Jan 04 2011

The Declutter 52 things challenge

The De-clutter ’52 Things in 52 weeks’ Challenge

As we have 52 weeks left of this year, I thought it fitting to create a challenge for the year to help you de-clutter your ‘things’.

Rules:

De-clutter, meaning throw away, give to charity/friend, find a better purpose for.
Disposing of groups of things =1 item eg. 5 towels or 3 coffee mugs classes as ’1 item/thing’
Each time you have de-cluttered of something, place your comment here. ( I can’t work out how each reader can create their own running list). If you can number them even better. If I can I’ll try and copy and paste them to your original comment.
Please feel free to go beyond 52 items!!

When adding to your list, press reply to your first list and this will trigger me to update your list for you.

Are you going to join me in the ‘Declutter 52 Things Challenge’??

Good Luck!!

Love these ideas? Sign up for updates....It's FREE!

Pingback: A Year Of Decluttering
Pingback: Will This Be Your Year To De-Clutter? | Reading Upside Down
Katrina

These are my 52 things, I hope you all enjoy this challenge

1. Old feather doona and cover.

2. Nailpolish
Aileen

btw .. great!!! idea .. and the school books were from primary school havent got to the rest yet :s LOL

1. 8 mugs

2. old school books (seriously the kids have been out of high school for yrs)
- Katrina
  
  lol, the things we hold onto, great job Aileen for purging them!!
http://www.facebook.com/KatsCakesKurri Kat

This sounds fantastic. I am such a hoarder.

1. All my single bed linen. (I no longer have a single bed).
- Katrina
  
  Great reason to remove it from the house!!
Renee S

I'll join in too, or at the very least make a start, haha:

1. Bag of clothes no longer worn regularly

2. Box of old uni notes- Most of which can be accessed electronically, or are saved on the computer

3. 5 books
- Katrina
  
  You have made a start, keep going, you have done really week so far!!
- Renee S
  
  4) 3 cane arm chairs gathering dust on the back verandah
  
  5) A trip to the tip- mostly cardboard, broken washing basket and other random stuff
  
  6) Selling our old motorbike next week- Should clear some room in the shed!
  - Renee S
    
    I just forgot that I added another bag of clothes to the list- The clothes I had been hanging onto hoping that I would fit into them again- It is now over 2 years since I had my DD and so most were out of style anyway- I kept just 2 pairs of jeans!
http://Facebook Keely

I am looking forward to getting our own house again and doing this. I think hubby and I should go back to our unit and do this before we start packing things up to move.
- Katrina
  
  Absolutely Keely, you should purge as you pack so you aren't taking your clutter with you.
Tara

yayyyy i cant wait this is perfect!

1. old towels
- Tara
  
  2. On top of the fridge yayyy
  
  3. bookcase in the lounge room all the dvds, books and toys are super organsied and all broken crayons and toys were ither binned or put in a pencil case
  
  4.The boys toys which i did before christmas one of the OHW challenges but i keep on finding things ive missed lol
  
  plenty more to come, the master Bedroom is the killer eeek im reclaiming it though, my craft/sewing corner, my little bosys room (well finish decorating it) and then outside under the pergola and the carport
- Katrina
  
  And don't we all have too many of those, great start Tara!!
Kellie

What a great Idea – I just started my kitchen so I'll see how many things i can get rid of in there, We moved at the end of 2009 and I still boxes in the shed that say kitchen – I obviously don't need that box either. Thanks for the inspiration..

1. 12 mugs – why do we always end up with so many coffee/tea cups!
- Katrina
  
  I wonder how many items in that box you will keep…hmmm???
http://Facebook Kym Paddock

CANT WAIT!

1. Today I am decluttering my eldest daughters bedroom while she is on holidays with her grandparents – her desk should only take a couple of hours….
- Katrina
  
  How did you go Kym cleaning up your DD desk, can you add anymore to the list??
  - http://Facebook Kym Paddock
    
    Oh boy – have been in a declutter frenzy when the kids were away for a week – got back Sunday and hmmm…
    
    here is what has been ACCOMPLISHED!!!!
    
    2. Linen cupboard – 2 bags to to take to the op shop.
    
    3. All kids wardrobes – clothes sorted into season and charity bags
    
    4. Laundry cupboard – rid of unused cleaners,
    
    5. sorted through and made my way to the bottom of ironing basket in uncluttered cupboard! (Massive accomplishment)
    
    6. Toy cupboard – kids had sorted a few toys each to give away prior to Christmas (great advice there Katrina), also resorted puzzles and games back into rightful places, turfed broken bits
    
    7. Under the kitchen sink
    
    8. Office desk drawer
    
    9. Husbands old uni notebooks recycled
    
    10. filing cupboard
    
    11. 2 drawers into the kitchen hutch sorted thru – one turned into a party drawer – cards, gift bags, tape and ribbons etc with scissors
    
    12. Cookbooks – minimised into family faves and what I want to try
    
    13. tidied up outside and weeded out vegie garden!
    
    phew! Found myself even getting to jobs such as painting over marks on the walls, fixing my daughters broken wardrobe door knobs, putting trellis up in the garden. Don't know if these will go towards getting organised or not! Am bloody exhausted, but extremely satisfied!
    - http://Facebook Kym Paddock
      
      14. Got some great drawer organisers and went thru a drawer in the desk that was a jumble of cords – computer, ipod, mobile phone and guitar amp cords. Sorted each of these into their categories and into a box of their own. Easy!
      
      15. Dejunked and organised the craft drawer.
      
      16. Cleaned and organised fridge so it was ready for new shopping.
      
      17. Old baby clothes donated to a friend.
      
      18. Organised bookshelf in entrance hall.
      
      19. Bought wooden shoe rack to have by back garage door where we enter the house – great for gumboots, sneakers etc.
      
      20. Donated old food dehydrater to charity.
      - http://Facebook Kym Paddock
        
        21. old dvds kids are too old for
        
        22. clear out baby books.
        
        23. Sorted and organised kids school work and artwork from past years.
http://www.lisaryder.com.au Lisa Ryder

Brilliant!! This helps with my New Years Resolutions

1. Stroller with heaps of attachments/fittings, 3 bags of baby clothes, baby bath, baby pouch and a bag of maternity clothes. I still have WAY too much baby clothes and toys sitting around – I think you would fall over if you saw my house!!
- Katrina
  
  That's a great effort Lisa, as long as you keep up with it you'll be declluttered in no time!!
http://52parks.wordpress.com Corinne

I'm moving in 3 days, so have been declittering for a month. So I guess I'll count:

1. 3 trailer loads of rubbish/broken furniture/ appliances to the tip

2. 2 boxes of Tupperware sold to a friend last night.

3. A box of cook books

4. The broken coffee machine

5. Yoghurt maker I gave to a friend last night.

We're having a garage sale this weekend. Selling old tv & tv unit, a desk, boxes of Tupperware, 5 boxes of books and tones more stuff!
- http://52parks.wordpress.com Corinne
  
  6. 6 mugs from the gigantic mug collection we have
  
  7. 4 tins of chickpeas that are out of date
  
  8. 3 more boxes of rubbish
  
  And that's just this morning!
  - http://52parks.wordpress.com Corinne
    
    9. Rotten chair
    
    10. Broken chair
    
    11. Garage sale items that didn't sell to charity/tip
    
    12. 4 items of clothing that are beyond repair/use for anything
    
    13. Old tea towels since MIL gave me a whole set of new ones for Christmas.
    
    14. Old mop & bucket.
    
    15. DH cleaned out his 5 toolboxes and is now down to 4! two boxes of tools and a box is gone!
    
    16. All my better homes & gardens, Notebook & money magazines
    
    17. Old keyrings that are useless/broken
    
    18. Broken plastic that can't be replaced
    
    19. DD's old school bag
    
    20. Leftover flyers from a play I directed 6 years ago. I kept a few but turfed over 300.
- Katrina
  
  Hope your garage sale and move went well. Cook books are one of my items I need to de-clutter too, must go through them.
Lisa

Hopefully I can keep up with this, my new years resolution is to declutter and organise my house LOL I'm starting in the bathroom but am going to be away for a week from next Sunday.

So far I've done a cupboard and a shelf and thrown out –

1. a few half bottles of shampoo, conditioner and liquid soap (by combining them into one container each LOL)

2. nail polish that I'm not going to use
- Katrina
  
  You have made a great start. I'm sure you'll keep up, I will randomly post ideas on what do de-clutter through the year to help.
Meredith

What a great idea. Count me in.

1. Travel brochures from bedroom floor.

No overseas travel for us this year. – recycled

2. Stuff by the front door off to the OP shop.
- Katrina
  
  The front door is one of the first places I start when I clean and de-clutter. It's always the first point everybody sees. Great start!!
http://organisedhousewife Cate

Why dont we find some way of collecting this stuff and donate to the flood victims because they have lost everything. I think the red cross collects all donations and then separates into sizes and items etc.
- Kim
  
  Cate – I just got rid of 3 bags of clothes and shoes and a friend 9 bags ! to a fellow who is on his way to Emerald now with them. I felt good about going through the cupboard and even better knowing someone needs them.
- Katrina
  
  Cate, I did try looking into this but from what I saw is they would prefer $$ donations. I'm not sure where to deliver items of clothing, sheets and towel, I would love to donate to them, do you know where to send them too??
Tanya

I have a LOT of decluttering to do this year so I am doing 52 'areas'.

This week I started with my office. Have already thrown out 2 large bags of rubbish – how much I get done today depends on kids and how much time I waste on the computer. I'd turn it off but it's acting as my stereo atm. LOL ;D
- Katrina
  
  52 area's is a great idea Tanya, please keep your list up-to-date I would love to see how you are going!!
Vanessa

Great idea! It's just the motivation I need. I'm going to start in the bathroom. There are plenty of half full bottles I can get rid of in there…
- Katrina
  
  And alot of people don't realise that alot of lotions and makeup need to be thrown out within a certain period. Great start Vanessa!!
Tam

I'm so in this – it is just the motivation I need .

