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

Glad your DH is on the mend willow and sorry the little raspberries have lurgy now!

I did nothing yesterday, honestly. When DD had a few hours at nursery, I took a long hot bath instead of clearing out my bedside table. I'm not even sorry haha.

We'll see if I get anything done today. Midwife appointment later and need to find something fun to do with DD.

Fell off the thread for a few days as I was away.

Yesterday I took some bedding to a charity shop. Part of the airing cupboard sort out and had been ready to go for a few days. Also have a bag to go to textile recycling tomorrow.

Also bought some more baskets to use in the airing cupboard.

I’m desperate to sort out my clothes so once airing cupboard is sorted that is definitely next on my list. I may be some time! And to help in that process I need to stop decluttering food and wine! Then I can get rid of big sizes!

Also still need to sort random pile of old electrics and crap on dining table.

Need to do a Sainsbury’s trip this morning before I do anything else.

two kitties ten tiny fingers

raspberry hope dc's lurgies get better although I must confess I am slightly jealous that you have a child asleep on you. There is nothing cuter especially when they make little snuffling noises.

Today I have got rid of yet another frumpy dress. I have never had so few clothes. I need to buy more tops but I am amazed at how few clothes I can live with.

Old cashmere jumper (which I'd somehow shrunk to about a size 8) parcelled up to go off to the Turtle Doves place that recycles them into gloves. You do pay postage but they send a pair of random gloves as a thank you.

I have quite a stack of things to post and really need to find a time when the PO is open.

TwoKitties thanks for the tip on Turtle Doves! I have a couple of cashmere jumpers that have moth holes, and this sounds like an excellent solution for them!

Just managed to clear out the bedside table. Got a carrier bags worth of stuff out. It was a pile on the floor when I'd done so turned it into the 'in the bin' game where DD was very helpful 😂

But I did find a few things I thought I'd lost so now don't need to replace them!

Been to Sainsbury's too, stocked up on a few bits and got DD some new tops to replace some that have shrunk quite spectacularly (those will be added to the recycling bag!)

I have been decluttering the kitchen cupboards. Not only have I decluttered out of date food, empty packets etc... I have decluttered a previous residents phone bills found stuck down the back... Dated 4years ago... It's likely there was another set of residents between is and them!

Hello everyone,

I read an older thread last year sometime. Managed to do some decluttering but things have slipped again!

My biggest issue is knowing what to do with unwanted stuff. Usually I try to sell or charity shop items. But some stuff just isn't suitable for charity shop but I feel guilty about sending to landfill if there is nothing technically wrong. For example, old make up bags? Too 'used' to give to someone else but I have a few too many. Should I just chuck and learn my lesson for the future?

Hair rollers are another one? I just don't ever use these!

Is there a Freecycle group in your area, or facebook page you could offer them on? Freecycle's usually where I turn if I think no-one's likely to buy it, but someone might still want it.

Hi pandablue! Freecycle where possible I think, although you're right, somethings are just a bit too used for anyone to go for them. Which is part of the problem, that everything has just become too disposable so people just buy new for things like that.
My thinking is that basically as soon as this thing has been manufactured, it is destined for landfill, nothing is of good enough quality to last anymore. I'm trying to use that mindset to change my own disposable attitude and shop more wisely and not to excess, current makeup bag is actually a pencil case that is sewn well and quite robust so I'm hoping it will last much much longer (also only has the daily things in it so I don't let it burst at the seams like my last one haha!).

It's darned gift sets that are the devil. The ones with a travel bag, three tubes of various ungents that come wrapped in plastic and then cardboard. You might use one of the soaps but everything else is surplus to requirement so a total waste. I hate the boots 3 for 2 at Christmas.

Sorry, I totally went off on one there! I think in short I'm trying to say, get rid now and then as you say, learn from them and make good choices in the future about purchases. Not that that will help will gift receiving of course of things with the darned green gift sticker on😂

Oh god don't even get me started on the gift sets! I have about six unopened sets (mostly Bayliss and Harding ones!). Hoping they are sealed and the charity shop will take them. Some of the body washes I would use, and soaps as I'm cutting out on plastic bottles, but the lotions just don't do it for me. I rarely moisturise my whole body.

I'll definitely try freecycle first I think. Then at least I've tried, but the destined for landfill eventually thinking may help if I really can't find any other way to recycle.

Unused toiletries can go to food banks, so the minis which you haven’t opened could go there?

Thanks Woogle and Stealth. DS on the mend today although still clingy. I’m trying to enjoy the cuddliness rather than thinking of all the things I can’t do when I’m stuck with him on my lap!

I have the same problem with moisturisers Panda. I donated a load to our school fair last Christmas as had quite a few full size ones.

I tidied one of the under bed drawers yesterday evening and managed to clear quite a bit - mostly bubble wrap that had been popped but also a Filofax that was dropping to bits and some worn out nail files. Not sure why I kept those! It will need a more ruthless go over at some point but it’s much tidier.

Today’s items were another pile of old drawings and two baby sensory balls that have deflated so much they no longer roll.

I think I'm making progress with DH! He's been off work this week with tonsilitis, and spent yesterday sorting out his tools, binning some stuff he doesn't need, and has got at least one shelf cleared in the Room of Doom. He's even started being a bit more thoughtful about bringing new stuff in, which feels like a big step!

I’ve had a terrible couple of weeks. I’ve not decluttered anything. I’m going on holiday tomorrow, so won’t be getting rid of anything for at least another week.

I've been failing to get rid of things too, although I have taken some minor pleasure in finishing up a few bottles of shampoo and conditioner that have been languishing in the cupboard with just a tiny bit left. My hair looks terrible though...

Life has just been too busy to tackle more in a systematic way: I feel like I only go home to sleep and then not for long enough Eating badly too as a result but planning to try to deal with that this weekend with proper shopping, meal-planning and preparation. Then I might have more energy for other things.

Another one here who hates gift sets - although for a long time I asked for them because they could be hidden in the bathroom and it meant I wasn't bought an ornament or something decorative by stbexh mil.

I have gone through most of my toiletries and still got loads of unused nail varnish and body lotion which I sort of use on my getting wrinkly neck when I can remember.

MotherWol that's great. I know there was one resistant dh (was it on this thread or the last?) but over the last 7 threads he has been the exception. Generally once they can see the difference decluttering has made in one area they get better.

pippistrelle if it's hard just set a timer for 15 minutes.

I haven't updated since Wednesday but I am still shredding papers. Also I have put 2 board games in the 'Facebook sales' pile and 1 in the charity shop pile.

I have just finished up the box of earl grey tea I mentioned last week. Next is the box of 50 black tea bags with mango flavouring bbe 3/2013!

Morning everyone. Haven't had much time with work/being lazy but any time I have had has gone into not allowing clutter to rebuild in the newly completely decluttered kitchen. Hopefully that's at least helping to formulate new behaviours!!

I think the next task will be the wardrobes but will need DH for that as a lot of stuff is super high up. (floor to ceiling shelves) will have to wait until he's free though so might be a while. Perhaps o can do under the stairs instead.

Anyway, off to work! Have a great weekend everyone

I have cleared out the cupboard under the sink in the bathroom because the windowsill was rammed and disgusting and no bugger else ever cleans it.
I keep asking DH NOT to buy more toiletries but he persists.
Think DS has forgotten that it’s Mother’s Day tomorrow. He has no intention of having his room clean or tidy.