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=

Penelope - I'm assuming it's a reference to swapping Summer clothes for Winter ones and putting away the ones you won't need for a while??

Willow - I sold our car seats and booster seats. If you know they haven't been in an accident and are in good condition, just go for it. It is up to the buyer to decide whether they want to buy them second-hand or not.

Since I last updated I haven't done very much. I ended up with a sore back last week, as a result of some gardening at the weekend, I think. That prevented me from doing some things I would have done otherwise. I have sold 2 more eBay items, which means 2 more boxes have left the house as well. I have also got rid of 6 months worth of used water jug filters as I discovered recently that our local Argos has a Brita recycling bin, and, I have sent off for some recycling envelopes for inkjet cartridges, since the manufacturer of our present printer will take them back. I also looked out some (very) old mobile phones with a view to recycling them. They are far too old to get any money for them, and I doubt any charities would want them anymore, so will probably just go in the small electrical recycling bin at the recycling site. I managed to return the oldest one to factory settings, but the other two want a SIM before they will cooperate. I may have an old unused SIM somewhere that I can try, as O2 kept sending me odd ones at one point for different deals.

I had hoped to check and prepare some more larger items at the weekend for selling locally, but didn't manage. I also tried to find something in the dining room to eBay, but my back objected to me crawling around and raking, so I will leave that for another few days. I would really like to try and sort out all the extra stuff in the dining room before the end of the year.

I am going to Get Brave and try listing the car seats and the dolls' house on Faceache.

I was all ready to report that DS3 and I have had a lovely afternoon decluttering leaves from the garden, hoeing out the dead annuals, planting bulbs and generally getting the garden ready for winter / spring.

All of this has happened.

Also, 364 days since the last time it happenend (some of you may remember) some steaming arsewit has run into the big car. DH was about 500m from home when he stopped because the car in front was turning right. The car behind him did not. The damage currently appears only cosmetic, but FFS. It's a big, red, Ford Galaxy. You can't fucking miss it. We've had it less than a year after some twerp shot through a roundabout and wrote the old one off on 20th November last year.

YOU COULD NOT MAKE THIS UP.

Rant over. I feel better now.

Oh no, Willow! Hope you can get it all sorted out soon.

Oh no, Willow

As well as Facebay, try Gumtree as well. It can reach different people.

Sorry about the car willow.

I've prepared a bag of stuff for the Christmas fair at DD's school. Nice stuff that will sell.

Also wrapped some birthday presents and sorted the wardrobes containing wrapped Christmas presents. Only 4 left to wrap now so I'm feeling nicely organised for once!

Not been here for a few days as I'm in the good habit of decluttering as I go and it's all very boring - so children's clothes, papers, toiletries, makeup, stationery etc. I'm much more aware of what's in the house so don't buy multiple things anymore (I used to have 9 bottles of vinegar too - but mainly white wine vinegar!)

My house should be tidy after doing this for years but I still have far too much stuff and I don't seem to have the time to set a timer to focus on the worst areas again i.e. stationery, toys, books, electronics, paperwork, the garage. I am thinking of buying a bullet journal to better organise my more long-term projects as I also want to do decorating and DIY.

Today I used a facepack so not much gone but it clears a small space in my bathroom cabinet!

Willow

Felt really motivated when reading all the posts. The bagged-up shoes and clothes are in the van for dropping off next time I’m passing donation centre.

I tackled some paperwork. Was able to reduce the pile by a very small amount. The personal stuff is scrunched up in the fireplace as the shredder broke. I managed to make sense of most of what’s left, and I also made a phone call that had been put off for months. And of course it took all of ten minutes at the most and wasn’t worth any of the previous angst. Still lots to do, but I’m slowly conquering my paperwork demons and will attempt one task a day.

Decluttered one pair pink roller skates.

I've been going through a box of DP's old files, which I'm pretty sure I organised and boxed up last year. There's now a pile of documents on the floor, ready for shredding. They were beautifully filed but I can no longer see any reason to keep them. (Progress!)

