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

So bye bye picnic basket. Hello guilt Assuage your guilt with thoughts of someone excitedly buying it from the shop.

SandandSea - I definitely didn't mean 5 hours in a day! My 5 hours might take 5 months!!

Gone today: clothing item, THE OTHER SHOE, 2 chipped mugs, miscellaneous junk from a bathroom drawer, posted an overdue ebay sale. That'll do.

Well, I ended up doing quite a bit of decluttering yesterday, from a haircut to a disintegrating pair of headphones.

I also stripped the bed, did loads of washing up and laundry, dyed 2 pairs of jeans and packed away all the guest bedding.

I also 'did' the kitchen where, strangely, I found some more broken glass. I can't explain it and DP claims not to know anything about it (hmmm...) but, I've twice now found broken glass in a certain area of the kitchen. This time, it was in a container which had contained some dried pasta. Anyway, it's gone now.

DP is also in trouble for buying more phone charger cables. Apparently, he thought we needed them as there weren't any "around". This is because they are away!! He should know this as he helped (watched) me sort through my electricals not that long ago. Needless to say, he has been suitably chastised.

Our landlord needs to send the decorators round to tackle the damp in our bedroom, so tonight's plan involves moving DH's music collection temporarily into DD's room. Let's see if anything gets decluttered as a result of this...

Huzzah for the other shoe Penelope!!!

purplefrog good work, I love decluttering my window sills.

motherwol do you have a wallpaper steamer? That would kill moths. A friend had moths and I think she pretty much emptied her bedroom and steamed / froze / washed everything and steamed the carpet. It's a real pain but I think you're doing the right thing decluttering.

Today I have found another top with holes and so that's gone in the rags pile. It's annoying as I must've got rid of about five holey tops recently and haven't found replacements.

penelope5 hours in 5 months! Gasp! Come on you can do it in one month. It is paperwork. Think how good you'll finish when you've done it - i'll even let you have or

Purplefrog - we often have pigeons flying into our windows leaving an imprint. We had one do it with such a bang we all came running and found a dead pigeon on the patio. I keep the blinds down now. Although three pigeons were busy stripping my cherry tree yesterday so I’m not best pleased.

Another bag from my bedroom this afternoon. Scarves, beach cover ups and other random bits. And I discovered I have about 12 swimsuits.............

Nothing actually out of the house today though. Might manage a few magazines.

I did do a major vacuum session this morning so lots of dog hair went. Hoping it helps my hay fever.

Stealth - I have found a few tops with random holes too. Very annoying!

stealth no wallpaper steamer, sadly, but I'm thinking about hiring a carpet cleaner as that might help, either a Rug Doctor or I think there's a place that loans out Karcher ones nearby. What I wouldn't give to be in a home we owned, where I could have wood floors!

Nothing out today so far, will maybe have a look after DC are in bed.

I keep finding holes in tops too. They must rub on jeans or something as they're always in the same place!

I had a change of plan in the end, didn't get my shredding done BUT DH came home three hours early from work (he had that in annual leave left over so surprised me today!) As the weather was nice we got into the garden for an hour and trimmed the hedges, cut up and ripped out brambles and some border stuff. Still loads of garden stuff to do but it was some great progress and the bin is full again. Jobs a good'un!

My one item today is an old can of foam cleaner (for a PC).

Just did 20 mins of extra weeding. Felt the desire to not sit Infront of the tv watching the same old shit. I'm done now though haha.

Does tidying the car count? DHs soda can collection now in recycling.

Aroundtheworldin80moves - I'd def count the car. (I count almost everything just to encourage myself and keep going. It seems to work.)

I've finally made a decision on a pair of boots - they're going to charity.

I've also chucked a DVD.

Yesterday was quite successful.

We decided on the spur of the moment to swap our bedroom into a different room so i can re-decorate and re-carpet our room then switch back! I've managed to put a large table and a subwoofer outside on the patio to take to the tip. Also got rid of an old netbook and other bits and pieces like wires, plastic bits from god knows what, empty boxes and general rubbish. Still got lots to do but at least I've made a start.

aroundtheworld I'd definitely count the car, anything in your domain I'd count, garden, car, house, driveway etc. I'd even count work office purely because if I don't get time at home, doing something at work helps keep me in the mindset and I carry on at home the next day!

