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

Annasgirl

Sounds like you have done an amazing job over the last few months.

when I do my wardrobe I take everything out and put it all on the bed, then clean the wardrobe which is usually fall of dust!! Then just go throw it it all one thing at a time I have found using the same hangers has helped as you can get so much more in.

I bought loads of hangers from primark not that expensive, it looks more like a rail in a shop now instead of paddy’s market.

Also I’m more realistic about the size of the stuff I keep have thrown out anything that was to small I’m never going to be a size 10 again.

Have also sorted out the chest drawers in the bedroom all gym stuff together, all nightwear together, all t.shirts together. Have folded them like a filing cupboard. It’s all so much more easy.

I think that maybe decluttering is like losing weight the last bit is always the hardest.

That drawer is a thing of beauty, @nanalisa60! You inspired me to refold mine, which is now looking much better.

No real outs today except 2 pairs of socks past their best. I've also found 4 pairs of earrings to offer to DS2, but they're not out yet.

Wardrobe pull out, check and refold is on my list. I don't fit into most of it at the moment but I can't yet give up hope that I might someday.

Sorted through a large carrier bag of DP's paperwork. 2" into recycling, 1" for shredding and 1" retained.

I've been through a kitchen drawer. I've cleaned it and been through everything in there. It's my big knives and big spoons (etc) drawer and it turns out, I really do use most of it. I am getting rid of the handle from the bar-b-q which is ugly and bulky hasn't been used for ages. There are several large knives which could possibly go but I'm not sure yet. I've moved one into my cutlery drawer to see if we use it from there.

I've also cooked up and eaten the leftover Christmas chestnuts which have been sitting on the side, so that's clear now.

Tricky week because of the usual treadmill of work and kids But I managed a very swift 9 items of smallest pickles clothing to the charity bag when I got irritated putting the washing away. He’s got more clothes than he needs so it was easy to pull out a few less favourite bits which always seem to be overlooked.

Friday is my day, I get 2.5 hours child free so hopefully I can catch up a bit tomorrow.

Today, I will be decluttering DS1 and all his washing back to Uni. The CF "popped out" to the pub with his home mates last night, saying "could you put a wash on? It's on my floor" as he left... 3 full washes later, I'm still drying it all this morning. Little herbert. However, I can't send him back with it dirty as I know he won't do it when he gets there and I want him to at least start the term clean and comfortable!

Once he's gone back, I can start moving things around and clear his things off the landing shelves into his room, then shuffle the bookshelves I cleared last week.

Still stalled at 373/2020.

I fold clothes like nana does. It’s a revaluation and I’d never go back. Even my underwear is like that. I’ve been keeping it up for a couple of years or so too.

Re running totals, if you get rid of say 20 bits of clothing do you count it as 20 for each bin or 1 as one type of thing?

2 items of clothing out today

Total 286/2020

Willow that’s annoying. Hope he appreciates it!

Reastie - It can be tricky to know how to count things sometimes. I think I would count most clothing by item (1 dress, 1 pair of jeans etc). That said, now I think of it, I count socks as 1 sock or 1 pair which doesn't make much sense but there you go!

My get up and go got up and left, if anyone finds it whilst decluttering, do send it back to me asap, I’m unlikely to come across it myself as I appear to be mostly wandering aimlessly around the house feeling tired and achieving very little.

Finally done a bit today.
15 things out from the bathroom
2 from my bedside drawer
145/2020

Happy belated birthday to the birthday twins!

I have done nothing all week due to work, children, life. I have today free though so have spent it putting away the laundry mountain and decluttering the dc bedroom. So far, 2bags ready for charity shop, a few bits on eBay and a pile of paper into recycling. Also 1 old toddler pillow into the bin. Why oh why was I keeping that?!

While tidying I’ve been listening to decluttering TED talks on eBay to keep me motivated. Just stopped for lunch and back into it now. The volume of stuff in my house is crazy, superficially it looks ok but getting into it the stuff is just endless!

