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

Does anyone have a clever idea of how to get rid of a vape kits? I was given an entire pack of a vape, charger, starter pack, pods, spare charger and spare pods which would be worth around £100 or so. I don't smoke or vape. Can't sell it on eBay or local Facebook marketplace as it's against the rules. Don't want to put it on Freecycle as it's worth a bit of money and brand new, and also how do I ensure it goes to someone legally able to purchase? Don't want to accidentally give it to kids. Not quite sure how to get rid of it safely.

Can anyone suggest how to get rid of furniture that the charity shops won't take? I've got things that won't fit in the car and don't have the right fire labels for the charity furniture shops - I could leave them in the yard/street for council to take away, but then they'd be unusable so it seems such a waste. Thank you for any suggestions.

Freecycle is a good place to get rid of stuff.

Thank you - I'd completely forgotten about Freecycle x

Kardashianklone - what about Gumtree?

Morning everyone, is it ok if I join too?

I separated from my ex back in April and he had so much shit cluttering up the place, it was unreal. He would fill every available space with stuff and 'things that might come in useful'.
Which meant that all my stuff would get ruined or I would 'lose' stuff in my home. But would moan that I left my backpack on the floor! I've realised that this was because he saw it as space he would use!

Well now I've found stuff I've not seen for a good while, but unfortunately have replaced, so I guess those things can get charity shopped.

I have got rid of loads of bags of stuff, which is good, but I think I spent so long just putting my stuff in a box or bag to sort 'later', because there was never no where for my stuff.
So I guess I'm struggling with having some new found space, but wanting to make the most of that space! I have a slim filing cabinet I want to keep, which I'm hoping will be enough for mine and the dcs paperwork.

I still have some of the exes large pieces of furniture here, which will still be here for a while yet, but they are empty, so that is good!

I have plans to decorate the whole house, but that will have to be over a two or three year period.

Just yesterday I got rid of four rubbish sized bags to the charity shop.

Sorry for the essay!
And thank you if you have managed to read this far!

Welcome Curvy. Well done on such a good start.
Missed the recycling collection this morning (council website said it would be tomorrow) so stuck with a bag of wrapping paper. Luckily lots of other stuff went.
Cleaned DD's wardrobe put before putting her clothes back last night. I discovered a lot of outgrown footwear in there and lots of hangers too small for her clothes so they need to go.

Welcome newbies! Mumniscient (I think), 5 magazines is 5 outs in my book! And thanks for the (hug) Keiki. I know DS1 feeling he's moved out means we've done a good job of parenting an independent adult, but it does feel like I've blinked and my tiny boy of 18 months who grabbed my knees and shouted "where my tuttle?" (cuddle) has run away just as I was starting to get to know him as an adult.

But anyway. That's a bit heavy for a Tuesday.

I've been talking to DH about photos. We have 4 boxes of them. 3 are prints taken in the early 2000s when we were using actual film; the remaining box is prints from the late 19th / early 20th century that I think we must keep (although I have scanned them for preservation purposes). Trying to decide whether to scan all modern prints or fillet them first.

Ruud, Cletter, I think I'm going to join you in a running total, not including replaced items (although I might back track on that). I honestly can't say whether I'll reach 2020 items, but I shall count anyway. Backfilling a little bit... Since Christmas: 6 swords, a calendar, 19 books, 35 Christmas cards (do they count?), 1 knock-off boardgame that doesn't work. I make that 62/2020. It's a start! (Also replaceables, one umbrella, one pair of gloves, one pair of slippers). So 62+3/2020.

I love how productive everyone on here is being!

No tangible ‘outs’ yet today for me, but I am counting one intangible one - I’ve deleted my Instagram account. It feels like a biggie for me as I’ve had it for over 6 years and it’s been a massive drain on my time, not to mention not adding anything to my life, so it took a lot of willpower to do it!

Three used floating candles out already (used over this Christmas to the point that water now comes in at the bottom). Bought them... err... best guess is about 14 years ago!

Might hop onto this 2020 things then...

8/2020 gone so far

@Clettercletterthatsbetter hurrah for that sort of out. I got rid of Facebook in Jan 2018 and it's one of the best things I did - very strange for the first month, the occasional "fomo" but mainly really cathartic! I hope you get a similar feeling yourself.

@IWillWearTheGreenWillow ds1 moving out isn't the end - it's the beginning of a brand new relationship. Best of luck from me, and bravo for raising a self-sufficient child!

