Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

This week I have come up with seven categories of items that are a little obscure. Things that may be hiding somewhere around your house that has escaped your notice so far. As usual, if you can’t find any of these items then declutter something else.

Monday – Parts for something you no longer have. It might be bike parts like my item for today or perhaps computer parts, parts to an old vacuum cleaner, sewing machine, kitchen gadget… I am sure you all have something.

Tuesday – Something that you keep in case of an emergency that never arises. Perhaps your first aid box needs decluttering or maybe you kept that pair of crutches from a previous injury like I have. Granted I have used my pair on three separate occasions, but three times in seven years doesn’t justify keeping them.

Wednesday – An odd souvenir or novelty item that was acquired on the spur of the moment and is still cluttering up a shelf somewhere. (I would like to mention here that we never bought any souvenirs while on vacation in America.)

Thursday – A fashion accessory or obscure clothing item that no longer matches anything.

Friday – Fiddly little kitchen items that have fallen under the radar but aren’t useful enough to keep.

Saturday – Single use gadgets that you really don’t have a single use for. (Perhaps an egg slicer. Ha ha Cindy this one is for you.)

Sunday – Art or decorator items that you long ago tired of but they hang there on your wall or sit on a shelf out of habit and no other reason.

Good luck and happy decluttering

Today’s Declutter Item

My son had kept these bike parts from his old bicycle after his accident. His bicycle was replaced with a new one and he figured these parts would be better utilised by the bike ecology centre here in our home town where they refurbish bicycles and resell them (in some cases give them away) to the public.

Bicycle Parts

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Getting through some of my to do list. Taking advantage of the nice sunny day to get some washing done. Going to the movies this afternoon. And I won a meat tray at the club on Friday night so I had a cheap grocery shop this week.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

I dug this set of missions up from the archives as it is a good exercise to help you find extra things you may not have thought to get rid of. So this week we are once going to remove some clutter that might be bothering someone else in some way. If you decide to take on this weeks missions be prepared for it to be confronting at times. 

Monday – Ask your partner/husband/roommate if there is something of yours in your shared living space that they wish you would declutter because they don’t like it. It is up to you whether you comply of course.

Tuesday – Remove something from your yard that a neighbour might be able to see and think looks out of place or unsightly. Ask the neighbour if you aren’t sure and are game.

Wednesday – Ask a family member if they have anything you have given them that they really don’t want but keep because it was a gift from you. Give them permission to declutter it.

Thursday – Return something that you have borrowed from someone else that you should possibly have returned some time ago.

Friday – Declutter an area where your items may have spilled over into someones else’s space. For example ~ Your clothes in your husbands side of the closet.

Saturday – Ask a family member if there is an area of clutter in your home that you might have overlooked that they think needs attention. This might possibly be an area that is OK to you but annoying for them.

Sunday – I think you have earned a rest today so take it easy and rest up for another week of decluttering to start tomorrow.

Good luck and happy decluttering

Today’s Declutter Item

The item for the day is an example of the opposite to the theme of this week’s mini mission. My husband had three die cast aeroplane models that I was not keen on dusting. I let him know that they were a nuisance to me. I don’t know if that had any impact on him deciding to declutter them or not but declutter them he has and this is one of those models. As you can guess I am glad to see the back of them.

Die cast aeroplane model

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

This week we are going to do Quick Look mini missions. That is each day we are going to walk into a different room in the house take a quick look, spy a piece of clutter and remove it to either the bin, the recycling, the donation pile or set aside to sell. While you are at it if you spy something out of place also rehouse that item. If you can’t see anything on the surface, so to speak, look a little deeper in a cupboard or closet. This is pretty much how I declutter all the time.

Monday – The kitchen

Tuesday – The living room, lounge room or whatever you call it in your part of the world.

Wednesday – The master bedroom.

Thursday – The bathroom.

Friday – The garage.

Saturday – The dining space in your home.

Sunday – The den/office or another bedroom.

Once you have accomplished this weeks mini mission you will realise how easy decluttering can be. It doesn’t have to be a major upheaval just a quick look, swoop and achieve.

