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Original poster

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:
SandAndSea · 24/08/2018 23:37

Not much got rid of today. Used up a couple of rolls of tape and binned a few bits of crap from a bits&bobs box (elastic bands etc).

But, I did quite a few significant jobs which are a big weight off my mind and started a diy job. Hoping to continue tomorrow.

gassylady · 25/08/2018 08:43

Think you’re being a bit harsh to describe a new lamp as clutter! Sounds like your pleased with it once you find optimal arrangement. Will find a couple of things to sling in with the suitcases and drop the bag to charity shop later.

needyourlovingtouch · 25/08/2018 08:51

What are everyone's garage/lofts like?

bobgoblin · 25/08/2018 11:38

Just been catching up with the thread. It sounds like everyone is making good progress. I came down with the sickness bug that the DC had so there’s not been much decluttering here for the last few days. I made a start again yesterday so a bag of rubbish cleared out of the office, a few more outgrown vests of DD’s in the rag bag and a couple of kids DVDs in the charity pile.

The charity bags I ordered from the British Heart Foundation arrived so I’m going to start filling them with the piles of charity bits on the landing. I am going to totally clear the office this week so I can store them in there. We are hoping to move in about a month now and the new house does not have an office or any spare room to use as one until we get round to building an extension - probably in a few years. That means everything in there now needs to be found a home somewhere else or decluttered apart from a bookcase and filing cabinet which we are taking with us.

needyourlovingtouch our garage and loft are pretty full of all sorts of junk. I am not looking forward to emptying either of them! I am seriously thinking of ordering a skip or paying for a man and a van or something to deal with amount of junk that we need to get rid of.

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 25/08/2018 17:44

Thanks gassylady I rarely buy myself anything now I've just decluttered the house! I still can't get the room right and have been moving around tables and lamps today.

While doing this I found (why have I not spotted it before) two internet routers and have put one in the recycling pile. If this sounds like deja vu it's because about 3 months ago I threw away a router as dh had replaced one and not thrown it away. Well he has done it again.

So today's item is a router.

I also bought dd1 a new rug and dd2 a new lampshade. This meant dd1 wanted dd2s old lampshade so I ended up all swapping lampshades around - even in the spare room. This is kind of a reward. Both girls have miraculously kept their bedrooms tidy these holidays.

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 25/08/2018 18:03

Had to pop dinner on, I'm back. To answer about the loft / garage needyourlovingtouch

We have lots of space in both the loft and garage now. The garage fits a car in it. It probably has a small skip's worth of stuff - probably less. About four old doors, some old shelves, a desk, an old washing machine, rusty tools from memory. The loft mainly has empty cardboard boxes and suitcases. Think it might have some child carseats. Will check later.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 25/08/2018 19:09

Been on holiday and nearly (not quite Grin ) got through the washing.

Summer holiday clothes (ie the ones that we don't wear In Real Life) will get sorted out into space saver bags to go into the attic or recycle to charity shop.
I have gone through a load of my my sample/travel toiletries so that's cleared some space.

Need to sort out DS coats and hoodies , see what's good to keep .

I'm sorting through my laundry detergent (I'm a detergent whore really) I have white/non bio liquid /colour powder/some liquid pouch thingies and a sensitive powder.............so I really didn't need the Waitrose delicate clothing wash but I bought it anyway

I use a mix of Waitrose and Tesco (with the Leaping Bunny) so if I'm in these shops , I go a bit spendy Blush

SandAndSea · 25/08/2018 23:08

I bought a lovely, new bag today. I really love it!! (It's an ethical brand too so all good!) I could have made do with what I've got but decided I deserved it. It's my reward for throwing out my previous favourite one. Grin

I haven't thrown much out today but I did finish 'cuprinolling' which was a huge job which has needed doing for at least 2 years. I now have an old can of wood preserver to go to the tip.

I've still got quite a bit of clearing up to do and a bit of repair work - that's on the list for tomorrow.

gassylady · 26/08/2018 13:13

Found two tops to put in charity bags with the two cases and it did get dropped off. Was planning to use charity shop for local children’s hospice but it had shut - so had to find another. Husband and I tackling study this morning so a lot of paper shredded or recycled. Shredding much mor funGrin

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 26/08/2018 16:25

I've swapped the two settees round in the sitting room and I'm still not completely happy.

I have been going through a drawer of crap this week in the sitting room. Today I found the missing part of a lovely music box I threw away a couple of months ago, a damaged looking phone charger and more screws and odd plastic bits. I chucked out what looked like a leather strap (which has definitely not been used for anything kinky although I don't know what it is!) So not much has gone but I am getting better at ignoring my 'what if it's important? I'll keep it for another five years' feelings and just chucking bits out.

