The decluttering one thing a day thread - part 12

[AlexTheLittleCat]

For StealthNinjaMum

We’re still here.

After 11 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/3799710-The-decluttering-on-thing-a-day-thread-part-11?pg=1

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

No ins today and only a few outs but I've organised the cupboard that had all the diy stuff in.

As someone mentioned biscuit tins I've used a few that I'd squirrelled away---- to sort smaller bits like drill bits, odd allen keys for the bed, screws, key to bleed the radiators etc into so at least I can stack them neatly.

I managed to get rid of:

A tub of paint that must have been 10 years old along with some more recent ones which had all dried up or gone bad

An old sander that didn't work and is probably older than me that I know I will never use

I've also put several rolls of wallpaper on eBay that were brought years ago but that as he never got around to doing it I just painted and so no are no longer what I want as my colour scheme plans have changed.

Reading what you've all put and about how you've been doing is really helping me keep going and to see that I don't need to do it all at once just keep plodding along

I gave a set of pjs to my nephew. I dumped the baby monitor as it was cracked and we don't need it anymore. Added two tops to my textile recycling bag.

Finally cool enough to out everything in the loft. The baby clothes do need going through again, but I can't bring myself to do it yet. Some items are for sale but there isn't space in the house for them to hang around. Looking forward to more space finally! One in this week - a carpet cleaner. One out - loads of carpet dirt! I'm really impressed, even if I have no idea where to store it.

Out, a puzzle box that’s missing more pieces than not, and loads of homemade play dough we’d forgotten about that had gone off (not envy).
I also need to go through the baby clothes as the youngest is growing out of the current size. I need to decide what to do with the clothes, as we don’t have space to store them.

I was back on sorting things today as I had lost all my motivation.
Finally I sorted most of the landing. It looks alot better. Wish it would stay like this.

One of my big jobs is sorting out all the extra bedding I have here.

Nana- i think i will try what you did, thank you for the idea.

I had a big out today.

I sold the funpod that was taking up space. My kids loved using it while we cooked together. So pleased its gone to be used with another family.

I've finally organised forced DP into going through some old video tapes and we have binned about a dozen! These were previously in another box which had been hanging around for ages, so I'm really pleased. (I know there are some more around the house/loft which I'm sure we'll come to eventually.)

I've also added another book to my book pile. It's from my cookery stash so I'm now down to just 4 cookery books! (None of which I use.)

I've also found a missing pair of dungarees for the pile. I counted these on here a while back but then lost them.

My kitchen is currently really clear - it's got the echo back! But, my dining room table is a disaster again.

Joining in an attempt to gain some control over the carnage that is my house.

We're in the middle of decluttering the bottom of the garden- digging up weeds , sorting out the rubbish in The Shed of Doom ( garage so its a big shed )

We will need a skip , it would take waaay too many trips to the dump.

On a more domestic Declutter front , I have a duvet cover and pillowcases to go out .

Not stricrly speaking a declutter, but a big step forward for me. DS has at last got a cable long enough to go from the router to his bedroom for his WFH. He is now out of the spare room, which means I can tidy the cupboards in there and do a deep clean. He also got our first delivery slot and that means I can avoid the supermarket in future and much less impulse buying.

Actual decluttering. I started going through old notebooks and journals. I'd like to see this break from normality as an opportunity to reboot my life. Does that sound awfully pretentious? Doesn't matter as long as I don't slide back into old bad habits. And getting rid of old journals would be part of that. So there is now a small pile of crumpled notes as a very slow beginning. Emotionally, it feels great.

Lots of old work articles into recycling, conference proceedings form 2002 anyone? Stupid thing is it must have moved house with us! Old finance documents scanned and shredded too. Few bits sold on eBay to be posted this week. Next target is study bookcases. Feel it’s been a very productive weekend.

It seems that it’s been a good weekend for everyone. I’m quite envious of people tackling their airing cupboard. Mine is a disaster zone of stuff chucked in carrier bags and thrown on the top shelves. It’s definitely on the list to sort though.

I realised that I only have wine glasses that I don’t actually like. So I’ve opened the nice ones that were a wedding present (3 years ago). I’m going to start using them as opposed to saving them for ‘best’

My outs were some more uncomfortable pants. I’m going to work my way through my undie drawer. Anything scratchy or uncomfortable is going. Which may be quite a bit after having 2 9lb babies via section. A lot of my undies are pre children that I’m not fitting back in to

Hi, joined this group ages ago but didn't drink much decluttering. Talked about selling my 3ds and games then decided on a few games and keep the console. However, I took them to a cex equivalent but then discovered the games weren't in the box! Then the shops all closed. I log in to share that I'm excited to sell my first thing on eBay I listed months ago. An art book that was included with a pre-order game for £15 gonna post it today. not decluttering as I have half a bookshelf of not need books but this one has value so happy.

