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 filed mine a year ago and shredded some of the older stuff. Was that a year ago? If it was, I need to lift my game and speed up!!

Penelope I hate to break it to you (have we really been doing this that long ) but I think I did my paperwork November 2017 and January 2018. I don't know if you were around when for the thread I decided to hold a mini paperwork bonfire in my metal bin lid and the smoke was so bad I bought a new shredder.

Can I set you some sort of paperwork challenge? Like find and shred your old utility bills. Or get rid of bank statements older than 6 years even though i haven't done mine but they are neatly filed.

Fence has gone to tip. I feel so good.

Dropped off due to Easter, but I'm back and full of declutter motivation! Over the holiday I managed to say goodbye to my iPod, I gave it to my dad who managed to get it working again! I've told him he can keep it or give it away to someone who'd appreciate it. I also gave him my old PC, which I just don't need any more, although frustratingly DH thinks we might need that back, as it's compatible with an old bit of tech he uses. It's been sat in the corner of our living room unplugged for the last 3 years, but now I make moves to declutter it, it's suddenly vital to him .

The clothes moths have reappeared, so I suspect I'll spend the next few days moving and cleaning to try and get rid of them, although I fear that unless we removed the carpets, we'll never shift them completely, and that's not an option in our rented flat.

Hi MotherWol

Stealth - I do have a vague memory of you using a new shredder but I don't remember the fire. I will accept your challenge (Thank you ) but I'll have to modify it a bit as I don't keep that stuff as diligently as you did BUT I have loads of crap in my office and I could let you know when I've done, say, 5 hours in there. How's that?

That's awesome. Wow. 5 hours. It's ridiculous how long this stuff takes isn't it? But it'll be worth it afterwards.

@StealthNinjaMum - Yes, we definitely seem to have a lot of the same clutter issues. Tbh, I've got some more paperwork to do, but at least it's organised now.

Love the idea of the links! It's so much better to pass on bras and things than to bin them.

Another useful thing to know is that some charities will collect. I know I've mentioned it before but it really helps, especially when you first start clearing, and many people seem not to know about it.

Perhaps a list of where to let go of certain things?? Eg. Old towels and carpet squares can go to animal shelters (ours are always asking for them). Batteries can often be dropped at the supermarket, so you don't have to make a special tip run. Also, 'rags' can go to many charities - they make money from them. Just some thoughts.

Peridot - As Stealth mentioned, I've got rid of loads of cookbooks. They were all like new and I just couldn't sell them. I've got to say, I haven't missed a single one!!! I'm down to 6 smallish ones now. I use maybe 2 of these. I also have a file of my own recipes with some old faves and I use this all the time. That said, if you love them and use them, keep them!

Stealth - It turns out that olbas oil does go off. I had a newer one and could smell the difference. Tbh though, it was 11 years past its use by date!!

Penelope - I think that's exactly what I've got to do. I'm building up to it.

Lovely to see so many new people on here. Welcome everyone!

Yes SandandSea I think most of us here are quite green which is partly why it takes us so long to get rid of the clutter as we want it to go to a good home.

Thanks for those suggestions. I'll keep adding to them.

11 years out of date!!!! OK yes I agree it probably won't work as well.

Oo, Stealth, I forgot to answer your painting question. I used to always use a normal satinwood for doors etc until I realised what hard work it is. Then my decorator told me to always use trade paint - something about the pigment which makes it go on more solidly so you need fewer coats. So yes, I would sand and do another coat if you're not happy. Another issue, I think, can be with the brush as some take too much off.

If you just want it done without having to shop for anything else, you could try rolling and then brushing lightly so it goes on thicker but still has a 'grain' to it? I've done this before using a small roller and it worked quite well.

I should be doing housework but instead I'm feeling nostalgic about a stranger's dog settee and another stranger's cookery books.

I think I am going to turn the computer off and set myself a challenge to keep off mumsnet for a day! See you all tomorrow.

(And SandandSea don't you be tempting me back onto the thread by doing an @ as you know it'll always bring me back!)

(And SandandSea don't you be tempting me back onto the thread by doing an @ as you know it'll always bring me back!)

@MotherWol

Are you sure that you have clothes moths and not carpet beetles? My colleague has been battling carpet beetles, and says pest control at the local council were really helpful. She’s had her flat sprayed twice now, and it appears that the carpet beetles are now gone.

PenelopeFlintstone the dating thread brought me back. Two bloody @ emails.

This time I am really going. Will see you tomorrow!

Ha ha! Sure, sure!!

Gosh, what a lot of posts this morning!

On Saturday I cleaned the large window that looks out from our kitchen over the back garden. That meant I also had to clear and clean the window sill. DP had a pile of tools there, which are now neatly arranged in a small chest of drawers in the hall, or on the landing ready to go up to the loft. Amongst other things I threw out an unused 2017 calendar which came from our usual Chinese Takeaway, some old bin collection calendars and the assembly instructions for the rabbit hutch purchased 7 years ago that I have recently been dis-assembling.

Only 4 things have been put back on the windowsill so far, including a cardboard basket of odds and ends I still need to sort through. I am amazed how big the window actually is. It is so clean that a pigeon flew into it on Sunday morning and left an imprint. I did buy some vinyl stickers to put on that window to stop that happening - looks like I need to find them quickly!

