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

That is useful Woggle, I have been thinking about removing the cases.

However, am also beginning to wonder whether, in the era of Spotify, Now etc, do I really need all these CD / Films. Have decided to see how often I use them over the next year.

We got rid of DVD cases a few years ago when we only had 13cubic metre allowance for a move... They live in zip wallets now. It was a double stacked tall Billy bookcase with extra shelves before... I need to resort actually, there's a lot of outgrown kids ones.

My decluttering has stalled. But my diary is pretty clear next couple of weeks... Girls in Dance Camp for half term so no 'helpers'.

We also have our next move date... First week in August. Don't know where we are moving too yet, just England.

Two large boxes of toys gone to bin - they had been sitting in front of the playroom fireplace for 3 months waiting for DS to claim them, he didn't - they are gone!

Now, I just have to find a way of getting rid of a small kids pool table - too small for my older DS now and younger one is not into it - still to small so I need to store it away if possible or sell online.

Thanks for that, Flying. I know I'm probably keeping too much paperwork but I do like to look back on some of it. We seem to have a lot of insurance, mortgage and other house files though. I'm going to try to get those down soon.

How long do we need to keep insurance docs for where you've made a claim? Anyone know?

You guys have inspired me. I'm getting rid of 11 empty DVD cases (I've been keeping them just in case but haven't needed them) plus 2 DVDs. I've got a few more DVDs we need to watch before they can go.

Just been reading Martin Lewis. He thinks we should keep bank statements etc for longer than we might have thought:

blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2013/08/dont-throw-bank-statements-away-after-six-years/

SandAndSea The one set of documents I have kept are the House Purchase / Sale and Mortgage Statements for every house I have ever owned.

That proved very important for me when it came to PPI. My BS denied I had ever had PPI but I knew differently because they had forced a Policy on me back in the 80’s. I was able to prove it and because I also had evidence of their misselling I ended up with a successful £8k claim.

The Bank Statements I destroyed were all 8 years +. I have been banking online for years.

I trust Martin Lewis, so think you are right to take his advice.

Lovely cupboard flying. I have a cupboard I'd like to get shelved in a similar way, it's floor to ceiling but only has one shelf so the space isn't used very effectively. My filing is a long way off being that tidy. I'm aiming to keep the most recent paper bill for council tax but actually pretty much everything else we have electronically anyway.

I have all the wallets ready to put CDs and DVDs into but DH is very resistant to the idea. I kept all the sleeve notes when I did my CDs years ago but apparently it isn't the same.

Started looking at clothes today as DS had his nap in the pram in the hallway rather than my bedroom! There is aot that needs to go but am going to have to deal with it gradually as I don't want to have to buy new stuff until I'm back at work I went through one drawer properly and have got two pairs of trousers in the wrong size into the charity bag. I've also discovered that I probably never need to buy socks or tights again! There were 4 pairs of tights and a new packet of socks lurking down there.

That’s a brilliant cupboard. I am going to do what WoogleCone suggests re CDs and DVDs, it’s a really good idea.

I have spent most of today sorting out my upstairs bathroom. I have a huge pile of stuff I want to chuck, a small pile that my husband needs to go through and a load of sharp bin stuff that I need to hand over at the doctors (gestational diabetes - although it’s been years since I was pregnant).

Old orange juice decluttered from fridge. There is now room for another bottle of wine.

Popping in quickly to say I haven’t fallen off the thread completely!

But.

I am currently staying with my MIL for the weekend. OMG. She is terrible. A shopaholic hoarder. A lesson for us all.

Her fridge and freezer are both full. She still insisted on buying more stuff yesterday. No idea how she squeezed it all in.

She has clothes everywhere and we talked about decluttering and not buying more and she bought a top yesterday.

Paperwork. Brochures. Junk mail. Magazines. She has bags and bags of it she needs to go through to sort. She needs to read it all first though.

