Decluttering challenge

[Fin]

Hello and welcome . I actually started decluttering a few weeks back as we were supposed to be having work done on the house, it's on hold now obviously. I'm not a 'right, let's get this done now' I just take my time. I started with a massive cupboard that was so full of stuff there was no way you could access most of it. I just chipped away at it and did a little bit everyday, I was amazed how easy I found doing it that way. The only downside to decluttering right now is the closure of all the public recycling centres. There are normally recycling bins in many supermarket car parks though. Slow and steady is my motto.

 

[rainbowlemon]

We cleaned out two sections of my sisters cupboard and took some clothing to donate to Tkmaxx yesterday. Going to drop off books today at a charity shop.

My sister said the same thing it felt cathartic.

Still have a long way to go which is overwhelming.

 

[Moonflower]

Kind of a decluttering question, kind of not ...

I recently bought a new desk as I will be working from home in my new job *yay* but it only has shelves, not drawers!
Does anyone have any recommendations for small storage pots/ boxes which don't cost an arm and a leg so I can organise my desk?
I know I need to buy a folder storage thingy, but no clue where else to look without it being so expensive

Have a look at tkmaxx, in store and online too. I buy notebooks a lot from there super cheap and they always have various cheap pots and boxes.

I am having a massive clear out this week and it feels so good. It really affects my mental health when my house gets so cluttered up, I'm feeling better already.

 

[Justherefortittle]

Hadn’t th

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.

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.

 

[Tangent Tiger]

Yes I'd like to join in, it could be motivating. I'm very good with the kitchen, sitting room and bathrooms but strangely enough bad with my bedroom.

I don't have time today to start but will on Monday evening.

 

[mee43]

Can I join you please? 5 things from a few rooms seems doable for me.
I want to actually get rid of several pieces of furniture that have actually just become storing ground for all the stuff that we don’t need but I can’t part with!
So the aim is to start decluttering the cabinet and blanket box that I want to be free of!

 

[Lucyxxxx]

I've got an entire downstairs toilet full of stuff for the charity shop. I'm constantly decluttering but still my house has way to much stuff. Got a new baby en route so needs to be done.

 

[Curiouscupcake]

In 2023 I set mysef a goal to declutter 2023 things which I met. I am doing 2024 in 2024. I find little and often works best for me with decluttering. Just 5 or 10 minutes here and there fairly adds up. I love counting up all the things and using timers. I love the feeling after a bit of decluttering, a bit lighter and less overwhelmed.

I did the same challenge! Went way over in the end, haven’t been counting this year though.

 

[blurpee]

Operation Sort Out House took place this week. We moved our toddler into the guest bedroom and the baby into his bed. The toddler got his first big boy bed and the baby got promoted from the Snuzpod to the cotbed. Rejigging all the furniture allowed as to deep clean and declutter each room as we went. Listed the Snuzpod and some odds and ends on Facebook Marketplace and they all sold within hours of uploading. Uploaded a couple of bundles of baby clothes this afternoon. OH listed a bunch of blu rays onto ebay and he's sold a bunch already. We didn't quite finish all the jobs we wanted to but we managed to work through a big chunk, no mean feat when trying to work with a very clingy baby. Got our office and garage to sort and then it's just a case of keeping on top of selling on the baby clothes as and when he grows out of them.

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!

 

[Lalla]

I know it’s “tipped” when I’ve bought more than one copy of the same book - or discover something completely unused which I’ve also bought a duplicate of. Or when you’ve got so much shit, you don’t have storage for it all. Because the storage you DO have is so full of shit you’ve forgotten what’s there.

Thank you! This is helpful and a really good reminder (when I helped my hoarder friend have a clear out some years ago we found over 30 pairs of unworn jeans - because she'd buy them, forget where she'd put them, buy more etc all the time just wearing the same one pair

 

[DoseofReality]

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.

Thanks. I found a website that listed lots of organisations and what they accept, which you could search by area. Hopefully it'll work if not it's called toiletries amnesty. https://www.toiletriesamnesty.org/directory/

 

[laughing]

Emptying out the house, one cupboard at a time!

 

[Chocolategoggler]

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.

Oh, thanks for this. I've been staring at the rogue tin of potatoes wondering what to do with them.
The potato salad recipe would be most welcome, please

 

[Jellycat369]

I always wonder with hoarder homes. Can’t you stealthily take a few items each time you visit without them noticing?

My mum would totally notice the dust had been disturbed

 

[Yel]

I moved at the start of the year and was only supposed to be a short term thing and now looks like it could be for a while.

Anyway I only unpacked the minimum I need for a few months and I feel so much better. Getting rid of clothes I don't wear and not having 20 different forks has improved my life so much. I've still got 16ish boxes of stuff and j want to go through them before I next move. Just 2 plates, 2 bowels, 2 spoons, 2 cups forces me to wash up and not stack dozens of dirty things up. I love it.

All this stuff really does tie you down. It's unbelievable how much better I feel not to have stuff untop of cupboards.

Next task is running down all the food I moved with but don't want to eat

 

[Bec3007]

I have clear outs every 2-3 months. I go through cupboards/wardrobes/drawers and throw anything I haven’t touched in that time. I know that’s extreme to some but if I haven’t used it in months then I clearly don’t need it. I’m a very organised person though, clutter drives me insane!

 

[50degreesnorth]

My house will look a lot less cluttered in about 4 hours as the paper recycling is being collected today - which means I can clear out all the stacked paper in the porch and get it in the empty bloody bin.

I need to clear out some more clothes that I don’t like/don’t want to wear again. I’ve also pleaded with my children to tidy their fucking rooms. I think I’ll offer them £1 if they bring me 5 items that no longer fit/they don’t want.

When the weather gets better I need to empty out the shed and be ruthless as I know there’s tons of paint in there which were left by the previous occupant and even if they’re not solid by now, not my colour.

 

[Jellycat369]

Have been deep cleaning the house this week. Got a pile of bits for charity, pile for Vinted and a pile for Marketplace. Sold all the baby clothes wee man had outgrown, happy they're gone but sad because memories 🫠 Got a bunch of books I need to log onto a spreadsheet to send to a local bookstore to see if they'll buy any. If that doesn't work Ziffitt or charity shop. Slowly getting there. Once this is all done just need to keep on top of it ready for when we move.

 

[Throwaway89]

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.

I’m the same but probably because I do keep buying things There is the ‘one in one out’ rule but at the minute I should probably do one in TWO out.

 

[Justherefortittle]

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

Ive lost quite a lot of time this week going down Vinted rabbit holes, comparing prices to list mine at a point likely to sell.
Vinted is now full of saves of things I think I need!