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Original poster

Join me in getting rid of at least one thing a day decluttering challenge?

998 replies

SandSnakeOfDorne · 21/09/2017 16:04

I am trying to declutter, starting with our loft and garage both of which need some work doing so need to be a lot emptier! After they're done I want to declutter the rest of the house. I've already got rid of loads of stuff but I'm starting to lose motivation alone!

We have quite strict rules for what we can put in rubbish so I'm selling, free cycling, taking stuff to the clothes bank etc. At least one thing a day. I'm hoping to be done by Christmas!

Anyone want to join me?

OP posts:
Sparrowlegs248 · 16/11/2017 22:54

I'm not caught up with this, I've Been totally slacking BUT I might be having the ultimate declutter! ! The husband is leaving the building!! (So he says.....)

TheGrumpySquirrel · 17/11/2017 06:25

Hope you are okay Notta. Sounds like it was overdue?

Sparrowlegs248 · 17/11/2017 07:16

Thanks Squirrel. I'm OK. It is long overdue. I do feel sad but it's for the best. He's just told me he's going to clear the hallway and our bedroom at the weekend . Great. But why now?. (Not that the stuff is anywhere near the only reason)

Original poster
SandSnakeofDorne · 17/11/2017 09:10

I'm glad he's agreed to leave Notta. Is he thinking of forcing you to sell? Is that why he's finally going to clear up?

OP posts:
Sparrowlegs248 · 17/11/2017 10:53

I don't know . It's a toys out of the pram reaction. I can't use the front door as the hallway is full of stuff. There's an area 4 x 5 feet in our bedroom that is a pile of his stuff (magazines mostly) I mentioned it the other night in the course of our "discussion". He said there's nowhere to put it. No. The 4 sheds are full of his stuff......

StealthNinjaMum · 17/11/2017 12:07

Nottalotta I hope you're OK, it must be stressful to live like that but hopefully the end is in sight. My dh is messy but nothing like on that scale. Does he need to see someone like a councillor about this?

Medwaymumoffour · 19/11/2017 12:55

Hope your ok Nott. My dh drives me bonkers sometimes. I’m the hoarder but he facilitates me and when I need hand holding he doesn’t seem to get my condition. I have had councilling and go to a hoarding group ( it’s seriously not that bad in my house but I could tip over the edge and make it rammed. It’s some kind of self harm that I sometimes feel it’s comforts me to bury myself and hind in my things yet I’m so ashamed).
It’s that ultimate shameful mental health issue that no one sympathies with and unltimatly no one can really help you with. If he’s the hoarder he needs the tough love. Groups are out there to help but he needs to save himself. I tick away ok mostly but it’s like a underplaying monster I need to keep in it cage. Like being a alcoholic I guess.
Still doing ok this month. Another 50 things out but around 20 in so no more in and 150 to go before the month is up. That’s hard but I can do it I hope.

Sparrowlegs248 · 19/11/2017 14:00

Thanks all. He does, imo, have some other my problem. Hoarding, anxiety, no empathy whatsoever, extreme reactions, incredibly negative. But he will not seek help, even when I said seek help or we're done.

Nothing out of the house for a while really here, I've been occupied with all this stuff.

StealthNinjaMum · 19/11/2017 17:43

Nottalotta just look after yourself, when he's gone you can start again. Or could you throw away something really small - even a single piece of paper - just to make you feel like you're doing something? Even on my worst days I can always find an old receipt to get rid of although I understand that you're under very different pressures to me and might not even be able to do that.

I am not doing too well myself, but still managing to get rid of small amounts of stuff. I have another very, very small bag of xmas decorations that I don't love that I am going to give away and I am pleased that I have achieved that.

Sparrowlegs248 · 19/11/2017 20:32

stealth thank you, I read your post, cot my eyes round and found a couple of small bits to throw away . So that's good.

Also, I have been much better at keeping on top of incoming stuff, post etc. So less building up.

But but but how can there be Christmas Dec's that you DON'T LOVE? !?! I'm going to do mine when I put them up.

TheGrumpySquirrel · 19/11/2017 21:13

Thinking of you notta. Hope this is a nice fresh start for you. Give him a deadline for the sheds - or just put all the stuff in a skip outside?

My dd sorted and tidied / recycled all her old school work tonight! So proud ! And glad I didn’t have to do it

Sparrowlegs248 · 19/11/2017 21:14

Oh god, the sheds. I'm just hoping for him gone then I can do what I like without his bloody judgement (re reorganising stuff)

Gibble1 · 19/11/2017 23:15

I have found my people!
Currently the house is upside down as we are having a new kitchen fitted. Can’t wait to put everything away in the kitchen and get rid of the stuff we don’t need or use.
Once it’s done, I can crack on with the rest of the house 😁

Sparrowlegs248 · 20/11/2017 07:37

Carrying on from stealths suggestion of one thing no matter how small, today I've thrown away an aging cheese (one of those Christmas small round ones) that was in the fridge since last year! And responded and binned a kids birthday invite. Result!

