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!

I played a couple of board games with dd2 and she agreed to me getting rid of some jigsaw puzzles and books. I don’t think anyone would buy them so they’re just added to the pile of stuff going in the charity shop pile. I don’t know if I’m going to have tome to go to a charity shop in the next week but I have a small mountain of stuff to go now that no one wanted to buy.

Happy birthday to the scrummy twins. I'm a Christmas baby too totally read that as scummy @KateF 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Well they've had one book they own so will donate the old one, and one your like two they already have so will donate one of the old ones.

MIL took all the wrapping paper and boxes with her so massive win for my bin and decluttering.

Was organised and made sure everyone had cake so there's not much left and will certainly be done tomorrow.

Stealth I'd Def try, before the kids reclaim it...

Day 96: baby toys put away in attic

Christmas stuff down: one carrier bag of items to go either recycled or free cycle.

Photos: new method... delete via google photos and look at one year ago or two years ago and have a full from that selection too.

Would love to declutter miserable husband but let's face it who would have him?!

Ooh ooh and I delivered four households' presents to doorstep.

Tomorrow's goal: post cards and parcels.

@IWillWearThatGlitteryWoolly that is an epic frog!
Tell me the background to it again.

@IWillWearThatGlitteryWoolly that is amazing.

Lavendar bubble bath gone. This was the dcs and I dumped the remainder of the bottle in the bath today. Actually a lot more in there than I thought. Bubbles galore!

Also used up a giant bubble wand - sometimes we have these at bathtime.

And emptied out my handbag (again) today. Ditched some old (clean) pant liners which had removed themselves from their packaging, a pack of gaviscon tablets (no doubt I’ll need these again because I’ve ditched them) and some floss.

Dh made a use up soup for dinner so that’s all empty now. Yay.

Ditched some of the dcs artwork today too.

@IWillWearThatGlitteryWoolly that's an amazing frog, you have a lucky DD

@KateF I'm a Christmas birthday too, you think I'd know better 🤣🤣

Thanks for the warm welcome stealth and RaspberryBlonde, and great job on the outs, everyone.

iwillwearglitterywooly that frog looks amazing! I think you improved upon the original.

It was only the shame of missing my second day (after DD technically gave me my first day's out) that sent me hunting for something to get rid of at the last minute this evening. So, this thread works!

Today's out is some medication into the bag to be disposed of at the pharmacy and a few business cards into the recycling. I've also found some items that are close to being used up or worn out soon, so I'll work on those--planting the seeds for future outs.

unlimitedchips that’s a brilliant start. I’m glad the thread motivated you.

glitterywooly that is amazing. I wouldn’t know how to begin doing something like that.

The frog is amazing @IWillWearThatGlitteryWoolly

Today’s update: Was going to say that I haven’t got rid of anything today, but I threw out a couple of things from the fridge that were out of date. Unusual for us as we usually use up food before it goes out of date.

Didn’t get any presents wrapped or cards written today, but did list several toddler coats on a FB selling group. Have several bags containing presents on the floor in our bedroom as I have nowhere else to store them, but I should get some of them posted this week.

Bit of a cheat, but 13 Christmas cards from the stash were written today, ready to be dispatched tomorrow.

Frog looks awesome @IWillWearThatGlitteryWoolly Feeling slightly nervous reading your experience as we have quite a few niche plush toys that are coming from China.

Does 35 cards written before 8.30 necessitating in a taxi to school because today is the last day we can send them count?? Aagghhhhh. Bloody quarantine period

sleepingstandingup what a nightmare. I hate writing Xmas cards so I feel your pain.

At least it’s another dull job done for you. I have nearly finished mine and hope to get them out the door today. I hate writing cards but I like receiving them so it has to be done.

Hello all can I join in please. I am at breaking point with my house. We live in a new build with no storage and a combination of buying too much stuff for our space and not being naturally tidy people means the house is so messy. I just want a clear, easy to clean house leaving time to spend with my family.

I'm using the notes app on my phone to log what I am throwing out/donating etc to keep me motivated along with this brilliant thread.

So today I have thrown away a 2020 diary that was hardly used (and will be making sure not to buy one for next year as it clearly wasnt needed!) Also a headband that the dog chewed and broke. In the charity bag I have put some decorative Christmas beads that I wont use again and a pair of going out shoes that have never been worn and taking up space in my wardrobe. Feeling more positive already.

Yesterday’s out was a bottle of bubble bath in my first bath for god knows how long.

Today’s thing I get rid of could well be my marbles, as we are having to self isolate because of close contact with a positive case. DC’s cousin who we are in a childcare bubble with, has tested positive and the children were with her at my in-laws on Tuesday and Wednesday . We have tested negative but could still be incubating, and DD2’s reception year has closed as well because of one case, so it’s all going on. Plus I suspect we will be in tier three when the government review things on Wednesday. Ugh.

Maybe today we’ll do the Christmas cards and do a quick dash to the postbox (I can see it from the house so should be safe)

Welcome, @UnlimitedChipsAndSalsa & @Pinksands1!

Woolly - Wow! Well done! That's quite a frog!

Thanks for the new thread, Stealth!

My items today are:

• A decorative item which someone gave me which I've had on display for several years. It's been bothering me recently - it's kind of jarring as it doesn't fit in with the look I'm going for. So, it's on the pile.

• 2 items bought in error from ebay. I thought I was buying 1 and it turned out to be a pack of 3.

• I've cleared out my handbag so have 1 insurance info leaflet and 8 receipts going out.

My charity has let me down again so I have moved my large pile into the front room in an attempt to get it all out of the house quicker. (Fingers crossed!)

@SydneyCarton oh god, nightmare. Do you have any gin or wine to declutter whilst you hide on the kitchen with cake?

SleepingStandingUp I do, although I also have a cold so I can’t really appreciate wine or cake at the moment. Plus my youngest is only 2.5 so needs a pretty constant watch. He keeps pulling baubles off the tree and shouting “I got a BALLOON!!!” and then chucking them in his potty , who has given me today’s out - one broken bauble

Ok, new plan.

Duct tape. Ooh look 2.5 yo, new game, you sit up here on the wall cellotaped on place and see if you can find me whilst I hide...

I don't envy anyone trying to declutter with toddlers around!
Parcels posted this morning so that's two bags of things gone. All cards now posted. Going to do some tidying this afternoon which usually results in something going out.

So, months ago when clearing kitchen cupboards I found two part used tubs of bicarbonate. They were too old to bake with but I kept them as I know it’s handy for all sorts of things.

Fast forward to today when I spotted them again amongst the other clutter on the worktop and realised I need to use these now or dump them.

The sink plug hole is now full of bicarbonate of soda awaiting a wash through with hot vinegar in an hour or so and the bedroom carpet has been liberally sprinkled. The two empty tubs are in the recycling.

@Vinorosso74

I don't envy anyone trying to declutter with toddlers around! Parcels posted this morning so that's two bags of things gone. All cards now posted. Going to do some tidying this afternoon which usually results in something going out.

this is why i take random days off work and get my decluttering done in bulk when i can. the children (oldest is 3...) are a nightmare when i'm trig to sort things out.

@SleepingStandingUp

Ok, new plan.

Duct tape. Ooh look 2.5 yo, new game, you sit up here on the wall cellotaped on place and see if you can find me whilst I hide...

Love it 🤣. I think he would too!

Good work Miaowse

ememem84 I was hoping to book DS in for an extra day in nursery on my day off and get some advance decluttering and wrapping done, but now they’re all here all the time 🤨. It’ll have to be done by night....slowly....