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Original poster

'One project a day' thread

975 replies

BlueLobelia · 18/04/2021 12:51

... many years ago when i was first on MN I started (or maybe just actively participated in, cannot quite recall) a one (house) project a day. It made the most profound difference to my home. The project could be time consuming or not. It could take seconds, minutes or hours. I recall things like changing the lightbulb and lampshade in a hallway table lamp for example as a single day project. One day i also threw away holey and raggedy cushion covers and bought news ones. Little things, that really mattered.

If anyone is interested I wish to start another thread.

Today, as my one project a day, I cleared out my dehydrated and weed-ridden window boxes (2 of them). I put new compost in them and planted them with lobelia (obviously!); red geraniums and some dianthus. I am happy looking out (and in!) my front windows now. :)

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Sparklynewname · 22/04/2021 13:07

Hoovered through the tiled area- I did the edges with the proper Hoover and then released Dobby (my robot vacuum) in there while I hoovered and cleaned out the drawer. Dishwasher finished so is now empty and I have adjusted the dish holder to fit the bowls in. All crockery put away and takes up far less space in the drawer- we could even go from 4 holders to 3!
Babysat a bunch of flowers for my neighbour for a couple of hours as her Mum was on her doorstep when I went out to water my plants and she wasn’t in. They’re now passed over.
DH’s car is ready so will be collecting that later.
Hallway rug was looking quite hairy so have put that in the wash and will now Hoover the hallway.
Maybe clean the front door- inspired by you guys!

Allthefilmsarecrap · 22/04/2021 13:10

Second undercoat on upcycle chair yesterday and I’m just waiting on a delivery of tack cloths so I can start the paint today.

Notnowjo · 22/04/2021 13:12

I try and throw out 1 thing a day, sometimes I can even get the kids to take part, or we have a quick pick up 10 things and put them away, throw out 10 things. That kind of stuff.

Good when it works not so good when it doesn’t i also have a tally of everything i sell on eBay and sometimes keep a tally of things I throw away.

All help to encourage me.

I’ve sold about 45 things so far this year! Is that good?

I’m aiming for 1 a day

MerlinsSaggyLeftTit · 22/04/2021 13:15

I've only just discovered this thread, but I've been accidentally joining in all week - trying to make some progress with the backlog of stuff around the house and garden that seems to have built up over lockdowns and home schooling (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it).

Today I did paperwork. A thrilling hour of shredding with a cup of tea, and I have sorted my MILs continence assessment, filled in my postal vote and booked my smear test.

Yesterday I sorted through the eldest clothes and mucked out under the bunk bed (and mentally apologised to my DP for what I did to my own room as a child) and the day before I cleaned the inside of all the windows.

I'm also sticking to making sure I have all school uniform (including drinks bottles, footwear, pants and socks) present and accounted for the night before which makes the mornings go so much smoother but is so easy to not get round to doing.

LlamaGiles · 22/04/2021 16:51

That's a lovely update @BlueLobelia . Don't feel bad - it's great that he's done it now!

My project for today was to sort out my toddler's clothes, she's moving up a size and I've bought loads of new summer stuff so it was a complete mess. I now have a tidy set of drawers. But also a huge pile of old clothes to sort for sale/giveaway and rags. One job begets another!

SydneyCarton · 22/04/2021 17:32

Tidied a kitchen drawer yesterday - bit of a rush job, but definitely looking much better than previously.

Two small ones today - changing the lightbulb in the DDs bedroom, and dusting and cleaning the TV

rosegoldwatcher · 22/04/2021 18:41

I realise that most of the jobs/projects in my mental list are quite big ones and, being a retired empty-nester, I don't have to fit them into pockets between paid work/child-rearing, but this thread is helping me to actually do things rather than endlessly plan them in my head!

So today I got all of the old, dry dark wax from the big mirror, ready for gilding (when the products arrive) and I did the same to just over half of the fire surround.
Am absolutely filthy now, covered in pine dust.

Next job - a shower and some self-care, followed by an hour in front of the TV (a recorded episode of Too Close.)

Fnib · 22/04/2021 18:42

I washed and re hung my shower curtain today. I also sprayed a sticky lock with wd40.

babypinkelephant · 22/04/2021 19:14

I love this thread, I have a usually chores list and I used to have a long to do list but because of this thread I have cut it right back to one job a day plus my usually chores and I'm finding I get things done quicker and better.

My morning chores are

Clean/feed/water the ducks
Feed/water/clear up the dogs mess (I have five dogs)
Hoover and mop downstairs
Tidy up downstairs
Wipe the kitchen sides down (gets dusty easily with the dogs)
Put a load of laundry on
Put washing up dishes away from the night before
Get toddler lunch ready
Shower
Write a to do/remember me list

Start work at 8-4

In the evenings (after putting toddler to bed)

Water the garden (newly planted)
Sort the animals out for bed time
Do the dishes
Chill!