@PickledLilly I often find my get up and go has been tidied away somewhere...normally I can remember where I left it after a day or two of rest. Frothy coffee and a KitKat are my method this morning. I'm still calling it morning because I only got up two hours ago

@YuleAreBeingUnREASTIEable I'd count things as things, not by categories. So a letter of five pages would still be one letter - one page would only have been part of it IYSWIM.

--

Five outs today... Two deodorants I have had for about seven years and don't use because they're awful, and three almost finished body lotions... which I also don't use and have had for too long. One was a Christmas gift approximately eleven years ago... ho hum. They've been the same level of "almost finished" as when I moved three years ago. Out they go!

155/2020

Trip to bank and dropped another charity bag off as well - some of the cookbooks, DVDs, some bedding and a candle gifted at Christmas that I will never burn. Few bits gone out from medicine drawer as expired. Realised we need some plasters as we seem to have only the small dot ones that are too small to be useful in!

reastie I have given up counting because while it's great to see how well I do I realised I never finish anything but always count things so it feels like I'm doing well. Having said that if I were you I'd have gone for 20

I have spent this morning tidying my bedroom. I have one binbag of recycling so far and moved lots of other stuff around the house - unwritten greetings cards, wrapping paper, millions of pens, packets of seeds, the instructions for the TV sandandsea, lots of wires and old electronics. I have been testing the wires trying to work out what they belong to. Anyway this is going to be a long job so I think I'm having a break now until Monday. My boyfriend is coming over this weekend, might shove all the mess back (aghhh that's how I got in this state!)

You know what you need, Stealth? Some nice boxes!

Well done on finding the TV manual.

Nothing has actually gone out the door today. Put something for sale on Gumtree. Couple more items in charity bag which I now need to take to a shop as it's full.

Major declutter to-day - all old bath toys of DS gone in bin. Also remains of Christmas food (biscuits, sweets and cake that had gone stale in tins) in compost bin. House is gleaming (I'm having visitors so very motivated).

At home today and toddler quite happy playing so did some bits in the kitchen when making lunch etc - few bits thrown out of a drawer and cleared the bottom of a cupboard some weird chilli oils we haven’t touched since we moved in and a marmite bbe 04/10.. the one on the go in the next door cupboard is in date for a few more years so that can stay instead and sorted the bits I’ve been finding during the clearing for my mum into one bag to give her tmrw...

Another charity bag has appeared through the door despite only putting one out yesterday might give filling it a go for Monday!

I wish someone would put a charity bag though my door! I’ve got one of those massive Ikea bags overflowing with things to take but haven’t got round to actually dropping it off anywhere.

Although I didn’t declutter today, I did do a load of boring standard jobs like bringing in wood for the fire, cleaning bathrooms and doing laundry so not a total waste. The trouble with my house is theres so much to do as it’s a renovation project that it’s all a bit overwhelming. If it was just clutter to tidy it would be a lot easier!

How does everyone actually get the stuff to the charity shop?
Mine tends to sit in the car for months in bags

@moglovesmincepies ...honestly, DP does it for me at the weekends, otherwise I get emotional handing over the bags!

Me too @moglovesmincepies - DH and I are doing a combined tip and charity shop run tomorrow because you can't park outside the shop and so it often takes two people to do it.

Having started the year well with my outs I've stalled and the house is a mess downstairs because I'm having a new kitchen and half of it has been emptied into boxes which are stacked in the dining room. There's lots of ins in big boxes standing around waiting to be fitted (oven hob microwave extractor etc) and god knows where the kitchen units are going to go when they're delivered. I know that once it's all fitted I'll be putting it all away and sorting out each box and dumping stuff but it's going to be a few weeks yet. It will be worth it when it's done though. In the meantime I feel like we're living in squalor 😁

Thanks @IWillWearTheGreenWillow @Momniscient
Looks like dh will be busy in the morning