Episode 34 - Decluttering

We are in full spring cleaning mode. So for this episode, we're giving you all our best tips for decluttering and staying reasonably organised (we're not Marie Kondo!).

Items mentioned:

• Clossy Co
• Vacuum bags (the Organised Store, Amazon, Homestore and More)
• Joseph Joseph
• Oxo
• The Home Edit
• Humdakin
• Brabantia
• Command hooks
• Dyson dock
• Picture ledge shelves
• Adverts.ie / Done Deal
• Vinted
• Depop
• Oxfam Postback - https://www.oxfamireland.org/postback-donate-by-post-for-free

Great accounts to follow on Insta

• Orla Sheridan - style and capsule wardrobe
• A Sorted Affair - decluttering and organisation

Transcript

Episode 34 - Decluttering

 [00:00:00] 

Podcast Intro

Jen: Welcome to Rip It Up, the renovations podcast. I'm Jenny. I'm Kate. And between us, we've renovated a lot of houses and it hasn't scared us off. In fact, we loved it so much that we can't stop talking about it. So in this podcast, we will give you all the tools and info that you need to tackle your own renovation like a pro. 

Episode intro

Jen: We're in full spring cleaning mode. So for this episode, we're giving you all our best tips for decluttering and staying reasonably organized.

Episode body

Jen: Okay. Welcome back to the podcast. Hi Kate. 

Kate: Hi, Jen. 

Jen: How's it going?

Kate: Good. Yeah. 

Jen: You look like you've been out in the sun today,

Kate: I haven't been out in the sun. 

I've been in 

Jen: have you not? 

Kate: office room all day long. Even the virgin media guy who came to fix our internet was like, oh, you think you're gonna be able to cut in the sun at all? I'm like, no. I

just sit in this dark room. If I get out in the sun, I won't come back in.

If I get out in the sun, I won't come back in, and I have too much stuff to do.

Jen: Yeah. There's a lot [00:01:00] to do. Okay. But you have done something very dissatisfying, which I loved. I saw on your Instagram during the week, which is a bit clear out, 

Kate: yeah, 

Jen: and that's what we're gonna talk about today. The big like, I suppose it's summer now technically, so it's the summer clean.

Kate: yeah, yeah. 

End 

Jen: spring,

clean.

The organization 

Kate: Sprinkling organization. Yeah. Yeah. But the, um, I guess the, what would I say the. The fact that I've had to move so many times in the last few years and moving in and out of like rental properties and houses, renovating and whatever. I just feel like I've become a pro at like decluttering and getting rid of shit I don't need because like, I just hate carrying it round.

I just hate, like, I just hate having stuff that I'm not actually using. You know, that I'm not going into. I dunno. Attic spaces full of boxes and stuff all over. So I love to do like a really big clear out before I pack up anything. And I think this is a good time 'cause all the heavy winter stuff is going away.

And I was there putting away [00:02:00] some of the knitwear and coats and I was like, why don't I do all this now? Ready for moving. So I got all the vac bags out and. You know, did the Laura Debar washing everything in vinegar and pressing them and putting them into vac bags. So all my towels actually come up.

Lovely. Thank you. Gaf gots. Um, so I did all my towels. I did all my like bedsheets and bed linen, like, you know, vac bagged everything. So everything's ready for movers to just come up and. Pick and go like, same with all my coats, stuff like that. All the winter knitwear and stuff like that. So yeah, a big, I suppose, organization and then decluttering as well.

So I was down at the Brink Center, I dunno how many times. Went to the charity shop a few times. I still have stuff up and adverts, just getting rid of stuff that, like tools and stuff. I had like a wallpaper steamer I hadn't even taken out of a box that I bought.

Jen: Yeah, 

Kate: So I'm getting rid of

stuff that I'm just not

moving it 

Jen: a speci, like a steamer specific

for wallpaper. 

Kate: Yeah, like to, to remove wallpaper. Like 

Jen: I have a steamer, but like. 

Kate: a [00:03:00] wallpaper steamer. Like it's how you strip 

Jen: Is it specific to wallpapers? 

Kate: Yeah, so wallpaper steamer is just like a big flat plastic thing that you hold up against the wall. It pushes steam onto your wallpaper, and then the wallpaper just peels off.

Jen: Ah, genius.

That's a great one for like if it, if you get a, 'cause there's lots of wallpapers that are, they'll peel off without leaving behind any residue. I was talking to somebody about this recently for renting. It's perfect, like it's the best solution because a lot, you often can't like repaint your house when you're renting, but you can.

You can steam off wallpaper and it's not that hard. Like if you gotta 

Kate: Yeah, 

Jen: to put it up, you know 

Kate: Yeah, yeah, for sure. Um,

but 

Jen: That whole like 

Kate: of stuff. 

Jen: thing, like I'm so, I hate moving so much 'cause I've done it loads over the years as well across the few different countries and then up renting and at various rentals and then finally here, and then out of here when this is being renovated.

And anyway, like I hated so much that I, if I won the lotto, I wouldn't sell this house. I might not do that anyway 'cause I love this house, [00:04:00] but like I just to prevent myself from moving, I would give up my like seaside villa 

from 

my lotto 

Kate: know, you could, pay movers, right?

Jen: I just still 

hate the process. I'd 

Kate: like Marie Condo

herself to come and organize your house before 

you move. 

Jen: doesn't do that anymore. Now. she's given up, 

Kate: She's 

given up on giving up on being an organized after having kids. What's the point? They just wreck your house anyway.