StealthNinjaMum · 20/11/2017 11:17

Well done nottalotta. Ideally I try and fail to get rid of a bag of stuff a day but there was one day last week where I picked up about two bits of paper and threw them away.

There was also a day last week when I poured some ageing nando's sauce over chicken for dh just because I wanted to clear out the fridge. I would've eaten the ageing cheese if I were you. I just need to go to the bottle bank now as I have a few bottles.

Freshprincess · 20/11/2017 12:02

I've made a start of the paperwork mountain, albeit a poor start! Decided to chuck bank stuff more than 2 years old. However going through my files realized I hadn't filed anything since 2014! It's all in the boxes of doom! so I need to tackle one of those. Going to put it in the living room and go through it a little at a time. Filing/binning as I go. That's the plan anyway.

Elsewhere a few bits from my room. 4 empty cans of deodorant from DS room (!) a few bits of old toiletries from the bathroom.
I bought something from amazon and it came in a huge box so I've located that one the landing and will fill it ready for charity shop visit at the end of the week.

Gibble1 · 20/11/2017 16:10

So more kitchen units have been fitted today and the house is becoming clearer. My car is again full of packaging ready for the tip in the morning. There is danger of me being able to hoover downstairs later!

Sparrowlegs248 · 20/11/2017 21:50

Someone gave me a bag of stuff today, she usually gives good stuff (baby /children) but this was utter shite. I put it all, bar one toy, straight in the bin!

StealthNinjaMum · 21/11/2017 17:40

I thought I commented on this in response to freshprincess yesterday and it vanished. I was moaning about paperwork. My mountain isn't so much a mountain as stuff scattered all over the floor.

I had planned to do two hours on paperwork today but suddenly I find jobs like ironing more appealing! I spent about 45 minutes shredding and filing and I would say I cleared a good space on the floor. I also ran out of binbags today. I feel a bit guilty I am throwing away so much stuff but I am trying really hard to recycle and dispose of in a green way.

Tomorrow I have agreed to go shopping with a friend to a town she's not familiar with so I doubt I'll be able to do anything. It's a shame, after today's relative success I'd like to get back on it.

nottalotta hope you're having a good day.

Sparrowlegs248 · 21/11/2017 22:22

Thanks stealth He's just told me he's moving out start of December. Watch this space. ....... being a total arse but I suppose it's to be expected. I'm instigating it.

Sparrowlegs248 · 21/11/2017 22:23

I was given two large bags of clothes for my toddler today so really need to sort the baby clothes!

Gibble1 · 21/11/2017 23:41

2 car loads of cardboard to recycling centre today. Not much but it’s cleared enough space for me to hoover.

YesThisIsMe · 22/11/2017 00:23

You’ve inspired me to get back on the decluttering wagon. I’m feeling guilty about the M&S beauty advent calendar so I need to get rid of 26 things to make up for it. I finally bit the bullet on a couple of items of clothing which are lovely but I never wear, I cleared out a kitchen cupboard and I binned a half full bottle of Archers which passed its BBE some time in the noughties. A soft start, but it all counts - about five fairly large things.

Betsy86 · 22/11/2017 06:28

I have found my people csn i join you please??
I have been trying to get rid of some bits over the last fee weeks i think i have done ok.... 2 bags of clothes and handbags i have been hoarding for years i took to charity shop.
Put another lot in clothes recycling.
Emptied out a shopper bag i keep random bits like wires and hoover bits screwdrivers etc that i literally move around all the time and has no purpose or home lol so decided need to make space under the sink for important bits n binned the rest.
Chucked out abit of paperwork. Loads of stuff from garden like manky toys that will be no good next summer.
And chucked alot out of one kitchen cupboard.
Now im looking round and it still Needs alot more done...

Altho i think im quite good at hiding clutter as if you walked in it wouldnt look to bad then i open a cupboard and it avalanches onto my head lol.

What do you all do with soft toys? We have loads and since discovering build a bear im trying to keep those as main ones and get rid of the rest but i cant let go... do charity shops take them? Id like to sell some but not sure will happen.

Going to decorate mine and dds room after xmas and try live a more
Clutter free life and live by tidy house tidy mind... im sick of being STUFFOCATED!!!!!!xxx

Bowerbird5 · 22/11/2017 07:46

Love it ! Suffocated.😁
Well I see I haven't been here since last week. Think I have got rid of one thing a day though even if some was receipts. It is out of the house. So planning on more today as it is my day off.