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

Good progress still being made. 600 bags is amazing Stealth!
I have done some thorough cleaning this week so have unearthed things from behind the sofa, behind DDs toy drawers etc. I got rid of some random bits of crap today which half filled the bin.
No joy selling bike, couple of enquiries so might readvertise right before the weekend.
DP has been saying he will sort his wardrobe for between a year and a year a half.......

One nemesis, two or more nemeses

Off to find something to get rid of!

When DD cleaned the sofas the other day, she found some money. So she spent it on CrossFit yesterday and can’t move her legs today 😂
I have an almighty set of stocks in my hallway ready for the fete on Saturday. Have not managed to decluttering anything though. I will go and find 2 items shortly before I head to bed.
Cubs tomorrow so won’t be home til late.

A felt tip pen, some dog medication, the recycling from the side and a cake now gone.

That’s so cool to hear Keith I completely feel the same about this thread bringing in a new focus!! Keep it up ;-)

Just a very small declutter today, some paints, old playdo and crayons 30 items...

Next on the plan in the boiler cupboard and another kitchen cupboard, then I’m tackling the area of DOOM! My paperwork cupboard it’s stuffed full and I’ve bought a second hand filing cabinet on wheels and folders that slot in and hang to reorganise it all as we are ending up with 3 properties rented out after the move so it needs organising...

Lots of decluttering of to do list though today, some business calls etc

X

I'm very jealous of those of you doing diy (even if it is to fix a broken chair). I said a few months ago (sorry for repeating myself) that I only ever make my house less bad but never do anything to improve it.

I am out this morning but when I get back I am hoping to sand a couple of outdoor chairs that were wedding presents nearly ten years ago and then stain them tomorrow. I have never done anything like that before but I'm hoping that by putting a commitment on this thread I'll do it.

In terms of stuff out the door today I am going to throw away a music box with missing bits which will be painful to get rid of but nobody else would ever want it and I am going to chuck out some dirty garden toys that I put on Facebook and freecycle and no-one wanted for free!

Vinorosso I sometimes put dh's stuff on his side of the bed so he has to go through it. He has gone through his wardrobe recently quite willingly but still has more clothes than me.

Keith it's now part of my life to declutter. So when I make a cup of tea or brush my teeth or do anything I'll see what's in the cupboard that I can chuck.

Nofilter you keep saying you've not done much but you are doing really well! 30 items is fabulous. And good luck with the area of DOOM and paperwork. Paperwork really is an awful job but so satisfying when it's done. I'm about 80% of the way through mine.

DH & kids are looking nervous at my whirlwind of decluttering! Maybe they think I'll declutter them if they stand still for too long? (I won't, obviously!)

Can I join please?

Getting married soon and would like to get rid as much as I can before getting married as we will be moving house short afterwards next year June... so a good 11months to declutter :)

I was talking to a neighbour yesterday whose house is the same , quite unusual design, as ours . She invited me in to see what they had done with theirs. I could not believe how much bigger it looked then I realised she had no "stuff" . It has inspired me. Just hope she does not ask to look at ours!

Yesterday (Wed) was more tidying than decluttering. Two more plastic tubs in the recycling bin. Today I absolutely must tackle the paperwork, mostly filing and shredding in the hope of finding lost stuff. Should be able to listen to a podcast at the same time.

@sandgrown I agree, I've noticed that the less clutter the bigger and airy the rooms look. I've been watching a lot of minimalist room tours on YouTube and it's getting me going.

No no no don't tell me that youtube has minimalist room tours. I am supposed to be sanding some furniture.

Ooh that was busy. I have sanded one chair and put some Danish oil on it (which was recommended when I was given the chair years ago). It was a quick, boring job but the oil tin says to apply three times so I guess like purple frog I'm going to be in a mess for a few days.

Finding my sander for the first time in years was a challenge. It was behind other tools in the utility room and in finding it I created about a carrier bag of rubbish / recycling. This includes nuts, screws, fridge magnets, random plastic bits. I also had a quick whizz though the playroom and found some things to be recycled / chucked out and the outdoor toys I mentioned earlier. So all in all I have produced about a binbag of stuff for recycling / rubbish.

I have done no other housework so it looks a tip the moment!

@StealthNinjaMum 600 carrier bags?! Wow!!

There are indeed lots of minimalist room tours on YouTube and cleaning videos too. I occasionally watch one to prod me into doing some cleaning!! Although I do feel a bit scummy when I realise how much cleaning some people do!

