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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. :)

OP posts:
SydneyCarton · 19/04/2021 11:17

I definitely like the idea of slow and steady, one thing at a time. I think today’s project will be to put away all the clean clothes that are lying piled up in various places and some hanging on the line that have dried and can be put away as well.

Joolly3 · 19/04/2021 11:35

I am going to undercoat a small table that was primed ages ago. Hope by the end of the week it will be gloss painted and sitting in its final resting place.

Insidelaurashead · 19/04/2021 11:44

Today is payday for me so my project for today is to sit and pay all my bills, rather than waiting until I remember one at 3am in a weeks time. I hate doing it but it will be a good feeling to go okay, you're done. I'm also going to repot my Yucca because that's a more fun project

17bluebirds · 19/04/2021 12:03

I've managed to get a lunch box for DS. It was not an easy task. At 12 it was a fine balancing act between ones that were 'too babyish' and 'too broing'
Finally settled on a Fortnight one.
And the obligatory argument about why can't he have school lunch like his friends. (It's because almost all of them are on FSM and we don't qualify, but I can't really afford £2.30 a day)

Tomorrow I am back at work, so won't have time for a big project, but I think I will focus on climbing up and removing masking tape from 3 weeks ago, as inspired by a pp. And getting rid of the dead flowers from the boquet I was given last week.

Original poster
BlueLobelia · 19/04/2021 12:14

@Insidelaurashead

Today is payday for me so my project for today is to sit and pay all my bills, rather than waiting until I remember one at 3am in a weeks time. I hate doing it but it will be a good feeling to go okay, you're done. I'm also going to repot my Yucca because that's a more fun project
That is a brilliant thing to do on payday!

(I just paid a bill online I have been putting off until the due date.... ).

I bought a tree fern for a really dark and damp area I do not like instead of the standard roses as it inspired me more in the moment. Today I shall pot that!

Plus I am checking the DCs shower has the full complement of unguents in them. I am not great at checking until a small naked child runs dripping into the kitchen yelling in justified irritation; 'MUM!!!!!'

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 19/04/2021 12:21

So I'm back to report that, thanks to this thread, I did manage to sort out the hellhole that is my sons' clothes. It did take hours.

Apart from physically gathering & sorting through the accumulation of clothes, it's made worse by the younger boy in particular wanting to hold onto clothes that are about 2 sizes too small for him. Much weeping & gnashing of teeth.

Today's crazy in work, and a rushed morning means the kitchen didn't get cleaned, but I'm using a half hour break to tackle that, and today's challenge is to go through a small pile on my counter top of things-that-are-quite-important-but-I-keep-putting-off, and actually action them, instead of looking through them, piling them up again & doing nothing. And they sit teetering for another 2 weeks.

Good luck to all!! & thanks @BlueLobelia for the incentivising thread.

Blackjackontherocks · 19/04/2021 12:25

My project today is to set up my new potting bench at the bottom of the garden, then my next few days projects can be sowing my seed backlog and pricking out!

Fnib · 19/04/2021 12:31

I am enjoying this thread. There's a lot to be said for doing one little project a day.
There are some inspirational ideas on here.
I have sorted out my airing cupboard thanks to this thread 😇

snowdropsandcrocuses · 19/04/2021 12:45

I'd like to join too. Moved house recently and still in disarray. It's so overwhelming I find myself procrastinating and talking myself out of stuff.

Today I 'proper' cleaned the kitchen worktops and cooker.

Tomorrow I will photograph and post two boxes of baby clothes for sale on fb.

Divineswirls · 19/04/2021 14:14

I need to sand and repaint my front door and sand and paint a large cupboard / shelf thingy in the living room but I'm waiting for hotter weather to do these.

I'm also planning to paint the hallway once we decide on a colour. So will need to wash the walls down to prep because I'm going to this properly.

All the interior doors need repainting and I'm deciding whether to pull up the living room carpet or to move everything and get it deep cleaned. The kitchen needs painting too.

