Still throwing an item away a day – part 13

[StealthNinjaMum]

One of mumsnet's friendliest corners this is the 13th 'one item a day' thread to inspire and motivate a group of mumsnetters to declutter their houses, gardens and lives bit by bit, one step at a time.

Each day we get rid of just one item and report back. We’ve all got different challenges and problems and it keeps us going to discuss them and work through them together.

Newbies are welcome. It’s not just decluttering, join us in the chat about recycling, organisation, grumbles about hoarding family members and obviously our many successes.

Previous thread here.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/3913755-The-decluttering-one-thing-a-day-thread-part-12?msgid=99387987

And for 2020 some of us are also aiming to get rid of 2020 items!

I seem to have fallen off this thread! A couple weeks ago I did a big sort out in DS room, got a few pillow cases and sheets in a box ready to take to the storage unit to go into the yard sale. It's a good size box so I'll be really happy once I have it filled up and it if the house. I may still change my mind and just donate it, depends on how I feel the day it goes! There are a few boxes that DH has decided could go so he threw those out (empties, to do with computer parts) but kept about 3 of them since they are what we are using right now on the computer. I came across an electric drill that's lost its power, can't even use it to drill a hole so that will be thrown out, but DH wants to keep the box out came in. Doesn't know what he wants it for though 🤨😒
Today I plan to go through one box that's in the living room (it's been in there for a few months now) DC were supposed to find the cds to put in the cases that are in the box so they can get put in the yard sale. That hasn't happened at all. I want both those large boxes out of my living room, so today is the day!

Shelves built, but I've just seen how many photos I have and realised what a huge job it is.
I have 2 photo boxes, which are quite compact, but too many bulky albums. There's also 3 of Dh's baby photo albums Mil gave straight to me because he's not that fussed, and a box of large/framed type photos including a pro framed one of me as a baby. I like it because you can really see the resemblance to dd2, but at the same time I don't want it on the wall. There's no glass, the picture seems to be printed on board. Will have to think about that one.

A sheet of notes and two fossillised packets from the freezer out today. Also converted some nearly ood choc drops in to a chocolate loaf cake.

We have, wrapped up in store or otherwise known as the 'shed of doom', lots of photos in frames from when we had a whole wall of family photos - wall went when we had building work. It is a winter 'to do' activity to take all the photos out of the frames and then keep in a file in our photo box. We might reuse some of the frames and donate the rest.

I have booze in my desk drawer at work a miniature bottle of vodka in an “break in case of emergency” frame.

Today’s outs. Pair of dhs shorts and a lot of odd socks.

3 Facebook friends decluttered. As well as over 3000 pictures from my phone.

My day 19 update:

No decluttering today as I haven’t had a chance to do anything, though I did put some of DD’s old wellies up for sale on a local FB group. DH is going to take DD to the park tomorrow, so I’m hoping to get a couple of hours to go through the stack of photos I brought home with me.

Did I tell you I took 2 bags for the scouts charity, pluss some paperwork. Brought back some paperwork but straight in the recycling and post distributed (I'm group secretary)

Out today bedroom carpet ready for new one tomorrow

@ememem84

3 Facebook friends decluttered. As well as over 3000 pictures from my phone.

I've actually deleted the Facebook app from my phone. So I can still access it on the laptop but it's more of an effort so I don't bother.

Well, having slept on it I have a plan for the photos. I look through albums, I have not looked through the boxes since I filled them. So my plan is to go through every thing, scan everything I want to keep, put the most special into albums and then get rid of the boxes.
Out so far, so really bad quality pics of random buildings I took on a school trip.

Few small outs, I’ve got a rag bag on the go and I added a pair off DDs leggings that had holes in. I was given a bag of clothes for DS by a friend and I went through it immediately and sorted into wash basket to keep, rag bag for ones that were beyond saving and some to go to exes house. I’ve also added a few more bits to the charity bag, a vest top I never wear, a few bits that DS has grown out of. I’m eyeing up an old handbag which was much loved but is a bit past it’s best. I’ve not used it since I got my new one for Christmas so I think it probably needs to go.

Sorted out the medicine box that was overflowing downstairs, now nice and easy with only one of everything and my backstock in my big bag upstairs.

Threw away some out of date worming medicine, but that was it.

Photos on my phone/iPad/cloud is a massive job I really need to do.

@footprintsintheslow I’ll get to that point eventually...can’t quite do it yet.

Also out today:

Some of ds’ old pants
A pair of my jeans
Two skirts
Some random kids to plastic boxes.

