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

Good progress going on here. I’m trying to sort out dds desk which is filled with so much junk. She just puts used bits of paper she doesn’t want in there rather than putting it in the bin right next to the desk. Sometimes I truly despair. I’m still at the stage of everything looking dire before it gets better. Have another bag of charity stuff though and loads heading for the lift which dd has outgrown but we are keeping for Ds which I kmow strictly speaking isn’t getting rid of but it is clearing space visually in the house iykwim.

Another 34 things out - mostly ancient cosmetics, out of date creams/ointments and a couple of unwanted gifts.

Embarrassingly when I was sifting through stuff to throw I found lots of 'lost' things that I had misplaced. This included a lovely pair of earrings that I was given for Christmas about two years ago (still in their box), some expensive soap that I treated myself to and lots of aromatherapy oils - I was just about to order some on Amazon so I could use my Christmas present diffuser and now I don't need to.

I've also managed to put masses of stuff away where it belongs. I know that sounds ridiculous but a big part of my problem is I'm not naturally tidy so things end up in the wrong place and then they can't be found when they are needed.
Our house doesn't look especially cluttered or untidy but lurking in every cupboard or drawer is a mish mash of stuff, some useful, some not, some broken, some unidentifiable but nearly all not where it belongs.

My aim is to clear 2020 things from my house in 2020 - approximately 6 things each day.

Running total 119/2020

I just can’t seem to do much while the kids are off. I have set the timer twice today for 30 min s while dh gets two of the boys haircut.

Dd is painting crafts. Makes me itch with the mess but I bought it for over Re her. More fool me.

Ds16 wanted to open a bank account yesterday. I Couldn’t find his birth certificate! Made a right mess too looking for it!

Bought more things I don’t need in the sales, so I must make room for that. I’m beyound help 🤪

Ruud I’m the same - definitely not naturally tidy. Everything usually looks ok (ish. This was pre baby anyway) but open cupboards and it’s not! Dh is very tidy which I’m very grateful for.

I’m struggling in dds room to find where to store random stuff she wants that doesn’t fit in to any specific category I can keep it in. I just don’t know where to put it. Maybe a —junk— bits and bobs drawer? What do you all do with miscellaneous children tat?

Hello everyone - sorry I'm crap at tagging on my phone!

Not much today so very much clutching at straws, got 4 new tyres on the car, but they are replacements so don't count... exchanged a Christmas gift, so that doesn't count.

Christmas decs all packaged and upstairs ready for loft.

Did collect a bag of paper odds and sods from around the house earlier so it's always something I suppose.

Wow everyone is being productive! Really want to get going but I can't right now with the kids around. Next Wednesday I can get cracking.

I'm not naturally tidy either Rudd and Yule, but living in complete chaos before, with ex and not be able to find something that I only left "over there" for a few days is enough to make me be more accountable, so I'm hoping that everything will have a place to 'live'.
Outs today 163, admittedly about 40 of those were dd2 hair ties that somehow got covered in slime, found them hiding behind the toilet roll in the bathroom, luckily toilet roll was unharmed!

So 163/2020, might be some more later too, once I've sorted the other cupboard.

I've cleared out what can only be described as my corner of crap. Lots of paperwork, bits of sewing, stuff, which needed repairing... all kind of dumped there to be dealt with later. I've repaired a few of the bits, got rid of unnecessary paperwork and put everything back in its place.

Tomorrow is the big one in my room.

Another 2 magazines
4 colour swatch leaflets (counting as one)
1 (empty) box that came with cake samples. First "sentimental" item to go
47 DVDs and 1 boxset (which I'm counting even though they're going to the great big eBay box in the sky, because if they don't sell I'll charity shop them)

And, my proudest today...a stack of 361 paint chips I do not ever need. Which I think I'm counting as one. I've had these since I first moved in three years ago and I don't really need them. They've been hiding in a cupboard as "secret clutter" for years. They've done their purpose for me.

Currently decluttering some bags of crisps with DP while we watch some hoarder/Marie Kondo based TV to make us feel better

Am only counting my own outs but DP had a wardrobe sort out too. Quite a pile of less-loved t-shirts to go out soon!

63/2020

Meant to add, yes we have a drawer of random child toys - Mcdonalds toys, pompoms, marbles, spinning tops and the like. Every now and the I go through it and bin stuff.

Happy new decluttered year!
Even though it’s NYD I think I might try to address something today, but not in a stressy, must get done way. There is a mystery carrier bag sitting beside my rocking chair that I might investigate. The top has been carefully tied, so I haven’t been able to peek.

