Part 7 of the decluttering challenge - can you get rid of one item a day?

[StealthNinjaMum]

Back again!

A group of mumsnetters have been emptying our homes, gradually decluttering our homes by getting rid of one item a day.

We’re very green and like to recycle, sell, give away and sometimes eat our clutter I’m still alive after the 8 year old gherkins.

Newbies are welcome to join us. We just get rid one thing and come back to update everyone on our progress, get support when it gets hard, and suggest new household systems and ways of doing things.

The most exciting thread on mumsnet. In this thread @SandandSea will tell us what she’s going to do with her big plastic sheet…..

Previous thread is here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3463110-New-home-for-the-new-year-still-getting-rid-of-one-item-a-day-part-6?pg=40

I have lots of scraps of paper that I tore from dcs school books and am working my way through them. I also have lots of notepads. I suppose I'm thinking if I actually buy a bullet journal I might use it. I am relatively good with day to day lists and sometimes I'll do a weekly one but the bigger monthly tasks just never get started. Will procastinate ponder on it some more.

Had a lovely date with a new man the other night (in case SandandSea is interested!) I am such a cynic - wondering why he is nice and messages lots! We are a long way from the stage where I invite him over but it has made me think that my bedroom needs to be decluttered

He's also managed to run over the microwave

Errm... how?

I was wondering the same thing ATail

The microwave... We were using it at Scouts last night. Our car parking has no lighting, so we unload Scout stuff from the car the next day. He took the microwave out the car, loaded up the car with stuff from the garage, then managed to reverse into the microwave when moving the car out of our neighbors car parking spot into ours... I'm not entirely sure how he managed this either!

Oo yes, very interested, Stealth. Lovely news!

Just to add that I think a bit of cynicism is probably quite sensible at the start.

Do keep me posted.

We've blown it this week by taking in a rescue cat/kittens who arrived complete with entire carload of extra stuff. Aaargh...

I suppose in two months' time I can triumphantly declutter all kitties and their litter at once.

Atailoftwokitties does that mean you need to change your user name?

Aroundtheworldin80moves a funny story to remind dh of for the rest of your life?

SandandSea can't see the word tiara any more without thinking of Amy Farrer Fowler on Big Bang Theory - so now I imagine you look like her! (sorry.) Date went well. Given that I'm old (40s) and he's older (50s) I hadn't expected to ... er... fancy him. But he has a nice face and seems a gentleman - so much that when I got my kiss on the cheek I wanted a snog (but refrained as i haven't done that sort of thing with a new man for 20 years!) Sadly I spend too much time on the relationships board where women are routinely ghosted hence the cynicism.

@StealthNinjaMum - No apology needed; I love Amy and was thinking of her too. I'm genuinely excited for you, Stealth. There's nothing quite like those early days of dating. So glad it's going well for you.

Haven't posted on this thread for almost a month but I have done lots of decluttering in my kitchen; thrown out out of date food, and old pans and kitchen utensils; it's looking so much more organized now.

does that mean you need to change your user name?

This seemed to fit.

Tails... Enjoy your cat/kittens visitors.

Younger DD has caught the stomach bug doing the rounds at school... After being up all night with her, all I had energy for today was clearing out the fridge and changing the hoover bag. I had such plans for today ... Hopefully next week.

Oh, poor kid and poor you.

Good name change TailsoftheManyPaws

Poor 80moves' dd. It's still an achievement to clear out the fridge and change the hoover bag.

Today i taught dd1 how to sort through the post and she put it into piles for me, stbexh, shredding and recycling. When my post table is clear I feel so much better about everything.

Well done everyone!

I've got family coming tomorrow so have been doing the usual run round in preparation for that.

I had a box of electrical items which I'd hardly looked in for over 10 years. I got it out a few weeks ago, intending to sort through it, but then bottled it as it seemed so overwhelming. It's been on the dining room table ever since. But today, I've finally sorted through it and I've got quite a bit to get rid of now; maybe around 20 old cables, plugs and chargers. The box is also on its way out and all of my electricals are organised in one place.

I've also got rid of quite a bit of packaging, some instruction leaflets and some more kitchen bits.

I've taken a big sack to the charity shop.

And, I have to admit, all the boxes which were downstairs have been put back upstairs temporarily. (That's the plan anyway.)

I’ve been gradually plodding along. Little bits going out here and there.

Still haven’t done the dining table.
Still not finished the airing cupboard but did do a bit on Thursday. Gave more towels to my friend.

Need to finish this week. It’s dragging on now! My fault.

Did achieve something yesterday in the kitchen though. We had a bread bin in a corner of the worktop that ends up in the sun a lot so bread etc gets hit and sweaty and goes mouldy. For ages we have been saying we would sort it out. So yesterday DH moved some colanders etc up into a cupboard we cleared ages ago and we now have room for the bread in the cupboard they were in. Bread bin is going to go. Charity shop or tip. Probably tip as it’s faded and scratched.

Then I decided to tackle the mugs and tea and coffee cupboard. Set of six espresso cups and saucers ready to go. Old out of date coffee gone. Tea collection needs sorting and using. Want to create space for vitamins etc.

And last night I spilt a glass of water on my bedside table so I cleared that and just put everything on the floor. Will finish that today. Books I have and haven’t read and other random crap.

I'm currently looking at the six bin bags of clothes I've just decluttered from the wardrobe and drawers... Wondering where I can store them unt I can get to the collection point next week.

I am also ashamed I had so many clothes that I didn't want or wear... Some of them I haven't worn in years...

However I am also celebrating having space in my wardrobe and drawers for the clothes I do wear so I'll no longer have to keep them in a pile on the floor.

Aroundtheworldin80moves - 6 sacks is amazing! Well done!

Hey everyone, sorry been a bit MIA recently.
I'm feeling very large (33 weeks now) and plodding around keeping tidy but less so with the decluttering.

Saying that I did have a good clear out of the work office today and told my boss that he was not allowed to go routing through the bin to rescue stuff he tried and was suitably scolded

Well done to everyone else, some fabulous progress being made :)

I'm going to drown today away with 0% beer now (druggies, and stupid kids setting off fireworks outside work today). Harrumph!

I had about five minutes spare today, so in slight last minute panic I decluttered... the birthday candle box. Washed all the little plastic candle holders, too. I reckon we could accommodate a 100th birthday cake without going out to buy more holders.

Went and got paint today and it is actually on our bedroom walls! Will finish it tomorrow and then furniture can go back and curtains can go back up. Then just a quick clean around and my bedroom will be complete.
Have a plan for the slats from the old bathroom blind and the kitchen extra slats so they will be out this week along with a million drapes saved from work for cub camp on Saturday.