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

Went through my spare toiletries and found another small shampoo and shower gel to go in the bathroom. I still have sever years worth of moisturizers and soaps

This evening I have mostly been repotting orchids. Couldn't finish off as I can't find the other potting medium, I'm sure I have a bag somewhere that I'll find somewhere unexpected once my new order arrives!

I can't sleep again so am up and doing things. I've got the DW and WM on and I've been tidying round.

Outs:
A mis-matched jar and lid.
A spatula (which died today).
A bra.

I've probably got some more random tupperware-type stuff to go but I need to make sure they really are all odds first. A couple of the lids go with quite nice bottoms which can't really have disappeared... can they? It's especially weird as I sort them out quite regularly.

Sand, has your DP been repurposing them? Every time I find a serious mismatch of number of lids and pots, I go round the bedrooms and find pots full of screws (DH), ink cartridges and earrings (DS1), old junk (DS2) and lego (DD and DS3)!

Really hoping to do the charity shop and tip run this morning, but have been warned off any further decluttering this weekend by DH. I've totally crashed and burned in the last 2 days and have not been coping with anything and bursting into tears over nothing multiple times a day. I think it's just the final end of the stress of Christmas and everyone being back to normality so I can put it down. Hoping normal service will be resumed on Monday.

New bookshelf arrived yesterday and old one has been hoofed up into dds room.

Put 8 books for charity shop.

Sorry to hear you are feeling low willow
Hopefully you will have a restful weekend and feel better soon.

I can’t see me doing much decluttering this weekend.
We’re going out for lunch with my mum later and tomorrow we might be picking up a rescue puppy - if my previous experience is anything to go by puppies destroy so much stuff it will be a natural declutter!

Even though I'm still on holiday for another week I've managed to sell a twin pram that's been taking up space in my garage.

Decluttering 2020 items in 2020 has begun

1/2020

Good start there, bunkerlife, that's big win in terms of space!

Apols for self-pity earlier, I have dispatched DH to the tip & charity shop and to collect DS2 on the way back, and am applying @bluewavescrashing's Patented Restorative Hot Bath And A Chocolate Orange. Except I don't have a chocolate orange, so I'm being forced to make do with Green & Black's 85% Dark Chocolate. Oh woe is me. Willowhound is lying on the bathmat, making sure I am safe.

This afternoon, I'm going to do some consolidating in DS1's room so we can use it as a work space and spare bedroom (with his permission) and get his stuff off the landing bookshelf. We've not had a spare bedroom since he was 5, so this is quite exciting!

A hot bath sounds like a very good idea, Willow. Take it easy today if you can.

Tbh, it's usually me who repurposes them but thanks for the reminder; I've just found a bottom! I was using it to catch drips off a jar. (Another was a soap dish recently - they're so useful.)

Just bagged up two Bin bags worth of toot toot, bought second hand last year for littlest pickle and played with approximately twice. I’ve listed it for sale (cheap!) three times on local Facebook selling group and not had any interest so it’s joining the now enormous pile to go to the charity shop.

I am finding it difficult to muster any enthusiasm for decluttering (or, indeed, doing anything) today.

I’ve found a tube of face mask to ditch. It was a gift from a friend but it doesn’t suit my skin - I’ve tried it a couple of times but it makes me feel like my face is on fire!

Total 185/2020

Four more things for me today - a bag I don't like and never use and a few odds and ends from a drawer. The bag was a gift so I had kept it out of guilt but I've decided it's better to give it to the charity shop and let someone else enjoy it.

Two more and I hit 300 which would be good.

I know it's only 11 days into the year but I am making a real effort at keeping the areas that I have sorted tidy. I really don''t want to make all this effort and it not to have an impact.

Although I haven't decluttered much today I have put lots of stuff away where it should be so the conservatory (which is a real dumping ground) looks a lot clearer.
Running total 298/2020

sand that would annoy me. I have various boxes for things and I hate it when a child or exh decides to store something in the box without the lid.

greenwillow sorry to that, I hope you’re able to relax this weekend.

bunkerlife getting rid of a big item is a fantastic start.

I wasn’t intending to declutter but I have found myself going through a shoe box of stuff. It had 20 items of jewellery that are going in the car to the charity shop. I sorted it out months ago but it didn’t leave the house. I have added bits from another box of jewellery and thrown out some buttons and hooks that go on clothes. I also have a shallow drawer in my dressing table that is specifically for jewellery but is full of crap. I am intending to quickly empty that and put jewellery in it. Overall I think i’m DOIng well in terms of finding permanent homes for things but I can see lots of paperwork that needs to be filed and leads and wires.

