Decluttering one thing a day - Part 9

[SandAndSea]

Welcome to our 9th thread in the Decluttering One Thing A Day series!

As you might imagine, we aim to get rid of one thing a day (or the equivalent, if we miss a few days).

The idea is that aiming low in this way prevents us from getting overwhelmed. It's also sustainable so helps us to develop effective clutter clearing habits which last.

In reality, many of us have found that once we start, we often get rid of far more than just one thing. (But if we don't, that's OK too.)

Everyone's welcome! We're a friendly and supportive bunch, from aspiring minimalists to full-on clutterbucks! We're also pretty green so you'll find lots of recycling, freecycling, donating and selling.

Previous thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3612006-Decluttering-one-thing-a-day-part-8-the-one-where-we-de-tetris-the-cupboard-of-doom?pg=1&order=

By choice, I'd have white vinegar, very versatile. DH would always rather have balsamic!

Just white (the one we can clean with) or white wine?

Have you ever made a salad dressing with the plain white vinegar (comes in big 2l bottles, here anyway), Willow?

Sorry for the multiple posts, but wouldn’t it be nice to simplify our condiments?
I heard once that large fridges contain mostly the two Cs: compost and condiments.

I haven't been posting lately on this thread as I've had no outs! Although I did have an out last night - a small bottle of nail glue. I was going to attempt to glue my nail as its trying to break in an awful place, only to find the glue is solid and the brush broke (as its stuck in there). Fingers crossed the clear nail polish I put on my nails will protect it and stop it from breaking right across

Penelope 9 bottles!?! Glad you're making headway with getting that number reduced. To answer your question, it would have to be white vinegar. We add it to all our loads of laundry (pre-wash), I've found it helps get rid of smells and helps colours looking bright and fresh. I have also used it to clean and cook, just not as much as using it for laundry.

Penelope - I also use it for cleaning and (sometimes) general laundry and stain removal.

Willow - Good luck with your meeting!

My out today is a lovely bag. I'm so tempted to keep it but it doesn't meet my needs enough so would just end up sitting in the drawer until it disintegrates (which I cannot allow to happen again). I'm struggling a bit with this decision at the same time as knowing that 'it's just a bag' and 'I've gotten rid of loads more than this before and it was all OK'. I have to remind myself of all the people who might genuinely need it at this moment. ... It's definitely going.

Penelope I have to apologise for my last post, I was half asleep at the time (I had just woken up, still early here). I just reread my post and it came across rude, totally not what I meant! I'm always buying excess things, I'll even make a list and doubt myself if I see something in the store I usually get there (usually in Costco, so large, bulk items), then discover I already have 2 in my pantry when I get back home!

It would definitely be plain white chip shop vinegar, although I've stopped using it for washing since it unaccountably stained all my white bras bright pink! Nothing else, just the bras and the lace on one pair of pants.

I've sorted DD's outs from yesterday and have two small charity carrier bags to walk up to town tomorrow, and other stuff in the recycling bag.

We had The Meeting. All are duly chastened and have promised to pull their weight. I have also promised to start saying no to them, and stuff outside the house. Today was DH's washing day and none got so, so I didn't step in. Lack of pants is his issue. I have, however, managed to get the loo roll put away and the new blind up in our bathroom. Hoping to be reasonably clear for Christmas!

Penelope I have to apologise for my last post, I was half asleep at the time (I had just woken up, still early here). I just reread my post and it came across rude
Ha ha! Not at all! 9 bottles does sound a lot but it’s not really when you consider that there was
Vinegar for making sushi
Vinegar for fish and chips
Balsamic for salads
Red wine for a different flavour salad
White wine for a further different flavour salad
And plain white for cleaning.
Some of these aren’t interchangeable - or at least, that’s what I’ve been led to believe! Is this all marketing??!!
Anyway, when I woke up DH had already chucked all 3 balsamic and the white wine one! Want to borrow him?

Phew Penelope I'm glad you didn't take it the wrong way! At this time I don't think I need to borrow your dh, but if that changes I'll let you know lol. I just have to remind myself to only get what's on my lust and not to second guess myself

Oh I just remembered, today I didn't exactly have an out, but I did have 2 non-ins, if that makes sense! I emptied a couple small boxes at work and I set them on one side to use for Christmas, but by the end of the day I threw them away, not bringing them home with me! I definitely have a thing for boxes and already have a lot in my storage cupboard in my garage (I actually de-cluttered a lot of them last year as dh can get them easily from his work - big ones).

No worries, Hazel 😊
Today’s out is 22 food items, mostly doubles, leaving DH’s kitchen and moving to mine. I still count them because they could go off and be wasted at his place and I don’t have to buy them for mine.
Also out is six reusable coffee jars. Do you have them in the UK? With the glass and plastic lids?