1. Large bag of kids toys moved (some sold, some given to charity)
- Tam
  
  1. Large bag of kids toys moved (some sold, some given to charity)
  
  2. Pot cupboard, appliance cupboard and drawers cleaned out and items no longer needed/used boxed up and dropped to the In-laws for niece to collect
- Katrina
  
  Toys are our biggest form of clutter, and paper, perfect place to start your de-cluttering, keep up with the list!!
- http://www.facebook.com/tammyflynn.tupperware Tam
  
  3. Basket full of clothes (found in shed) bagged up for Good Sammy's bin
  
  4. Linen cleaned, sorted and nice and tidy! 1 bag of towels re-homed with niece, 1 bag of linen re-homed with Good Sammy's
  
  5. Bag of boys shoes given to neighbour
  
  6. Baylee's room tidied up and all unused toys & clothes removed & disposed of
- http://www.facebook.com/tammyflynn.tupperware Tam
  
  7. Bundle 10 books no longer reading donated
  - http://www.facebook.com/tammyflynn.tupperware Tam
    
    8. Kitchen bench clean and EMPTY! All recycle/junk mail removed and binned.
- http://www.facebook.com/tammyflynn.tupperware Tam
  
  I was forced to clean my daughter's room again Thursday as we had to give her double bed back to the rightful owner – OMG! What a mess! Once the bed was pulled apart I was totally disgusted – I couldn't move ANYWHERE, even where her bed was. So this started a huge 'chuck-a-thon' in her room…
  
  9. Removed a HEAP of old school papers/books and disposed of in the bin
  
  10. A bag of shoes (about 8 pairs) given to our neighbour's daughter
  
  11. A bag of clothes (5 or 6 jeans/shorts and 5 tops) given to our neighbour's daughter
  
  12. A full rubbish bag of paper/junk/rubbish disposed of in the bin
  
  My daughter has been warned to NEVER do that again! lol
Pingback: 52 weeks of decluttering and organising | Tina Gray {dot} Me – Aussie Mummy Blogger
janet

I've just cleared out the bookshelf…. have one bag of books ready to donate to the local library… it was tough parting with some of them but this must be done….

Next…. go through DVD drawer and Photos but first to change the baby's pongy nappy!!!!
Jo

Ok I am in. There are some spots in my house that need some serious decluttering.

1. On top of the fridge

2. Husbands clothes

3. Boy's wardrobe

4. Top of fridge

5. My shoes

6. Children's books

7. Platter cupboard

I think that should keep me busy for a while!

Jo
Lyndall

Goodo – let the decluttering begin!

1. Light fitting replaced by a new ceiling fan

2. Bag of hand-me-down clothes given for my daughter which she doesn't fit into

3. Out of date street directory

4. Old billy can replaced by a new one

5. Better Homes and Gardens magazines… it's time to tear out the articles I'm interested in and free up some shelf acreage!

All of the above are going to a garage sale at a local church in a few weeks… note to self: must not buy back more than i give away!!!
- Lyndall
  
  6. Replaced utensil holder
  
  7. Spice rack
  
  8. Body butter (unwanted gift)
  - Lyndall
    
    9. Pool fountain (for a pool we removed years ago!!!)
    10. A hand-push mower (thanks EBay!)
    11. A high chair we have replaced
    - Lyndall
      
      12. A kettle
      13. A toaster
      - Lyndall
        
        14. Shoes that were well past their use-by date!
http://happeningsofus.blogspot.com/ Naomi

Ok, so we started the 52 week challenge by sending a MASSIVE garbage bag full of toys over to the Salvos… Didn't really make much of a dent in the copious amount of toys that litter the lounge room though =/
Melissa Martinez

Totally doing this! here is what I have done so far

1. 1 diaper box of magazines

2. 1 colander that doesn’t fit anywhere (replaced by new Pampered chef one)

3. 1 black trash bag, and 1 large tote full of clothes for good will (not including husbands or daughters clothes)

4. 1 large tote which is holding clothes to be donated(goodwill can have it)

5. 1 cookie jar

6. 2 cell phone chargers

7. 1 box of furnace filters that came with the house
- Melissa Martinez
  
  8. 1,304 emails that have been just sitting in my inbox
  
  9. 3 VHS movies
  
  10. 2 never opened boxes of Aqua Globes
  
  11. 1 pair of winter boots no longer usable
  - Melissa Martinez
    
    12. 39 hangers
    
    13. Bedding- 1 feather bed and the cover, 4 pillow cases, 2 pillow shams, 2 sheet sets and a mattress cover
    
    14. 3 pairs of shoes
    
    15. 17 Books
    
    16. Packing envelope collection (used up many to send out books)
    
    17. 1 Infant crib light up music box thing
    
    18. 1 Baby monitor
    
    19. Lamp shade
    
    20. 2 decorative pillows
    
    21. 2 file cabinet drawers of old paper work
    
    22. Plastic grocery bags back to the store
    
    23. 2 back pack/messenger bags
http://www.declutteringandmore.com Tammy

I am joining in too!!

So far:

1. Decluttered mine & hubby's wardrobe of old clothes and given to charity

2. Decluttered desk of all old bills/mail/junk mail/papers

I am setting aside a separate page on my blog for this too!!
Carly

YAY! Started this at the end of 2010, and need to keep going! I have a large box of computer cables, chargers, broken webcam and camera; kids clothes that I thought I would hand down, they can go to Vinnies; garage/shed; kids toys; old sheets and pillowcases; old towels; tupperware not used; etc etc etc!!!
Kelly

I'm in!

Part of my new years resolution is to regain my house (& in turn my sanity). This will help me keep on track & accountable.

…My List…

1. Ute load to the dump/recycle centre from downstairs of broken stuff & general rubbish that had been collected. Included 2 old microwave, baby kick & play thingy, old car batteries from behind the shed, broken esky, etc,etc…

2. 4 washing baskets of baby clothes to a friends sister, no more babies in this house, so that meant all the sizes from 0000 to 00, pretty much anything Bubba J has grown out of. Also gave some maternity clothes, the baby sling, a front pack, a play mat, sippy cup, burp pads & a couple of wraps.

3.
- Kelly
  
  UPDATED LIST!! from #3.
  
  …My List…
  
  1. Ute load to the dump/recycle centre from downstairs of broken stuff & general rubbish that had been collected. Included 2 old microwave, baby kick & play thingy, old car batteries from behind the shed, broken esky, etc,etc…
  
  2. 4 washing baskets of baby clothes to a friends sister, no more babies in this house, so that meant all the sizes from 0000 to 00, pretty much anything Bubba J has grown out of. Also gave some maternity clothes, the baby sling, a front pack, a play mat, sippy cup, burp pads & a couple of wraps.
  
  3. 4 sippy cups that kept getting put in the cupboard, they should have been binned a long time ago.
  
  4. Went through kids colouring in books, recycled any that had torn pages or were beyond ratty.
  
  5. Sorted all the size 1 & 2 & 3 clothes we had (& after 3 boys that is a lot!!!) – keep pile of size 1 into Bubba J's drawers, rest given away (well swapped for a hessian frame dog bed! that was needed). Size 2's sorted into keep pile which needs to be boxed & labeled, the rest to be given away. Size 3's sorted into keep pile, straight into Master 2yrs drawers & rest to be given away.
  
  6. Emptied kids soaps into one container & recycled empty bottles – don't know why my bathroom cupboard was breeding them.
  
  7.
  - Kelly
    
    ..UPDATED LIST..
    
    7. Cleaned out deep freezer & the little freezer – sorted through & lets just say with the stuff on the bottom of the deep freezer the dog won't go hungry for awhile.
    
    8. Went through the tea towel pile, any old ratty ones got removed & either put in hubby's camp bag or in the shed rag bag.
    
    9.
    - Kelly
      
      ..UPDATED LIST..
      
      9. Kids dance camera thingy that connects to the TV – collecting dust as the novelty wore off, time for a new home for it at my goddaughters!
      - Kelly
        
        10. Ancient toaster oven that came with the house when we purchased it well over 5yrs ago – in the bin, frayed cord.
        
        11.
http://www.janedavid99.com/ Me 'N my Monkey

wow what a fantastic idea.

I'm definitely going to play along.

i will be back shortly with the start of my list!

Good Luck everyone!
http://www.readingupsidedown.com Susan @ Reading Upsi

I'll sign-up. I need something to keep me on track to clear the clutter in my home.

1. Four bags of my daughter's old clothes

(Declutter challenge blog post: http://www.readingupsidedown.com/?p=1923)
http://www.lisaclark.com.au Lisa C

Brilliant Idea and something to keep me motivated!!

1. broken toys (in the bin)

2. single bed quilt cover with bleach on it

3. whole bag of old quilt covers that haven't been used for 6 years or more!

3. school books from grades 2 and 4.
http://www.lisaclark.com.au Lisa C

Cate – great idea about the Red Cross – because all of my sheets, quilts etc would be perfect for everyone up north who have lost everything – I'm surprised there isn't an appeal for collections started already???
Pingback: The Organised Housewife » Blog Archive » 1st step to de-cluttering | Creating your organising goals
http://boobook.wordpress.com Rebecca

Fabulous. I'm here via Reading Upside Down's blog. I'm a hoarder from way back.

1. Magazines I think I will go through and tear pages out of only I never have. (Big stack. Gone!)
Kath

Just what I needed……we are vanishing under clutter here and I have just started the massive cull. So far…

1. Large bag of kitchenware to Vinnies (goodbye non-Tupperware!!)

2. Scary scrapbooking paper stash down to one Cropper Hopper holder

3. 40 Scrapbook mags to Vinnies

4. 0000 and 000 baby clothes ready for Vinnies/giveaways/Kids and Baby MArket
- Kath
  
  5. Got rid of the electronic clutter….cleared 10 pages worth of emails!!
  - Kath
    
    6. DVD Shelves (our big purchasing weakness) cleared out and reorganised
    - Kath
      
      7. Forgot to add…Christmas decorations thinned out and stored in one area in the garage ready for next year (thanks to my husband on that one)
  - Carmen
    
    One I cant do without even getting out of my chair!
- Katrina
  
  I love the Cropper Hopper holders, I have 3 and would like to cut it down to 2, hopefully use some of the old stuff to cover school books? You are certainly on a great path to declutter you have done a wonderful job so far!
Melissa

Okay im in too!! Have just cleaned out the tupperware cupboard..

Tomorrow's job is the laundry and storage cupboard in there….

Then its DD's bedroom, in particular under her bed!!!!
- Katrina
  
  LOL, Melissa, I have only just noticed one of my DD's is hiding stuff under her bed. Something I used to do as a child so I can't get too cranky. Maybe I might add baskets so it doesn't look like such a mess??
Melanie

I so have to do this, so much to do, where do I start oh my goodness…
- Katrina
  
  Hmm…Melanie, which is the most cluttered room/area, you could start there. Or, you can start with the least cluttered and then you will have it de-cluttered faster and feel motivated enough to go to the next room/area
Michelle B

Would love to join in.

1. cleaned out 1st draw in display unit
- Katrina
  
  Great start Michelle, what's next on your list to de-clutter?
http://www.idunhoe.wordpress.com Rebekah

I'm in, I really need to do this so this is great motivation.

1. Give all pregnacy clothing to Smith Family (I have NO intention of wearing them again)
- Katrina
  
  Great step 1 Rebekah, I am sure it will go to a good home!! What's next on your list of things to de-clutter?
Karen

1. old magazines

2. playroom shelves – what do all those bits go with???
- Katrina
  
  Put them all together in one box so they know where to look for the 'bits'. Your off to a great start Karen!!
http://tinagray.me Tina ~ tina gray dot

Great idea!

1. box of baby lotions and shampoos that I didn't end up using. (gave them to a preggy friend).
- Katrina
  
  Love it, better than throwing them away is finding a better home for them…what's next on the agenda Tina??
Melissa

What a great idea. This week I've cleaned out the sewing box )
- Katrina
  
  Awesome start Melissa What will you declutter next, don't forget to update your list!!
Elena Booth

I'm going to join as well.

