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Original poster

Getting rid of one thing a day decluttering challenge: Part 3: Are we nearly there yet?

976 replies

StealthNinjaMum · 09/05/2018 08:45

For 2000 posts a group of messy mumsnetters have been chucking out, selling, recycling and cooking weird cakes.

Are we free of clutter yet? Sadly not.

Thankfully we're here to get support and be told off when we have a relapse and bring more clutter into the house, garages, sheds, gardens.

Newbies are welcome to join us, it's easy we literally just get rid of one thing a day and report back.

Previous thread here

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
NaMajesty · 30/05/2018 19:44

Ugh you're all doing so well. Looks like I'll have to rush today and tomorrow to get rid of as much as I possibly can. Once DC are in bed i'll list up all of the toddler clothing on eBay.

CiderwithBuda · 30/05/2018 20:42

You are all doing so well

I’m away in Dublin at my Dad’s currently. But managed to get rid of some curtains and Roman blinds from afar! Put them on Freecycle a few days ago and was emailing someone today and she picked them up this evening from DH.

I need to get my mojo back when we get back.

GreyCloudsToday · 30/05/2018 20:43

Great job Gibble1 glad you didn't get hurt on the glass.

Argh none of my toddler clothing sold on eBay - hope you have better luck NaMa. I think I might give up and send it off to the charity shop.

Looks like someone is coming for the weird Victorian plant stand tonight though.

SandAndSea · 30/05/2018 20:48

Well done everyone! You're doing really well!

My one item today is a candle holder.

chloechloe · 30/05/2018 20:56

Thanks for the welcome! So I managed to get rid of 7 small bits yesterday and 8 today. Mainly cosmetic products from the tip that is the bathroom cabinet. My 1.5yo thinks it's a treasure trove. Every day whilst I'm trying to get ready she rummages around then starts emptying lotions and potions into the bathroom floor. I'm sure my stress levels would be lower if I didn't have to keep wrestling stuff back off her.

carpet - Nobody in the history of the universe has ever left IKEA with only that which they went in for!!!! How did you get on!?

bobgoblin · 31/05/2018 06:47

I’ve finally had chance to catch up on the thread. It sounds like everyone is doing so well. Half term has slowed down my progress a bit but I’m slowly getting there. I did a tip run earlier in the week and got rid of a boot full of rubbish. Yesterday I had a good tidy up in the living room and found all sorts of things lurking under the sofa. There was plenty of rubbish and yet more paper for the recycling.

I’ve been sorting through a lot of the baby bits as we’re not having more so it might as well go. I got rid of the bottles now DD seems to prefer a sippy cup. I’ve some grobags and some other bits to list on ebay. I don’t know what to do with some of the bigger bits. I don’t know if it’s worth listing on gumtree or whether to just freecycle it. Most things have lasted through two DC so I don’t know that they’re worth much but I feel that I should try and get some of our money back. I think I probably need to give my head a wobble and just get rid quickly.

Today’s plan is to make the rest of the downstairs presentable because DS has a friend coming over later. There’s piles of laundry that need to be sorted and put away. If I have time I’ll start going through the kitchen cupboards again.

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 31/05/2018 09:06

carpet you did all that and looked after a baby? That's impressive. Have a great ikea trip.

Everyone else you're doing well.

I am about to check out of out holiday home. I have used the tiny sachet of nice moisturiser I brought. Have bought a bucket and space even though we have millions at home that i''m trying to get rid of!

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DesertIslandPenguin · 31/05/2018 09:51

@StealthNinjaMum Could you leave the bucket and spade under the sink at the cottage as a present for the next child who comes? That excuse seemed to work on DS when he was a toddler.

@chloechloe I may be the only person on the planet who goes to IKEA with a list and only buys what's on it 😂 I hate IKEA so much that I write down all the shelf locations from the website, whiz round in 15 minutes and then flee.

IHateYourCarpet · 31/05/2018 11:41

Dessert - that's genius and something I'll be telling DS when he's older!

Stealth - yes Grin but I'm pretty lucky with DS. He's quite happy sitting or rolling around next to me or DH chatting away. Blow the odd raspberry in his direction and he's delighted for hours!

And nesquick does appear to go off! The chocolate one has turned a really weird shade of white.

What sort of big bits have you got Bob? It probably varies from area to area, but I'm really struggling to get rid of the bigger bits from having DS! I have a next2me with four brand new sheets listed for £60 and not even had an enquiry. Barely used and in the box too!

And blehhhh Envy I do not envy your sofa trawling! It's possibly my least favourite place to clean. How does so much stuff even get under there?

I'll let you know how I get on Chloe!

The bed drama continues! They've offered me a partial refund and been told to keep it Hmm like a 1/4 of what I actually paid. Seriously unimpressed. Think I'll be going via PayPal for a full refund. I'll see if there's anything I could maybe use the wood for, if not I'll be setting it on fire. E

IHateYourCarpet · 31/05/2018 14:00

I DID ITTTT!!!

I have left ikea with a bed, a rug, and a duvet. That is all.

I don't think I've ever been so proud of myself Grin

NaMajesty · 31/05/2018 14:46

Well done carpet!
I have never actually been inside an ikea (had online deliveries of DS baby furniture) but from stories I've heard I think I'd come out of one bankrupt. And there is one being built in my city very soon too Confused

SandAndSea · 31/05/2018 14:47

Well done, Carpet !

My items today are 2 fancy, eco room sprays. They sound like nothing much but I've had them for years so had stopped seeing them.

SandAndSea · 31/05/2018 15:35

... And a top I've had over 25 years! I feel sad to say goodbye to it but it's starting to disintegrate. Letting it go means that all my nightwear now fits in one small drawer.

