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

[StealthNinjaMum]

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

gibble did mil provide the green bag or empty it? I would hate it if mil just turned up.

I just realised that the wifi box that was sitting on my hall table (a piece of furniture that actually gives me joy when it isn't covered in post) hasn't worked since dh switched internet provider years ago and the 'new' wifi box and the one that replaced that were in the sitting room. So I am going to take it to the dump with the bags of electrical stuff I found about ten days ago.

It sounds like you're going really well, @Gibble. Your hallway is clear!! The first thing people see. That is something. Just keep going.
I don't always achieve what I say I'm going to on this thread but maintain low expectations of myself so I don't feel too bad I didn't even make it into the office yesterday - the third room on the list, but I did chuck out a bit. Today, I'll try again in the playroom and the office.

@Stealth - what a wonderful pocket collection

@SandandSea - Ticking off DIY jobs counts as double points! I'm going to copy you hugely and make a veg soup (started a new diet yesterday) and rehang a mirror that fell down and miraculously didn't break.

It’s my bag, I think she’s emptied it. She’s very helpful, she pops up to see the dogs and will bring the kids home from school sometimes. If it’s a day ending in y and they can’t be bothered to walk up the hill, they’ll ring her for a lift!
She does it cause she loves us so I try to bite my tongue when I get irritated.

I haven’t had chance to check in for a while. I would like to be able to say it’s because I was so busy decluttering but sadly that’s not the case. I have got a few bits sorted. One black bag of rubbish and a large amount of recycling were removed from the office. You still can’t see the floor or get in so a lot more effort is needed in there. I’ve sorted through DS’s wardrobe and a few more clothes have gone into the recycling or charity bags. I’ve chucked a few jars of stuff that were lurking at the back of the fridge and were quite clearly past their best.

I’ve got a pile of bits to sell so I really need to find time this week to get them listed or there’s a danger they’ll stay piled in the corner of our bedroom forever. I might have to set a time limit and just donate them if they’re not listed by then.

I am gradually making progress with DS and his unwillingness to get rid of anything. He has found two books from a pile we were given a few weeks ago to take to a book swap at school this week. This is the start of a one in, one out system - I can’t remember who suggested it but thanks for the tip! He also asked if it was ok to throw two toys away because they had broken. They were only bits of tat from the front of a magazine but usually he wouldn’t part with anything at all, broken or not.

Gibble that’s a good point about how the house didn’t get into a state in one day so it will take a while to sort it. It made me feel a bit better because none of the things I’ve dealt with in the last few days have made any difference to the actual appearance of the house. If I keep going it will eventually get better.

Hi, can I join. Just stumbled across this on active posts. I desperately need to declutter. My problem is I hate to bin stuff that could be charity shopped or sold, and I'm rubbish at doing those things. I regularly put things I charity shop/selling piles that just get bigger and bigger and end up getting mixed up. Right under the to stand opposite me now is a huge pile of about 50 children's books I spent ages gathering together when I saw a post from someone saying they didn't have many books for their kids, and I didn't get round to offering them or doing anything else and that was about a month ago. Help me. I need a better decluttering system.

Gibble well done on clearing the hallway. First thing people see in your house and having a clear space when you leave, return and walk through your house will make your head much less chaotic.

@Pressuredrip get yourself a box and fill it with things you need to charity. Take it on X day of the week every week.

Hi @Pressuredrip I hate to bin stuff that could be charity shopped or sold, and I'm rubbish at doing those things. I regularly put things I charity shop/selling piles that just get bigger and bigger and end up getting mixed up.
Instead of keeping the piles in your house, could you bag the charity shop stuff and put it straight into the car? Then, when you go past a charity shop you could quickly drop them off. I do this and sometimes the things stay in my car boot for weeks months but eventually get dropped off - like they did this Sunday.

Ohhh Pressure, I'm the same. I now keep a big plastic box of stuff to donate under the stairs, then I can throw it straight in a charity bag as soon as it hits the doormat. I'm hopeless at actually taking things to shops myself!

I'm quite good at selling bits though. There's a separate box for that in the bedroom. It looks a bit messy at the moment. But it's nice knowing it'll be gone soon.

Head is still thumping, but I'm hoping to catch up today. Listed three new items on eBay, a pile more to do, then I'll stick them on gumtree too. House is in desperate need of a clean as well, so that'll keep me busy.

Pressuredrip welcome.

I was just going to say what Penelope did. I put things in the car boot and then I take them to the charity shop when I'm out shopping. Sometimes things stay in the car for weeks but at least they're not in the house!

oops bold fail. word did not meant to be bold.

Sounds like progress is being made!
I threw out some old nail varnishes and partly used old makeup yesterday. Managed to clean and tidy bedroom somewhat (far from perfect but it's better than it was). Once clutter is out it can be tackled properly.
Got more stuff bagged up to go. Will do a charity shop drop off this afternoon.
The many pairs of socks rang a bell with me! I had loads early last year but gradually get rid as they go a bit thin on the heels and am now almost at a sensible amount. Still won't need to buy any for a while!

I have gone off charity shops, but a local supermarket has a donations drop off point for the air ambulance, and I pop in books etc when I am passing. Anything like that near you?

I have finally taken the broken lamp and wires and electrical stuff to the dump. And I took our opened nappy pack to a food bank - thanks for whoever suggested that.

