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.

It really is hard going isn’t it? I know I made progress by chucking a few bits today but in the context of the whole house it’s fuck all and that’s depressing.

I’m still not used to DS keeping his models. When they both played with it, they’d never keep anything built, even particular sets (I didn’t mind though as they’d just gradually amend them as they played, and then get added to the big box). But since moving 2 years ago and getting separate rooms he’s inventing all sorts (especially transformers with moving parts :o) and heaven forbid you move anything!

I really wanted to plan some storage ideas this evening but we haven’t even finished the tesco order yet and I’m feeling totally brain dead just from groceries 😳

Well done everyone...

I have misplaced some important things which is spurring me to go thru my excess stuff. I've done so well over years to reduce my clutter, but seems like so much stuff we still barely or never use... I'm having one of those "Where do I start" moments, though. I suppose I'll put 4 (?) hours to the task today (cleaning & tidying & tossing) and see what progress I made.

Sounds like good progress is being made by all. Pickled I always think two weeks worth of normal pants and socks is plenty plus a few pairs of exercise socks. Sympathies to those others battling with Lego storage can’t seem to get it right and we have tried several times 🙄. We are doing youngest’s room today in advance of new bed expected this week. Several unused toys unearthed from cupboard, lots of books identified as not worthy of another read. Some outgrown thermals for camping found in same tardis cupboard. That’s my week covered 😁🤣 Have stopped for lunch and a drink before dusting

Well, it's not gone yet but I finally booked for 13kg worth of baby clothes to be couriered back to a friend. That's 2 big boxes out of my dump of a kitchen at least. The baby outgrew them half a year ago, but I've not seen that friend since lockdown as we're not local any more.

I have had a mammoth DVD sorting session throughout the day (completely ignoring more pressing tasks, but still, it did need doing!). This mainly involved collecting various series and putting them in order, checking disc numbers and moving pages around (we collect DVDs as a family with hugely varied tastes so there are, erm, a lot - and we keep them in those book things and get rid of the boxes). Rather pleasingly my out for the day is exactly 50 discs - a few music stragglers from when I’d mostly got rid (thank you Spotify!), audiobooks (thank you Audible!) and some audio/CD-ROM from when I got a Muzzy bargain, but I only actually want the DVDs. Nothing is good enough to sell so out they go. Also chucking a few pages that have broken. Absolutely no idea how to organise the rest - so many films and other short series across so many genres! TBH there are probably plenty of DVDs we could get rid of, but I’m not ready to make harder decisions yet and I’m ok with that. Getting rid of DVDs is hard - instant “but what if I want to watch it someday?!” 😳 and now I’m concentrating more I am doing much better at actually watching other things instead of putting the same things on over and over (very comforting). I even have a DVD list of things we’ve bought but not watched properly yet so I can try and prioritise them. So it might be that after that I can get rid of a few more, but if I can’t, I’m ok with that too.

My legs are achy from sitting cross legged for so long 😳 I’ve not even exercised today. Just need to put the remaining unsorted disc books away now (various loose pages etc) - I might put the sorted books out of reach for a bit 😳

Sorry that was a lot of waffle!
TL;DR - I sorted some DVDs 😂

I did my DVDs a couple of weeks ago, cull 2. I have three long thin boxes which perfectly hold dvds so I decided to only keep what fits in those boxes. It's still quite a lot, lol. But less than before at least. I found I had to change my thinking from "might I want to watch this again?' To 'would I be upset if I didn't watch this again?'.
Most of what I cut I sold on Ziffit, we buy books and music magpie, although I always end up with some left over.

Most of ours would be in no condition to sell TBH as no boxes! I’ve thought of how to arrange the films now I think but I should prioritise other stuff today.

I’ve had an out already although I need to collect the other bits, random toy DH got in the charity shop but has never actually been used in full - keeping a couple of the bits (hot wheels ramp strip thingies?) for toddler to use with her cars in the tuff tray but the rest can go as it’s not great.

I’m going to gather a bag of stuff to put in the non-airing cupboard this morning too, as our room is a bomb site and tbh I think we just have to do that so that we can get our wardrobe in when it arrives (need to actually decide and order though). I’ve been much better at sorting as I go though so I’m hoping that I’ll only put away really tricky stuff and declutter and put away other things on the way.

Can I join?

I have already got 2 bags of clothes together to chuck out today.

Aiming to also sort through DD's clothes/blankets and bag up anything that doesnt get used anymore.

Also have a very messy messy drawer to go through, a vortex of old phone chargers etc 😖

Welcome to everyone new, you are all doing so well.

I'm in the midst of sorting with little ones in the house too, it's hard. I think I may have even said that before?! Still have the baby brain. I actually forgot a password today and needed a couple of hours before I could remember it!

Lots of baby stuff has gone this week, finally getting there. I need to check back into FlyLady as I found the decluttering for the zones was great.

