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

Hi Stealth, I do know of Clutterbug but the one I like is MinimalMom.
I like her original way of thinking and she clearly relates to lots of our clutter struggles.

@PurpleFrog our dining room table is like this.

I sorted all of “my” paperwork a few weeks ago and did the “house admin” stuff in the last week. Filing boxes for house, appliances, dc and catface and me. Dhs stuff is still in a pile on the table. Post unopened. He asked me not to touch it. But is getting annoyed at the pile of stuff on the table. 🙄

He is literally the most unorganised messiest person I know. It’s infuriating.

But. I’m soldiering on. Organising the house and myself. And decluttering myself and the house. He can deal with his own stuff.

In his wardrobe there is a basket of clean folded laundry. It’s been there now for 2 weeks. Despite him having last week off work he hasn’t had the time to put it away. And is slightly peeved it keeps filling up. I add clean folded laundry to it once load is done. I put away stuff that belongs to me and the dc and the house (towels bedding etc).

Anyway.

I’ve half decluttered dds Moses basket. As in She doesn’t use t any more as she’s too big so I’ve offered it to a friend. So basket stand and bedding will go soon. Win.

Hi, @ememem84, good to have you with us! My DH can be similar - tells me I put things down, not away, but you can't see his side of the dressing table for receipts and coins and crap and leaves clean washing on the floor for days. Also congenitally incapable of shutting drawers and cupboards. Along with @bluewavescrashing, I totally get Buying Stuff making you feel better but then feeling anxious over no money and too much stuff... It's a vicious circle.

Yesterday's out kind of wasn't, but we found a big box of lego in the music room that DS3 has taken up to his bedroom. Still not dealt with the lego technic.

Plan for today is to sort lego and write the 15 Christmas cards I can't avoid posting, to distract myself from the General Election. I know this is a politics-free thread, but I've been so tense the last week or so and it's peaked this morning. Will do tidying and cleaning to take my mind off it.

Also need to help DD today - something went wrong yesterday (don't know what) and she ended up under her desk with her hands over her ears crying that everything was too loud and she could hear the electricity in her computer. That's not happened since she started home schooling, so I need to do some gentle digging around what tipped her over the sensory edge.

Mentally girding loins for the next 3 days - tomorrow should be my parents' Golden Wedding, but DDad's been gone 5 years in January. We are all gathering round DM, but feeling his absence very much. DS1 is coming home from Uni for it, so DH will be away from lunchtime today (DS1 is 4 hours away) and I feel very adrift and emotionally fragile.

hello ememem84 were you on here before? I think I recognise your name but apologies if I'm wrong! Either way welcome. You've made a good start. What's stopping your husband from decluttering/ putting stuff away? I think you're doing the right thing just leaving it there.

greenwillow what is it about people who leave cupboards, drawers and doors open? My family do constantly do this. Why? I'm sorry to hear about your daughter, I hope you can work it out. And I hope your ds1 can give you and your dm some comfort at this difficult time.

penelopeflintstone I might look up minimalmom I'm not sure I've heard of her.

I might put envirophone or music magpie on the OP next thread - if anyone else has a good way to get rid of a phone can you let me know?

I have been going through my list. I won't actually finish tidying my bedroom and dining room (which was my main aim) but (apart from having lunch with a friend) I have been productive filing, writing christmas cards, throwing papers away, shredding, putting up decorations. I should just stick at one thing and finish it but I suppose that's my problem, I get bored easily and need a more detailed list. Anyway I need to go and vote before I do the school run.

@StealthNinjaMum yes I was on here a couple of years ago. Then babies and moving house happened!!

Well the house is finally painted. I've been trying to clean up as he finishes each room but now the painters are gone I have really gotten into the cleaning. DC want the tree up tonight so I want to clean the windows first.

I took down a wall cupboard when we painted the kitchen to make it look more aligned but it has taken me a week to declutter the contents of three other cupboards to hold the contents of the one we removed!!!! Oh to get my family on board with minimalism......

Welcome back, ememem84!

I've done some decorating and deep cleaning today, so my outs are dust and mould.

@StealthNinjaMum to answer the what’s stopping dh putting stuff away question. Nothing. Nothing is stopping him. Apart from his own goddam laziness.

I did offer to put his laundry away for him (more for me so I don’t have to look at an overflowing basket of clean washing) but he said no because I don’t do it properly. Ironic seeing as at least I put it away....

Anyhoo.

Thanks for the phone recycling tips!

