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

[StealthNinjaMum]

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

Can I join in? On a mission lately: yesterday got rid of some beautiful but too small silk PJs I‘d had for years. Plus some old cookbooks. Gave kitchen a good cleanup and ditched some way out of date cocktail ingredients (one jar had a label of 2010 ). On the radar today is a cat toy that our kitty shows no interest in.

@kalinkafoxtrot45 - Welcome!

Thank you! :)

Welcome kalinkafoxtrot45!

I’ve spent today tidying the house. The areas that I did earlier in the week have stayed tidy so I thought I would see if I could make everywhere else presentable. I did do proper tidying as well making sure everything went away. It so much easier to put DS’s things away now his room has been sorted so it made me want to tackle the rest of the house. Lots more paper into the recycling and quite a bit of rubbish found as well. DS decided that another big car, a book and a dressing up outfit that I found could all go into the charity bag.

I did think of you stealth when I found one of our many pairs of scissors and rolls of sellotape under the sofa! We have numerous quantities of both but can never find any when they’re needed. I remember reading something on clutterbug about this and I think she calls it homeless clutter - things that you often need and leave lying around because you don’t know where to keep them. I seem to remember there was a list on the website and some suggestions of where to put them. I might need to check that out again for inspiration.

All the laundry went away as well so more pants and socks from DS and a few bits from DD’s wardrobe in the charity or rag bags.

Now I am sitting here with a glass of wine admiring my tidy house. The only two rooms that are still a tip are the office and our bedroom and there is still lots of cupboards to sort but it doesn’t seem quite so daunting now everywhere obvious is clear. Now I just need to keep it this way!

Hello kalinkafoxtrot45

Hope that wine was lovely bobgoblin it was well deserved! It feels lovely doesn it being able to see tidy areas.
My bedroom feels alot tidier at the moment usually have a massive pile of stuff along the floor but where have been clearing cupboard out iv made homes for things which is nice and im trying really hard not to pile stuff onto the floor... although like you i know theres lots of hidden mess I still need to tackle!

Whats todays goals folks? im aiming to give a bag of clothes to younger cousin she will enjoy and put a couple things online to sell!xx

Welcome kalinka it sounds like you have made a good start, keep going.

bobgoblin that's really interesting about homeless clutter, I might look that up. Those sorts of items just move around. I gave dh and dd1 mils birthday presents and asked them to wrap them up while I had a shower. While I was getting dressed I could hear them arguing about where the scissors and sellotape are. We have millions in the house, they just constantly lose them.

Today I have decided to give away or possibly sell a candleholder. I do like it but never use it because the wax drips so it just looks pretty in the sitting room. My sitting room is really minimalist - apart from the hidden pile of 'for sale' stuff behind the settee it is very stark - so I would like to buy a new lamp and maybe a mirror but the candleholder doesn't fit in with what I want. Laura Ashley's 40% sale starts at the end of this week so I have seen a couple of things I might buy.

I'm back in! We've been away and just getting back to normal.

I've found a podcast called 'a slob comes clean'.

A bit like flylady as American and Christian, but I find it good to listen to whilst chucking out stuff.

She has a blog and videos/books I've not looked at yet.

I've been throwing out clothes and shoes whilst doing post holiday washing today.

Hello!

I'm joining. This seems more manageable that Marie Kondo. How does anyone have the time to gather all of the clothes/books from the house together in one area?! I'm tackling room by room (actually drawer by drawer). The task just feels so overwhelming but keep reminding myself that something is better than nothing.

I do like the 'spark joy' and not keeping things for just in case principles though.

I’ve been lurking for a while admiring the efforts but want to keep a record of my ongoing battle too. Moved house several years ago and thought I’d had a ruthless declutter before listing our old house. Since then I’ve been chipping away but we still have a house full of stuff
This week we’ve had a good sort through toy room and have taken 4 bags to charity - can I claim a months credit as definitely thirty things gone

I think I would actually need to give up work to declutter my house. I'm not even a hoarder! It just takes so long. Firstly the sorting, then the selling/charity shop delivery and then the storing the things you want to keep.

Neighbour collected unwanted cat toy today - one more thing off the radar! What next? I have some clothes and jewellery I want to sell, but also to keep donating and chucking out. I have espied a long forgotten folder on top of a shelf so perhaps that will be next up.

Welcome, @needyourlovingtouch & @gassylady and welcome back, @IveGotBillsTheyreMultiplying !

Today, I finally found a better home for a disposable bar-b which DP & I have been meaning to use for years. I was so sick of it being in the way and never being used. It feels good to be free of it.

I gave a friend quite a few bits out of the charity bag, which also felt good. It seems easier to let go of things when I know someone else is going to enjoy them.

And, I've ticked LOADS off my to do list. I even hand-washed a huge throw which is too heavy for the washing machine - quite a job!

Oh, and we had a little funeral for one of our small animal friends too.

