The countdown to Christmas - but still decluttering one item a day. Thread number 15

[stealthninjamum]

Thread number 15 of the ‘declutter one item a day thread’ and this bunch of mumsnetters are still decluttering our houses slowly by getting rid of one item a day.

It’s always challenging at Christmas for declutterers, as we fill our house with more presents, food and children’s toys. This thread should give us a bit more accountability as we keep plugging away slowly while we making our homes more organised and decluttered.

Obviously Christmas won’t be the same this year and the stealthninjahousehold won’t be having any visitors but I’m still keen to spend the last couple of weeks making my house a nicer space to spend time in.

Newbies are always welcome. We just get rid of one item each day and report back on the thread.

Previous thread 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?pg=1

Happy birthday SleepingStandingUp and happy New Year’s Eve everyone

footprintsintheslow I used a Cosatto Shuffle double buggy, which is a bit of a tank but nice and narrow (tandem style) enough to fit down the aisle of the bus and through the doors. Now languishing on Facebook marketplace waiting for a buyer - that will be a great declutter as there’ll be a ton of space in the storage cupboard. Fortunately I hung onto it when we had an Unexpected Third

We are a London borough hotspot so no school until 18th at least. No idea how the areas have been chosen but wasn’t surprised we were one of them. Work is okay with special/parental leave and hopefully there’ll be some online teaching (YR and Y2, so not vital years. Still frustrating though)

Conditioner used up. Wahoooo.

@footprintsintheslow me neither I just didn't have much other option other than slinging. We unload and load outside, it's shit in the rain

Box of hair dye that I bought back in February (in an actual shop!) used up, plus a sachet of conditioner left over from the last time I coloured my hair. The little bottle of conditioner from this box should dovetail nicely with the bit of shampoo I have left, then it’s onto bar shampoo and conditioner for less plastic clutter. Winning

I’m storming through my slightly out of date baking stuff and looking forward to tucking into the tasty treats later. And had a bit of a bathroom blitz so made a small dent in my huge collection of cleaning supplies.

The empties in the bathroom and kitchen had built up again so I’ve rinsed everything and put it in the recycling bin.

I downloaded an app which gives daily prompts for something to declutter. Today’s is bedding so thought of you @MrsTidyHouse
I’m sure I have a few manky pillowcases I could put in the rag bag, but haven’t had a chance to check yet.

@SydneyCarton you just reminded me that I have a box of hair dye that was delivered to me by accident in an online grocery mix up. I’m not quite sure what to do with it. Do food banks take hair dye??

my packing cubes arrived! so i have slacked off work, and have sorted out the under bed storage. it is now nice and neat. i have added a red wool pea coat to the charity bag pile. I haven't worn it this winter, and it is about 7 years old so has had a good time.

have also sorted through dd's clothes and got rid of a bag of stuff. charity shop too. feeling rather smug

in work news have filed all my emails today, so a nice digital detox there.

Don't think for banks would, one for the charity bag I think. I have two, I should just dye my hair shouldn't I

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

I've decluttered lots of naughty Christmas food. Ins: three pounds of extra Christmas weight. Outs: a kids table to Facebook buyer.

I need to catch up on thread, only on page 9 and get back to decluttering for the new year.

@sleepingstandingup i have a box of purple/red hair dye in my under bed stash. was thinking about doing it. maybe that'll be my 2021 thing...

Happy new year everyone, and happy birthday Sleeping 🎂
Dd's clothes mostly sorted, and this size less badly stained than the last one. I've got a bag for charity, probably see if icollectclothes is still running (T4, joy).
Trying to get dd1 sold on the decluttering mission. I'm hoping this is really gonna be my year.

@IWillWearThatGlitteryWoolly
It’s called Toss and it was free on the App Store. I thought it might be helpful to have a prompt every day.

What age do clothes get less stained?? These two are weaning messily, def have less in this stage then normal. Garage is full of next sizes up from my kids, dneph and random people who pass on because we have twins 🤣 I really need to sort out the 2-3 stash

And thanks for the birthday wishes

@Miaowse I think food banks do take toiletries but hair dye might not be what they’re looking for. You could always check with a local one, or list it to give away on Olio

Thanks for the Toss recommendation, I’ll have a look at that

@SleepingStandingUp 9-12 months was decimated 🤣 12-18 fared much better. Mind you that's the long sleeved tops, so the latter half of 12-18. I think a lot of the t-shirts were ruined. Sue to space I sorted those put as soon as the weather turned.

What age tho cos mine are in 18-24 already.... and they're 12.5 months 🤣🤣🤣

Best wishes to all as we turn the year end into 2021, wherever you may be.

Have a charity bag half full from the remaining items DH decluttered from his 'just put it in there' drawer on Monday before the stairs incident leading to broken arm. 40 items! so he reached 99 items in the one effort. He will make the 100 by decluttering a car this weekend. He has always loved cars - previously raced them as a hobby - but this last broken bone has brought the realisation that a racy sports car is no longer a feasible driving option. He has decided to sell the car and it should go on Saturday. Sad for him, as he will leave a, likely, unfilled space in the garage for the first time since DC was 1 (now 24). Nevertheless, I am grateful that he adopted, and I supported, his 'do it now' approach to life rather than 'do it when I retire' as he would now not be able to do many of the hobbies etc he has enjoyed.
So 2021's mantra for me - do it now.

@SleepingStandingUp oh sorry, about 14 months I guess. Dd2 is about 1 month ahead of the shop sizes and I think of her as being big but clearly she's not. Dd1 was tiny so my expectations are skewed

@GlumyGloomer hopefully this will be the last size they wreck them. They are unexpectedly large esp for twins. DS1 was 5lb 6 at 35 weeks and the twins were 6lb 13 and 6lb 15 just a week later. I often feel bad I didn't push to keep th baking longer but good knows how big they'd have been 🤣

@pollyannaperspective that's a great attitude and no regrets is always a good way to look back and remember life

Going to do today’s update now as our plans for tonight are to have a drink or two and watch a cheesy film to see in the new year.

I had a very productive hour this afternoon. I went through the shelf in the dining room cupboard where the roasting tin lives, as a bit of junk had been building up there. Three toddler games have gone in the charity bag, and some random junk (old coasters; replacement filter for our old cooker hood) went in the bin. I also reorganised a kitchen cupboard to make space for my new electric mixer, and sorted through the last pile of packaging from parcels - all kept for reuse or recycled. I’m very pleased with myself

Happy New Year everyone!

@EllieQ bit exciting having a new mixer!

Day 114:
🍾Wooden game in charity bag. Bit annoying as it would get snapped up on freecycle but the elephant who gave it to me is on there so can't do that.
🍾emails
🍾recycling and packaging out.
🍾most Christmas stuff in pile ready for attic except for Christmas tree so it still looks nice here.
🍾some too small clothes and toys in attic pile
🍾potty for attic. We've nailed it and toddler uses only the toilet now. Hooray!!!

GlumyGloomer, they were ginseng and some other spices.

No outs today, but packed away a few clothing items that are too small for DD.

Oh! I did have an out today! I used up the last of some bathroom cleaner. We have so many similar cleaning products, each with just a few uses left, so I'm trying to use up what I can and just keep the basics on hand.