Later this week I hope to sort out the landing windowsill. It has also become a depository for tools and other DIY stuff.

I also chucked out a bottle of some pre-mixed cocktail I bought from Tesco at some point. It was around 2 years out of date. It was only 4% alcohol so I reckoned that wasn't probably enough to preserve the fruit juice that was also in it.

@OublietteBravo Yep, fairly sure they're moths, I've seen them flying around (I splat them with a vengeance) and have in the past seen the cases. I'd love to get the place fumigated, but it's money I just don't have, unfortunately. It's partly because we've let the house get so cluttered and dusty over the years that we've got the moth issue, so I'm going to keep on with the clearing in the hope of reducing them!

Wow, everyone has been so busy this morning! I did type out a post earlier but obviously forgot to actual post it as I now can’t see it.

Anyway, DD is finally better and back at school so I’m catching up on all the things I planned to do last week. I’ve been through the dressing up box and thrown out anything that was really tatty so it now fits in the box. Unpacked a gift hamper someone bought us and got rid of the packaging too and have found a few bits that can go to the school fair in a couple of weeks. That will be a zero sum game though if I’m lucky as I’m sure we’ll bring just as much home as we took!

Stealth you will be proud that hear I have made a start on the study! I have done a first pass through the bits of paper on the desk, filed a few bits and started sorting out a pile of stuff to shred (mainly old payslips, as I can get them electronically, so I’m only keeping the P60s). I will need to go through the filing at some point and get rid of old stuff but will save that for later. The study is also home to the coat and shoe cupboard, so I have taken out DD’s outgrown shoes which will go to recycling as they’re too worn for the charity shop. Once the desk is done next step will be the shelf of stuff for gift wrapping. May also join in the paperwork challenges if I can actually reach the files in the cupboard of doom!

Welcome to new people and returners. Onwards and upwards.

PenelopeFlintstone - Haha! I don't think I've ever been challenged on here before. My to do list today is too long to spare 5 hours. I might manage 1 - no promises though.

Stealth - no @s here. I've got to go too.

Never seen the thread so busy - it's good to see.

I definitely have a cookery book fetish! And then look up recipes on line or on Pinterest! I do cull regularly.

I did my sports stuff this afternoon and added some stuff to the black bag from yesterday which I then took out straight away. There is a Salvation Army clothes and shoes cycling box in the car park at the station and it’s easy to park so it went there.

Then I had a pedicure so decluttered my winter feet and have nice summer feet and toes!

Tomorrow I will do the next shelf up in the wardrobe. It’s a huge mishmash of swimwear and coverups and scarves and various other random stuff. Will be ruthless again. I have far too many scarves. Tend to buy them as they always fit!

Am also trying to declutter th freezer so dinner will be freezer surprise tonight. I stocked up both feeezers as part of a pre Brexit stockpile and am now using stuff up.

De-cluttered today:

Some cardboard boxes
Some very old plastic bags
Bottles and soya-milk cartons to the recycle at Tesco (our binmen don't recycle these)

Some baking trays that were past it and kept sticking.
Some candles (not scented or nice , just bog standard) that were broken and covered in dust

I put my winter coats into SpaceSaver bags in the attic and found a bag of summer clothes including some M&S Linen blend trousers that I've washed .
Put my winter socks away

Got some clothes sorted for the Charity Shop

Probably enough to be going on with

I went to replace the bag in the vacuum cleaner and it was full of moths (not envy). Have moth spray and ordered a replacement filter for the vacuum.

Several more bits listed on eBay. But bought some gym clothes on there so still neutral. More old cards located and recycled.
Plan for the next couple of weeks is to attack the “Bay Window of Doom” in my bedroom. Should make a visible difference. If I can excavate down to the chair that I know is there somewhere I can decide whether to recover it or replace it

Just jumping on at 3 minutes to midnight to post my win for today. Took a massive picnic hamper to the charity shop. It was a lovely posh wicker one given to me by a friend (Empty I hasten to add, she had been sent Xmas goodies in it originally).

I had been feeling guilty that we never use it as (a) we live in north Scotland where it's warm enough to have a lengthy picnic about 3 days a year if we are lucky and (b) when I did try to use it, it was too heavy when packed, banged my legs and food was sweaty inside as it's def not like my favoured coolbox.
So bye bye. Hello guilt

Hi everyone, this thread got crazy over the weekend! Well done everyone and welcome to new thread dwellers.

I've completed my last weekend at work so no decluttering, although I did tidy the office a bit in a spare 20 mins between crazy stints in venue. Working tomorrow and Friday then that's it for me, mat leave here I come!

DD at nursery this afternoon and me a midwife appt. Will try to shred the pile of old payslips I have set aside from a previous cull too. There's a good set of recycling to go out too.

I have discovered that the conservatory has been getting summer kind of hot and all the masking tape on my living room door has both gotten sticky and dried out so it's going to be a nightmare to remove. So that will probably fill any spare hour I might get later. and several more days after that!

On Sunday I disposed of some CDs, but got more to do. Yesterday I chucked half-a-dozen magazines and moved 4 children's board games to charity bag. I also counted 17 issues of a quarterly newsletter for a society I belong to, and I have made a plan to read one per day for next 16 days (started yesterday ) and make some notes, then get rid. Any I haven't read have to go after 17 days. As well as daily decluttering, this has the added benefit of pursuing an interest, so should be good.