SandandSea only 4 cookery books? I probably have about 20 which is after a massive, massive cull. Have you become nocturnal? I am finding it hard to sleep at the moment but I play on my phone rather than do anything useful. Perhaps I should start decluttering at night.

Welcome back RoxytheRexy and hellohello2020#

Welcome kinkydoritowithsparkleson

I am moving at a sloth like pace here. I can’t remember anything I have got rid of since my table last week. I probably have a carload of stuff for charity shops – mainly clothes and toys – but have seen that many charity shops have got restrictions as they need to quarantine donations and aren’t accepting toys at all. I drove to a couple of clothes banks to donate clothes and they were overflowing too.

I can’t remember who mentioned keys but I need to get a locksmith to change the key on my garage door as about 6 months ago I went through all my keys and couldn’t find one that worked. You can get into the garage through the big open over door but this is a smaller side door. It would be easier to declutter the garage if I could open this door – and I’d be satisfied that they key sorting job was ‘finished’.

jigolo if you don't want money then it shouldn't be too hard to get rid of the bed. I would expect victims of domestic abuse might need them or just parents who are struggling as a result of unemployment etc.

We’ve sold and bought bed frames on Facebook marketplace, if that helps?

I sold a handbag for £30 and posted it off today - I was inspired by others who were selling things. It wasn't as hard as I thought so I might try and sort another one or two to sell.
I put a maxi dress, top and skirt into my charity bag. I've gotten rid of the bags I had filled in the last few months as the charity shops have reopened. That felt like a big out.
Tidied DS1 bedroom and I dumped some small toys that he doesn't play with and some broken bits.
I have some gifts to deliver in July - baby, housewarming and birthday presents. I've used up gift bags I had which was great. I can find things a lot easier.

6 bag for life bags of baby clothes to the baby bank
Unworn with labels on pair of Clark's sandals returned and refunded 👍
Baby cardigan unworn with labels returned to M&S for a full price credit note 👍
Soft toys and mirror de cluttered via freecycle fb group over the weekend
Maternity pillow sold on fb and collected over the weekend
Baby bath up for sale
Hopefully baby outfit being sold and collected today - need to chase buyer up about this.
More baby items to go up for sale today hopefully.

Bought a big little tikes baby item yesterday though which is taking up a lot of space in the living room 🤦‍♀️

Few more eBay sales but still drowning in stuff. So much to do I don’t know where to start.

I find if I select a category and then work on that so maybe PickledLilly you could try that. I pick something specific like toys in a certain place and work on them - dump, donate and keep. I finish that and if I have energy I move onto the next shelf and if not I have one thing sorted. Start small and specific and see how you get on.

I think it’s just overwhelming because I have so much to do and very little time to get it all done. I know I need to start somewhere and just get on with it but the enormity of it is bogging me down.

Sounds like you need the 15 minute timer blast technique. Pick a shelf, drawer or area (bay window of doom perhaps!) Set a timer and commit to doing that 15 minutes often I’m so into it then (or I’ve made so much mess pulling it all out 😱🤣) that I carry on for longer. But if I don’t want too that’s ok because I only committed to 15 minutes.

Two eBay sales posted today. None of the kids jeans got any interest despite being listed twice so they are going into a bag ready for when Barnardos start teaming donations. The money was lost the instant I bought them so I’m not losing money but not selling. Trying to reframe my disappointment 🤷‍♀️

Just keeping up with one item a day out at present. However, today's item (well two actually) were bags for life full of the already decluttered and counted DVDs. Only one, of several, charity shops have reopened in nearest town and they were able to accept our donation. So that was great.
Less helpful, as someone who swung by the local 'dump' when in town to deposit items as they arose, is the dump has now moved to a booked slot system. So will aim to book a slot and then get DS to assist with filling the car and then coming with me to unload - as the operatives are now unable to assist.

Stealth - Yes, I do seem to have become rather nocturnal recently. Scrolling seems to make it worse which is partly why I end up doing things. I really like the quiet of the night too. Changing the subject... 20 cookery books??!!! Do you really need that many?? I'm going to leave that thought with you.

Jigolo - I've sold and freecycled quite a few beds and mattresses over the years.

Miley - Wow! You've done really well!

Pickled - I know many of us can relate - it's astonishing how much stuff we all collect over the years. I can vouch for the timer idea. I would just grab a sack and run round filling it. Don't think too much about it, just pick the obvious stuff and chuck it in. Sort it out after the timer goes off: recycling, charity, tip, etc. Don't make too much of it to start with, just do something. You'll feel better once you've done a bit.

My outs today include:

7 software discs plus their packaging and leaflets.
A wad of papers.
3 receipts.
Another 3 books, which actually might become 2 books, because I might decide to read one of them.