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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:
Tidy2018 · 22/09/2018 21:16

Thanks for that thought lljkk. Yes, I've considered that in the past. But honestly, the hassle for the little reward simply isn't worth it for me. And they are all archived online.

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 23/09/2018 07:40

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

sandgrown · 23/09/2018 07:49

Not done very well lately but I have had a good week .I have managed to take a bag of rags to charity plus I gave them the spare throws/cushions I was saving "just in case". I also sold a dress on e bay and listed a few other things .I need to make some progress as DS desperate to have his room decorated but he needs to move into the spare room which is full of junk!

fromtheshires · 23/09/2018 15:16

Ive been on annual leave this week and have been fairly productive.

1 whole room painted

Al my work uniform gone through and anything too big now in the uniform bin at work (3 bin liners ShockHmmBlush) to stop me putting weight on again.

Front back and side garden pulled of all weeds

Bathroom bottles tidied and mostly used up items with no intention of them being finished disposed of

First aid kit contents gone through and out of date stuff binned

Washing basket emptied

Old board games we don't play any more recycled

The dreaded tupperwear cupboard gone through and random lids of pots without lids recycled

Back to work tomorrow for a week before another glorious week off

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 23/09/2018 15:26

Welcome lark descending. I'm like you, I hate throwing things into landfill. My house would be clutter free by now if I just threw things away.

kokoloko i have pretty much finished decluttering my toiletries just by using things. I had so many nice things I wouldn't use because they were nice or expensive or a treat! So I have been moving them out of the cupboards one at a time and into the shower / on the bath to just use as I had a bath or shower. So I use nice body scrubs, foot lotions, body lotions. I am trying to be greener anyway and have switched to washing myself with soap rather than shower gel in a plastic bottle. I know it's only a small change but it cuts down on the plastic waste a bit.

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 23/09/2018 15:32

A slow day greenwillow you didn't mention cleaning the kitchen floor, wiping the ceilings or bleaching your grout. Grin

A very slow couple of days for me. Another 8 children's books have gone in the charity shop pile. Also dds have gone through their wardrobe. Dd1 gave two unwanted tops to dd2 and dd2 has chosen 3 tops to give away.

OP posts:
LarkDescending · 23/09/2018 15:50

Thanks Stealth for the welcome. I think it’ll do me good to keep something like a virtual diary as a prompt to action and also to give myself credit for bits of progress achieved. So:

Day 1: sorted through a big old box of miscellany, discarding into a “rags bag” all the fabrics which had been ruined by moths. As a bonus I found some good stuff in there - a beautiful but long-forgotten backgammon set, and a rather good computer bag. The rags will be hot-washed (re moths) and repurposed as extra stuffing for my Moroccan pouffe which needs plumping up.

Day 2: inspired by others on the thread, consigned a big pile of old magazines and catalogues to recycling.

Day 3: filled a big box with books and took it to the Cancer Research shop. Filled the vacated shelfspace with newer books needing a home but previously piled up in various places. Went to the British Heart Foundation shop to get some donation bags.

lljkk · 23/09/2018 20:19

Woohoo, tossed an unfixable cycle light, refrained from buying batteries we don't need, and sold 2 things on Ebay.

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 24/09/2018 01:01

LarkDescending I see it as a bit of a virtual diary too, I do feel compelled to actually do this. It sounds like you've started well.

I have lost an important bit of paper (if I give more information it might out me!) and spent two hours going around the house looking for it. This has involved me chucking out a binbag of papers so far, and moving a big pile of stuff onto the landing to sort out tomorrow. I have not found the original piece of paper but I have unintentionally had a big clearout / tidy.

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 24/09/2018 16:36

An unproductive day, shopping and lunch out. One game has been removed from the playroom to the charity shop pile. Lots of piles of crap all around from last night's 'tidying' so the house is in a temporary mess. Will stay in tomorrow and find homes for everything.

OP posts:
Nettleskeins · 24/09/2018 17:05

I'm going back to first principles of one day at a time declutter. Today I threw away a duplicate 2017 Empire Magazine that belongs to ds1 Grin (but as I say he had two of them!) Also, but I think this doesn't count as it is packaging, threw away 2 cardboard boxes...

