topic Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today? in Home

Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

rnmom — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 11:41:12 GMT

Hello, and as promised, welcome to the Declutter 2023 what have you purged today thread!

The new year is a perfect time to begin to get rid of the old, unused, unwanted and unloved items in our homes and bring in the new! Here we can all work together to declutter and organize our homes to make them the functional, and restful, sanctuaries that we desire them to be.

If you are new here this is where we post our accomplishments about what we are able to get done, and get rid of from our homes, which can help to give others ideas and encouragement and motivation as to how they can improve their homes too.

Some people are methodical and will follow a decluttering schedule, doing certain rooms or spaces in a specific order, others declutter as time allows and as something sparks a need to look at a specific space. There is absolutely no right way or wrong way to make your home better. Feel free to ask questions if you feel like you need help or advice with something.

All purges count, big purges, small purges. Whether it's a whole house purge because you're moving or just a dried up ink pen, any progress is better than nothing. Every item that has to be touched and handled is still one less item. It doesn't matter if it's donated, trashed, returned to the store, or gifted to a friend, if it leaves the house, it counts.

Unless we want our homes to become filled to the brim over the years, decluttering is a never ending journey, so let's go on the journey together.

So come on in, post often, and let's start the journey to a less cluttered life!

Welcome everyone!

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

rnmom — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:01:39 GMT

@aprilskies - Welcome to 2023! I hope that you are able to post a bit more this year! I know how life can get in the way for sure and make it difficult to spend a lot of time either decluttering, or on the computer in general. I have definitely been there.

I did see your last comment in the 2022 thread and I totally agree with you about unused skincare items and in my case, makeup too. I've been working from home for the last year and because of that, I hardly ever wear makeup anymore (maybe once or twice a week if I go out) which means I rarely use any night time skin care either. I use my morning cleanser and moisturizer with SPF and that's about it.

I have backups of everything, brand new, unused makeup and skincare, and I have been trying to work my way thru some products so that I don't have to toss so much. So far nothing seems to have gone bad and other than some unflattering makeup I haven't really tossed anything that I can think of.

Some skincare items I just don't care for, so I'll use them up on my neck, chest, or even body, but I want to use them up because I hate the idea of just tossing. I know it's silly, just a mental game I play with myself, because it doesn't really matter in the end. I need to ask myself why do I keep buying those try me sample kits from Ulta and Sephora? I rarely ever like anything from any of them. The only things that I have found that I really like are Mad Hippie serums.

I actually want to get away from shopping online and see if I can just go back to buying what I need from the drugstore or grocery store.

I used to shop at Ulta a lot online and I think I only ordered from them once last year. I still have a gift card to use up but I just can't find anything that I want to buy. So like you, I definitely need to stop the in flow this year and work on using up what I have before I get any more, otherwise what I have will go bad.

And actually, you brought up a really important point that I didn't mention. We need to definitely be aware of what we are bringing in if we want our decluttering efforts to be successful. Thanks for the reminder!

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

lynnie61 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:01:55 GMT

@rnmom Thanks! This is one of my two favorite threads. Onward and upward. Always great for a chance for fresh beginnings. I’ll try to participate more, but like you said, anything is progress. Happy New Year! I enjoying reading everyone’s accomplishments. It keeps everyone motivated.

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

rnmom — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:07:17 GMT

@lynnie61 - Thank you, I'm so glad that are you are joining us for another year! Yes, anything is progress and remember, others are motivated and encouraged by you just as you are by them so I hope you are able to update us often. Happy New Year!

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

amyb — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:38:27 GMT

Happy New Year to all who post here! Thanks so much @rnmom for starting a new thread, as promised.

This is the only thread here where I've followed and posted on it all year. I love how it keeps us all accountable, inspired, and feeling good about all our progresses, great and small...yes...they all count! Consistency is key, and just helps us stay organized and living in our best environments, minus any "stuff" we no longer need.

Still getting over Covid, so I slept through all the holidays, including New Year's Eve...for the first time ever in my life!

Ah well, not my most exciting holidays ever, but thankful I'm making it through ok!....just resting and hoping to feel better each day.

As I said in my last post on the 2022 thread....I'm gearing up....soon as I feel better....I'm so ready to get to some decluttering. Unlike other years where I like to drag out the Christmas decor and keep the tree or trees up through January...sometimes even making a Valentine tree...this year, after Jan 6th I'll be ready to refresh and take it all down. Just my mood this year. The winter IS dark, so if I keep ANYthing up through Jan. it will be my tabletop skinny tree near the fireplace, with just the white lights on it for a "seasonal/winter" tree. Maybe. We'll see.

This will happen after next weekend. God willing I feel better by then we are supposed to do a short family weekend in New Hampshire Thur-Sun next week, that was planned in Sept, for a birthday. Hope I feel better by then!!

Will take down decor when we get home...probably not before.

Have a nice New Year's Day, everyone~ Cheers~here's hoping for a healthy, good year for all. 🎉🥂

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

gidgetgh — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 12:46:18 GMT

Happy New Year everyone. Always glad to participate in our decluttering thread.

