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=

Brutus everyone has great advice for you, all I can add is to set a timer - whatever works for you, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, however long you feel up to. Once the timer goes off, you stop, take a break and reward yourself for what you have accomplished. Start with something easy, even if you're not getting rid of anything yet, do as someone else said - box it up.

DH finally went through his old trainers and threw away 3 pairs in the end! Even he was surprised at how many he had laying around, too worn out to wear anymore. He did have 2 new pairs come in the other day, but they will get worn so I'm okay with that. I should have a couple outs tonight as I set aside a couple tops for my SIL, and if she doesn't want them they'll be donated.

Everyone has been so busy, it's very motivating to read. This weekend I plan on making/preparing a couple things for Thanksgiving dinner in less than 2 weeks, trying to spread it out so I don't get overwhelmed this year.

Been a busy few days but had 2 bin bags worth of outs, plus another bag for charity, so progress is being made.

Sorry to hear you're feeling down @BrutusMcDogface I've turned down numerous visitors recently as I'm embarrassed about the state it's in. I cried to DH about it the other day, so we're making the concerted effort to do little bits of tidying/sorting little and often and it is making a dent. I'm also focussing on a room at a time and feeling so much happier once that one room is vaguely presentable. You've had some great advice from the others and I totally agree for
You to tackle the 'vital' rooms which the babysitter/people will see, don't worry about the rest for you. Just do enough so you can accept some help to give yourself a rest as that's so important. Hope you've had a better day.

@PenelopeFlintstone that's a mad amount of vinegar glad you've managed to streamline it a bit!

A sack of unwanted toys that went from my office to the kitchen for a week is now in the garage. I spent some time clearing up some bits and pieces, but didn’t make much of a dent in the next layer.

Found yet another pair of outgrown socks, sitting in the basket of clothes ready for the wardrobe. Now in donation pile. I’d never have spotted them without the previous decluttering. Before this they would have ended back in the wardrobe.

@BrutusMcDogface if you had one very trusted friend, would you be able to have someone come & keep you company?
I’ve done some of my best tidying and had some great chats with a friend sitting with a cup of tea while I worked.admittedly that was in my student days when we all had time to sit for days.

Personally, it doesn’t bother me going to clutter places.
There are a few things that freak me out a bit though:
massive amounts of animal hair on furniture that I’m expected to sit on,
rats in a cage in the living room and very close to me,
a bird flying around the room that kept landing on the back of my head, to everyone’s delight except mine,
any piles of junk near me that I think a mouse might dart out of, especially if I know they’ve had mice (common where I live),
As you can see, I’m a bit rodent-phobic.
These things have stopped me visiting people but nothing else.

Yay! SIL took the tops, I told her to do with them as she pleases, if they don't fit, I don't care what happens to them. Chances are I'll see her wear them, but it wouldn't bother me if I don't.

I don't think I'll be able to get much done at my house tomorrow, although I'm planning on getting rid of the leaves in the front of my PILs house in the morning, then I have to go to work at my second job for a few hours. Tomorrow (Sunday) will be busy, but hopefully go well.

Thank you thank you thank you for all your lovely responses. You don’t know what it means.

I think it was a combination of the above factors but I also need to know when to ask for help- my lovely mum is having the baby for a bit tomorrow so I can get something done.

Will reply more later ❤️

I've done a sweep if little plastic bits today and binned them. We have guests coming so I was tidying anyway, but instead of shoving them back in the toybox I just got rid. They are useless anyway.

Sold one item on fb marketplace this morning too. Just £3 but it all helps.

Bluewavescrashing I’ve been doing this as well, sweeping up little random bits of plastic crap (sodding happy meal toys!) from the Kallax boxes that the kids’ toys are in. I’m trying to get a different box out each time and quickly go through them for things that can be chucked. They’re bound to get loads of bits and pieces for Christmas and I’m trying to preempt the influx.

More bags of clothes out this week and I might go through the bookcase and see what can be got rid of, books I’ve never read or won’t read again and ones I’ve found on the elibrary app so don’t need in hard copy.

Hope you’re feeling better Brutus

Sydney I'm finding our county elibrary app brilliant, because the books return themselves too! Trying to borrow actual books as well, though, because the council are looking for any excuse to offload library staff and buildings.

