Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Decluttering in 2017- A carrier bag a day

328 replies

Snap8TheCat · 01/01/2017 12:11

I read about this method in 2015 and gave it a try last year, it was mostly sucessful and I kept a track of what I had got rid of on my phone. It was interesting to look back at the end of the year to realise I missed none of it!

I'd like to do it all again for 2017, perhaps even more committed this year!

I like lots of the other decluttering methods such as KonMarie or Flylady and do incorporate many of their rules but I also know that getting rid of a carrier bag a day is easier for me to fit in to my life.

I'm a childminder working 4 days a week 8-6pm and have 3 dc of my own, 13,10 and 6. Dh is a shift worker so our lives are busy and the house can get out of control quickly with the mindees and my job.

I'm looking for anyone to join me, anyone who likes the idea of decluttering but always feels they fail as they don't have the time. This is literally one carrier bag a day, either a large item like a toy or a quick sort out of a kitchen drawer whilst waiting for the kettle to boil. Just trying to stay on top of the flow of stuff that constantly enters our home.

January 1st and I have got rid of two plants on my kitchen that we're dying. I was desperately trying to keep them alive but realise I'm crap and that and they depress me every time I see them.

Anyone else? Smile

OP posts:
kwick · 02/01/2017 14:42

Oooo please may I join?
I may struggle with a bag a day - as I am often away for work - but a bag a week might be doable.

I live in a really small flat which is full of my siht prized possessions but I need more space!!!!

Cagliostro · 02/01/2017 14:50

Sounds like a plan!

We made pretty good progress over the last few months as we prepared for a landlord inspection and obviously Christmas but now they are done I am mindful that we don't lose momentum.

A little a day is good for me, I have a disability that means huge decluttering sessions are risky for my health.

At mum's for a few days, will be on it when we get back!

Vinorosso74 · 02/01/2017 17:06

Peaceloveandbiscuits yes I'm struggling to get DP on board! It makes it difficult as I will get to points I can't continue if he's not on board and the clutter doesn't seem to bother him as much as me.

peaceloveandbiscuits · 02/01/2017 17:58

Filled a bag with junk out of the bathroom cabinet that I haven't used because someone gave it to me and I don't like it. What the actual fuck?!
Also sorted a few toys to either bin or sell. Nothing has actually made it to the bin yet, though, so I don't think it counts yet Confused

officerhinrika · 02/01/2017 18:06

I gave it a go today. I filled half a bin bag with random bits from my bedroom "that might come in handy" which never will. There are quite a few bagfuls to go but it feels do-able.
My kids are 19 and 24, there ids no longer any need to save potential craft materials! Even for me.

moretea · 02/01/2017 18:52

Great work everyone, thanks for inspiring me Snap. This seems manageable and I need to make some space. Today's bag has been left over craft project bits and yesterday I let go of the packaging I was keeping to reuse, but would probably not use for ages anyway.

SnugglySnerd · 02/01/2017 18:54

Great idea. I've got a pile on the go in our bedroom of old clothes and books which are destined for the charity shop and I binned a lot of rubbish from a kitchen cupboard today, empty cleaning products, ancient dusters and the like.

CamdenTownie · 02/01/2017 18:58

I did it!

This morning I popped into town for an eyebrow wax and picked up a few new tops for dad, stopped by at Aldi (bad move) where I purchased a new self basting roaster - who knew I needed one?

Anyway we came home and had a massive clear out it of dd's wardrobe and chest of drawers, which means we have one recycling sack for the charity shop and one to pass on to a friend, so definitely more going out than coming in.

Tomorrow my aim is to tackle my own wardrobe Confused not sure how that'll go.

JoylessFucker · 02/01/2017 19:01

Yup, I'm in too, although I'm aiming for one bag a week like kwick. My landlord visited and laughingly commented that I needed a bigger flat, but he didn't want me to leave and find one!

Original poster
Snap8TheCat · 02/01/2017 20:33

Well done to everyone. I love that it's so simple. They'll be days where you don't get around to filling your bag but likewise there could be days where you have a bigger purge and make up for it.

Keep chucking! Grin

OP posts:
SweetGrapes · 02/01/2017 20:43

Ooh! Can I join please? A bag a day is just my thing. I was trying to do a shelf a day so that will def give me a bag a day.
I have tried flylady etc in the past but am never disciplined enough to carry on for long. But this is nice and easy - I hope!

Original poster
Snap8TheCat · 02/01/2017 21:26

Of course! Welcome :-)

I'm going with the hope that less stuff = easier and quicker to clean. Also as I'm clearing out drawers or whatever, I'm giving them a quick wipe out. So a bit of a spring clean too!