This is all stuff I 'got rid of' when I put it in a pile so can't count for today. I am going to go through the tiny post pile in a minute shredding new junk mail and maybe filing bank statements if I get time.

Ohh, settles self into thread.

I need to clear out one of my cupboards, I've got some ramekin dishes (not the glass Gu ones , these are glazed , I think ovenproof ). Too small for souffles and I've got other things for dips and sauces.
Also some glass dishes that I'll check, if they're chipped at all they can go into recycling.

Charity bag for tomorrow - DD sports /PE kit .

@lljkk I thought of you earlier when I found a bunch of old socks! They've gone in the clothes recycling bag which will go out tonight for the binmen.

I am donating a bunch of stuff to the WI tombola stall at the local fair. I have body wash sets, a weird cookie stamp, some mini cake stands and nice notepads that can go. Alas I can't get rid of them until next week, but knowing they're going is jolly pleasing!!

Today;

2 vases
Lots of old receipts from behind the sofa.

Now about to tackle the fridge. Ashamed to say I didn't clear it before we went away like I usually do, so there's about 2 weeks worth of rank food in there

Hi all!

I've cleared out all the kids' discarded "art work", as well as some boxes from toys that have been kept for no reason, de om the playroom. Then I hoovered (and decluttered a week's worth (or more...) of dust and crumbs and stuff

Pressure, Where I live, you could just put a box of stuff out front and write "FREE" on it; someone would rifle thru & take it away for you. All you need is make sure there is good enough weather to leave stuff out.

I'm glad my socks have been source of entertainment . The worst ones end up being used to mop up cat sick

bobgoblin i know you said that the areas you've cleared haven't yet made a difference.

Have you thought about now focusing on an area that you could obviously clear eg a window ledge or hall table that makes a real difference visually? Alternatively an area that makes a difference to how you live? Just to motivate you. For example I have an obsession with keeping surfaces clear but obviously they start to get cluttered. But I do aim to keep window sills clear and the fireplace. I just feel better when they look empty. In terms of how you live you could start work on a crammed wardrobe where you can't find clothes or a mug cupboard with 15 precariously perched mugs waiting to shatter. I find that I have lived with these sort of things for years but since doing this challenge I am now more mindful and I get a sudden realisation that I waste time doing a task because to do it I have to wade through lots of unnecessary clutter.

Stealth That’s good advice - thanks! I actually think I was probably being a bit hard on myself yesterday because I’m sitting here now looking at a sideboard that I can now see the top of and fairly organised shelves. You’re right about focusing on an area. I was thinking earlier on that I’m just not being very methodical. I pick something completely random each day rather than having a clear focus.

I did get quite a bit sorted today. When I got up this morning I found there was a big rip in the bedsheet. So that’s been decluttered. I sorted through all the spare bedding and found a few sheets and a bedding set to donate. I also did the towels at the same time. I think I’ve probably kept too many spares so I might go through them again some time. I started going through a pile of junk mail I found in the corner of the bedroom so I’ll finish that later.

Any suggestions about what to do with gift bags? I seem to have loads and I don’t know that I’ll use them. Every time I use one for something for my parents I seem to come back home with it!

Where I live, charity shops sell gift bags @bobgoblin. Could you give them to them? Or free on Facebook/Gumtree/Freecycle, if you're talking a lot of them?
Also, why not take before and after pictures of small areas that you've sorted, like those shelves? Then when you feel like you haven't achieved much you can flick through your photos to remind yourself of your successes

Can anyone think of any reason why I might want to keep cruise/holiday paperwork from last year? I have a big stack of letters on the coffee table and I'd quite like to shred them (am I the only one who loves shredding stuff?!)

Chuckling to myself at dds coat pocket comment haha!
I managed to get rid of a couple of happyland toys that i was emotially attatched to even though dd not played with them for a long time ever so that was two chunky items gone.
Should be selling a smaller set tomorrow if buyer comes. Didnt sell it for much as just wanted it gone before i changed my mind but it helps pay towards some newer bits for her birthday .
I need to get paperwork organised i keep some letter for years and years worrying il need it one day same with wage slips.... guessing only needed for a certains mount of time though really??xx

bobgoblin I started trying to do Flylady about two years ago. It was too much work and I felt guilty for not reading the emails. Now I am doing my own chaotic, disorganised thing I actually spend much more time doing housework and decluttering.

My post yesterday made me think about mugs. I have about 30 which I don't mind because I used to have about 50 - most are gifts - and it was dangerous opening the cupboard. Today I am going to get rid of one mug, one cup and saucer set and also a vase with a chip. I like the vase but I have about 5 and I never need more than two at once and it is sitting on my kitchen window sill so has to go.

I am also advertising some rocks that used to be part of a rockery.

I am also going to do some filing. Our table has lots of stuff on it so I need to sit with a hole punch and stapler.

penguin does the cruise paperwork say where you went? I have been on cruises and chucked stuff away and then forgotten where we actually went! I used to keep the nice menus of food and all the tourist information but chucked it all away a few months ago.

Betsy we had a conversation in this thread or the last one about payslips. I have all of them - even my Saturday jobs from 30 years ago. A couple of people suggested I throw away the payslips and just keep the p60s and p45s because there have been examples of the tax office not keeping records or women paying tax and it having an impact on their pensions. You only need p60s and p45s to prove that you paid tax and ni.