Good luck and happy decluttering

Today’s Declutter Item

I took a quick look in my bookcase and decided we have no need for these bookends because we own so few books these days. I will take them to the thrift shop so my friend and co-worker Lori can use them in the book display shelves.

Bookends

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

I have dug this set of mini missions up from the archives as I figured it was about time we performed another fridge declutter. This week we are going to take care of not only the inside but the outside of our fridges as well, over under around and through in fact. So lets get started.

Monday – If you keep stuff on top of your Fridge/freezer clean it off and leave it empty for a while and see how you like it.

Tuesday – Not too many people I know have an empty fridge/freezer front. There are usually photos and kids drawings, invitations and a notice board. Clear off everything that isn’t essential and try living with a clear fridge for a while.

Wednesday – Perhaps what is on the front spills over to the sides of the fridge. Time to clear that off as well.

Thursday – The inside of the fridge always is in need of a little decluttering no matter how soon ago you did it last. Have a dig around and see if there is any out of date items or just items that you keep thinking you will use up one day but never do.

Friday – Today is the day to declutter the inside of the freezer. Maybe it would be a good idea to plan tonights meal around using up bits and pieces in there.

Saturday – Since everything is clean on the inside and out why not move the fridge out of it’s position today and clean underneath it. Perhaps if it is an old fridge it might be an idea to give the element on the back a bit of a vacuum.

Sunday - Sundays are a good day for leftovers. Whip up lunch today using up some more bits and pieces out of the fridge.

Good luck and happy decluttering

Today’s Declutter Item

I don’t have any fridge clutter to share with you today but I do have some little kitchen clutter. This set of ramekins have been in my kitchen for about five years give or take a couple of months and have never been used. Out they go to the thrift store.

Creme Brulee Ramekins

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

There is no theme behind the mini missions this week just some random ideas I am throwing out there. Enjoy the search.

Monday – Declutter a container of any sort. For example I am decluttering a basket today.

Tuesday – Declutter something you keep because it seems so useful yet you don’t really have a use for it.

Wednesday – Declutter something you have kept for sentimental reasons.

Thursday – Declutter something you have been considering decluttering for a long time but just haven’t. Until now!

Friday – Declutter something you didn’t use much. This item could represent guilt clutter or at best a waste of money.

Saturday – Declutter a totally personal item

Sunday – Suggest an item for someone else in your household to let go of. I am sure you can identify such an unused item. You may not succeed in convincing them to let go but the interaction is good practice.

Good luck and happy decluttering

Today’s Declutter Item

This basket was given to me when I was first married if I remember correctly. I believe my daughter used it for Easter Bunny to put her first easter eggs in. I’ve carried it places and used it to store things in but nevertheless I have no real need for it now. Perhaps someone else will. It sure is sturdy.

A basket I have owned for 25 years

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Items that stand the test of time.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

Aspirational clutter keeps raring its ugly head around my house. More to the point as I get more ruthless about decluttering more things loose their disguise of useful and expose themselves for what they really are to me. I bet you also have aspirational clutter clogging up you house and this week we are going to do something about it.

Monday – Declutter one unfinished / never likely to be finished craft project.

Tuesday – Declutter items of clothing that will be out of date before you fit into them again. If you work hard to lose the weight surely you deserve a few new outfits.

Wednesday – Get rid of those magazines you have set aside to read articles from or aspire to acting on articles you have previously read.

Thursday – Declutter more of that sports equipment I mentioned last week. Ones you think you might use again but the likely hood is next to nil.

Friday – Reduce that cookbooks collection a little further. The internet is a far more efficient way of finding recipes anyway.

Saturday – Put those items on ebay you keeping meaning to sell. This one has already inspired me to list something I have been meaning to list for a while. Photos are already taken so that should make it easy.

Sunday – Sell, donate or give away an item of any kind that you have been planning on using for a while but just haven’t got around to. Chances are you are never going to use it so set it free.

