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=

[HungryHazelEyes]

Hi all, I've been busy so have only just caught up with the thread. Sand you're doing amazing with your books!



I got my decorations out Sunday, put the tree up, discovered that more than half the lights are out (pre-lit tree), so ended up tossing it and getting a new one. Only spent almost 8 hours replacing bulbs before deciding to get rid


I sorted out decorations while pulling them out, anything not used in the last couple of years either got thrown away or is in my car ready to go to the charity shop tomorrow. Managed a small box and a carrier bag full of stuff. A carrier bag full was also thrown away, felt good.

[SleepingSoul]

@SandAndSea I looked at a book buying site and they were offering 5p or less for hardbacks so I didn't bother. I can't remember which site so I'll look that one up.

@Coldhandscoldheart lol sounds like I have less than the requisite number then, no need to purge them just yet.

I had a cracking night last night. The following are going, either to bin/recycling, family or charity shop

6 hats
2 bags
1 wallet
Bag of tinsel
3 other Xmas ornaments
Xmas stocking
3 regular ornaments
3 phones
1 camera
1 camera case
2 dvds
1 computer game
2 pairs of headphones

And
2 small boxes of assorted stuff to go to my ex.

I've filled another charity bag so am pretty happy.

[StealthNinjaMum]

sandandsea I'm impressed that you are making so much from the books. I tried to sell some children's books once and couldn't make the £5 minimum sale but I know that someone on an earlier thread managed to make quite a bit. I'm also impressed that you are getting rid of books, I know they're difficult to get rid of.

sleepingsoul that is amazing.

I have just emptied dd2s tights drawer and put aside 3 pairs that are probably too small. There are still about a dozen still so I haven't really made a dent in the drawer. She has 4 underwear drawers - 6 if you include pyjamas. Santa usually buys pyjamas or socks but won't be this year.

I have started to write the opening post for the new thread but am sitting here thinking of original titles rather than decluttering my house. Ha - the pressure !

[Drabarni]

yesterday I finished the drawers in the lounge coffee table. They were full to the brim, now nice and tidy with small games we'll use over xmas.
I have halved the paperwork in the office and will concentrate on filing the household stuff today. I've lumped the business stuff together and will sort that another time.
Started sorting out dd stuff yesterday and have several bags for charity.
Today I'm concentrating on upstairs, so mine and dh wardrobes, finishing dd room and some ironing as a huge pile.

I think it's just as important to keep up with housework whilst decluttering or you end up tidy but still dirty.
I'm remembering the not going upstairs or down empty handed and it's working a treat.

[SandAndSea]

Thanks, Hungry! And well done on getting rid of all that Christmas stuff!

Sleeping - I'm getting a bit more than that but it certainly isn't much for the effort. (About £12 so far.) Well done on decluttering that big list! You've done really well.

Thanks, Stealth! I'm not quite finished yet - they might still go to charity if I can't find a box. Tbh, it's been pretty time consuming so I'm not sure if it's worth the effort, but I wanted to give it a go just to see.

Welcome to the thread, @Drabarni! It sounds like you're doing really well.

[SandAndSea]

Hey, Stealth! Did you notice what I wrote there?

"if I can't find a box" !!

Good, huh?!

[StealthNinjaMum]

drabarni you're so right about keeping up with housework, though it can be so difficult. I find I go into 'declutter mode' and live in a bomb site. At the moment my house is relatively tidy but next week I am intending to declutter so I'll try to keep up with the housework.

I have just created the tenth thread for when this one finishes

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3760076-Decluttering-one-thing-a-day-part-10-the-countdown-to-a-clutter-free-Christmas

[SandAndSea]

Stealth - Great! A clutter free Christmas sounds like a very good idea indeed!

[IWillWearTheGreenWillow]

Stealth, Sand I am trying so hard for a low-clutter Christmas this year. Presents are mostly practical / consumables and are what people need / want not pointless tat for the sake of it. I'm aiming for wrapping to be reusable if possible (apart from Father Christmas, who may go naked one year soon, but isn't brave enough yet). I'm trying to do proper menu planning so everything gets used up, not left in the fridge then binned!