SandAndSea · 31/05/2018 15:44

I'm trying to stay strong and not reclaim that top from the charity sack.

DesertIslandPenguin · 31/05/2018 16:55

Well done Carpet!

I went through the basket of hats & gloves with DS earlier. 14 random gloves have gone into the recycling bag, a bunch of tiny baseball caps, and three scarves that are scratchy too. I also found 4 brollies! I have packed winter stuff away and put sunnies, sunhats etc in a basket by the door which looks much nicer! Also got DS to part with the Batman costume he hasn’t worn since he was 7 👍 Slowly inching towards a tidy home...

IHateYourCarpet · 31/05/2018 17:58

I was tempted to have it delivered Nama. But it's only a 45 minute drive away, and £55 postage was eye watering! At my local one they even put on buses that go specifically to ikea Grin

Sand you reminded me of all the empty plug in air freshener things I have in the sockets! 5 have been binned. They've been empty for a year Blush I prefer candles anyway!

Gibble1 · 31/05/2018 18:21

I took DS and DD clothes shopping today so have decluttered my bank account. I’m scared to add it up actually but it must be in the region of £300 spent. Totally unable to get the boy jeans in Primark so ended up in Superdry and River Island. £65 for a pair of jeans for Mr Spaghetti legs 😱🤢.
Primark has no suitable bras in my size so I have to wait until I can go to an outlet village and get some. Unless Asda still have 32DD? Sainsbury’s didn’t 😕.
Have told DS to bring down every single item of clothing from his bedroom so we will be sorting through all of that after tea. Lots to go.
DH bought him some Adidas trainers in March that were little worn and he’s now lost. However, they were a size 9. He’s now a size 10 so I had to buy 2 new pairs 😢. I have threatened him with harm if he grows in the next year.

DesertIslandPenguin · 31/05/2018 18:39

Omg Giblet, reeling at the price of jeans!! I am so glad that my 11yo doesn’t care about labels yet. He’s still more concerned about whether it has a Star Wars on it or not.

DH just messaged me to say how amazing the hallway looks! Thrilled.

IHateYourCarpet · 31/05/2018 18:52

The Asda near me does Gibble. Hopefully the GibbleChildren appreciate it though.

I've half covered the lampshade, just waiting for the glue to dry on the bottom half and then I need to sort the seam out. Then it'll be hung and out of the way.

I've also begrudgingly stripped the paint of the wedding vases. They both now have flowers in them and look lovely. I wish I'd done it sooner!

Gibble1 · 31/05/2018 20:59

Clothes sorted. One very large sack full of clothes suitable for sale.

Everyone else is doing very well too!

IHateYourCarpet · 01/06/2018 08:39

Sigh ... currently listing everything that's not sold on eBay on Sphock/Gumtree/Preloved. I can't believe how hard some of this stuff is proving to sell. We have a brand new bouncy chair still in the box and no one wants it!

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 01/06/2018 09:26

bobgoblin even baby items used by two babies can make money. I sold a lot of things like a jumperoo, a travel cot, and bouncing chairs that had been used twice. I do searches in Facebook selling sites and eBay to get an idea of the value of things. I have sold lots of toddler toys in bundles and also given away incomplete sets or things that wouldn't sell aren't good enough for a charity shop so when I have sold peppa pig jigsaws I have then asked if the buyer wants a free figure that was part of a set or free with a magazine. I do my best to not throw things away if I can help it.

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 01/06/2018 09:48

penguin sadly I couldn't leave the bucket and spade behind because the spade was pink and glittery! I'll have to get rid of some boring ones in primary colours.

carpet who buys a big bouncy chair for someone who has asked for no presents for a lack of space? That must be so annoying. I had two very good condition bouncy chairs and it took forever to sell them on Facebook. I would just keep bumping your chair until someone sees it.

After one night away we seem to have made about a week's washing so I'll be doing that now. I still need to get back to the two broken ikea lamps to see if I can make one working one. I'm going to busy so I think I'll aim to get rid of some papers as that's always an easy thing to get rid of.

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CiderwithBuda · 01/06/2018 09:51

Well done on the Ikea discipline IHate. I can better that though. I once went to Ikea and bought nothing! DH nearly fell over in shock!

bobgoblin · 01/06/2018 11:45

I had a reasonably successful day yesterday. The house is tidy enough that I don’t need to panic if someone calls round at short notice! I am hoping to keep it that way although DS is doing his best to undo my hard work by scattering lego everywhere. Might have to declutter some of that.

Some clothes went in a charity bag and had been collected by 8.30. I found some brand new hanging shelf things I bought ages ago to make better use of the kitchen cupboards. They’re going on freecycle.

This morning two pairs of DH’s worn out trainers went in the bin along with a broken pair of my boots. I’ve found if I ask him about a couple of things at a time he will usually be happy for them to go.

I’ve had a look at the baby bits. The main things I need to deal with at the moment are a Moses basket and stand, a bath seat, baby bath and a playmat. I think there’s a swinging chair and bouncy chair we had for DS lurking in the loft but I got a better all in one thing for DD which she still uses. The swinging chair I will definitely have a go at selling. The other things are not in great condition and some were given to us by friends who no longer needed them so I feel a bit cheeky selling them. I’m going to put it all on freecycle and hope someone will take it away. I realised it’s not about the money more that it seems wasteful to throw things like that away.

I really need to make a start on the room of doom otherwise known as the study. It is impossible to get in there at the moment as in the floor is covered and the door won’t open properly. I’m going to go now and find 20 things to go. If I don’t return to the thread I have been lost under all the junk!