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

Spent FAR longer at the yard doing pony related stuff than planned. So far I've done the fridge and the car. A bit of random chucking out in the pantry. I need to go under the stairs....

Had a quick clear out of the kitchen and managed to throw out numerous bits of food which are just gone past their date, and also went through the pantry, fridge and freezer and did a mini stock take.

I have been meal planning for about 2 Months now and found it reduces our waste (and bill) massively. But I would like to use up all the random odds and ends from the freezer and pantry, which hopefully leaves me with shit loads of food storage space, so I can then batch cook and freeze meals and spare myself from cooking from scratch every single bloody day

I bought a new shoerack to replace the manky broken one in the hall. So tonight the old one gets dismantled (I'd already sorted the shoes) and go out in the bins . DH can build the new ones (Division of Labour: I went out and bought it/he builds it)

Some tail ends of DD school uniform (she's Yr 11 so finished now) and some of DS clothes in the charity bag

I was taking a bag of tetracartons to Sainsburys to find the recycle bin completely chokka , had to bring the bag home or get done for fly-tipping (they have cameras and NPR)

I was full of good intentions upon joining this thread and lasted about a week

I have tried to make up for it today:
For Wednesday: birthday cards decluttered into appropriate bins (birthday was over a month ago)
For Thursday: three books listed on eBay
For Friday: two books added to pile for tip (they cannot be sold or donated, I promise!)
For yesterday: two half used notebooks put in bin (I find this sooo hard, still tempted to retrieve one from the charity bag...)
For today I will list a fancy glasses case on eBay.

Listing on eBay counts as decluttering right?? Depending on how the decluttering I might have to count the items again when they leave the house

Have also done some cleaning and then promptly flopped on the sofa, as having 26 degree heat and being 26+2 weeks pregnant don't combine well with physical activity!

A couple more Freecycle and eBay listings done.

Decluttered the sideboard drawers and cupboard into the newly shiny under stairs cupboard, so that's ready for paint prep tomorrow.

I should be either touching up bits on the bed frame or making curtains tonight but CBA!

I have unexpectedly done more decluttering. I have been putting washing away and have put some dd2 dresses into the charity pile and some white socks into the rags pile. I have tried to clean them (they are literally black from running around with no shoes on) but they're still grubby and every time dd2 wears them to school I cringe. I bought her new socks a few weeks ago that she hasn't even worn yet and won't while the favoured grubby ones are in her drawer!

I've dropped off the thread but have been lurking and carrying on getting rid of items slowly.

We were on holiday a few weeks back and even then I ensured that we didn't bring back too much 'stuff'. E.g normally I'm terrible for picking up tourist info leaflets and usually come home with a folder stuffed full, which I always intend to look at for places of interest to go on future holidays in the same area, but I never do, they just sit around in a pile gathering dust. I didn't do that this time, so I count it as a win.

I have several bags of things to go to the charity shop this week - the shop we have a gift aid agreement with has been closed for a refit but is now open again. But I'm really struggling though to get rid of some outgrown clothes from the DC - nothing sentimental even, just a load of pants and socks. I have no attachment to the clothes but I really can't seem to let go - why?

Today has been so hot and I have really lacked any energy the only thing I have decluttered is a pack of puff pastry due to go off tomorrow - made it into Eccles cakes. Yum! Also got 3 active listings set up on eBay and another 2 scheduled for later in the week (need to sort pictures and check postage).

This week is a break week from my regular fitness class (runs 3x week for 4 weeks, then 1 week break), so during the school day I have no commitments other than an hour one morning and Friday afternoon volunteering in school, so I have the following aims:

• bag up DC outgrown socks and pants for next week's textile recycling collection
• replace clothes rail in my bedroom
• take current full bags to charity shop
• bag up some hardback books and take to (a different) charity shop
• start emptying out spare room for one DC (currently in same room)

It's 4 weeks to the start of the school holidays, I need to make some headway before I have no time to do anything but play referee and entertainer to the DC.

More putting things away this weekend than actually getting rid (easier now there's more space!) but we did have a bbq from clearing out the larder, fridge & freezer of odds & ends - delicious (and very satisfying in a decluttering kind of way!!!). Even the charcoal was the tail end of a couple of bags languishing in the shed from last year & some wood from a tree which fell down in the garden.