Jen: I get it, Marie. I get it. Um, all right. What, so I don't, I'm just gonna say for this episode, for all listeners, there's lots of things that I do well, I think when it comes to organizing and decluttering, because I just hate having stuff. It's kind of a natural, um, flow on from that. But I wouldn't say I have like a process 

Do you have a process 

Kate: Yeah, I think so. I'd usually, well, it depends if I'm doing the whole house or I'm doing like one particular kind of room or item, so like. It's easier to do a by kind of category, like not be jumping between things. So like the other day I did all my towels and it took [00:05:00] like the whole day of doing a few washes and whatever to get 'em all done and all packed away.

I did all the coats or whatever. And then like, do you know, moving through those different categories, so like kitchen ones, kitchen appliances and gadgets and stuff. Could be another one I hate, like mismatched kitchen stuff. So like even my glasses and cups and plates and stuff. Like if there's an odd one, I dunno where it came from.

Like, sorry, it's gone. Unless someone asked for it in like a week or two after it's been there, it's gone. I'm

sorry. 

Um, 

Jen: Gabby with the days when everything I had was like

a mismatched glass from a pub from like various pubs and various 

Kate: random cups, like even random cups, like there's a few odd cups that, I dunno like, you know, gimmicky ones or whatever and I'm like, they're not even out. 

Ian refuses to throw them out, but I'm like, they're in a box and a press somewhere. I just like everything kind of matching anyway, but like, I like to organize kind of, I suppose by category or by room.

And I love to do, like, it's not like I just sit there and only tidy. Like if I was watching something on tv, I might bring in, everyone's got like a, you know, [00:06:00] a, a crap drawer or a basket that they throw stuff in or whatever in their house. So something like that. Like I have a little basket on my whole table, like, you know, keys and crap and.

Some mail goes into and stuff like that. But like if I'm watching something on tv, I'll just bring in that basket and dump it out on the rug. Just sit there organizing it and dumping and dump before

I tidy it away, you know, rather than just tidying mess and tidying stuff away again, that I'm not using.

Just like don't put whatever I can and then organize it and then put it back in its right spot. But like only recently, I'd say like maybe just before we moved. Into the house we're renovating at the moment, boxes and stuff like, I love them, like boxes and special, you 

know, uh, what do you call it? I don't even know what you call them.

You know, the clear plastic ones that are kind of stackable or whatever. If they're clear, you can see what's in them. And like, just even in my fridge now, I have those, do you know, I think there's an Irish brand that do them classy, but like I've also bought them in like deals and I bought them in home [00:07:00] store more and I bought them in the organized store and stuff like that.

But just like, it's amazing what. Having boxes for certain things, size for certain things, help with, I even have them for like some of the kids toys and magnet tiles and whatever. It just, it makes everything a bit easier to tidy. It makes your fridge more organized. I just, I

love, yeah. 

I love 

Jen: It's the finding it. 'cause I always find when you, when you're putting something away, you're like, that's where that goes. Now I'll never forget that. And then two weeks later you're like, I have no idea where that thing is. That could be anywhere.

And so like the, the, yeah, the clear boxes. Like there's, there I go so far as to say as only ever get clear boxes, there should be no reason to knock at clear boxes like it is, I would say necessity.

Kate: they're a bit more, they're a bit more expensive, obviously, like at the outset maybe, but they'll last you like if, if you wanna, if you're moving, say you buy the big clear boxes with the lids and then you can see everything that's in every one, and you're not just stacking a load of cardboard boxes and then like when you've moved, you can use them for attic storage.

You can use 'em for Christmas.[00:08:00] 

Worried about insects or moss or whatever, that kind of stuff. They're better anyway 'cause they'll be

airtight. But those and

vac bags, like I 

Jen: yeah, yeah. VAC bags are 

incredible. 

Kate: If you have a spare spared duvet or those kind of things,

you know, 

that take up a lot of space. 

Jen: unbelievable how much space they add. 'cause I, one of the, one of the reasons I'm good at storage is 'cause I have to be, 'cause I just don't have any, well I have a lot of it, but like, I just don't have space for like, crap to be accumulating. So I have to kind of keep on top of it all the time, which is good.

I like that. I kind of prefer it that way rather than letting stuff pile up and then having to deal with it in big tranches. Um, but. I'd be no, than a backpack because I do have to have, you know, a spare duvet under my bed, for example, for when guests are coming over or and sleeping on my pullout or for my winter coats.

They're unbelievable. For the winter coats.

Kate: I know. Yeah. And winter coats is so much bulk. Like there's so much bulk if [00:09:00] you don't have them back bagged. so

I 

think 

Jen: And my ski gear, 'cause I love skiing and I load skiers. 

I will, 

Kate: Yeah. 

Jen: I 

Kate: And my cross 

Jen: I back that away. Yeah. Yeah.

Actually, I know they're actually not that hard to store. They just go under my, uh, under my bed. So yeah, they're

fine. 

Kate: yeah. No, but I love anything like that, like that you can see what's in there and it's just like tying them away. But the stack book here, boxes from all about that. Same for the kids, stuff like the magnet tiles and Lego and stuff like that. I even bought little zippy poly pockets for Lego sets, so like each of the sets has a bag so they can make whatever's in that bag or whatever.

I just think like it

makes your life so much easier.

Jen: What are, what VAC bags do you have? Do you have any 

Kate: Oh, I have

no 

Jen: I bought mine at the 

organized store. 

