weekend uncluttering / check-in

[rmc28]

It's the weekend, it's when I'm trying to get some uncluttering done, so this is both a prompt to myself and a check-in post for everyone. We're a couple of weeks into the new year, when many people start setting new goals and trying new routines. How are we all getting on?

Comment to celebrate our successes, commiserate over our difficulties, and to cheer each other on.

Comments

[rmc28]

Theoretically I aim to do an hour each on Saturday and Sunday, but yesterday I left the house shortly after getting up and didn't get home again until nearly midnight.

Some successes during the week:

+ While looking for PE shoes for my younger child, I collected together an entire bagful of outgrown shoes, mostly in good-enough condition for the charity shop. That let me clear some space in my back room / dumping ground.

+ Same child had a shortage of school trousers and jumpers, and I found the box of too-big clothes that actually now fit him, so that has saved me a shopping trip. I also handed a bag of outgrown school clothes into the school for second-hand sales.

+ I found two different hoards of worn-out clothes for the textile recycling, and was able to combine them into one bag.

- But the nearest and very convenient collection bin for textiles is no longer there, so I will have to find another collection point.

I think my goal for today is to do some moving out of things: bag of shoes to the charity shop, a pair of books to a Little Free Library, find the next-nearest textile recycling point, return a library book before the library closes. (Oooh, looked up the recycling points and actually I can do all of that in one trip.) Before I go, list the giant suitcase on freecycle in hopes someone wants it.

[vriddy]

Congrats on the successes!! That's a lot :)

[rmc28]

Thank you!

[rmc28]

Progress: I posted to freecycle and then did my errand-running expedition. I had a bit of a panic at the first stop, my nearest charity shop, because they had their sign up to say no more donations today. I dithered about taking the bag of shoes back home again, but then I remembered that textile recycling points often take shoes, and also there's a charity shop I could pass on the way to the library if that particular one didn't. I had to get over a bit of resistance because the textile recycling points are usually for-profit rather than charitable, but I reminded myself that the real win is the stuff getting out of my house, I don't have to optimise everything.

Then I found my way to my nearest Little Free Library, as listed on the official map, and dropped off my two books. It's very tucked away, not many people will pass it unless they're looking for it, and it was half-empty, with nothing I was tempted to take away. So that was a net win for me, and now I know where it is for future book donations. (I have a whole stash of books that I want to read once and decide if I'm keeping or donating, fully expect to donate most of them.)

From there it was an easy walk to the library, and then I came home again. Meanwhile someone on freecycle has asked for the suitcase and hopefully will collect it tomorrow. Go me!

[ai]

It's difficult when it comes to the for-profit vs charitable, but you're right in that the real win is not taking it back home.

Good job on everything! Getting a suitcase out is a huge win.

[rmc28]

We used it to bring home some family possessions from my stepfather, who does not want it back, and it's far too big for us to use regularly. So hopefully it will be of use to someone else.

[necrophilia]

I moved across the country a few months ago and the post-moving process has been one long declutter. I still have boxes sitting in my kitchen (mostly books and sentimental items I have no place to store currently); my goal for today is to move those into the bedroom so my front entry way isn’t quite so dire looking. I also need to do something about the mess of toiletries etc. on my bathroom counter: it’s a mess and I can’t properly clean the counter because there’s so much everything on top. If anyone has a recommendation for a countertop bathroom organiser, that would be great.

Yesterday, I was finally able to shove a few armfuls of cardboard into the recycling bin before it filled up. It is a small victory but a victory nonetheless! Hopefully my apartment will be cardboard free before I, uh, move again.

[rmc28]

Moving is so hard, much sympathy.

I have a couple of wire storage caddies on my bathroom counters to herd all the toiletries etc. I can't find the actual ones I have (I think I got them from the ever-rotating random aisle in Aldi), but they're a bit like these: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3121450

Anyway, they have the advantage that I can see everything (if I can't see what I have, I frequently forget that I have it), the wire means water can't puddle around things if I put them back wet, and they're fairly lightweight.

[necrophilia]

Those are so cool! I imagine the wire means assembly is easy to minimal, as well. Thank you for the rec.

[rmc28]

I think they came pre-assembled. Bulky for transport, but even easier to set up and use.

[ai]

Moving is difficult, for sure.

Good job on getting rid of some of the cardboard though. It definitely helps!

[necrophilia]

It's like a race between me and my landlords to see who can immediately fill up the one (1) recycling bin the fastest. The secret to winning this race? Fill it up at 5:30 AM.

[ai]

Victory to the early risers! (Or the late nighters.)

[ai]

I haven't been out to a store in weeks on account of illness, so admittedly I overdid it with bringing home a lot of pink items. It's the season for pink. Naughty me.

Built a bed frame with drawers for the roommate so his clutter is now out of sight and out of mind. One less stress for me.

Went through a box of possible things to put up on Mercari. Tossed a few items out of there that I felt were not at all worth the effort (old tech) and photographed the rest. Hopefully I can get back on that grind here soon.

[rmc28]

Having things you like is not inherently a bad thing! I hope the pink items spark much joy :-)

Hurray for getting the bed frame and drawers built, and sorting through the box of items to go.

[wychwood]

I watched several Dana K White videos, and:

• Sorted out the contents of one desk drawer
• Finally pulled out the three items in my wardrobe I don't actually like or wear
• Lightly pruned one shelf of books

[rmc28]

Dana K White new fandom ftw!

(I am slowly reading my way through her blog from the beginning, and letting it simmer in my hindbrain.)

Hurrah for your sorting and pruning.