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

GreenWillow - I think you might be!

I've decluttered a shoe, rubbish and recycling from my daughter's room (yes, again) and a bag of bicarb soda and 2 big bottles of white vinegar in an attempt to descale the bottom of my toilet - to no avail. Unfortunately, I can't buy black bottle Harpic here and there's no good alternative. I'm going to buy a bottle of pool acid instead.

Approx 250 bottle tops in the recycling. We have no logical reason for keeping them. The only reason I can think off is the bottle opener is the opposite end of the kitchen to the recycling bin.

Penelope... Coke (the drink not the drug) can help with stubborn limescale. Cheap stuff is fine.

Am I back? Sorry for any non-greeness.

Today's decluttering is another top with a hole in it.

greenwillow excellent news about the diet thread, mumsnetters are the best and you'll get good support no matter how you decide to lose the weight.

penelope I agree it's great that lady does her wardrobe based on how she uses the clothes, I hadn't thought of that before. Having said that I would still want to have maybe 2 weeks of work outfits in case my washing machine broke or i was too ill to do washing one day.

80moves 250? I love it that you just held on to them. I used to be like that with batteries even though all my supermarkets take them. I used to turn up with a big carrier bag full of a year's worth of batteries in those old days when Every.Single.Toddler.Toy needed a screwdriver to remove multiple batteries.

You certainly are back, Stealth!!!

Great I feel like I should do a declutter dance or something.

I've just read about a 5-day Egg Fast on another thread, while we're talking about weight loss. I love eggs.

I think I'm eating 5 easter eggs a day, I presume it means the non - chocolatey type?

You’re back Stealth!

DD has a tummy bug so school holidays have been extended here. Am hoping she can go back tomorrow although DH and I are beginning to feel a but delicate now.

Managed to go through DS’s drawers this morning and remove outgrown things. Think that’s the last of one size now so will get them bagged up and away. Also out is the last of the stash of mini shampoo and a finished bottle of shower gel. Feeling a bit down about lack of progress as I now only have just over 3 months of my maternity leave left and have in no way achieved what I wanted to this year.

I’m picking up some really good ideas on the wardrobe front especially about matching to occasion. I have loads of stuff that is old but actually in ok condition but I will likely need some new things for returning to work. Going to try to buy wisely!

Yay - Stealth is green again!!

I sold one of the eBay items I listed on Sunday or Monday, so posted that this morning. That also means that a largish Amazon box has gone from the loft. My stock of boxes is increasing faster than I can use them. I'm either going to have to weed out some of the grottier ones, or flat pack the extras so they take up less space.

I looked at the wardrobe video linked to above. I can't believe she can manage with so few clothes. I colour-sort my laundry carefully and try to do largish loads each time, so would probably keep running out of clean clothes if I followed her advice. However, I think I need to go through my clothes again. We have 2 wardrobes in our room. One is for everyday clothes, the other has things like skiwear and stuff to wear to weddings and funerals etc. (Also some stuff I can't fit into at the moment. ) I don't move things around depending on the seasons - I always layer anyway, so a lot of things are used all year round, but, the everyday wardrobe is getting a bit full so I need to remove some stuff.

Huzzah stealth is back!

Everyone has done so well today!
Penelope just one shoe?! Where's the other one?? 😂

Raspberry hope your DD is feeling better very soon!

Not so much decluttered as in sorting today but we did make it to the tip to finally rid the house of the last few weeks efforts. So out of the house were 4 bags of general detritus and unsalvageable things, 2 bags of textiles and an old fold up chair are out and gone never to darken this door again! I'm starting to be able to see the floor in the conservatory dumping ground
Our reward for this was going to watch the new Avengers film 😁

@StealthNinjaMum - Hurraahh!! All is right with the thread again.

Yup the Ninja is back. I have never felt so missed....

Almost forgetting that the pint of the thread is to help with the housework and I did next to nothing today. I recycled some newspapers and threw away a child's drawing.

raspberryblonde three months is still a long time, you can make a difference even if you just spend ten minutes a day. Could you make a list and prioritise one or two areas that will give you (cliche coming up) joy when you see your progress? They could be big areas or just an area guests look at it or something that bugs you every day.

For example with me it was my hall and dining table. They're the first areas you see when you walk in the house and I love the fact that they're clear most of the time now. I enjoy entertaining more because of it.

AroundtheWorldin80moves
I'm glad it's the drink not the powder; I don't think I can stretch to a cup of the powder. I'd have to sell my house!

Hello can I join in please?