Kate: I think I got mine some on Amazon, some in Mr. Pricer deals or something like that. I, I have no particular brand to be honest, and I just use the Hoover with them and they're fine. 

Jen: Yeah. 

Kate: but yeah, I love them. So that's been [00:10:00] kind of my process so far. Like take a category, organize it, dump what I can, and then, um, start the kind of washing, tidying away process.

Jen: Yeah. 

Kate: And now, like everything I've kind of gone through now, say for the, the winter stuff, I'll say like winter blankets, whatever, whatever, spare sheets and towels and all that kinda stuff. It's all ready now for like my move in a few weeks or whatever, uh, that I can just like pick and go and I'm not bringing that rubbish when I move

again.

Jen: Yeah, that's so satisfying. Like there is nothing I love more than a, than a clear out. And I, I'm generally good for staying on top of things. I also, for me, I just feel like I can't plan it because it feels like such a monumental task. And then like, I think what I think what's offputting about. Tackling it clear out is the mental effort of it.

There's so many decisions have to be made constantly of like, will I keep it? Will I not keep it? Um, so what I always do is like, step number one is I have to get the box or the bag that I'm throwing, that whatever I'm throwing out is gonna [00:11:00] go into, because something I just, this is just me in my weird mind, I'm not advising this as a process.

I'm just stating that this is how I tend to do things, but I have to have like the bag for, for stuff to be dumped into. So. I need to have the dumping bag, the keeping pile, that's fine. And then I have to have a maybe box for, because I will inevitably get to stuff where I'm like, I didn't, I haven't worn it in probably about 15 years, but I love it and something's associated with it, and I can't justify holding onto it, but I don't want rid of it, so I have to put stuff in like a maybe box that needs to just sit in a corner for.

A month or so, and then I'll kind of revisit it, kind of like you Someday I'll just pull it out and be like, what did I put in there? Or I'll be like looking for something like, do I have that jacket? You know, it's front of mind now and it'll get pulled back out. And then eventually, like most will get dumped and one or two things might go back into rotation, but.

I have to have back, I did get a thing. I'll give a shout out here to Oxfam. Uh, and my Aunt Mary put me onto this. It's called Oxfam Post Back. So they've partnered on post. [00:12:00] If you go onto oxfam ireland.org/post back or just Google Oxfam post back, um, I'll put the link in the show notes. Um, they'll post you, you sign up like your register, you know, sign up with your email address and your, your, um.

Post address and they post you a bag, a pretty big bag, put your bus bag and you fill it with items that tells you like what kind of stuff they'll take. Um, and, uh, then you go back online and you post it for free at your local post office or on post will come and pick it up for you for free. There's a QR code on the bag and you scan that and then post will come and pick it up for you for free.

Like if you have big clear outs ahead of you and like. Grand. If you have a car and you have easy access to a charity shop or something like that. But if you don't, 'cause a lot of people don't like, or maybe you're, you know, just, yeah, you're just not close to a charity shopper. You don't have a car. It's not easy for you to get around.

Then I think

this is so great. I'm, I can't wait to fill my bag. So now I have my bag, [00:13:00] it's sitting out and I do, I need to do like a troll through of my house. Um, 'cause I've accumulated it just a little bit too much. 

Kate: Well you had a big birthday recently as well. You probably have

more 

Jen: Yeah, 

true. 

Kate: I'm always like 

a, when 

Jen: All stuff I love. 

just to 

just to

Kate: stuff has to 

get out, you know, you have to kind of cycle. No, but when new stuff comes in and you get a lot of stuff for a big birthday, then stuff has to go out to make room for it, I think.

Jen: Yeah. That's a great point. 

Kate: but yeah, like I've been doing adverts for anything that has kind of a good bit of value in it. And then charity shops, uh, for like clothes and stuff like that. Um, and then, yeah, recycling center bring centers for like the.

Recycling stuff or tatty kind of old kids clothes or stuff like that, that isn't really

worth sending to a charity shop.

Um, but 

it's 

Jen: Or electronics. Usually charity shots

can take 

Kate: Yes. Yeah, 

Jen: Um, so you need to bring that to your local bring center.

Kate: Yeah, But the, um, it's amazing how much stuff you AMAs with kids,

just like the amount of clothes they go through And going

through 

Jen: And also everyone buys kids presents. I've [00:14:00] rare that I'd rock up to somebody's house without little, I would do that to you actually recently, but I, you know, if I was called over for like a dinner or something, it's rare that I'd arrive at, you'd always get something for the kids.

And I'd say the parents are like, would you fuck? Oh, I don't want 

your stupid 

Kate: I know what you feel 

like You 

Jen: Leave me alone. 

Kate: especially when you're going to see someone with the new baby, you're like, I have to get like if they have another kid, the present for the other kids so they don't feel left out. But yeah, kids amass a lot of stuff and a lot of toys, and it's something that I kind of started doing here because a rental is pretty.

S well, like it's not tiny, but like the, their kids' playroom say is pretty small, so like can't fit a massive amount of toys. So I have a big, one of the jumbo big clear boxes is the lid full of toys in the garage here in the rental place. And they know what's in there. And then the odd time when the garage door is open, they'll sneak in and be like, can I get this toy?

And I'm like, you know the rule, if you want to get something outta there, something equal size or bigger has to go into the box. So they go inside and they like do a bit of

a trade for a toy.

Jen: Yeah. That's exciting though. It's like getting loads of

new toys. 

