Getting rid of one item a day thread number 14 – where we extract precious autumn leaves, rocks and twigs from our children

[stealthninjamummy]

Well I never thought I’d still be here, on the 14th thread where a bunch of mumsnetters get rid of one item a day while we slowly declutter and reorganise our houses.

It’s autumn and some of us have commented on our children’s beloved treasures that are coming in like conkers and precious twigs that have been named. This is the thread where we focus on sneaking these things out and getting the house ready for Christmas even if we don’t know what Christmas will be like this year.

New joiners are always welcome, just get rid of one item and let us know. We’ve all different issues and challenges and it’s nice to have a friendly chat with a fellow mumsnetter.

Previous thread here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4003927-Still-throwing-an-item-away-a-day-part-13?pg=1

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

Oo, there's so much going on here, you're all doing really well. I've just done a 'catch-up clear' which for me, tonight, meant a quick tidy, washing on and going through a couple of drawers.

Consequently, I've got 13 items going out. It's a bit of a mish-mash, from a receipt to a bulky wallet thing, and that stained top, which I have finally given up on.

I've been watching minimalism videos on yt so I'm feeling inspired.

Stealth - Talking of laundry baskets, I've often pondered getting a kallax (1x3) so I can pre-sort. Also, I believe that each cube is about a washing machine load. You could also turn it into a bench at the same time! (Getting excited just thinking about it tbh.) That said, the last time I was looking, I ended up going for strong canvas bags which are like a sack shape. They stand up but you can also hang them squashed in a cupboard when not using them.

So sorry to read of others having a tough time atm.

sandandsea that’s an awesome idea. I wonder if the idea of separating washing is too sophisticated for dc especially as I do a white wash, black wash, pastel wash and I do a gentle / hand wash for their wool or clothes with designs on (most of my clothes are hand wash so I combine them). It’s tricky and I am desperate to throw away the Stupid Broken Washing Basket.

Today I’m going to keep running through the list and I’ll do another 30 mins in the Room of Doom.

EllieQ things like that feel like a real victory, don't they, so well done. Sorry to hear about your DH's redundancy , it is hard but unfortunately a lot of people are also going through it From my own experience, I would say make sure you apply for any Universal Credit, mortgage payment holiday etc asap as things take time to process.

Forgot to unitard yesterday and I don't want to stop now!

Day 45: flasks and drink bottles gone with broken or missing parts, about ten bits in total.

I almost forgot to do anything as Monday is my housework day. But the I thought I'll run a hot bath and see if I can do a cupboard in the time it takes. So it was a speed declutter at 8:30pm but it made me be very decisive as I didn't want a flood.

Oh, high stakes decluttering there, footprints! I sometimes try to beat the dishwasher, but beating a running tap is hardcore!

Two frying pans, one saucepan, one oven tray, and some shot glasses all in a bag to go to the charity shop once I've finished my lunch.

Most left by landlady in case I needed them (with the understanding I could chuck if not). I've not used them whilst living here so time to bw brutal - I've basically just gained an empty kitchen cupboard!

I think I need to join!

We did, like most people, purge the house over lockdown and then got stuck with boxes of stuff. I've taken the last 7 (smallish) boxes over the last two days to the charity shop and I've put some stuff online and posted the last of the reusable nappies yesterday. Still got a ton more baby clothes to get online and a load of second hand next size up to sort before the babies needle it, but there's tons so Def need to not keep it all.

But even with all that, the kids have too much toys and stuff, too many clothes all round, too much kitchen junk.

If o get rid of lots of items onne day will that cover me for the week? 😃😃

Dd2 is being a right pain about naps at the moment, (my options being tiny nap/grumpy toddler but bed on time, or long nap, happy toddler up until gone ten) so I'm getting next to nothing done. I did wrap some Christmas presents and recycle the packaging, so that's something I guess.

On laundry sorting I found I just had too many categories (white, dark, tumble dry, wool, towels) for it to work, added to which Dh refused to learn what should go where. Now I have a big white basket and 2 carry baskets, but it's not flawless by any means. Great if you stay on

...top of it. My phone froze mid post

sleepingstandingup welcome. Yes you can just have one good day a week although if you try and just do 5 mins a day - say a drawer while you’re boiling the kettle - it becomes habit.

I managed my second 30 minute session in the Room of Doom. I’m still not sure I’ve decluttered anything as much o it was already there because it was junk. I have moved more things to other parts of the house and advertised a few bits for sale. You can see most of the carpet which is awesome but there is now a massive pile of bags in front of the Cupboard of Crap and these are now full of Xmas presents. I want to empty the Cupboard of Crap so am intending to start wrapping the presents. So I might put up the Xmas tree tomorrow!

I made the problem worse by doing more Xmas shopping as I want to shop more locally this year. I didn’t find a laundry basket solution I liked in the three shops I went in so I think I’ll probably end up buying a pop up round one from amazon. That wouldn’t be perfect but would be better than my broken one.

Popping the kettle on would be nice, I need to declutter babies too 🤣

@stealthninjamummy that's great as just reading your advice whilst the kettle was boiling and though 'my god what am I doing wasting precious time' so I opened the drawer and quickly found some incense sticks to get rid of on freecycle. Posted them there and then. What a good role model you are!😇

Also I've deleted some photos from phone and some my emails of course. I'm slowly decluttering my to do list and have painted some internal doors and made a Xmas cake.

Does anyone here have trouble getting their photos across from an iPhone to a laptop with windows 10? Apparently there are glitches. I can't get more than ten across at a time but I'm plodding on every night as I take less than ten photos a day so I should catch up eventually.

So that is day 46 on track.

Hey glad to hear I influenced you footprints if only my dc listened to me life would be great! That reminds me I should probably declutter the cupboard under the kettle I haven’t done it for about a year. It’s full of cleaning products that never get used.

Ditched bras today. I bought new ones though as I need them....

Wfh tomorrow so am hoping I can do some serious decluttering on lunchbreak.

Ditched bras today. I bought new ones though as I need them....

Wfh tomorrow so am hoping I can do some serious decluttering on lunchbreak.

Cot, baby walker and tv stand out, final pots cleared from balcony and food box deposited at foodbank. A good day today. A toy out tomorrow and hopefully last couple of items of maternity clothing. Then have to sort our wardrobe so that the doors will close and the space is better utilised.

Cot, baby walker and tv stand out, final pots cleared from balcony and food box deposited at foodbank. A good day today. A toy out tomorrow and hopefully last couple of items of maternity clothing. Then have to sort our wardrobe so that the doors will close and the space is better utilised.

I just remembered I threw out my big manky oven gloves. They had holes in them so not very safe anymore. I replaced them with a small glove that will fit in a drawer so my kitchen will look less cluttered.

A pair of holey socks and the dust bag that came with my handbag made it into the rag bag today.

I also started refilling my car with the stuff for the dump, which I took out of my boot when the car had to go into the garage. I really hope I can drop it off before the lockdown restrictions kick in.

I've just gone through all the clothes for the next size up. I did admittedly buy new vests and sleepsuits... But i sorted out a bag from it to go to charity shop, and I'm returning one pack of vests as I don't need 18 short sleeved baby vests

November day 3 update: Today I shredded a pile of repeat prescription requests - I have a monthly prescription, and get the paper request forms when I collect it even though I order the repeat prescription online.

I had a small pile (maybe two years worth ) and I just shredded a couple at a time through the day when I needed a break from work. Very pleased that I’ve got it done.