Decluttering one thing a day - Part 9

[SandAndSea]

Welcome to our 9th thread in the Decluttering One Thing A Day series!

As you might imagine, we aim to get rid of one thing a day (or the equivalent, if we miss a few days).

The idea is that aiming low in this way prevents us from getting overwhelmed. It's also sustainable so helps us to develop effective clutter clearing habits which last.

In reality, many of us have found that once we start, we often get rid of far more than just one thing. (But if we don't, that's OK too.)

Everyone's welcome! We're a friendly and supportive bunch, from aspiring minimalists to full-on clutterbucks! We're also pretty green so you'll find lots of recycling, freecycling, donating and selling.

Previous thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3612006-Decluttering-one-thing-a-day-part-8-the-one-where-we-de-tetris-the-cupboard-of-doom?pg=1&order=

[StillBee]

Thanks for the new thread, Sand. Signing in so I don't lose my place, but I'm snowed under with work so the 30-day challenge has fallen by the wayside again. But I have no excuse for not decluttering one thing a day, which is the point of the thread after all.

[Times10]

Thanks for the new thread Sand and congratulations for finishing at your mum’s house! Hope you’re planning something to celebrate all the hard work!

[Nettleskeins]

I'm going to join you, already on the hoarding thread but need a bit more motivation...
Today I have been agonizing over a mattress type dog bed which has been peed on and vomited on but is impossible to wash (too large) and has all the stuffing ripped out (by dog) It is one of three dog beds we have currently, so I've taken thick cover off to reuse, and I am going to bin the inners, but feeling rather guilty about it.

Yesterday I made an enormous pile of books to take to the charity shop. Books I've been meaning to read for ages (obscure history type) but never do. The overloaded bookshelves were wearing me down, something had to go. I'm not going to look in that bag again. I find if you even glimpse the stuff you are recycling, you have to go through all the emotions of giving it up all over again

[PenelopeFlintstone]

Well, I mentioned on the last thread the charity shop drop-off bins where I live. I just dropped my daughter off and went to the shop. Before I could even think about it a man in the car next to me spoke to me. He works at the shop, asked me for my bags, and BOOM!!! 3 ALDI bags gone! That’s the ones I was reluctant to let go of. It was so quick I only saw what was on the top of one of them so I don’t feel bad because I can’t even really remember what was in them!! It’s great

[ListenLinda]

Checking in! Not much done yesterday, DD was at Nursery and DH off work. He took DS to see MIL so I took the opportunity to have a nap!

So, next job living room. What do you all do with DVDs? I don’t think we have watched a DVD for years due to our sky package so quite keen to see the back of these!

Also found a pack of opened nappies, half full in size 2. DS has been in size 3 nappies for about 3 months so why the hell did I keep these? No other babies in the family so looks like they will have to be chucked.

How are you all getting on?

[Mynameisnotthis]

Thanks for the new thread sand and echo the congrats on your mum’s house.

Hi nettle!

Linda we got rid of a load. Musicmagpie maybe or I think we have to the nursery who were collecting them to sell to musicmagpie for fundraising. Re the nappies, do you have a baby bank or similar nearby?

Well done penelope! I’m glad you feel good about it.

I might take some stuff to the dump today. DH is off work and messing with my normal routine

[ListenLinda]

Good idea about the nappies!

Well I have managed to clear some old paperwork out and my purse of a CC long since inactive!

[mastertomsmum]

Recently had our outside painting done and in the front bedroom I felt this meant that I should move away furniture from under the windows and sort through it.

One window had a storage trug full of photos. About 70% were duplicate or not worth keeping. I had been meaning to sort them out for ages. I had 2 empty photo albums on a bookcase, they are now full. My Dad got me a photo storage box from Scotts of Stowe, it's a compact storage system and the rest of the snaps and related stuff to keep have gone in there. It's tiny and fits under the bed. The storage trug was a fold up one so I have folded it up and put it in the cupboard. On top of the storage trug was a basket with my socks in, now the trug is gone I can open a drawer that it was blocking access to. All the stuff in the drawer bar a few bits was stuff I didn't need, so I put my socks in there and the basket in the cupboard.

The other window had a trug full of old handbags. I only wanted 2 of them. Stored the trug, handbags in the wardrobe.

Inspired by having to move the books in the corner by the window in my DS's room, we had a sort through them before any went back. Most were given away.

Ellie

[ListenLinda]

Also, do emails count? Just got rid of 1273 emails, dating back to 2016!
My inbox is looking lovely and not overwhelming 😂

[mastertomsmum]

ListenLinda, they should definitely count. My DH has over 100 unread txt messages on his phone, I'm baffled by this.

