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Housekeeping

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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
TailsoftheManyPaws · 28/04/2019 08:33

Strangely tense and bulgy carton of juice removed. I didn’t feel brave enough to try it and see if my immune system was up to the challenge.

Well done with the basket!

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 28/04/2019 08:36

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IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 28/04/2019 08:39

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TailsoftheManyPaws · 28/04/2019 09:06

Don’t worry, Willow, I’ve used its explosive properties to unclog the outside drain.

Peridot1 · 28/04/2019 10:07

I did have a nice lunch yesterday thanks! And my hair is looking much better too.

Had a bit of a spend too. A cookery book, a stripy long sleeve top and facial sun screen.

I seem to remember up the thread people talking weight loss. I bought the Pinch of Nom book. All healthy slimming recipes that are compatible with SW or WW. Really nice recipes and even DH commented that it is one of the better cookbooks I’ve bought. I have a bit of a thing for cook books!

Penelope - that is progress! I have a blanket box at the end of my bed and I opened it recently to find it was just full of random crap. Which I removed but is still in the room. And the blanket box is empty now I think. Not moving it yet as I want to finish the wardrobe etc. But I think I want to use it for out of season duvet and bed throws.

Willow - DS has a suit that is far too short but he reckons it’s fine. Drives me mad!

PenelopeFlintstone · 28/04/2019 12:22

Thanks all :)
Peridot, I think mine will go into my daughter's room for her off-season clothes. Then, theoretically, she'll be able to put away her clean washing. It's a good theory anyway.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 28/04/2019 14:39

Spice/herbs now organised. Should make cooking more enjoyable and easier.

SandAndSea · 28/04/2019 15:13

I'm feeling much better so have started decluttering again. Sadly, after a week or so of hardly doing anything, the house is an utter tip which is a bit overwhelming.

Anyway, I've been into my wardrobe and pulled out several boxes.

One box I was about to stomp on - I thought it was empty - turned out to contain my fab festival headgear (cowboy hat, flower garland etc). So, that's gone back but with a proper label this time.

2 other boxes have been sorted through and collated into 1.

A memory box has been left out - I need to go through it properly.

Out:
3 empty boxes/packaging.
3 old candle stubs.
Some incense sticks.
An old flannel.

I found a load of candles which have been put in the candle box, for using (rather than weird hoarding).

I still have FAR too much stuff!

everythingisginandroses · 28/04/2019 16:23

Hamper of electronic junk (and the hamper itself, which has a missing closure loop) taken to dump, along with a knackered picture frame and 2 big bags of shredding. You're not supposed to put shredding in yr recycling bin here, I didn't know that before and we have lived here 8 yrs Blush

Several memory boxes down from loft, with the intention of just keeping 1 each somewhere more accessible, but not gone through them yet.

Threw away a large wineglass because I broke the only other matching one this morning. I wouldn't previously have done this, and feel guilty as it seems a bit wasteful.

Next: going through a box of CD singles, hope to get rid of most.

Peridot1 · 28/04/2019 16:57

Did the drawers in my bed. Condensed from two full drawers to one half full. Have a black bag ready to go.

Looked in the blanket box at the end of my bed mentioned above. It’s still got crap in it! Including a pile of bras for some reason. Will pack them up to send off to Smalls for All tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s other task is the next shelf in the wardrobe of doom which is all my exercise stuff. It was all neat and sorted into two baskets last year so shouldn’t be too hard to get back to how it should be. There is space now under the bed for my winter exercise stuff to get put away.

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 28/04/2019 17:09

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gassylady · 28/04/2019 18:28

Couple old cookbooks into charity shop bag. Old cards into recycling bag. Can’t face the mugs today, have decided to put a couple of kids feeding bits on eBay. Have parcelled up some shoes sold on eBay. No big satisfying wins but chipping away

OublietteBravo · 28/04/2019 19:40

I’ve done 3 kitchen drawers and half a kitchen cupboard today. We had 36 calpol spoons and 14 calpol syringes. We didn’t have any calpol though - the youngest member of the household is 13. We’re now down to 2 of each.

MunchMunch · 28/04/2019 20:00

I've added a pair of shorts and an out grown pj top (no idea where the bottoms are) to the clothing bag.

Loads of general rubbish/recycling just off today! I think I need a compressor thingy to squash cans down to try and free up a bit of room in the recycling bin.

I'm now going to go in the upstairs bathroom that the kids use and see what can be thrown out and I might even venture into dds room and sort through some of the useless plastic-y bits from old dolls houses etc and throw them out myself rather than wait for dd to do it.

Why does my house never look any less cluttered ?!

MunchMunch · 28/04/2019 20:02

Actually, a quick win for me, just as I looked up from my phone I noticed some veg that's a bit past it so that's getting binned.

OublietteBravo · 28/04/2019 22:12

I’ve ordered some wallpaper. I’m going to redecorate the spare room. This will involve decluttering some more of DH’s clothes and getting rid of the random dining chair that doesn’t match anything at all. I might get rid of the double bed that we inherited with the house too.

PenelopeFlintstone · 29/04/2019 00:12

Gone: 2 chipped mugs (so cute though - duck egg and white stripes - sob) and a plate.

