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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Getting rid of one thing a day decluttering challenge: Part 4

999 replies

StealthNinjaMum · 06/07/2018 14:14

And the decluttering continues…

For 3,000 posts we have been slowly transforming our homes from hovels to palaces.

We’re not quite there yet some of us are further than others but we won’t give up until we have a decluttered existence.

We just get rid of one thing a day and report back to showoff for support and to be told off when we’re naughty and bring more clutter back into our homes, gardens, sheds, garages.

As ever newbies are welcome to join us.

Previous thread here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3243987-Getting-rid-of-one-thing-a-day-decluttering-challenge-Part-3-Are-we-nearly-there-yet?msgid=79207142

OP posts:
Nofilter · 04/08/2018 17:35

Phew! We are IN!!

DDs shetlands arrived yesterday, I dressed the stable up in red bows she was so excited - we've hardly left them alone...

Everything is upside down but we are slowly working our way through it!

We have fencing to fix and I need to order some wood stain samples to choose what colour to have the stables and masses of fencing it's all looking a bit tired. It's such a big decision though as there is so much of it! Needs to complement the cream cottage style house...

Am loving the greys but I don't know if they would match the cream house - B&Q trip I think...

Thanks for lovely messages Smile

lljkk · 04/08/2018 20:07

You gals done good, inspired me to find some unrequired stuff. 3 pairs of wellies youngest DC has outgrown (!). & found some ancient coin purses in a cupboard including one full of pretty collector badges (sigh). I don't know what they'll fetch, but may try to sell as an eclectic bundle on Ebay.

Plus I have a plan now for the 20 or so picture frames I've had for years, how to get them out.

Halfahunnerstillastunner · 04/08/2018 22:47

Oh korma that must be hard, emotional attachment things are the worst for me. I can't let go of anything of Mums yet. But if you remember him with love, will the ornament ever bring you joy?

Halfahunnerstillastunner · 04/08/2018 22:48

Well done nofilter! Congratulations on your new home 🏡 and stables!

Halfahunnerstillastunner · 04/08/2018 23:01

Family party day today which went well so I've quite a bit more glass recycling to do now! Smile🍾
Didn't have time to do much but managed to take a bag of DS Xbox games into the gaming shop when I was on the Tesco booze run this morning, he didn't take as many as I'd hoped but DS now has a credit to use so he's quite happy.

I've had a bath tonight to relax after everyone left and have another hotel mini gel tube and a face mask tub used up ready for recycling. Also chucked a lot of tired cleaning cloths and an old toothbrush that DS had never managed to take to the bin somehow Hmm

I've also decided to chuck an old tube of anti-wrinkle stuff that I found when doing my wardrobe baskets and was planning to use up. It doesn't seem to suit my skin and I think it's blocking my pores. Probably cos it will be well out of date! This is radical for me as I'm almost obsessive about not "wasting" things and using everything up (grew up in frugal bordering on poor home where this was necessary, whether you liked it or not). Thanks to these threads I can now do this. Smile

StealthNinjaMum · 05/08/2018 08:54

I'm back!

Well I had a lovely holiday and I used up some foot cream and moisturising body lotion so my bathroom cabinet is clearer. I also didn't buy anything (other than sparkly sandals which I LOVE.)

I have ten pages to catch up on and lots of washing to do, I may be some time.

OP posts:
grumpypug · 05/08/2018 09:35

I have an impromptu 'free' day (oldest DS is sick and we were supposed to be going out for the day) so I'm going to declutter the utility room (read dumping ground) and then chuck out all the out of date stuff in the fridge and give it a good clean.

After reading some cleaning threads on here about cleaning, I've started following the organised mum method. Anyone else following it? I like it already - the real test will be when I go back to work in September. Confused

grumpypug · 05/08/2018 09:35

I have an impromptu 'free' day (oldest DS is sick and we were supposed to be going out for the day) so I'm going to declutter the utility room (read dumping ground) and then chuck out all the out of date stuff in the fridge and give it a good clean.