Hi Alex sorry if I was repeating you, I confess I didn't read the whole thread before jumping on. Thanks for starting it, it's really motivating me to tackle a bit each day.
Today I cleared the hallway, and chucked out loads of recycling and general rubbish. Not entirely sure that counts but there was a lot of it. Now I'm working on the kitchen in an effort to make it toddler safe.

No outs so far, but finished sewing a mask I had cut out, so at least that’s a project off my to-do list.

We’ve been painting the living room so the furniture was all over the place, but we’ve finished 2 walls, so 2 more walls to go.

I was watching a YouTube video (sorry, can’t remember by who) where they went through most of their shelves and drawers in one day! She’s got a lot more stamina than me!

I hope everyone is having a positive day, be that tackling the whole house or finding one item to be de-cluttered.
This week I am hoping to spend one hour a day on the shed of piled high crates of stuff accumulated over years. Today's effort has emptied 3 of the crates. 60 items bagged to take to the charity shop - books and DVDs. Found 3 books that DH was hoping would be unearthed, that are now airing before going on his 'hobby' book shelves. Some books that I will offer to local primary school when they are back. Some empty lego boxes put in to the recycling bin along with many guides to holiday destinations we have enjoyed visiting but are unlikely to revisit, and they were very old!
Feel that was a productive start to the week. Let's hope I can keep it up.
1155/2020

Welcome wolf!

I had another out. My pj trousers keep falling down. I am pleased about this as I am trying to lose weight but a little sad as I liked the fabric. But I did have too many TBF so something had to go!

Did a little more sorting of tiny bits and pieces this morning too, nothing significant there but still it’s just a little less clutter.

I’m now pleasantly tired after lunch out with friends and probably won’t do any more for a bit. Was talking a lot about decluttering with friends though, which was really nice, as we very much understand each other’s difficulties with it, just like this thread :)

Oh Sing you reminded me, I too binned a pair of falling down pj bottoms. I finally decluttered my baby weight last year (‘baby’ turns four soon!) and I’m still finding bits and pieces of clothing that are far too big. I’ve kept the weight off for nearly a year so surely it’s now safe to chuck out my ‘fat’ clothes?

In actual fact, I could probably throw away every pair of proper pjs I have left, I don’t even like them! I’ve culled most of them already but for some reason have kept a few, I’m a wriggly sleeper and I find most proper nightwear too loose and I wake up with it all twisted around me. I’ve taken to wearing leggings and those thermal base layer type tshirts to bed as they’re soft and snug fitting so they don’t tie in knots as I roll over. So why have I got pjs that I never actually wear?!

Hi @GlumyGloomer, sorry if I phrased it wrong, it's me who is repeating myself by saying it's hard with kids as think I posted it the other day ! I have total baby brain. Can't remember anything! I didn't start the thread, it was StealthNinjaMum and it's very long running.

I was inspired to sort out my pants drawer, thank you PickledLilly.

I’m sulking today as I went to put something into a drawer which I had sorted out a few weeks back and it is full to bursting again. thanks DH (not).

I have a bag of DVDs to go to charity shop, we had three boxes worth in the garage which DH refuses to get rid of despite having several streaming services. In fairness he does rewatch things but I reckon we could’ve culled a lot more. I looked at selling but the few I checked were worth pennies so decided it’s not worth the hassle! One of my earliest decluttering successes was about 12 years ago when I found a charity shop that still wanted video tapes!

No outs today, might have a look around the kitchen while I am tidying after dinner.

Gave (adult) DS an ultimatum today - sort the remaining items and boxes that have cluttered up the Big Table for more than a month, or I bin the lot. Couple of hours later, the whole lot was sorted. There's still a considerable amount to do, but getting this much done is an achievement.

My own decluttering has centred around paperwork - everything for 2020 is under control, and anything for previous years is on the shelf for filing as and when I have the energy. Various financial tasks now undertaken, and paperwork shredded or filed as appropriate.

Two toys went out to the garage.

I had a productive day with cleaning - I brought a bag of clothes to the recycling bank.
I donated a stool, TV unit, mirror and side table from the garage on Saturday and it has made more space in the garage. I love seeing space! I haven't bought anything in a while and it is making a small difference. Rooms are easier to clean and I have space to put things.
Still have a lot to do but the little and often approach is definitely working here.

New bed delivered but problem with placement of some fittings 😡 actually very good customer service no quibbles and a replacement despatched and coming tomorrow. So has a camp bed set up instead but I knew exactly where to find it

Funnily enough I finished another tiny Molton Brown shower gel and body lotion today. Good luck Meg if there are no posts from you by this evening should we send a search party?

I now have two bags of clothes and books waiting for the next charity shop run, several things listed on eBay and inevitably more socks for the rag bag. I have some annual leave now so am hoping to make some good progress.

No huge progress today, but I took apart an old photo collage and reused the frame to make a new collage from a calendar we bought on our honeymoon years ago. The photos have gone into an album. The left over bits of calendar have gone in recycling. I'd be feeling very pleased only I managed to lose one of the frame clips so just feeling annoyed instead. Hope it turns up soon, I really want to hang my new picture up.