A load of stuff will be "out" today. I've been organising a big birthday bash for my mum. All the stuff that has been stored for this event will be out and being used! I'm delighted. Then I can start wrapping Christmas presents and distributing them.

Ah, Salem, that will feel good, to get stuff out in a positive way. We are now entering the period of the year where I have presents stashed everywhere as DD's birthday is the first week of December, which runs completely into Christmas. I'm wrapping birthday and Christmas as I go this year in the hope that it will be more straightforward!

I’m not sure where else to turn to and I thought you ladies might understand.

I’m worried about my mental health. I’ve turned down two nights out this week because I can’t allow babysitters into my house (partner away). I feel like I’ve gone into survival mode again and not enjoying anything.

Please help me! I feel like it’s beyond my capabilities to sort this mess out

Brutus, I have to dash out to walk WillowHound, who is whining and pawing at the door, but I didn't want to read and run.

I totally understand your concerns about your mental health and your house (might be a parent-of-4-with-partner-away thing). Some quick thoughts:

• how old are the DC? Can any of them understand this week is about survival until Dad gets back and they need to help?
• accept that this week is about survival.
• specifically why can't you allow the babysitter in? Is it related to one room / area, or a feeling about general dirt / mess, or what?
• not enjoying anything - I truly think this is partly the clocks changing and the current weather. I just can't deal with anything right now and it's hard to clean / declutter / see your way out when it's permanently raining and the lights are on all day.
• How are you sleeping? Is parenting on your own for a bit having a knock on effect here? I know I don't sleep well when DH is away and I have to parent 24/7 with no back up, because I permanently have one ear and one eye open for disaster.

Can someone watch the DC for just a couple of hours while you hide in a coffee shop / the library for 1 hour of your own to reset and then 1 hour of assessing the situation, genuinely, from outside of it? You might need physical distance from DC / house to see how to move forward.

Sending unMumsnetty (((((hugs))))) and strength.

Hi Brutus, all of Willow’s advice is great.
Also, this decluttering can be a long process.
You couldn’t have babysitters this week. Don’t worry. It’s okay!
Just keep going and soon you will. Just accept it for now. Don’t let it get to you.
DH will be home soon so you’ll be able to go out again. Just keep going with the decluttering!! This is just a little bump in the road 😊

Brutus I agree don’t be too hard on yourself. If everyone is warm, fed and has something to wear then this week is a triumph I think the CHAOS (can’t have anyone over) is quite subjective. I often feel the same way, yet no one ever comments and I always enjoy there company when they do. I have a friend who is always pleased to see me and I love popping in for coffee and a chat - she hasn’t been able to use her dining table in about 5 years.
So get through this time with your DH away. Keep chipping away at the stuff it really does make a difference

Brutus - Happy to help! I think you need to simplify this process so this is what I would do:

1. Focus on the key areas re babysitters.
2. Get a box. Any old box.
3. Don't worry about being 'perfect' here.
4. Go into your living room and quickly pick up everything that is out of place, on the floor, or doesn't feel good for any reason. Do it quickly so you can't talk yourself out of anything. You're not getting rid of anything, you're just boxing stuff up.
5. When you're done, label the box with everything that's in it and date it. (Anything still in there in 6 months can go out.)
6. Go into the bathroom. Put cleaner down the toilet. Then, spray it top to bottom and wipe it. Then scrub the bowl and flush. That's now done.
7. Have a cuppa.
8. When you go to the loo, clean the bathroom sink.

All this will make a big difference. Just start. You can do it!

From today think about moving. Do you want to pay a man to move this item?
Despite all my Decluttering I’m still putting things in boxes thinking really I’m paying to move this? So more to go as I unpack the boxes I think.

Brutus - How are you doing? Hope you're OK. I completely agree with Willow about the current weather and greyness. It can be hard to feel energised in this climate. Whatever you decide to do today, please go easy and be kind to yourself.

DP's been helping me to sort through a few things, mostly my 'big case of clothes which might fit me again one day' and which I've been tripping over for the last few weeks. I kept thinking of my recently disintegrated handbag and Penelope's shoes so have now filled a sack to go to charity. It includes 4 pairs of jeans, 2 trousers, 1 maxi skirt, 1 cardi, 2 swimsuits and probably some other things which I've forgotten. They're all like new.

This has made room in the case for some spare bedding (recently laundered but homeless) and it's all now away, under the bed.

My outs today have been virtual with a big old cull through Google Photos as I was reaching my free limit storage. Had a nice time with the DC watching videos of them as toddlers too.

Brutus some great advice from others. I hope you feel better once your DP is back.
Another bag went to the charity shop today and another in textiles recycling. Decided stairgate can go for free so will get that online in next couple of days.
Decluttered some crap out the hoover as it wasn't picking up. Blocked pipes. It was grim.

2 more bags to the charity shop today, and a trip to the tip! 5 more things identified for the toy bank on Monday.

Brutus, I hope you've been able to be kind to yourself today.