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

My shampoo has decluttered itself in my handbag

I realised I lied yesterday! I stuck a charity bag outside with some more books, baby blankets, and the portable hob thing.

I need to sort through the books my mum hoarded then passed on to me so I'll go home with a few bits I'll imagine!

@ihateyourcarpert I'm not quiet minimalist yet but I'm working on it.

Not wearing bras or pants is definitely a line I hope to never cross.

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I'm throwing 5 pieces of clothing today. I decided to keep the dress but added another winter top and some old trainers which I haven't worn for over 2 years.

Finally starting to see the fruits of my labour. Took less than 5 minutes to tidy up the kitchen after making a godawful mess baking. This is because there is space in the cupboards to put things back in easily. Hooray!

Very good, Penguin! That's encouraging for all of us.

Penelope Im really not comfortable giving second hand mattresses (or car seats), I think they are the 2 baby things which should always be bought brand new. And the mattress is just foam so a dog would chew it up in no time I was thinking of cutting it in half lengthways and making a ball pit. But I'm not sure that foam sews together properly to hold the sides up.

I thought I'd be really inspired by the minimalist room tours. It made me worry for their sanity, they cannot be medically sound surely? Every single thing tucked away and nothing on show. No personality in the house and definitely no personality in the person. It's quite sad. I'm always told my house looks tidy and decluttered and have people call it a showroom regularly, but I have ornaments all over the place. So it's definitely okay to have nice things on show. I'd feel like i were in a mental asylum if it was just white walls and clear spaces after watching the videos I definitely don't want to be a minimalist, but I don't really know what on earth I would call myself either if not minimalist then what? A nice-things-only-ist?!

TwoSweeteners - Fair enough. My dog doesn't chew his foam bed though, but I have had one that did and the patio chair cushions, piano, dining chair strut

Penelope my Kai chewed through a wall when she was 4 months old. and then attempted to chew the pipes inside the wall!! That's when we decided crates weren't so bad after all she was left for 30 minutes (first time ever alone) while I went to the shop with DS. Luckily her dog brother didn't help her out and slept through the entire thing.

Definitely don't give her a foam bed then!!

abitoflight this is a link to the Christmas board

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas

A poster called Sideorderofsprouts has posted a Christmas prequel thread but another one called Reastie has been op of the main Christmas bargain threads for 5 or 6 years. One year I had bought everything by about November but I'm not usually that organised. Reastie starts doing them in about June or July which is obviously a sensible time to start Christmas shopping!

Well first day was a good one. Along with the three charity bags I went through everyone’s wardrobes and filled three more! They’ve gone to the local Sue Ryder. I’ve also encouraged the girls to donate 4 toys. The only thing that came into the house today was two new toys (small-girls spending pocket money) and one new pe t-shirt (essential). The best bit is that OH saw me doing it and has spent the day clearing the shed

twosweeteners I’ve just bought a crash pad for DDs slide in the garden which is basically the same as a cot mattress with a waterproof cover! A possible idea?

Not managed paperwork yet I’m avoiding it!

A bag of bits and bobs from coffee table, books, place mats, little candle boxes, magazines. A few bathroom items.

Got our wardrobes to do too the ones that are still up - 3 of them, mine and DD clothes..

Will try and tackle paperwork this evening but I’m sure DD will think it’s a game! Cutie

So tired from riding today zzzzz

Amazing progress biscuit

Ooh stealth that sounds really fairly straightforward RE the sander I shall definitely give that a go in the new house.. lots to do there! And get a drill!

Sounds like the chairs are really coming along too.. progress isn’t it when we have a full day as it is with kids and homes and busyness!

Thank you stealth
I like to do mine early too and bought my first presents about 3 weeks ago

Thanks nofilter. I forgot, I also managed 30 mins paperwork/magazine sorting. Are some of you talking about Christmas???? Argh la la la can’t hear you.

So today saw the summer fayre happening. My car resembles a shed now 😱 which absolutely MUST be emptied tomorrow.
I have ended up gaining a lot of stuff- all for fayres and it is all going to be stored on the top shelf of one of the kitchen cupboards. Then it can be used when we have fayres.
DS sold 5 mugs and has had orders for another bottle, 2 enamel mugs and 2 ceramic mugs.
I also used up a bag of flour and 2 bags of sugar when I made the cakes last night.
4 of my new bras don’t fit so I will have to return them and swap for others or get a refund.
The dogs ate another pair of my knickers so they went in the bin.
Sounds like you are all doing tremendously well!

Think of the extra petrol consumption, Gibble!! Empty the car!!

Speaking of cars, my windscreen is very dirty on the inside but I always forget until the sun shines at a certain angle and then I can't see a thing! I should do that today.

As usual I am in reverse of the rest of you. I usually get loads done during the week and then barely come back to the thread at weekends.

Yesterday was just one broken toy and lots of tidying. This morning we have a party and I'm putting the present in one of my many paper present bags. I have a large white container of bags and old wrapping paper and bows and ribbons that I rarely use.I wonder if I could throw them away?

Well done biscuit a really good start.

Morning all, and thanks Stealth.
I’ve got a really busy day today, we are going out this morning to watch a one day event, then must watch football, then off to a family birthday party this evening. We have however got a pile of stuff to take to the tip from OH’s efforts yesterday (hooray) and we’ll try to do that at some point. Have a great day x

I struggle a bit in the week, between work, 2 toddlers, and generally being knackered. It's not as easy now to just cast my eye around a room and chuck something, but that's a good thing!
Children have just departed to their dad's for the day so I'm having a coffee and organising my thoughts. I've made a list.....
Before I start I need to go and see to the ponies, one of which needs a bath. So I'll do that first then cone back and crack on.

My plan is to organise the fridge clean it and bin the out of date stuff.

Go through paperwork, post a couple of things, file/shred/recycle.

Deal with a bag of cards (old Christmas,/birthday etc)

Get rid of the old phone/camera/whatever boxes that are under a chair in my bedroom. The baby keeps carrying them around and I keep putting them back.

UNDER THE STAIRS!!

Then I have an ongoing list.

Declutter car
Playpen of doom
Books
Toys.

I've not been on top of things this week but have still managed to get rid of one thing per day, even of its a tiny thing like a pen that doesn't work properly. Every little helps.

Nottalotta If your boxes are for I phones or I pads you can sell them on e bay. You also get more for old phones with a box .

Don’t worry, I will be emptying the car today! It’s DDs prom this week and DH is taking her and her friends to it in my car. So anything not returned to other groups will have to be in my hallway for a few days.
Anyway, an out I forgot to list last night was a half used roll of wallpaper that got left at the summer fayre.
I also finished a bottle of gin and a bottle of tonic last night so have a little more space in my cupboard!

sand nothing so useful, old Nokia's......

gibble I love the idea that drinking G & T can be counted. I'll add it to my list!

I'm getting started with the pony stuff now.

Today, I threw away a large flower pot that was broken into 3 pieces by the last big frost. I also pulled out some old and very dead plants and sprinkled some seeds into the pots. Look how pretty they'll be

Just found a ripped duvet cover in the airing cupboard. Why on earth has it been kept?! I think I might get rid of the set with the scratchy/twee lace trim, too... It's going in the textile recycling bag now.