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

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
MrsDilber · 27/03/2018 08:56

If I'm decluttering, it's two bags, one for the bin and one for the charity shop.

Unless I've got something obviously worth selling, I try and get it out if the house asap. I try to be as ruthless as I can and not sentimental about stuff. It's hard not to be sentimental about our kids stuff.

staveleymum · 27/03/2018 09:46

The only problem with trying to sell stuff is timewasters and 'nibbles' but no bites. I have a lovely kids bike - I only want £15, people keep asking about it but no-one biting. So it still sits in my hallway, taunting me that I havent managed to remove it!

I will move on to something else to clear out, my desk drawer maybe, Anything other than doing the bookkeeping....

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 27/03/2018 10:10

Hello newbies.

I need to embrace the spirit of the thread and still chuck stuff out even when I'm pleased with myself for doing well! After a couple of days off, today I am getting rid of the curtain poles I mentioned about a week ago (had been standing behind a door for about 7 years) as they're actually broken. I have also thrown out a broken foot pump of dh's, a broken balloon of dd2s (that she wanted to keep!) and i have advertised a blow up mattress that is taking up space in my wardrobe.

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 27/03/2018 10:13

stavelymum I get really angry with people who offer less than I ask for and waste my time. I think I ask for quite reasonable prices and everything I sell is good quality - even toys - because we look after things and store them well. Some people are grabby and I would rather give things to a charity shop than them! I'm watching a woman at the moment on Facebook who is selling some books that I sold to her but for more money. I know that it's within all our rights to do that but it just doesn't sit well with me.

OP posts:
PurpleFrog · 27/03/2018 10:31

I am trying very hard to only keep back the best stuff for selling. I'm trying to work on the principle of selling a third, giving a third to charity and chucking/recycling a third.

What I really need to do is to identify the stuff that needs to go that will release most space. For example I have an inkjet multifunction printer sitting on the dining room floor that was replaced last year. You can no longer get drivers for it for the more recent mac and windows systems but it works fine. I really need to decide if I am going to sell it or give it away free. Sigh!

ememem84 · 27/03/2018 10:49

Baby clothes decluttering here. Am taking a bag to charity shop. Kept some of ds’ things just in case we have a second. Have packed my maternity clothes away. Well the nicer ones anyway. The rest are in charity shop bag.

staveleymum · 27/03/2018 10:57

stealth - I know - the last nibble asked if the brakes worked! Of course they work, I wouldn't sell a kids bike with dodgy brakes. She's gone quiet now....
One asked me to drop it off for an extra £5 but its a good hours round trip and who's to say she'll be there or want it when I get there. Not happening.

I like the 1/3rd rule purplefrog - I have a stash of quality kids clothes for selling. Just not good at keeping on top of it. Anything high street or not in excellent condition gets given to friends or charity shop.

ememem84 · 27/03/2018 13:56

Three bags taken to charity shop. Boooom.

MrsOH2004 · 27/03/2018 16:53

Have been awol for the past few days, had work Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening, and I'm so annoyed as I can't access ESR even though I was on it the other day, so haven't finished my online training and haven't been able to view my wage slip, and I haven't been able to go and see my supervisor due to having a tummy bug, still feeling iffy now but at least the shivers have gone and the cramps.
I did manage to get a box of chocolates out of the house to give to my work colleagues though Grin

MajestyRoyal · 27/03/2018 18:21

Stealth if you think someone selling the books they bought from you at a higher price is bad I overhear a woman the other day telling her daughter (about 13/14) that she would have a lot more pocket money from then on because mum was going to buy cheap things from CHARITY shops and sell them on for more Sad disgusting. It's a charity shop ffs, some people just really don't have morals or respect do they!

Nothing to report here sadly although I have brought things into the house (clothing). All of which I am happy about having and all of which were very much needed. I am starting from scratch fashion wise. Thrown out and given away all old clothes/shoes and bags which weren't my taste or style anymore and I'm slowly replacing with lovely new things so I look at least half decent. I feel a lot better opening my wardrobe to see nice items instead of boring old ones Smile

AdaColeman · 27/03/2018 20:23

So I've made a start on the hall, getting rid of a mound of junk mail that's accumulated there, I didn't know there were so many pizza delivery places here!

MajestyRoyal · 28/03/2018 08:30

1 baby item sold yesterday and another being sold in half an hour (if they come to pick up)

Quite big items too so the space that is now free is great Smile

I have also made a list of things I want to sell in the next few weeks. After I have cleaned up today I will get some pictures and put them online to sell

IHateYourCarpet · 28/03/2018 08:46

Really good couple of days! Got rid of loads of unwanted gifts stinky candles and after a huge falling out with SIL, I've bagged up everything she's bought DS to return to her as requested.

Has anyone tried 'we buy books' or know any other good sites for getting rid of or selling old books? I have quite a few, the charity shops round here won't take them, and dogs have any need for so many when I have my kindle. It would clear enough space for DS to have his books on there one day.

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 28/03/2018 09:02

stavely what a cheek! I do worry that some of these difficult people are going to complain about you on social media for buying something they perceive as duff. (On my local fb group I have seen people removed when someone's complained about them), there are a small number of unpleasant people around doing both buying and selling and I only sell on the local 'mums' group because I don't want strange men coming to my house when dh isn't here.

Majesty that's really awful. We have one really cheap charity shop in our town and I always want to offer to volunteer for them to look up prices of their stock on eBay so they could charge more but I worry about offending the lovely ladies who volunteer / work there.