Good luck and happy decluttering

Today’s Declutter Item

Truth be known this is probably more guilt clutter than aspirational clutter but it certainly is craft clutter that I don’t think I will ever get around to using. so it’s out of here. I gave it to the lady in the stamping store up the street from my house. She seemed quite pleased with my offering.

More of my aspirational clutter

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Finally getting to the end of the backup in my inbox. Last week was a little busy for me.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

This week I think I will base the mini missions on things that are a little more obscure. Not everyone is going to have some of these things but you can always choose something unusual around your home that you have ignored up until now because they aren’t numerous. Others might think ~ What’s so obscure about that? So here goes.

Monday – Old parts to vehicles you no longer own. Perhaps a side mirror from a motorcycle, a wheel rim from a car or even an old licence plate. You might be able to sell or recycle this kind of item.

Tuesday – Plant related clutter. Old bedraggled potted plants that are no longer attractive. Tangled cluttered gardens that need thinning out. Empty plant pots that really aren’t likely to be used.

Wednesday – Hats. I actually don’t think I have ever mentioned hats before. Baseball caps yes, but not hats.

Thursday – Old photography equipment. Film cameras, big cumbersome old video cameras, superseded digital cameras whose photo quality is poor.

Friday – Musical instruments.

Saturday – Sporting equipment that you no longer use. That old bicycle seat you kept “just in case” when you replaced it with a more comfortable one.

Sunday – A small piece of furniture that is really just collecting dust and other clutter and has no actual function aside from that.

Good luck and happy decluttering

Today’s Declutter Item

Here is something a little obscure. How many of you have one of these lying around the house unused somewhere? As of tomorrow neither will I because it sold on ebay for $10 and will be posted in the morning.

Respirator

Something I Am Grateful For Today

My friend Liz whose mum has a fig tree. She gave me six ripe juicy figs last week and I have been slowly savouring them ever since.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

As you can guess from the heading of today’s post we will be concentrating this week on things  households often have too many of. I will name the item of the day and you can check to see if you have too many on them and decide on which needs decluttering or what needs using up.

Monday – Glassware ~ Donate to the thrift store or set aside for a garage sale/flea-market stall.

Tuesday – Toiletries ~ Choose your least favourite and use it up. Remember you can use these up outside the box. Shampoo can be used as hand soap, mouthwash as drain cleaner or toothbrush soaker etc. Just google alternate use for _______ and see what you can learn.

Wednesday – Tools particularly multiples of the same one, 3 similar hammers, 2 of each size screw drivers and allen keys in every drawer in the house.

Thursday – Coffee or tea cups ~ Donate to the thrift store or set aside for a garage sale/flea-market stall.

Friday – Towels ~ Donate to the thrift store or a local pet shelter.

Saturday – Shoes ~ Sell, donate or toss depending on condition.

Sunday – Pens ~ Donate to local school or take to your place of work.

Good luck and happy decluttering

Today’s Declutter Item

As you all know I have too many craft supplies. So I filled this jar with my excess and donated it to the thrift store. It was sold very quickly.

Jar of beads

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Lightening & thunder. I love a good noisy storm. So long as I am not caught out in it of course.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

This week’s mini missions reflects the decluttering that was going on in my house last week.  Each day I will name a category and you can see if you have an item in that category to declutter. You may think you don’t have anything but take a look anyway, you might be surprised.

Monday – Jewellery ~ This category comes up often and yet last week I got serious about it. There wasn’t that much left  in my jewellery box but mostly I was keeping it just because I have had it for years and it didn’t take up much space. Sentimental clutter really. This time I have been realistic about whether I actually wear it and have chosen accordingly. I have already placed some vintage pieces on ebay and I will either sell or donate that rest. The jewellery box will be decluttered as well.

Tuesday – Heirloom Items ~ In my jewellery box was a fountain pen that I believe belonged to my grandfather and an old Speidel watch band which also belonged to a relative, I have no idea who. As it turns out both items were broken and therefore useless. So after years of “cherishing” them I did what I should have done with them years ago. I threw them in the bin. To be quite honest I was only keeping them because I thought they might be worth something.