I have started with a green recycle bag of books I've read that I won't be reading again that I'm going to donate to Lifeline. I've cleaned up half my bookshelf and hope to finish the other half next week. So far I have about 15 books. I've also updated my book database so I don't buy these books again.
- Katrina
  
  That's a wonderful start Elena, love that you have a book database, great idea!! Keep the decluttering going!!
Karene

Good thing that I was already planning to 'go through the house' because I came up with 57 areas of my home and yard as fast as I could type them. Ridiculous.

Linen cupboard

Plastics / Tupperware cupboard

Sort and donate toys- bedroom

Sort and donate toys- family room ( yes there is too many to do in one go and it's easier to hide from the kids this way)

B's wardrobe

Give away B's too small clothes

Throw out stained cot sheets

Get rid of remaining baby stuff

Store T's out of season clothes

Top of T's wardrobe

Most of the soft toys

Bathroom cabinet – anything that I don't use

Laundry cabinets

Move painting stuff to the shed

Nail polishes (when do I get time to paint my nails anyway with all of this decluttering to be done)

Ensuite cabinet

Mags in ensuite
- Karene
  
  Still going…….
  
  My wardrobe – donate clothes and shoes to fashion swap
  
  Hubby's wardrobe (might be dreaming with this one)
  
  Chest of drawers- top and drawers
  
  Bedside drawers
  
  Under the bed
  
  TV cabinet – family room top and inside
  
  Bags and hats that we don't use regularly
  
  Kitchen bench junk piles and daily meds basket
  
  Pantry
  
  Misc kitchen stuff cabinet
  
  Top of the fridge
  
  Move T' too small clothes to the shed
  
  Kitchen storage corner
  
  Videos and recorder
  
  Find a new home for N's hobbies and models
  
  Move scrap booking stuff to spare room
  
  Make a home for electronic stuff- ds, iPod chargers etc
  
  Tidy kitchenette
  
  Clear off desk
  
  Sort through years of paperwork and file only what's needed, chuck rest
  
  Purge filing cabinet of old stuff
  
  Sort top of desk and shelves
  
  Clean out printer cabinet
  
  Tidy bookcase
  
  The nasty junk corner
  
  Coffee table – 2 piles of mags
  
  Food mags- file wanted recipes and throw mags
  
  Scrapbooking mags – purge and/or store away
  
  Gaming cabinet
  
  Kid's DVD cabinet
  
  Give big pram and accessories to friend
  
  Throw out old outdoor toys – faded and brittle, broken etc
  
  Dead plants
  
  Old woodpile from dead tree
  
  Old washing machine
  
  Big boxes near the bin
  
  Dead weeds in side yard
  
  Remove creeper from front path
  
  Medicine box
  
  Prune trees and palm
  
  Clean out freezer
  
  And all this after we filled a skip bin from the shed in Oct.
  - Katrina
    
    lol, love it!!
- Katrina
  
  Wow Karene, you are certainly organised to de-clutter, have you already purged these items?? Keep it up!!
  - Karene
    
    I have also been in a frenzy. So far I have done:
    
    Sorted and threw out toys in the family room
    
    Top of the fridge
    
    Kitchen storage/junk corner
    
    Medicine box
    
    Desk
    
    Bookcase
    
    My wardrobe
    
    Hubby's wardrobe
    
    The horrible corner of junk in the spare room
    
    Moved scrap booking stuff from dining room to the spare room/study
    
    Made a home for the small electronics, all put into labelled bags and threw the boxes
    
    Some of these projects have also involved new storage furniture and repurposing or moving others.
    
    I still have heaps to go but are excited about the progress that I'm making. if you would like to follow my journey join me on my facebook page Cleaning up Chemical free with Norwex where I have been making daily posts and showing before and after pics. Taking 2 weeks holidays this weekend so I am taking photos and doing this project while I am away so that I don't lose momentum. Good luck to all
    - Karene
      
      Forgot to add these completed items
      
      Old washing machine
      
      Big boxes near the bins
      
      ( thanks to my neighbour who added these to his tip run x)
      
      Nail polishes.
    - Katrina
      
      Wow great job Karene, will definately go check out your facebook page!
      - Karene
        
        ThanKs Katrina and Well Done to everyone else for your progress.
        
        I'm back from hols and my older one is back to school so I'm getting back into my decluttering.
        
        yesterday I did:
        
        Throw out old cot sheets
        
        Get rid of remaining baby stuff
        
        B's wardrobe
        
        And the Linen cupboard. Boxed up more than two big packing boxes of linen for charity.
        
        Unfortunately my family room is currently full of boxes for charity etc but they're just a trailer ride away from their new homes
        
        Check out my Facebook page Cleaning up Chemical Free with Norwex for before and after pics of my journey so far.
      - Karene
        
        On the day that the recent Kelmscott bush fires ripped through and destroyed numerous homes, two lovely ladies, that i didn't know, ( we have a mutual friend) came to my home and took all of my boxes of decluttered stuff that was otherwise bound for the Salvos. One of them was due to drive a car to Perth (600kms) the following day for her parents and decided to fill her trailer with anything that she could get that would be of use. It felt great to be able to help these devestated families in such a positive and immediate way. Luckily the stuff that I had decluttered included clothes, toys, linen, baby items, and kitchen items. 5 tea chest sized boxes gone from my living room. Win win.
      - Karene
        
        More completed items to add
        
        family room cabinets – top and insides done
        
        Threw out over 100 magazines today, food and scrap booking. I love reading them but rarely open them a second time.
        
        Threw out some old ornaments that I'm not attached to
Andrea

We moved house twice this year… the most recent move was December. I have a garage full of boxes! Going to go thru each box one by one and declutter that way. I also have to declutter all my paperwork in the study/office area. And declutter the filing cabinet. And I would like to declutter my wardrobe… all the clothes that no longer fit me – no point in having them take up valuable space!
- Katrina
  
  exactly Andrea, you are following the right path to de-cluttering your house!!
Alicia Ilievski

Ohhh you know I want to join in. Count me in!

1. Before Chrissy I got rid of 10 100 Litre containers of stuff…Umm yep thats heaps huh? I gave it to a friend to sell on EBAY. I took a small amount of the profits and then told her she could keep whatever else she made. I never get around to selling stuff on EBAY. So my number 1 is getting over the EBAY thing.

2. I started my own version of Project life. Its kinda a cheapskate version, as I didnt have the funds this time of year for the real deal. My local scrapshop was closing down so I got my whole kit (excluding the folder which I already had) for $60. Best part is everything is co-ordinating but its my choice of colours. Rainbows!! I loooooooooooooove it. So you might ask how does this relate to decluttering? Well, I have sooo many craft items that I just keep adding too. This year I am using things I have. Sooo FUN!

3. This weeks challenge for me is the presents cupboard. Can you believe after Chrissy I still have stuff in there…I plan to wrap and label everything in there and NOT BUY any more items for it.
- Katrina
  
  Wow Alicia, that's amazing, great job!! I agree Alicia, I recently went to a scrapbooking shop at then end of last year, but this was the first shop I went to all year (excpet for the scrapbooking expo mid year). I am the same, I want to use up all my craft things too, which will create more room for 'other' things. I'd love to see a pic of your Project Life you have made, sounds wonderful!!
  
  I love the presents cupboard, I always have things in there. Mainly Lego for boy's and bead making kids for girls, general presents for kids friends through the year.
  
  Your off to a great start Alicia, keep it up!!
Kim

I did start this just before Christmas. I need this badly but not feeling so bad after reading everyone else. We all must be the same !!

1. Old nailpolishes – from 3 containers to 1;

2. Hair accessories into one box and old stuff thrown

3. All bandages/first aid stuff in one box we can actually find it all now.

4. Old clothes and shoes from one cupboard (more to go) – into 3 bags and off to Emerald with a friend for the flood victims together with 9 bags from a friend.

More to go – way way more to go. Kim
Jenni

ok, I'm in!!

1. kids toy room decluttered and all toys gone through. toys no longer used gone!

2. Vanity in ensuite. gone are half empty bottles and things we don't use anymore!

next up the linen cupboard!!

thanks katrina for the motivation and breaking a big seemingly insurmountable job into smaller manageable ones
- Jenni
  
  3. linen cupboard done! all unused/old linen donated or binned.
  
  4. bathroom vanity cleaned out and proper storage put in to hold and organise things that actually belong in there! everything else is gone!
  
  5. my wardrobe cleaned out. all ill fitting or unused clothes sold, given away or donated!
  
  6. my relax area in the garden (not technically in the house) but very cluttered and a mess – not relaxing at all! all plants replanted, trimmed, mulched and re arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner surrounded by new mulch now it's relaxing!
  
  7. cutlery draw sorted. excess cutlery only used when guests over now stored in storage tub in cupboard. cutlery tray cleaned out and refreshed! nice and neat!
  
  8. two childrens cupboards and clothes all sorted through. anything too small or stained given away, put in the garage for selling (when I get time!) or donated!
  
  9. xmas decorations culled and donated/binned!
  
  next up the dreaded third draw and the bookcases!
Stacey K

1. Email subscriptions
Chrissy

1. School books

2. Baby Clothes
Natalie

I am almost on a permanent declutter as the kids and the husband seem to leave little things all over the house! I have started the "52" challenge with the following:

1. 2 large boxes of magazines – all pics and articles I want have been taken out and put in new folders for crafts, inspiration board pics etc.

2. Kids toys to our local op shop – on Christmas Eve we took a small bag of toys, books and games out of each child's room as they would be getting new presents the next day.
- Katrina
  
  I have seen magazines on so many lists, great start keeping only the articles you need!
- Natalie
  
  3. Chucked all cheap nasty christmas decorations before storing boxes for the year. We have a 7' high tree and it's always full. Anything that was looking worse for wear went in the bin, all plastic baubles went in a bag to give to ac care or similar so someone who needs it will have a pretty tree next year.
  
  4. Sewing cabinet/trinks/boxes/shelves totally sorted. This took all day! I was given a cupboard for Chrissy which now holds boxes and baskets with all the little tools, ribbons, etc where i can find them and put them away properly. I gave all my small scraps to my mum because I don't have the patience for patchwork. I sorted patterns and made sure all the bits were intact. I used the ton of paper bags we take home from the supermarket to put fabrics and the patterns I want to use them with in bags and then stored them in a big tub at the bottom of the cupboard. Suddenly i have shelves and drawers and boxes clear and empty. My sewing space is in my bedroom so it needs to be neat, and i have finally manged it
  
  5. My kids clothes sorted and mended. We have a kids opshop where we can sell good kids clothes for a small commission which goes to a special needs kids charity. I sell all the items I can because after a few weeks I have some extra money which always goes towards good quality new shoes for next season. I took four bags this month.
  - Natalie
    
    6. Went through odd trinkets and ornaments that have been hanging around for years. I now have one pottery bell that was given to me by my "honourary nana", hubby has one ornament that is special to him, and my older daughter has donated some small cheap ornaments to the nappy change table (to keep my toddler busy while we change her nappy!).
    
