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.

@IWillWearTheGreenWillow that sounds very satisfying - good work! I wanted to sell some stuff on Music Magpie, but given that they’re offering me about 5p per DVD (and 0p for others!) it doesn’t seem worth it. I think I’ll end up just taking it all to the charity shop.

Air fryer gone

I've used up a sample face cream and bubble bath. Also binned a bottle of anti flea spray for the house that wouldn't spray anymore.

Outs today: some old clothes/shoes to nursery for them to use as spares, along with some old stationery for the craft table.

Made up a box of extra art supplies, sticker books etc to keep Littlest occupied if work closes, or for over the Easter break, so some decluttered space has filled up again!

That was a good day greenwillow but I'm on the edge of my seat wondering if you got rid of your phd notes

I have been totally side tracked from finishing my bedroom / room of doom and have spent far too much time on mumsnet reading obsessing about coronavirus. So I am still going through my kitchen getting organised. I don't need to buy much as I have a reasonable amount of food anyway but I have been doing more cooking to declutter things I have in my cupboards - this evening I'm finishing up some old wholemeal flour by making wholemeal pancakes. I won't be replacing the flour, my exdh once bought it for no reason. I also organised my freezer. This meant eating ice cream for breakfast (to clear a space for frozen carrots). In the RandomDrawerOfCrap in the kitchen I found a broken torch and some old batteries that can go.

I finished the dregs of a bottle of gin tonight and chucked it. Does that count?!

Couple more outs here;

Out of date and almost empty bottle of rum flavouring I do not remember buying
Handful of cruddy looking chocolate eyeballs left over from Halloween

I like the idea of enforced cleaning and decluttering if we get locked down, but with small children I doubt we’d get much done

509/2020

I'll be trying to declutter if we get locked down but also not sure how much will get done with little ones, I'll have to turn it into a game for the four year old.

Outs: lots of cardboard, now just have to fit it in the recycling bin.

I finished the dregs of a bottle of gin tonight and chucked it. Does that count?!

Most definitely

I have a big pile of books and DVDs for DH to give away/sell - now I just need to persuade him to actually get it done, hopefully this weekend!

He doesn't see why I'm so keen to get rid as he says they're not taking up "that much" space. But what's the point of holding onto them when we don't want or use them?

The PhD notes are still in situ, Stealth, because I am a total coward and have been helping DD with her room today. We've got from the door to the first corner and put out:
1 box of recycling
1 box of stuff for other people to look through
1 box of charity stuf
1 bag of rubbish.

I'm very proud of her, but there's plent to more to do. Alcove shelves, school bookshelf and bedside table tomorrow. Will need copious and .

658/2020

Our company has been told to work from home, so decluttering will be limited with DP around, and even worse if kids have to stay home too. Plus having to stockpile stuff is bringing out my hoarder tendencies and making me very anxious. Struggling at the moment.

Is anyone else decluttering this weekend? I’ll be continuing with the lounge and then moving onto the hallway. DH has given me the all clear to give away/recycle his pile of books and DVDs, so that’s my first big out for today!

Some further outs: a small pile of old magazines, a swatch of fabric I no longer need and another electrical wire.

De-cluttering here :

Pantry -nothing to go out , I cleared it fairly recently , but put things in groups ( eight jars sweet&sour Uncle Bens sauce . Six jars coffee - we're fine for a while now but when I see coffee reduced I'm all Oh , I'll just stock up on a couple ................)
Some wrappers thrown out though.

I have to wash two duvets and some heavy bedding so that's a Laundrette job. Not sure if I can be up to this right now though.

De-cluttered my brain of any excitement about our holiday , we decided to cancel. Not sure about re-booking anything anytime soon, even in the UK .
(Special occasion cruise but World Events have taken priority)

I have to wash two duvets and some heavy bedding so that's a Laundrette job. Not sure if I can be up to this right now though.

I’ve finally gotten round to putting my cat’s bedding in the wash today - I haven’t cleaned it for a year!

Oh well done, Wondering777 in persuading DH to part with Stuff. That will make a huge psychological difference. Sorry about your holiday, 70isaLimit. Very unusually, we hadn't booked anything (DH likes to be Organised), so that's one less thing to worry about.

