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Housekeeping

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Original poster

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

987 replies

StealthNinjaMum · 06/03/2019 12:16

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
Gibble1 · 12/04/2019 13:26

Finished another box of tea bags last night and have 3 tea bags left from another. There is some space appearing in our cupboard!

Annasgirl · 12/04/2019 14:31

I did 2 kitchen cupboards this week. I need to redo my wardrobe- I did the full Marie Kondo on it again last autumn but it seems to have become a mess again.

Have 2 boxes in the playroom ready for DH to throw into the skip - I can’t reach in (it is that huge).

Gibble1 · 12/04/2019 22:59

My car has been mashed by a lorry outside my house 😢. So I shan’t be managing to do any tip runs for a while despite having an overflowing outside bin.
I really hope it’s repairable but omg it’s bad. It’s ripped all the way through to the fuel tank which looks buckled too. And is full of diesel.

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 13/04/2019 07:19

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Cottipus · 13/04/2019 07:21

@gibble1 that’s awful! Are you waiting for recovery? I hope you get it sorted soon. It’s so stressful when something happens to your car.

Managed a little bit of drawer decluttering yesterday whilst LO napped, but didn’t get as far as taking stuff to charity.

WoogleCone · 13/04/2019 08:00

Oh my gosh gibble that's awful! I hope the lorry is suitably insured to take care of it all for you!
Such a pain waiting to get it all sorted though.

Yesterday was the start of my working week so not so much more decluttering for me.

Have a great weekend all!

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 13/04/2019 12:23

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MotherWol · 13/04/2019 15:05

So sorry Gibble, that must have been a real shock! Hope the insurers get it sorted out quickly!

SandAndSea · 13/04/2019 17:42

Sorry to read that, @Gibble1.

I've cleared over a week's worth of clutter out of a drawer today. It's a drawer which I've done several times recently but we haven't been ready to let some of the things go before. It's crazy how long it can take to let some things go. Actually, just thinking about it now, I've left a couple of new cloths for cleaning glasses in there. Why???? They've been in there, unused, for years. ...... I've just cleared them out too.

PenelopeFlintstone · 14/04/2019 04:59

and, don't laugh, but I've gone on holiday with one eye shadow that I love but I've had it for years. I'm going to finish it up on this holiday and come home without it. I know it's one little eye shadow but I like it too much to throw it away.

Original poster
StealthNinjaMum · 14/04/2019 08:30

Gibble that's terrible. I''m guessing it isn't safe to drive? I hope you can get it sorted.

I've been terrible. I have chucked out some trousers that don't fit dds any more but I always feel it's a temporary win as I'll need to buy more. More papers gone. We went to the seaside yesterday and brought pebbles back.

OP posts:
OublietteBravo · 14/04/2019 11:27

Oh no Gribble - how upsetting. It’s horrible when something like that happens. Good luck with getting it resolved.

OublietteBravo · 14/04/2019 12:50

I’ve just cleared out a drawer full of junk. I found a love2shop card with £50 on it - no idea where that came from.

SandAndSea · 14/04/2019 15:38

I keep going back to yesterday's drawer - another 3 things out from it today.

And you know those cleaning cloths I mentioned? It turns out that they're actually drawstring pouches to keep glasses in! This just goes to show how little I've needed them.

WoogleCone · 14/04/2019 15:44

oubliette watch out for the expiry on that card, they're buggers for taking it from you! Also treat yourself to something wonderful!

No home decluttering today as I'm at work but I have handed a mountain of shredding to an unsuspecting staff member - that counts as me working right?!
DH is however talking loads about the garden, I think he's seen next door bringing out their gazebo and summer stuff and is feeling a bit pants about our sorry state of affairs back yard. He's talking about going outside for a bit each night this week! Fingers crossed the weather holds out because it's quite frankly embarrassing right now. I'm glad he's in the mood to get it looking better.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/04/2019 16:06

Cleared a lot of crap out of little DDs room- outgrown clothes, books etc. She walked in half way through and had a look of wonder on her face. Still quite a way to go though.

I feel so guilty. Although it's not like the houses you see on those hoarder TV programmes... It was heading that way. The last 18 months or so I've been so lacking in motivation and wallowing in self pity we've ended up in a house no one can enjoy. I know the reasons that led to me being like that. But the ones that have suffered the most have been the kids. I want to make it up to them but don't know how.

Sorry for the self obsessed pity fest!

Gibble- hope your car gets sorted
Obliette- enjoy your shopping

OublietteBravo · 14/04/2019 16:19

It expires in Oct 2020 - I reckon I can spend £50 before then Grin

WoogleCone · 14/04/2019 17:08

Good stuff! I'm off to look in old purses now...😂

WoogleCone · 14/04/2019 17:14

aroundtheworld what matters is that you can see it and are making positive steps towards your goals, for that you should feel proud Smile Flowers

Gibble1 · 14/04/2019 19:10

DH took the car to the garage yesterday and got a courtesy car. They looked and agreed it’s not safe to drive. It was the tail lift which has ripped through all the rear panels and the light.
It’s going to cost a bomb to fix and I wonder if they could write it off? The airbags haven’t deployed but my goodness it’s a horrible mess. It looked much worse in the daylight when I saw it yesterday morning.
I was so worried as I had two bikes in the back ready for cub camp for yesterday morning.
Luckily I was able to get picked up with the bikes and my kit by the scout leader with his minibus.

SandAndSea · 14/04/2019 20:24

@Aroundtheworldin80moves - It sounds like you're doing really well there. Just keep going! Star

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 14/04/2019 20:59

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TailsoftheManyPaws · 15/04/2019 10:21

Oh god.

DH has decluttered the junk cupboard into my skip.

Just the cupboard itself, you understand. Its contents are now in a sad and surprisingly tall heap on the kitchen floor.

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 15/04/2019 11:21

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MotherWol · 15/04/2019 11:42

I've stalled again. I found my ancient (2005) iPod. It no longer turns on, and it's just been sitting in a drawer for years. I should take it to the Apple store for recycling/safe disposal, but I can't seem to manage to do it, and I don't know why! Can anyone give me a kick up the bum to motivate me?