Welcome needyourlovingtouch and gassylady! I tried and failed to kondo and this is most definitely more manageable. Even on a really busy day I can normally find one thing to go.

stealth I’ve tried to do a link to the homeless clutter thing I mentioned here so I hope it works. I think I listened to the podcast but I haven’t watched the video. She’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I’ve picked up a few ideas from her.

Today’s items - two Annabell Karmel books that I bought when weaning DS and have totally ignored since, some more of DD’s clothes that she’s now outgrown and a borrowed item returned to a friend.

I think one of tomorrow’s jobs will be to get some items out of the house. The landing is now full of bags and boxes for the charity shop and I have loads of clothes in the rag bag. Oh and a pile of bits in the porch for the tip. I’m doing well at finding items to declutter but not so well at actually getting rid of them.

@gassylady - Haha! No, sorry - no credit.

@bobgoblin - If you call the British Heart Foundation, they will arrange a collection. (Some other charities do this too.)

Oo! Forgot to say, I talked DP into getting rid of his old wallet. I also took my wellies to the shoe recycling bin.

I took out a massive, massive half cheesecake last night to remind myself to throw it in the bin. (wasteful I know but I really need to lose weight). Came down to find empty plate. Dh also thought it was wasteful so ate several thousand calories of cheesecake!

Thanks bobgoblin I will have a listen when dds aren't around. They will say it's boring if I listen to it in front of them. I'm going to try to do the challenge - should be interesting with keys as we have them all over the place and I'm sure half aren't for this house!

Excellent effort gassylady. Just imagine at the end of the year when you've got rid of 360 things.

I feel inspired to tackle keys later.

Hi to all and to new decluttees.

I'm getting rid of a handbag as I got a new one for my birthday. The old one has had its day after 4 yrs continual use. I did say a kondo thanks to it as it has been great and was a charity bargain at £4.99. I'm nearly 50 and this new handbag was the first I've bought new, although it was half price

I think the chucking out is making me fussier about what I'm buying. I've banned myself from buying new books until Christmas I have tons already.

Thanks SandandSea. I’ve just ordered some collection bags from them to put everything in (because the bags and boxes I have are just not big enough!). I forgot they do furniture collections so I’ll organise a collection for that as well. There’s a desk, some chairs and a small bookcase that I can think of off the top of my head that won’t fit in the new house (although they’ll need emptying first). I was going to try and freecycle them but the group here doesn’t seem very active. And, if I’m being honest, I probably won’t get round to listing everything!

So far today I have emptied and recycled the contents of a folder I had to produce for a CPD course years ago. I kept a couple of resources I had forgotten about which might be useful in the future. Also recycled some university essays I still had that were in another folder. I’m not sure why I’ve held onto them for so long because they were first year ones and not even that good!

We’re out for the afternoon so I’m not sure if I’ll get anything else done but I did spy a few things in the office that can go. Is it cheating if I leave them until tomorrow?!!

OK so I’ve sorted through some of the old kids school books that were sent home at the end of term. Most decluttered but a couple saved for their comic potential.
I also found the books from the last school year too so also did those. Shame our paper recycling isn’t for another week

Waves at everyone to cover awkward sneaking back in

Love seeing how you're all doing, and the inspiration this thread gives.

Not been doing a lot here lately, but some dried up bathroom products gone, lots of recycling and shredded a big bag of paperwork yesterday..I seem to keep finding new stashes all over the house!

Anyway, I've got 4 days off work now so hoping to get stuck in. Anyone want to set me a challenge to keep me going?

Chucked a grotty pillow and a load of birthday cards. Every little helps!

You're right IveGotBills, it really does.

Out so far today: dodgy deodorant, broken hair clip, some painful mum- related objects, bin bag of general crap, a bag of recycling found under the general mess, and a load of shredded paperwork.

Tbh, this didn't really NEED shredding, little personal information etc. It's just that it closes an unsuccessful chapter of my life, and shredding it feels really therapeutic... If you see what I mean. Anyone else get that?...Or am I just bonkers?!

Also decluttered some more pre-cooked 'ready meals' from the freezer. Aiming to empty and defrost it before batch cooking a load of stuff for the winter.

Here's hoping.

I've been on holiday for two.weeks and whilst away realiaed that you actually don't need that much stuff.

I've got back and bagged up the clothes I haven't worn. Been utterly ruthless they've gone. I've taken about 8 bags to charity and a carload of junk to the tip.
Got rid of the basket of odd socks that has been pissing me off.
I really need to do the children's toys but I can't face that with them helping me
I'm not trying to sell stuff as i just want it gone instantly and not hanging around

Can't find the selotape anywhere. It is definitely homeless clutter in this house.

Our lounge has been decorated. DH also realised that a massive tin of paint I had kept is no use and neither are any of the tubs of white paint in the downstairs loo. They will all go now.
Someone is supposed to be collecting several books from me tomorrow so I need to go and put them in the hallway.
DH and I are about to go and put the decorating items back into the loft and then we’re done for the day.
Dining room is an absolute pigstye 😩