OP posts:
2boysnamedR · 03/01/2017 11:49

I will try too. I'm doing one item a day for a year with no buying either, this might start me off on the right foot

Rednailsandnaeknickers · 03/01/2017 12:00

I'd love to join. My main problem is paperwork. When I had PND I had a real struggle to deal with/cope with anything paper related and this habit has become rather entrenched.
I have bags full of mail/junk/goodness knows what at bottom of wardrobes etc. I've now gone to paperless statements as much as possible but still need to declutter/file/shred loads. Might not get a bag a day done but a bag a week sounds good, as I would have to check I'm not throwing out anything essential for my taxes etc as I go through.

Vinorosso74 · 03/01/2017 14:22

Got 3 bags of textiles and 1 of shoes for recycling all ready for dump run-to do later in the week/weekend.
Got another partly filled bag for charity shop, will drop this off once full.

MardAsSnails · 03/01/2017 14:34

I'm aiming for a bin bag a week.

This week will be rather severe though. An old knackered single bed poor old Labrador will have to use his dog bed now and chest of drawers that had absorbed dog piss From when our old boy became incontinent sniff, I'm sad still

I'm with you on the only counting when you've actually got rid of it. Weeks ago I sorted old unused collars, leads, etc into a bag to take to the local rescue. It's still in the utility room. At weekend it'll be gone to the rescue, along with 10 old pillows for bedding. Why I have 10 currently unused pillows I don't know - I still have 4 on each bed and 4 spare ones in the cupboard for use on the air bed when needed!

Aim for before the end of Jan is to go through the spare room wardrobes and get rid of a couple of bin bags to charity shops

Also the understairs cupboard needs sorting when I put the decorations away. There's a box of curtains, some of which weren't put up at the last house even and we were there 4 years and here 4 years so far! God knows what else I'll find in there

Aim for Feb - sort out old laptops and computers for recycle / charity and get hard drive back ups of all data on them. Also old console games.

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 03/01/2017 17:04

I've been to the tip every day it's been open since Christmas Day. It feels amazing. Slowly (very slowly because DH is being a cunt and not helping) the house is coming together. I finally have some SPACE!

So yes I'm with you. Especially now the bin has been emptied!

Vinorosso74 · 03/01/2017 17:26

Well one bag has actually left the building-took a bag of books to the charity shop en route to get DD from school.
Our rubbish and recycling went today so all the empty bottles have gone!

kwick · 03/01/2017 18:34

Great progress being made!!! This thread is very motivating!

I have got rid of a bag of garden waste that has been sat on my terrace for months!!!! Yipee!!!

nixnjj · 03/01/2017 18:45

Can I join MH issue mean house a state and gets me down butfeR of filing makes it hard to do stuff. This seems like a really good idea.

SnugglySnerd · 03/01/2017 20:20

I have 2 bags ready to take to the charity shop tomorrow and DH has started a pile of stuff in the garage to take to the tip at the weekend. Our bins weren't emptied over Xmas but the bin men have now been so we can get really serious with the decluttering!

MistressMolecules · 04/01/2017 01:30

I'm in! Actually I spotted this thread just after you had started it and thought the carrier bag a day was a fab idea, we are drowning in stuff and just keep moving from one spot to another rather than getting rid - it is just too overwhelming thinking I need to declutter the whole house. Today I have filled 5 bags (I was procrastinating - have an assignment due in a week!) and husband took some today to the charity shop and the rest are going tomorrow. Will try aim to fill one bag a day, I may yet find my house under the chaos.

ChristmasSeacow · 04/01/2017 13:28

Can I please join you? Making space for a second child due in summer - DH and I have a small study each but we will need to share one so the baby can have a room. We both have a lot of clutter - me from crafty hobbies and DH from hoarding old magazines, unread bits of newspaper, university alumni letters and similar. I don't know how I am going to reform him! It manage my fabric and yarn stash!

I have started in my study. Am going to clear out at least half of my cookery books - put the first batch on local Facebook group this week and unsold ones can go to the Chazza.

We can hardly move in our garage - the biggest single problem is a huuuuuge cross trainer machine that was a very expensive clothes drying rack Blush. I tried to give it to the British Heart Foundation a while back but they said it was too big to move! I have partially dismantled it but am too afraid to try and sell it in case they can't put it back together or it doesn't work (been in the garage for over 4 years). Any ideas?

I also need to tackle clothes. I have sooo much stuff in different sizes /seasons /work and casual. And no idea what will fit after the baby do I don't dare get rid of anything just yet. But I'll start with the study for now.

saltydogandme · 04/01/2017 13:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

officerhinrika · 04/01/2017 15:48

I've managed a bag a day so far except today. I'm looking for the paperwork for my tax return so I've done shredding as I go along instead. It just goes to show the need for decluttering though, yet again I know the tax stuff is in the pile somewhere...
I'm trying to stick to binning stuff at first as I'll hold off on the charity shop till they get over the post Christmas donations boomGrin

Swipe left for the next trending thread