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=

Hi SleepingSoul, good to have you here. A fair number of us seem to be SEN parents (there's probably a thesis in that somewhere). Any decluttering is good, happy to have you with us!

Tidy, don't be discouraged! I realised the other day that it's not natural or healthy to give 100% effort to something (everything?) all of the time. Life needs to ebb and flow, and decluttering is part of that. Just a little bit of plodding in, and maybe noticing that things are easier than they were because there's less Stuff is good sometimes.

Sand, well done on your papers! I'm avoiding that. 4 DC makes for a lot of cards / notes / christmas lists asking for a "tranchla" / pictures drawn of Daddy with the dog etc and I find it very hard to even consider getting rid of them.

Cold, your phone is clearly your moral guardian! Or do you have a thing about ducks?

Hazel good luck preparing for Thanksgiving. I don't envy you having two big family-focussed events a month apart, every single year. I think I'd go mad!

Back on my head today with paid work and preparing for the visit from the Home School Team on Thursday. I know we are doing enough, and the right thing, but taking 2 DC out of school already feels so transgressive that I'm really worried about it, and DS3 has got the impression that they're going to quiz him in what he's learned since September, so tension is high. I suspect there will be quite a bit of displacement decluttering! My aim is to get the dollshouse and some books to the tot bank as a minimum today.

It also turns out I've got 3, if not 4, car booster seats in the garage. They're usable, but I know the advice generally is not to acquire second hand in case the owner is lying about them being damaged. I don't really want to take them to the tip - anyone got any good ideas?

Happy Monday everyone. More ins than outs here at the moment. Did some xmas shopping yesterday and also bought (badly needed) new bras. Will now need to sort through to decide on outs- can’t just sling them all as some I may be able to re-use as I lose more weight.
To everyone who is feeling disheartened DON’T - the just chipping away really makes a difference.

I did notice last night that my bay window of doom is staring to fill up again. I know that this time it will be quicker to sort because there is just so much less stuff around. Much easier to find a home for things

I know the advice generally is not to acquire second hand car booster seats in case the owner is lying about them being damaged. I don't really want to take them to the tip - anyone got any good ideas?

I know I'm overseas but nobody says that here. I sold both of mine. Surely not everyone can afford the luxury of not buying at a much reduced price if available?
I would sell them or give them away. Why would someone who's not making any money out of it lie about an accident? Makes no sense. And very few would lie even if they were making money!

Well done, everyone!

Welcome, @SleepingSoul!

I'm looking forward to your updates, Salem. (Even though I don't know what racking is.)

Keep going, Tidy! We all have our down times. Maybe get out for some air or have a dance to some upbeat music to shake the cobwebs off?

Rum - I'd probably count the chocolate too.

gassy - I used to have a load of bras in my 'might fit me one day' stash. I'm now down to one lovely one that's genuinely beautiful and like new. I found that, as time passed, the old bras no longer looked as nice as I'd thought. I'm not sure why, whether it was the way I was seeing them or if it's to do with that whole disintegration thing which happens over time? (Sorry if I keep mentioning this but it's been a bit of a wake-up call for me.)

Thanks, Willow! I've been thinking of getting one of those books done - you know, you send the drawings or whatever off and they put them into a book for you. It would just be another thing for me to keep though. (And I'd probably need several.)

My one item so far today is a pot of body butter which I've had for far too long. I finally used it up polishing the kitchen sink. I've now put my tub of Pink Stuff into the bathroom cabinet so it's away and I can use it when I'm in the shower. I've got into the habit of cleaning bits in there when I use it and I'm pleased to write that my bathroom is now really clear and shiny!

It's a miracle! DP finally binned 3 pairs or very very worn and no longer used pairs of trainers mentioned earlier. It only took 3 weeks of gentle coaxing. Contemplating asking him to get his large suitcase of paperwork out for me to go through in the evenings so I can do something productive.

Lots more ins for the baby, being DC2 I'm buying all the toys I wished I'd bought DC1. Also had to get some clothes out for DC1 and realised I need to go through that wardrobe again and cull outgrown clothes to get to the refuge before Christmas and work out what needs replacing as there seems to have been another growth spurt.

Well done everyone else, good progress. Willow, Brutus - we all have days like that, I think. No answer, just understanding here.

At the moment I keep feeling that my house is too small, so as soon as any tiny item is not put away it looks massively cluttered whereas if it was a larger house it wouldn't. Does that make sense? Frustrating.