Wednesday – A Clothing Item ~ I own one white basic T. Correction did own. This T-shirt has two obvious stains on it so why was it still in my possession. I think probably because I didn’t want to replace it and because it would do in an emergency. Both laughable reasons really.

Thursday – A gadget ~ I have also listed on ebay a digital voice recorder. I bought this with the intention of recording family history interviews. Needless to say this never happened. I was pleased to see this morning that someone has placed a bid on it and it will soon be out the door. If I feel inclined to do any voice recordings in the future I will use my hand-me-down iPhone.

Friday – Fashion Accessories ~ Last week I decluttered some hair accessories and a belt. All of which are rarely or never used but kept “just in case”. I have decluttered in both these areas before but this time I was somewhat more ruthless.

Saturday – Craft Supplies ~ This category appears ad nauseam on my blog I know. Decluttering this area for me is a gradual process in letting go so please be patient with me. Last week I began the arduous task of decluttering enough scrapbook paper so that what remains will fit into two file drawers. Lena has challenged me to be finally done with this area by the end of the year. I am going to do it Lena, you’ll see. In fact I am aiming for end of June.

Sunday – Eyeglasses ~ This week I picked up my new eyeglass prescription. I had ordered a pair of everyday glasses and my first ever pair of prescription sunglasses. Oh how nice it is to be able to protect my eyes from the sun and still be able to see properly. I can now donate my old back-up pairs to charity.   Here are links for donating eyeglasses in Australia and the USA 

Good luck and happy decluttering

Today’s Declutter Item

This belt I mention above. I haven’t used it in about four years and most likely never will so I think it is time to let it go.

One belt no longer used

Something I Am Grateful For Today

A break in the wet weather so we could go for a ride on the motorbike. There a lots of nice seaside places to visit near where we live.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

I dug this set of mini missions out of the archives. Enjoy!

For this week’s mini missions I am going to encourage you to declutter some of those items you have been clinging on to for toooooooo long. You know the items I am talking about here, things you just haven’t been able to press the reject button on even though they have been in your radar for a while. There is always something holding you back, some lame reason for hanging on, none of which are because you love the item and want to keep it. The reasons you still have these items will become apparent as you start to work through the list for the week but lets face it, you already know the reasons you just haven’t done anything about it. Yet!

Monday – One I might need it some day item. (If it makes you feel better find someone you know nearby who will take this item off you, then if you do need it you can borrow it back.)

Tuesday – One clothing item that you keep telling yourself…

• will fit you one day.
• will be great for the right occasion (that occasion hasn’t arisen for two years what makes you think it is going to).
• is too good to give away and besides it cost a lot (even though it went out of date years ago).
• I love it and I am sure it will come back into fashion soon.
• etc etc etc

Wednesday – Either repair or arrange a repair  on a broken item you have been keeping because you intend to use it again . If it isn’t important to enough for you to fix quickly then perhaps you don’t need it as much as you think you do. If that is the case then just declutter it. Right now it is just wasting space and tormenting you.

Thursday – One expensive item you keep clinging to because you paid good money for it. (it will never realise its value if it never gets used. Learn from your mistake and move on. Sell it if it makes you feel somewhat better about the waste.

Friday – One item that you keep trying to use up but never seem to get anywhere with. I recently decluttered a bunch of scrap paper that I have been trying to use up for years and have hardly made a dent in it. I am going to donate it to the local school this week now that they are back from vacation.

Saturday -One sentimental item.

Sunday – If you have grown up children, choose a childhood item you have saved for them and ask them if they want it. Chances are you are saving a whole lot of stuff for people who just don’t care. If they do want it, give it to them and get it our of your house. If they don’t want it then you are free to do what you like with it.

Good luck and happy decluttering

Today’s Declutter Item

There are an awful lot of caps in this house considering they rarely get worn. This one found its way to someone else’s house via ebay so that is one less in my house. Woo Hoo!

Cap sold on ebay

Something I Am Grateful For Today

Although we took the risk we didn’t get rained on during our walk today. There were ominous rain clouds and it did sprinkle a little here and there but we stayed dry. It was more good luck than good management.

“In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.” Brother David Steindl-Rast