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.

Just gone through some of DD's old toys and stationery. Made me realise just how much she is growing up as there's a few things she used to love and now doesn't want so binned quite a few things. We do have some stuff to pass on but not sure where to as yet so I've put everything in one box for now.
I do need to go through her winter clothes to get rid of outgrown stuff. She hasn't acquired much new stuff for summer this year so the wardrobe isn't full.

well, my decluttering has gone down the drain for a bit.
My dh decided to decorate the kitchen and with helping with that, I've done nothing for ages.
The rest of the house is a tip, why does this happen when you are only doing one room.
So, hopefully when we have finally cleaned up, the house is nice again, I can continue.
Still haven't tidied the doorway to be able to close the door on the room of doom.
Still, the aim was to have it all finished by xmas, so still have plenty time.

Devlesko decorating is still progress on the house. I agree though it's frustrating how fast the house becomes a tip when you are focused on a big job.
I'm hoping to sort my doom room by Christmas too! It's mostly stuff from my former pre kids life, and stuff left over from doing the bathroom.

It's amazing isn't it. Just how much we keep in the way of sentimentality and rubbish.
Have you ever noticed there's nothing much in between to sort out, unless it's worn out or broken, but then it's rubbish.
Our room is full of photo'd, kids keepsakes and ours.
Lots of bedding that will be going back to school with dd, so that will help. Then there's old projectors, screens and dad's artwork I keep meaning to sort and frame.

I'm happy he's decorating though as it was a mess. Our aim is to downsize in a couple of years when youngest goes to college. The other two left home some time ago.
So it doesn't take a genius to know that going from 4 beds to 2/3 a lot of stuff needs to go.

Thanks Alexthelittlecat I'm finding her emails very annoying so just do a couple of items from the daily flightplan. Today I've thrown away some manky soap that dd2 loves and spent hours looking for a storage unit for the bathroom. I am about to do the 27 item boogie where I rehome items from the utility room back to the rest of the house. I'll probably find some stuff to chuck out at the same time.

Do9ng the bedroom now the stars wars stuff will go any big pictures that take up room are also going, doing drawers as well.

Procrastinating again, I found this funny so thought I'd share.
Scroll down and you'll know which one I mean

www.reed.co.uk/courses/centre-of-excellence-online/p652?pageno=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyN_Fo5il6wIVAWHmCh1_IwnpEAAYAiAAEgIWA_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It just really tickled me.

Hi, I'd like to join you. I was on this thread in January 2019, but then life happened with some fairly major stuff that is still ongoing but more under control. So I'm back to trying to declutter a house that is more cluttered than ever ☹️

I made a decent start this week. I've gone through dd2's toys, and all the ones she doesn't want are now in the car waiting to go to charity (my mum volunteers in a charity shop that are now open and accepting donations, we're going there on Thursday) We also went through her wardrobe and those clothes are ready to go too. So my car is now full of stuff to go to charity, with 6 charity bags of toys, 2 charity bags of kids clothes, and a smaller bag of school uniform for the uniform bank. I feel like I've accomplished quite a bit, but the house still looks very full!

Develsko That's great, then we can hire ourselves out to clear out other people's clutter

Welcome msawesomedragon, that's a great start! It's hard with kids in the mix, hard to get it all finished.

Thanks for the welcome. I feel as if I've misled you about my kids, they're not little any more. Dd1 is 20 and her stuff is in her room and I just shut the door so I can't see it. Dd2 is 10 and is actually pretty helpful with decluttering. She was more ruthless than I expected her to be, and very happy to get rid of the vast majority of her toys!! She's kept the Playmobil and the Sylvanian families, plus a handful of soft toys, but pretty much all the toys that were stored in the living room are now in the car waiting to go to the charity shop.

We're getting a new bathroom put in in a few weeks, so that will be next on my decluttering list (that should be an easy win as there's not much in there anyway). Then I'll move onto the hallway, which needs to be decorated as well, but not til the bathroom's done. I think this is the year that I'll finally get a handle on the house. I'm getting a cleaner now as well, now we don't have any childcare costs for dd2.

Hi MsA welcome! (And to any other newbies as I have been rubbish at keeping up!) Ah it’s a bittersweet moment when kids get rid of toys I find. Mind you I still need to sort out the playmobil, we had loads over the years and it didn’t get played with much once we moved despite the face we had lots more space as we didn’t store it properly. So many missing bits and the odd broken piece means it will be sellable only as a cheap job lot on FB I think, and the DCs can have some of the money.

