Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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:
Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 29/09/2018 08:56

keiki could you advertise the contact lenses on a local Facebook site or freecycle? I have got rid of a few hard to get rid of bits that way.

OP posts:
lljkk · 29/09/2018 09:46

Tea candle holders are recyclable (who knew). So they go to tip today along with the other bits-and-pieces electrical items & metals.
Gave away a custom-made map a few days ago (love it, but don't have the wall space).
Sold some stuff on Ebay.
Tossed some redundant bank account papers.
Almost hitting the 1/day target lol.

Bowerbird5 · 29/09/2018 10:51

Can I join in please?
Where does it all come from?
Do some of you find it is because you are sentimental about things people give you because I am like that?
I have been trying to sort through stuff and get rid of it but find it difficult sometimes as
a) someone I love gave it to me.
b) I might need it.
c)I like it.

Bowerbird5 · 29/09/2018 10:58

I meant to say that I am doing jigsaws at the moment and school stuff. I gave two jigsaws away last week to two little girls I know so I was feeling pleased about that as they were delighted. I am in the process of doing them first to see if they are complete. Not sure what to do with the almost complete ones because they did give me pleasure doing them and I have a little pot where I keep ( can you believe it) pieces I find in the house and have managed to match two up.
I must add I am supposed to be resting due to a fall so DD has been setting them up so we can do them together before she goes off on her travels.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 29/09/2018 12:36

Bowerbird5 that describes very well a lot of clutter and also approx a third of my wardrobe. I feel guilty discarding gifts!
(I love jigsaws too and do them more than once but the storage is getting to be a problem).

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 29/09/2018 15:26

bowerbird it took me about 10 months of gradual decluttering to work myself up to give away presents. Many were unopened and went to charity so will have helped someone else. It is hard but some had been sitting around for 10 years and the benefit of having the space outweighed the benefit of the unwanted present.

OP posts:
Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 29/09/2018 15:28

Yesterday I got put aside about a dozen sticker / activity books tht are too young for dc now. Once again I have a mountain of charity shop stuff on the bed.

Today I have found a label maker and started to label drawers for stationery.

OP posts:
SandAndSea · 29/09/2018 18:33

Busy day today, finishing off with about 4 hours of gardening. We've mowed, cut back, weeded and shredded. We've spread what we can back on the earth and the rest is bagged up and ready to take to the tip (for composting) tomorrow, along with some household bits and bobs. I also found a bag of strange rubbish, presumably brought in by a fox, and an old cat collar, so they have gone now too.

SandAndSea · 29/09/2018 18:35

@Bowerbird5 - Welcome!

Keiki · 29/09/2018 21:16

Today I did a load of gardening until the green bin was full. Rest will have to wait a week. Took the bag of old bras to the clothes recycling bin. Threw a load of old packaging, mouldy veg and things out, ear defenders without the headband bit that have been on the windowsill for a couple of years now for example! Meant to do more decluttering this evening but ended up cleaning the much neglected kitchen.

Nettleskeins · 29/09/2018 22:09

managed to clear a lot of papers and stuff off the kitchen cabinet top.
And bin at least 10 bits of paper, also found at least 20 very important TO DEAL WITH documents which I had no idea were there, like changes of address, child benefit updates for 16 year olds, sixth form bits of paper. All safe certainly but it is shocking how things pile up when you don't try and tackle those PILES.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 29/09/2018 22:39

I'm red hot today:

Cleaned the little bedroom to get it ready for my guinea-pigs (they live indoors in winter and it's getting cold now)

Sorted out all the bedding and put it into Vacuum Bags for storage.

Sorted out DS clothes.

Got the excercise bike moved (it'll go into the garage for now)

Three bags of Charity Shop clothes including some of DH coats ( they were all hanging up in the hall, some he doesn't wear at all, not for years)

I took some glass dishes to the Charity Shop and recycled my glass bottles.

Tidy2018 · 29/09/2018 23:03

Tidied top layer of kitchen this morning. Spent the rest of the day planning to tackle the bottom layers any minute now. Finally buckled down to it at about half-nine this evening, after two naps and half a bottle of Kopparberg!

