Cleaning, Clearing, Shredding and a Wool Winder!

This last week I have busy tidying and clearing and shredding!  Inspired by the following book that seems to be the rage at the moment and that everyone is talking about and perhaps with good reason! At least for me it is the only book out of the many on similar topics I have bought that I have sat down and read from cover to cover.  Some of it is a bit 'raise your eyebrows' at, but on a whole it makes perfect sense and although I can't start in earnest until I get back from New Zealand, I am applying her techniques to my 'getting the house ready before I go'.  It is quite simple really.  When looking at each item you have, you just need to ask yourself  'Does this bring me joy?'  Most of my stuff has just bringing me stress as I try and work out where to store it!  So this is somewhat of a simple but effective process.

In the last week I have filled the paper bin and have four extra bags full of papers for the paper recycling bin.  I have four black bin bags full of shredded paper - was it working in the bank and insurance industry all those years ago that has made me feel the need to hang on to papers that really are not needed and just taking up unnecessary space?  I mean why hang on to insurance and registration papers for a car that was scrapped several years ago??

The kerbside charity bag collection collected five bags of clothes and linens the other day - and popped a thank you note through the door. That was a first and a very nice token, makes you more inclined to do so again.

A boot load of books, bags,  toys and some soft toys and dolls went to the charity shop this afternoon.  

It feels good!  I estimate though that when I get back and start this in earnest it is going to take a couple of months at least as I also want to go through the loft and do the same.  

I have been refolding clothes in the drawers and the result is - the fit in better, you can see at a glance exactly what you have and what colours are there - for example my scarf drawer.  My husband has never seen his clothes in his drawers so neat and tidy...I wonder if he will be able to keep them that way.  I did discover though that he has over 40 pairs of socks!  I mean is that REALLY necessary?! Of course it is not up to me to throw any out, but I pointed out that it really is rather OTT.

By doing this clearing, already the load feels lighter, even though I know I have a long way to go...after all, there is about six years of me not really getting anything done - sure there have been attempts but I have always ended up failing!  This time I don't think I will.

I did bring something into the house today - but at £1.99 I was not going to walk away from a wool winder and some gorgeous soft alpaca wool.  I knit a lot, so this will be really useful.

I had a wool winder in NZ but it was sold along with my knitting machine and I have always wished I had kept it, so was very pleased to see this today.  It will certainly be put to use as I have a couple of balls of yarn that are no longer balls, due to Percy having a bit of fun with them!

A lovely rich colour, I already have plans for this.

Kitchen re-do.

The last week I have been cleaning, de-cluttering, painting and cleaning...oh and did I say cleaning.

It all seemed so simple, clear the top of the kitchen cupboards...

which led to washing the walls,

which led to painting the walls

which highlighted how bad the ceiling was, 

which convinced hubby to paint the ceiling...

which of course should have been done first, but hey ho, it did work.

This in turn led to a major clean of the whole kitchen including doors and windows.

I took the stove/oven/cooker apart, pulled it away from the wall and cleaned every reachable part of it.  The theory was that if I wasn't allowed a new one, then I would at least get it looking as clean as I possibly could!  Of course I didn't quite realise what an undertaking it would be.

So finally the kitchen is finished.

Before photos....

The existing walls were painted yellow with one blue feature wall.

I decided to paint a lighter colour and chose Dulux 'Soft Vanilla' as that was what I had in the garage!  Much easier when you don't have to make a choice and just use what you have.

In progress...

I decided to paint our boiler chimney as well as it has always been a bit of an eyesore and I am not sure why we never had it painted when we originally had the kitchen decorated.

After....

Looks much better now!

Blends in.

The other corner.  I have packed away our special salt & pepper shakers which have special memories attached, and am currently in the process of deciding which of the other things to keep that used to sit on this shelf.  I have opted for simple instead and have the three jugs that used to belong to my mother many years ago when they lived in the UK, that were given to my aunt, who in turn has passed them on to me.

Only have the three items on here, will make it easier to clean and looks less cluttered.

The corner looks better with the same coloured walls.

Work surfaces clean and tidy.  Every wall, cupboard door, appliance and rubbish bin has been scrubbed.

I got the bread-maker out so that I can start making bread again.

The fish tank that used to sit on the side has been removed.

'Jaws' the goldfish that used to live in the fish tank has moved outside to live with 'the big fish' and seems very happy there.

As a result I no longer have to worry about cleaning and all the other paraphernalia that goes on with having a fish tank inside the house.

I sorted through my utensils and decided...

...what to keep.

These are all used.  The three wooden spoons all have a different purpose.  One is used for gravy, one for stirring other things, and the large one for jam.

Those that I don't use are being given to charity.

I have washed both the outside and most of the insides of my cupboards...just a few to do.

I sorted through my rather large collection of tea pots

Decided what to keep...

and what to give away!  I have since added another tea pot to this box.

Just a few of the other bits and pieces I have sorted through that will be given to charity (or put in the bin, depending on condition and usefulness)

So Days Six & Seven of my Twenty for Twenty

Day Six

Teapot

4 saucers

3 cups

3 wooden utensils

1 metal utensil

1 enamel bowl

1 tea bag holder

1 timer

A pair of teddy bear bookends

2 wooden trays

1 silver tray

1 pottery pot

1 torch

1 filter

2 glass candle holders

1 plastic holder

Total 26 items.

Day Seven

 

6 broken leaded pencils

1 velvet pen holder

wool

2 rusty metal 'things'

1 felt pen

1 old book light

4 jars

1 old candle without a wick

3 books

Total: 20 Items.

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I have been through umpteen cleaning clothes, liquids and potions during the last week.  Some more successful than others, most don't actually do what they claim to do!

Now the kitchen is properly clean and tidy it should be easier to keep that way...as long as certain other members of the house also remember to tidy up after themselves!