    7. The laundy – this is the back entrance point of our home and I hate my friends walking in to this huge space and then having to navigate around everything! We gave a ping pong table to ourselves as a family present this year – and then had to work out where to store it! The washing machine and sink have had all the odd junk taken off the top and from around them. I put an old table that we weren't using against the opposite wall to fold washing on as soon as it comes in from the line – this stops it breeding on the couch or bed! I used a small storage tub for ironing so it gets done more regularly. The laundry basket went under the table to hide it from view, but i still need to invest in a multiple basket so there's less sorting on the floor on washing days.
    - Natalie
      
      My decluttering has taken a hit. My partner has flown to Perth for a wedding, it is my almost nine year old's birthday on Saturday and I have come down with Ross River virus!! NOTHING has happened except the absolute basics this week! However I have returned a big box of stuff to their owners (mostly my mum). All those odd things that float from one house to another, like books, blankets, containers (from yummy things that have been cooked for me and so on). This week is going to be a "throw it in the cupboard and try to forget it's there" week. I'm pretty disappointed but life is not known to run smoothly.
      - Katrina
        
        Oooh no Natalie, you poor girl. You have so much on your plate then to come down sick, worst timing. You have still done a great job with returning items back to owners. You need to rest, while you rest read some great books/magazines that will inspire you when you are back to better health. I hope you start to feel better soon xx
http://www.findingthecalmblueocean.blogspot.com Fi

Okay, I'm in! I started before the New Year arrived, so I'm going to cheat a little and include the areas I've already decluttered! (Truth be known, they'll probably need doing again before the year is out anyway!)

1. Christmas Decorations

2. Tupperware

3. Recipe books

4. Pantry

5. Miss O's clothes

6. Master L's clothes

7. Maternity clothes (found a bag that I'd forgotten to pass on!)

8. Utensil drawer

9. Top cupboards in ensuite
- Katrina
  
  You have made a great start Fi, keep that list going!!
KymT

Great idea, hopefully can do it before the end of the year, baby 2 due next week so won't be decluttering for a while, but love to watch everyone!
- Katrina
  
  Kym you may have had bub already, but I wish you all the happiness with joyous time will bring
Jacqui Harrison

Hey there, I am really loving the inspiration you give me to get things done. After a full on christmas with 6 very spoilt kids, my house is looking more like we have been robbed than the organised paradise i desire. So i will take you up on your challenge, and slowly but surely sort this place out…. Again…

1. Rediscovered my kitchen bench. Drink bottles away, broken toys fixed or thrown out, unused containers put away or donated to charity, Toaster & kettle now shining.
- Katrina
  
  Great start Jacqui, I could just imagine the Chaos with 3 kids, you have a different 'organised paradise' before the end of the year!!
Kylie

So looking forward to the end result – this is MY year! Now that my new wardrobes and linen cupboard are pretty much complete, I can get stuck into organising the house again. We are saving to renovate (major repairs) the bathroom next and also finish the half-done laundry.

So, onto my list….

1. Found a temporary solution to hubby's mess of tools and supplies from building wardrobes – nails, screws, small tools he has no-where for (we have no garage and shed is a disgrace!), so the main room no longer looks like a construction zone. Still a few large things he needs to take care of, but I cleaned up his huge mess of little things. That set of plastic drawers I removed from the bathroom now has a new purpose, lol (in the laundry for now till hubby cleans up the shed).

2. Huge collection of plastic shopping bags that were threatening to take over my laundry.
- Kylie
  
  3. outdoor shoe rack. Old one was falling apart, looked tacky, attracted spiders etc (it was closed in) and was the cause of several cries of "where are my yard shoes", "mum, where are my thongs". new open streamlined wire shelf system with shoes lined up neat. Old unworn shoes have been tossed. Front patio looks neater, is easier to sweep the leaves off and I have space for a small plant.
  - http://www.gumtreekids.blogspot.com/ Kylie
    
    and more
    
    13. My books – a rather large collection. I now only have 6 novels that I haven't read sitting on the shelf with a few cookbooks. Some are being stored (keeping my collection from just one author instead of several authors), some for selling and some for donating.
    
    14. The children's books – a few out for donating, but most are being put away for rotation and some in a basket on their own bookshelf in their bedroom – just a real good tidy of the shelf
    
    15. Games – 4 being donated that are either not played with much or outgrown now, ready for the more grown-up version at a later time.
    
    The whole bookshelf has had a total transformation and I am super proud. Have taken before and after pics and will show off soon.
    
    16. Items from my stock – one of my goals is to clear all the stock this year. I have taken some colouring/activity and poster art packs to donate to children in the flood affected areas.
    
    17. Left-over toddler size nappies from my children, since they are still perfectly good (one pack still unopened, the other almost full), they are being donated to flood victims.
    
    18. A piece of unused exercise equipment – out for council pick-up since it got damaged from all the rain we got.
    
    19. old fan that works when it wants to – out for council pick-up
    
    20. Big boxes – one from new fan (hubby has nasty habit of letting them sit and collect dust, but I got rid of it straight away!), one from new shoe shelf, one from trampoline, one from baby bath stand – all out for council pick-up.
- Kylie
  
  4. Top of laundry wall-cupboard.
  
  Old post boxes have been put out to the dump pile for hubby. I had all intentions on re-using the boxes, but they have been sitting up there for over 12 months, so out they go.
  
  Found a canvas storage box, and have put it to use for storing xmas decorations.
  
  Still need to clean up the garden decorations from my daughters 3rd birthday party (over a year ago!), but ran out of time, but they are down low and in my face, so they have to be done, lol.
  
  5. The cardboard box of christmas decorations. De-cluttered and re-organised. (Also packed away my new table/shelf display items in newly organised boxes). Found a better, easier to reach spot for them instead of in the roof cavity, so now I can reach them instead of relying on hubby (better organised for next christmas already! lol)
  - http://www.gumtreekids.blogspot.com/ Kylie
    
    6. Basket of my daughters clothes that needed ironing – ok, not really decluttering, more an organising task, but since the basket was sitting on the lounge, it is working towards decluttering the loungeroom, lol.
    
    7. I also tidied up the 3rd bedroom/storage room after hubby kinda trashed it getting something out – it is now looking a little more managable for re-organising and swapping rooms. A lot more work to do though.
- Katrina
  
  Great start Kylie, I bet you are happy to have your main room back for it's true purpose. Keep it up!!
  - http://www.gumtreekids.blogspot.com/ Kylie
    
    Thanks Katrina,
    
    Yes, having my bedroom back will be a blessing. I've been camping out in my kids bedroom since bubby was born (not having her in that room with the dust and mess). Hubby has been away at work all week and the weather is not motivating him to paint, but I have done little bits of tidying to make things feel a bit better and easier to deal with when it comes time to re-organise/swap around all 3 bedrooms.
    - http://www.gumtreekids.blogspot.com/ Kylie
      
      I've also started my own blog now too, lol.
      
      It's going to be slow to start with, but hoping to keep it going
      - Katrina
        
        You'll get there Kylie, I visited it the other day, will pop back regularly to see how you are going!!
- http://www.gumtreekids.blogspot.com/ Kylie
  
  8. The Laundry Tub – bought a caddy that can be hung off 2 hooks/screws and used that to corral my "tools" for cleaning the washing machine each week – old bottle brush, old toothbrush and cloth – instead of them sitting on ledge under taps. It hangs up just under the wall cupboard above the taps. Looks a lot neater, now the only thing sitting on the ledge is a stray peg that needs to go back in the basket.
  
  And a mammoth job being split into several small jobs – the bookcase in the loungeroom. I will definately have to blog about this one, I'm even taking pics!
  
  9. DVD collection – adult movies, childrens movies, cartoons, series – have purged 3 so far, with another 6 or so in a "maybe" pile, but they have been dusted and reorganised into categories onto a different shelf. The main difference is the sheer volume of random stuff that was cluttered onto the shelf with the DVDs. Oh, and I can now see MY DVD collection, meaning I may just watch a movie or 2 when I'm having a break.
  
  10. Gathered all kids CD's & christmas CD's into a black CD box with DS and games (mine, lol) – will put a nice label on the front.
  
  11. Put all Wii games into a black DVD box (looks so much less cluttered, would like to do it with all DVDs as well, but planning on a new TV unit with media drawers). Room for more Wii games in the box.
  
  12. Dusted and re-arranged photo-frames of kids and purging collection of candles sitting on the shelf.
  
  More to come…..
Amy W

So funny to come home from a few days away to find this challenge on your blog, I was only talking about it to a friend a couple of days ago and she is doing the same thing after hearing a de-clutter expert. I was inspired then and now even more so!

So far today I've done the fridge.

The next 2 days will see me tackling all the stuff from my old dplace that has been sitting around since my husband and I moved in together.
- Katrina
  
  I'm so glad we could inspire you both. Just to have that motivation is a great start!!
Stacey McMillan

Oh I am so in, although for the life of me I cannot get your button to work in my sidebar, terribly frustrating…lol

Hopefully Ill get it to work somehow, any tips would be greatly appreciated!
- Katrina
  
  ooh no stacey, have you got it working yet??
  - Stacey McMillan
    
    still not yet, but I have managed to start my declutter!
    
    1. All of my kids drawers and wardrobes!
http://www.rainbowzebra.com.au Belinda

Hi, Just love the idea. This was my plan for this year so it will be great to have company while doing it. My son starts school in a couple of weeks and my daughter starts kindy. I have a website I am about to launch selling kids preloved clothes. So I have so much to clear out and make room for my business. With the kids out of my hair I can really get stuck into their rooms.

Now to go plan my plan of attack. I'll be back. I would love to put this on my blog when it is up and running also. I a sure there are a lot of mum's/wives would be interested.
http://www.heyhoewarren.blogspot.com LIsaW

I've just started a list on my blog!
http://heyhoewarren.blogspot.com/p/52-things-chal…
http://www.kidsonkeys.com.au Roachieaus

1. Big garbage bag of paper clutter! (can't wait to come back! Me that is, not the paper clutter)
- http://www.kidsonkeys.com.au Roachieaus
  
  2. One whole kitchen cupboard…now reduced to 5 essential items!
  - Katrina
    
    Wow that's great efforts, good job!!
Louise Sullivan

1. Clean out, tidy and reorganise plastics/tupperware cupboard

2. Top of fridge with books, hidden textas from children, etc.

3. Pack up and take 12 cups and saucers for staff tea room at kids school

4. Pass on to friends smaller children dress up clothes

5. Clean out and tidy cupboards in the bathroom including disposing of old medication

6. Pack up old magazines and give to Mum's workplace tea room

7. Throw out all old shoes and 'odd socks'

8. Gumption kitchen sink now sparkling
http://dilettante.wordpress.com/ Jacqueline

1. THROW AWAY seven years of diaries and calendars after transferring any pertinent information or snippets to PUT AWAY.
- Katrina
  
  Awesome Jacqueline, that would of taken some time, great start!
  - http://dilettante.wordpress.com/ Jacqueline
    
    Thank you for your encouragement Katrina.
    
