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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
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 03/05/2019 07:39

Off to Scout Camp today. On the Scout decluttering side, this weekend will be very successful... But only because our Group is closing so loads of stuff is being redistributed. However my attic no long resembles a Scout warehouse ...
Nothing will be achieved on a personal house level.

Coinage... We had a massive supply of 5c coins. DHs lunch at work costs 1.95euro. So he has taken to paying in 5c coins. They are actually grateful for this as they then have change to give other people.

I miss watching Pointless.

everythingisginandroses · 03/05/2019 08:16

Don't think I will get much done today. Had a day off yesterday (polling day, so DS off) and had a nice time but never get enough sleep and just permanently exhausted Sad I didn't finish reading yesterday's newsletter, so will try to do this and get through another one today.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/05/2019 08:38

Sad I am decluttering the guinea-pigs things today. We've had 8 piggies over the past eight years and the last old lady died on Monday .

I have to hoover up in the Pigs Bedroom ( oh yes, they had their own room) , move their cages into the garage till I decide where they will go ( recycle the decent ones ) and take her plates (dog bowls) to the charity shop.

SandAndSea · 03/05/2019 09:12

Guineas are such lovely little creatures. So sorry for your loss, 70isa. Flowers

Battenburg1978 · 03/05/2019 10:50

Sorry for your piggie loss 70 xx

I am back on the wagon with a week off for various household things and decluttering! About to tackle old makeup - I barely wear makeup and think I've got stuff I was given when I was21 still (I turned 40 last year!)

SandAndSea · 03/05/2019 13:22

Accountability post:

Today, I'm planning to sort out my utility bill (I think there's been a mistake since we switched earlier this year).

And, I've got a pile of receipts on the dining room table which I want to process and bin.

Battenburg1978 · 03/05/2019 16:15

Hope you got your bill sorted Sand.

Small bit of decluttering achieved today 

  • bag of makeup binned
  • small pile of previous house owners post returned to sender
  • 4 maths revision books given away on FB
  • large piece fabric given away on FB
  • bag toddler clothes sorted for nursery mum, I'll drop up when I pick up my DD
  • bag toddler clothes sold on FB, still to be collected though!
SandAndSea · 03/05/2019 16:58

Thanks, Battenberg. It's not sorted but I have emailed them. It seems we've been paying 2 suppliers for a couple of months. (DP's fault apparently - he somehow thought he'd sent in the meter readings when he hadn't.)

Still, I have shredded some old bills and documents and deleted a fair few emails.

Now for those receipts! (Which I'm avoiding as I type.)

SandAndSea · 03/05/2019 17:27

The receipts have been shredded!!

When it came to it, I realised that (as they say), "I only have so many fucks to give about receipts". So, I pretty much just shredded them, with the occasional brief glance at the details, to check I wasn't shredding anything important.

Luckily, I happened to find a Next giftcard. (Hurrah!)
Unluckily, I also found a M&S one (printed like a receipt) which was out of date in 2017. (Boo!)

Peridot1 · 03/05/2019 20:56

Interesting day here. I had some random stuff lying around my bedroom from my wardrobe clear out so I tidied it all,up into a laundry basket as Cleaner was here and needed to vacuum. That is about all I achieved as I walked into town to meet a friend and tripped on uneven pavement and went flying and landed on my hip and face. Some lovely people helped me up but I was very shaky for a bit. Met my friend for coffee and ended up crying in the coffee shop queue.

So I now need to declutter my bruises and aches and pains.

I had been going to drive in so I could drop another bag off for charity but DH persuaded me to walk instead. Ended up getting him to come pick me up.

Not a great day! I think I might have a black eye tomorrow.

Brexitisshit · 03/05/2019 22:03

Oh no! Delurking to say I hope you’re feeling ok, Peridot1 - what a nasty shock. Fingers crossed you avoid the black eye and that the bruises aren’t too sore.

SandAndSea · 03/05/2019 22:37

Oh no! Peridot1, I'm so sorry to read that. I do hope you recover quickly. Flowers

PenelopeFlintstone · 04/05/2019 03:07

Peridot - sorry about your accident. Sounds extremely painful and would've been a big shock. Why did your husband persuade you to walk? Have you been saying you want to walk more or something?