OP posts:
SandAndSea · 26/08/2018 22:06

Today: Just one 'to do' off my list. Also, went through my sewing box and threw away quite a few scraps and useless bits - furry fabric, elastic, cords, a belt buckle etc.

Blankscreen · 27/08/2018 08:58

I've sorted out my airing cupboard and been utterly ruthless. It's now gone from being full to bursting to virtually empty.

Swapped DDs cot bed so she is out of the cot bed and in the spare big bed.
Hopefully someone is coming to collect the old dining table which is in the garden. Only been a week but I just want it gone.
There is a pile of junk outside DDS room to be sorted and it all needs to go the charity shop/tip but I feel like I am getting there.

I struggle with getting rid of sentimental things though.

SandAndSea · 27/08/2018 13:51

Nothing out but quite a few jobs ticked off so far today.

I brought some of my boxes downstairs a while back, so I could go through them easily. I haven't touched them and they're now in the way. I think I'm going to pile them together in a corner of the bedroom instead as I need the downstairs cleared. (They're my sticking point.)

gassylady · 27/08/2018 15:55

More lovely shredding Grin few things for the rag bag found when washing. Some bits listed on eBay to take advantage of the £1 max selling fee

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 28/08/2018 12:26

No decluttering yesterday, we went out and I didn't even find the tiniest bit of clutter to remove which is unusual for me.

I am currently helping dd2 draw princesses and rainbows while clearing out arts and craft arts. We have lots of sets that dd2 isn't interested in but I'm reluctant to give them away / throw them away in case we have a play date with a little girl who does want to play with them.

Anyway I have managed to find some old Hama beads projects and instructions for crafts that I can throw out.

OP posts:
needyourlovingtouch · 28/08/2018 16:08

A whole boot load of things- DH clothes and a bag of blankets and a couple of bags of books. Reminding myself not to get demotivated as this feels like the top of the iceberg.

gassylady · 28/08/2018 21:06

Busy day today so a few small bits to start the next charity bag, couple of books and a glasses holder off my desk I no longer use

SandAndSea · 28/08/2018 21:20

No items out today but more big jobs done. For the first time in years, I've actually got my house insurance done early!!!!

House looks like a dump at the moment due to all the jobs being done but I'm starting to get on top of it again and have cleaners booked for later in the week so all will be sorted again very soon.

bobgoblin · 29/08/2018 07:58

Bank holiday weekend went by without any decluttering although I did have a good clean round everywhere which was much easier now there are clear areas of the house.

I am going to struggle to get the office cleared by the end of the week as I had planned. I did have a few minutes in there yesterday and sorted through the craft boxes. Various empty packets and broken/used things filled a small carrier bag and went in the bin. I had two large unopened packs of polystyrene eggs as well as most of at least an open pack so the full ones have gone in the charity bag. It was a reminder of how we gained so much clutter in the first place. I obviously bought them for Easter bonnet making without checking or being able to find what we had already!

I think I’ll try and do the bookcase in the office today.

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 29/08/2018 10:40

needyourlovingtouch well done keep going. It might feel like the tip of the iceberg but honestly in a few months you'll have got rid of the rest of the iceberg unless you have as much clutter as me. Is there a really visible area that you could clear that would make you feel a sense of achievement? i.e. a window ledge, table, pile of post? I had a friend over a year ago and she asked if I decorated the hall (I hadn't) and another friend complimented a 'new' mirror (it wasn't). It's just the house looked noticeably barer and it was lovely to be complimented.

I have been chucking out old pictures from dds and yesterday dd1 gave me permission to chuck out a clay project she did. It's quite large and will clear a lot of space on the bookcase. I don't really want to get rid of it as I remember her doing it but I'll take a photo of it first.

OP posts:
Kokoloco · 29/08/2018 16:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SandAndSea · 29/08/2018 17:42

@Kokoloco - Welcome!

(I'm probably not the best person to offer advice on boxes.)

I've been clearing like a good'un today. Washing on, sides cleared, books in charity bag, cat flea-treated etc. I'm currently looking at a book I've had since childhood. It needs to go. I'm building up to it.

needyourlovingtouch · 29/08/2018 18:23

Shredded old diaries today. Couldn't bring myself to read them!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 29/08/2018 19:40

Two large bags of clothes to Charity Shops

I have a plastic storage box to go

gassylady · 29/08/2018 20:31

Sounds like a lot of good work still going on. Have you sorted out where to pop your lamp Stealth??
Two pairs of shorts to add to charity shop bag (easy win as they were on my chairdrobe and haven’t been worn all summer!)