Decluttering one thing a day part 8 - the one where we de-tetris the cupboard of doom!

[WoogleCone]

Welcome! This is thread 8 of the declutter one thing a day challenge!

This is just holding the discussion open until @stealthninjamum gets her computer sorted and back in action :)

Everyone is welcome here, new and old. We implore you to join us on our mission to clear the cupboards, swipe the sides and declutter all debris!
We recycle, reuse, give away, donate or just plain chuck it out to help clear our spaces.

If you're new, start with a small mission - can you tackle one small area at a time? Be it a bedside table, a bathroom cabinet or The Kitchen Drawer?
Just one thing a day is all we ask and report back here with your outs for the day, or week at a time. It's very easy to get the bug when you start small and have success!

Will we find any more big bags of change? Can we sell more big ticket items? Will the school books all get returned? Will the happy meal toys ever stop multiplying and just how many books can we say goodbye to?!

Previous thread here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3525812-Part-7-of-the-decluttering-challenge-can-you-get-rid-of-one-item-a-day?msgid=87790915#87790915

Stealth - I would only keep those for this house, in case you need to replace your shower or whatever. Maybe you could keep them under the bath? (And not forget they're there.)

I would get rid of the others via Freecycle/fb.

It's been a busy couple of days here. The brown garden bin was emptied on Tuesday and is now full again. It's a shame we have to wait another two weeks before it's emptied so we might have to take some bags to the tip in the meantime. The garden is looking so much better now. I sorted out a kitchen cupboard yesterday - no outs but it's much better organised now and we can fit more in it.

Today I have been through DD's clothes and sorted out all of the outgrown bits. I have been avoiding one of the drawers as it was full of handknitted cardies that DM and DGM knit for DS and I have reused for DD. I am keeping a couple of them. I know it's silly but they have sentimental value especially as DGM passed away earlier in the year and I just can't face getting rid of my favourites. Also in DD's room I found some ear defenders we bought when she was a baby that I don't think we've used so they're in the 'to go' pile (which I need to deal with!). I tidied the toys downstairs and have found a big one that DD has outgrown now so I will try and sell it I think. Also out today three pairs of DS's socks that had holes in.

Not technically decluttering but I have rearranged some of the things on the shelving unit in the lounge. This means that the books and jigsaws the DCs play with a lot are easy for them to reach now so half of the contents of the shelves won't fall off every time they try to get them out. In theory it means they should also be able put them away easily so they won't be on the floor all the time. I have moved a small table as well which makes the room feel much more spacious and less cluttered. It's surprising what a difference moving a few things around can make.

Inspired by watching minimalism videos on yt, I've decided to declutter my "icing kit". The "s are because, having never used it, I only just found out that 3 of the nozzles (kept lovingly for years) don't actually fit the syringe; they just fall off! So, that's definitely going.

I also found a little bag with 4 little things in. I have no clue what they are, so they're also going.

I'm pondering a few other things. Eg. a pair of beaters for the whisk which I've never used. I think they're for dough but I'm not sure. Would anyone else want them?? I'm thinking about it.

I finally got around to sorting out the filing cabinet in the desk! We still had documents in there since 2015!! We were doing really well at clearing it out every year, storing what's needed for a few years in the garage. Apparently we got a bit behind! All of this year's papers were on top of the desk and I was able to file them all away
I did also take a few bits out to our camping trailer that came in to get cleaned (hand towels and some pans etc), that have been sitting in my kitchen ready to go for a few weeks now.
It feels so good to start seeing areas cleared, I just needed my DH to be out of the house for a couple of hours!

I've decided to let the dough beaters go now.
Plus 3 measuring spoons.

Ladies - I hope you don't mind if I join you? I am a minimalist wannabe. ie, home in a right frigging state... Anyway, can any of you suggest some food baskets I can use to make a pull out larder a bit more functional? I don't know if you know the sort of thing I mean?

I have a full height, slimline, pullout larder, a bit like one of these - www.magnet.co.uk/accessories/smart-kitchen-products/300-pull-out-larder/

I find the railings at the side of the shelves too low so stuff drops out. Anything other than cereal packets is a bit useless speed on them. Any ideas?

I have listed the Nappies!!!

I do not know why autocorrect always gives Nappies a capital letter.

I have also listed some other things & collected some more things for the charity/tip & I might actually take them now it’s stopped raining.

Oooh. I’ve just thought of something I might be able to use one of the tip things for, so that’s staying just now.

Hi Nutella and welcome! Sorry, I can't help you with that but hopefully, someone else might be able to.

Coldhands - Well done!

I've got some biscuit cutters going out now too - never used them. I have no clue why I was hanging onto them.

I sorted out some drawers with work related paperwork

Found dc certificates and awards. 2 have left so I will pass on. Like seeing what they achieved.
Shredded loads too.

Find things like craft paper and card.

May make some cards

Just added a few old magazines, newsletters etc to recycling bag. One of the kids away with camp soon so need to sort out clothes for that. Will take opportunity to pick through the big bag of clothes that are too small for older ones.