    2. RECYCLE ten year old PC http://dilettante.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/virtua…
    - Katrina
      
      I just looked at y our website great job Jacqueline!!!
      - http://dilettante.wordpress.com/ Jacqueline
        
        3. REUSE cardboard from empty boxes http://dilettante.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/lots-o…
Nikki

Fantastic starting this afternoon… in the kitchen

kitchen bench dumping ground to be honest,

and buying a sorting draw/tub thing from officeworks so things stop ending up on the bench for some semi permanent time cause I can't throw things out!!

so..

1. last years calendars and all flyers brochures from 2010!!
- Katrina
  
  youl have made a start Nikki, that's awesome, keep it up and remember to update your list on here!!
Sue D

Hope you get this…not too good with the computer. I'd love to join in too. Have started 2 days ago to declutter. I find it so hard to throw things away. Once I've decluttered my house I'm hoping my brain will stop jumping from one topic to another!!!!

1. Sorted the filing cabinet

2. Gave away chest of drawers

3. Tossed son's spirit dispenser, home brew kit, punching ball

4. maps

5.christmas tree (daggy) and decorations

6. 2 prs earrings

7. one old port

8. bits of old carpet

9. 2 books (more to go) (Started with husband's…he'll never miss them)
- Katrina
  
  Our heads do that don't they, I couldn't get to sleep last night cause I had so many things on my mind…lesson learnt deal with them before going to bed You have made a great start Sue for 2 day's of de-cluttering!! I'll help, hopefully can post each week about the de-clutter challenge.
http://fattyfintoskinnyminnie.blogspot.com/ Adalita

1. clean out old handbags {07/01/2010}

2. fold clothes (4 baskets worth) {07/01/2010}

3. tidy closet in flat {07/01/2010}
- Katrina
  
  Clothes folding is a horrid task isn't it, thankyou for sharing the kids, great start!!!!
http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/ Sam @ Learn. Create.

Cool! This is one of my NY Resolutions so I am IN!

1. Broken sandwich toaster

2. Old magazines
- Katrina
  
  Wonderful start Sam, what's number 3 on your list??
- http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/ Sam @ Learn. Create.
  
  3. Cleaned out the cupboard under the stairs so we had space to store Christmas tree & decorations
  
  4. Had light fittings installed (that were in the cupboard under the stairs for a year!) and discarded the boxes….Hub wanted to keep the old light fittings but I put a stop to that
  - http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/ Sam @ Learn. Create.
    
    5. Sorted arts & crafts, threw out one bag trash
    
    6. Re-arranged DD12's room, threw out 4 bags trash
    
    7. 1 bag DD12's clothes to charity
    
    8. 1 box DD12's figurines and toys to charity
    - http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/ Sam @ Learn. Create.
      
      9. Cleaned out bathroom cupboard and threw out old make-up, lotions and potions
      
      10. Organized jewelry and got rid of broken useless pieces
      - http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/ Sam @ Learn. Create.
        
        11. Sorted the Warranties and Manuals file. Threw out old manuals and expired warranties.
        
        12. Attacked the filing tray. Filled the shredder twice.
      - Sam @ Learn. Create. Do.
        
        I may be a bit behind but I’m still working on it
        
        13. Sorted through my old dress patterns and threw out the ones I know will never ever come back in fashion
        14. Sorted through all my fabric stash which had been stored away for years. Threw out those bits that were unable to be used.
        15. De-cluttered my Google Reader
        16. Unsubscribed to emails I don’t follow or read
        17. Old TV
        18. Old microwave
        19. Bike frame
        20. Cardboard boxes
      - http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
        
        Never behind Sam, you are doing really well. I need to declutter my google reader too, I haven’t looked at it for months
      - Katrina
        
        you are on an awesome decluttering path Sam, great efforts! Glad to hear you have cleaned out your makeup, I should post about that sometime as there are many that don’t realise there are expiry dates on all moisturisers and make up. Keep it up!
Pingback: Its all about my thoughts and dreams…. - The De-clutter ’52 Things in 52 weeks’ Challenge
http://yvettesramblings.blogspot.com/ YvetteDownunder

Today we tackled our storage unit. Too many things to count but we did get rid of:

2 car boots of stuff to the local thrift/charity store

1 car boot of stuff to my now-married daughter's home

1 car boot of flattened cardboard boxes home for recycling

1 really large plastic bag full of rubbish (probably equivalent to 4 garbage bags!

Plus we converted several square metres of cluttered space into organised storage – and found the power packs for the Christmas lights we lost two years ago!! (I knew they were somewhere, so hung on to the lights and was able to reunite them on the spot, as today I put the decorations back into storage!!!)
- Katrina
  
  wow what a wondeful job Yvette, you are on a roll….keep going!!!
Pingback: De-cluttering my way though 2011 | natural redhead’s photoblog
http://www.jantimmons.net(ThroughOneEye) Jan Timmons

Hmm, I just made a tremendous start. Can't wade through my office yet, but reached in tentatively and snagged an envelope from the Social Security guys from 2006 that lay on my desk. Shredded it! Social Security probably won't exist when I need it, anyway.

Thank you!
Melissa

#2 The kitchen cupboards (I have decided it might be best if my lovely BF doesn't put away the dishes cos he doesn't seem to 'get' my system) P
http://naturalredhead.wordpress.com Jan Timmons

On a roll now! Do you have shredding companies in Australia? We have a few small places in Alaska that offer bags to fill. I've almost filled one bag with bank statements, stocks 'n bond reports, and anything else personal, and will deliver it for shredding this week. (There—I've committed that outloud!) Bonus: I can watch my paperwork get shredded, and return home with new bags. This represents a huge, long-procrastinated job, and I'm grateful for the nudges. So grateful that I'm helping to spread the word about you. Thanks!
- Katrina
  
  yes we have shredding companies, but I really only know about business's using them I'm not sure if they are available for personal users. We have purchased our own shredder which lives under our office desk. Your doing a great job Jan, i'm sure that would of been a big job. What's next of the agenda??
karen

de-cluttering…my goal is to have all my home organised, and de-cluttered by mid october 2011… as we may be moving again and I want to be ready… to only load one truck this time… last time we moved a removalist did it and we were supported by a relocation allowance… not likely to happen this time. so I begin: this week. 1. bag of clothes we have not worn for last 18 months… including mine, my 3 year olds, and my husbands. my 7 year olds clothes will be stored as potential hand me down. 2. donate unsold stock (I class as dead stock) from my closed down baby shop business – help flood relief effort perhaps. 3. cull from my magazines collection and husbands magazine collection. 4. cull any decoration items from my past that I don't really need any more, especially items I have kept from my childhood. 5. donate all vcr videos as we no longer use video player. 6. donate 3rd tv that is sitting in garage. 7. sell and make some money from my stroller. 8. sort through clothes and decide what to keep, repair, donate or make into rags. 9. steam clean all carpet in house. That's enough to start with!!
- Katrina
  
  Wow, awesome effort Karen, especially parting with items from your childhood. You have made a great start!
Stargazer22

Love the web site will have to take some more time to read. I have a mamouth task ahead of me and I have only just googled decluttering and I have found some great tips. Now to get ready with some garbage bags and boxes marker pen and lables.
- Katrina
  
  You have made the first stop to start! Get all your boxes ready and go for it, once you start you won't stop!
http://annettegg.wordpress.com Annettegg

I'm a little late starting this challenge but got started. I'll have to throw some extra out to catch up!

1. dust collecting potpourri off the toilet
- Katrina
  
  Better late then never!
http://moniquefollett@blogspot.com Monique Follett

Hi,

Just letting you know I am making an effort to take on this challenge – I have started in the kitchen, and am completely reorganising my cupboards – MASSIVE job, but I'm finding it rewarding, considering now I am on the downhill run haha.

So far, I have thrown out 2 garbage bags of "stuff" and have a box full of other things ready to donate.

Hope those garbage bags count for at least a couple of items in the challenge – haha!

Thanks for the inspiration – keep it coming!!
- Katrina
  
  Absolutely Monique, start making your list of the items that were in the garbage bag, great start!!
http://moniquefollett@blogspot.com Monique Follett

Oooops, forgot to add the items!!

1. One broken kettle + one usable one to charity.

2. Several out of date and unused foodstuffs.

3. One broken blender (why oh why did I hang on to that???)

4. Several glass jars for storage to charity.

5. Several unused kitchen utensils given to charity.

+ Heaps more that I haven't counted 'cos I can't remember exactly – just threw them in to box/bag in a frenzy.
http://robecriluto.com/ Beet

okay, I'm in a little late, but I figure it's only two weeks in and I've got two things to list!

1) bag of broken, tatty or torn Christmas decorations

2) made rags out of old clothes not good enough for giving away
- Katrina
  
  repurposing the clothes, great idea to create them into rags!
  - http://robecriluto.com/ Beet
    
    I keep meaning to do it and end up with bags of clothes sitting around in the bottoms of cupboards cluttering them up so this time I just did them as I sorted instead of putting them aside to do later.
    
    This week I've added
    
    3. boxed up surplus kitchen items that don't fit in my new house to put in storage
    
    4. neatly stacked the boxes of books that can't be unpacked yet into a cupboard out of the road
    
    5. found other homes for things like extra linen that get dumped into my bedroom
Pingback: The Organised Housewife » Blog Archive » Meal Planning:
http://moniquefollett@blogspot.com Monique Follett

The cleaning frenzy continues…

1. One broken kettle thrown out + one usable one to charity.

2. Several out of date and unused foodstuffs thrown out.

3. One broken blender (why oh why did I hang on to that???)- Tossed in garbage

4. Several glass jars for storage to charity.

5. Several unused kitchen utensils given to charity.

+ Heaps more that I haven’t counted ‘cos I can’t remember exactly – just threw them in to box/bag in a frenzy.

6. An electric grill – gave to charity.

7. Cleaned out one side of my son's cupboard – 1 garbage bag of rubbish thrown out.

8. Cleaned out son's dresser drawers – 2 shopping bags of out grown clothes to charity.
- http://moniquefollett@blogspot.com Monique Follett
  
  Still more – from other side of son't cupboard.
  
  9. Chucked out an old vacuum cleaner – no longer working.
  
  10. Further 2 bags of out grown clothes for charity.
  
  11. Nappy bag – about to wash to give to charity.
  
  12 Yet another bag of papers, cards, old boxes etc for the rubbish bin…..
  - http://moniquefollett@blogspot.com Monique Follett
    
    Still going through my boy's bedroom:
    
    13. ANOTHER bag of garbage – broken toys etc…
    
    14. Box of toys – set aside for donation when 5yo isn't looking…
Pingback: virtual decluttering « dilettante
http://Facebook Kym Paddock

25. Old paint cans taken to a recyclers

26. Left over large toy cardboard boxes from Chrissy taken to the Visy Centre

27. Cleaned walls

28. Old crock paint donated

29. 2 old scooters to charity
Renata

Ok I am in and so far enjoying it! Finally reclaiming my organised pre-kids self after being sleep deprived and chasing my 2 kids around for the last 3 years!!

