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Original poster

Keep on getting rid of one thing a day decluttering challenge!

992 replies

StealthNinjaMum · 13/03/2018 13:23

After a thousand posts our homes are beautiful, decluttered places of harmony and relaxation….. or perhaps not?

We’re still trying to recycle, freecycle, sell our unwanted stuff and most of all clear out our houses, garages and sheds.

It’s easy to get involved, literally get rid of one thing a day and report back for support (and sometimes finger wagging if you’ve ‘accidentally’ bought a load of new clutter!)

Please join us and a warm welcome back to

@SandSnakeofDorne @PenelopeFlintstone @MajestyRoyal @Cupoteap @Gibble1 @SandAndSea @Medwaymumoffour @Rainbowqueen @Namethecat @lljkk @CapricornWithAUnicornHorn @Helsingborg @Panda81 @abitoflight @fannyanddick @AbbieLexie

(Apologies if I missed anyone out)

Original thread here

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
namastayinbed · 22/04/2018 17:49

24 out - manky bath toys!

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 22/04/2018 18:59

I've been seeing this thread pop up in active and keep thinking I must join in... my house is just breeding crap atm but made a start last week...

Ive got 2 bin liners to take to the charity shop (been by the front door tripping me up for a week) and a large bag for life full of art supplies to take to girls brigade on Tuesday. They need to go this week.

I also have a bag of old paperwork to shred but don't have a shredder so not sure what to do with it!

Today I have thrown away a bag of old toiletries, empty bottles etc from bathroom as my new under sink cabinet came. Old one is in get rid of pile by the shed (must sort out rubbish collection as I don't drive)

SandAndSea · 22/04/2018 20:19

I'm still going on about that dress... I've discovered I can send it back for FREE!! Yippeeeee!!! I'm so relieved not to have to run the gauntlet of online selling yet again.

I've also binned an old bottle of shallot-flavoured vinegar and given DP another lecture. I'm now looking into online grocery shopping in an attempt to curb his impulse buying of weird preserves and sauces.

Chimichangaz · 22/04/2018 21:34

Thanks all - not at all bothered about the money so will check about animal charities.

IHateToCashew · 23/04/2018 07:13

Not feeling too motivated today! Horrendous cramps.

Going to try to see if there's a food bank within walking distance that'll take a load of Johnson's stuff. DS comes out in a rash whenever he goes near the stuff. So we may as well get rid. There's around ... 24 bottles off products that haven't been used Grin

FizzingWhizzbee · 23/04/2018 08:16

I'm back from my holiday and in full on decluttering mode. DH has an extra week off between jobs, lucky sod, and is also fully onboard, so hoping for a flying decluttering start.

Today I've managed one old, too small slash suit of DD's which has gone in the bin. Hoping for more tonight!

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 23/04/2018 08:53

Abstardust I know how you feel. I flitter around from area to area and never quite finish. This week I am focusing on the areas people see as they have got messy again e.g. hall post table, dining table, sideboard, computer table and kitchen table.

Ihatetocashew bad news about the pants, I was hoping you'd win the bet.

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IHateToCashew · 23/04/2018 08:58

Stealth I'm wondering if I put them outside someone would steal them Grin ...

In desperation I've rewritten the description of said pants.

IHateToCashew · 23/04/2018 09:01

And I completely get the flitting from room to room but never really finishing. I'm hoping that by clearing a room, then decorating it'll motivate me to keep it nice and clutter free!

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 23/04/2018 09:01

SandandSea I did the same. Inspired by a mumsnet thread last week I bought two pairs of sandals and one needs to go back. I know I'll have to pay to send them back. I don't mind but I hate going to the post office so much. We do online shopping and it definitely stops me buying things we don't need.

Anyway yesterday I threw away another packet of dried out baby wipes that weren't good for anything.

As I mentioned in the last post I am focusing on the flat surfaces that collect crap. A lot of it is dd2s 'art' work so I need to find homes and / or maybe frames for some of it to stick in the playroom. Might start by buying blu tac.

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Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 23/04/2018 09:07

Fantastic! I love that that you have rewritten the description of the pants.

I think the flitting is just my way of doing it. I do sometimes discipline myself to do something like with the paperwork where I probably spent about 4 weeks doing it but if I was too disciplined all the time I think I'd have given up a year ago so this definitely works for me.