@CurvyInAllTheWrongPlaces sounds like one heck of a journey to make, getting your place back to being yours. Looking forward to updates!

@Momniscient getting rid of Facebook is on my to-do list for 2020. I’ve been saying I’m going to do it for a long time and this will be the year! I dread to think how many hours/days/weeks I’ve wasted on there over the past 14+ years!

@IWillWearTheGreenWillow (I love your user name) - you sound like a fab mum, your DS is obviously a very secure, happy ring man. What a credit to you.

Not a declutter a such but I've just had my hair cut from a long straggly head of hair to a short bob - about 8 inches off. There was a lot of hair on the floor! I did have a moment half way through when I was worried I was going to look like Blackadder in series 1 but once it was dried it looked fine.
Along with sorting my house I'm aiming to sort out myself a little meaning regular haircuts, a little bit of weightloss and wearing clothes that suit me rather than just throwing on the same thing every day.

young man - not ring man

Thanks for the welcomes!
I think I may join you in the running totals too, if that is ok?
Just now cleaning/clearing the bathroom and slim cupboard upstairs, 87 items!!
Most of that was half used make-up! When ex would clean, (it never really looked any different), well it has transpired that he would put my makeup, and hardly used makeup sponges in the cupboard! I just cannot believe the waste! He was bloody clever about it too, he would always leave just enough to make it look like I still had enough. Makes me feel really stupid!

Also threw out some leaking pens, broken stationery and some bags that were busted.
Just having a coffee break, then will go and do more and sort the linen cupboard!

Aww, thank you, you are all very kind.

Curvy, sounds like this might be quite cathartic for you, but don't feel stupid. If the ex was deliberately hiding stuff, you couldn't have known. It's not as if he said "I've tidied your make up into the cupboard" and you ignored that, is it?

Momniscient (sorry for wrong spelling earlier) and Cletter, I've dumped Instagram and am trying to extricate myself from fb, but I'm getting earache off my DM about missing what my siblings are doing. Also, does anyone know if I can delete fb but retain messenger?

I've got my declutter on this morning and there are now 85 (!) books in the utility room, roughly split between charity shop / my sister / try music magpie. I've cleared the living room left hand bookshelf so it can go to the top of the stairs...

Time to get dressed, walk the dog, have a coffee and have another go at the study and the music / playroom.

Getting rid of 2020 things in 2020
147+3/2020

That's true IWill, maybe if I wore makeup every day I would have noticed. Yes it will be very cathartic.
Also congratulations on raising a self sufficient young man, his future partner will thank you!
My eldest is 22 and is in her final year at uni, it kind of gets easier not having them at home.
Hugs x

@IWillWearTheGreenWillow yes you can make a messenger account linked to your mobile number (and not a FB account) but (from memory) you have to add everyone anew.

I started there (decluttered my "friends" in that way! If I couldn't ask them for a friend request then why were they there at all!) and then gradually moved everyone to WhatsApp. Still get the photos, the updates... less of the politics and scrolling!

Currently going through my CDs. Give me strength... Anyone know if there's anything I can do with CDs that aren't charity shop-able (so like self-created mix CDs etc)?

DH uses CDs like that as bird scarers round the peas! And to keep the squirrels off the bird food. Does that help at all?

One huge Christmas tree and a million pine needles have just left my house 👍

Decorations down, packed up for the loft when DH goes up there. I've dusted, hoovered and mopped the lounge so it's nice and back to normal.

Everyone's doing so well at the moment. Welcome to all the new people too!

We've got the house back now and are blitzing it to try to get back to normal-ish. We're doing another launderette run in a bit to clear about 6 big loads of washing. More outs including:

6 DVDs.
2 boxes.
More gift wrapping stuff.
A couple of cards.
An ornament which I've been debating for ages.
A pine cone.

I tried to get rid of another beach towel but DP didn't want to. He even suggested we could use it in the bathroom! (We really couldn't.)

I've moved the heirloom nearer to the door but still not decided.

I’m desperate to get rid of our Christmas tree and cards but dh doesn’t want to yet. I’ll do it on Friday.

We've taken down all of the decorations and I've been and blitzed DD's bedroom to make room for the gifts she received for Christmas. 7 bin bags later...! Feeling very accomplished today!

@Momniscient I’m not sure how old your kids are but could their/a local school make use of the CDs for craft projects?

More outs:

Some picnic bits.
A pair of man pants. (All man pants are now new or similar!)
A glasses cleaning cloth.
An unwanted present.

And, I've finally remembered to use up a sample of laundry liquid.