Decluttering.

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
So my friend was telling me about something she did last year which was basically charity/throw the same number of things to correlate with the date in January. So on the 1st get rid of one thing, on the 2nd two things and by the 31st, thirty one things. Adds up to almost 500 things by the end of January. So I'm doing it. Might not get the days done individually but I'm attempting to clear out more than 500 things. Any one else doing it?

I've started with approx 100 dvds and today the clothes have had the chop. It's amazing how many pairs of flip flops etc I've kept just in case. Really therapeutic to get rid of stuff I've not used for years, and the decluttering has been great around the house.

I'm not a clutter hoarder generally, I don't do ornaments or things, but just decluttering the stuff I've collected to use and then haven't has been very cathartic.

So goodbye clothes, shoes, books, dvds and cds that have just cluttered up the place. Even found an old dvd player I'd forgotten about lol. Welcome empty mimalist rooms! Loving it! Plus Katherine House will benefit!
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
So my friend was telling me about something she did last year which was basically charity/throw the same number of things to correlate with the date in January. So on the 1st get rid of one thing, on the 2nd two things and by the 31st, thirty one things. Adds up to almost 500 things by the end of January. So I'm doing it. Might not get the days done individually but I'm attempting to clear out more than 500 things. Any one else doing it?

I've started with approx 100 dvds and today the clothes have had the chop. It's amazing how many pairs of flip flops etc I've kept just in case. Really therapeutic to get rid of stuff I've not used for years, and the decluttering has been great around the house.

I'm not a clutter hoarder generally, I don't do ornaments or things, but just decluttering the stuff I've collected to use and then haven't has been very cathartic.

So goodbye clothes, shoes, books, dvds and cds that have just cluttered up the place. Even found an old dvd player I'd forgotten about lol. Welcome empty mimalist rooms! Loving it! Plus Katherine House will benefit!
Döstädning, "Death cleaning", although you don't have to die yet.

 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Döstädning, "Death cleaning", although you don't have to die yet.

After cleaning out my mums house this really is a thing I don't want my daughter to be left with. A house full of utter shite, boxes piled up with papers, carrier bags, cupboard, everywhere full with zero order :(. Was a nightmare. Couldn't tip the lot in case something important was mixed in
 

Bob

Well-Known Forumite
I’ve been having a clear out, I’m not counting how many individual items but I’ve got a pile of stuff for the charity shop and a pile of stuff for the tip. I’m finally parting with most of my cookbooks.

Stuff tends to move out of the house into the garage, then hubby gets cross about the mess in the garage and that’s when it finally leaves the premises.
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
After cleaning out my mums house this really is a thing I don't want my daughter to be left with. A house full of utter shite, boxes piled up with papers, carrier bags, cupboard, everywhere full with zero order :(. Was a nightmare. Couldn't tip the lot in case something important was mixed in
I cleared a lot of our clutter in our house after clearing my parents house. Took so long clearing it and finding relevant paperwork for the solicitors etc. Filled 2 extra large skips as well as all the trips to charity shops and them collecting , tip & recycling centres, and chemists with hoards of medicines and insulin sharps. Stuff not used for years and years just all bunged into lofts , cupboard, shed, garage etc (I did keep one of my dads old slide-rules though , but slung the other 20+ he'd got for his class)

I vowed to not leave such a massive job for son to sort out when we finally go , so started there and then. But still had lots left as hubby refused to get rid of his old stuff .

Got rid of 40 years of stuff in the loft to the tip , as well as lots of other stuff when we moved house this last year . Had to keep catching a bus to charity shops in town with stuff while he was at work. 😂 and I've still been getting rid of stuff since getting here . Have to sneak it out though or it will be declared 'needed' ).
 
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kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
How’s the decluttering going @kyoto49
Ooo thanks for asking. I started a new job this week so it's all been a bit slow, but although not managing 24 things today over the month I will have got rid of at least 500 things so I'm well happy with that. Definitely worth doing even if the targets slip. Have you managed any?
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Son had said he needed to get rid of years of old clothes , he was struggling to get his latest clothes in the fitted wardrobes , and a clothes rack from his flat days full as well . He'd previously slung a bag full up in his loft. I kept nagging him so much that he finally got up the ladders when I was around his the other week, to shut me up . As well as the bag of clothes , I spotted a big old ugly beanie bag up there that he'd aquired from one of his uni digs and carted with him each move. So that came down for the tip. A curtain pole from the previous owner is perfect for my front door, so was the only survivor of that rummage in the loft. I drove straight to the tip with my haul...... son visits later in the day "Where's the bean bag, might keep that after all"....... Too late, GONE! I don't hang about. :D

I've offered to help with the other clothes slinging out.... he knows he'll have nothing left if I'm involved so doing it himself . Tonights subtle 'hint' to get cracking on it was saying I'll have any surplus coat hangers (I know what he was thinking ....mums nagging again!😂)

His plan now is to sort out 10 items of clothing each week for the local charity bins........
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Never take anything to the tip, always take it to charity shop. Even if it's not in great condition they'll sell it to the rag trade.
The clothes went into the charity collection bins at the tip. The tip bloke took the bean bag off me so don't know if that went into one of the charity collection things as well .

The Blue Cross shop in Stafford had loads of stuff off me when we were moving and told me to keep it coming. Then one day when I carted more good stuff down on the bus , a different lad was in there and said they didn't want any more donations , they had enough! PDSA were happy to have it.

I used to split it all between The Blue Cross and PDSA but after that day the PDSA got the lot!

A local dog rescue in Worcester has had lots off me since moving here , especially loads of books and more glasses that I've managed to sneak out. Will probably take sons good clothes down there as well. (And she gave me their card for if we want to visit to see the dogs.....;) )
 
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staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
I always take mine to PDSA. Mostly because they send me gift aid letters for my tax return.
Doesn't seem to have a PDSA charity shop in Worcester. Mines mostly Birch Hill Dog Rescue or the Blue Cross shop facing it .
 
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