Nothing happening here as focusing on organising life admin rather than clutter but we will need to focus on the bedroom soon before finally getting our wardrobe!

Alex

I know, what an absolutely unbelievable course. Some of them on there are bonkers but some really good ones too.
i found A level Sociology on there the other day.
Always looking for bargain courses, but must admit that one really made me laugh.
Let's learn how to declutter instead of just getting on with it.

Yes I can spend 150 hours learning about decluttering or I can do it!

Having said that there is an industry body for declutterers and you can pay one for £50 an hour! I know a couple of people who have had declutterers, there’s quite a market for it - people moving abroad, downsizing, mums like us who have become overwhelmed. I briefly considered it when my stbexh moved out but will probably end up in an admin job.

Filing done today so i’ve done some shredding and envelope chucking away. After lunch i’ll spend some more time in the utility room.

I’ve often wondered about those paid for courses tbh. As in, how well regarded are they in reality?! Eg someone I know started a counselling skills one for the bargain of £29 but zero tutor input, it’s just information and the odd quiz. Whereas the adult education one (cache level 2) was free (usually has a returned deposit), and has tutor marked assignments and a practical assessment too. Which I really prefer as I like the feedback.

I’d like to try for example the play therapy one, obviously to actually practice you need a big qualification but I mean as a taster. But is it actually even worth mentioning if you then apply to the degree or placements etc?! I know there are some reputable providers but others just seem to jump on the bandwagon.

/end ramble that is entirely irrelevant to decluttering

DH was really baffled when we were binge watching Hoarders as the helpers kept saying “my name is X and I’m a Certified Professional Organiser” - he was confused as to why that is a Thing 😂

SingToTheSky

In the U.K. there is APDO
Association of Professional Declutterers & Organisers

These are people who can come in and help you with your home

SingToTheSky

I think that some of those courses are highly regarded, but you do need to double check what you actually get for the money.
I do think they are up front though there is explanation about which are real qualifications and the level.
I'm looking at one for Tarot atm, to brush up. Now this is actually considered as acceptable to the London institute.

Been shopping today for clothes for dd going into 6th form, so not done much.
Have managed a couple of carrier bags of rubbish, every little bit helps.

Love that course why would I pay for theory when I have so much practical experience open to me at home However I do have a tendency to preferring to watch others rather than doing my own - Hoarders and Tidying up

Poked through a few more drawers- more unworn gloves to charity bag, more old socks for rag bag. Couple of cropped trousers I’d forgotten I had hung up ready to wear

Monday I got some stuff to charity shop AND I have some piles to list on Ebay now. Not yet listed bec we are going on holiday soon, but I won't let it linger after we return.

After a few quite busy days I'm glad to have flaked a bit today, but I should make a declutter effort this evening. Wish me luck...

Waiting to hear if lljkk found the energy to do more decluttering.

Feeling a bit bored with flylady. I think my bathroom’s declutterered and I’m bored with the utility room so I’m just going to spend ten minutes in the room of doom. Then I want to play with dc and try to enjoy the end of the holidays. I realise I’m feeling a bit sad about them going back to school!

I DID find energy, thanks for asking. :)
Threw out a child's jigsaw puzzle missing 17 pieces (yes, really, I had hoarded that).
Tossed another old jigsaw puzzle missing 3 pieces.
Found some little kid toys & a puzzle to go to charity shop.
Sorted thru some boxes and other items for rubbish bin or freecycle.

Browsed DC's GCSE & yr11 coursework papers (huge pile). I now have permission to recycle most of this. Maybe do that this morning...

Reasonably happy with that. :)

Partway through my week of cleaning catch up, both bathrooms and kitchen done (and getting messy again already). Just the DC's bedrooms and living room to go.
Starting to think about tacking the diy stuff, and I'm dreading it already. Unlike the books there's no clear cut approach. I think my first move is to fit a padlock on the cupboard under the stairs, and try to make that my main store for tools etc.

Hello I’ve lurked on these threads for a while. I’m more trying to keep the house tidy and organised and decluttering as I go along.
I cleaned the side of my bed this week (has piled up with rubbish and hobby crap and realised it was making my mood worse).

I think since lockdown started I’ve fallen into a bit of down spiral and haven’t cared as much about the house. I’m hoping to get out of this and get on top of it all (to an extent) again. My plan is to be sorted by December ready for Christmas.

The other week I also organised the wardrobe and the clothes that are going to the charity are still sitting on the floor of the bedroom. Must get better at actually getting rid of things.
Today I am tidying the living room thinking if I feel happy about some of the rooms it will give me the incentive to carry on.