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.

Hellohello2020 maybe hold to the console for a while then. You do sound unsure. If you realise you don't like some of the games then you could get rid of them.
My blanket box arrived today! Need to put it together and get all the spare bedding in one place rather than on top of the wardrobes. I spent a while yesterday cleaning and organising the bedroom in preparation.
Found a bag of bath toys yesterday which went in the bin along with a couple of not nice lipsticks.

Sounds great vinosoro. We have built in wardrobes which have a smaller section above where we keep spare bedding, looks neat. I think I need to tackle toiletries next. much bigger task is the paper work and art supplies in the spare room...I have a desk up there which is a dump, be nice to get it into working order. Also, we have an airfryer we were gifted that we don't use and the timer is broke. We need to get rid of that...I could go on but one at I time. Maybe I'll get the games and console valued. My husband has lots of gaming collectables, I have one art book which I've but on eBay...

DH is away this weekend so I’ll be using the time to give the house a thorough clean. I’m really looking forward to it (yes I know, I do need to get a life! ) I’ll mostly be cleaning and tidying but hope to do some decluttering as I go. I’m due my first baby in eight weeks and am desperate to get the house in order before they arrive. I will be starting with the kitchen - will keep you posted!

Just finished the kitchen - outs from the random drawer of stuff in the corner were some bubble mixture, an old badge and quite a lot of food that was past its sell-by date and had gone mouldy (feeling guilty about that ). There are probably a few more things I could chuck but to be honest, most of it does genuinely fall into the “beautiful or useful” category!

I've been away for a bit but am now back. Welcome newbies!

Rain - Don't worry, apparently, soap and water is better anyway.

Mother - That's lovely news, well done!

It sounds like everyone's doing really well.

Does it ever end? I post on the thread on and off - usually when I am about to, or just had, a big purge. I honestly am a minimalist and I keep going and going, but like you said in your first post on this thread OP, 11 threads in and we still have clutter!!!!!!!!

I know the only way to get it fully minimalist is to move my DH and DC out, but I'm not at that stage and now I'm about to add to it all by getting a dog (although I don't think the dog will have as much stuff as the DC or DH).

Still, these threads make me feel like we are all in it together and they are great on days when you just have to get on with it. Thankfully, I did it all yesterday so I can recharge my batteries to-day!

Out: A wad of 10 papers.

Does it ever end?

I don’t think it does! I find that I declutter, then go back months later and throw out more stuff that I missed (or wasn’t ruthless enough to chuck) the first time round.

I’ve moved into the dining room now - there’s a pile of books of DH’s that he insists we can’t throw out as he wants to sell them. He’s been saying that for the last three years! A couple could have value but the majority look worthless.

Another out: a pair of very old speakers we never use since buying new wireless ones. I’ve shifted them upstairs and added them to my sell/give away pile!

I’ve also recycled some old leaflets and a box of thank you cards that I never use because they’re quite ugly!

wondering7777

Put your foot down, tell you DH that you understand that he wants to sell the books, but unfortunately they won’t sell themselves, so give him two weeks to get them on a selling site, and if they are not listed by two weeks then there at the charity shop!!

As for speakers and other big items get them on gumtree as soon as you decide you want them to go!!

I think it’s great that you are getting the house sorted before the baby arrives, I remember I sorted and clean my house till it shined like a new pin and washed everything I could think of, and batched cooked, for the last two months before my baby arrived (nesting)

It did make it a lot easier when I got home as I just took home cooked meal
out of freezer each day, and the house was just in such good order it was easy to keep clean,

That was thirty five years ago and they use to keep you in hospital for a whole week in those day to get your strength back.

Get the house sorted now so you can spend the first few weeks just enjoying your baby!! Remember the first year is so special enjoy every minute.

So pleased with myself today, a pile of stuff in the hall for DH to take to the tip tomorrow, and estate agent valuations booked, yay! We are on the move.

Thanks @Nanalisa60 - that sounds perfect and exactly what I’m aiming for! I just hope I can get it done in time. I’m batch-cooking a big stew as we speak!

Another out this evening: some tins of cat food that our fussy boy doesn’t like - just collected by someone from our local Facebook page.

I’ll be tackling the rest of the dining room and the lounge tomorrow.

Getting there!

@Nanalisa60, you are so right! 20 years ago I left my nesting and sorting the house out until I stopped work at 34+3. Had a lovely weekend with DH's family and spending time planning what I was going to do to the house to prepare it for DC1's arrival; went into early labour on the Monday morning at 34+6 and delivered DC1 at 35 weeks exactly with no baby kit in the house apart from nappies (I was superstitious) or decluttering done! The first few weeks were utter chaos beyond having a baby in SCBU because we had a bed in the dining room, and DH was talked into buying 0-3m clothes by the lady in Mothercare, for a premie... I look back and laugh now, and DS1 was and is fine, but it was not my plan for a smooth and comfortable first few weeks!

