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.

I'll swap over the snow shovel for beach toys at Easter time. I don't bother with shades.

Out today--2 plastic eggcups. DCs can manage china ones now and we have loads.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention the many high vis jackets, a towel, 4 blankets, 2 umbrellas, kite, ratchet straps, 2 sets of jump leads, pump. loads of other things I can't remember right now. It's silly.

Drinks, change bag for DC I'm not even counting.

Anything that needs to be kept but not in the car will need to go in the understair cupboard of doom.

Thank you for replies so far, more welcome!

No outs in the last couple of days unfortunately unless you count clearing the rubbish out my handbag.
Someone is coming to get something from Freecycle this evening (I have been having a quick look through the wanted items every couple of days I case anyone wants anything we don't need). Hopefully someone else coming to get a for sale item tomorrow. I've also found a new home for our old kettle-CP would like it so will take it in on my next shift.
I'll be glad when DD's birthday and party are over so I can get some decluttering focus back.

Out today - 3 bags for the charity shop. In return they gave my child a small toy 😂 I did put some money in the donation box!

I also sorted 7 duvet covers that either don’t go with any decor, extras I didn’t need, and ones that don’t fit on my bed at all anymore so I don’t know why I’ve got them. They’ll go out tomorrow to the charity shop.

Also cleared some books to donate to the local nursery. Again, that will be done tomorrow.

I couldn't face the wardrobe today so I decided to tackle the hall, where coats and shoes go to die. Out today:

1 T-shirt, 1 jumper, 1 cardigan, crocs x2, shoes x3, trainers x4, wellies x1, flip flops x1, 1glove, sandals x2, walking boots x1, snow boots x1, bag x1, hat x1, coats x2, waterproof x1, skipping rope, a rain cover for a long gone buggy, kids shoes x3

The whole area looks so much better now and there is lots more space.

I also chucked some out of date food out from the pantry.

204/2020

Swap card
Cracker toy
Torn up book
Old sunglasses

Now up to 366/2020, which is one thing for every day of the year even if I don’t make it to the full 2020! Also took the bag of party clothes I decluttered a few days ago straight to the charity shop before I could dither about maybe selling them on Facebook after all.

I've slowed down markedly, but this week I've managed
1 outgrown onesie
A (free) Panini football sticker book
Stickers for said book
8 holey socks.

We've had some ins, but none of them are frivolous - a writing slope and footstool for dyspraxic DS3, more socks to replace the holey ones. And a onesie from under the bed!

570/2020

Big plans are afoot in the pickle household. My house is 1930s and a bit higgledypiggledy where it has been altered over the years - new doorways put in and old doorways filled in etc. there’s an alcove behind an arch in the lounge which would have been a doorway when it was originally two rooms. We built a narrow toy cupboard into it to hide crap in BUT, the major thing we struggle to store is coats and shoes as our hallway is really narrow so we’re thinking of extending it slightly so that it meets the wall of the back end of the lounge and extending the arch slightly to accommodate it (Pic attached) blocking it in from the lounge side and opening up the hallway side so we have an open small cubbyhole in the hallway. I have visions of lovely vintage coat pegs and wicker baskets full of shoes and hats etc but I’m worried it will end up looking messy and we can’t put a door on it as it would get in the way of the kitchen door and I don’t want it to end up as a cluttered dumping ground that everyone can see!

What do you think? Coats and shoes are such a major issue storage wise it drives me mad!

Could you put up a curtain? That could be easily pulled across to hide the alcove if it was looking messy but wouldn’t block the door/take up much room.

Would double doors work? Or, a screen?

Both people turned up to get the Freecycle and Gumtree items! Yay!
Binned remnants of a dead candle this morning.

Coat/shoe cupboard is a brilliant idea. eBay item posted today, large stash of old magazines to be sorted into keep or recycle. TBH they are DH’s and I’ve been encouraging him for ages to tackle them. Hopefully this weekend it’ll finally happen.

yes - some kind of folding door wouldn't take up too much space. When I get a porch, I want a Kallax unit with drawers in for shoes.

I've got a new make-up bag (£1.99 on eBay) so have emptied out the old one and cleaned everything. I've bitten the bullet and binned an old, favourite eye-shadow, which means I'm pretty much down to the minimum on the make-up front now.

Coat shoe cupboard sounds good but yes I might have to have something across it.. based on what my understairs looks like even when it’s tidy...

Out - a whole load more dust/cat hair balls from the new dyson?? Our old hoover really was dying a quiet not taking anything up death by the looks of it... also cleared the dining dresser drawers out and binned some old candles and some fairy lights and other assorted rubbish...

Have got an old tv lined up to go to a new home as well.

Welcome em8725 you’ve made a brilliant start.

I’ve got a coat cupboard that I organised about a year ago. It is relatively well organised with about ten coat hooks and baskets for shoes, hats, scarves, gloves etc but despite that i’m glad it has a door as it can get messy. It’s also not quite big enough to store everything so I have some coats and boots store don wardrobes. So pickledlily i’m sure you can do it and keep it tidy but with very small children it’ll be hard.

Very little decluttering done. I have got a bag of rags sorted and ready to go but other than that the usual shredding of papers and I took a bag of bottles to the bottle bank - but I don’t like including that because it’s a job I should do every week.

I also bought myself flowers because there’s so much space in the kitchen I thought they’d look nice.

Put three guide books into my charity bag, a paw Patrol cup and an outgrown top. I have a lot of books and need to keep sorting through them as the bookcase is packed to capacity!
Put an item for sale on FB and if it doesn't sell this week I am going to donate it.

Another big item out today. (About the size of a 2-3 hole kallax unit.) We are going to replace it but with one half the size.

Stealth - Can I ask about your bottle bank trip? Does your local council not collect glass for recycling? I'm just wondering if I'm missing something and should be going to the bottle bank too.

No sandandsea my council doesn’t collect glass which must be terrible for people who don’t drive. The main supermarkets and car parks have bottle banks so I do try to get rid of a bottle every few days when I get use it but more often than not I forget until there are 10 to go then it becomes AnAnnoyingChore.

Thanks for letting me know, Stealth. I can imagine that must be very annoying.

Did bathroom today. Got rid of quite a few empties (or almost empty), hair things I never use and some out of date ovulation tests!

It looks much better but still too much stuff, need to start using it up!

I was doing quite well until my mother summoned me to get house as she has gone through the wardrobe in my old room. I've come away with 4 photo albums that show my life aged 20-21. Four ins that I'm okay with and also I am full of amazement that once upon a time I had time to lay things out in photo albums.

I have had a few outs today. A bag full of party stuff, a load of leaflets by the front door and some questionable looking make up remover.

Annoyingly I've had two new sofas in but the old ones haven't left yet, I feel like I live in sofa city.

388/2020