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

Another 6 exercise books going out.

Sold a toy for my daughter and recycled our 2019 calendar today. Not much at all

Just one thing today taking me up to 346/2020 - glad I made a flying start when I was off work so I can slow down on working days.

Had a proper go through the tupperware drawer and the lids that were loose in the garage today. 4 damaged boxes out and 27 (27!) lids that didn't fit anything. And the drawer now closes properly.

524/2020

My favourite ‘out’ this week is the bastarding phonics bus, most annoying toy known to man which had seemed almost indestructible until a child dropped the toy till on it from a height. It still plays all its very, very annoying songs but the broken bit of plastic on the top now ‘sadly’ renders it unsafe for little fingers so it’s off to the bin

No outs in the last couple of days but as a few went earlier in the week am on target. Am going to get DD to go through some books at the weekend which will go to charity shops. Got some partly used science and craft sets she no longer wants and am wondering if I should Freecycle them as there's still use in them.

Few small outs today, crappy plastic McDonald’s type toys and a cycle helmet which belonged to the biggest pickle and should theoretically fit smallest pickle except he has a giant head like a bowling ball and it won’t go on his head. Feel bad landfilling it but the charity shops don’t take them.

Outs so far today are 2 rusty cake tins and 1 t-shirt.

I'm not doing the '2020 4 2020' thing but, I counted up all my outs so far this year (I keep a list) and it turns out I'm averaging 5 a day, which I'm quite pleased with.

Just shredded last years desk diart ( slightly bigger than A4 size)

Also loaded some kitchen wares into the car , checked the opening times of the Charity Shop, drove down with DS.........it was shut .

Had to bring it all back home .

Outs today--ancient face cream and peppermint tea which is 2 years out of date.

70 that's annoying. I've got 3 big bags for charity in my car and need to drop it off but no time yet this week.

I'm trying to declutter my sofa to a new home. My parents are giving me their nice posh old sofa. I'm
Having trouble rehoming it as the cat has savaged part of the sofa with his claws. Surely there is someone who needs a sofa? Any suggestions?

Now up to 153/2020 having chucked out some more odds and sods, including crappy McDonalds toys like PickledLilly, the rubbish not-really-fit-for-purpose bag which all the Hoover attachments came in, and 3 sticks (DD2 is a bit of a collector and falls in love with random twigs and rocks which end up in the strangest places). I also managed to repurpose another bag for the Hoover bits rather than chucking it, so that's a win.

Lots of other outs this weekend as we're replacing the double bed that the DDs currently sleep in with bunk beds, but I can't really count them as everything is being replaced, and in some cases twice - one bed frame out, one bed frame in, but one mattress out, two mattresses in etc). They used to have the old double bed linen sets I had years ago, but now they need new single duvet sets (and duvets!), my mum has sent some bottom sheets and mattress protectors - stuff stuff stuff! I am trying to think of it as the storm before the calm and just deep breathe a lot and keep repeating "Work in progress" over and over again....

SheepSocks - something like this, if there's one near you?

emmaus.org.uk/what-we-do/recycling/

Calendar and diary recycled and only calendar replaced. Few tops into charity bag, few pairs of really trashed kids shoes ready to go into unicef collection box next time I can nip into Clarks

Pickled had to laugh at your description of the phonics bus toy, we had something similar and I was very glad to see the back of it indeed

Big decluttering victory here... Drum roll please... WE ARE DECLUTTERING ALEXA.

Oh yes. I've never liked her, I feel stupid talking to a box, the DC mock me for saying please and thank you reflexively and she does stupid things like butting in unexpectedly. A couple of days ago, she made a cock up too far, when I said "kitchen lights on... Oh, never mind" when I noticed they were off at the wall; and she put every light in the house immediately to 100%. At 6am.

DH was furious and I've used it to tell him I simply won't have it in the house anymore (not that I ever wanted it in the first place!). Now, if I can just persuade DH that his bloody hue lightbulbs are equally tedious and we can just go back to ordinary energy efficient ones that aren't £20 a pop...

willow I feel your light bulb pain. Dh has put smart bulbs in the hallway.theyre on a timer. And controlled by an app on his phone. In the morning they shine on yellow at 6 am. In evenings pink at 430pm. Effing ridiculous.

As soon as I can I’m getting rid.

Outs today - pack of fibrogel. Used when pregnant. Don’t need it. And it’s out of date. And the last of the sleepy time apple and vanilla tea. It was rank. But I drank every last one.

Another small victory in that I filled a carrier bag for the food bank week or two ago with random bits when I sorted the kitchen cupboards and I actually dropped it to the collection point today. Now I just need to get rid of the two mahoosive charity shop bags tomorrow and do a tip run then I should be able to see an actual difference for the decluttering I’ve done once it’s actually out of the house instead of in piles everywhere.

SheepSocks I would try local childrens nurseries, dance schools, youth clubs, cricket clubs etc.

Even our local BMX track would love a sofa.

Can you think of anywhere like that?

20 items of clothing out from ds room that he's grown out of.
So that's 165/2020
Still haven't been to charity shop but the boot is full!
Has to go tomorrow as taking dm to the airport on Monday so need to fit the suitcases in.
Off to catch up on the thread!

@SydneyCarton you Angel, I'm a brummie so in the correct location. I shall contact them ASAP

Willow that is impressive with Alexa. Alexa drives me mad. She’s started playing the same music through all alexa’s in the house randomly when you only want it one one. Dd has created a playList of songs for Ds called ‘happy bro’. Yesterday I asked her to play happy bro playlist and she said ‘now Playing 70s Roadtrip playlist’. I mean 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️.

Put some bits on eBay to go live tomorrow. If they don’t sell they are being charitied. Same with bits on fb. Charity shop pile is slowly increasing and went through about a dozen magazines in my pile to get rid of and tidied the table.

@SayitBeit thank you for your suggestions, they are some that I certainly never considered. If the place suggested by Sydney doesn't work out I'll try them.

Willow - I applaud you for getting rid of Alexa, age will never be darkening my doorstep to listen to my conversations. "Pull your pants up!" To DD "cats aren't allowed on work surfaces" to the cat. My sister is obsessed with her Alexa and says it isn't listening - yeah right

I digress! I emptied out my tea and coffee cupboard, it wasn't a planned declutter as I foolishly thought there would be nothing to declutter. Turns out I hoard unknowingly. I found at least 12 2-in-1 coffee sachets that went out of date in 2017!

I cannot deal with Alexa. I have a robot phobia. Please can you ask Alexa if robots will take over the world and relay the news to me gently? I cannot allow her into my house but I need to know 😱

@SheepSocks Happy to help! All for a good cause.

Now up to 163/2020 as I chucked/charity shopped some outgrown clothes and old (unused!) nappies when taking down the double bed. Plus a friend is doing a charity collection for children’s clothes and shoes and can collect tomorrow so might be able to get stuff out ASAP 🤞