1. My clothes ( clothes kept under bed, in cupboards)

2. My shoes

3. Kids plastic cups

4. Kids books in their bedroom

5. Consolidated christmas decorations

6. Cook books
http://sicefamily.blogspot.com Wendy

Fun, fun, fun! I am always decluttering, so it will be rewarding to make a list of everything I chuck out this year!

1. Three bags of paper from study

2. Three bags of out-of-date food from pantry (must do that more often!)

3. Three bags of food from fridge (obviously need more Tupperware!)
- http://sicefamily.blogspot.com Wendy
  
  4. One bag of out-of-date medicines from medicine drawer.
  
  5. Tidied linen cupboard.
  
  6. Threw out 3 old pillows and made two sheets and a pillocase into rags.
  
  7. Gave four rugs and a woolen underlay to my mother-in-law.
  
  8. Bought 3-bag laundry sorter for washing.
  
  9. Bought new bookcase for study and reorganised all my stuff!
  
  10.Packed books into containers, awaiting a bookshelf I will buy in a few months.
  
  11. Sorted Tupperware cupboard.
Kelly

…My List…UPDATED FROM #11..new post as it won't let me reply again on the old one!

1. Ute load to the dump/recycle centre from downstairs of broken stuff & general rubbish that had been collected. Included 2 old microwave, baby kick & play thingy, old car batteries from behind the shed, broken esky, etc,etc…

2. 4 washing baskets of baby clothes to a friends sister, no more babies in this house, so that meant all the sizes from 0000 to 00, pretty much anything Bubba J has grown out of. Also gave some maternity clothes, the baby sling, a front pack, a play mat, sippy cup, burp pads & a couple of wraps.

3. 4 sippy cups that kept getting put in the cupboard, they should have been binned a long time ago.

4. Went through kids colouring in books, recycled any that had torn pages or were beyond ratty.

5. Sorted all the size 1 & 2 & 3 clothes we had (& after 3 boys that is a lot!!!) – keep pile of size 1 into Bubba J’s drawers, rest given away (well swapped for a hessian frame dog bed! that was needed). Size 2?s sorted into keep pile which needs to be boxed & labeled, the rest to be given away. Size 3?s sorted into keep pile, straight into Master 2yrs drawers & rest to be given away.

6. Emptied kids soaps into one container & recycled empty bottles – don’t know why my bathroom cupboard was breeding them.

7. Cleaned out deep freezer & the little freezer – sorted through & lets just say with the stuff on the bottom of the deep freezer the dog won’t go hungry for awhile.

8. Went through the tea towel pile, any old ratty ones got removed & either put in hubby’s camp bag or in the shed rag bag.

10. Ancient toaster oven that came with the house when we purchased it well over 5yrs ago – in the bin, frayed cord.

11. Double up kids Baby Einstein DVD's we ended up with after the box set was given to us. Giving away to a friend with a young bubba.

12. Sort through kids stuffed toys, reduce to one basket (NOT overflowing!). Take to the op shop bin.

13.
- Kelly
  
  13. Diaries – with the diary I'd purchased myself plus Christmas presents I ended up with 4 diaries for this year. Reduced to one! 1 given to a friend, the rest to the local op shop.
  
  14. My email inbox – created a few folders to keep important emails for easy reference & deleted LOTS! Vow to stay on top of this task now!
  
  15.
Pingback: The Organised Housewife » Blog Archive » January Summary
Carly

Haha! The last two days have been manic! I have gone through my linen press and have given a bag of sheets and pillowcases to Lifeline; and today organized my wardrobe with the clear shoe boxes and a hanging jewelry organizer (I got mine from Diva). Again, another bag for Lifeline! Tomorrow I am getting into my messy office…

My husband thinks I'm nesting!!!!!! LOL
- Katrina
  
  well done Carly, keep up the good work. Dont stop now!!
Kelly Fergie

Ok I'm in!!! (better late then never!!)

I have decluttered a few things so far this year so here they are;

1. Old Scrapbooking and cardmaking mags (I tore out the projects I liked)

2. Old papers (mail etc)

Now instead of reading all your wonderful decluttering items (I got ip to #43) I figure my time is ether spent going through the cookbooks, pantry, girls rooms etc!!! 40' today in Melbourne perfect day to let the hubby and kids watch tv while I tackle the clutter )
- Katrina
  
  your on a roll Kelly, do you have more to add to the list??
Melanie Graham

Ok I am here eventually too hehe!

1. Bench downstairs (1 bag of rubbish collected!)

2. Junk mail accumulating on coffee table

3. All old phonebooks

4. Broken electric frypan into bin

5. Not really a decluttering thing but it has been staring at me for a while – cleaned the birdcage (unoccupied since the last resident, Cutie the canary passed away ). Now it is all shiny and ready for a new feathered friend )
- Katrina
  
  You have made a great start Melanie, have you found a new feather friend?
Leila

Ok so i'm finally here, have made a start but have so much more to go! (I'm a self confessed hoarder but i'm working on it and getting better at disposing of things that we no longer need)

1. I sorted my princesses hair clips (thanks for the old container idea, was going to throw those when i do the plastics cupboard!)

2. Sorted our camping gear, worked out what needed replacing and threw the useless items away (unfortunately i now have a heap of things we want to buy as well lol)

3. Sorted out the childrens plastic plates/bowls and discarded those that are no longer useful to us (pink ones mainly, princess is off to school this year)

4. Cleaned out the car and threw away lots and lots of paperwork that we had been storing in there from our trips etc for the last 12 months (no idea why we were storing them at all)
- Leila
  
  5. Clean out plastics cupboard found 6 ice cream container lids with no bottoms lol (i use them for camping ice blocks to keep the esky cool)
  
  6. Sort through the current washing and folding (a mountain for all 6 of us as i hadn't sorted/folded for almost 2 weeks *insert embarrassed face here*)found a full bag of girls clothes that no longer fit my princess and bagged them up for a friends little girl… many just preschool/play clothes but i'm sure they'll come in handy either as clothes or rags for him)
  
  7. Sort through loungeroom toyboxes (3 small ones) and dispose of broken toys, bits and pieces and paper that had been stored in them from the kids, put usable pencils into a pencil case and dispose of those thats leads were broken or pencils were broken.
  
  8. Previously cleaned out utensil drawer and placed everything into a small storage tub, i pull out what i need and whatever is left in the tub at end of year gets boxed up to go to charity or bin.
  
  Currently writing a list so i can remember the areas i want to do and those that desperately need doing!
  - Katrina
    
    you are doing so well Leila. That is such a great idea to use icecream containers to make ice bricks, clever!!
Alison Dines

I've started a little late… but I'll catch up!

So far I've purged:

1. open boxes of food from the freezer that should have been used up by now

2. itchy jumpers that still fit my daughters, but they hate wearing them so out they go

3. 2010 christmas cards

4. old catalogues.

So much more to do though….

Ali
Pingback: The Organised Housewife » Blog Archive » Steps for Decluttering Challenge
Joy

I am definately doing this challenge. My goal this year is to have a fully organised and functional house. 52 items – that should be fairly easy to achieve.
- Joy
  
  Here we go:
  
  1. Old magazines
  
  2. Kids books
  
  3. Kids clothes
  
  4. Rusty Dish Draining
Jasmine

Ok enough procrastinating…….this IS the year to just do it!

1 – Quit smoking & dispose of smoking paraphanelia! (4 days in and gave all the bits away today!) So no more temptation!

2 – Miss 7's bedroom & bookshelves, 3 bags of clothes & 1 big box of books to charity!

3 – purchased folders today,to photograph kids artwork and scrap, then chuck the big things out! (read this somewhere in the blog and was motivated to try! The girls are up for it too, they are looking forward to taking the photo's themselves and decorating them!)

Next on the list – my bookshelf……..kinda scares me I love books, but i shall endeavour to be brave: )

Thanx for the motivation
Pingback: The Organised Housewife » Blog Archive » Declutter 52 Things Challenge – Step 5: How to part with sentimental items
http://www.43things.com/person/lozosborne Loz

Have loved reading everyone's lists- it's inspiring!

So I thought I'd share mine.

1. A vegetable peeler.

2. Clothes (5 tops and a pair of shorts)

3. an old purse (why was I keeping it anyway?) and some old handbags.

4. 3 pairs of shoes

5 another 3 pairs of shorts, and 5 tops, and a jumper

6. 10 x reusable shopping bags (those things breed!)

7. A years worth of “Super Food Ideas” Magazines (12).

8. A maternity bra, that I’d worn once or twice, that didn’t fit right.

I sold it on a website called “mamalogue”. So hopefully the person I sold it to will wear it, and love it.

9. Nursing pads, and pregnancy vitamin supplements I had left over- given to a pregnant friend who could use them!
Sandra

been throwing stuff out but not making my list. oops.

1. gave away spare slow cooker

2. sorted pile of junk mail, cut out coupons and threw the rest.

3. emptied old food out of the freezer that has been there for over a year (quiche and desserts, old ice blocks)

4. Selling off all my old scrapbooking stuff on ebay, slowly.

5. threw away an old bbq from the backyard.

6. sorted pantry and threw away old food, expired.

thats all for now…geez there's so much to do. messy house from renovating. wish i could mark off "ripping up carpet and throwing away" as one of my items hahaha

Now that I am accountable for 52 items, I'm going to be more motivated to do them now.

thanks
Kate Douglas

So a little late, broken computer! But I have already started and a well on my way!

1- Under bathroom sink

2- Kitchen plastics and appliances

3- Laundry products/junk

4- Crockery

5- Utensil drawer

6- Cutlery drawer

7- 'Junk' drawer (2nd top drawer in the kitchen!)

8- CD's

9- DVD's

10- Cleaning products (kitchen)

11- Gaming Basket

12- Cosmetics TUB!

13- Nail Polish TUB

14- Jewellry basket

15- Hair accessories container

16- Craft box

17- Drawing bucket

18- Gift wrapping box

19- Bedside tables (all 3 bedrooms)

20- X-mas decorations box

21- Medicine cabinet

22- Kitchen shelf (above oven)

23- Clean Car (wash, vac, detail, SMELL)

24- Uni 'stuff'

25- E-mail inbox (ongoing…)
- Kate Douglas
  
  26- New desk = complete tidy and revamp of my office/study area!
Sarah

Awesome challenge! I'm excited about this one. I'm taking it as 52 clutter clearing sessions or areas, what I've done so far:

1 Area around stereo

2 Laundry cupboard (left of washing machine)

3 Shelves of tall cupboard in laundry

4 Basket and baby clothes to charity
Carmen

This is great motivation!!! All these areas of clutter and items of clutter I never realised actually were clutter until now!

My youngest just started full-time school this week so I am finding I am at a bit of a loose end! I will attempt….(drum roll plese)….

52 things in 52 days!

(started with my email)

Wish me Luck
http://www.liquorice-allsorts.com.au/ Natasha

I have so many things to do.

