Getting rid of one thing a day decluttering challenge Part 5

[StealthNinjaMum]

We’re still here!

For 4 threads a group of mumsnetters have been getting rid of just one thing a day. We’ve been throwing out, selling, recycling and giving our stuff away.

But we're still not finished.

Newbies are always welcome to join us. Just get rid of one thing each day and come back here to discuss your progress and get support when it gets hard.

Previous thread here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3298777-Getting-rid-of-one-thing-a-day-decluttering-challenge-Part-4?msgid=81434878

Change of plan. As it was raining I decided to see if the rubbish dump would be more pleasant that usual. It was! No queues and lots of space to park. I have never been so quick. I got rid of a bag of old wires, broken phones and baby monitor and the two car seats that have been clogging my hall for a couple of weeks.

So now I'm doing arts and crafts stuff for twenty minutes before school pickup.

So much for all my plans to up my decluttering rate over the past week - I have hardly done anything. I did get rid of more magazines in the paper bin collection last week. I have also sold a bundle on eBay, but when I came to package them up last night I discovered I had one fewer than I had advertised. I had a hunt in our room and the spare room in likely boxes and found a whole load of "paper items" that really need to be sorted out, but not the missing magazine. Anyway, I offered the buyer a £1 refund which she accepted.

On Sunday I had intended to do a lot of decluttering and clean a fish tank that has been lying around for ages. I did some ironing in the morning, but in the afternoon we ended up going to Homebase to get a latch for the dining room door which had broken earlier in the day. So, we did some unscheduled shopping at the big Asda, and when I got home it was such a nice day I decided to do some gardening and fill up the brown bin. So much for my grand decluttering plans!

Tonight I intend to go through some of the boxes I uncovered last night, and put the contents into piles with similar things, hopefully getting rid of a lot in the process. I also hope to sort out stuff to do a charity bag drop off, as I have a couple of Halloween items to donate.

Yesterday I put a board game and a craft set and writing set in the charity shop pile. Today I am still going through felt tip pens and biros removing the broken ones. I also have another two children's books to get rid of.

Sorted through paperwork and have shredded a few more bits. Had hoped to be more productive today as am off work. But ds is sick so he’s super needy. Poor little face.

Not really decluttering, but have bagged up some of DS's outgrown clothes. I have packed up a few toys as well, mostly baby ones where we have something similar already. I will probably hold on to them to a few weeks and donate to one of the local Christmas appeals.

Have also found a stash of hotel toiletries which I'm going to sort by type and start using. We always plan to take on holidays now that we usually self cater but never do.

Need to step up the pace as so far this week I have brought in a new cookery book (£1 at the book swap at the doctors and it is one of cakes that my mum had when I left was little. I blame MN as there was a thread about retro cookbooks the other week which reminded me of it!). I also have to pick up 17 bottles of juice made from windfall apples.

Stealth I need to do the felt pen test but DD insists that they are still working if the faintest bit of colour comes out!

stash of hotel toiletries - same here, such a handy size but never seem to get used! A couple of real beauties included. Started using them.

Disposing of an old dressing gown. I keep mine for years. Get them as gifts before I am ready to say goodbye to the old one(s)!
I have retrieved it before but really, 4's excessive (one summer lightweight, one winter chunky ankle length, 2 mediums).

I suddenly had a brainstorm about my kitchen today. A few tweaks... moved a few things around (cat litter, bin etc)... and I've cleared a big space! It's the first thing you see when you walk in and means the whole space is loads lighter!! I can't believe I hadn't thought of it before. I think it was the way it was because I used to have too many upright vacuum cleaners, which placed limits on where I stored them and had a knock-on effect.

My entire downstairs is now so much clearer and lighter than it was this time last year!

(I haven't told the cat yet. Hopefully, she won't mind.)

I gave a bag of stuff to a friend for raffle prizes, all things I've bought as 'just in case' gifts over the years but I've never given to anyone. And also listed some collectibles on eBay (fingers crossed they sell!)