Today I got rid of a nice glass jar that had no purpose. A lady in the village is doing biscuit mix jars as presents and asked on Facebook if anyone had one. That was an easy out.

Today’s declutter - two broken coat hangers and one of dds bottles (the measurement markers have scratched off).

Have also embarked on a digital declutter. Am slowly unsubscribing to emails and have just had a Facebook and insta cull.

Following the death of my wicker laundry basket (cat scratched it up and it unravelled) I haven't replaced it and don't miss it. I dump clothes on beds now so they have to be put away before we can sleep

@bluewavescrashing ha! I tried that. Dh just pops them on the floor. 🤦‍♀️

Tomorrow I’m going to attack the airing cupboard. It’s a bit of a state. So needs a tidy.

And will do ds’ wardrobe. Need to empty out his 18-24m clothes and pop in the new (to him, but second hand) age 2-3 stuff. Then vacuum bag everything up.

I’m embarking on a no spend on anything but essentials in the new year challenge. It’s going to be tough for me. But I need something to curb my spending. Im also going to see a therapist (to help with my pnd and anxiety) so hopefully we can also explore this.

Well done, that sounds really positive. I'll join you in the no spend challenge 🙂

Today's outs are 5 outgrown uniform items and a swimsuit of DDs, a pen that ran out and a pair of my jeans which I've always been unsure of the length of but are now also getting snug. In the past I would have held on to them planning to lose weight but not now, they'rein the charity bag.

@IWillWearTheGreenWillow my DD had a tricky morning too. I think the build up to Christmas and all the things that go with it are hard for her, change of routine coming up, lots of sensory input. I hope your daughter is able to recentre.

Thinking of you today, Willow.

Thanks Sand, Sleeping, Stealth. Have been refocussed this morning by DS1 announcing he is bringing all his washing home. He has been going commando for 2 weeks because "washing is hard", apparently, so I am speeding through all our washing so he can scrub his own gussets

Willow that is not a gift you need from your DS!
Parcels posted. I am seeing a friend later so will pass her present and card on. I have 3 more cards to do then they're done. I have no idea where DP is at with his Christmas stuff but am leaving him to it.
Binned a candle which finished last night-was a lovely fragrance so the bin smells nice.
Going to have a bath then sort out a kitchen drawer which seems to have lots of crap in it which shouldn't be there.

Can I join in? I seriously need to de clutter! My big win this week was getting rid of a chair which has been taking up space in my lounge for TWO YEARS. I never wanted it, PIL gave it to us and NOBODY has sat in it in that two years. I refused to put the Christmas tree up until DP got rid of the bloody thing and he organised for rowcroft to collect it yesterday. I am so grateful it has gone!

Hello @PickledLilly! That's a great win, getting rid of a chair. I need to blitz the kitchen today before we go to Mum's this afternoon, but I'm just going to drink my soup first. And maybe look at that bloody lego!

I got my DP to build a cupboard in my lounge specifically designed to hide lego/duplo. That way, I can shut the door and it have to look at it!

Baby clothes (dds 0-3m and ds’ 18-24m) all vacuum bagged up. And packed away. Need dh to help me get them into the loft.

Two bags sorted for charity shop.

A few bits thrown away.

Welcome, @PickledLilly!

I've pruned and top-dressed a big, indoor plant and used up a bag of compost which had been hanging around for years.

I'm also continuing with the painting and have glued 2 loose things (laminate). The decorating has thrown the house into chaos again and there's dust everywhere. (I'm trying not to panic.)

ememem84 I’m annoyed for you! My ex-husband used to criticise my ironing and emptying of the dishwasher (he did neither!).

greenwillow that’s so funny about ds1 going commando.

Welcome pickledlilly it’s always good to start with a big item.

I emptied the car. It was absolutely disgusting thanks to my children, old bottles, old sweet packets, bits of plastic. They’re not allowed to eat in the car but bring home party bags and so get crap every where.

Eugh. I need to do the car. But cba. House first.

Just unpacked a box of Christmas candles. 6 small Yankee candles in the biggest box ever. Have burned one over the last week, have a cinnamon one on the go now and have ditched the box and packaging.

@stealthninjamum it’s ridiculous really dh is perfectly capable of doing things like that but never bothers. Then moans he never has time to do anything.

Sigh.

Welcome to all the new folk (and returners) Struggling a bit here recently, probably managing half an item a day but not tracking it so can’t be sure. This morning received a bid on a very large item listed on eBay, then it was retracted within minutes Have been chipping away at the edges of the bookshelves, did take another bag to charity shop.