Today's out has been lots of dust, leaves and mud from under the kitchen sofa

[PenelopeFlintstone]

Wow! I just came on here to tell you that now is the time to declutter your unused Christmas decorations, after watching a YouTube video about it BUT you’re already doing it!
It hadn’t even occurred to me
But when I go home this weekend, I’ll gather all the Christmas stuff together and do a cull.
I keep coming across things. It’s the first time I didn’t manage to get it all properly put away. Not sure why but I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen this year.

[PenelopeFlintstone]

But I’m also going to pop around the charity shops to see if anyone’s donated any very cute things - just for a bit of a change. I can apply the ‘one in one out’ rule, so all good.

[Drabarni]

Aw, thanks for the welcome, I have lurked, but it's catch 22. Spend time on here and then don't get the job done
I did half a dozen shirts, now lunch so can post, then a mix of more ironing, dd room and office.
We have a wedding next week, eldest son so have stuff to do for that too.
Then dd finishes school on the 11th, so need to be done then she can put decs up. She doesn't like doing them until she gets home from school.

[SandAndSea]

I've just got rid of another big item!

[SandAndSea]

I've been going through my guest bedding. I've got a recently emptied, under-bed, storage box and was trying to fit it all in there. Then I realised that actually, the pillow has seen better days and we've got loads on the beds so don't really need it. It's so obvious once you've seen it, isn't it?

So, I've got more outs today, including a pillow and 4 ex-storage containers/sacks.

The dining room table is looking clearer!

[SleepingSoul]

Well done everyone. I find the more I've done the more ruthless I'm getting because I love seeing the space and organisation I've created. I'm tempted to go and rummage in the attic again once DD is in bed.

My outs for today are a pair of trainer socks that keep slipping down and a huge bag full of plastic bags.

[HungryHazelEyes]

SleepingSoul I did the same thing the other day - threw away a pair of trainer socks as they kept falling down all day, I think I may have another couple pairs that can go, but I'll wear them one more time to make sure.


I stopped by the charity shop and dropped off the box and bag full of decorations so that stuff is gone!

[HungryHazelEyes]

Well done Sand it's very addicting to keep going once you see more space, at the rate you're going you'll have a clear house before you know it!

[SandAndSea]

Thanks, Hazel! I'm definitely getting there. Some time ago I said on here that I was starting to see minimalism poking through in places. That's still the case but I'm not there yet. I'm going for clear and simple but still cosy.

[StealthNinjaMum]

I think the idea of a clutter free christmas is impossible when you have children but it's a nice aspiration. My sitting room is actually minimalist (some would say too minimalist) and I really enjoy opening the main presents in there on Christmas day. Santa presents get brought into my bedroom and opened there.

My main aim for next week will be to declutter my bedroom so I can take photos of dc opening their presents without clutter in the picture and the dining room which has my laptop on the table with a pile of homework and paperwork.

sandandsea yes I did notice if I can't find a box. Excellent work. You can perhaps help me with this one. I have an old iPad box. I bought the iPad in 2012. Why do I have the box? It's not like I'll ever send it back to be fixed. Can you order me to throw it away?

[PenelopeFlintstone]

I order you to throw the box away!!!!

[SleepingSoul]

@StealthNinjaMum I keep boxes for everything too, I'm sure I have boxes in the attic for electronics I no longer own. I'm working on them!

I forgot my other outs for yesterday, several disability aids that my daughter can't use anymore have gone back to the department they came from.

[StealthNinjaMum]

sleepingsoul every so often I find a box or set of instructions for something that is either 15 years old or has long been thrown out. I don't really understand how I've been decluttering for nearly 3 years and yet these things still appear!

penelopeflinstone I'll report back when the box has gone but I'm going shopping out now.

[StealthNinjaMum]

Random words to kill the thread.

[StealthNinjaMum]

New thread

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3760076-Decluttering-one-thing-a-day-part-10-the-countdown-to-a-clutter-free-Christmas