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 didn't think I'd manage any sorting/decluttering today so am pleased with what I managed. I cleared & sorted 2 shelves in our large kitchen cupboard. Only threw out a couple of ancient bits of ginger & some packets, but decanted a few odds & ends of packets into nice containers. I have more lentils & rice than I realised! Also moved a few coats from under the stairs to bedrooms- we had so many under there we struggled to find the right one, so am keeping 3 per person under there (1 school, 1 weekend & 1 filet for each DC) & the rest in bedrooms. So feel like it's been a successful day, considering I hadn't planned to do anything.

Our wardrobe arrived yesterday. There is a lot to sort out in the bedroom (that sounds wrong) 😅

Unfortunately some level of shoving stuff in bags/boxes is going to be necessary 😳

Day 29:
Some Halloween decorations I bought years ago for 10p (I don't do Halloween but these were skeletons and I had some idea they'd be fun when doing biology lessons in school but that's never happened) anyway, put on freecycle and thankfully claimed.

Lapsed a bit but did dismantle the pea sticks today and put them in the kindling pile

Thanks for all the congratulations everybody!

DH had a day off yesterday so took the baby out for the afternoon. It was the perfect opportunity for me to make a start on the spare room, which has been completely overflowing with baby stuff since my DC arrived.

I managed to declutter so much stuff :

• About eight bags of secondhand baby clothes that people gave us but we never got round to using and DC has now outgrown
• A secondhand playmat that we got dirt cheap off eBay but again, never used
• A pair of shoes that I love but never wear because they're uncomfortable (that was a bit of a wrench to be honest, but I'm confident it was the right decision)
• Random breastfeeding stuff (like nipple shields, breast pads) that I no longer need
• Some old cardboard packaging and broken hangers
• A baby bathtub
• Some out of date medicines and beauty products I no longer use

I also gave the spare room a really thorough clean and left the window open for ages to get some fresh air in after dislodging all that dust.

I've snuck in there several times today just to admire how serene and tidy it looks!

Glad you finally got your wardrobe Sing, hopefully it makes a big improvement

confusedofglumy I have days where I don't think I'll do much and find myself emptying and finishing a whole area. Your lentil / rice comment reminds me I have lots too. During lockdown I was eating lots of rice and lentils but I got bored. We've got about three bags of risotto rice which I learnt is actually quite nice boiled so I'm going to cook a few things over half term that use up rice.

wondering7777 that sounds amazing, really satisfying to get rid of all of that stuff.

I had a good day yesterday. We have a big drawer that contained plastic stuff dc could reach into from when they were toddlers so plastic plates, straws, cups, water bottles. We used to have lots of big play dates but dc just don't seem to be as into that anymore (even when we were allowed).
So I probably set aside a large carrier bag of stuff

• about 5 plates (paw patrol, peppa pig!)
• 6 or 7 cups / drinks bottles
• 3 plastic parts from drinks bottles that have long ago been chucked out
• lots of bendy plastic straws that are a sod to wash up.

I did this with dd1 who insisted I keep her favourite moshi monster plastic plate.

The space in the drawer fits their lunchboxes - which currently live in my baking utensils cupboard tottering on a pile of baking trays so that will be less dangerous when I next decide to do baking.

Half-term has started here so I have created the 14th thread before I get too busy. Keep posting here until it runs out.

New thread is here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4053749-Getting-rid-of-one-item-a-day-thread-number-14-where-we-extract-precious-autumn-leaves-rocks-and-twigs-from-our-children

Started in on one of the lounge cupboards of doom. One small tub of bath salts in the charity bag (still have security seal on so should be ok). Sorted mass pile of paperwork into 4 plastic folders for later filing. Need to find the folders under the junk first! Updated my gig book with the paltry earnings since September and realised I hadn’t been paid for something from last tax year so that is hopefully a good ‘in’

Cutlery drawer gone. Dh bought a Joseph Joseph one on amazon on prime day as ours was a bit minging.

Used up a couple of swim nappies for Dd this weekend.

A bar soap has been finished. So a new one put in its place in the shower. Determined to use up everything we have before buying new.

Finally used up my conditioner today. Last night we had another packet curry that had been lurking in the cupboard for about a year - both kitchen food cupboards are much easier to use now with less crammed in. I will hopefully have some proper outs later.

I know that buying new storage items is not normally in keeping with the spirit of the thread but please look at my lovely new laundry trolley! DH and I swore copiously trying to assemble it, but I’m very pleased with it, and it fits perfectly.

Very jealous of your lovely laundry set up @AnythingLegalConsidered, looks perfect!

I have done some proper decluttering as well though - 3 cardboard boxes for electronics items which are past their guarantee period and will never need to be revived.

Also some miscellaneous stuff for children’s bedrooms which I found when clearing out the loft. But I’m getting to that age when I won’t throw away duplicate table lamps, curtains, saucepans etc because the DC may need them for student accommodation.

I had some outs last night.
Gave BIL a couple cheap kites that we got for our DC a couple years ago for Easter. If he didn't want them I would have tossed them (one was broken but fixable). My niece also took an old kitchen cabinet door- turned into a quote that could hang on the wall. It was a gift I made for my DD a few years ago, but she decided last year that she didn't want it anymore. Along with a couple of lotions that didn't go well with my skin. We also had them take some of DS's too small underwear for my nephew as he's still training, I believe.

Well done on sorting the spare room out wondering I also love admiring a newly sorted space (of any size)
That's exciting sing on the delivery of your wardrobe. Hopefully the bags and boxes will be temporary.
wellies your mental health is definitely important, it's good that you were able to recognise what the fitbit was doing to you.

Have posted on the new thread, but will post here too! Returned a pot of mustard powder to my mum today. The only out, but have sold a couple of bits to be collected tomorrow & bagged up library books & dead batteries to take to the library when I do my shift on Tuesday.

Also struggling with whether to throw the joggers which DS3 was wearing today which finally went at the knee. Probably should as they are getting too short anyway, we have loads more & they have done 3 DC, but seems wasteful somehow! They would go into my ragbag rather than the bin.

Laundry trolley looks great @AnythingLegalConsidered

Feel no guilt at sending the joggers to the rag bag @confusedofengland

@AnythingLegalConsidered I love the flush fit in the space, very satisfying to look at!

Day 30 here:
And I've sold a pair of irregular choice shoes so I'm thrilled at that 'out'. I'm also sending a friend a dress that she had her eye on. She'll look cool and hip in it whereas I look frumpy.

Both items wrapped and ready to post tomorrow.

Just decluttered two drawers in the living room dresser.

And ditched three vases of flowers which were on their way out. To the compost!

Well done - everyone is making great progress. Sometimes the weekends can be hit or miss here. I gave away a baby changing mat and a bag of baby clothes. Dropped a small bag to the charity shop yesterday. Dumped an old pair of shoes, a babygrow and some cardboard boxes.
Had some ins as I've made a good start on my Christmas shopping and got it into the attic so it is hidden clutter!

Excellent work everyone. Just some old cosmetics and things here (I know that I have tidied these shelves before- what on earth was going through my head when I put everything back? Half empty bottle of medicated mouthwash from about 6 years ago?? Why??? Why would I have ever thought I might use that?)
Was a lovely day so dig over some of the veg garden to give myself a headstart for next year and am happily physically tired for the first timebin months.

Also just managed to break a vase while I was washing it. Dropped it in the sink and as it bounced tried to catch it why?!?! so that’s gone. As are 4 plasters to cover my wounds. Thankfully only minor but I was concerned initially theyd need stitches.