Mum derailed me a bit by finding a big folder full of my old school reports, journals, and photos, and kindly giving it to me. She's supposed to be helping! (she is coming tomorrow to help me clear the living room so I suppose I shouldn't complain).

Today's items:

An old, dirty, bit of carpet.
Some more seeds which didn't sprout.
Several sachets of ood cold & flu remedy.

Some unwanted shower cream is now being used as handwash (ref DP's previous Poundland extravaganza).

I'm also now using up a candle which had been stored in a drawer for over 10 years.

Have been here before under a different name and you lot helped me so much!

A couple of changes have happened in my life recently which means I have acquired extra crap and I'd like to sort through my home and declutter/organise so I can stop my brain feeling so chaotic.

I've just done a speed deep clean downstairs and feel loads better already, I'm looking forward to organising, decluttering and clearing with you all!

@PenelopeFlintstone
@SandAndSea
@PurpleFrog
@ememem84

I can't believe you are still here!!!!!

buckit I’m moving house. That’s why I’m back. I fell off thread for a while. The majority of my stuff is in storage. So once we get it out...it’s declutterorama

@fuckitbuckit - Welcome back! (Whoever you may be...) . Yes, still here.

Oh fuckitbuckit I’m going to be here for a looong time! Although I did have a productive evening, for once. I managed about an hour and a half before dinner. I have put another large bundle of magazines in the paper bin, and picked out a pile of paper stuff to go out from the boxes in the spare room. I haven’t actually sorted out the stuff that is left into categories yet, but I have a better idea of what is there. There is stuff from my childhood and time as a student, as well as theatre programmes and bits and pieces from holidays.

I haven’t managed any physical decluttering recently- I have been paperwork creating as I have a cub camp this weekend. I will be taking some stuff from my house to camp though which won’t return.
@PenelopeFlintstone the Ikea sofa cover was a 3 seater Ektorp cover in pink. No longer listed on the website. It was still in it’s original wrapping. I found it in the bargain area for £5 so I bought 2 and have only ever opened one. I don’t like the pink so will dye it brown or green when I get a chance but have been a bit remiss 😳

Morning! Not done much the last day or two, apart from take one item sold on EBay to be posted. Have got some of DD’s old sleeping bags (still in good condition) to go to charity shop, so will see if I can find a few more bits to fill another bag while I am there.

I got rid of more paperwork yesterday. Hooray! And finished a gigantic bottle of shampoo and another of conditioner. I’m a beauty product hoarder so am working my way through my stash and am Only buying new when I run out.

(There’s a beauty hoarders thread I’m on so feel free to pop in if you’re similarly minded).

Fuckitbuckit welcome back.

Here I am again working on pens and pencils. For a break (because I know how to have a good time!) I sorted through dds tights and threw 8 pairs away. I bought 4 so the clutter level is still lower. I'm still doing stationery and crafts kits (millions of sodding bits of jewellery all being put in the correct boxes) but I've neglected other bits of the house so I'm also just going to have a quick tidy of the kitchen, dining room and hall.

Also dd2 has started to read very easy chapter books. I really need to get rid of more of our picture books but I've got rid of so many that the remaining ones are sentimental. Ladies I need you to tell me to get rid of the Charlie and Lola books! OK? dd1 loved them and I have such happy memories of reading each one a hundred times while dd2 was napping. Especially 'I've won... no I've won''

@StealthNinjaMum - Books and boxes are my weak point but you know, you could always find them again in a book emergency (which will never happen).

How about boxing them up and putting them by the front door? See if you look in there over the next week?

Or, keep one in a memory box and get rid of the rest?

Or, take a photo of DD reading one and get rid of them all?

Thanks I've been brutal. 20 are in a bag in the car. Might try to tackle Julia Donaldson and Winnie the Witch next. It's tough. Dd2 isn't great at reading so I've been keeping them to build her confidence but C and L were never her favourites. I have really been hanging on to them for me. They have been in and out of the charity shop pile several times already.

Or just out your big girl pants on and get rid of them.

#harsh #toughlove

Big girl pants have all been decluttered

OH bugger.