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Housekeeping

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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:

BuffysFavouriteStake · 07/09/2018 14:35

@Stealth
The main things are a dog-chewed sofa and carpet which are too big to fit in my car! Black bins only collected every 3 weeks here, so decluttering has created quite a backlog, of everything from broken kitchen equipment to old paint tins, and I've not even been in the attic yet!

Normally I recycle garden waste, but got some massive leylandi to chop, think they might end up in there too

I can't wait!!!

Original poster

StealthNinjaMum · 07/09/2018 15:03

gassylady My pile is big and things have been fished out but I leave a lot in the car. I think I'm fairly good about picking things they have forgotten about and /or don't play with. They still have millions of toys to distract themselves with.

yes I have lots in my kitchen but I have got rid of loads of it in the last year including some really old food so my cupboards are no longer bursting with stuff that falls out when you open a door.

I currently have a drawer for child's cutlery and I am hoping dd2 is going to announce she is too old for it and I have a massive drawer of plastic plates and cups. Dc use china crockery now but I have the plastic stuff for playdates and picnics but typing this is making me wonder if I could chuck a load out. Also my dc are obsessed with keeping certain water bottles.

OP posts:

Original poster

StealthNinjaMum · 07/09/2018 15:16

Buffy that's so exciting. I would love to get a skip but I don't think dh would like it if he saw what I was throwing out. He has inherited hoarding tendencies from his dad but has got much better now and does let me get rid of a lot of his stuff.

Today I have got rid of one pair of child's shoes and I have taken a bag of batteries to be recycled that have been in my car for a few weeks.

OP posts:

gassylady · 07/09/2018 16:29

Today I’ve saved a load of eBay listings as drafts to wait for next good offer on selling fees. Old next directory for the recycling pile as well as very old box of exotic (not nice!) tea bags. Thanks pp for mentioning teas

saltedcaramelmuffin · 07/09/2018 17:33

The good news is, I’ve got rid of two bin bags full of rubbish and sold about 10 things on FB. The bad news is I’ve also bought a new desk and a filing cabinet 😂

Not sure I’ve got the hang of this yet

BUT they are storage solutions...no?!

ememem84 · 07/09/2018 17:44

Lost my lipstick. So that’s one thing decluttered. Haha.

Original poster

StealthNinjaMum · 08/09/2018 11:18

Back in the routine again. Swimming and a party so I won't have much time to declutter. I have got rid of one tiny shower gel shaped like a duck and I think that will be it today. We have a party at 4 and I predict at 3.30 my children / dh will be running around again looking for one of our 20 sellotapes and pairs of scissors (as mentioned a few weeks ago) to wrap the present. I will find a home for this homeless clutter one day.

OP posts:

fromtheshires · 08/09/2018 12:57

DH likes to buy stuff 'because we have the money' or 'because I liked it' . Therefore my house is full of stuff. Last week he purchased a cup with a tea infuser. He already has a tea infuser that sits in a cup but this is different because it's grey not red... he is als a hoarder of stuff as well. I went in the garage and all the cardboard that had been recycled was in there... sigh

Today I went on a mission. I have emptied the garage of all obvious rubbish and it has gone to the recycling centre or tip. Less obvious stuff I have put to one side and we will go through together and I will be ruthless. Do we really need 6 hammers etc etc.

I have also cleaned the house throwing out broken things that have been 'put away just in case'. I can't think of a time when a broken comb will ever come in useful again. This has resulted in a 50L bin bag full of stuff that's gone to the tip .

To top off the morning I have also got my arse into gear and shredded all the paper in the shredding box getting rid of a load more stuff.

It's so hard when I am a minimalist where everything had its place but I married someone who isn't. This means I'm fighting a losing battle but we will all get there in the end.

ememem84 · 08/09/2018 14:17

from we’re the opposite. Dh would easily be minimal. Im working on it. I like having “stuff” and “things”

Dh “lets” me buy them but I’ve become better at only buying if there’s an actual need. Or if it has a purpose. I’ve become ruthless at throwing stuff away though. If it’s broken it goes unless I am actually going to fix it. Which is rare.

ememem84 · 08/09/2018 14:19

Today’s use it up:

A box of paracetamol which I think has been hanging round in my handbag for about a year. I needed some but threw these away. Have more at home so not risking it.