After reading some cleaning threads on here about cleaning, I've started following the organised mum method. Anyone else following it? I like it already - the real test will be when I go back to work in September. Confused

StealthNinjaMum · 05/08/2018 10:38

I have only read one page and I need to spend time with my children. Gah. I am rooted wondering if ljkk ever cleared her dining table! Will have to leave mumsnet now and come back later.

OP posts:
StealthNinjaMum · 05/08/2018 18:52

Read up to page 15 now. Wondering if sitranced is still here or if the 2002 sugared almonds have poisoned her. (I so would've eaten them!)

OP posts:
Halfahunnerstillastunner · 05/08/2018 19:32

Hi OP!! Glad to see you back.

grumpypug what's the organised mum method? Sounds like something I need!

Halfahunnerstillastunner · 05/08/2018 19:45

Made a start on DS room. Wasn't what I was planning but he showed willing so thought we would crack on while he was amenable. We got rid of a bag for life full of recycling (mostly his drawings and models) and another just of general crap (broken stuff, lots of smuggled sweet wrappers and party bag stuff that I've given him a lecture about leaving around, the minger 🤢). And we are less than half way round. Confused
Gave the room a dust and hoover and will hopefully tackle more of his storage tomorrow or the next day if we have time.

Also got some too-small joggers, baseball caps (a craze about 2 years ago) and shoes put into the next charity bag, to be joined by 2 of my tops that really don't suit me and a couple of his books he has outgrown.
Have also recycled some packaging from an electric toothbrush.
Did the glass bottle bank run.

GirlfriendInAKorma · 05/08/2018 20:32

Today got rid of an old dressing up outfit which is too small for DCs and a few babyish books that they never look at. Also an old chopping board which hasn't been used in at least a year.

StealthNinjaMum · 05/08/2018 20:35

Page 17 halfahunnastillastunner yes it was me that said that I declutter an area but then "see" stuff later. I am so in awe of the people who do a room and then FINISH it. I haven't finished any area - but my life is better and more organised after doing this for 18 months so I won't complain much.

OP posts:
SandAndSea · 05/08/2018 21:34

Welcome back, @StealthNinjaMum ! Hope you had a lovely time. Glitterball Wine

Today's items:

  • The present I bought on eBay which was faulty - received a full refund and put it straight in the charity bag.
  • A natural supplement I didn't use and couldn't even give away - recycled.
  • The special dress which took me ages to decide to sell, didn't sell, so is now in the charity bag. I feel OK about this. Not great, but OK. I think it's getting easier to get rid of sentimental items. (Not all of them though.) Smile
grumpypug · 05/08/2018 22:07

@Halfahunnerstillastunner The Organised Mum Method is an easy cleaning routine. There's 3 levels of cleaning, every day (15 mins - I do mine as I'm getting up on a morning), level 2 - 30 mins focused on a room and level 3, which is a Friday focus (30 mins 'deep cleaning' a room). There's a website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

Today, I have decluttered my hallway table and the fridge door. Confused DH has been shopping so the fridge was full and I couldn't be bothered to remove everything!!

Gibble1 · 05/08/2018 22:27

Got back from camp on Friday evening with a stinking cold. Got ready to go out and meet DH at a friends birthday party and dropped DD off at her friends first. Found a dog on the way so that came with me for a few hours until the owners contacted me at midnight and I took him home.
Yesterday I decluttered my nephew, his bike and all his camping gear and cleared away the hallway. I now have some bags to sort and put away again.
Sold 2 guitars yesterday and today have sold a large underbed storage box.

StealthNinjaMum · 06/08/2018 09:01

Thanks SandandSea we had a lovely time but I am happy to be back.

Nofilter excellent news about the 30 bin bags gone and the house move.

Yesterday I did lots of washing and now I have a large pile ready to go away. I love that I put out one load of washing and it's dry before the next load has even finished.