Did the next bit of DD's room today - bedside table, school bookshelf and first alcove. All good, once again a box of recycling, a box for the charity shop, a box for the family to look through and a bag of rubbish. We also put together project boxes / areas of art stuff, stationery, notebooks, make up and school subjects, which has spread over into alcove 2. It's starting to look really nice, but she's finding it emotionally exhausting as there's a lot of stuff to procecss there about bullying, starting homeschooling, her diagnosis etc.

662/2020

I’m carrying on with my decluttering and cleaning mission today. It probably sounds trivial to be focusing on something so relatively unimportant right now, given what’s going on in the world, but it’s actually helping me take my mind off things. Getting everything in order in my home makes me feel that I’m at least in control of something - since when it comes to world events I’m completely and utterly powerless.

Anyway, enough of the armchair psychology and on with today’s work!

I’ve had to throw a few items out rather than putting them on Freecycle or giving them to the local charity shop as I normally would, due to the current situation. It’s a shame as I hate waste, and I’m unsure if I’m overreacting or not really. What is everyone else doing?

I am being much more discerning about what I'm prepared to donate rather than throw, @wondering777. I wonder how long it will be before charity shops stop taking things due to infection risks?

Today, I am practising self-care and decluttering by rebuilding some of DD's lego for her 😉.

DH is packing CDs into boxes for MM / charity shop. He had jolly well better be counting them! I have retrieved 3 boxes of elderly crocks / football boots from the loft to be cleaned / sorted / donated or chucked out.

Huge numbers to report today!

CDs and DVDs
33 for charity shop
161 to Music Magpie
64 to CEX
another big pile of paper recycling from DD's room
5 craft boxes / games (friendship bracelet sets, french knitting etc)
10 books from DD's room
20 pairs of crocs / sand shoes / wellies /football boots from the loft

956/2020. Almost half way!!

I'm a bit behind on the thread, sorry everyone! That said, well done, Willow, that really is a lot!

I'm decorating again which feels good as it's another area which has needed doing for ages. It's brought with it the usual decorating mayhem, apart from in my living room and bathroom which both seem to stay clear these days.

This weekend's outs are simply:

1 old pillow.
1 pair of too tight socks and 1 holey sock.
1 tub of dry filler.

I also dropped a bag off at a rag bin.

Good job @IWillWearTheGreenWillow! I tried Music Magpie but they were paying out around 2-5p per DVD, and I only had about 20 - so it didn't seem worth it!

I'm back to work today but am planning to finish the rest of the downstairs rooms this week/weekend.

I'll then move upstairs to declutter the bedrooms and bathroom!

greenwillow I understand. It took me years to get rid of my degree notes. In fact I may still have a folder of essays. I probably also have about 30 books from uni that I have never read (the reason I only got a 2:2!) but I don't like to throw them away as they make me look clever!

I need to stop looking at the coronovirus threads, I haven't actively decluttered for about a week now although things do pop up (children's clothes that don't fit, I dropped a bowl). I also accidentally spilt half a packet of sesame seeds this morning. They fell into my dressing gown into my ample cleavage and I have just spotted a million of the tiny buggers on the stairs and everywhere in fact so I am going to have to hoover from the kitchen to my bedroom! I have been spending time looking up recipes, I am using this as an excuse to use up food I bought that just sits in the cupboard ie quinoa, lentils, pearl barley, sesame seeds(!)

70isalimitnotatarget sorry to hear about your holiday, I know that people are sick and dying and its a horrible situation, but things like being at home and not going on holiday can really damage your mental health.I hope everyone is ok.

wondering7777 that's a lovely post. I agree that being in control of something is good for you.

Anyway I am going to pop to the shops now - I think there is still lots of fresh stuff - and then I am going to clear up the bloody sesame seeds and head into the room of doom.

I hope everyone is ok.

Still decluttering but it's taken a bit of a back seat to current events. Sorted some more paperwork, ended my ebay listing of something which hasn't sold for ages.

Willow Great news about your CDs

Wondering7777 It does help to take your mind off everything, plus we'll all be at home a lot more so it'd be great to be clutter-free.

I'm still decluttering, although these days I suppose it's tidying. I've been shredding more papers and filing things from my bedroom.

This is a very selfish worry but I am worried that charity shops will close and I will have nowhere to get rid of my clutter so I might start going through toys and clothes again but it's really hard to motivate myself. (Also worried dc won't be happy seeing their precious toys in a charity shop bag).