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=

[RoxytheRexy]

Two items I had put on Freecycle got collected. I decluttered the manky veg in the fridge for a soup.

I’ve put putting some stretch mark cream on my feet before bed to try and use it up and tonight I officially finished it. I’m replacing it a massage oil I bought on holiday many years ago that I must have used about 2 squirt of.

Everyone seems to have had very productive weekends. Under beds and getting rid of cars is very impressive

[SandAndSea]

@Medwaymumoffour - I'm sure we've all felt sorry for ourselves at some point. The good news is that we're here to encourage you!

BTW, 400/month sounds like loads to me. Give yourself a pat on the back and don't worry what anyone else might think.

(This refers to a post on the previous thread, in case anyone's wondering.)

[Coldhandscoldheart]

@Medwaymumoffour I don’t know if it would be any good to you, but the unfuck your habitat woman has a system of resets, so you clear an area, and then you can reset it very quickly. I have an area of worktop in the kitchen that is my win area. I know what lives there - about four cooking bottles, a knife rack and the kettle - so I can quickly see if things are there that shouldn’t be & move them - usually to the opposite worktop, but in theory to their proper place. And then that work top is reset.

Have you pointed out to your DH the marvellous strides you’re making? Explain you could use a bit of support and appreciation for your efforts?

[HungryHazelEyes]

Welcome to all the new members! Hopefully you'll find this thread as motivating as I do, if not more!


Medway 400 items is impressive! It sounds like a family meeting needs to take place so they are all on the same page as you. It's unfair to you to be responsible for clearing space, when it's not just YOUR space.


I was able to get rid of some ood items in the pantry today, mostly dog medicine for my ddog who we had to put to sleep 3 years ago. I would have taken it back to the vet but it expired in 2017.


I was able to sort through the pantry, cleaning products etc, rearranged as well. I came across dds old bike helmet and knee pads from probably 10 years ago!! And 4 lunch boxes. I will post those on Facebook to try to sell them.

[bakesalesally]

Have come on for a grump. I have been away for three weeks and spent the weekend catching up on sleep, then tackling the mess. I am still wading my way through all the shite that has been left behind.

DH eating his breakfast whilst I am asking him to 'please put water filters in the recycling' and to 'please put envelopes/junk mail/old letters from school/food cartons/papers in the recycling. And 'please put left overs that won't be eaten and empty bottles in the recycling/bin.' Instead of dumping them on the surfaces and around the general bin area.

He's 45!!!!!
My car comes back from the garage tomorrow and first thing I am doing is recycling (I don't live in the UK so sadly no bin men for recycling things, we have to take our waste to a collection point).

Good news is it is looking a lot tidier very quickly...

[BrutusMcDogface]

Right- here goes!!

[bakesalesally]

@BrutusMcDogface sleeves up! (I am struggling to throw DS's old glasses from two years ago out. Why? I need to just do it...

[Mynameisnotthis]

bakesalesally I feel your pain. I used to silently seethe or make passive aggressive comments. Now I just ask straight out why what ever item it is is sitting there. Shouldn’t have to but I also refuse to to tidy after him as well as 2 DC. I may also passive-aggressively leave whatever he leaves 🤷🏼‍♀️ So sometimes empty bottles/cans etc will sit on the worktop all day while he is at work (I’m on mat leave) because I refuse to deal with it. My time is no less important than his.

Oops rant over. So far have cleared the top of my dressing table. Again. Sigh.

[RoxytheRexy]

I’m sure I read that places take donations of glasses if that’s any easier for you?

I had a sample of washing powder that used to fall out of the cupboard every time I opened it. I’ve just used it this morning. Why I didn’t do it months ago is a mystery to me.

I’ve also thrown out a candle I bought when we bought the house. Clearly I was thinking that now I’m a home owner I’ll start having baths in candlelight. Turns out I never do that

[Medwaymumoffour]

Thanks for the kind words. Mil has just left and I have the house to myself again.

I have told dh and eldest boy that they are making me feel like it’s not good enough, but they do seem to need lots of reminding that I have no motivation if they moan whether I declutter or not. I told dh that we need to both tidy for 20 mins when the kids go to bed. I think a family meeting and job list is a good idea. Right now every job bar cooking and Washington up is my job ( and I do my fair share of that too)

I will look into the reset site too. Sounds like just what I need.

It’s a tip run and charity shop run today. I will declutter until 1pm then get rid. I’m also getting to list some bundles on eBay. But main priority today is being kind to myself and thinking positive thoughts that I’m on the right path. I felt down last night and bought no less than five Joules tea towels in the sale! So not point getting down as I just crave the spending fix and the cycle starts again....

