Decluttering one thing a day part 10 - the countdown to a clutter free Christmas

[StealthNinjaMum]

It’s the 10th thread and we’re still here!

We’re a group of mumsnetters who aim to get rid of one thing a day to develop good habits and gradually declutter our lives.

Newbies are welcome, those of us who’ve been here for some time have all seen dramatic improvements in our homes, the way we organise ourselves and even mental health. So if you’re new just check in and update with your progress and join in the general chat about recycling, housework and ways to be organised.

Previous thread here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3711883-Decluttering-one-thing-a-day-Part-9?pg=1

Willow - I was watching on YouTube. The series is called Hoarding Buried Alive. These 2 are both tough to watch but get the message home:

(Don't watch them if you can't stand creepy crawlies.)

Wow, you guys! There's so much activity on here today! It sounds like you're all doing really well.

Welcome, @FizzWiz!

00s hard house is music?? I never would have guessed that.

Willow - I used to have a few piles of newspapers and professional mags so I understand the difficulty. Either, chuck them straight or, sit and look at them by turning each page and scanning it with your eyes for a few seconds (eg. 3 seconds) a page. Give yourself a few minutes to do the whole lot. Trust that this is enough to spot anything you might need, then put them in the recycling.

I really doubt you need them. Have you ever needed to refer to them in all the time you've had them? If you put them in the garage/shed and they got rained on, what would happen then? Would you need to try to save them or bin them?

I started watching those shows the other day and got lost in a loop of “how clean is your house?”

Whilst I understand that hoarding is an illness a lot of people are just dirty. The last episode of HCIYH I watched the mother freely admitted she was lazy and just didn’t like cleaning.

Well the charity stuff is at the charity shop and I've been to the tip with the rest after some drama with the car that won't work. The dining table is still a mess despite on going clearing. I need to clean the bathroom and wrap the presents. Running out of days.

Can I join your thread please? I've been lurking for the last few weeks. I've actually been doing well after reading your updates every day - very motivating.
@IWillWearTheGreenWillow I have exactly the same problem. I've been leaving one out every day on the kitchen counter and flicking through while waiting for the kettle, washing machine etc. As they're out of date there's not much point me looking for stuff to buy in them so win win!

Some Xmas presents went out today. But an equal number came in!

Have temporarily decluttered two thirds of the children to grandparents overnight so the plan is to get on with wrapping presents tonight. Unfortunately the remaining third is 17 months old and a force of destruction who scorns sleep, so it’s debatable how much will actually get done. Last year he just lay under the Christmas tree and gazed at all the lights, this year he’s ripping them off and kicking baubles around . No real outs today, just little scraps, but it all builds up

Many thanks for the welcome ! Today went quite well (for me) in the end, I can now see most of the top of the coffee table, save for a remote for a toy drone which I've never used and a random free packet of flower seeds. Oh and a wee pile of post it notes with info that I need to copy onto something more permanent.
I've recycled a big pile of newsletters and magazines left over from the last time I tackled the post pile back in spring. Like sandandsea says I ended up skimming and binning just to get through them quicker. Stuff from sept 2018 I figured would be too late to be relevant anymore.
Spent a bit of time cleaning some kitchen scales ready for the charity shop. We never used them and took up space on the worktop. Unfortunately they were by the hob so had greasy gobs of goo on them, so I got busy with jif and kitchen spray, came up nice and shiny in the end. Missed the charity shop closing so they are in the hall ready to go.
Old broadband router had been hanging around since last year is now boxed up and ready to return to supplier, I looked up their WEEE policy online for the address. Reused some old amazon packing to do so, so that's more out the door, happy days.
Best part of the day was eating the packet of fizzwiz that had been sat on the coffee table since my birthday in May that inspired my username, crickey that stuff is fizzy as f !
Many thanks for the pointers and advice, I will have a look. That one for 'homes for things' particularly. I pick things up to tidy then don't really know where their home should be, so put them back down again.
I've got the mezzanine level of the coffee table to clear next. Probably some crap that can go straight out, but there is an old laptop there that I need to get shot of. I'm worried about the data on it tho, I've got everything I need off it, but would like to wipe it before I recycle, any ideas anyone ?

Welcome, @northernstars!

@FizzWiz - I'm sure someone will be along with the details of a reputable company which can recycle your computer. But, if you're cautious like me, you could drill the hard drive.

A successful day for me. I sorted out my Rainbow Guide stuff that was cluttering up the hall and got rid of a whole stack of magazines that I had been keeping on the promise that I would eventually read them. Well some were several years old and some were still in their wrapper so out all the magazines went ... if I haven't read them by now I really wasn't going to get round to it was I!

Two Tupperware tubs out today. They are DMs and she took them home with her after babysitting last night. (We got home after midnight and she left at around 1230 so I’m counting it as today’s out!)

Wrapping and another roll of paper finished last night. Bathroom to clean today.

Hi @northernstars ! Glad it's not just me with magazines, I shall try the one-a-day method. I'm thinking it might buy me 15 minutes quiet a day over Christmas! Well done on finding the coffee table, @fizzwiz.