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Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 23/04/2018 09:13

nocuttsnobuts paperwork. I had a disastrous effort with an attempt to burn paperwork before xmas but I did see that Lidl was selling a tiny incinerator for £8.99 last week. Otherwise Homebase had a big one for about £15 before Xmas - not sure about now.

Or I have heard that you can soak some paperwork in water (possibly with bleach) and the ink runs. I get through a ridiculous amount of cheap shredders so bought a new one from Argos before Christmas and in January I shredded bags and bags of papers and didn't break it. It cost about £35 and is definitely more robust that any of the £20 ones I've killed before.

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IHateToCashew · 23/04/2018 12:09

Unbelievably, I've been to FOUR supermarkets and the coop. Not one single one had a trolley or area for food bank donations. So I hauled 20 bottles around for no reason. I posted two letters that have been hanging around though. So I guess that's two down.

LostMyBaubles · 23/04/2018 12:32

Namastay you inspired me to chuck the bath toys that had just been sitting there!

Not done much else as had to nip out.

Eldest has ks1 sats so picked him up some 'fun' books to help. Hes got delays and will struggle so just wanted to help him a little

LostMyBaubles · 23/04/2018 12:33

Surely if you soaked paper it would turn to mush/ pulp what ever its called??
Might try that lol

AdaColeman · 23/04/2018 12:39

This weekend I had an expedition into The Room of Doom, in a previous life it was the spare bedroom.
So far I've got rid of one box, and found the shredder! There is a looooong way to go.

CiderwithBuda · 23/04/2018 12:49

I’ve been rubbish. Didn’t do junk drawer. And now have a pile of cushions to get rid of as I bought new ones. Oops.

Feeling a bit bleurgh today too. I think it’s hay fever but it could be a cold. Have taken an antihistamine.

Will try to get something out!

IHateToCashew · 23/04/2018 14:32

Room of Doom Grin

I'm not doing much else with the house today. DS has been asleep for a record two hour nap and STILL going! I've taken advantage and got lots of writing done, and I'm going to sit and make a shopping list for IKEA next week so I can buy some sensible bits to make the house easier to maintain and keep tidy.

ememem84 · 23/04/2018 14:42

Items out= 0

Items In....

£8 worth of 6-9 clothes for ds at car boot yesterday.

Two massive bags for life of 9-12 clothes Dm brought back from family. They’re hand me downs but still great. Must pick away in boxes

A dress and a skirt from shopping trip and 12 hangers. Woop. So I can tidy drawers and hang things.

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 23/04/2018 14:53

I have done 5 of my 12 weekly to dos so I have started the week well - most aren't related to decluttering - just housework and admin.

I have put 5 winter hats, about 4 scarves and some gloves into the charity shop pile. I also did some shredding and chucking out of papers.

Then I've generally been running around generally tidying and creating piles of like minded things. I have created a clear 'sock bag' of random socks. I bought lots of school socks for dds on Saturday and might just throw away all the others as the sock pile is hell at the moment.

I also bought some clip frames for dds artwork but can't get them to click so have a pile on the table. I was meant to clear the table today. Failure!

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LostMyBaubles · 23/04/2018 14:56

Sock bag sounds good.

Im still convinced im going to find the odd socks somewhere 🤔

IHateToCashew · 23/04/2018 15:08

All that today isn't a failure Stealth! A sock bag seems like a genius idea.

I've just sorted out a massive pile of shredding, that's all done, then I realised the recycling bin is full Angry it was all from my drawer, which is organised into labelled folders. DH had emptied them 'looking' for his stuff. Which is in his own damn drawer of paperwork! So that's all sorted again.

Clutterfreeintraining · 23/04/2018 17:13

Hi everyone!
Feels like ages since I got rid of anything.
I’ve been away for the weekend and left behind (on purpose!) a pair of shoes that I’ve decided I don’t like any more.
Will look for some things to get rid of after work.

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 23/04/2018 17:19

Thanks, the sock bag is a large clear plastic food bag but the point is it's going to stay in the ironing basket collecting rogue socks. At the moment I have a number of socks that seem to go between the washing basket, ironing pile and bedrooms and then back to the washing basket. They never get put away. It is driving me mad.

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LilQueenie · 23/04/2018 17:34

I do try to get rid of stuff but end up bringing in more. my aim is to sell/donate a bag per week. Or at least manage one carrier bag to charity every week. I sometimes feel I am just giving away for the sake of it but I do have masses of stuff.

I bought quite a bit today but think I can easily get rid of 20 items. empty bathroom bottles and old pot plants.