat369]

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.

Do you have a Cex near you? They may take your electronics if you do. You can check the value on their website before heading to the store, work out if the trip is worthwhile or not.

 

[Chocolategoggler]

My house is starting to look neater. Things are going behind cupboard doors rather than cluttering up the kitchen, now that I have made some cupboard space for them.
I've put some tins of food out on the worktop to annoy myself to get them used up.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I read this thread (from the savings thread) last week and it made me realise I have more clutter than I thought (someone said if you’ve not used something for 2 months it should be gone was pivotal so thank you )!

I’ve got 2 bags for life for the charity shop already, managed to sort my clothes whilst doing bedtime last night so a BOGOF of life admin moment there.

Has anyone got toddlers/pre school or early school aged kids and if so how do you de clutter their stuff kindly please? My LO’s type of play is definitely on the cusp of the next stage (more crafts, small world, puzzles/magnatiles, and less sensory/messy) which means I could clear some space in her playroom which is verging on being a bit overwhelming rn. I’d most like to get rid of a dolls house that she doesn’t play with (bought it before we moved closer to family, she prefers the old Victorian one at nanny’s house so saves her play for that?) but feel a bit weird of the idea of depriving her of access to anything as my mum was a major dick (for many reasons!) and would just bin cherished toys and not tell us.

Include her in the decluttering of toys. If you’ve ever watched any of these “sort your life out” programmes you would see kids are ruthless and often the parent shave more hangups about the toys.

 

[L1fe0nM@rs]

The Marie Kondo approach worked a treat for me a few years ago. I can see how decanting your entire wardrobe onto your bed can be overwhelming. What I do now is do one drawer, if I feel like it I’ll do another and another etc.

I do similar - I really like Marie Kondo approach but can’t be as minimalistic as I’d like. What I do is categories of clothes for instance I’ve just done dresses, undies, t shirts etc and need to do jumpers and scarves (end of winter) at the end of of a season.

But I do the same as you for other things eg the kitchen

 

[Chocolategoggler]

Decluttering the millions (#exaggerate) of DVD's I've got.
As normal TV is so rubbish now , I've ended up watching quite a few of them.
Politicians Wife was brill, although I'm wondering what my neighbours were thinking was going on in my bedroom with Trevor Eve and Minnie Driver's gasping etc during their phone sex
Tonight's was Monsoon Wedding - just wanted to get up and dance to the music - how could you not to this?:


Obviously going to take ages to declutter my DVD's but I'm enjoying myself!

 

[Kthxbye]

I had a HippoBag skip delivered yesterday. Once I get a few days off work I'm going to go through the house and be ruthless. If it doesn't have a home, or isn't useful, in the skip it goes