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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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949 replies

educatingarti · 02/06/2013 15:47

This is the new minimalist/decluttering thread! I hope everyone likes the minimal title!

OP posts:
hobnob57 · 01/08/2013 18:23

Ah, found you all again! We are back from the Wild West thoroughly beached and familyed out. It was scorchio and gorgeous. The highlight is a holiday cottage with no TV, wifi or washing machine. Just minimalist family fun. Love it.

Since we got back 2 days ago, I have posted my blasted baby swing on free cycle and have two potential takers. I have sold a balance bike.

BUT MIL has been advance birthday shopping for the kids and produced a new bike, a new balance bike and a new scooter. We have some thinking to do about how to rejig our now massive collection.
And I bought 4 items of clothing and a mug, so thanks to checking in here I now remember I need to clear out accordingly.
And DH bought a car. So the other one will need to go but that is a given.

My mum is a sentimentalist and it was a challenge not to revert to her ways, when the sentimental attachment to items is held in such high regard in the family and throwing out is tantamount to dancing on graves. But saying that she talked of giving me some of my dads stuff to pass on to my kids, which I am AOK about because that is properly sentimental to me.

fuzzpig · 01/08/2013 19:27

Welcome back hobnob, glad you had a nice holiday!

I've accomplished a little today. While our homestart volunteer was here I managed a bit in the DCs' room, taking stuff off the bed and gathering all the cuddly toys (which really need a cull...), I also found a bag of tops that I got from my mum, it must have been over a year ago Blush and they've just been lurking! 2 of the 4 have gone in the chazzer pile as they didn't look great.

I also got rid of a few more of the DCs' books - they are in great condition but they aren't cherished and although I do love the author (Lauren Child of Charlie and Lola fame) these particular titles really aren't that special. I also found a few Disney books. We absolutely LOVE Disney, Pixar and all that when it comes to DVDs, but the book-of-the-films are always a bit shit really and although the DCs love receiving/choosing them, they basically never return to them.

hobnob57 · 01/08/2013 19:28

Does anyone else get told not to throw out x's bit of furniture/stuff if and when it will be passed down to you? I would love to be in a position not to, where I could have a big house with period pieces and eat with silver cutlery, but I am not and don't foresee the situation where I will be. My aunt ended up with whole rooms in her house dedicated to inherited/'rescued' stuff. She is into antiques, but doesn't ever do anything with them other than mull over them once in a while with my mum.

harrietspy · 01/08/2013 19:46

I don't have that with furniture, hobnob, thank goodness. I mean I haven't inherited any.

I've made amazing progress today while ds1 at football and ds2 doing Lego and Minecraft. Freecycled some wine glasses, ruthlessly chucked loads of crap, washed three big storage jars that can double as vases, shredded a crate full of paper... I would happily say goodbye to the big jars but as a concession to Sport I haven't... I've put them in the bathroom with cotton wool balls in one, soap in another and candles in the 3rd. I can't quite decide if that looks really naff or is quite lovely and useful!

fuzzpig · 01/08/2013 20:33

It sounds nice Harriet! Pretty and useful too. I wish I had space to do stuff like that in the bathroom, ours is tiny and there's only a very small windowsill. I still have some way to go in decluttering the various products that stuff the baskets on there.

I forgot to say I managed to get rid of even more stuff in the kitchen. Particularly mismatched Tupperware and mugs. It's crazy, when DH and I were first together (been 10 years) we bought some lovely mug sets cheap in the Disney store, specifically for The Future when we had DCs. We rediscovered them last year when mum and dad (we lived with them for our first 4yrs) cleared out their attic but they are now on a high shelf as they feel too lovely to use. It's ridiculous! Why have something if we are too scared to use it? Everything comes to an end sometime, we may as well actually use and enjoy them in the meantime.

fuzzpig · 01/08/2013 20:35

What I meant was, we've got rid of more random ancient mugs and will use the nice Disney ones instead.

Hobnobs thankfully I don't have much to inherit, clutter wise. I am very very glad my parents (well, my mum at least) are finally getting to grips with their stuff.

iWillDoItInAMinute · 01/08/2013 20:58

Hobnob I'm getting better at making judgement calls on 'sentimental' things. I can't part with toys my DM and DDad gave to my kids before they died. But I've realised this doesn't mean I have to keep everything else.

Also my bottom drawer contains 2 jumpers and 1 cardigan that were my DMs and when I'm extra cold or upset I like to wear them and I can still smell her perfume on them, they are my fav clothes but I'm getting pretty good at reducing the rest of them.

I also have my grandmothers books on a shelf, I never met her but I have these huge leather bound books that connect me to her, but I can now donate paperbacks I know I'll never read again.

It's getting easier to banish what's not important Smile

iWillDoItInAMinute · 01/08/2013 21:23

Inherited furniture makes life difficult. DHs aunt died and after helping his sisters to clear the house, came home with a huge musty smelling chest of drawers and a washstand which has a really heavy marble top.

After we put a shower cubicle in the bathroom there wasn't any room for the washstand so it was moved into our bedroom, where it sat for 2 years.

DH finally realised we have no space for it, so asked his sister if she would like it. She said yes, but still hasn't collected it, it's been 7 months Hmm

I cannot use the drawers, the smell I just can't get rid of Sad

But DH wants to keep them, they are huge!

fuzzpig · 01/08/2013 22:24

Getting rid of the less important stuff can only serve to make the remaining items more special :)

harrietspy · 02/08/2013 07:49

I like your thinking with the Disney mugs, fuzz.