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 24/09/2018 17:29

Packaging definitely counts if it's been hanging around and making clutter. I don't count packaging on the day it arrives but last week I threw away a box I'd had for about 15 years in the sideboard.

OP posts:
SandAndSea · 24/09/2018 17:53

I've been sorting through some papers. I've binned a broken plastic wallet, some notes from a hobby thing I did in 2012 and a Xmas card list from 2005!

LarkDescending · 24/09/2018 21:48

Day 4: Put another big pile of old catalogues out for recycling. Brought an empty box home from the office (decluttering there too!), filled it with books, and put it in the car to be taken to a charity shop later in the week.

gassylady · 24/09/2018 22:11

Lots more tatty clothes for the rag bag. Some kids books added to charity bag. Two more bits sold on eBay.

Tidy2018 · 25/09/2018 06:16

The weekend was more of a catch-up than a declutter, and means I can focus better now that kitchen, utility, and living-room are under control. I found elephant tubs in a cupboard, washed snd stacked them on shelves and at end of table. Hoping that this makes it eadier and quicker to clear the table of little bits and pieces before bedtime and befire leaving for school. Half s dozen Radio Times magazines in the paper bin.

gassylady · 25/09/2018 07:32

I know what you mean about being held back by looking for a “proper” place to get rid of things. I’m struggling to get rid of some stuff that was in boxes at parents house. Had come from other houses before that. Parents couldn’t have liked it much or it wiouldmt have been in boxes .... but still where to put old ugly novelty ornamentsShock

Nettleskeins · 25/09/2018 08:11

Another big cardboard box outside. And some old food from the fridge. That's today's decluttering, I think I now have to concentrate on reclaiming some saucepans in the garden which need washing up/cleaning out. -not chucking

SandAndSea · 25/09/2018 09:31

I forgot to say yesterday that I cleared the shelf under my desk. I've always kept certain items of stationery there. They are now with my other stationery (they never used to fit there but do now) and the shelf is completely empty! This faces the door when you walk into the room so really helps to make the room look clearer.

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 25/09/2018 15:10

Well done SandandSea that sounds like a good result.

Today I have found 7 out of date drugs in the cupboard and attempted to take a carseat apart for about 15 minutes. I removed it from the car and assumed I could take the back off to turn into a booster seat. Lots of shredding and filing done.

OP posts:
SandAndSea · 25/09/2018 18:34

Thanks, Stealth .

Today's items:

5 cassette tapes (some old faves which escaped all the previous culls but still haven't been played.)
1 plastic wallet & 2 card wallets
A stack of biz cards
A load of dress shirt packaging I'd kept just in case (???)

I've also tidied away a couple of dvds which were hanging around in amongst the packaging.

This is all from the same room my desk is in.

All these little bits are definitely adding up.

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 25/09/2018 22:39

Dh successfully took the back of the car seat so I am going to take it to the dump and keep the booster seat bit.

I also found another toddler toy and put it in the charity shop pile. My charity shop pile is massive and I'm too busy to take the stuff there. My Facebook sales pile is also large but this week I have been clearing a space in the Room of Doom. I am making really small progress but it feels so slow.

OP posts:
Gibble1 · 25/09/2018 22:57

Not been on for a long time but am still plugging away at the clutter.
Some clothes have gone as worn out and some boots sold.
A large rucksack given to a scout for her expedition.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 26/09/2018 18:43

Bag of clothes and about 6 pairs of shoes/summer shoes gone.

Plan to tidy the small bedroom over the weekend.
Have to find somewhere for the excercise bike Hmm

Tidy2018 · 26/09/2018 19:58

Eight laundry powder boxes that had contained the decluttered magazines.

Usually I keep all sorts of containers then look around the house for things to put in them. Then I have to keep the container and its contents because it's all tidy. This completely stops the decluttering process. So this habit must stop!

Four carrier bags of outgrown children's clothes and shoes now in back of van for delivery to donation point.

LG off school today under 48-hour rule, meaning nothing got done in the garden. I ploughed through some more paper, some now filed, some in my ToDo pile, and some in the recycling bin.