1. Books

2. DVD's

3. Jewelery

4. Tupperware

5. My clothes

6. Hunbby's clothes

7. Sons clothes

8. Daughter 1 clothes

9. Daughter 2 clothes

10. Garage

11. Kitchen bench

12. Desk

13. Photos

14. Board games
- http://www.liquorice-allsorts.com.au/ Natasha
  
  Yes I am taking on the turn the coat hangers challenge.
Susie Fletcher

Ok – just joined and i've made a start!

1. my bedside table (top of, draw & cupboard) – it was overflowing before & now it's practically empty!!
- Susie Fletcher
  
  oh & I've also started
  
  2. scanning alot of paper stuff I just can't seem to toss (i'm a serial hoarder)
- Katrina
  
  you have made a great start Susie, what is no. 2 on the list?
http://Deleonstudios.com Wendy

1. Tin candle holders and broken flowerpots, old dolly
2. Expired pantry items
3 bags of clay scraps.
http://Deleonstudios.com Wendy

I got rid of an old dryer. I’m really trying to simplify my home. I’ve got a box of books to heavy to carry to the car to donate!
Tash

1. Old wedding magazines (married now, wont need them)gave away free on local facebook page
2. Did the turning coat hanger challenge…already threw out loads that were incorrect sizes or just looked raggy and old. LOVE the new space
3. Old tafe paperwork and assignments which i havent looked at for3 years
http://sicefamily.blogspot.com Wendy

12. Ironing
13. Organised computer desktop
14. Tidied study
15. Unsubscribed from a heap of emailers
16. Tidied Tupperware cupboard (again!)
17. Returned some dud goods to Kmart – got $100 back in my purse!
http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/ Sam @ Learn. Create. Do.

some more de-cluttering done…
13. Sorted through my old dress patterns and through out the ones I know will never ever come back in fashion
14. Sorted through all my fabric stash which had been stored away for years. Threw out those bits that were unable to be used.
15. De-cluttered my Google Reader
16. Unsubscribed to emails I don’t follow or read
- Katrina
  
  I need to declutter my google reader too, sadly it has over 1000 unread, that will take some time Your doing so well Sam!!
http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/ Sam @ Learn. Create. Do.

and that would be threw not through, doh!
Rachel

it is the 30th March and I have started decluttering every where.

1. My daughters room – clothes and toys not for her age (3mths old)

2. All the hand me downs given to us while I was pregnant (all boys stuff)

3. Organise our file box (get rid of stuff not needed anymore)

4. Sort out all my school work into folders etc.

5. Go through everything saved on my computer.
- Katrina
  
  Great start Rachel! Great idea to sort through the computer.
Kelly

…My List…UPDATED FROM #14

1. Ute load to the dump/recycle centre from downstairs of broken stuff & general rubbish that had been collected. Included 2 old microwave, baby kick & play thingy, old car batteries from behind the shed, broken esky, etc,etc…
2. 4 washing baskets of baby clothes to a friends sister, no more babies in this house, so that meant all the sizes from 0000 to 00, pretty much anything Bubba J has grown out of. Also gave some maternity clothes, the baby sling, a front pack, a play mat, sippy cup, burp pads & a couple of wraps.
3. 4 sippy cups that kept getting put in the cupboard, they should have been binned a long time ago.
4. Went through kids colouring in books, recycled any that had torn pages or were beyond ratty.
5. Sorted all the size 1 & 2 & 3 clothes we had (& after 3 boys that is a lot!!!) – keep pile of size 1 into Bubba J’s drawers, rest given away (well swapped for a hessian frame dog bed! that was needed). Size 2′s sorted into keep pile which needs to be boxed & labeled, the rest to be given away. Size 3′s sorted into keep pile, straight into Master 2yrs drawers & rest to be given away.
6. Emptied kids soaps into one container & recycled empty bottles – don’t know why my bathroom cupboard was breeding them.
7. Cleaned out deep freezer & the little freezer – sorted through & lets just say with the stuff on the bottom of the deep freezer the dog won’t go hungry for awhile.
8. Went through the tea towel pile, any old ratty ones got removed & either put in hubby’s camp bag or in the shed rag bag.
9. Ancient toaster oven that came with the house when we purchased it well over 5yrs ago – in the bin, frayed cord.
10. Double up kids Baby Einstein DVD’s we ended up with after the box set was given to us. Given away to a friend with a young bubba.
11. Sort through kids stuffed toys, reduce to one basket (NOT overflowing!). Take to the op shop bin.
12. Diaries – with the diary I’d purchased myself plus Christmas presents I ended up with 4 diaries for this year. Reduced to one! 1 given to a friend, the rest to the local op shop.
13. My email inbox – created a few folders to keep important emails for easy reference & deleted LOTS! Vow to stay on top of this task now!
14. Old baby monitor – given to a friend.
15. Broken umbrella thrown out.
16. Old computer hard drive mother board thrown out, why on Earth did I even keep this??
17. Old surge protected power board, thrown out, very dangerous that it was even kept after it had tripped.
18. Small wooden wine rack – taken to op shop as it had never been used.
19.
Kelly

…My List…UPDATED FROM #14

1. Ute load to the dump/recycle centre from downstairs of broken stuff & general rubbish that had been collected. Included 2 old microwave, baby kick & play thingy, old car batteries from behind the shed, broken esky, etc,etc…
2. 4 washing baskets of baby clothes to a friends sister, no more babies in this house, so that meant all the sizes from 0000 to 00, pretty much anything Bubba J has grown out of. Also gave some maternity clothes, the baby sling, a front pack, a play mat, sippy cup, burp pads & a couple of wraps.
3. 4 sippy cups that kept getting put in the cupboard, they should have been binned a long time ago.
4. Went through kids colouring in books, recycled any that had torn pages or were beyond ratty.
5. Sorted all the size 1 & 2 & 3 clothes we had (& after 3 boys that is a lot!!!) – keep pile of size 1 into Bubba J’s drawers, rest given away (well swapped for a hessian frame dog bed! that was needed). Size 2′s sorted into keep pile which needs to be boxed & labeled, the rest to be given away. Size 3′s sorted into keep pile, straight into Master 2yrs drawers & rest to be given away.
6. Emptied kids soaps into one container & recycled empty bottles – don’t know why my bathroom cupboard was breeding them.
7. Cleaned out deep freezer & the little freezer – sorted through & lets just say with the stuff on the bottom of the deep freezer the dog won’t go hungry for awhile.
8. Went through the tea towel pile, any old ratty ones got removed & either put in hubby’s camp bag or in the shed rag bag.
9. Ancient toaster oven that came with the house when we purchased it well over 5yrs ago – in the bin, frayed cord.
10. Double up kids Baby Einstein DVD’s we ended up with after the box set was given to us. Given away to a friend with a young bubba.
11. Sort through kids stuffed toys, reduce to one basket (NOT overflowing!). Take to the op shop bin.
12. Diaries – with the diary I’d purchased myself plus Christmas presents I ended up with 4 diaries for this year. Reduced to one! 1 given to a friend, the rest to the local op shop.
13. My email inbox – created a few folders to keep important emails for easy reference & deleted LOTS! Vow to stay on top of this task now!
14. Old baby monitor – given to a friend.
15. Broken umbrella thrown out.
16. Old computer hard drive mother board thrown out, why on Earth did I even keep this??
17. Old surge protected power board, thrown out, very dangerous that it was even kept after it had tripped.
18. Small wooden wine rack – taken to op shop as it had never been used.
19.
Michelle L

So it’s april 3, and I just discovered this. I have done some reorganisation decluttering since christmas, but still have lots to do. Thanks for the inspiration to keep going, will post after I’ve done more.
natalie harrison

1.8 coffee mugs
2.3 garbage bages of boys clothes
3.2 garbage bags of boys toys
http://www.outdoorplayworld.co.uk Outdoor Toys For Children

Hi,
I am quite new to this blog and I must tell you that I am loving it already. I highly admire your writing skills and feel that this is one of the finest blog post I have ever read.
JustKay

Hi, i know im late in the year, but im starting too. After reading all you de-clutter comments i have a list of thing i would like to do this week
1. kitchen plastics cupboard
2.bathroom cupboard
3. buffet cupboard
4.stationary cupboard
thats just the start for now as i have a fair few hours ahead of me
Katie

So, I’m starting late. Never mind – it’s very likely we’ll be moving in the next 3 months so doing this now will make things much easier! Also, I’m home with an ear infection that’s making exhausted and useless for work, but for sure I could do some small or sitting-down things (like sorting the tupperware cupboard). I’ve already made a list to get going with!

1. Top of fridge
2. Sort cleaning stuff and move to newly free space on top of fridge.
3. More organising than decluttering, but – wound all my embroidery threads onto spools and put them in a divided-up plastic box, in order of their DMC numbers. Wow – now I can find the one I want without tipping them all out!
Katie

4. Old clock that doesn’t work anymore
5. Old microwave that doesn’t work anymore
6. Running magazines – much as I enjoy it, my knee will just never hold up. Bonus: I found my prescription sunnies that have been missing for months behind the mags. No more squinty driving for me.
Katie

17. Wiped my old, slow computer to donate.
18. Filing box 2
Katie

19. Tupperware cupboard – where on earth did all the bottoms go? I have a surfeit of tops!
20 Top of the chest of drawers.
- Katy
  
  I have all of your tupperware bottoms!!
Katie

21. Camping gear drawer
22. Miss 3′s pencil and texta box
23. Clothes drawer 1
24. Clothes drawer 2
25. Clothes drawer 3
Lauren

I absolutely love your blog and wish I had found it sooner, better late than never I guess.

I have just started on my decluttering and am very happy with the results so far.

1. Buffet – throwing out unnecessary items we haven’t used in a long time
2. Tupperware cupboard
3. Kitchen cupboards (drawers are another task all of their own)
4. Linen cupboard
5. My clothes drawers – packing away pre-pregnancy clothes until a later date (currently 31 weeks along)
http://www.tanyakitto.wordpress.com Tanya

I think it’s time for me to join in I have been decluttering the garage, we have a heap of old paperwork that has needed to be gone through. I do need to keep some of it, but not all or it. So my number one is to finish the paperwork burn
Thanks so much for the challenge
- Deanna
  
  I love shredding old paper work/bills etc!!!! Your local pet shop loves the shredded paper for the animals. I am not an animal person at all but love giving this too them as i am helping out. The pet shop is at the shopping centre i go to do my food shopping so it’s too easy! Shredders can be bought almost anywhere. I got mine at the post office!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Caroline-Abrahams/100002058861653 Caroline Abrahams

Hi I’ve just discovered this challenge and i have decide to start…
Decluttered the bathroom cabinet,
1. Given away half used conditioner, epsom salts and various other items
2. Selling handcreams that were an unwanted gift and have never been opened
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  It is amazing what people do buy. I had a garage sale once and sold exactly that, they were one of the first things to go.
Anonymous

Today is the beginning for me to finally get organised and stay organised. I love the helpful tips that you share Katrina and I will take before and after pics to keep me motivated.