Decluttered an Easter egg into my tummy earlier on. I also got rid of a big bag full of unused Christmas presents which a lady from the WI picked up. I also did some decluttering in the bathroom, washed the floor (loving my spray mop!) and it looks lovely.

Wow amazing progress everyone. That’s so bear of you stealth actually sanding a chair and varnishing it! I get a handyman for everything ( no partner in the house) but I really would like to master a drill and some of the basic tools like sanders etc - I’m going to aim for that - so I’m not waiting around for little jobs to be done...

You know stealth I think you have a point - I think I’m hardly doing anything (as I always imagine the job to be huge and then do nothing as it overwhelms me) but this little bit by bit is really working and I’m enjoying it...

DD (2) and I have spent 4hrs at the stables with a Shetland pony she brushed, fed treats, plaited tail, glitter on hoofs, she absolutely loved it and I can imagine most of our days being like that at our new house which is so cool!

Off out to meet friends but I’m going to go find a carrier bag full of stuff now as I go and get ready.

Ok so I’ve just ransacked the boiler cupboard (load of old lightbulbs bits and pieces we don’t need, old hose attachments etc - carrier bag full.

Cupboard above microwave and oven - three old olive oils, 3 old bottles of fizzy water, balsamic vinegar, normal vinegar, 2 old salt pots.

Book pile - chucked 12 books we don’t use anymore...

2 broken dolls, a few old bday cards, old photo album we never used....

#done

Lots of bits & bobs from various locations (unfinished clay creations & dusty playdo by the kids, odd bits of paper in a jug, a fondue set that hasn't seen the light of day for many years & some literacy & numeracy workbooks that have remained unused by all 3 DCs ) so far today.

Going to tackle games & toys next but maybe tomorrow!

Well done all - onwards & upwards!

Nofilter it is quite satisfying when you actually finish the job. I haven't actually done any diy for a few years but I used to do decorating, some putting up curtain poles, making flatpack furniture. I have never varnished or sanded furniture before but about 8 or 9 years ago a friend bought me and dh two wooden chairs with a connecting table as a wedding present (think it's called a 'love chair') and I bought the Danish oil for it and I have been thinking about doing it for all those years! I am hoping to finish tomorrow but I also have lunch with some friends so it's going to be hard and I am going to need to buy more of the oil. I am wondering if I can put another coat of the stuff on one chair tonight after dc are in bed.

Thanks to purple frog who inspired me to finally do my chair.

Not long back from Cubs and had tea. Need to shift my bum and go and find something to get rid of tonight.
You’re all doing very well with your decluttering!

Today (Thurs) I decluttered 23 magazines and a couple of newspapers into the paper tecycling bin and 18 fruit tubs from the stash of tubs into the plastics recycling bin along with three marg tubs and a jar.

This is over and above the normal daily tidy. I felt quite an urge to keep tidying the kitchen now that the piles are reducing very slowly. Had a rake around the understairs cupboard, which was not nearly as bad as I had imagined once it was tidied a bit.

Paperwork did not go well, with several important things lost, and the shredder broken. But I did manage to get everything in the right pile, and will try again tomorrow.

Amazing to have got rid of 600 bags! I must say I like to list how many Ive got rid of too but 600 is fantastic.

Im also inspired by all you DIYers and may try my hand at it.

Ive packed another small suitcase plus 3 lots of nappies and a bag of BN presents all ready for charity donation.

Found the recyclying place so am gradually getting rid of the papers and feeling pleased that they've not been binned.

As my place gets lighter on the clutter, I feel lighter inside like Ive achieved something. A bit cheesy but true!

Have a good day everyone

I'll find an item today to chuck out but I'm currently scraping paint off an exterior door frame that is very weathered and back to bare wood on 80% of it.
I found a way to combine our dreams of decluttering and DIY: I'm going to work on decluttering all my decorating materials by using them up!
Today, I'll use pink wood primer, sandpaper, and some paint. More importantly, I'll save having to get the door frame replaced by a carpenter!!

God, it's such a boring job......

Well, it worked. The two tins of pink primer had little in them apart from an inch of gluey paint. I'd thought there was about half a tin in each. [sceptical] I used it anyway and the tins, a brush and a chopstick are now in the bin.

Tonight, I'll gather together all decorating stuff and see what I've actually got. There's odd tins under the kitchen sink, in the utility, in a store cupboard, in the shed, on the front verandah, etc. Needs sorting!! This will also stop me buying something I've already got. I hate it when I do that! Quite often