Keep up the hard work everyone!

Can’t seem to push myself into doing my paperwork or starting the wardrobe... I’m hoping I can still keep up this decluttering as I can start things at 100mph and then they fizzle out :(

Busy day though and have done a nice run through of the house, sorted the horse etc

Hope to get a bit done tomorrow in a spare hour I have while DD is in nursery...

I managed to get more done this afternoon than expected. The list always helps. I did the fridge, reorganized, cleaned and binned some out of date stuff. I made some granola and came across some very out of date baking ingredients so chucked/put in bird table. Tidied the pantry, it really needs a full empty and clean but trying to run it down a bit first.

Under the stairs!! I started by tidying the shed to make space for a few items. Then managed to rearrange much of the under stairs stuff so I could fit my boxes of books in. I threw away a number of old boxes from items bought years ago. Some odds and ends of wrapping paper, sone Christmas cards that had been written on but not given! Moved a couple of bits him to the shed and put so e in the car to drop at the yard in the morning.

Tidied a bookshelf and took a bag of books to the community library (old red phone box along the road)

Nofilter I challenge you to set a timer and do 15 minutes of paperwork today!

I am going to finish varnishing my chairs and then tackle some toys. The house is more tidy than usual for a Monday so I can start decluttering as soon as I get back from doing the school run.

YES to Lists

When I'm on a roll, I write everything down then it is really inspiring to score them through .

Hi everyone! I've finally caught up again after a few days away. You're all doing really well! 600 bags really is impressive, Stealth. Well done!

Last Thursday, I decided to book a spontaneous long weekend away. Thanks to all my decluttering and organising, I was able to book a hotel, transport, cat-sitter (inc interviewing and taking up refs), clean and tidy the entire house and pack, all in a few hours! We had a really good break away too.

The packing served us well, though was far from perfect. Eg. from my many pairs of leggings, I somehow managed to pack the pair with the hole in them which should have been in my 'for decorating' drawer. We also took far too many carrier bags with shoes etc in, when one holdall would have done (and would have looked and felt much better). Lessons have been learned.

Anyway, I've come back renewed and realising how nice my home actually is. I have tended to see the bad bits and focus on what I'm not doing. It's nice to be seeing it in a better light now.

I've also heard back from a seller re a kitchen gadget we want to send back. They've offered us a £60 refund (out of about £80). I'm going to accept that and then try to sell it cheap to make up the rest.

I've got quite a few things to sell actually. I really must get on with that now.

SandandSea I'm glad you've come back to a nice house.

I haven't done anything on my list. I couldn't open the varnish for the chairs so I gave up. I then sort of forgot to go through toys but have inadvertently got rid of quite a lot of stuff while tidying. (well not got rid of yet but sorted through).

So in the bin are: various bolts, door hinges, parts of door handles that don't fit in our doors, pens, and lots of rubbish from handbags (conkers, broken/leaky pens, stones, very, very old pombear crisps probably all put there by dc and tampons), a drawstring bag that's broken (not the same one I threw out about 2 weeks ago), a school book bag that was torn.

I have also put a handbag in the charity shop pile. I emptied two out and put loads of biros and pencils away. I will probably buy another handbag to replace them. I just didn't love it.

I also went in the loft and took out some empty boxes to recycle or put stuff in to sell.

I also went through my makeup / skincare in my bedroom and threw away a couple of old samples and put more stuff in my bathroom cabinet (which is half empty as I have been using skincare stuff). I would like everything in the bathroom eventually and not in my bedside drawers.

I have also put some off dd1 and dd2s knickers into the 'rags' pile and more socks.

Goodness, we'll all have empty houses soon!

Took a huge bag of plastic bags to the supermarket for recycling, did a charity shop drop & put some dead plants in the compost recycling bin.

Not sure what to tackle next!