As it is over half way through the 52 week challenge I plan on tackling two tasks each week between now and the end of the year and this week it will be the kitchen pantry and sink cupboard and over the weekend it will be my wardrobe.

Wish me luck xx
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  I love your motivation Susan. Great idea to take before and after shots, please share them if you can. This month on the blog is all about wardrobe organisation so be sure to check it out.
Michelle

I just did the de-cluttering of our two bathrooms and OMG I had three shopping baskets of items that I don’t use anymore. It really only took me about half an hour to do it and I can shut the doors of our vanity without have to push things further in LOL.

Will definitely be de-cluttering more of our house soon.

Thanks so much.
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  I bet it has created alot of extra room for you, great work!
- Heather
  
  I was able to donate a lot of unused items to a women’s shelter nearby. They are always grateful for bathroom items.
Attila_the_mum

Loving this idea & it doesn’t matter when you start as long as you just start.

Just a suggestion that maybe local schools, day care centres, day care mothers or playgroups could benefit from the “charity” stuff or even items that are perfectly good but just not used any more.

I gave my youngest daughter’s school clothes & old socks to the public school she was leaving as they use them for emergency spares for kids who need them. IE: sick on them, littlies who wet their pants, kids who leave jumper at home, etc.

I’ll be following this idea myself but think I might draw a diagram of each room as well, take photos & chart my progress in a special diary, just to give myself incentive to keep going when I lose a bit of momentum.

Good luck all
- brella
  
  What a fantastic idea to chart the progress. Otherwise you can forget you have achieved so much!
  - http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
    
    The possibilities are endless
wendy

1. a giant king single couch!!!! it takes up soooo much of my lounge, we love it because its such a family couch but seriously not practicle, so its GONE to a friend.
2. a bag of my old clothes GONE
Pingback: How and where do I start to organise and clean the home. » The Organised Housewife
Mandii79

I have just found this site so I am starting mine today 27th December 2011.

Today I went through my bathroom and I threw out
*Some bath toys that don’t get used and some that were gross
*Old razors and razor heads
*Out of date creams
*hair rollers never used
*many combs
and some other stuff I can’t remember now

And gave away
*Some body creams and soaps no-one has ever used
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  You can start anytime Mandi, and you have made a great start at that, good on you!
Pingback: The Declutter 52 things Challenge « mychaoticbubble
Deanna

WOW WOW WOW! Just found this website through Facebook and This is like domestic Porn!!! hahahahah. I love it! Will jump off the lounge now and start from one end of the house and make my way to the front. Bathroom, here i come!!!
Ckgoz1

I found this site today too! I went to unpack my bags after our holidays and I’ve ended up de-cluttering and cleaning our entire bedroom. It looks so different and spacious and beautiful!! Thanks for the little push Katrina!!
Lynda

need a idea to store all my ‘green’ (reusable grocery) bags. they take up 2 shelves!
J Shepherd

I bought a new dinner set in the sales. AND I actually threw out the old one (an old miss matched set) . I didnt save some bits . like i would normally do (just in case).
Suse T

Just a thought, even though it’s now 2012. We have had flooding near us for the past two years. I’m sure that the organisers in those areas would love some of your ‘stuff’. Pre-loved baby clothes on the move here as we speak ‘so excited’.
newsurfiegirl

Started with the wardrobe now gone or ready for a new home are
1. 5 dresses
2. several plastic bags
3. rollerblades along with safety equipment

Now to start with the kitchen…
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  Great start!!
Motherof2

Is it too late to start this?
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  No, jump aboard!!
foody4eva

Started last week with the kitchen – 3 pottery canisters and utensil holder have found a new home, anything else in my corner cupboard that has not been used in the past 12/12 is GONE!!
I love your website and your daily facebook updates, thanks for sharing with us
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  Great work!!
- foody4eva
  
  Have now de-cluttered my birthday card/wrapping box, 3 drawers in my buffet unit, organised the kitchen drawer with the drawer dividers from Target – next onto my magazines! Thanks for your inspiration Katrina!
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Beckucwparkyn

im starting this today Im so excited finally my little house will be organised with out having junk around thankyou
Playboy_princess_101

I started to declutter about 3 weeks ago getting rid of items once a week, i started in the kitchen, and got rid of all the extra cups, plates, glasses, pots, fry pans, toasters, kettles that I no longer needed as ive brought new things that all match…then last week I went through some of my clothes and got rid of just over a bag full of clothes…I have also been through my son’s toys and 3 bags later he isnt as cluttered. im hoping today to get through his clothes..everything I get rid of goes to charity. Makes me feel better knowing someone out there who may be struggling can get household items or toys for their child
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  That’s a fantastic start! Definitely another little child will enjoy many hours of fun!
http://www.facebook.com/Justine.Symes Justine Hope

Just found you, and love this, We brought a new house in December (big house) and it was my new years resolution to become de-cluttered, it’s hard with 3 girls under 7 and my husband who keeps his mags (but doesn’t have time to read them), and myselve who doesn’t like to get rid of anything just incase. I have decided to speedup the de-cluttering by starting with the baby toys, my baby is a toddler (and we don’t plan on any more), so the baby toys are going up for sale on a local FB page, the only thing is the time it takes to take the picture and load and write about it, but 2 things sold already. But I’ll get there, otherwise it will go down to charity. Thank you for this motivation and will start following your posts.
wattlebabies13

I have been decluttering for years…we have taken loads for recycling or to the dump. We have just redon the bathroom so I have just removed lots of old shampoos, lotions, soap dishes, etc. Sent hair straiteners etc to my Daughter (they were hers) and we now have a larger but much more organised vanity unit with a lot less items than before…..I am slowly working through my craft room…but that is a long term job and extremely difficult for me to dispose of…..but I will get there although sometimes I wish someone else would just make the decisions….thanks for your site…
Kd_johnston

i have lots of problems with clutter around my kitchen and office area and also in my bedroom i love reading and i just have books everywhere. I really struggle with the paperwork though i can never find anything and it drives my husband nuts but as i have just recently become a stay at home mum of 3 teenagers i think now is the time to get my act together.
I_want_2B_a_declutterbug

would there be any chance of starting now??? I need some inspiration and motivation
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  Absolutely, jump in now and just follow along. We are currently organising the office. Sign up to the daily task emails or follow along on facebook and I will give daily challenges to help you through. Good luck!
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Jane

Oh yes, yes, YES!!!!
- Jane
  
  Hi Katrina,
  Today I tackled my pantry. Your’s was such an inspiration! I threw out 6 bags of rubbish, old food etc. I also cleaned the oven. I’m feeling very pius at the moment. One declutter down, 51 to go …
Tanya

I have just found your amazingly perfect site and I am taking on the challenge BIG TIME. I am so excited to get started can’t wait until tomorrow morning when the kids have gone to school to tackle our wardrobes.
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  How did you go, were you able to get through them?
Karen

I have also found it really helpful to go room-by-room actually gets quite addictive once floor space and table space emerge!
Just me

Well, I am on time for other appointments, but hey – better LATE than never for this. yesterday I got rid of 1 bag of clothes, and it felt so GREAT! Of course, more to do. Today, I found something to return to a store (it was beautiful but didn’t fit me), so ended up with 1 really nice thing in exchange. Time to get rid of more things! Amazing how many clothes we own we really don’t use. Getting excited about selecting a few key pieces to build a new fall wardrobe around (AND GETTING RID OF THOSE THINGS THAT WELL – aren’t going to work)……
ITSTIME

Better late than never! I did a little the other day and got rid of 1 bag of clothes. Now I wake up and everyday try to get rid of things. If I continue to gain momentum, things I thought were impossible are possible. Today – well, the basics – trash and recyclables, and then we will see what REAL things I can declutter.
Ann C

October 8, 2012 is my start date!!!
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  Good luck x
MRS.S

Staring this today.Oct.16,2012.Starting in my schoolroom/dining room.
Heather

I have felt peace and relaxation a couple of times in my adult life in my homes. The first was when my ex-husband and I divided household items. He took 75% of the belongings (very materialistic). Then 6 years later (after I had amassed ‘stuff’) was when I was putting the house on the market to sell and move in with my new husband. I decluttered the house to make it appear larger and to allow prospective buyers to walk in and see it as somewhere they could live.

It must have worked because I sold it the first day!!

BUT move ahead, and my new husband and I were not only blending families, but two 4 bedroom homes, and following my parents passing a 3 bedroom home!! So try cramming 11 bedrooms worth of stuff into one 4 bedroom home undergoing renovations to fit in the new blended family!!

Even now, 19 months later, I am decluttering. letting go of things that were my parent’s, and sorting.

I find your daily tasks help me to keep on track for cleaning while decluttering.
Thank you so much for all your work!!
Heather – Ottawa, Canada
Elly

Hmmm, already been decluttering for quite a while… Main tasks done to date:
1. Dispose of my clothes that I haven’t worn in the last 12 months (having had two kids close together and recently just started wearing my regular clothes again… Bye,bye maternity clothes!)
2. Disposed of expired medicine and food items.
3. Sorted out the laundry, still a work in progress due to needing somewhere to place banished toys.
3. Sorted out kids clothes as both have outgrown their clothes and have moved onto next size. One is in size three and the other is in size five. Next step is to organise disposal of size two and below, either to give away to friends, to the op shop and only keep the really nice items. Also need to store the size four clothes as well as any bigger size already been received as gifts from people!
4. Declutter the bathroom vanities (one in main bathroom and one in toilet room), disposed of items not used for a long time, placing any useful items in one place until decluttering was complete. Worked out I didn’t need to buy any more bath wash or soaps for a while!
More to come….
- Elly
  
  Oh yes, item number 5: dispose of unwanted chemicals used for cleaning after having to deal with a wet kitchen floor and needed to located the plumbing problem = cleared out the cupboard under the sink. Disposed of electrical applicants that were not working anymore! This looks like it is item 6. Wow!i have had a productive holidays decluttering… Will be slowing down now that I am back at work this week but hope to have one day each week to finish off decluttering room by room… Will be looking for your tips as I do each room, kitchen is next!!!!
Jude

I am going to do this…as I am finally getting the kitchen I have wanted and I don’t want it full of clutter!!
- Jude
  
  My 9yo daughters room is done! Complete with whiteboard with her weekly schedule and crates for everything! We are both delighted!
http://www.facebook.com/cassandra.reed.372 Cassandra Reed

Great idea. I’m currently working on organizing our study/craft room. Today’s task is emptying and getting rid of boxes that are cluttering the floor.
- http://www.theorganisedhousewife.com.au Katrina
  
  Great idea to start with the floor, hope it all goes well.

The Organised Housewife » Tips, ideas, inspiration and motivation to help keep you and your household clean and organised

The Declutter 52 things challenge

The De-clutter ’52 Things in 52 weeks’ Challenge

Good Luck!!

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The Declutter 52 things challenge

The De-clutter ’52 Things in 52 weeks’ Challenge

Good Luck!!

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