I think I've sold my blow up mattress. Just waiting to organise a time from a buyer. That gives a bit more space in my airing cupboard which is so organised and clutter free it gives me joy. shame about the rest of the house

OP posts:
MrsOH2004 · 28/03/2018 09:08

Good morning, I think my plan for today if I get the chance is to sort out old duvets and pillows, there is a dog rescue home nearby I think that will take them, does it matter what condition they are in?

ememem84 · 28/03/2018 09:22

I don’t think so MrsO assuming you just mean the “inside” duvet (ie not covers etc)

I took a load of duvet covers and towels to our local refuges a while ago.

And am taking the towels I stupidly bleached to the stables at the weekend. My instructor always needs more towels to dry the horses with. That is I’ll take them if I can’t fix the bleach by dying the towels.

AdaColeman · 28/03/2018 10:01

About books and charity shops not accepting them.

The Friends of my local hospital are pleased to take them for their quiet room, or an old peoples' home might be glad of them.

"Book Crossing" is a fun thing to be involved in too, releasing books into the wild! Grin

MrsOH2004 · 28/03/2018 10:35

Thanks ememem84 I'll donate them then Smile

MajestyRoyal · 28/03/2018 11:08

Well the high chair is gone and will be replaced with a little table for DS when it's delivered.

I still have a few baby bits to get rid of but hopefully they will leave the house one by one in the next few weeks and go onto their new owners happily.

I think I'm going to be backtracking a little in the next few weeks, got a lot of new things coming into the house but all of it is very much needed and I promise I'm not going to have 7 of the same thing! Will still try my very best to get rid of one thing a day. I keep meaning to throw two broken light bulbs away but I need them to take into the shop so I know what type I need to buy agin. Always always forget them when I'm going into town though!Blush

staveleymum · 28/03/2018 11:37

I've been a bit disheartened with my efforts after unsuccessfully trying to sell my DD's bike. However, we are going away for Easter to the coast and it's going to be cold so I'm packing thermals and warm clothes. Managed to find a few stray base layers that will no longer fit DS or DD so did manage to chuck them on the donate pile.

I find getting rid of the kids clothes the easiest - once they are too small they are too small and will never fit again (as opposed to my clothes that I vow to lose weight and wear again so hold onto them). I actually buy a lot of my DD's clothes from charity shops so she always has a ridiculously full wardrobe of quality clothes (Boden, Joules, Gap, M&S, Fat Face) so I don't get sentimental about them. On the flip side, I do have a large box of clothes that she'll grow into, that I've picked up on my rummages! So there is always a box on top of my wardrobe with clothes that will fit her in 3-4 years time!

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 28/03/2018 12:02

I hadn't heard of we buy books. I might give it a go for my adult books when I get around to them. With children's books we buy them from charity shops so they'll go back to them. The cheap charity shop in particular is amazing. I don't think I could afford to buy as many books as I do if it wasn't for that shop and dd2 really struggled to learn to read so I bought her literally hundreds of books (and they are in 5 rooms in the house!).

Stavely it might be the time of year that affects it too, perhaps people aren't really thinking of buying bikes. I have sold small things like jigsaw puzzles and toys recently and I think people might be looking to do things indoors with the forecast of more snow. I would keep bumping your bike post or perhaps in another week when school holidays have started people will want to take their dc on bike rides.

Today I found half a toy in my wardrobe and attached it to the other half of the toy. Despite going in my wardrobe every day I hadn't registered it was there! I am gong to be putting it up for sale today as I know it's the sort of thing that always sells on Facebook.

OP posts:
Sadie82 · 28/03/2018 12:17

Have been living in mess for a while now....it can be made somewhat prsentable....but the real issue is there are 4 people living in a 3 bedroom flat who seemingly have the possesions of at least 20 people🙈
Anyway gave away about 8-9 items of kids clothes to a friend today. Probably could have sold some of it....but it also probably wouldnt have happened....so better it went to a good home rather than hanging on to it.

staveleymum · 28/03/2018 13:18

stealth you're right its probably the wrong time of year. I'll try again in a few weeks when the sun is shining a bit more!

Went to the bank to pay in 2 boxes of change from the bank but on the way back got sucked into a charity shop and came out with a pair of shorts and a pair of trousers (both Boden) for £3.50. Bugger! (although they are for DS who always seems to be in joggers so hoping I can get him to wear these)!

IHateYourCarpet · 28/03/2018 13:56

Oh Ada I hadn't thought of care homes despite working for one! I'll give a few a ring and see if I can give them to a good home. It's not so much me wanting the money, I just want the space cleared!

I envy those with cheap charity shops. Our local ones are full of designer and higher end stuff - but they charge pretty much the price of what they would retail at. Which is fair for the charity, but a shame for bargain hunters! Although I suppose that does stop me buying stuff ...

Really need to take a look at the kitchen cupboards today. I have loads of plastic bowls and stuff for BBQ's and stuff but it rarely gets used. Might not even be worth keeping!

SandAndSea · 28/03/2018 14:27

I've got people coming tomorrow and I'm soooo behind!! (Gotta get off mumsnet!)

Anyway, I've actually been into the room of doom today and done a bit of dusting and binned some things! This included a box of biz cards which I never liked (and which somehow survived a previous cull for no apparent reason). I also found a small box of DIY type stuff which should all be in the DIY box, which means I can then bin the extra box.

I've now got to tackle the dining room table again. It's like a magnet for junk.

I'm going in. Wish me luck!