Will be sorting through ds’ clothes later. He’s quickly outgrowing things ages 9-12m and needs things 12-18.

gassylady · 08/09/2018 14:46

Several tatty outgrown items and several pairs of worn out socks into rag recycling bag. Think my eldest might need to do Footner !!

Original poster

StealthNinjaMum · 08/09/2018 15:09

Dh has just laughed at how I dispose of old credit cards / debit cards. I cut them up into about 6 pieces and then cut each piece into about 20 to 30 tiny pieces. I put a pile into a bin bag so the bits are spread into about 6 bin bags. No-one would ever be able to make them again. Anyway after laughing at me I asked dh how he disposes of his and he says he doesn't. So somewhere in his mancave is every card he has ever had. There must be dozens! He sheepishly admitted that maybe I have the right idea and retreated into his mancave.

fromtheshires that sounds infuriating. Dh isn't good at throwing things out but he doesn't buy much. I think if he started buying cups I would go mad.

I have half an hour to chuck out some of dds schoolwork from last year. I hate throwing it out but I think I'll be able to get rid of maths - surely I can't be attached to pages of maths stuff?

OP posts:

ememem84 · 08/09/2018 16:14

Dsis just came round. She’s decluttered:

Three skirts, a pair of jeans, a jacket a jumper and a couple of tops from my wardrobe.

I’ve popped a few tops, a pair of shoes and a shirt in the charity shop bag. Yippee.

gassylady · 08/09/2018 19:37

Bonus item finished up a pin cushion from a kit leftover fabric into rag bag and box into paper recycling. Plus I’ve now got a rather smart pin cushion

GirlfriendInAKorma · 08/09/2018 20:22

Found some slippers under the bed that don't fit either child any more.

Also found a bathroom mirror from old bathroom (about a year ago?) which I think I'll just put for free on Facebook.

PenelopeFlintstone · 09/09/2018 00:02

Today I'm clearing off the junk from the utility room shelves, the floor, whatever's fallen down behind the washing machine, on top of the freezer and boiler, etc. And then giving it a GOOD vacuum because it's so dusty that it's making me sneeze in there!

ememem84 · 09/09/2018 09:01

Today’s job is to sort through ds’ clothes.

So I should have some for eBay some for Facebook and some for charity shop.

Original poster

StealthNinjaMum · 09/09/2018 09:29

I have ventured into the cupboard under the sink. Lots of cleaning products there. I found a sample of ecover washing liquid and have done a wash so that's one very little thing gone.

OP posts:

PenelopeFlintstone · 09/09/2018 10:00

I've put a box of charity shop stuff into the boot. That's two steps done in the three step process

ememem84 · 09/09/2018 11:43

Have sorted ds’ clothes. A few bits added to the charity shop bag and a few more listed on eBay.

Yay.

Have also sorted his “toiletries” basket (aka the basket we just chuck the nappy cream calpol snuffle rub into). Ditched all the cardboard packaging so it looks less full.

goingonabearhunt1 · 09/09/2018 19:26

2 things picked up that I put on Freecycle this wknd plus watched some dvds I had that I want to watch before I donate.also seem to have inspired DP to do some culling of his own; he filled a bag and a bit with books and dvds to donate.i buy more stuff that him but I also cull more and go thru it more regularly so I'm not sure which of us is worse really

GirlfriendInAKorma · 09/09/2018 21:39

DD2's hoodie is too small for her (sob, it's lovely) so washed it and gave it to a friend who has a smaller small person.

Original poster

StealthNinjaMum · 10/09/2018 10:44

I just cut my finger so am using a Disney Elsa plaster as dds have gone off frozen!

I am making a list of jobs for this week, mainly admin, but also the playroom carpet isn't visible despite me taking loads of toys out to sell / donate so I think I'll focus on toys again.

OP posts:

Wobblebeans · 10/09/2018 13:49

I've just gone through the bookshelves and cleared out this lot for the charity bag...small steps.

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

Original poster

StealthNinjaMum · 10/09/2018 14:40

Lots of washing and hoovering done and tidying from the weekend and some admin organised.

I have a bag of toy cars and animals to take to the charity shop. I have found a couple of pieces from a happy land set I sold ages ago so they can go in the bin. I am also going to put a few things on Facebook to sell.

OP posts:

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