Thinking of MrsP and hoping things start moving soon...

fuzzpig · 02/08/2013 09:14

Shock at the thunderstorms today. 2 very disappointed DCs as we were planning a whole day with the paddling pool on our tiny lawn.

Hoping to feel a lot more awake later today so we can get lots done while the weather is so bad.

harrietspy · 02/08/2013 09:44

Best laid plans and all that... Doctor is sending us to hospital so that ds can get xray for suspected fracture in wrist Sad.

I was reading one of miss minimalist's books on kindle last night - 77 pence from amazon - and find her v practical and inspiring...

fuzzpig · 02/08/2013 09:49

Oh no Harriet! :( Hope he's ok (not just so you can quickly get back to decluttering, obviously :o)

I finished reading 'the idle parent' by Tom Hodgkinson yesterday. Found his views a little extreme/overly negative in places, but mostly a good read that had me nodding along with the principles.

BeCool · 02/08/2013 10:05

News Flash!!!! Change of habit alert.

I broke my last remaining large glass (big G&T size). I admit it's so nice to have something I need to buy. I only need 2-3 large glasses (I have 4 smaller ones for general use but I do like a tall drink from time to time) and I'm in no rush to replace them - but I will keep an eye out for ones I really like, only buying enough that will fit in the allocated space. Wow I'm a changed woman!

harrietspy · 02/08/2013 10:22

That's amazing, BeCool!

I've noticed that I just do not want to buy anything if I can possibly avoid it.

Thanks for the concern, fuzzpig. Painkillers seem to be working and he's in good spirits. Just waiting for my sister to get here to take care of ds2 so I can head off with ds1. It's his first trip to A&E and he's nearly 11, so it's not too bad...

BeCool · 02/08/2013 10:54

yes my attitude to shopping has completely changed through this process. It's a wonderful and unexpected gift.

And now I need something I am looking forward to buying 2-3 glasses. It sounds so silly I guess, but it shows a massive change in me.

fuzzpig · 02/08/2013 12:13

Not silly at all! You deserve nice things and you will enjoy using them because you won't have just bought them on a whim, or because they were a bargain etc.

I think the 'not buying as much' is going to be the hardest part of this whole process for me. I do feel differently already, but still a long way to go. This Christmas will be the real test! I've never gone hugely overboard but could certainly reduce further without feeling like the DCs are missing out. They don't see any commercials as we don't watch tv, so that certainly helps. So far there's been none of the "must have toy" issue (though eldest is only 6 so obviously peer pressure will get worse in the future... Sigh)

It's lovely to see how much nicer the DCs are playing now there is a bit more space. We have done painting and playdoh for the first time in months. I've also gone through all the accessories and ditched loads. I was sucked into buying all the weird and very specific little extras like pattern rollers, squeezy garlic-press shaped things etc. They take so much imagination out of the process as it does everything for you. And I KNEW that it was going against my principles when I bought them. Anyway, now they just have shaped cutters like animals and letters, a few normal tools, a small rolling pin each, 6 paints, paint pots and normal brushes in different sizes. That is plenty!

I no longer care about wasted money. Because it is just as much of a waste to keep the stuff but get no use from them, isn't it? I can't even be arsed to try and recoup any of it (eBay etc) TBH, I just want it out. Duplo is pretty much the only exception to this as I know that sells very well.

fuzzpig · 02/08/2013 15:22

Woohoo, one more binbag done, a few big cardboard boxes recycled and a heap of little figures etc in their correct drawers. Might be all for today though as feeling inexplicably unwell Hmm

harrietspy · 02/08/2013 15:29

Ds1 doesn't have fracture. Phew. Friends coming for weekend, so a quick burst of house stuff before they come.

Fuzz, repatriating little lost figures is disproportionately satisfying, I find...

fuzzpig · 02/08/2013 16:06

I agree, though IMO not quite as much as counting puzzle pieces :o

Glad your DS doesn't have a fracture. That would've been a rubbish addition to the holidays!

fuzzpig · 04/08/2013 08:33

This thread is getting rather minimalist itself!

PolkadotRosa · 04/08/2013 08:43

Ha fuzzpig I was thinking the same!
Today I'm minimising the cupboard of all-sorts-of-shite. It tends to house stuff that doesn't seem to have anywhere else to live (which probably means that it should go) I want to reclaim it as a 'cloakroom' effort as once was - so my challenge is to see the floor of it and hang up our coats and not put the stuff out of there somewhere else

fuzzpig · 04/08/2013 08:52

We have quite a few of those cupboards Blush if I actually sorted them out I think most things would have a place!

Need to finish DD's bed today so we can put her mattress back in it. I am getting more ruthless as time goes on and we have a new big pile of chazzer stuff! I also took a bag of old books back to the library yesterday for them to sell.

iWillDoItInAMinute · 04/08/2013 09:43

Good luck Fuzz with the bed and Polka with the mystery cupboard.

I had success with the room full of toys yesterday, sorted through a few more boxes full of random toys and reassigned them to their new home.

Another bin bag full and a few bits for the donate box.

harrietspy · 04/08/2013 12:14

More empty boxes here!