Kate: I actually think kids, like when you cycle toys like that, everything [00:15:00] is kind of a bit newer.

Whereas when they're sitting around all the toys all the time, they get no kind of joy from it. Like I, I think anyway. Well, my kids anyway love the whole toy. They're like, I'm bringing this toy. I don't play with that anymore. Can I have that one instead? And I'm like, yeah, cool. Here's this toy shop. And if, if they haven't asked for anything, something particular in the box for like months and months, I'm like, well, they don't like that toy anymore.

Charity shop. 

Jen: Yeah. 

Kate: I think you have to, but like. Yeah, that's the kind of decluttering in general clothes. Like I will say like in the last couple years, I think it was after having babies, because I kind of, you know, you go through so long where you're not wearing your normal clothes, that I was like, I'd kind of fallen outta love with any of the clothes I had before or they didn't fit me anymore.

So I was like really mindful about what I bought then that I was only buying kind of

Capy kind of wardrobe stuff. Do you know 

like the 

Jen: that is the key. That's what I 

Kate: think so, yeah. 

Jen: Because I find like,

so I my thing with clothes is I have a certain amount of clothes hangers in my wardrobe, and I will not buy any more clothes hangers. I just won't do it. So [00:16:00] that forces me to have a one in one out kind of policy, because if I'm buying new jeans or I'm buying new tops or whatever, then like you're like, that's if you're, if it has to be hung up, so where are you gonna put it?

So that's my, like my boundary around like accumulating clothes. But I haven't successfully nailed down that capsule wardrobe yet. And I'm close to just. Like, I am desperate for hanging onto clothes. Like I have clothes that I have had since college. I'm ridiculous. So like I'm accidentally sustainable 'cause I kind of just hate shopping.

But I have loads of clutter in there now that I just don't need and I don't 

want 

Kate: you're not wearing 

Jen: like there And maybe somebody will get wear out of

it 'cause it's all like grand, you know? But there's no point in it sitting around my wardrobe gathering dust when actually maybe somebody could be wearing it and doing something nice with it.

But I want, I just need to, I wanna get to that capsule so badly. Like. I dunno what I need to do there. Just maybe list certain 

Kate: Follow people like I love Orla Sheridan, and those stylists, like they're so good at telling you those kind of key pieces, you know, like the. You know, the base, the [00:17:00] good basic t-shirts that last, or the kind of cottage jeans that will kind of span the seasons, all that kinda stuff. But anyway, I have been kind of mindful about like clothes I've been buying that they're kind of, I don't buy a lot of like really fast fashiony on trend kind of stuff.

I just like, you always see I'm wearing white t-shirts 90% of the

time. I would say that's pretty much all I wear. 

I'm so boring. 

Jen: Like that's, you know, it looks great. 

Kate: But like, 

Jen: was listened to, 

Kate: Sorry. 

Jen: Joe Lenin was on, um, was on the other morning and she was talking about clothes. And actually one thing that I, I dunno why I just had never clocked this, but the amount of plastic that's in clothes, like, because all our clothes now are a blend.

Some kind of polyester blend. There's a bit of a stretch in there or something like that. And it didn't, it just didn't really occur to me that like, that amount of plastic was coming from clothes. So that, not that I was ever a big buyer of fast fashion anyway. 'cause I'm just not fashionable and I don't like buying clothes that much.

But, um, it's really put me off that and made, really, made me think a lot more about like, what are, what, what's [00:18:00] it made of? And is it worth buying it all? And is it, you know.

Kate: I will say I'm a sucker when it comes to like autumn, winter. Like

I can't hold myself back from coats, and 

I 

know they're 

Jen: You do love a coat. Yeah. You have a 

lot of coats. 

Kate: love coats 'cause I wear white t-shirts all the time, so I need to wear a coat over it when I'm going places. Um, but I love, yeah, I do love coats. I just love winter, autumn, winter clothes.

I just don't like summer clothes that much. But, um, anyway, that's the kind of

clothes mentality

I've 

Jen: How are you? Yeah, my one-on-one out with clothes. I'm, I'm all for that and I do need to get down to, to a capsule. Um, I'm all for tailoring as well. Like I have so many, I have this t-shirt that I've had for donkeys here. It's not a t-shirt, it's like a long sleeve kind of black scoop in our top and the amount of holes in that thing.

And I bring it in 

to the alteration center on South End Street and I'm like,

can you Get this thing up there? Like, I just, things get, yeah, 

Kate: but if you like it, yeah, you won't replace it.

That's one that should never go in the maybe box or you know, 

should 

never get 

Jen: No, that's never been the mailbox box that would be falling off me and rags. They'll be buried at me. 

Kate: [00:19:00] What about, um, talking about organization?

What, what do you think about pantries? 

Do you think 

Jen: Oh, I'm all over it.

I love it. I have a very 

Kate: I love an old pantry and I love like decanting stuff. And the reason I love, and I know like I have honestly, for a while I was like, decanting is such a waste of time. like,

why you 

Jen: I won't account 

everything, but 

Kate: I've only started for certain things and I have like. I have a master couple bit of jars now 'cause I like kind of an open pantry or like my pantry press being kind of open. 'cause we like cook, try and cook a lot. But I bought the big jars. The biggest ones you can get in Ikea, which are 3.3 liters, which fit like almost two kilos of pasta.

They fit like 1.2 kilos of per jo, it's like three kilos of rice, something like that. I have those for like my most used items and I don't feel like I'm like. Turning them over a lot. Do you know? So I feel like they're nice and they're organized. I don't have half bags hanging around the press and stuff like that.