In terms of decluttering I removed two empty cereal packets that had been put away and chucked out some gone off fridge items. I shredded a couple of bits of post. I got the royal mail keepsafe service which is where they keep your post while you're away and deliver it when you get back so I am expecting a massive pile of post to sort through today!

OP posts:
GirlfriendInAKorma · 06/08/2018 09:21

Today - squashed a big cardboard box that was no use for anything but had mysteriously been kept.
Taken a big pile of shredding to work (so that it can go in their big bins for shredding ...).
Sent something back that I ordered online but I didn't like it as much as I thought...

Halfahunnerstillastunner · 06/08/2018 10:32

Just cleaned out the cupboard under the sink. 🤢
Going out are: old utensil holder with dish scrubbing brush (we have had a dishwasher for 6+ years, I guess I was keeping it "just in case" Confused), a brush that has lost its dustpan and is manky, some ancient food bags that would be hazardous rather than helpful, some bubble wrap (we have loads upstairs) and a dish towel that is past its best, old pastry brush and a mug that is pretty but no one can be bothered to wash it as it's not dishwasher proof so it just always sits there, annoying me.

I now have a lovely organised clean cupboard with space. Smile

Halfahunnerstillastunner · 06/08/2018 12:48

Also used up and in recycling: small bottle of lavender essential oil and a bottle of posh body lotion that had a teeny bit left, now I smell luvverly and it's out of my basket!

StealthNinjaMum · 06/08/2018 13:29

Dd1 moaned about not being able to find her camera so I lectured her that if she had less stuff in her room she'd be more likely to find it. I set her a challenge to find 5 items to get rid of and she came back with 3 books that she had 2 copies of and two pictures. There will be no obvious improvement but I will encourage her to keep chipping away.

I have gone through the post. Some was immediately shredded and I need to make time to file bank statements, information on our house insurance and phone up for an opticians appointment. I am also throwing away a badly chipped mug. It's always hard to declutter with dds taking up my time but I feel like I'd like to get rid of a bag of stuff today (or put in a charity pile at least). Will think about it and report back when if I'm successful.

OP posts:
Tidy2018 · 06/08/2018 18:36

Ran out of steam when LB and LG came home for two weekends in a row and I had got myself tired out on the weekdays.

Despite this, it has been easier to keep up with tidying because more things have somewhere to go. My last declutter was -

Fri 27 July (from my journal)

Two tubs discivered at the back of a high shelf. The label indicated various toys. My heart sank, but I knew I had to open the tubs. Inside were about dozen small bits and pieces of Transformers. They were quickly matched up with the Transformers in the cuoboard. They'll stay there until LB is ready for them. The tubs are still empty, which in itself is an achievement.

The other achievement that day was emptying one large storage tub. It appeared to be full of papers from Mum's place. Turned out that the papers were a thin layer on top of many leather handbags. The papers are mostly keepsakes, and it was easy to put them with the other similar items. I put several of the smaller evening bags on a high shelf in my wardrobe, and found my two longlost backpacks while I was up the ladder. I was thrilled with that!

Last journal entry is that LOs came home. I was delighted to see them, and determined to maintain a better ordered house, even if decluttering slows down during the rest of this holiday.

SandAndSea · 06/08/2018 19:03

A busy day today so not much decluttering but I have returned a bulky item which was lent to me and I finally finished a tube of shower wash which has been dragging on for ages.

Nofilter · 06/08/2018 20:23

Thanks stealth welcome back - you were missed Smile

Thanks half - making progress (I think).

It's hard work! I've been to the tip today with masses of cardboard from the moving boxes and 8 bin bags...

It's absolutely boiling and I'm a bit "ah I don't know what to do first and I can't be bothered!"

So far I haven't had a moment to just sit in a room and whizz it into order. We be had 26 visitors and 5 of them overnights!

Think that will continue for a while so I'll just roll with it...

My spangly new American fridge freezer and new desk arrive tomorrow! Whoop x