Clutterbug's Declutterings

The October Challenge continues:

15. closet

16. shoes

17. purses, bags and totes

18. memorabilia

19. children's toys

20. children's clothes 

I'm claiming that all of these are done. The reality is that once I have posted this, I shall be nipping off upstairs to check my wardrobe. I think it's calm and decluttered, but I can't say for absolute definite. However, if it isn't, it will be. 

My shoes and footware is a very minimal area. There's a pair of shoes that's almost ready to be retired, but I am still wearing them. Perhaps by the end of the month they will have left the building for the last time.

I'm not big bag person - maybe four handbag, and a couple of shopping bags. There are a couple of bags in my wardrobe I haven't used in at least a year, but I still like them. My every day hand bag is probably too 'office' for my current life, and I need to switch things around.

Memorabilia is not something I really hang onto. There's a couple of soft toys that belonged to my children, a TARDIS lunch box, and a piece of paper that says 'SOUP' (there's a story behind that). Each of these things makes me smile.

Apart from a couple of soft toys that belonged to the children and a few baby clothes, it's totally up to them whether they keep their old toys and clothes. My rule is that I don't declutter other people's belongings. It's their stuff, they have the right to keep it or let it go.

Tasks I haven't yet done are 'freezer' and 'junk drawer'. These will get done before the end of the month.

What's under your bed?

Clutterbug's October Decluttering challenge is to declutter under the bed. This is an area I have already done, and maintain.

Under my bed are suitcases and a box of charity knits I have finished, but haven't yet donated. Once a week, when I sweep the bedroom, I shove the brush under and get out as much hair, dust and fluff as I can. Then at the start of each month, everything is moved and the area under the bed given a deep clean. This was delayed by a week this month so it would be done just before our guests arrived.

Due to having guests, there were a few tasks I hadn't completed (freezer, junk drawer and medicines/toiletries). Today, I sorted through the first aid kit and toiletries. That area is looking good. I should say though, that these guests have been fantastic - they fitted into family life so well. It was an absolute pleasure to have them.

13. dresser drawers

14. under bed

My clothes drawers are were done recently, and I've adopted the habit of tidying them as I put clothes away. It's part of the new mentality of  'little and often' and 'make it a bit better than before'. 

Clutterbug's Challenge

Clutterbug's October Challenge is going as well as can be given we have guests staying just now. So far, the tasks have been:

1. under kitchen sink

2. food containers

3. bakeware and dishes

4. utensil drawers

5. fridge

6. freezer

7. pantry

8. junk drawer

9. linen closet

10 bathroom drawers

11. under bathroom sink

12. medicines/toiletries

I've not been able to do the freezer, the junk drawer or medicines/toiletries. The freezer will be tackled next week, as will the other tasks. We don't have a junk drawer, but we do have a small set of drawers that contain spare light bulbs, batteries, shoe laces, picture hooks and candle making stuff. This needs to be sorted and will be done in lieu of a junk drawer. Medicines/toiletries need to be done too.

Today I tidied the linen cupboard. Nothing was decluttered as this was done not too long ago. We replaced the large bath towels last year, and next year, I think we need to replace the hand towels. Some of the duvet covers are looking rather tired and worn out. These will need to be replaced at some point. But that's for another time. A time in the distant future, possibly around spring.