Mostly ins today, as DH and I went Christmas shopping (I know) and the Father Christmas stuff is done, apart from the One Thing Actually Requested From Him. This means I could possibly be wrapped for that lot by 1 December, and it's all consumable / useful, not tat. Feeling good about that.

I must also confess to a truly glorious pair of mock-snakeskin ankle boots, for Going Out and also for Feeling Like Myself. I put some other shoes / boots out a couple of weeks ago and I think this is reasonable. The heel is low enough for every day and they are so very me I may take them to bed with me tonight.

Brutus, I'm pleased you have a better idea of the wood / trees issue today and can get some stuff done; but do remember to take time for yourself too!

Sorry to hear you’ve not been feeling good @BrutusMcDogface, I agree with @IWillWearTheGreenWillow about taking time out for yourself and @RumRumRum about the advice regarding tackling the vital rooms that people can see.

The bedrooms have now been sorted, clothes from the wardrobes are in the bag for Cancer research to pick up tomorrow.

The kitchen has been de cluttered (oh, the joy) and so has the airing cupboard.

I took loads of old towels to the local animal sanctuary on Friday, and I’m planning on going back next week to drop off books and other stuff (and it’s a good excuse to look at the dogs 😁). The sanctuary is doing a Xmas shoe box appeal, so I’m killing two birds with one stone.

Just the CD’s to sort in the living room side board, as I’ve already gone through the books, and that will be the living room done..

Phew ...

Brutus give yourself a break as well, you can get duck all done when you’re looking after children, if you achieve one small thing a day that’s really good!

Ugh, my phone is such a prude.

Well done everyone. I've been in the loft today putting Halloween stuff away and brought down a bag of toddler toys to go to the charity shop. I can't face selling them. About 12 items in my car to be dropped off tomorrow 👍

Well done to you also @Bluewavescrashing

I've been going through one of my boxes. It's been very slow going but I've got rid of a pile of papers, cards etc about 2" deep. (Loads more sentimental stuff to do.)

Another 2 boxes are away. (Summer clothes etc.)

And, I've washed the blankets and cushion covers which go in the living room, ready for Christmas.

Can I join in? So much stuff. A lot of which is DH’s, but a lot of it isn’t. Makes it hard to clean when you can’t see the floor you’re meant to be cleaning!

Hello TooManyGlasses, welcome! It does get easier to clean as you chuck stuff out, I find, and my DH has got on board with the whole thing as I've made progress!

This afternoon, I've cleaned and sorted out the dolls' house for the charity shop, and DS3 and I have pulled the last of the carrots and beetroot from the cold frame. The beetroot are roasted and waiting to be eaten / frozen and the carrots are already blanched and in the freezer!

Ds2 and DD have also emptied their cupboards from last academic year (yes, I know it's November!) and so have lots of space for this year's work.

Course you can, @TooManyGlasses! Welcome!

I've chucked (recycled) another inch or so of papers and now have 2 empty, under-bed, storage boxes.
I've also snaked the shower drain. Something horrifying, like a dead rat made of hair, is now in the bin.

Today has been our family day but I had a quick sort of my toiletries whilst the bath was running and threw a few old beauty products out. I've also decluttered some chocolate from the cupboard if that counts?

I am going to be back on things with vigour tomorrow. After the big birthday party some things have returned to the but will distributed to their rightful owners/donated/recycled.

I am also giving myself the task of racking our scary spare room. I'm dividing into sections and doing a section a day. I will send updates!

Hi, hope you don't mind me joining in. I started blitzing my house over the summer (thanks Marie Kondo and Netflix) but hit a big wall. I'm another SEN parent, fighting to move DD into specialist school and with surgery coming up so often feel like I'm operating in survival mode, no capacity to do more than the bare minimum. But... I'm feeling inspired at the mo so maybe you guys will keep me plodding on.

Over the weekend I've passed on a pair of wellies and found 5 or 6 old video games that can go, along with more stuff that belongs to my ex - very cathartic!

Saturday was mostly spent decluttering my tv recordings so that I could fill it up again today. i jumped up during the adverts to deal with the laundry pile and general heaps of untidiness. Same today, with added fridge tidy. A little bit discouraged, tbh.

Ugh, my phone is such a prude.

Ha ha