The decluttering on thing a day thread - part 11

[StealthNinjaMum]

We’re still here.

After 10 threads my house still isn't tidy!

So join me and a lovely group of mumsnetters who simply get rid of one thing a day and report back. Gradually we’re developing good habits, reorganising ourselves, often improving our mental health and having friendly chatter along the way.

So newbies are welcome, just check in with your news and join in the general chat about recycling, organisation and housework.

Previous thread here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3760076-Decluttering-one-thing-a-day-part-10-the-countdown-to-a-clutter-free-Christmas?pg=1

ALSO many of us have set a target to get rid of 2020 items this year and will report on that.

In the past 10 days I have continued in the living and dining rooms, emptying furniture and packing up the contents in anticipation of the new carpets which are coming tomorrow. Eek! Last night we moved the two tall storage units from the living room to the back room, so tonight and tomorrow morning we just have smaller bits to go - coffee table, TV stand etc.. A number of bits have gone out, mainly paper, and (so far) similar things have been packed up together. I am determined that a lot of the packed up stuff won't be going back again. The dining room floor is still strewn with stuff, but there are 4 half empty storage boxes there, so a lot of that will disappear quite quickily, although the organised packing will probably go out the window as I get more desperate!

I found a large O2 sim in one of the drawers when I emptied it yesterday, so I had another go at wiping the old phones. It wasn't straightforward as I thought, as the button presses were not registering properly, especially the "select" button on one of them which worked approx 1% of the time, but I eventually managed to do a master reset on both. That means I have now reset 3 out of the 4 phones. The one that has not been done is so old that it can't have much on it anyway, so I have given up with it and will try to hand them all in to Oxfam next week.

I have also thrown out a large dog bed from the living room, which was really manky and is not getting to touch the new carpet. That reminds me, I still need to order its replacement...

Sorry I haven’t been on Mumsnet much but the decluttering is slowly happening. I have got rid of a bag of toys and children’s clothes today as if I tried to do it in half term there would be protests.

I have also moved a load of crap from my bedroom to the room of Doom so my bedroom is nearly decluttered but I don’t feel it counts as I have moved lots of stuff around and not thrown much out. I am also feeling guilty because i’ve chucked out some shampoos and hair products that I never use but I don’t think there’s a green way of getting rid of them.

Bunkerlife I am very sorry for your family’s loss. I can’t imagine how painful it is.

Welcome to newbies.

I haven't got rid of much at all so far today. BUT! I went out last night and it took me about 1 minute to decide what to wear and get it out of the drawers and I felt really good in what I was wearing!!! It wasn't anything too fancy, just simple 'capsule' style clothes with a bit of jewellery and a scarf and bag, but, it all felt great and absolutely clutter free! This is really significant for me.

Hooray! It's great to see the upside of decluttering, Sand and it's fab you felt fab. Long may it continue!

No decluttering plans today but I need to get out all the things that have been put somewhere "to go". I need to declutter the mending pile too - it will only take half an hour, but I never seem to get round to it.

@IWillWearTheGreenWillow thank you, I will try to find something like that.

I have a friend coming to collect some baby bits over the weekend. Got rid of some old candles etc yesterday.

Sorry I seem to keep asking lots of questions, anyone know what to do with knives? Have a bread knife and pizza cutter that need to go.

Rose our local charity shop won’t take knives for safety reasons, so I ended up putting them in the bin.

Found some golden syrup from 2013 , no idea it was that old, it had crystallised at the bottom.

Got a clothes basket for all the kids clothes that get left on the sofa, it's much tidier.

Today I need to parcel up our ebay sales too.

I really haven't had many outs. Three things in the clothes recycling today.
Someone is being annoying about collecting an item on Freecycle. I do have some other items which can go for sale/free but need to sort them out and can't cope with too many ads at one time!
I am filling yet another bag for a charity shop. I intend to drop it off next week once it's full-I know I'll find more stuff at the weekend!

@RoseReally - I usually take mine to the tip. I believe the police take them too.

Tonight's outs to charity bag:
3 metal cat bowls
6 thin, floppy cork placemats - already replaced by 4 nice ones bought last week
6 small food storage containers
2 small food containers to the bin (broken, no lid)

The storage basket i bought last week fitted perfectly in the space on top of the cupboard, so i have now freed up a washing up bowl and it looks tidier. All the small containers fitted in and more, tidying up other top of cupboard space too. Happy with that result.