I'm still decluttering every day. It's just a way of life for me. New things naturally come in so I'm always looking for things that maybe I've grown tired of or they don't serve a purpose or bring me joy any longer.

I am still taking quite a bit to consignment, but not as much to Goodwill, though I did take a few small things to them on the 30th.

On Friday, I was able to part with one of my husband's jackets, which surprised me. I have kept very few things of my husband's overall and I had kept 3 of his jackets, Till now, I hadn't been able to part with any of them, but on Friday, I was fine with the bulkiest jacket going. It's not in good enough shape to donate, so I put it in the trash and thought I might get emotional and have to take it back out, but I didn't. I don't know what happened that made it ok for that one to go, but so far, it's still in the trash. Progression of grief I guess. I still plan on keeping the other 2, which are very lightweight.

Yesterday, I bagged up a really large square thick like bolster pillow that I used to use for sleeping when I had vertigo attacks, I haven't used it in a few years, used stacked different regular pillows instead, so this one could go. I don't donate pillows, so it went into the trash. That took up a lot of room so I was happy to see it go.

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

Harpa — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 14:24:45 GMT

I've got decluttering intentions. Thanks for an extra incentive, @rnmom and @lynnie61 ! There's still that closet that needs to be revamped. And there are shoes I'll never wear again.

Two days ago I was decluttering my wardrobe, and managed to get rid of two things.

My biggie for today is to chuck out all the 2022 calendars!

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

amyb — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 13:20:04 GMT

Also something to share...

I follow Beth Vargis's blog "My Simpler Life" and she does a yearly "Declutter Calendar", that you can download. It goes one month at a time, with a daily declutter prompt each day. Weekends off, where she usually posts something "just for you"...like "do something you love in nature" "stay in pjs and read a good book" ...ie. two days of rest and "sprititually recharging."

I always find this calendar helpful to check into, and I do many of the things, either because I normally do those things in that time of year, or because she prompts me to look in that area of my life again. ie. reminds me time to review the undies and sock drawer again. Time to look under the bed again. Go through hats. Go through old magazines and catalogs. Go through bathroom drawers. On and on...not only room by room, but drawer by drawer. Little by little it adds up and makes a big difference overall!

It's tiny increments. You don't have to do it exactly the same as she does each day, but overall it helps give you ideas where to declutter and helps you stay motivated and on track.

I can't post the link but if you go to her website "My Simpler Life" .com and 2023 declutter calendar you should find it.

Just sharing in case anyone's interested.

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

FastDogWalker2 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 14:07:25 GMT

Thank you rnmom! I am pretty good about purging what we don't need or want but there is always room for improvement and this looks like an excellent,supportive way to keep moving in the right direction! Happy 2023!

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

sarahpanda — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 14:32:04 GMT

I purchased another house and I have the daunting task of unloading this one...22 years of ''life'' here, not to mention many years of life in a prior house that was moved here. ! I have no idea how to begin. It will be such an undertaking that I'm now second guessing myself as to if the other house should have been purchased in the first place. It will likely take me at least 6 months to get moved ...have mercy !!

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

Roscoe the Rascal — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 14:29:24 GMT

I plan on more purging in 2023. I do not follow a calendar or anything like that but I have my own system on what and when. But I also plan on spending less and thinking more of what I need versus what I think I need. Less purging if less to purge and more just wiping out and organizing. That is one of my goals.

I do have my purging boxes placed and ready to roll. I keep one in the back of my car and one in my downstairs too. As I sort I place the items in the containers. Certain items go to certain places but I am also starting a new container for items to go to church sale in the fall.

I did a lot of purging and organizing in December because I was off work for two weeks. I go back Wednesday so less will be getting done during week but not going to stop either. But I feel good about what I have done so far.

I do the inside during colder months and hit the garage when spring comes and also the clothes closet when the seasons change from winter to spring and summer.

Happy New Year. Looking forward to a good year.

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

pupwhipped — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 14:49:06 GMT

No one needs this more then I do. And I truly hope I can make some progress this year. Who knows, I probably lamented and said the exact same thing here last year. LOL!

I really have trouble letting go of things...it's crazy! As an example, just this week I threw away an eyelid primer that was dry and never worked for me from the get-go. But it was even hard to let go of that dumb, worthless, little thing! WTH is wrong with me?! 😲

Anyway, I won't go on other then to say I am truly going to embrace the simple idea that any amount, no matter how small, that leaves the home is an accomplishment. Also, like @amyb, my husband and I had Covid for the first time a few weeks ago and that was a bit of an eye opener in so many regards....we are not going to live forever.

Good purging luck to us ALL!

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

Foxxee — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 14:57:25 GMT

I decuttered on December 7 when I gave 14 boxes to Purple Heart.

There will be more boxes in the Spring.