Welcome Nutella I have a similar cupboard and use Variera boxes from IKEA to group things in. In fact I have them in several locations to hold smaller items

I've been doing a little more decorating. I'm just pausing to let the dust settle and have folded a load of laundry and decluttered a cat toy.

I've also promised myself that I will go through a box of decorating stuff which has been in the loft. I haven't opened it for ages so there must be some good 'outs' in there.

Thanks Gassy. I'll see if i can get some.

Today I'm going to take some of my own advice but it will be painful.

Usually when someone on the thread says 'I have a load of clothes that don't fit but I'm hoping to diet into them' I say 'well even if you do diet into them you'll probably find that you don't like them or they're unfashionable so get rid of them.'

Well today I am going to get rid of my beloved bootleg jeans. I think I bought them because they were high waisted and high waisted trousers are flattering but you can get high waisted skinnies that are more flattering on my legs so they have to go.... Also - and I am generally not that interested in being fashionable - but even I can see that there's something about them that's naff.

I hope everyone's safe in the winds. I'll be staying in today as I've seen a couple of trees down.

Hi all,
Hope it’s okay to join.

I’m pregnant with my first, due Feb next year and I am determined to get this house decluttered before his or her arrival
My dad died in November last year, so I have loads of his furniture and things. Today’s plan is to sort through his paperwork and shred anything no longer needed!

I got a few inches of hair de-cluttered from the kids heads today.
I did have my ds go through a bunch of random stuff under his bed and get rid of almost all of it! He still had a tote full of train toys he hasn't played with for at least 2 years, so that's going to the storage unit today.
Altogether we are taking over 3 pictures/ wall decor, 3 costumes, at least 10 jeans, 8 shirts, a baby doll (my dd is now 15 and hasn't played with it for years now) and multiple random small plastic toys/ cars.
In a little bit I'll be headed over to get everything ready for the yard sale next week, sorting and pricing everything. I'm planning on having a free box as well which will be added to throughout the sale and taken to donate whatever is left in there.

@InOmniaParatus13 absolutely do it now before bab arrives. I’m sure having small children would have been much less stressful without the tons of just nonsense I had hanging around the house. It totally added to my feelings of inadequacy. Having said that, do be gentle with yourself, pregnancy emotions can be a bit weird.

@Coldhandscoldheart I never realised just how much stuff I accumulated, so I’m definitely going to get it done before I have to buy the big baby items and before baby arrives! Thank you, I will definitely be gentle with myself as you are right, pregnancy emotions can definitely be weird!

I sorted through all my dad’s paperwork and shredded most of it. Had a few tears when I realised he has kept every single birthday, Christmas and father’s day card I got him, he wasn’t a man to show his emotions, so this meant so much to me!
Also sorted through a bag of clothes for the charity shop that I’m never going to wear. This decluttering is great for the soul!

@NutellaQuest not sure about actual measurements, but would it be worth looking at bathroom and stationery storage boxes for narrowness? Would cut down magazine boxes fit side by side for example?
I mean these www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/fluns-magazine-file-white-00324132/ by the way which you can get in cardboard
Or a very basic toothbrush holder pot?

Hi coldhands - thanks for that. Need to keep looking in think. TBH, the worst things to store are the packets of crisps and rice cakes. I might be able to make something. The shelves are about 25cm wide. They cpukd take something up to 30cm in height.

I had some small flexi baskets which were good as I could get the whole thing down, IYSWIM, but they weren't very tall.

I threw out my food mixer yesterday so I have more worktop space. I actually broke it the day it arrived so it's never been much use.

Morning.
Today’s job; sort out the bookcase of doom 😳 it’s full of storage boxes, and inside those storage boxes is clutter, clutter and more clutter. I’m thinking I’ll use a couple of the boxes for nappies, wipes, sudocrem etc nearer the time. I’ve no idea what’s actually in these boxes, I think I’ve dumped any old things in there under the pretence of out of sight out of mind, so this will be interesting!

Did you ditch the jeans Stealth? I must admit to some nostalgic fondness for bootcuts as well!

Omnia definitely start pre baby as your time is not your own once they arrive! Although Woogle has been managing great things with a newborn. My DS is one now though and creates mess faster than I can tidy or declutter. Current favourite activity is emptying bookshelves.

Nutella have you tried Lakeland for storage ideas? You can always look elsewhere for a cheaper version once you’ve found something.

Got my two charity bags off the other day although at the cost of DD buying a book.it was 50p and she used her pocket money so not too bad. I’ve almost put away the latest size of DS outgrown clothes as well as sneaking a few things out of DD’s wardrobe. She had been squeezing into tiny pants because they were her favourites!

I’m currently loading my car up for a tip run, Dm is coming to watch the boys for an hour so I’ve taken the car seats out & am fitting as much in as possible. Nothing more than a food shop will be coming in, was meant to have furniture delivered (replacing old stuff going to the tip) but the van has been in an accident so need to rebook the delivery. Driver is fine & at least it means less furniture to move whilst decorating ds1 room.