Has a bit of a strop with DP today as he doesn't seem to get that I want to live without clutter and he has filled the hallway with stuff.
Out-old lightshade from DD's room but it has been replaced.

Have missed a few days here but have been dramatically decluttering. Biggest things I’m getting shot of are my 6 seater dining table which has been a clutter collection point for years! And a giant doll house that takes up too much space. My DD wants a smaller one and I am happy to do the trade!

Still have a long way to go and may have lost count A bit but so far I’m 403/2020 if not more.

The kitchen cupboards have been getting done one at a time, during cooking dinner. Rather than sitting on my bum I’ve been decluttering.

So much has gone out today. A whole bag of random electrical leads for nobody knows what, a whole kindling bucket full of paperwork, a pile of books to charity, all sorts of crap. I’ve been like a woman possessed.

Added another of those candles I'm not sure about to the charity bag. Also pulled 3 dresses out of the wardrobe and into the charity bag. Looked into my makeup box and binned one dried out nail varnish, one dried out eye liner and one dried out cover up.

Despite saying I probably wouldn’t have time this weekend I am really getting into decluttering my bedroom. I have 17 handbags out on my bed. I am emptying them, finding stamps, old train tickets, receipts, makeup, pens - all stuff I need to home or chuck. I have easily discarded 3 evening bags as I rarely go out but I like the 14 others. I have had my colours done so in theory they all suit me and my wardrobe. I might invite a friend round to give me their opinion on which to get rid of because surely no one needs 14 bags? How many bags do the rest of you have?

@stealthninjamum oh far more than 14. They may get decluttering but not to below 14, that’s my thing.. some people have shoes or make up but I have a handbag collection.. one for every occasion, and all of you lots occasions too I’m sure...

@stealthninjamum On the bag count, it depends what you mean, really. I have:

5 handbags
1 satchel (what I use for work if I don't have a job that requires lugging a laptop about)
2 rucksacks (one huge one for hiking and then my work/normal laptop bag one)
2 "overnight" bags (you know, "holdall" types you could fit two dressing gowns in)
3 special sports bags (one for each sport I do, weird shapes & pockets for equipment)
2 special shoe bags for if I go back to dancing

So overall, 15. But I think you meant actual handbags, so... 5 or 6 depending if you count the satchel!

Only because I'm picky as anything, and actually I'd rather have a couple more of them, but the ones I like are nowhere near my price range! I currently use my rucksack whenever I'm going out, not any of the handbags. Not happy about that, but that's where I am.

I say keep the bags if they make you happy and if you actually use them! Numbers mean nothing, really.

I have many, many bags. Probably nearer 50 but not all handbags. 98% of them barely get used but I like them all.

I have 3 bags. A baby changing bag (rucksack), a small black handbag for going out (not that that ever really happens) and a larger black handbag for daytimes when I don’t need to lug so much kid stuff about.

I have to say, I don’t find I’m lacking in anything bag-wise. If/when I go back to work I’ll use the larger of the two black bags for the office.

I have one black handbag & 1 small rucksack for gym or trips. Occasionally I crave a mulberry bag but waiting for the lottery win before I get one

If bags are your thing then makes sense to keep the ones you love, I think.

2 more bags for the bin from dc bedroom today, and 1 bag for charity shop. Their room looks better now, but still too much stuff in there. I’ll get about an hour for decluttering again tomorrow. Ha e to say, the house does feel lighter and fresher already.

I think I’ve got four bags - 3 leather handbags, and a rucksack (not counting luggage). The rucksack gets the most use as it’s the one I use when I’m out with DD. I’m thinking about taking one of the leather bags to the charity shop as it doesn’t go with anything I wear. I’m not really a fashion person , so that suits me fine!

Wow I didn’t expect such varied responses. I don’t feel like 14 is such a high number now. I think I have one rucksack for holidays but probably need a bigger one. I suppose I was wondering if I need 13 everyday bags but I do like them all. They’re all smartish leather, not high end but suit my style and colours, I am just wondering if some of them are maybe old fashioned. I do have a beautiful one I bought for half price in John Lewis a year ago and haven’t used so I might make an effort to change them more often and empty them!

Stealth - To me, that's a large amount of bags. But, maybe it's your thing to have bags? (One of mine is books.)

I have 2 special occasion bags (weddings, black tie etc) which are very different from each other so suit different outfits.

I also have 3 relatively 'everyday' bags. 2 of these can be good for going out too. 2 are good for travelling. I've been considering getting rid of one of the 3 as it's not quite right, but I have mixed feelings about it and DP always says he really likes it on me.

All of these bags are quite small or lie flat, so they don't take up much room.