Then I have smaller kind of say liter glass jars for like castor sugar or whatever, like [00:20:00] popcorn kernels or stuff like that. And like if you size the jars right? I actually think it keeps your press so nice and just so organized. And then I don't have half bags of stuff falling all over the place or going off down the back or, you know.

So I've actually, I love my pantry stuff now and. When I did my kind of spice

drawer slash pantry and 

stuff in 

my 

Jen: Oh my God, you're a spy store. I dream about it sometimes.

Kate: And I bought that little labeler 

like a 

Jen: The labor maker, oh god, 

the satisfaction. 

Kate: it. I have a big jar of icing sugar at the moment. Well, not a big jar say a probably fits a kilo of icing sugar and uh, I just have cocaine on the label 'cause I think it's hilarious if anyone stays in my mouth.

I think my mom or like kids mom probably come

and be like, what the hell? It's just 

icing 

Jen: go to a beat there a lot. I have, so my pantry is similar. I, I won't account everything 'cause I think that's, you can GoBoard, but there's definitely, [00:21:00] so I did a collaboration with the organized store a few years ago. They're not sponsoring this episode, but they did, they did sponsor my pantry organization years ago.

Um. And I've had every, like, I've had it the same ever since. 'cause God, my God, it was so satisfying. I just fit so much more in there. So I have, I bake a lot, like go through a number of cakes a week. And I, one shelf is all dedicated to, to baking stuff. And I have this whole range of Oxo pop, um, clear containers in there.

So they have like a vacuum kind of seal and they're easy to open and they're all fit, like standard shelf width and height. So every single. 

Inch in that is the all is packed together like a

Tetris cube. It's so satisfying. So all my flour, icing, sugar, different types of sugar baking powders, all that kind of stuff is up there, and I just feel like it stays fresher for longer and I can.

Fit so much more. 'cause like if that's all in bags, I'm not fitting half of what I 

Kate: Yeah, for 

Jen: because, you know, it needs to be in like vertical straight, uh, blocks that take up all the [00:22:00] space. So that's really satisfying. And then I also have on my kind of middle shelf, which is my cooking stuff as opposed to baking stuff.

Um, I don't have things decanted into containers there, but what I do have is a couple of rotating, like they're kind of like little lazy 

Kate: Oh yes. Yeah. Yeah. Is that the Joseph? Joseph one 

Jen: No, they're from the, the home edit. 

Kate: a home edit. 

Jen: Yeah, so a 

few of those, so like all my jars are in that, and so I can rotate that around and just access everything really easily and really quickly.

And then I also have all my teas and, uh, coffees and everything are in, there's like a clear pullout drawer, so it's kinda like adding a drawer and then it's stacked, so on top of it is another turntable. So it all 

Kate: there's no wasted 

Jen: it all just gives me so much extra

space.

and kind of modularized a little bit as well.

So like, if I was to design out a shelf like that, it would just be. I dunno, you wouldn't be able to because like when am I gonna buy a tall bottle versus a short jar? With this you can kind of move things around and you can have different sized jars and bottles and stuff. So 

Kate: Do 

Jen: I'm pretty obsessed with my pantry [00:23:00] is where is what I'm driving to

here. 

Kate: Yeah, but like using up space like that, and especially like yours in a smaller house like, or a smaller kitchen area, like it's so satisfying to use the space and I just think that's why like people are probably like, it's fucking a load of boxes. Like that's a big deal, but it's just like your use of space is so much better.

You don't have all these half bags of crap like leaking and whatever. It keeps things like organized, keeps things tidy, but then it keeps the rest of your

house tidy. That's what I find. If I didn't

have 

Jen: keeps my mind tidy, Kate. I just like, honestly 

Kate: It gives me such pleasure, like when things are organized like that.

And I love to do that little reset on like a Sunday, going into Monday. 'cause if I was in Monday and like I hadn't organized kind of like the kitchen and like even that we have a nappy caddy 'cause Jess is still in nappies. Even that like stacking all the nappies and having the wipes and everything is ready and whatever, you know, like, I just think, I dunno.

It makes me happy in 

my house 

Jen: It just

makes life so much easier. I 'cause I honestly, I think. Like discipline sets you free in certain ways. Just getting stuff like spending some time getting your ducks in a row just make like, it just makes so much, [00:24:00] it's like going to the gym. It's like an hour of work would just, the next 23 hours are better.

Do you know like the 

payoff is unreal. I will say. I didn't get these sponsored, but their, I love them so much. Joseph. Joseph in general, just their range of stuff for organizing. So I have this. It's like I think that sits under the shelf. It just hooks onto the shelf above it and sits right under it and it carries four, you know, the rolls of CL 

Kate: Cling phone. Yeah. 

Jen: and tinfoil and all that

obsessed. And then I have another thing that sticks onto the back of a cabinet door and it holds two, uh, chopping boards. And I just find that deeply satisfying 'cause that is space that is otherwise totally 

Kate: And then your countertop. Your countertop is always like tidy and looks nice and the hooks are always well dressed and like I just think, yeah, they're not for nothing because like, I really do think it makes your whole house look nicer as a result.

Jen: Yeah. Yeah, it makes that easier. Go, we, you mentioned labeling, and I know you have a label maker. Do you label stuff in general, like even clothes or homewares [00:25:00] or 

Kate: Um. 

