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!

pollyannaperspective ooh that was good news. I permanently have stuff in the boot of my car now in case I can donate it to a charity shop.

jigolo that’s great that you did some diy jobs and you‘ve done really well this morning.

Last night I advertised a few free things on facebook and freecycle, so far I have no takers and I’m feeling impatient about getting rid of it. I also found a few bits in the utility room and will put them in the garage later. Then it’s a search for screwdrivers. I’m so glad we are past the stage of having lots of children’s toys with batteries because we used to have screwdrivers in every room of the house and used to discard so many batteries. So I think the utility room declutter / movement of stuff to the garage will take a few weeks as we find screwdrivers.

I have also found more socks to put in the rags bag.

I might have a break from the utility room and do the hall cupboard – as I’m trying to roughly follow Flylady. I think now would be a good time to rotate summer and winter stuff before dc go back to school and need their winter coats.

Didn't get to the mugs cupboard yesterday, so hoping to make a start on at least the middle shelf today. I have decluttered the baking cupboard of some walnuts (near use by date) and icing sugar in to a coffee and walnut cake.

DD and I had a few days away at my parents so not much achieved by me. DP cut some bushes back in the garden. Unfortunately, he didn't think to remove the weeds. I've spent this morning tidying the garden so that has been decluttered. There's a bit more to do but I'd had enough!
Found 3 jumpers of DD which are too small. They're a bit grubby so I'll wash them and see if they're ok for charity shop.

Prompted by Stealth mentioning them at the start of the new thread I’m gathering up bras for “Smalls for all* I’ve found them stashed in three different locations but am sure there are no more surprises lurking. Have asked a couple of friends I know are having a sort out too so should be a good haul. More uniform found for charity bag too due to a school change. Definite progress now visible in a few areas, playroom remains a disaster zone

Just had a second wind. Cleared out and shredded some paperwork. Also discovered some Christmas cards which can be recycled. Getting quite a bit together for dump run (just hope it all fits in our tiny car). DP has his paperwork folder out, will he sort through it tonight?

Stealth - I would try to fit it in the bags and tape them on. If bags-for-life are too small, I would try a black sack. Failing that, go through your 'out' pile and recycling and see what you can use? Maybe some rags could work as packaging?

Today's outs so far: 2 tops, some ribbon and packaging.

Had to stop for a few days as caught a cold on top of being 37 weeks. 😪 Neighbour has just brought round pile of badly written second hand books for DD (5). Unfortunately his charity shop is the place I take all unwanted books...sigh. there is literally no room on her bookshelf. DP has 'tidied' the changing area which means piled stuff up in a corner without finding it a proper home, so that's the next job. And sorting kitchen cupboards so stuff we use regularly is more accessible than decorative hoo-ha.

I fear I am getting decluttering fatigue.

Today:
One box of DS’s stuff sorted, mostly recycled.
Weeded whole front garden (not sure it counts, but it’s in the garden waste)
One magazine in recycling
One game sold and collected
3 More items moved from Depop to eBay as not selling
Checked dates in tinned food cupboard, everything fine but some things are close to date.

By predicting an eBay offer for the Bank Holiday weekend, I seem to have jinxed it! Sorry! Well, I assume no-one else got an offer - maybe I have just been passed over as I have hardly listed anything in the past 6 months?

Stealth - however you decide to package your game, if you are sending it via Royal Mail, make sure the final package is small enough to go as "Small Parcel" (assuming the game itself is small enough). You don't want to end up paying £s more if you don't have to.

Just caught up with the thread. Pollyanna I am jealous of your coffee cake. None of the rest of my family like it so I never make them any more.
Tonight I am going to start the paperwork. I am deeply afraid...

Not caught up here as I’ve been ignoring the clutter tbh! Trying to get sorted for the new term 😬

DH did discover that our wardrobey thing is back in stock so we’ve ordered it at last. Delivery not until mid October 😳 but we will focus on other stuff until then. Hopefully still going to the actual store at some point (especially for the trolleys I want for kitchen/bathroom) but at least now it’s not still risking the wardrobe being out of stock when we get there.

A piece of dds leggings out today. She bum shuffled everywhere and has managed to shuffle a hole in them. She’s 1. It’s sad because they were lovely quality ones from jojo in a lovely wine red colour. But oh well. They were well worn.

Also out:

Two courgette plants, 4 tomato plants, three chilli plants and three pepper plants. All duh up and shredded into the compost bin. Dh is planting new things today.

