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

Thanks for the warm welcome. After the treat of BJs announcement (as well as having two Y7 girls now home learning I also work in a prep school so it's been a full on day) I was cheered up by a notification that i'd been mentioned!

Funny that so many of you have mentioned using up beauty products: Today I trawled the bathroom cabinet to make room for some new Christmas gifts (lovely soap I will use). Chucked some old ends of things I won't use, put some almost finished hand cream and foot cream at the front to use up over the next few weeks and created a little wash bag with mini toiletries in so that when we can go camping again I'm ready! Also realise I used up a face mask on Saturday night and plan to make that a weekly thing - I have 3 or 4 to use. Also in the face of lockdown announcement, used up some leftover Christmas canapés and wine in lieu of dinner - does that count?

After spending an uncomfortable, restless night in itchy PJs I’ve decided to donate both my pairs of polycotton pyjamas. Shame as they are lovely prints and plenty of wear left, but I can’t bear the feel of them. So two pairs of freshly laundered pyjamas are heading into the charity shop bag.

I’m in the using-up-toiletries gang too and have managed to create a new habit of moisturising after my shower, though I hate the sticky feel if I put clothes on before it has properly sunk in.

Hope it’s OK to butt in and just ask you all, while charity shops are shut, where are you managing to pass on your outgoing stuff on to? I don’t feel right tipping perfectly good condition clothes for recycling, for example, when they could be worn by someone else for a good while before being turned into rags. And same for household items in good working order etc. Any tips on lockdown decluttering gladly welcomed. Thank you.

DP wanted to exchange the new bedspread we got recently for a smaller one so we went to the shop and exchanged it for a single size which comes with one less pillow case. It was a lot cheaper and for the remaining money we got 4 bathtowels and 1 hand towel. So + 4 items.

Out: 12
In: 12

@1stMrsF I think the consensus on consumables is it counts of you won't replace it. So capapes probably, wine possibly not given you're home schooling 🤣

@BastardAnts the garage. I'm annoyed at the snow as it stopped our trip to town over Xmas to drop what we'd got, and then as lockdown kicked in the damn stuff melted. So for now I have a designated corner of the garage where the unloved things go to linger

@BastardAnts I’m counting stuff as decluttered if it’s in a bag for the charity shop. I’ve had stuff hanging around the house for ages, which is annoying but I’d prefer to wait til it can go to charity rather than just dumping it.

The upside is that it makes a big visual impact once you do actually get rid of it!

Is there anything you can offer on freecycle or local groups?

@BastardAnts
I have a bag hung up in the hallway for charity shop bits when they reopen

Also on Facebook we have a page for a local freecycle so I firstly advertise stuff of there and leave it on my doorstep for people to collect.

Then this was a new one on me, my husband put something (that I'd put on freecycle repeatedly with no luck) onto Facebook marketplace for free and it was snapped up.

@SleepingStandingUp LOL completely correct, I put in an order at Aldi wine already!!

bastardants we have textile bins where you can take things. They mainly want clothes so I assume they sell them on. I mentioned a few pages back I sometimes sneak rags in but generally they’re for clothes. I currently have a bag of 33 socks and I’m wondering if I should take them there at the weekend. Also you can put things for free on Facebook or do a search and see if someone collects for the local refuge on Facebook.

Toss has suggested I clear my glovebox, that should be doable with the new homeschooling and three bastard meals a day routine.

I am wondering if my local freecycle has closed for lockdown as it hasn’t been updated for 15 hours and that’s really unusual. I do understand things are bad and lockdown was needed but I have had stuff hanging around since the start of November and with the closure of my favourite Facebook sales group it feels so frustrating to live with it.

That was quicker than expected. Done car and in particular the glovebox for the first time in a few weeks. Flylady got me into good habits there. I got rid of three parking receipts, one box, a disposable coffee cup, found a story cd to be donated and I found an Alice in wonderland story cd that used to attach to a book I suspect I donated years ago so I’m sure at the time I turned the house upside down looking for the CD.