I have been using those "lost" 5 weeks of maternity leave as an excuse for the chaos ever since...

@Annasgirl I don't think it does ever end! And you're going to be surprised, I think, by how much clutter a dog brings. It turns out my DH is a total softie about the dog and random new toys and treats and bones and dog houses keep appearing unexpectedly. On the plus side, the dog house is going back as WillowHound has shown absolutely no interest in it whatsoever!

I’m continuing on with my pre-baby tidying and decluttering mission today.

We moved into this place around two years ago and yet I’m still finding things that are in the wrong room - they were unpacked there after moving in and have just been shoved in a corner or in a pile of other stuff! Books in the dining room that should be in the lounge for example.

I’m aiming to make sure everything has its place and if it doesn’t then it’s out!

wondering7777

You go girl!! get nesting and sort that house out, the next year will be manic, so the get it done now while you can.

If you lived in the north east of Scotland I would come and help you for a day!,

Don’t forget to tell us when you beautiful baby arrives!,

Iwillwargreenwillow, my mum was exactly the same so I was warned with my baby when I hit 35 weeks. Baby was born at 36+5, so I had stuff ready but new hoover was delivered after her. Good luck wandering 7777.

Ooh, nesting. Good luck with the birth wondering777.

Yesterday--old plastic egg cups binned (they were broken).

Today--9 items in a bag for my niece. Clothing and shoes. I CBA to sell it and she will get good use from it.

Also two huge bags of worn out clothes from my wardrobe. I don't know why I hung onto them but now my wardrobe is tidy I can actually see stuff. Even planned my outfits for the week! 😇

Too small clothes are going in the loft. I'm sick of looking at them. Day 1 of healthy eating so hopefully they will fit again one day.

I seem to be clearing out in fits and starts but have resolved to get back to one item a day from tomorrow.

@wondering7777 Good luck with the pre-baby decluttering! It's a great idea to get it sorted before the little one arrives. Make sure you give yourself some time to rest too!

@Nanalisa60 and @IWillWearTheGreenWillow, lovely to hear your experiences

I've spent this morning helping an old friend empty her mother's loft before the house she grew up in is sold. 9 boxes to the tip, 3 to the charity shop, and yesterday she filled a skip! None of it counts for me, but it reminded me again that I don't need to keep everything Just In Case. I don't want my DC having to do this for me!

Spending some time this afternoon digitising and sorting some old photos and papers so I have them electronically. Really don't think I can get rid of the 19th c photographs we have, as they are artefacts in themselves, but can shift on plenty of disastrous prints from the 60s onwards. I'm going through desk drawers next!

Thanks Alex! It’s slow going because I’m needing a lot of sit-downs in between cleaning, but totally worth it I feel!

Outs so far today: some old bits of crumpled paper found at the back of a cupboard, an empty bottle of shoe polish, a knackered old tray for mixing paint, a broken paintbrush and a spare part for a Hoover I no longer own.

Some more books have also gone into DH’s pile to give away/sell!

Oh, and two tote bags with holes in them have also been thrown! Having a well-earned break now before finishing off the dining room and moving onto the lounge.

Great job @IWillWearTheGreenWillow - I’m sure your friend was glad of your help. It’s incredible how much stuff we can accumulate over the years if we don’t keep on top of things isn’t it?

Item on Freecycle has gone. Spare duvets vacuum packed into blanket box (not sure how air tight some of the bags are). I have told DP to sort some of his things out (it's just a couple of bags but I'm sick of moving them around the room).

Positives:

Went to DParents house , managed to
get rid of a large cardboard box and sort all the random tat she had in there .

Emptied 2 boxes of papers , recycled any paper to go, shredded any personal details, put bank statements in a file (Crushed one of the boxes otherwise it would get re-filled )

2 years worth of magazines recycled to local residential home

Some brand new (some with tags) clothes to Charity Shop

Minuses:

I brought back to my house a huge bag of scrap fabric (otherwise she'll keep it and insist she's 'going to sort it' -she won't ) , too heavy for DDad to take on bus .

A duvet (needs washed) and I'll return it next visit .

My house looks like a bomb has hit it, again. So frustrating. Today's outs are a few activity books that DC have completed, and a bubble bath bottle that has taken 5 years to use up. Still need to decide where to send the mobiles.