Jen: not need to? cause you have the 

Kate: Well, like if I have the clear boxes and stuff like that, I wouldn't bother obviously, but like pantry stuff I do. Yeah. I have 

like, do you know I don't keep shoe boxes all the time, but do you know if like there was a really fancy box of shoes or for some, some reasons, you know, like the real heavy, fancy looking boxes.

Like I have a couple of those. Like one is bulbs and batteries and it's labeled and one is like picture hanging stuff and that's labeled, 

do you know? So stuff like that, like I do have boxes for those and they're stacked in like the utility press or whatever. And um, I have like a cleaning caddy.

But you know, 

Jen: Oh yeah. Oh, 

Kate: so it's got the handle and everything, so you just take it out.

'cause otherwise you just have a load of bottles under your sink and they're like falling all over the place.

Jen: Yeah, I think it's, CIA is my one 

Kate: Mine 

is from home Dakin. It's very fancy. It's, you know, the, the soap brand, the hand soaps and all that. 

Jen: Yeah. 

Kate: it's really nice. It's like a metal one as well. It looks very cool. You

could nearly have it out nearly. 

Jen: I do leave mine it. So my sink is like, is is dark, it's like a gun, metal, black or [00:26:00] whatever. And the little caddy that sits into it is also black, so you just can't really see it. So I don't put it away. So it has like a little, you know, scrubber brush. And then, um, it has a black, uh, push top, you know, bottle, um, for my washing of liquid. 

Kate: Yeah. 

Jen: So I can just leave all that in the sink and I do, 'cause I can't really see it.

Kate: Another thing that are cheapest chips, but I actually think they do. Wonders in

decluttering is just like stick on hooks

Jen: Oh, command hooks. I have 

Kate: but not even command hooks. I had ones that are like two little rollers that grip your like mop or sweeping brush. Do you know those? So it just sticks on like a pad and then you could just clip in your whatever.

And I think we spoke about it on our utilities episode, the dice and dock that you can, you know, put up in a wall or in a press or whatever. Those kind of little organization bits are so, so handy as well. Um, all stuff like, it's just all getting cluttered outta the way. And your magic press, I know we spoke about this in our utilities episode, but your magic, [00:27:00] your magic little door to Narnia that you open up and there's 1700 million things in there and Perry's lead and 27 million shopping bags 

in a 

Jen: It is a wardrobe. This is listener. If you haven't listened to our utilities episode, this is a 10 centimeters wide press that I have in my kitchen. That is, it would've been kind of just leftover panel space between the end of my fridge and the exterior wall. Um, and Dawn and Savvy kitchens and fairness doors like would put a door on this and it'll be storage space and oh my God, the amount of storage.

But it is 'cause I have so many hooks in there. Like anything you can attach to the wall is a winner. 

Kate: Yeah, for sure. 

Jen: love those.

Kate: I 

Jen: Or, um, the over the door organizer. Things are brilliant too. Like if you have a utility, especially we spoke about this utilities episode, but for organizing something they're on. Unreal. How do you feel about like pegboards for hanging stuff?

Do you have like any little pegboard basket thingies anywhere? I know. I always think I want one and then I 

Kate: I'm trying to think. Do I, or did I, do you know what a great actually, um, it's more [00:28:00] kind of display, but like it helped me organize my stuff as well. Like I love an open shelf in a kitchen because it's stuff that I kind of. Get every day, but it's off the counter, if that makes sense. So it's like easy to get to.

I don't have to open a press to get to it, but you know, the picture ledge shelves, if you, if you haven't, if you haven't done open shelves in your kitchen, those picture ledge shelves that are only like 10, 12 centimeters deep are amazing. They actually fit so much. Like I had two of them in my, my house before we renovated, there were two 90 centimeter ones.

S up on top each other on the wall. I had like wine glass on my head, salt and pepper shaker. I had chopping boards. I had like it, it's amazing how much fits on a little skinny shelf like that. And they're all just at hand there. And like, if you're kind of smart enough and you dress it enough, it can actually look kind of nice, nice display.

But you're not, it's stuff, you're not like leaving it in the counter shop. 'cause you, you use it a lot, but it's still

easy to hand and grab, you know 

Um. 

Jen: Do you know what's kind of nice too is because they usually have like a little lip that you can't really see the [00:29:00] dust 

Kate: Yeah, 

Jen: Not that I'd be the type of person to let dust

accumulate on my kitchen shelves, but you know, sometimes, like every second day I feel like things get dusty 

Kate: Um, I never got 

dusty 'cause my wi my wine glasses were up there, so it was 

fine. 

Jen: Yeah.

Kate: Good turnover there, you know. 

Jen: One way to guarantee j.

Kate: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, just put wine glasses on it, it's fine. 

But tell me, are you like, I know you said you had a maybe box. 

Are you sentimental with stuff in 

general 

Jen: Not a 

bit. 

Kate: Me neither. 

Jen: no. 

Kate: I like people say that about houses and everything, like, do you not Ms.

House? I'm like, no. Like it's stuff like at the end of the day, it's

things I'm not sentimental about it. 

Jen: if if it's like, there are things that I will take a photograph of and then I will release 

Kate: Yeah. 

But the amount, the amount of things I've taken photographs of or screenshots of that I think I'll

remember and they're in my go. They're in my 

Jen: but it 

lets me, it kind of, 

Kate: 12,000 photos somewhere that I 

will never see 

Jen: kind of gives you permission to throw it away [00:30:00] or something. Do you know? 'cause I'm like, I've captured it and now it has gone.