Garden makeover will absolutely be complete for summer 2021.

Recycling out today along with a very full bin. I know that doesn’t really count....

DH & I went through the bookshelves again and filled another box for the charity shop. I also threw out some packets of seeds that were very out of date and some random old papers that had been shoved in a kitchen drawer.

A pair of cords and a pretty sequinned winter scarf are also heading to the charity shop. The scarf is lovely but I never reach for it so hopefully someone else will love it and actually wear it.

Unfortunately we had some ins too - various toys for DS and some DIY stuff.

I now have a splitting headache, so will go and decluttering some painkillers.

*Carouselfish

😪 Neighbour has just brought round pile of badly written second hand books for DD

It took me a lot of years to Learn to say thank you but I don’t need your Second hand things, you will need to take them to the charity shop not to my house, often people try to give you things to make themselves fill better about getting rid of things.

There is nothing wrong with passing things on put always phone people and ask if they would like something before dropping them off at there home.

Miaowse

I think scarfs will be a big thing this winter as you can use them instead of masks to cover mouth and nose!! I have had a good look through my winter scarf and snood basket, and washing them getting the ready for the cold weather.

Good point, Nanalisa For a nanosecond after reading that I started wondering if I should rummage in the bag & take it out again, but my resolve is strong for once

Can of spray paint done. Just sprayed our bistro set for the garden a nice silvery grey. Going to tackle our ottoman bed storage later. Sigh. Wish me luck!

Pair of kids jeans in the charity bag, DD came home wearing them from her dads and They were visibly small and she Couldn’t do the top button up, looked at the label and they’re age 4, she IS tiny for her age but she’s also 7! No idea where he even dug them out from as I went through her room and decluttered before I left! Just need to find a charity shop that’s open and taking donations as the boot of my car is stuffed.

After spending my entire evening (all 1.5hours of it) I've barely made a dent in the paperwork chaos, which is pretty depressing. A few things to recycling or the burn pile, but mostly just macro sorting documents by type. I tacked stationary this morning, and boldly recycled some envelopes in odd sizes, and put together my million DL envelopes so I can hopefully stop buying more of them whenever I need to post something.
This is definitely the worst job in the house. Culling the sentimental stuff can be hard, but nothing is as should destroying as boxes and boxes of shuffled paperwork...

Three duvet sets folded and put into bags for the charity shop.

Pair of dhs boxers (all sorts of holes in them!) and a few reuseable face wipes which had been used to death have been binned today.

Thanks purlefrog and sandandsea I have no idea what a small parcel is so when dc go back to school I’ll have a look on their website and have a think. To be honest I don’t even want to make much money from the game, just want to go to a good home, but not if it costs more to post. There’re a couple of board game cafes in London so I’m in too minds about asking if they would like it - although with covid by they might have closed.

I have done nothing since yesterday. I’ll ty and spend fifteen minutes in the hall / sitting room today.

Four items of outgrown clothes in bag for relative today.

Broke a wine glass. So that’s out. Sigh. Only 2 of the “free” ones from supermarket deal left now.

If all goes to plan, adult son will be moving out at the end of September. He will not be using my house as a storage facility. I don't mind if he keeps sentimental things here, and I've offered him one cupboard for that purpose.

Is it fair to expect him to sort and declutter his life in four weeks? Imo, this should be fairly easy, as long as paperwork and admin are given priority above all else. I'm open to suggestions, but please no flaming, as there is a backstory that is not mine to tell. He is very bright, but struggles with motivation and perseverance if it is not linked to his specific interests.

Clothes - decide which band / concert teeshirts to keep, regardless of fit. Some are from his teen years.

Too-small clothes - which would he wear if he could? Discard the rest.

Everything that fits goes with him, unless it's something he hates, and will be donated.

Books - he's already said he's starting on them, I just hope he doesn't start rereading them.

Paperwork - much of this was done last month, when he covered The Big Table. But he needed quite a bit of prodding to get going and keep going. And some is still festooning the mantel piece.

Hobbies - imo, needs gathered all in one spot for him to fully appreciate just how much space it all takes up. I'm happy to start on that tomorrow, as it has gradually spread over the years.

So, what do people think? Have I missed anything really obvious?

What about bedding, towels, tea towels etc. Does he have his own or could you gift him some to start him off in his newplace? The idea of one cupboard to store sentimental stuff is genius. If attempts to get him to sort fail box it all up then he can live with the boxes until he chooses to tackle it.