So far today I have

• bagged up 9 things (5 large boxed toys and 5 smaller things) as a contribution to the scout's summer fair (and will take down tonight when dropping DC off). So that's 9 things out plus it means I got rid of a cardboard box that was in my living room.
• bagged up a soft toy (need to find a few more) as a contribution to the school fair
• decluttered a bag of strawberry twizzlers (never seen a strawberry in their life, but they are my current moreish addiction)
• collected together some old swimming kit (trunks/hats/goggles) to go to school as spares in the pool changing rooms

and from my to-do list

• replaced clothes rail in my bedroom - done, old rail in skip, new rail up and a bag of clothes (mostly new with tags) bagged up to go to the charity shop later this week. I need to go through my wardrobe properly but it's a start.

Remaining on my aims list this week are:

• bag up DC outgrown socks and pants for next week's textile recycling collection
• take current full bags to charity shop
• bag up some hardback books and take to (a different) charity shop
• start emptying out spare room for one DC (currently in same room and fight like cats and dogs so hopefully some space might improve the atmosphere in the house)

I've now advertised and boxed up the kitchen gadget. DP has agreed not to replace it for now, which means I have a lovely big space on the kitchen counter.

I've bagged up a pair of shoes for charity which hurt my feet. (I've hardly worn them so it took some deciding but the decision's been made now.)

I've freed up a big drawer which I think means I can sell another small set of drawers... I'm still thinking about that.

We've ordered a new set of kitchen blinds too - found some really cheap online which fit exactly. I can finally bin my current ones which died some time ago.

I'm now going to wash an outfit so I can post it for sale. (I've been avoiding this for ages - you're now my witnesses.)

Undertheoaktree I would love to have an empty house - but it won't happen any time soon!

Since my last post I have shredded more paperwork and found a second handbag to get rid of and two arts and craft aprons that no longer fit dds, although I might buy replacements.

I have put another two bags of stuff in the car to go to the charity shop.

I readvertised some toys and books on Facebook and have buyers for nearly all of them. All are things I have advertised before so I'm hoping they go this time otherwise I am taking them to a charity shop at the end of the week.

My pile of things to sell is in the sitting room behind the settee. You can't see it unless you walk to the window but it's been like that for about a year and I want it gone before the school holidays. My sitting room is fairly minimalist - very little on any surfaces - but has a big six feet long, two foot high pile of clutter hidden!

@StealthNinjaMum - At least it's organised clutter but I do know what you mean. I'm sure it will feel good to get rid of it. Do you need another challenge??

I have now washed the outfit and it's drying. I'm crossing everything that it will recover - it's a bit fancy. I'm pleased I've done it either way as it's been hanging around for years.

Today:

incoming - two new pairs of socks and a new plant.

Outgoing - lots of old plastic plant pots, a broken bird feeder, three odd socks and a pair of slippers that I hate.

I’m working on the one thing in, one thing out (minimum) principle.

Only managed to decluttering the weeds from the flower bed out front and the DCs health forms for Gilwell 24 in a couple of weeks. Rest of the forms are in the car to be filled in tomorrow.
Returned a vast amount of items to the people who loaned them to us yesterday so I only have the stocks (huge) and a bag of toys to return now.

stealth I was just about to update the thread to say I’ve still not done any paperwork sorting and decided to whizz it instead! All done I am looking at an empty cupboard! Sorted through it all and have piles for each folder then boxes it up to go into the garage and started another box. Big bin bag full of stuff to chuck mainly paperwork, stationary, candles, ole keys...

So chuffed!!

Wasn’t even difficult ha

Jumping back on! My house is an absolute tip. And I'm not exaggerating! I'll keep track of how much rubbish I'm throwing away and catch up on the thread while I declutter the sky box.

Argh, let down by the Gumtree people again. Booked in a Freecycler - hope she's more reliable!

Tons of painting, sewing and tidying to do today. Plus some of that actual work, erg.

@SandandSea ha ha. Please no more challenges yet! I haven't yet recovered from the other one.

Nofilter I am jealous of someone who 'does' their paperwork in a day! It took me months and I still have lots to do.

I have sold a couple of toys and things and already someone hasn't turned up to collect something. I also randomly sorted through some early learning books because a friend said her child was struggling to read. So I am giving her 35 books today. We have a gap on our bookshelves.