It's a lot so just doing one extra job like cleaning the loo or hoovering the stairs makes me feel like I'm slowly chipping away at things

yamadori · 22/04/2021 19:20

Today I have sawn up a pallet into suitable pieces to make a bench / plant stand for the garden. I don't know what they make pallets out of, but by gum the wood was hard!

17bluebirds · 22/04/2021 20:37

I managed to make my phone calls, so thats todays ticked off the list.
Tomorrow I have to sort a huge pile.of paperwork that's accumulated on top of the microwave.

Fnib · 22/04/2021 20:38

@rosegoldwatcher thank you for mentioning Too Close. I just watched the first episode thanks to your post. Really good!

Divineswirls · 22/04/2021 20:52

Today I assembled our garden swing seat with DD and it's lovely. We've been sat on it now for ages.
Also managed to catch the recycling guys so could give them extra recycling that was cluttering up the kitchen and wouldn't fit in the recycling bin.

Tomorrow I'll clear up the garden a bit more and attempt to get some earth for my pots and plants. Oh and I need to get some light bulbs.

Chunkymonkey123 · 22/04/2021 21:16

@ToastTriangles some advice for your plant but I’m not an expert.
When they say about roots rotting on plants that’s because what lots of people do is water from the top little and often. You should sit your pot in a bigger bowl that is filled with water with fertiliser in it. Let it sit in it for 20-30 minutes (depending on size of pot). Then let all of the water drain out of the bottom and DO NOT water again until the soil is dry about an inch down. Also make sure it is getting enough light, it needs to be near a window or conservatory, just not a south facing window. Good luck!

YukoandHiro · 22/04/2021 21:18

I love this idea. We've just put our place on the market so I've been running around today doing touch up painting and clearing out the big built in cupboard so it looks decent for showing prospective buyers. I realised how little time it had taken me to do jobs I'd been putting off for ages, and how even those little things made a big difference to how the place feels.
When we move to our new home I'm determined to keep on top of the jobs and keep the place better maintained. I don't know why I've struggled to bring myself to do these things when the result is hugely beneficial to my mental health

Chunkymonkey123 · 22/04/2021 21:20

Today I started painting some posts for the new fence. I also emptied 4 washing baskets 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ of clean clothes.
Tomorrow I need to post 3 parcels, I also need to clean the bathrooms but that doesn’t really count as a new job so I will finish painting the posts tomorrow.

Sparklynewname · 22/04/2021 21:48

I didn’t manage to pot my plants! DS appeared wanting a haircut so I asked him to Hoover the hallway while he was waiting for me to finish cleaning (reader, he did not!).
I have properly cleaned ALL of my bottom kitchen units fronts and the plinth. Also cleaned the flooring throughout and got all the paint splatters removed.
DH has boxed in the pipes in the downstairs loo.

Breathmiller · 22/04/2021 21:56

So i was working all day but i managed to get my door cleaned. And then i halved my email inbox. Didn't get the bill sorted i wanted but did loads of extra work for my business restarting.

My dh is on board and steamed the wallpaper off the living room.

BeautifulandWilfulandDead · 22/04/2021 22:00

Yes! This is exactly what I need, I'm in. I'm mid renovation, part contractor, part DIY and the DIY bit has not made much progress in April. I commit to one house related project, big or small, per day. Tomorrow it will be stripping wallpaper in DDs bedroom.

ShinyHatStand · 22/04/2021 22:10

What a fab idea.
I've kind of been doing this. It not managed something everyday.

Tomorrow is a busy work day but I will tidy all the crap that's lying about in the garden and get it all in the shed/garage.
Will only take 10 mins but has needed doing for ages.

2020nymph · 22/04/2021 23:11

My toddler is just going into the next size up of clothes so I had a big sort out and then rearranged it all. The clothes that are too worn out have been bagged up for textiles recycling collection next week and the rest of the clothes he has grown out of have been donated.

ToastTriangles · 22/04/2021 23:21

@Chunkymonkey123 thankyou so much! That's going on my list to do for this weekend.

DownUdderer · 23/04/2021 04:54

Today I've scrubbed clean an awkward toy.

Original poster
BlueLobelia · 23/04/2021 06:01

Morning all.

I cleared the area around my waterbut, disturbing a number of snails that I relocated to near the compost bin where the badgers have their set (thus we do not use it for compost!).

Today I will start a bigger job that I hope to finish by the end of the weekend- sanding a wooden garden bench and then re-varnishing it. Today I will start the sanding.

OP posts:
Original poster
BlueLobelia · 23/04/2021 06:32

Oh- and on a more personal note I am trying to apply the small cumulative effects to my health as well. I am 3 stone overweight but if I 'diet' it triggers my binge eating. So I am going to just make one change- which is drinking only calorie free drinks- water; herbal teas and water. No other changes and I will weigh myself on the 1st of the month. That's the plan anyway......

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