Kate: yeah. But you know, the Marie Kondo thing, like touch something and if it sparks joy, you can keep it.

But I wouldn't say there's a lot of pings for me that spark

joy, like so I 

don't 

Jen: no. Yeah. Yeah, I, I know what you mean and, but I, no, I just, I think I'm just too practical. I like useful things, useful things spark joy. My kitchen egg gives me joy because I use it

every day, 

Kate: Do you have ati? Do you have a time limit on like if you haven't used

something or worn something in a certain amount of time 

that 

Jen: So I tried this in my wardrobe and I haven't

successfully done it, and I dunno why it's not working, but it isn't, I think I just haven't completed the task yet. But I did start putting everything I wear in my wardrobe on one side. So like every time I put something back, it goes into like a certain, like one side, like on the right hand side, let's say.

So theoretically everything on the left hand side up to a certain point should be dumped because it's been sitting there for years and I haven't touched it and it should just go. So anyway, I ordered my off, my off hand bag is actually is [00:31:00] here, so I need to fill it and send it back. So that's my job for the weekend 

Kate: so you're gonna do big, clear out like 

me 

Jen: clear out the left side of my wardrobe and just get rid

of it. 

But I 

do 

Kate: be so happy next time they come, they're gonna be like, wow, everything is so organized. I'll be like, I know. I

went through everything. Throughout 

everything. 

Jen: But I do, I don't struggle with sentimental stuff that much, really, but I struggle with like electronics. So if there is a, an old lamp or if there is a plug for something or a lead for an item that hasn't seen daylight in 20 years and doesn't work anymore, I'm like, I can't throw that away. A word I put that, do you know?

So I struggled with 

Kate: a, are you an electrical lead? Hoer like my 

husband. 

Jen: I definitely

Kate: he's got like two boxes full of electronics that like, I don't know, and he goes like, that's my box of leads. Like, you can't throw that out. You never know when you might need something from there. I'm like, do you even know what's in this box?

He was like, no, but I know if I went looking for something, it would

be in there. I'm

Jen: Yeah.

Kate: oh my 

Jen: I don't know why I can't throw it away.

The other thing I have a box of, and this is [00:32:00] Shameless and I don't care, is a re-gifting box. So I'll get items and they'll be perfectly lovely and somebody will love them 

and I will put them in a box and someday

I'll be, you know, somebody will be calling over or I'll be heading over to someone's house last minute and I will have forgotten to get a little present and I'll dip into the little box and I might get a little candle or a little something nice.

And um, 

Kate: nothing wrong 

with that. 

Jen: it's just feeding into sustainability earlier,

aren't I? 

Kate: Absolutely. Absolutely. There's nothing wrong with that. Just it's not for you. Doesn't mean it's not for everyone. And sometimes you might get something and you're like, do you know who'd love

that? Somebody else? And you have someone in mind. 

Jen: Yeah, and I love when someone like, 'cause that does happen to me a good bit, that some, you know, when the girl like Katie cheats you be like, oh, I got this and it doesn't suit me. But I knew, I know it'd be nice on you and I kind of like it more 

than something I would've about myself. Do you know, maybe I just trust 

other people's 

Kate: you have any 

other 

candles you can send, send them away. I'm always, I always use all my candles.

So, 

Jen: Yeah, I don't often be regifting candles now. I don't like them. I'm trying to, I'm looking around [00:33:00] my house here even, like, what else do I struggle to work? I just, I'm like, I think I'm just very, like, again, by necessity because my house is so small, I'm just on top of it and like to a bit of too much degree.

Like I be there cleaning around my boyfriend when he's cooking. Do you know when it's annoying? Like, I like everything. I just, I don't want anything 

Kate: Yeah.

Jen: Getting on top of me. And that's easy to say when you have no kids 'cause you've a lot of time to be cleaning up and it's easier, there's less to do.

But I do tend to stay fairly on top of it.

Kate: Yeah, I like to like, I mean, sometimes I've cleaned and then my house looks like it's upside down, like five minutes later. Like my two are actually in cahoots at the moment. Two. Break me down. I think like they've emptied two full things of talcum powder on different days in my house in the last few weeks, and I put them away like I thought hidden,

Jen: Oh God.

Kate: like destroyed 

Jen: Is it, could you call it a science 

Kate: I literally pulled the sticker off a new thing of talcum powder the [00:34:00] other night. They had their bath, used a bit of talcum powder, got them in their PJs. They were having a little dance party jumping on my bed. I thought I was subtle and I hid the talcom powder in my underwear drawer at the back.

Matt obviously saw me do that. Take it out. Took it out like a minute later. My whole bedroom was just a cloud of dust, like talcom powder, the whole thing, the whole full thing. I went into the bathroom to empty the bath and then came back in. I'd say it can't have been more than a minute. The music was still going.

I thought there were still jumping on the bed. Whole place is like Patrick, so I'm like. I'm tidying to the best of my ability at the moment. 

Jen: Yeah, 

Kate: Sometimes they make it more difficult.

Jen: but I think if Marie Kondo can release it and let it go, 

Kate: Yeah. but it's still nice. It's still nice to have organization behind the scenes because then when you do the tidy up, it is a little bit quicker, I think, and you can kind of, if you have those boxes or those smart Ottomans or whatever, when the kids go to sleep, I'm like, everything goes into their [00:35:00] box, blah away.

And then you can kind of relax in a bit of a serene, tidy environment to some extent.