RaspberryBlonde · 04/05/2019 06:16

Sorry to hear that Peridot, that kind of thing really shakes you up doesn’t it. Hope that you are feeling better this morning Flowers

PenelopeFlintstone · 04/05/2019 06:25

Yesterday: a pen, a plate and a basket which was full of junk is now ready to be returned to its owner. That basket has been sitting next to my bedroom door, full of said junk, for about 9 months so I'm happy about that. Tbh, half went in the bin but half has gone to the junk table to be dealt with 'later'. It's still an improvement though.

PenelopeFlintstone · 04/05/2019 06:41

and I've just listed 2 furniture items on FB.

Peridot1 · 04/05/2019 08:39

Thanks for the sympathy everyone. No black eye this morning but cheek feels swollen and I’m definitely achy!

Penelope - yes I have been trying to walk more. I was debating driving in and he pointed out it was a nice day and I could drop the bag off another time. So it’s all his fault! Grin. Have to blame somebody!

Am determined to get more of the wardrobe done today. And go through the basket of stuff I picked up off the floor yesterday.

I also have a blind that needs to go up in my en-suite to replace the one that is in there. I bought the replacement about two years ago if not longer! It would be good to get that up so might see if DH will have a go at it today.

IWillWearTheGreenWillow · 04/05/2019 09:21

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for personal reasons.

RaspberryBlonde · 04/05/2019 09:35

I have the same dilemma about books Willow. I used to love Enid Blyton etc but I stated to read the Wishing Chair with DD recently but it felt so clunky and far from life today that I'm wondering whether I should not bother and retain my find childhood memories. Having said that my childhood wasn't like that either and I think I enjoyed the escapism of it. DD does currently love the Narnia films but we haven't stated the books yet. It's not so much a clutter issue for us as the copies I had, especially Enid Blyton, were mostly my dad's so I don't have them (they are pretty tatty once my younger sister had finished anyway!)

Yesterday's item was 8(!) of those cardboard bottle holders. I've kept a few for future use as they never seem to have them in at our local shops but no idea how we accrued so many!

GreigLaidlawsbarofsoap · 04/05/2019 12:03

I'm so sorry for the loss of your guinea pig 70 they are adorable little creatures with awesome personalities. My friend has 2 and they are so cuddly.

Ouch Peridot hope you're not too sore today. I've also gone flying over a broken low kerb, it's very embarrassing and you do feel so shaken afterwards.

Yesterday was another busy work day but I got some more work stuff out the door clearing a bit of space in my work area (it's a fairly constant in and out with orders tho!) and shredded some receipts and bumpf.

WoogleCone · 04/05/2019 12:37

Sorry to hear that 70! Flowers

And to you too peridot! Hope the black eye stays away and you're not too soreFlowers

Last day was good yesterday, passed on all my work, clients told I'm gone and who to talk to. Does feel a bit odd though, like I've just got a day off today Confused
Anyway! Parents are visiting this afternoon, I've cleaned the bathroom/kitchen and done a little laundry. Might get to some decluttering later but we'll see if parents end up staying for dinner.

Have a great weekend everyone x

SandAndSea · 04/05/2019 15:06

Thanks, Woogle, you too!

DP and I have been doing a bit of diy and have ticked a sealant job off the list.

I've also cleared out and washed my main diy box. 6 tubes/tubs of various hardened fillers are going out and a host of random screws have been tidied into the screw box.

everythingisginandroses · 04/05/2019 18:42

Yesterday I threw away 2 pairs of 'chiffon' stockings which had a dirty grey colour. I bought the wrong colour last summer, have got 'nude' for this year Smile

everythingisginandroses · 04/05/2019 18:43

..had gone a dirty grey colour. Sigh.

MunchMunch · 04/05/2019 20:59

Over the last few days

Out:
General rubbish and recycling
A pair of holey Jeggings
A few tubs of cream, half opened cans of beans from the fridge
A broken plate
Plastic bag with a hole

Goals for the next few days:
Rest of stair carpet lifted
Tip run
Grass cut in the front garden
Planters/hanging baskets sorted
Few more loads of washing
Pack up dh's Star Wars helmets on the billy bookcase and give book case to db

I'm going to order some plastic tubs with lids and sort out all the bags of crap we have that don't have a home but could go in the loft. A box for wires, computer parts, dh's hobby bits etc.