Bit of background on me - I had a serious injury nearly 2 years ago which has left me with some mobility issues, pain and fatigue so my house has slowly declined over that time. DH and DS are helpful-ish when asked but don't seem to see the mess as I do! We also have a large hairy dog. Downstairs is ok ish and I can have visitors without feeling too bad but upstairs ....

I've read this full thread and feeling very inspired!

Sorry posted too soon ... feeling inspired so started yesterday on my wardrobe. 2 black bags went to the charity shop straight away - quite a few dresses I will never wear again because I got fat, that just depressed me every time I looked at them, a couple of tops and cardi's that I don't like anymore, a couple of pairs of jeans that also don't fit, some scarves not to my taste any more, a couple of weird outfits bought for themed events that I'm sure won't come round again.

It's funny, sitting here trying to remember what went in the bags to list on this message, and I can't even think yet yesterday I agonised over each decision and now I can't even remember the stuff I've given away! (Although that could also be my new meds ).

Welcome GreigLaidlawsbarofsoap. I'm sorry to hear about your injury.

Are you tackling any particular area? After a while a year in my case it becomes a habit and you find things to get rid of every time you put clothes away or wait for the kettle to boil.

Today's item for me is another top with a hole in it.

Stealth - I won't comment on what type of eggs. I'll just let you eat all your chocolate decide for yourself.

Woogle - yes, just one shoe. I don't even know whether I've previously chucked the other one or whether it's yet to be found.

Thanks Stealth! I just thought I'd start on the wardrobe as it's been bugging me for a while. I knew there was stuff I needed to let go as I won't wear them ever again. And I thought it could be an "easy win" as you guys say to get going. I'm pretty sentimental and have "emotional baggage" around stuff a lot which I need to work on.

My main areas will be the spare room dumping ground and paperwork. Oh god paperwork. Years of stuff piled up waiting to be sorted/shredded/filed etc. And the crap in the garage, although that's so horrendous I'll need to work up to that! And use DH for the lifting etc so restricted on times when he's available.

But it was the idea of even just one thing a day that I like - even on days when my fatigue is bad I'm sure I can still find one thing to go! Rather than some declutter gurus who seem to think everyone has an entire free month with no other responsibilities to get their house completely sorted

Thanks for the info, Stealth & Purple.

Welcome, Greig! Sounds like you've made a good start there.

I'm ill with a cold/fluey thing which has been dragging on for too long now, so not doing much. However, I have chucked an out of date bottle of olbas oil today.

So DD is better here but still off school as of course 48 hour exclusion for stomach bugs. Sorry to hear you are poorly SandandSea, some of these things hang around way too long don’t they!

That’s a good idea about picking a focus area Stealth...it has to be our study as the built in cupboards are just bursting! I do have to get better on the ten minute bursts though, have perfectionist tendencies which prevents me from even starting!

Welcome Greg, sounds like a good start. Think I’m officially the only person who hasn’t got rid of any clothes this week.

Over the past few weeks I have got a few things sorted out that can go to the Charity Shop. I've just had a work meeting in town, so popped into a couple of my usual shops on my way back to my office to check what they have in various categories. Looks like I'll be splitting the stuff I have between two shops. Sigh! I need to sort out enough more stuff this weekend so I can hand in a full bag to at least one of these places next week!

Last night I got some stuff sorted for today's paper/cardboard bin collection. I went through 4 more old local newspapers and emptied the packaging out of an odd-shaped box that has been sitting on the landing for a few weeks, before flattening it. DP also announced he had shredded some of his piles of paperwork on the coffee table. Without being reminded again. I emptied the shredder into a couple of cereal boxes and they are now in the bin as well.

Ha RaspberryBlonde - I'm sure that it is my perfectionist tendencies which have got me into this state. Too many jobs are just now too big to do "properly" in one go "when I have time".

And, I have not got rid of any clothes this week... yet!

I've had a go at the bathrooms this morning. We have a bathroom that is DS domain, an en-suite shower room off our room and a tiny downstairs loo off the utility.

Have done an ok deep clean (except the bath which is currently full of diy junk waiting for DH to find somewhere to live ) upstairs and have rinsed and recycled 2 nearly empty hand wash bottles, plus 3 cardboard loo rolls, packaging from floss and dental sticks and an empty toothpaste carton, have used up a bottle of disinfectant and a bottle of bleach (am trying to be more eco-friendly so think that'll be the last one I buy), found a pot of foot scrub stuff that has gone dry to bin, some spatula thingies that are also rank so binned.

The en-suite windowsill is clear! Upstairs smells better. And I need a lie down for the rest of the day