[SalemSpellman]

I'm not sure this is in the right theme, it was DD's birthday yesterday. I decluttered the left over birthday cakes amongst my neighbours.

I've just discovered that one of my favourite cups has sprung a leak, once I finish my rapidly disappearing cuppa, I'll bid a farewell to my mug.

[SandAndSea]

I'm home! It's a bit strange tbh.

@bakesalesally, I've also been away about 3 weeks. I got a cleaner in whilst I was away (thank God!), I just wish I'd booked her nearer to my return home. (I'm not going to go on about it as I'm sure you can imagine.)

As soon as I got home and was sitting on the sofa, I looked in the coffee table. There was hardly anything in there!! I was honestly wondering if we'd been robbed! Then I remembered: I'd given most of it to charity!

There was a game in there which I'd wanted to give away but DP had wanted to keep, so, I got him to play it with me. It was as boring as I'd remembered, so that is now going out.

I've also wiped a mobile phone which still works so could be a good spare. (I've got about 5 more and 2 cameras still to do. This is a sticking point for me but at least they're all boxed up together.)

The washing machine is sounding really bad so I think I need to prioritise replacing that soon. It's done well but it's time for it to go.

Other outs: A charger and a sports jacket.

[Keiki]

Missed the end of the last thread and most of this one, as I keep getting an error on my mobile. Another pair of shoes out, and some wetsuit shoe insoles that have been laying in the garden for over a year. Need to sort the books into the Kallax now that it's attached to the wall, hopefully clear out a few in the process. Also finally bought a few clothes that fit now, rather than hoping I'd manage to diet into the others, including some new bras so my maternity bras can finally go out.

[abitoflight]

2 boxes of someone else's stuff taken to charity
Had a quick swoop of a top shelf and 5 items gone from my wardrobe plus a pair of shoes
And some books 🎉

[Medwaymumoffour]

I’m feeling a bit better now. Busy few hours this morning. While clearer out the shoes in the porch I discovered a leak. A box of five years of my sons SEN paperwork and Sen education appeals was ruined. A massive trig. That’s all gone, the 10 pairs of shoes, 60 broken toys, cuddly toys and clothes at charity or the tip so really really gone. Not a bad morning!

Also someone was going through all the clothes bins at the tip and for once I could feel like their was someone who loves tat more than me 😀

I did buy one charity shop dress for me and for dd, but at £6 total must remember it’s totally fine to let them go once they have given the joy

[SandAndSea]

I've wiped another mobile. I think. It's quite old so doesn't work as I expect but I've done everything I can think of.

[SandAndSea]

Just to add that this one is definitely going out.

[bakesalesally]

Great idea about the glasses, thank you. Feel
Less guilty if they can be reused.

Gone is the washing basket with broken handles and the two stretched to the point of embarrassment decade old swimming costumes that I kept for emergencies.

This is liberating!

[WellTidy]

I'm inspired. Ive decluttered in part in the past, but never continued as it gets so overwhelming. I've got rid of a bag of DS2's clothes today as someone was collecting for a local charity.

Last Friday, DBIL collected a massive crate and a bag of DS2's old toys for their DC.

I have another three large things waiting for him to collect or for me to hand over - an easel, ride on and a trolley type thing. It has created loads of space and I am glad that they're going to a good home as they're fab quality and hold a lot of lovely memories for me when the DC were little. I am getting a bit emotional!

Is it ok for me to do only weekdays decluttering?

[WellTidy]

Medway my DS2 has SEN too, he also has SN. I think this is why I struggle to let toys go - I am always wondering if there is a chance that he will play with things when he gets older, and I don't want to throw them away as that is sort of admitting that he might not, and I also don't want to throw things away in case I then have to buy them all again of he does get to a position where he could play with them. Good work on all that paperwork, I have tonnes too.

[SandAndSea]

And another old mobile! (I'm on a roll.) It too is going out.

[SandAndSea]

Welcome, @WellTidy! Yes, you can do weekdays only if you like. Do what works for you.

[Times10]

I cancelled some money wasting direct debits, so I’m counting those as an out.

Still no proper outs today though. And a few ins due to maternity clothes from eBay. I need to pack away the other clothes to make space for the clothes that actually fit. I’ve got a couple of leggings that need to go, as the crotch area is looking like they’re about to split, so time to go!

[BrutusMcDogface]

I really need to do a tip run but I’m kind of scared! Haha. Never been there before and don’t know what to expect.

Got rid of a big black bag of rubbish (tat and broken toys) and lots of paper for recycling 💪

Medway- could you pick 5 tea towels to get rid of in return for buying 5 new ones? Sorry I haven’t seen your other message but to me it sounds like you’re doing a great job!