My wooden kitchen chairs are half sanded - I think got them free from a friend who lost interest in them - I mean they're fine but could do with some attention

I need to investigate sanding, priming and painting- anyone want to give me some advice re front door and what I presume is a wooden laminated cupboard thing.

I cleared the gutters of moss from DD window with a broom stick and where it was dripping the wooden outside footstep is now rotting a bit - i will see if it's a simple fix

I'm now going to fold plastic bags into little squares to take up less space - I have quite the collection

LlamaGiles · 19/04/2021 15:00

Thank you for this, great idea. I'll be focusing on the garden for now. Today I cleared overgrown brambles and nettles from the corner under a hedge.

Sparklynewname · 19/04/2021 16:22

I’m exhausted! Just stopping for another coffee break and then going to finish off planting out the front.
I still have the back pots to do but I might set myself the target of one each evening this week as I’m aching now.
DH has plans for when he gets home so I will go and make up my bed as the washing will be dried by then.

ChipsRedWhite · 19/04/2021 16:53

It’s not much but today I checked if a colleague wanted some of my kids old games and they do so I can get them out of my house tomorrow!

Slowly, I will get space in my home!

MutteringDarkly · 19/04/2021 17:39

I've ordered pet food. I've also hassled the plumber to come back and try again after he "fixed" a leak the last time...we'll see if this time it's worked!

AdoraBell · 19/04/2021 17:57

Done project- move underwear, jumpers and scarves to drawers.

spagbog5 · 19/04/2021 17:57

I said I was going to clean the skirting boards and do the ironing today but then heard our new fridge freezer is coming tomorrow morning so have emptied and cleaned our old one and then was spurred on to empty all of the kitchen cabinets and check the dates etc.
I'm shattered as I worked till 2 pm but I'm thrilled with what I achieved.
Skirting boards tomorrow as it's my day off .
Thanks so much op

Tocktickclick · 19/04/2021 18:13

I committed to cleaning my car out today (on this thread) and I'm pleased to say I got it done. Tomorrow I will take it to the car wash.

AdoraBell · 19/04/2021 18:41

Just filled a charity bag with clothes, will put that outside tonight for collection tomorrow.

That half of tomorrow’s project, still need to sort another 2 bags. I’ll take those to the recycling bins at Tesco.

Thighdentitycrisis · 19/04/2021 19:35

I love this thread
Can I join?

Today I reclaimed the wfh tax for the 2 years of lockdown!

Thighdentitycrisis · 19/04/2021 19:36

Tomorrow after work, I will do the ironing ☹️

EastofEdna · 19/04/2021 19:40

Today’s project was to remove masking tape from the windows - all done.

Tomorrow I will get the glass scraper on and remove all the masking tape residue and I will continue sanding down the bed.

rosegoldwatcher · 19/04/2021 19:50

Today I found the other two curtain panels, carefully ripped unpicked the header tape and dyed them the same colour as the first two.

I also took down a large framed lino print, cleaned the glass and painted the mount, the colour of which I have disliked for all the time we have had it (31 years.) It looks much better white. I will paint the reddish pine frame too when I can decide on a colour!

sittingonacornflake · 19/04/2021 20:08

Well i said today I would go and buy more bags of bark and I did! Whoop! They're now in my courtyard ready to be used.

Tomorrow is a work day for me and first day back after annual leave (so busy) so I'm going to set a small project of making trail mix bars and putting 1 listing on eBay.

Well done everyone for their productive days.

mum2jakie · 19/04/2021 20:24

I love threads like these! I find them really inspiring even when I don't/can't commit to doing one thing every single day.

Have been really busy at work (from home) today but did stick the washing machine on its highest temperature for an empty wash as I noticed the washing didn't smell too fresh last wash. Quick task but not something that I always remember to do regularly.

Wildernesstips · 19/04/2021 20:26

Done: replaced a belt buckle.
For tomorrow: need to plant the rest of my seed potatoes.