She was looking for something yesterday - has loads of phone numbers on random bits of paper. Phone number for a hotel in London. It’s been closed down since 2006. But she will not get rid of the bit of paper. Aargh.

I have just emptied the dishwasher and it’s a struggle to put things away as the kitchen cupboards are so full. One is full of random crap so I’m going to offer to tidy it for her today. It will at least make it more accessible.

She is a lesson for us all! Don’t be like MIL. Be a declutterer!

Haven’t had a chance to read the thread for a few days. It will catch up later.

Sorry I am pages behind. My wifi hasn't been working for a few days so I am mumsnet ting with my ancient phone and struggling. I will be back when I fix it.

Ooh yesterday big news I filled a massive carrier bag with rubbish form my car!

Nothing out so far today but, in half an hour, I've whizzed round and my kitchen, bathroom and lounge are all clean and tidy. All the washing up is done and my laundry basket has room in it! I'm counting that as a win! Happy Saturday everyone!

Nothing out so far today but, in half an hour, I've whizzed round and my kitchen, bathroom and lounge are all clean and tidy. All the washing up is done and my laundry basket has room in it! I'm counting that as a win! Happy Saturday everyone!

Hey everyone!

Not much to report here, slowly plugging away at cleaning up that door. Bleeding masking tape is welded on. I just keep doing ten mins at a time, got a couple panes done but there are 15 and both sides need doing! So I guess I'm at 2/30 😫
Not sure I'll get it finished before this baby comes, starting to feel just how big I am so my wins will be small from here out (39+1 today).

DH cleaned the bathroom though and we caught up on some laundry (or rather he did the laundry, I just got the fresh from the dryer DD clothes dumped on me to fold haha).

Enjoy your Saturday nights declutterers!

Life’s gotten away from me a bit these last couple of weeks. Today a few old books to charity shop, several items into the rag bag. Just trying to keep chipping away. Going to tackle some more of the bay window of doom tomorrow

I recycled four items today (house hold things)

DH cleaned out the under stairs and found our Oreck Cannister vacuum

It is much easier than the Shark on stairs and better suction (I was using a rubber brush to get the dust up then going over with the Shark ) .

I had no idea where it had gone so Yay .

Amazing cupboard and drawer pictures - Pinterest worthy!

Accountability post from me. Things are so busy work/home that I don't have much time to mumsnet but currently DD is sitting next to me on the sofa doing a sticker book and I have a cup of tea in hand.

I had a week off and interspersed decluttering with watching Marie Kondo on Netflix. 7 big bags of stuff ready for dropping to the charity shop. All DDs clothes that no longer fit either bagged for charity or Facebook. 3 bags given away/sold on FB. Big bag given in to H and M for clothes recycling (they gave me 2 vouchers it was so big ☺️) vouchers valid until2020 so that's good as the declutter unearthed that I have not many clothes that don't have holes in them 😂 hoping to declutter a bit of weight next and then will start to build up a capsule wardrobe.

There is still so much to be done though! Once the girls rooms are decorated I can continue.

Happy Sunday all, I hope you are having a good one.

Not feeling too great yesterday so a very lazy day.

Went to an Auction with a friend in the morning and very proud that I did not buy any of the wonderful, but totally uneeded, lots on offer.

Managed to give away my old hose / reel in the afternoon. That was a definite win as I didn’t want it to end up in landfill.

Sun is out here and I am off out for a walk. Will be listing some treasures on Ebay later.

I hope you all have a productive day

Large bag of clothes to charity shop this morning - they have been sitting in my car for 4 weeks!!!! Yeah!!!

And one bag to the clothes bank last night.

Large bag of clothes to charity shop this morning - they have been sitting in my car for 4 weeks!!!! Yeah!!!

And one bag to the clothes bank last night.

I’m loving the sound of all the things being donated.

We’re away this weekend so haven’t done any clearing up. However, I have found lots of takers for a load of unopened toiletries on an online neighbours’ network - so that is a win.