Today's outs: 6 batteries and a make-up purse.

Hi again. It’s nice that the first post I read in return was @SandAndSea ‘s about getting ready in ten minutes.

I finally bought new shoes (2pairs) a couple Of weeks ago. It had got to the point where I had to wear my running shoes to an evening out

Now I need to sort my clothes to go with them, but it’s a start.

I have had some small outs. I’m working my way through various toiletries which won’t be replaced. I have a face mask on right now :)
I have a boot full of things for the recycling bank. They’ve been there rather a long time, but at least they’re not in the house!

Small carrier bag of assorted baby clothes out for charity, a few odd socks binned and a couple of things added to eBay. This means I've managed to combine two boxes into one.

5 wax tarts that I obsessively collect but never use given to my sister.

505/2020

Today: a swimsuit that’s too small, onto Freecycle, and a Bratz figure that DD found on the bus, in the bin.

Today I have ditched toiletries that I am sure have been in the drawer for about 4 years!!
Must remind myself that I’m making headway x

I aim to have max one draw of spare toiletries one day, but that day is a few years off as I have so many to use up!

My next job is the understair cupboard of doom. This is because I'm planning on taking a leaf out of my nan's book and decanting leftover paints into jars to reduce storage space needed - and I need to know how many jars I can't bin from the kitchen before I continue there! I just need the time and motivation.

Good idea re: decanting there, Keiki. Today DS3 and I are emptying the End Of Bath Cupboard of Doom. I have no idea what toiletries etc are in there, although we did the towels and bathmats a couple of weeks ago. We need a proper list and a review of what gets used and what doesn't. I may also get another tiny set of drawers out of the garage for the bathroom, as DS2's lotions and potions are threatening to take over again!

I put 5 items of old clothing into a recycling bag, 10 items into the charity shop and I've used up two more miniature shower gels.
I've totally decluttered my main living room and it now only take 10/15 minutes to clean. This gives me the motivation to keep decluttering! This time next year my study will be the same 🤞🤞

Thanks, Cold.

Keiki - I love this idea, speaking as someone who always seems to have loads of almost empty paint containers around. But, I actually did it once and the paint seemed to go solid very quickly. I wonder if there's a trick to it? Do you know if your Nan used to store the jars upside down, or anything else?

My out today is of the DIY variety: old wallpaper.

Lovely news, Elenor! It's a great feeling, isn't it?

I spent a bit of time yesterday with DD going through a few bits out of her room and chucked a couple of broken plastic jewellery items. We worked out what's to go so that needs sorting to go to the right places. I went through her dolls house as other toys/bits of crap were in there. Got all the bits together for an ELC set which someone is buying and will collect during the week.

Understair cupboard done.

Sadly, most of the paint tins were too full to be worth decanting. The ones I found of my nan's when clearing her place looked ok and were the right way up@SandAndSea. Maybe someone needs to do an experiment!

The hoover came out, destined for the loft.
Binned some old socks from the car cleaning stuff. Also a plastic tray, 6 empty catfood boxes, a tub of paint no longer in this house and a broken pram shade.

A few other items gave gone in in return. Once things are in the loft it should look a bit tidied again.

Back to the kitchen next - DP got frustrated with a very full drawer, tried to prove the contents was rubbish but the 5 bits he pulled out are in regular use. Will review it all anyway.

Thanks @SandAndSea, the knives went to the tip today. Some old (opened) paint went with it, now wondering whether should have kept that! As it's several years old thought it wouldn't be much good. Oh well, I guess we were unlikely to use it anyway.

Also got rid of some old furniture (very glad to see the back of it!) but will be getting some new to replace some of it.

Have been dipping in and out of the clearing but well done to everyone that’s been getting on with it.. I went through my dd craft cupboard yesterday and tidied it - binning dried up glue sticks and already finished art work and putting stuff all together so looks much more organised when we were done. Going to encourage her to do a bit more now and work through all the paints and pens now she’s old enough not to just thrust her hand in the paint and walk off..

Going to tackle some drawers upstairs next that have stuff in I haven’t touched in ages!