At work today in the day, not usual but a colleague is at a funeral so I'm covering her shift.
Me and DH have made a master to do list of things that need doing before baby gets here and tonight is putting the crib up ready to go. (I'd be back in the garden but the bin doesn't get collected til tomorrow and it's full from yesterday!)
Right, must get dressed! Have a great day everyone!

Morning all.

Car definitely counts. Ours needs a good clean. It’s tidy but needs vacuuming and cleaning. Might take it to be valeted. There is a place by our big Sainsbury’s and about once a year I take it there, have breakfast in the cafe, do my shopping and come back to a new car. It’s not cheap but they do such a good job it really is like having a new car! In fact it’s my birthday in a couple of weeks so that might end up part of my birthday present! (That’s pretty sad isn’t it?)

WoogleCone - you are doing well for someone so pregnant! I was staying with my parents at the end of my pregnancy and my mum was desperate for my nesting instincts to kick in as she thought she’d benefit! Sadly not!

Munch - great to have the option to move to another room while doing yours. Makes life so much easier.

Willow - that’s a big list!

My plan for today is

A walk
Vacuum
Change ds’s Bed if I can find it
And continue with my wardrobe - next category is bags
Will also do the long hanging rail which has evening and occasion dresses I haven’t worn for years. Plus lots of other stuff that never gets worn.
Also need to start washing my summer stuff which got thrown into a large drawer when I came back from Australia in December.

Morning! You are all so amazing with your big lists! Due to my fatigue and pain issues I can sometimes only do little bits but I'm cheering you all on from the sofa

Yesterday I gave some empty boxes, padded envelopes and bubble wrap to a friend who is packing to move house. Also used up and recycled 3 small hotel mini shampoos from the shower cabinet, a shower gel and a tube of toothpaste. WHY does my family never completely finish one before opening the next? I'm always left with the end bits. Gah!!

I also furminated my stairs. We have a large hairy dog and I use a Furminator brush on him quite often. I had the idea to use it on the stairs to try to take up some of the hair before hoovering, which never seems to get it all. OMG. Sooooo much came up, I swear the carpet has changed colour. Sorry it sounds gross but very satisfying in a weird way. I was too tired to hoover after that but I'm going to try to furminate the top landing and hoover today.

I've been through my desk and got rid of all sorts of things which I've been hanging on to for years. Some of these seemed full of memories and feelings. Included were:

13 cheque book stubs going back to 1997 - so many special times! (Trying to be strong.)
3 passport photos.
A box of my lovely business cards - I want to keep them but I don't have that phone number any more.
A card wallet which was for instruction booklets plus 6 instruction booklets I've never needed.
A camera lens cleaning kit - unopened.
A glass jar - was used for paperclips etc but no longer needed.
6 elastic bands.
A repurposed but now broken, ferrero rocher box.
The end of a zip (why??!)
A container of pencils - I'd had them since school but haven't used them for years.
An ink cartridge (no matching pen).
2 metal filing clips which can't be opened.
2 small packets of screws & rawlplugs.

I'm sure there's more still to go.

Thanks willow and peridot! I think it's a mega dose of nesting to get me in the garden haha 😂

It's gone really dull and drizzly here now so won't get back in the garden tonight BUT it's ok because the new series of Bake Off The Professionals has recorded so that's my evening sorted ;)

Well done on the huge lists for you all today, that's some bloody good progress! I will claim the pile of paperwork at work filed as my win for the day :)

Well done Willow! That’s loads!

Sand - all those bits are a real win. It’s that sort of stuff I struggle with.

Greig - hairy dogs here too. Never thought of furmintating the carpet! Good idea........

I stripped and remade DS’s bed.
Vacuumed kitchen, diner, sitting area and utility room
Two loads of washing

And continued on with wardrobe. Another black bag ready to go. How much control underwear does one need? Some still had labels on. I had three of the same M&S control slip thing.

Then sorted some handbags. Evening bags and various clutch bags. All neatly in a basket now.

And I started on the long hanging space. I’ve no idea how the rail was still up! So much stuff. So much stuff I’ve never worn. So much stuff I bought hoping to slim into. Such a waste of money.

So I’ve a bag almost filled ready to go and will finish it tomorrow. Some needs washing. Some needs dry cleaning maybe. There was a lot Of dust.

Will do more tomorrow.

Today: took 2 big shopping bags to my favourite local charity. Contained about 20 large children's books, 4 board games, box of loom bands (remember them?), some pipe cleaners, a video game and a bulky Transformer toy. Day 3 of the newsletter challenge, on track.