Jen: Yeah. Yeah. 

Kate: So guys 

Jen: I think you to give yourself a bit of a break as well, I

suppose, is the key to the whole thing. And I also think like. It feels so monumental. And I think just pick a, pick a small little thing to do and just do that. 

And then more often than not, I find the frenzy overtakes me. And then I'm, the whole thing is blitzed.

But like, you know, sometimes you just have, don't have time for it. And it feels like you either have to do like a full giant, clear out, or you have to do nothing. And I love your thing about just take a section. Just take, just do this room today 

Kate: Do your, do your, do your shit shit drawer, take it out, or the basket of crap. I also love, I think it was, um, Judy Gilbert, the, the lady that's klossy and code, those clear boxes. She had a video open her Instagram a while back, and it was just like the one touch thing. So when you come in, you'd save your keys in your hand.

Don't put them on a table to then have to tie them away later or whatever. Put them in a plate. Like everything should kind of have the place. [00:36:00] And if you get that in your mind, you're like, don't throw your coat down that you have to come back and put it away later.

Just put it away.

Jen: Yeah. Just put it away. 

Kate: I know 

it's easier said 

Jen: Or, and also just make it easy

for yourself to put it away. Like we, this is back to design and layout and, and storage and everything, but like, try to make it easy for your, for you. Like, don't get annoyed if people are living shoes in your hallway all the time. Like, put, find a place to put the shoes that is in the place where people would kick off the shoes.

Like that's the ideal there. Or like. Have coat hooks where you leave your coats or close to where you leave your coats. Or like, you know, if somebody isn't putting them in a closet, then maybe get rid of the door and just have open hooks or something like, like make life easier for yourself, you 

Kate: If there's always coats on your new post at the bottom of your stairs, it means the hooks aren't close enough. 

Jen: Yeah, exactly. 

Kate: That's the way I think. You know, but yeah, I know it seems like effort, but actually will probably make you feel better in the long run and make your life a little bit easier. It's just a bit of a

hurdle to get over to the start.

Jen: Yeah, there's, there's like, there is [00:37:00] nothing, there's few things in my life that feel so good as like a big clear out or a big clean, and just the feeling afterwards is so calm. Like it's just, it's 

heaven 

Kate: Yeah, 

All 

my, all my fluffy, fluffy tells now in my hop press us.

Jen: But yeah, it's, it just 

Kate: Yeah. Yeah. But that's 

my, 

Jen: guys, store things. 

Kate: That's my organization. Marie Kondo. We could be the Irish Marie Kondos now that she's gone.

Jen: And be ruthless. I always think as well, it's such a, and this like, it's, it's a much easier job when there's somebody else around. Like if someone comes over and just helps you throw something away, I just love that.

Kate: Oh, the girls. What are the

Irish girls called? Assorted affair. 

Jen: Oh yeah,

Kate: can come in and just organize my ass for me 

moving if 

Jen: please please do it. 

Kate: I, but I always see them doing these wardrobe clearances and I'm like, I don't have that much clothes. Like I'd love to have a wardrobe like that, but I just don't have that much clothes.

I have three pairs of stilettos that are never gonna get worn, that I haven't worn for like years. [00:38:00] Probably pre

covid, I'd say. Like, why am I still carrying them around?

Jen: I'm gonna tell you all right now that I will never wear sleds again. 

Kate: I don't think I ever will. 

Jen: It's just not happening. 

Kate: My feet spread too much when I was pregnant.

Jen: All 

Kate: the shoes out. Yeah. Well hope, 

hopefully it'll help you, uh, that will help you

guys organize your houses. 

Or maybe 

Jen: Yeah, get a playlist. Get a good playlist that makes you

feel ruthless and confident. You're like, Chuck it. Just get rid of it. And if you're feel guilty about throwing it away, make just realize that it's wasting space in your wardrobe and somebody might get a great wear out of it 

Put it to use. 

Kate: Go to vented, go to adverts, go to

your charity shop, 

or get 

one of your 

Jen: you do it once, like you get addicted,

like once you've set up your adverts account or your vintage account or whatever and you've gotten used to, you know, just taking the two or three pictures or whatever you need, just get it up there like, and then you're gonna be addicted. Everything's gonna go up there.

It's 

Kate: can I just say to people like, all that Crystal, from your wedding, [00:39:00] you don't want it. Just throw it out. Just throw it

out. Nobody fucking wants it. 

Jen: Somebody might, and they might use it and they might love 

it. 

Kate: yeah. Don't 

Jen: You never know. yeah. exactly. If it's sitting there taking no space, it's taking no space in your mind. It's taking no space in your house. It's

taking no space in your mind. 

Kate: It's still true.

Very true.

Alright, we'll 

talk to you guys 

Jen: Enjoy your labeling and your vac bagging. Enjoy it all

Kate: I'm gonna be two weeks closer to moving

when I would run back next time. 

Jen: class. Oh my God, that's so exciting. Okay, I can't wait for our movie in episode.

Kate: I know. Yeah, yeah.

Jen: The moving. We'll definitely do an episode on moving and like packing, getting movers. That should be, that would be a great

one. 

Kate: Yeah. Yeah. A live one

of me pulling my hair out. 

Jen: dears, blood, possibly 

Kate: guys in two weeks. 

Jen: See you in two 

Kate: Bye. 

Jen: See

Outro

Kate: If you found that episode useful, please do us a huge favour by giving us a like and a [00:40:00] few stars and especially click that subscribe button. Thank you!