I'm winning this week, 4 items to my mum, another item returned to a friend, a hat and game for the charity bag, sorted a wooden toy set for listing on FB and I've arranged for 2 big household jobs to be done. Well done to those of you attacking paperwork, I'm going to have to face mine soon!

Nightmare with the car Willow, hope no one was hurt at all.

I've been too exhausted this week to really work on the house so far, although I'm trying to keep up on the thread for some inspiration.

willow I'm so sorry to hear about your car, hopefully everyone is okay?

Thanks all, no-one was hurt because DH was stationary when the other car hit and was not shunted into the car in front. DH may have whiplash, he has scoliosis anyway and is hypermobile, so an unexpected shunt from behind is not ideal. The shunter's car is a write-off, though. We hope ours is just cosmetic, but the bumper is looking worryingly off-centre to me. I'm resolutely not thinking about it, as the garage can't assess it til tomorrow and there's no point worrying about it till then. I just can't believe it's a year-less-one-day since it happened previously!

Looking at what to do with car seats, it appears Britax ones have an "expiry date" so I shall look at that and skip those that have "expired". I suspect they're all "out of date", so they'll have to go to the tip.

Prepping for the Home School Inspection today, trying not to see it as a comment on my housekeeping as well as checking the DCs are actually receiving an education. Feeling a bit as a result (not envy!).

greenwillow that's really unlucky, poor dh. Good luck with the inspection today.

I have a pair of jeans that I am 90% sure I'm going to get rid of today. They are a light colour and I think they're skinny but they seem too baggy on the knee. I wish I knew more about fashion, I don't want to be fashionable but don't want to be unfashionable. My gut feeling is they just don't work.

Good luck, Willow!

My items today are papers and the shredder, which has finally died. (To be replaced tomorrow.)

Just did my main food cupboard - whew - who knew there were so many out of date spices in there!!!! Clutter free and organised with space for additional Christmas food now. Good use of a really wet November morning.

Stealth - It sounds like they don't feel good to you so maybe it's time they went??

Ha - Stealth - I also have a lightish blue pair of jeans with the same dilemma. I only wear them in the summer, I don't really like them, but they are still waiting in the ironing pile after I last wore them for a final decision. They are too baggy, but somehow the inner leg seam is going, so they are not even in a fit state to donate...

I need to spend less time on mumsnet. I read a thread telling me wrinkly knees were bad and now I'm chucking out a perfectly good pair of jeans.

I know I always say it doesn't count but I have recycled a batch of lightbulbs and batteries so the kitchens a bit clearer.

I would definitely keep them if that feels good, Stealth.

I've got another out: a pair of big, walking boots.

Sorry if I wasn't clear yesterday - Home Education meeting / inspection is today. Have just spent an hour hoovering, cleaning, tidying in public areas / workspaces and we will have to do; but I think we do, and it was much easier than it has been in the past, so the decluttering is working.

Last week I put some items to sell on Facebook and have had the usual time wasters. Nothing sold yet. But playing tidy up tetris I have moved them to behind the settee (I know my old dumping ground) and put them in bags ready to go to the charity shop with yesterday's jeans!

Today I'm going to make a list for the next two days as I have lost my focus recently.

Good luck today greenwillow

Hope the inspection went/goes well Willow.

Spoke to DP about going through his suitcase of paperwork. Negative. Horror. Will need to keep chipping away at that.

Briefly threw a load of clothes out of DC's wardrobe that have been outgrown. They are now in a cardboard box and need sorting for bin/keep for DC2/give to refuge. Hopefully I'll get time this weekend.

There are just not enough hours in the day to keep on top of everything. How did a family of 3 create 4 loads of washing a week, but a family of 4 create 8?!

Just checking back in. Someone is collecting an item I have going for free tomorrow and I've put another item up for sale.
Cleaned the oven with bicarbonate of soda and vinegar-it's better but I was hoping for better results.
Have found some suitable blanket boxes with acceptable price tag so need to ask DP for his thoughts (likely disinterested).