No real outs yesterday, but DH has noticed how clear our bedroom is and commented positively, so hopefully it will stick! Off in a minute to walk the dog and shift the last 3 local Christmas cards, so they can count for today!

Happy decluttering.

sandandsea I’ve decided not to tidy the mess I made away. Years ago I would’ve shoved all the papers in a bag or a box and had a tidy dining room but I never would’ve gone back to them. These days I would rather have a ’temporary’ messy pile that I hate the look of and I know that after Xmas I’ll get back to it. We’ve now got 3 days of socialising, then a small family Christmas at home and I think spending time with my children on their first xmas without a dad is probably more important than decluttering. Anyway I hope your tidying is going well. I have no family coming over which is probably why I’m feeling more laid back than usual.

Which channel is Hoarders on? I think I will watch it if I get a moment.

Welcome PaulHollywoodsSexGut - it sounds like you’ve made a good start even with toddlers.

ememem84 what lovely relatives you have. That kind of clutter is lovely.

Welcome fizzwiz I laughed at your cumin stash! It is so easy to shop without a list and pick up something like that in the supermarket because it’s useful. I’m like that with vinegar and olive oil - I fear running out yet have lots. And well once on the coffee table.

ememem84 I used to love How Clean is Your House? but from memory (I haven’t seen it since it was on TV) lots was about hoarding. It is more enjoyable (and quicker) to clean when you have less clutter.

Welcome northernstars. Keep coming back and updating us, it’s weirdly satisfying hearing about other people’s rubbish!

Few small wins today, some more clothes and shoes in the charity bag, some random bits of paper and rubbish gone, 2019 calendar that was never used as DP has a habit of buying me two every Christmas have preempted this year but buying my own and telling him under no circumstances to buy me one. Small victories but every little makes a difference.

Can i join you? We have so much "stuff" in our house and it's becoming overwhelming. DH moans that the house is too small, but it really isn't, we just need to be ruthless. We will never find the time to do a large scale clear out, so little and often is my only hope.

Hi all, inspiring thread, thanks!

Question: how do you know if your clutter is too much? I have a display of ornaments and knick knacks in my kitchen for example. It takes up about half the window ledge and doesn’t get in the way of cooking or storing other stuff. As a collection of things I think it does “spark joy”, as Marie Kondo would say. But on the other hand, it’s just stuff that I don’t use or need. Any advice?

Welcome, @DropZoneOne & @wondering7777!

Wondering - It's entirely up to you. That said, I think this is where the Kondo method falls down, as we could all fill our homes to bursting point with things which, individually, spark joy. If you're not sure, maybe focus on decluttering other things for now and come back to these ornaments later? (My experience has been that things like this look more like clutter, the more decluttering you do.)

I gave away some new tinsel that I'd bought for DDs school project but she didn't use. Listed on local facebook, it was collected an hour later! So that's my thing for today 😁

I've also got a small bag of clothes from one of my bedroom drawers, but need to find a clothing bank that isn't already full - will try the skip tomorrow.

Really want to tackle the kitchen before going back to work on the 7th. It's things like cocktail shakers, old plastic drinks bottles, ancient tupperware - i don't really want to landfill but can this type of plastic be recycled at all?

Hello dropzoneone and wondering7777

wondering7777 to me clutter is something that gets in the way of me being efficient or quick. I have lots of storage so always had places to put things without my house looking desperately messy but would waste hours looking for things and didn't really know what I had.

In your case I would say that if your ornaments spark joy and don't get in the way cooking (and you don't mind cleaning them) then keep them. I am actually slightly obsessed in that I love having uncluttered window ledges so I would be tempted to put a shelf up for them just to have a clear window ledge but that's just my preference. As sandandsea says you can come back to them and you might find that your taste changes and at a later date you don't like them so much. I have recently gone through my xmas decorations and there are some I don't like anymore so they are in a pile to be given to my ex husband!

Thanks so much for the advice!

That said, I think this is where the Kondo method falls down, as we could all fill our homes to bursting point with things which, individually, spark joy.

Interesting! That is what I’ve tried to do since moving to my new home - to fill it with beautiful and useful things I love. I suppose the key is to only fill as much space as you actually have - my bookshelves are now full for example, so I won’t be buying any more books now (or if I do, one of my current books will have to go to make way for the new one).

@StealthNinjaMum yes that sort of clutter is lovely. They are so generous. Last year ds was givensome lovely wooden puzzles.

They brought him a stuffed toy kangaroo koala and platypus when they visited in the summer. They live in Australia.

HCIYH was crazy wasn’t it. I often wondered why people would want their houses shown on tv.... the one that stuck in my mind was the house which belonged to a cleaner....

I’d love to know what everyone’s criteria is for decluttering - how do you decide whether to keep something or chuck it out, and how long does it take you to make a decision?

Welcome to the newbies! Just back from a few days away. Came back armed with Christmas presents mostly for DD. Hopefully nothing which causes clutter.....

Sadly no outs for a few days. Food shop tomorrow morning so that will be more ins.
We are hoping to decorate DD's room over the holidays so that should help declutter some things.