Decluttering challenge

[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!

 

[rainbowlemon]

Perhap you could add interim holding containers until you find the real ones?

 

[karry1412]

Love the idea of a challenge - particularly such an achievable one! I've two sports jackets for the charity shop. The jackets are for a team my kids no longer play for but someone will be happy with them.

 

[Chocolategoggler]

I have one of those zip bag thingies that goes under the bed (don't think it's ikea, but I'm not sure, and it needs replacing as it ripped as well)! I just don't like having it there in the first place In an ideal world I'd not have anything under the bed so that the robovac can waltz in without me needing to grab it first... Wish we had space for more shelves, but we really don't.

That's why I liked the Argos black plastic ones. I could build to the height of the cupboard. Wish they did them in more widths/heights. They are so light but strong.

https://www.argos.co.uk/sd/black-plastic-shelf-unit/

I can see from the reviews that others are using them for inside cupboards and finding them strong and sturdy and they can be used everywhere.
The bag looks to have dropped in price:

DIMPA storage bag, transparent, 65x22x65 cm - IKEA

DIMPA storage bag, transparent, 65x22x65 cm This durable and transparent bag holds everything from car tires and sports gear to seasonal clothing. It’s also easy to clean and simple to store since the bag folds completely flat when empty. Easy to clean – just wipe with a damp cloth.

www.ikea.com

These are the kind of plastic boxes I mean:

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9484744

 

[Lalla]

My house looks like a bomb's exploded. I had to find something at short notice for someone who came to help with an outside job. I ended up throwing everything out of the big under stairs cupboard on to the lounge floor. I heard myself yelling "I've organised my house and I still can't find anything!"
I'd just started a second sweep of the house recently as I realised I'd missed things like top cupboards. I've been finding tea lights, solar lights, candles - all things I've refused to buy as I knew I had them somewhere!
I've got things waiting for a container as I shuffle things around, as again I probably already hold a container for them which probably has things shoved in that I don't know where else to put.
So I have "stuff" waiting....
Does anyone else understand and have the same problem, or am I slowly going bananas!

I can relate to this, I have a huge cupboard downstairs which is full of all the sort of stuff people would keep in a shed/ garage (I don't have a garage and hate sheds as they're spider havens )- garden tools, jet washer, fence stain, garden sofa cushions, decorating stuff and all general DIY materials. It's neatly stacked to an extent but if I need to get something out that's right at the back I have to empty the whole cupboard and and up with a similar exploded bomb look.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I did some decluttering yesterday in the kitchen while cooking. Got rid of a a fair amount of crap but coukd do with more! How are people counting the 5 items? I literally just think 5, even if it’s 5 cotton balls.
Hoping to do a more thorough declutter this wkend.
---
My goal is five items from every room, although the downstairs toilet will have to count flushing as “decluttering” as there’s only loo roll and soap

 

[50degreesnorth]

I'm desperate to do something, my house is awful, we have way too much stuff, and it's just everywhere. It's making me so depressed.

I'm looking at getting one of those Hippo bags, taking a week off work and just going through every room in the house and being ruthless

That’s such a massive ask. That’s the equivalent of saying “I’m sure I can pack this house up in a week and not move any junk halfway across the country”. *

A little at a time is more mentally manageable IMO. Dumping everything into the middle of the room will just literally create a mountain of confusion.

I think you need some clearer surfaces and space to figure out what’s going on.

I try to make a point of going into each room and finding 5 things which can be dealt with be it bin, charity shop or wrong room. I keep a bin bag in my bedroom for charity shop stuff so it can go from the washing basket to there. I’m also thinning the herd of books but to do all the bookcases in one go is too much - plus the charity shop don’t like it. So 5 a bag is great.

The less I have - the more I can see I have - eg yoga mat!

It’s still very much a work in progress and long-term project - the aforementioned ski boots and treadmill did a 500 mile house move.Tbh I think the treadmill worked before it went in the lorry but whatever… the ski boots boils definitely not made the trip!

 

[Chocolategoggler]

What was the programme with the peofessional organiser? I’d also lovw a capsule wardrobe because I have so much stuff and sometimes you’ve got no clue what to do!

Was MM Personal Styling. The capsule wardrobe one gave me ideas, but the client one dragged as the stylists were being so diplomatic. I'd be no good as I would be brutal! I don't have the patience to be diplomatic.

 

[Fin]

I have to admit this quarantine has opened my eyes to the amount of things I just do not need. A basket full of goodness knows how many different hair products for starters. My hair hasn't had a hairdryer never mind a product near it for three weeks and it's doing just fine. My wardrobe could also do with a fine tune. I had a good rampage through it a month or so ago but it can be pruned a bit more. House wise we are quite minimalist but same can't be said for our storage areas. Just one large cupboard left to work through but that will have to wait for a while yet.

 

[Chocolategoggler]

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.

I don't think they would be able to tell with the stuff I put in. Some of it was brand new and the one I'd tried was a squeezy bottle used once.
Thanks for the info though. I can understand why they would say brand new as people can be disgusting with what they donate.

 

[Sibz]

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

Omg blu rays that's a blast from the past. I thought they fell out of fashion in the late 00s

 

[ChastityDingle]

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

That's me.
I start well but then try to get too many things done at once, and get disheartened and drink coffee instead!
I'm going to try the timer idea this week and the five things.

 

[Parklady]

Joining in here, during the lockdown I had a routine of doing a drawer or cupboard each weekend which was very manageable, went through my apartment in no time. I just to get the motivation to do again as stiff has built up- though not as much as previously as I'm quite strict with my buying now