Calendar for 2019 is in the bin. 2020’s is up.

Have also just decided to ditch a jar of lazy garlic because it was stinking out my fridge. So that will be our today. Once I decide how to get rid without it stinking everything up.

Calendar for 2019 is in the bin. 2020’s is up

SUCH. A. GOOD. FEELING.

I gave away a nutcracker last year that we’ve had for years and never used. Lo and behold, someone has given us a bag of nuts over Christmas! Wish I’d kept it now!

Yesterday Emptied and decluttered bedside table drawer. It fills up with stuff I tidy way over about 6 months and an awful job as lots of bits to rehome
Also decluttered an admin cupboard - searching for something I didn't find
I have a newly broken z bed that will be put in car for tip tomorrow along with a single mattress and a plastic tub of concrete
A small pile for charity and sorted for rag

Will do Xmas cards today

another lurker here, fully ready to join the thread now.

fully certain that I can reach the 2020 things out in 2020.
already taken a bag full of DS's clothes to the charity shop - going to tackle my wardrobe and drawers this morning. As someone who saves everything just in case this could take a while.

Wondering777 that kind of thing happens to me! I’m at the point of thinking the space all these things combined will give us after they’ve gone is worth the rare annoyance of not having something you coukd have kept.

2 hours this morning on moving dds room/going through EVERYTHING she owns to organise it and getting rid of a board game she doesn’t want, some tights, and some bits for the bin. Hoping to finish her room today if at all possible. Progress is slow but tangible.

We still have to sort out DD's stuff before it goes back in her room. It's mostly in the lounge right now so not ideal. Dropping off a large item this morning so that can be one out.
I'm doing a volunteer shift, DP has man flu and DD won't do it alone so doubt much will get done today.

Happy New Decade!

Feeling quite hopeful and positive this morning, despite getting stuck in a loop of NY Resolutions last night that I was drowning in (you know the sort of thing... If I give up coffee, sugar, grains and alcohol, walk 3 miles a day, do an exercise video every day, clean every day, work every day while also decluttering, build a homeschool timetable, support the children in a more structured way, help DH reach his goals, support DM and FIL, be more environmentally friendly, be a good dog owner, totally automate the running of the house and medical appointments, restructure financially, redecorate myself at no cost because my time is free, make my own clothes from the fabric stash, knit socks, embroider beautiful things, read improving books, just be 10% better at everything... I'll need 48 hours in a day and never sleep!).

Hello to all newbies and ex-lurkers, good to have you here! I've written a massive 2020 brain dump of Stuff That Needs Doing (ranging from make a pie for tea to redecorate study), had two cups of caffeinated coffee (very rare for me) and am about to get going.

I had a few more outs to count yesterday - DD broke a shoe lace as she was going out, so I've sorted the shoe stuff basket at the bottom of the stairs. Paired all the loose shoe laces and put out 5 elderly packets of tissues, a dried up pack of wet wipes, a random plastic thingy and a nerf gun bullet. Returned a lego ninjago man to his rightful home. Last night we decluttered a bottle of wine and a bottle of fizz in the name of New Year, and I'm counting those as outs because they won't be replaced in January at least. So that's ten more things yesterday!

Plans for today include more book filleting and hopefully getting the small bookshelf to the top of the stairs and the big bookshelves out. Also I need to write a list of all the books we already have that I want to read and see if it's practical to do so! Suspect it will be about 3 years long!

Shoot, forgot the total.

Decluttering 2020 things in 2020
157+3/2020

omg, 2020 in 2020? That's 39/week, or 5-6 per day. I wish... but is fantasy. --off for a country walk that may finally wear out some old jeans

Also - old phone sold on music magpie. So that’ll be boxed up and put in the post tomorrow.

The spare double pram has gone! Woohoo! My dining room looks a little better already. Still much to do but ‘decluttered’ rather a lot of beer out of the fridge last night so taking it slow today.

Yay the plastic storage box of doom that's been blocking the hallway for at least a month is finally emptied into the black and blue bins. It's still in the hall but at least it's empty !!! That's huge progress. Not much kept as I emptied it either.

Kept seeing these threads and wanted to join, but kept putting it off. I'm aiming to start today though. My first item to go will be my old diary, and then some empty toiletries bottles I still have in the bathroom for some reason.

I should maybe direct my DM here, but she's a hoarder and won't accept she needs help...