[SandAndSea]

Hi everyone! Lovely to see you all on here. And thanks for all the good wishes.

I have to admit that I'm not quite finished at my mum's yet as I still have quite a bit to get to charity. And a bowl of keys to sort out. And a little paperwork. I also want to do a bit of diy before I leave too. It's certainly not much though, compared to how it was and it really does look very clear and organised.

Welcome, @Nettleskeins!

Linda, I'd definitely count emails, so well done on that! As for DVDs, some people on here have used wallets to store them, getting rid of the cases. Others, like me, have sold them or given them to charity.

Willow, I have to ask, what does TIO mean?

[BrutusMcDogface]

Hi all! I’ve dipped in and out of these threads. I’m really going to stick to it this time (she says, again!!) it is always so inspiring reading about the progress of others.

Today I haven’t done any decluttering yet, but I’ve been doing ok the last few days, mainly getting rid of clothes. Really really going to try this time!

[Nettleskeins]

Big bag of books (had to put them in a knapsack to carry them) went to charity shop today. I did buy one paperback but as the man said, in exchange for 15 books that is pretty minimalist I have to confess I also bought a blue and white storage jar and a pink boden checked shirt at the same charity shop...but have to reward myself somehow.
The dog bed has gone irretrievably in the bin outside. I had second thoughts, started washing the "loose" filling half way through the morning and just thought NO NO NO.

[Coldhandscoldheart]

@ListenLinda anywhere that has a bay change, like the GP surgery or a playgroup May keep a small supply of spare nappies and take them off your hands.

We have had the photos done. There are a million bags of shit in the car despite the amount j have previously got rid of.
I managed to fit another two big bags down the Hole - my husband has no idea how much stuff we have that he can’t see :)
May need to do some more decluttering before moving house,

[Coldhandscoldheart]

Tell you what though, although I know that we can’t open a single cupboard without being buried under an avalanche of assorted crap, the house looks lovely.

[SandAndSea]

Oh, Cold, that did tickle me. I can just imagine it.

Thanks, Willow!

@BrutusMcDogface - Welcome! Please do keep posting.

Nettle - Well done on letting that dog bed go! No one needs a dog bed with vomit and wee on it and the stuffing ripped out. One thing which has helped me in similar situations is to tell myself: If you know the charity shop wouldn't want it, then it's time for it to go. I've also found reassuring myself helps too. Just keep telling yourself what you need to hear and when that isn't enough, go for easy wins.

[SandAndSea]

I forgot to give my update, which isn't very interesting tbh. I couldn't get out to the charity shop as it was pouring with rain during my only gap between carer visits and physio assessment etc etc. But, I have collated 'the pile' so it's ready to go. I've also streamlined my shopping and to do lists. I've done some cleaning and I'm going to hit the laundry next.

[RaspberryBlonde]

Hello everyone, mainly just placemarking. I managed to get one item out yesterday which was a plastic container which I took out of the freezer and dropped, whereupon it cracked everywhere. Straight into the bin, so an easy on at least!

So true what people said up thread about not looking in the charity shop bags,, it’s so easy to start reconsidering!

I would also like to get rid of some of our (numerous) DVDs but DH won’t let me despite that pretty much the only ones ever watched are some of the Disney ones. May ask him again.

Most of my decluttering this week will be at work, as were moving floors within the building.we had a couple of hoarders in the team who’ve now left, so I’m going to take the opportunity to go through some of their ‘essential paperwork’!

[SandAndSea]

My mum has this thing about keeping floor cloths for ages on the floor and also brillo pads in pots. I hate this! Thankfully, I accidentally broke the glass brillo pot so that and the brillos have been binned. I've also chucked all the floor cloths. I've realised there's more to go through under the kitchen sink - a couple of boxes of dusters and old bits and bobs. I'm building up to it.

[Coldhandscoldheart]

@SandAndSea I swear some cupboards are actively dangerous.
I did enjoy how sorting your mum’s finished with shifting a piece of unused furniture.

[SandAndSea]

Thanks, Cold. Fingers crossed though! I spoke to a charity today and I think they're going to collect it by the end of the week.

[HungryHazelEyes]

I must be thinking the same as you today Linda I also deleted my emails, but I only had just over 300, also back to 2016 though! I did also create a couple folders for emails I think I need to keep (I'll go through them another time).

[ListenLinda]

I think of it as digital filing