SandandSea - I know when I have a barbecue or something, DH and I go like the clappers to get the house quickly tidied up. You could play a mind game with yourself - imagine you've got people coming over in two hours! Two hours!! Grin

MunchMunch - have you got kids? Get them to stamp on your cans. Tell them left leg too for increased coordination skills Wink

Here's a photo to keep you all motivated Grin (Not laughing at the poor person whose house it is Sad )

Part 7 of the decluttering challenge - can you get rid of one item a day?
SunnyTikka · 29/04/2019 00:31

Ooh can I join in please? We moved house a few weeks ago and I am still astounded at the amount of crap we accumulated. So we brought it all here and I am now trying to be ruthless!
Has anyone used Vintage Cash Cow? I have some old stuff left from clearing PILs house and was going to try EBay but then I saw the ad for VCC and have sent for their pack.

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 29/04/2019 01:06

Was on this thread a long time ago. Haven't had a decent declutter in ages. Today decided to go for it. Dds want to save for LOL dolls and Harry potter figures so told them to sort stuff out to sell.... result 3 bin liners of soft toys, various sets of toys. And that's only a few things we started on!! Listed it all for sale on Facebook and have booked a table at a local children's sale in May. So need to finish their room/clothes before then!

Got a few bits in a charity bag (a dvd, few books and outgrown pjs) will take along once it's full.

Tomorrow 2 things are being collected from Facebook, 2 bags of toys going to work with me (I work in a nursery!).

Stickmangate · 29/04/2019 06:33

Hello can I join. Easter weekend we sorted out the summer house and sold 4 items on fb. Managed to get a bit of gardening done and cleared some bits from there too. I went through the kitchen and reorganised. Had 7 black bags of rubbish.

The weekend wasn’t as productive due to weather but I did manage to tidy the dinning room and went through a couple of drawers gave dh a load of pens to go back to work. I also cleared all the accumulated crap out of my car.

This weeks job will be sorting through it and getting it back where it should be.

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 29/04/2019 06:50

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Aroundtheworldin80moves · 29/04/2019 07:33

Kids are back at school. The house is quiet. I see lots of jobs and decluttering to do...

Welcome people! This thread is great.

PenelopeFlintstone · 29/04/2019 10:13

I really thought both of mine would be back at school today but it seems one doesn't go back till tomorrow. Bring on tomorrow!!!

StealthNinjaMum · 29/04/2019 10:41

GreigLaidlawsbarofsoap sorry abut the cross post I asked a question you’d already answered. Paperwork is a subject SandandSea are very familiar with - I think we are clutter twins. I filed mine a year ago and shredded some of the older stuff. It’s made such a big difference. I hope you enjoyed your rest on Friday Greig just make sure your family are trained to throw away their own toilet rolls!

SandandSea does olbas oil go out of date? I will use things until they get to the end but as you know I’m sure I ate some pickles were about 8 years past their date and I’m still alive to tell the tale.

raspberry I’m only on page 19 of the thread but I will be anticipating much progress in your study (but don’t kill yourself if you’re looking after a little one). purplefrog I rarely finish things but being 50% there is better than being 0% there so I try not to be a perfectionist as that prevents me from starting in the first place.

Tailsoftheemanypaws that is sooooo cute. How do you get anything done with those little cuties hanging around? I’d be cuddling them all day. (Disclaimer: I have never had a kitten I assume cuddling is ok?)

peridot awesome work on the wardrobe, I hope you had a lovely lunch and your grey hairs are no more.

gassylady I would get rid of them. Assuming they are plastic, things have changed with more bpa friendly children’s crockery so I’m sure your children would probably want new stuff anyway.

penelope well done on the blanket box. How lovely to have more space.

tailsofthemanypaws honestly! How wasteful. I would have drunk it!

OK just seen greenwillows post. Maybe I wouldn’t! Laughing at it’s new found drain clogging characteristics.

peridot I see decluttering and weightloss as very similar processes. It’s about gradual lifestyle changes for me. I might have a look at the Pinch of Nom books but SandandSea will remember the endless conversations we’ve had about how hard it is to get rid of cookery books even though we find most recipes online.

MunchMunch it will look less cluttered! Focus on the bits people see if it gives you a boost. Like window ledges and the tops of bookcases.

Welcome sunnytikka and stickmangate (I used to love that book) and welcome back nocutsnobuttsnococunuts.

Wow that was an epic post. You’ve all been so busy. I am still keeping to the one thing a day but also doing lots of other stuff. I have painted the wood in the spare room 3 times but the doors seem patchy. I am wondering if I should have sanded them first? Should I sand them lightly now and do another coat?

Today I’m throwing away two packets of coffee beans that went off ages ago. I had a coffee machine that broke and tried to give them away about two years ago and then forgot about them.

I am also seeing if I can get an old fence in my car to take to the tip. It technically isn’t really decluttering as I had a new fence fitted but it is in front of my house looking a mess. While I’m at the tip I’ll also be recycling some old electrical wires that have been hanging around for ages.

OP posts:
StealthNinjaMum · 29/04/2019 10:43

Longest post ever.

Anyway I was thinking about the next thread.

Does anyone have any links to good websites for the opening post? I thought I'd include a few like did someone mention a bra one? If you can let me know I'll make a list. Thanks.

OP posts: