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.

Only 10 mins for a quick declutter so went for one (of many) carrier bag of uncertain content in the cupboard of 'stuff' in the spare (dumping ground) room. Kept 4 items relating to fittings in current house and recycle bin for 25 manuals for things we no longer possess.
My aim is to sort this room back in to just a bedroom. Some of the furniture will be relocated to the shed along with items that DH will want to 'think about'. Tackling this room little and often and bringing together all the similar items (MK style) will help reduce the amount of 'stuff' that will eventually have to be sorted by DH. For example, I know that there are various sizes and types of photo printing paper on at least 3 of the cupboard shelves - but he hasn't printed any digital photos for ?5 years.
998/2020

A few ins today, which hopefully will help on the long run... although that’s what I think with every in, and then months or even weeks later I realise they didn’t work and have added to the clutter, so maybe I shouldn’t trust myself!

We’re dealing with a reduction of income soon, so we need to be really clear on what we need, and what would be nice to have but is unnecessary. I’m hoping we haven’t got any big expenses due soon, but I know we need to get school shoes and uniform bits before September.

I know it’s very early, but I’m already worrying about Christmas, and what to actually get for the DCs, as the house is full and they really don’t need anything more. So tricky when we already have too much stuff!

You have my sympathies there Times with Christmas looming in my thoughts too. Feel like it has been hard to identify gifts the last few Christmases TBH. I was wondering about an e-reader for the one off to uni soon to at least stop more physical books accumulating.

I think it’ll be even harder this year - how often do we see the (useful) suggestion of buying, and asking relatives to buy/contribute to, experiences and season tickets instead of Stuff for Christmas/birthdays?! I guess there’s still that option as things like zoos and national trust are open but there’s a lot less to choose from and it’s risky if you end up not being allowed if you have a cough etc :( or if shielding/vulnerable.

For the toddler I’m planning on adding to things we already have to some extent, like add ons to the marble run or railway.

Polly I’m impressed you had the manuals in one place! That is one thing that always gets lost when we buy something 😳

PickledLilly
and I left a load of crap there I need to sort as well grin)

I know some one who did this , her kids came back from a stay a few months later and said the house looked like new, he had sorted it all out and decorated it bought new carpets furniture the lot, and then Told them that it was her that made them all live in squalor , she was so furious as when they lived together he never did a thing, now it’s like a show house.

Heavy rain was forecast, so I planned for being inside all day. Read the shredder instructions which said three continuous minutes every hour -oops! - then started the usual tidy and sort interpersed with hourly bouts of shredding. Recycling trolley is emptied on Tuesdays, so that is always my main focus on Monday.

DS brought down all his recycling without being reminded!

I suggested a solution for one of his paper categories, and he said okay!!

Had a weird feeling of something shifting in my brain, as if this is not some unachievable dream, but something that I'm making happen.

Looked at the mess in the office (ie large cupboard), and just wanted to walk away. Got some plastic bage, heaved the pile off the shelf and took it downstairs to the big table, sat comfy on the settee with my radio podcasts, and sorted and sorted, until it was all in relevant piles.

Not nearly as alarming as it looked, although there are a few MUST-DO-ASAPs as opposed to to-do-whenevers. Ripped in half all special offers and other junk, which stops me trying to read it and in turn worry about whether I should respond to something. I just don't have any space in my brain for any more crap.

Tore the identifying names off the junk first. Put them in an envelope which then went next to the coal fire, which has more of the same. Tomorrow there will be a Burning! Very satisfying!

@MrsTidyHouse A Burning! A Burning! 🔥

@PickledLilly I’m glad you got moved okay.

@LaneBoy you’ve got some really interesting insight going there, I’m going to pinch a piece or two.

Today I’m going into the loft because I know there is a box which I can empty very easily & most of it can go. So a difficult to get to easy win.

I just don't have any space in my brain for any more crap.

I so relate 🤯 decluttering will help, I know, but it takes so long, and so much energy. It’s hard to fit it in so it’s a vicious cycle 🤯

(Motivation is hard to find today, it seems.)

LandBoy

it takes so long and so much energy

I also It also takes a lot of energy to live in a cluttered home, I find it really hard for my mental heath if I don’t have a organised home. I think the problem often is that people think they can organise and get it sorted very quickly, but it often takes months. Of course you will have days when you can’t get going, that’s why I think it’s a good idea to do one room at a time, then I can keep looking at the room that has been done and saying my whole house will be this organised soon.

It often took years to get in a mess it takes a while to sort it. But it really can be done and it can be life changing.

Totally agree. It is exhausting being surrounded by crap! Physically too - having fibro/ME I’m sure it’s not helped by having to scrabble around looking for things, having to move stuff around.

I had a few random outs today - two pint glasses, a coat, a jigsaw and a photo frame. My charity bag is always random so might be harder for volunteers to sort.
I sold another baby item and will post that off today. Small outs and I am getting some cleaning done.

No outs here, I went to ikea so it’s all ‘ins’ although I bought a couple of extra cushions (needed) so I guess I can throw a couple of the less nice cushions that I don’t want. There’s no excuse for the two houseplants I don’t really need though

I do think plants and lighting are what makes a place feel cosy. Just lobbed four old A bit manky cushions in the bin I inherited from the previous owner so I don’t feel so bad about the ins. Apart from the plants it was mostly fairly boring stuff I actually need. I mean, I NEED a pretty coloured glass jar to store pasta in...right?

Also, I feel like a decluttering queen as I discovered my mother has FOUR utensil pots full of utensils and I only have one. She admitted there is probably another one at the back of the cupboard.

We’ve joked for years about me having to declutter her house when she dies (it’s not as morbid as it sounds, it’s a bit of a running joke) and I teased her today and said I was sending all her utensil pots to the charity shop As soon as she dies, she looked horrified

I mean, who needs this many utensils?!

We have 2 pots, one with wooden utensils, one with plastic ones. We do actually use them all (I keep an eye on them to see if we could get rid of them)

We don’t have many duplicates tbh, when it comes to utensils, and the duplicates we have are because we’d actually use more than one at a time when cooking.

Plants and cushions sound like fab additions to your new place Pickled I agree that is a crazy array of utensil pots your mum has. I only have two - al the rest live in the drawer under the hob!! 🤣🤣🤣

Not so much out yesterday but two boxes sorted into their approximately right places, and some additions to the charity shop pile.

Empty boxes back in the loft for the next move.

I want to try to do the cupboard of doom later.

I’m reaching the stage of needing storage solutions, but I can put my hand on a tape measure, so maybe I’ll be able to get it right first time.

I think making your new space your own is definitely allowed Lilly! We have one utensil pot which lives in a cupboard and has freezer bags stored in it! I don’t think my utensils are too bad although I could do with getting rid of a few bits, I have too many very specific things bought as gifts that I will never use!

Another hectic week at work, but one out in the form of a box for a large craft kit that DD has finished.

Forgot my outs 🙄 two tiny Molton brown shower gels used up, a tub of body butter finished all in the recycling

Hello. Joining for fortification before the weekend. Our house goes on the market at the end of the week. We will need luck. It needs to sell for the asking price or very very close to enable us to move.

The last time we moved 5 years ago (this current house was a mistake TBH) the process made me feel awful. The clearing and decluttering was hideous and yet here we are 5 years later facing the same. Monday night took a ton of effort of get ready for the agent photographs - like hours. As a result the house feels amazing but we have boxes of cereals in my boot and a lifetime of crap shoved in the garage. And I have clear kitchen units, bedside tables and windowsills. I’ve begged the family to leave it as it is so IF we get viewings we can slide through them gently. But no...Already his bedside table is back to having 2 books, brush, empty cup, pot of cuff links and spare glasses on it and that’s about 12 hours since the agent left . The cleared dining table is covered with not just his laptop but scattered papers, pens, mugs etc.

My plan was to start sorting the garage and cleared stuff bit by bit. However it is clearly going to creep back in.

Help!

And I’m on a promise with my mother to sort the loft with her at the weekend - we have so much crap up there it’s literally weighing heavy on my mind!

Reading back through the threads and grateful for any hints and tips.