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

Meowingkitty — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 15:37:41 GMT

My husband and I decluttered the kitchen. All cabinets were reorganized and things that hadn't been used in years are in boxes in the garage waiting for me to call for a pickup. Next (in a few weeks after my new flooring is in) will be my closet. To many purses that I don't use any more. Might take to a consignment shop or simply donate to an animal shelter where they can sell them for the animals.

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

RedTop — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:08:20 GMT

I find something to toss weekly, even it's just a few catalogs, as I cannot stand to have them stacked up in the house. For years I subscribed to Southern Living magazine and would keep those around way too long, especially the holiday editions. I finally broke myself of the magazine habit.

During our extreme cold snap last weekend, we built a fire in our wood stove in the basement, which meant a real good look at what's down there.

My daughters have a ridiculous amount of stuff stored downstairs! Teacher daughter changed jobs so 19 years of classroom decor and educational tools are all over the basement. I have given her 3 months to deal with it and get it confined to her space, or I'm renting a dumpster.

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

BunSnoop — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 19:26:49 GMT

I have a dresser in my spare bedroom/office. I don't keep clothes in the dresser but "stuff". There are 8 drawers and I have so far cleaned out 5 of them. I keep in two drawers office supplies (pens, rubber bands, envelopes, stamps, etc). Another drawer has "craft like" items - fabric, patches, buttons, yarn, etc. Another drawer has all miscellaneous items. Threw out a lot of stuff, some stuff got relocated to other areas of the house where they should be kept. The drawers I've cleaned out still have stuff in them, but there is a lot less and they are now so much more organized. Time to get back to work and hit the remaining drawers.

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

Meowingkitty — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 22:39:51 GMT

Last week hubby and I cleaned the kitchen and today after taking down the tree I cleaned out the cabinet over the toilet of unused, bad and never going to use again of cosmetics, lotions, nail polish etc.

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

FindingMyJoy — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 22:55:58 GMT

2023 is the year that I declutter my life! I'm tired of clutter and stuff that just sits around collecting dust. Last couple years have been rough that I had a job that stressed me out and I hated. During that time, I fell on retail therapy to cheer myself up - nothing like the joy of a UPS delivery and ripping open a box!! Previously, I had used up and really cut back on my body care/skincare to a level that was good for me. But it's now overflowing. I have books/cds/dvds that haven't been used in ages - why do I still have them? My clothes closet is overflowing with at least 3 different sizes? why? I'm joining you all in hopes to stay on track and learn some tips!

In the past, I had followed Flylady for decluttering advice so today I fell on 1 of her most basic of tips - find 27 items to throw out! I decided to use today as the day to go around and pick up the easiest 27 items that are junk can't be useful to others or is in bad condition. I actually found 33 items to throw out today! That includes 11 nail polishes that hadn't been used in years and their consistency had changed plus I found comparable colors that I could keep that are newer! Also hit my skincare and makeup - tossed out the items that had expired or changed consistency. My goal for this week is to do the 27 items each day! To start, look for the "easy" items that have no sentimental pull to them or weren't a lot of $$$ so it's easier to throw out. I also set out a large box to collect items that are donatable quality because I would rather items be used by another if possible vs a landfill.

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

KathyM23 — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 23:50:02 GMT

Happy New Year to all and may we have good luck with our decluttering attempts this year! I enjoy purging and organizing and am sure I participated in this thread last year when I first saw it.

Although I posted about purging several times I didn't think about adding to this particular thread as that is not something I was familiar with. I usually just read the forums and post individually and never thought about there being a total thread on the subject. This year I will know that anytime I make a comment regarding purging, I do it on this thread.

My system is simple. Anytime I come across something I no longer want out it goes. This could be every day or weekly, who knows when you see something no longer of value to you.

This week DH and I put away our Christmas decor and I during this project I disposed of 16 items and 4 boxes and in my bag of wrapping, etc. I found excess Christmas cards and paper I no longer needed and pitched those.

For the first time ever, I did not do a Christmas tree this year for physical reasons. If this continues to be the case next year, will dispose of our tree and boxes upon boxes of ornaments. Major purge.

My scheduled purges come during the changout of seasonal clothes.

I really liked a suggestion I saw when looking at last year's thread about looking around and finding 27 items to dispose of and I am going to try that tomorrow. I may decrease the amount to 20 as I do purge often and dont really let things accumulate too much (except in DH's garage/workshop and I have no control over that). I would like to do the 20 items every week in addition to my seasonal purging.

Re: Declutter 2023: What have you purged today?

aprilskies — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 00:33:39 GMT

Today was more misc decluttering. Tossed some crafting supplies, I don’t craft, and tossed some kitties toys and things. Tossed a memory foam mattress topper but I did buy another one so net zero on that one but it’s good to get things done to.

So the last two days have been minor but if I had to guess, I got at least 30 or so items out the door.

I am starting to go through some paperwork which I really need to do badly so at least that is started. I also condensed some kitchen gadgets. I know I need to get rid of some but this is a tough area for me. So right now, I will keep them organized better.

I am looking forward to this thread in 2023 and the progress we will all make.