Use ups:

Glaces cherries
Marshmellows
White chocolate chips
Chocolate

Ds and I made rocky road bars.

Various sheets of paper, recipes I will never cook, combined two part filled boxes of cleaning cloths in to one and finished a moisturiser from the family bathroom - in my capacity as 'user upper'.

Having changed DC from a single to a double bed, I am now gathering all the no longer needed single bedding and a single duvet which I hope I can donate to the local refuge.
1609/2020

I've dug up some bay trees from our tiny front garden and an going to set them free in my fathers fields. I'm also doing the same with excess strawberry plants.

Hello another inspired by reading about everyone’s progress. I am hampered by my desire not to just throw stuff that could be reused, then I wonder if I’m becoming like the hoarders on the telly who keep rubbish from 20 years ago “in case it’s useful”

So first thing I need help with I have sorted out littlest kids underwear and socks. Lots of the pants are barely worn and it seems a shame to throw in textile recycling. Does anyone know of charity that might take them or another solution? What about cash for clothes?

Finally got round to recycling a box of light bulbs - took them in to Robert Dyas. Also sold some old boots on ebay that I'll post tomorrow!

Outs: diaries from 2015 to 2017. I still feel a need to keep my 2014 diary as it is the year I nearly died and something weirdly makes me want to keep it. Also, mass prunings from an ornamental tree in the garden.

My eBay items are not selling - have now relisted on ridiculously low price - just want it out.

Another sad out for me with guinea pig number 2 dying yesterday 😢. But we did get another 2 baby guinea pigs last week, so overall we're at a neutral position on the number of guinea pigs and associated stuff we own.

Lots of smaller stuff going into charity bags. Cleared out my sock drawer and now it closes!! Loads of socks into the rag bag as I'm not sure charity shops really take used socks. Next drawer to be tackled is my knicker drawer, and they're definitely going in the textile recycling bag as NOBODY wants my used knickers!!

Oh no, so sorry to hear your sad guinea pug news @MsAwesomeDragon

@Hamsterfan I have given pants and socks to my child’s infant school so they have spares in case of accidents, but mostly I put them in the rag bag for recycling.

I am not doing terribly well - seem to have lost momentum. I put all my bathroom stuff in a box recently (as part of a declutter challenge) and I think that will help me use up some of the bitty dregs of shower gels etc. My DH took lots of his stuff out & put it back on the windowsill and end of the bath so it’s not quite as uncluttered as it was originally, but still looks much better. Another empty bottle out today.

Litter picker donated to the stables. Old carpet out.

Tried to research somewhere to give away makeup to today (mostly lipstick - ex bought them for me, I've never been a lipstick wearer!). Frustratingly I used them to be polite (I know)/see if I could get into the habit and everywhere I found will only take unused cosmetics.

This is a dilemma as they're perfectly useable and there's plenty left but I won't use them and I can't find anywhere to give them to. Feel bad putting them in the bin though! Friends and family is my last idea, but that feels weird for some reason ...

I started sorting through a box of photos and found half a dozen or so to get rid of from the first bundle I checked. There were also a few old birthday/occasion cards and I got rid of all bar one. Lots more to look through another day.

Chucked a pair of too big jeans today. Also when reading endless books to the toddler I put aside a few to get rid of soon. We’ve mainly stuck to board books but she seems to have moved past the phase of being rough with them so we will completely move over to picture books by Christmas I think. She has some already that were her big siblings’ (we had a clear out when I was pregnant - 8 year gap so they’d outgrown many and chose some nice ones to keep for her) but her advent calendar is going to be second hand paperbacks this year as there are a few particular stories I want to find for her :o

@Hamsterfan

Hello another inspired by reading about everyone’s progress. I am hampered by my desire not to just throw stuff that could be reused, then I wonder if I’m becoming like the hoarders on the telly who keep rubbish from 20 years ago “in case it’s useful”

So first thing I need help with I have sorted out littlest kids underwear and socks. Lots of the pants are barely worn and it seems a shame to throw in textile recycling. Does anyone know of charity that might take them or another solution? What about cash for clothes?

Does your local area have a Facebook free page. Our does and I honestly can't believe the stuff people offer (good and bad) and everything gets passed on. Today we got rid of 4 WWT magazines as we are Slimbridge wetlands members. In the past we've given away a broken bean bag as someone wanted it for reusing the insides for their own project.

If you haven't got a local free page maybe set one up.

No outs today but I did get a nice box to store my big card framed photos in. Some I’ve put into proper frames ready for the wall.