So in the last hour I've tried to find space for everything that was on the floor and shoved in corners, by piling it into neat heaps on the kitchen table. There's a few things set aside for the recycling tubs tomorrow. House is all locked up and cosy now, and I'm not opening the back door to let the cold air in.

I found several supermarket bags-for-life crammed with useful offcuts of bubble wrap. They've been churned from room to room ever since I rearranged the office and utility about fifteen years ago, and now the stronger sheets are destined for the garage. I understand it's useful for protecting windscreens from freezing ivernight.

I just previewed this post and thought what a pathetic waste of time and energy over all these years. Ah well, I'm going back in to the kitchen to stare at it all and hope for divine inspiration. Maybe I'll have something sensible to report tomorrow.

Bowerbird5 · 29/09/2018 23:36

Thanks for welcome.Managed to de clutter some bags of paperwork today. Cleaned and re organised three bags and threw out a good pile by only keeping one instead of a pile. Lit fire with some and left a pile to shred. I use this for chicken bedding. I imagine it would be good for bunnies or guinea pigs too.
I plan to do some more tomorrow then start another jigsaw tomorrow. I sorted the pieces so it is ready I just need to look for the missing ones in the puzzle that is out. I had mine in drawers and shelves. I am keeping two and the Christmas ones. I am getting rid of all the others. My kids grew up doing them too but time to say good bye and reclaim that space.

GirlfriendInAKorma · 30/09/2018 00:06

DH has gone through the attic and filled a big bag with recycling, a big box for charity and a big box for electrics to go to the tip.

This has not happened on something like 8 years.

PenelopeFlintstone · 30/09/2018 10:41

I've listed two things - one quite big and a pair of shoes. Fingers crossed.

SandAndSea · 30/09/2018 11:54

Wow! You're all doing really well! Gold stars all round! Star

I'm watching "Britain's Biggest Hoarders" on YouTube. That counts, right? Grin

SandAndSea · 30/09/2018 13:19

I've now purged 2 pairs of earphones and a scarf. The scarf is linked with a much-loved family member who died. I've felt sad every time I saw it but I know she's not there and it's not her and I've still got my memories. So, the scarf can go.

gassylady · 30/09/2018 17:12

Sounds like great efforts are happening. Son has given me an old money box to add to charity bag I’ve also put some books that didn’t sell on eBay there. I’ve been through two kitchen drawers and out three dishes in. All to the shop on Tuesday. My husband did insist we keep all 5 pudding basins (they all nest nicely) Hmm

SandAndSea · 30/09/2018 17:31

I've sorted out another 4 books to get rid of. Two of them I've never read (in about 20 years!).

I did this by asking the question: "Would I buy this now?" It seemed to work where other questions have failed.

Bowerbird5 · 30/09/2018 18:53

sandandseaI like that question and I am going to try that out!
You could take a photo of the scarf. My sister did this when she was trying to de clutter.

I have sorted some toys and books for charity shop today. I just have to make sure that they get there. There are some Christmas decs in the box so I might go through those as now would be the time to give them away.

Lemontwist · 30/09/2018 21:08

A bit late to the party but can I join you all? I have 2 school age DCs, a new baby and a hoarder of a husband but been really determined over the last few days to get on top of things.
So far I have taken 6 bags to the charity shop, mainly clothes, listed lots on ebay and given away a coffee maker.
So much to go but hopefully this thread will help me stay focused.

SandAndSea · 30/09/2018 21:54

Welcome, @Lemontwist ! Great start!

Tidy2018 · 30/09/2018 22:35

Today I removed the ivy from the front garden wall. Cut up some of the thinnest branches from the storm damage for the garden bin.

In the kitchen, I threw out a dead house plant. Reduced the piles on the kitchen table by putting things where they belonged. Managed to recycle some small tubs and tins. Found two saws down the side of the fridge.

Lemontwist · 30/09/2018 22:51

Thanks @SandAndSea I think a trip to the tip tomorrow with a few more bits is in order.