Today's out : pack of craft supplies donated to school. They were delighted with them!

Yes, that definitely makes sense, Keiki. My house is small too. I don't think I can get away with anything.

Thanks for the welcomes!

Paperwork is my big bugbear, what to do with DDs works of art, thousands of them, and old reports etc to do with EHCP, DLA etc etc.

@IWillWearTheGreenWillow I know that's the advice but car seats do a roaring trade round here on Gum tree and Marketplace. I've sold them in the past, people often seem to be picking them up as spares/for grandparents cars.

I found myself going through the cutlery drawer at midnight, got rid of a handful of Calpol and Nurofen syringe dosers and some toddler cutlery. This morning 4 pairs of shoes I'd been trying to decide what to do with went out for textile recycling. And i just spotted a second copy of a kids book that is now in the bag for the charity shop. Not much but feeling good about it.

I feel like I've ground to a halt. Chucked a few papers in the recycling so that is something out today. Am trying to get organised with regards Christmas shopping which is hindering decluttering efforts somewhat! I realised I've finally used up all my sample sized moisturisers which is good.
I have decided stuff which is out of sight ie.in cupboards will be sorted through after Christmas so I can focus on things actually being tidy.

Hi all, sorry I need to catch up! Been a bit lazy last week but 18 things out today so I’m ticking over. One was a child gate so I should be happier, I feel I have lost momentum from last week. Maybe throwing out so much has given me decluttering burn out? I’m trying to do justva carrier bag at a time for charity. So it was one charity bag today, two bin bags to the tip and child gate in the scrap metal bin. Not to shabby overall

Welcome SleepingSoul! It sounds like you're already making progress.

willow Thanksgiving isn't too crazy, everyone pitches in to help, I do have 3 pies I'm making and I'll probably need to make the rolls, but they're easy. FIL makes most of the food, DD makes the yams. It's all about family spending time together, which I love. I'm not hosting this year either as there's too many people going for my house.

I sold a baby Booster seat for a kitchen chair so that was my out for today. I'm putting any money I get from selling items into a jar and will open it during the summer holidays. Hopefully it will cover a few days out.
I returned a few items to their owners that have been hanging around. I find it is small little jobs like this that don't get done quickly.

Willow and Sand - thanks for the encouragement. -:))

I was a total slug yesterday, and felt much better for it by the time I collected. LOs. Bitterly cold weather. Recycling trolley filled and put out. Started a meal plan, which kept my anxiety down before tea-time, general tidying the rest of the time. We had a relaxed evening. Back to office work today.

Big bag of clothes going to charity shop this morning. Hubby is boxing up stuff for Music Magpie.

This is SO satisfying!

This is great motivation! I put a dress I was trying to sell but hadn't in the charity shop bag along with a few small toys and some kitchen storage containers.

Then I went through the bathroom cabinet and got rid of bits that were old, out of date medication, some bits I won't use but my mum might like and used a couple of samples up. I've put the rest back with them grouped in small boxes with no lids on and it looks so much tidier (And emptier)

@Elenorrigbywoes I love the idea of putting money from selling aside, wish I'd thought of that rather than just sticking it in my wallet.

Definitely getting the dolls house out of the hall today. No, really!

@SandAndSea racking is supposed to be tackling! Curse my podgy fingers! Out today is one pretty tea strainer, people know I like tea and keep giving them to me. This one was still in the packaging and I've given it to a friend.

Salem - Ahh... That makes a lot more sense.

Welcome, @BatleyTownswomensGuild!

Willow - Is this a good time to mention that I sold my doll's house?

Medway - Don't worry about those small down times, just keep focusing on all that you are doing. A bag a day is still really good!

Poor progress here
I have a few items for charity shop but also a pile of clothes that I want to demote. On bedroom floor still after 2 days and I've no idea where I'm going to put them

Three holey leggings out last night. Hardly life changing but I did bring out some massive baby bags to sort. I’m avoiding them!

On bedroom floor still after 2 days and I've no idea where I'm going to put them
Have you got a car? All my stuff goes into the boot.

Oooh Salem you've reminded me I have a tea strainer to go back to my mum!

@abitoflight - A labelled box under the bed? Maybe also diarise to remind yourself to get it out in the Spring, in case you forget about it and double-buy.

I think my item today is going to be a bulky beach towel. (I happen to know that someone is getting one of those fancy, 'folds up small' ones for Christmas.)

Oh, sorry! I thought demote was a typo for donate! That’s why I said put them in the boot.
What does it mean?