Got rid of another piggy bank and a pair of socks

Out: 14
In: 12

Today’s toss prompt is vitamins and medications. Two very out of date ointment found skulking in a drawer and into bin. Quick retidy of undersink cupboard to accommodate multipack of loo cleaner, couple of mostly empty bottles put out to use later in bathroom

Thank you so much for the tips I really appreciate this!

I found a few charities that will collect- depends where you live obviously:

www.heartuk.org.uk/other-ways-to-give/clothes-recycling

www.bhf.org.uk/shop/donating-goods/time-for-a-clear-out/donate-your-items/arrange-a-free-collection

www.mariecurie.org.uk/donate/charity-shops If you live near a shop

www.icollectclothes.co.uk/

Others will sort out from clothes banks into shop stock or rags: www.salvationarmy.org.uk/clothing-bank

BastardAnts thanks for the reminder about clothing drop off bins. I can combine a trip to the tip with a visit to out nearest. Never normally shop in that shop so had totally forgotten it existed.

bastardants thanks for that awesome list, I will add them to the second post. Also I have remembered the Vinted app for clothes. I have seen adverts for it butp don’t know anyone who’s used it.

I have a couple of bags of clothes and books for charity shops which have been sitting around for ages. Unfortunately, the ones around our way were full with donations when they were last open. Guess they'll have to stay a bit longer! I also have some toys of DD's to donate to a toy charity shop but likewise....
I cleaned the fridge today. Only one out of some very old chilli sauce.

@stealthninjamum

bastardants thanks for that awesome list, I will add them to the second post. Also I have remembered the Vinted app for clothes. I have seen adverts for it butp don’t know anyone who’s used it.

Me. Haven't sold much adult clothes but shifted a fair bit of kids, but also brought kids...m

Continuing to clothes sort here, the best will be parceled up and sent to a friend, the more frumpy bits can go to charity (when I have enough).
Also making some progress with weeding out baby toys, which dd1 is now pursuing with great enthusiasm (to the point where I've had to rescue a few bits that dd2 can still benefit from).
One respondent to my perfume ad so far, but she lost interest once I specified it was 50mls. I offered to drop the price but apparently she uses so much perfume that a 50ml bottle isn't worth the trip. I've never finished even a tiny bottle in my whole life so the mind boggles. Takes all sorts.

oh the car.

i should have cleared out the car before sending it off for its service....tomorrows job maybe.

just finished a hand cream - body shop winter jasmine. didnt really like it, but determined to use up the stuff i have before buying new.

so that's out. as well as some packaging from make up i have.

Another one who may need to try the clothing bins although there wasn't a lot of clothing in the charity pile from memory.

I had a wander around the garage today and found a pair of waterproof trousers which have gone into DS's bag of things to grow into, some disposable nappies and a baby blanket that had been kept in the car and needs a good wash. Probably not leaving the house but at least relocated to a more appropriate location for now.

Not sure much decluttering will be happening once home school starts tomorrow!

I composted today a packet of dried figs I found at the back of the cupboard.... from 2010..... and some raisins from 2013
The creepiest bit was, the raisins looked completely normal. The figs were a tiny bit crystally tho

Oh good god.

Just opened a box of clothes in the garage.

Tons of it.

All 18-24 months, which is what the babies are in now.

Frigging hell.

All stuff I loved on big one too so Def not a simple chuck to charity.

I'm Def gonna go through an filter their cupboards though, I don't need enough clothes for 4!!

I try and have 2 weeks worth of outfits pre sorted and I already have too many tops.

Gah

Day 119:totally overdid it today and feel wrecked and sick as a dog. Washed cushions and blankets all from all over the house and cleaned in sofa... a few nasty outs there! Mopped downstairs and cleaned living room. Nappies and car seats washed and three piles of cat sick cleaned up. I'm not speaking to the cat right now.

❄️ finally made the soup to clear fridge casualties.
❄️ recycled two big boxes that have been a snowman costume. Time to go now even though it's been hilarious.
❄️email and photos.
❄️eaten a box of chocolates to

Tomorrow I want a slummy day like Mat leave should be.