Decluttering one item a day (and having nowhere to put it!) – thread number 16

[stealthninjamum]

Once again this tireless group of mumsnetters are decluttering our houses by getting rid of one item a day. Of course this year I’m just piling the stuff behind the settee because the charity shops are all closed but luckily noone’s allowed to visit me to see my clutter mountain.

This is an accountability and general chatter thread and newbies and old hands are always welcome to join in the conversation while we keep working on our houses making them clearer, organised, and clutter free.

This year some of us are trying to get rid of 2021 items and some of us are working through the Toss app that tells us what to get rid of each day. Then we report back on the thread with an update.

Previous thread here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4105255-The-countdown-to-Christmas-but-still-decluttering-one-item-a-day-Thread-number-15?pg=1

@footprintsintheslow The little horse looks lovely!

I've done a bit of shredding today. I've also put some paperwork away.

I had three large shopping bags of assorted things and I'm pleased to have got them down to two. A few things have been put in proper "homes", and I've thrown away:
One of those pocket fans which isn't powerful enough to be much use.

A pair of binoculars (not expensive ones) - the plastic(?) has deteriorated in some way so it's sticky.

There is still more to be done with the rest of the stuff but it's a start.
I finished a book yesterday so that's gone in the charity bag.
I've also put a pair of holey socks in the textile recycling.

footprintsintheslow I couldn't see the picture of the house on my phone but now I'm on the laptop I can see it. I love it, I can see why you'd want to keep it.

toomanyhobbies I'm sorry to hear about your friend, that must be so hard for everyone. It's lovely that you have a skill like crocheting and you can do something thoughtful for your friend.

sleepingstandingup we have about 20 notebooks taking up a whole ikea trofast tray. Sometimes I dream about just throwing them all away and having another clear furniture unit.

My utensils search was surprisingly fruitful. I have found a curved metal thing that I have never used, a pastry brush (I have two) and an apple / potato peeler (I have 3 others that I'm going to keep because dd2 must have peeled carrots 2 or 3 times a day). I can't remember the last time my utensils drawers have got stuck when opening them.

Ooh this utensil talk has inspired me to look there for my three things. There’s definitely a spatula that can go as the end of the handle fell off.

Tomorrow is dishwasher day!!!

Handful of small outs today, broken kid’s bracelet, happy meal toy, too small T-shirt for the rag bag etc etc. Also a denim jacket and a skirt which are too small for either of the girls now but are still nice have gone in a charity bag for..... whenever...

We threw out the old aquadoodle mat as it had a grease stain I could never get out and was smelling quite mouldy. We have another one which is now out of its box and actually being used, along with a digital photo frame we unearthed, so not strictly outs but space made in a cupboard and some actual use being made of things. Had forgotten, looking at 6 year old photos of DD1 as a baby, how long I’ve had certain clothes, toys etc which kept cropping up in the pictures .

Also accidentally decluttered a pasta bowl as I was washing up after lunch . No great loss

They better come....

EllieQ, hope the recharge did the trick.
Footprints, that horse looks like so much fun.
Toomanyhobbies, sorry to hear about your friend. It must especially difficult in these strange times.

My out today was some lotion I received as a gift. It was far too perfumy for my taste. My original plan was to use it up, but after applying it to my skin last night, I was not pleased to wake up to its unpleasant smell (I'll give it credit for being long-lasting...).

(7-day streak...mostly tiny, but I'm slowly building the habit)

Thanks everyone, I have felt much better today - physically and mentally! DD has been much calmer and cooperative today and yesterday, which was nice.

2021 day 38 update:

General decluttering: Went back to the Pile of Paperwork this morning. Last week I’d got rid of anything I didn’t need to keep, and today I went through and filed all the household stuff in there - mortgage, council tax, other bills. Think the pile has reduced by nearly an inch!

Nothing else, but I did bake some cakes and finish off a craft project today, so it felt productive

@footprintsintheslow oh what a beautiful horse.

Nothing out yesterday as was consumed by a headache all day.

Today I might have to ditch the dish brush as Dh cleaned the bbq with it yesterday 🙄. Going to Chuck it in the dishwasher though on the clean cycle and see if I can revive it....

Daffodils need to go today they’re flagging.

Thanks everyone it is very sad.

Last night putting away the ironing sorted out dc pants got rid of half a dozen or so that were either too small or he didn’t like. How many pairs does a 7yr old need! Also got rid of his vests that are too small.

Had a pamper day abs used a hair mask, face mask and foot peel so that’s another 3 things gone from my stash. Trying to start up a skin care routine again mainly just to get rid of stuff.
@UnlimitedChipsAndSalsa every little counts.

ememem84 I hope you’re feeling better today.

ellieq sounds like a good day. I hate paperwork but it’s always so good to get deal with it.

Toss has suggested I do underwear today. I decluttered it all a couple of years ago but I’m sure there’s a few bits that can go.

daffs have been binned.

bbq grills and the dish brush are in the dishwasher.

i have also ditched some art work of DS'. .. .

230: well the big bag is clothes have gone from the end of my drive!!

Out: Ditched a bunch more out of date stuff from the en suite cupboard. 25 items, plus three old magazines, so the total is 164 out so far. I also got rid of loads of paperwork

In: a new wrist brace I use when typing.

Quick 5 mins in the Room of Doom, whilst procrastinating about a work task I keep putting off, and 1 inch of 2009 - 2012 (with a bit of 2002 for good measure!) paperwork shredded or recycled. Now, must get on with the work task...

toss prompted shoes. i have a pair of boots which i hardly wear and will gift to dsis (she had a pair exactly the same and hers are worn out).

I've hardly been posting but have managed some decluttering. My dd2 is 16 weeks and going through sleep regression at night and fighting naps which is exhausting!

But I randomly decided to do my mug cupboard and got rid of loads plus water bottles, old sippy cups etc. Felt amazing!

Got another bag full of clothes for charity too.

Been enjoying reading everyone's progress thank you it keeps motivating me!

Whoever mentioned that program on Nextflix called The Home Edit - thank you I'm obsessed 😂 been watching it while feeding my baby in the evening x

I've had the day off work today as it was all getting a bit too much at the end of last week. I've mainly been spending it with DD to encourage her with school work but have also finished scanning all the books and dvds from the charity shop bags. Annoyingly there were some I couldn't include but now only have one bag to go rather than 4 when shops reopen plus a big box to be picked up on Wednesday.

Also decluttered a few admin jobs from my to do list including closing a bank account that has been paying me 0.01% interest for months! Going to spend a few mins doing general tidying now DD is done for the day.

@FiloFaxx I think if was me re the home edit.

Two towels which have seen better days in the car to take to the stables to dry the horses.

Two microfibre cloths which dh used to clean the bbq yesterday. These are too dirty to even think about washing. So have binned.

Gave away some arty-crafty stuff. :)

Toss said do underwear so I got rid of two pairs of knickers.

Most of my undies were bought in the last two years. I have about 10 bras and matching knickers and they sort of sit in three small drawers. I’m wondering whether there’s a better way of organising them to save time getting dressed in the morning as I can never find matching sets. Maybe I should just get them ready the night before? Will google how to organise underwear.

Dd is in the bath. I’ve just thrown away a box from some ibruprofen (a couple of tablets left I. The blister sheet but have popped them in another box of ibruprofen)
Ear wax remover - expired
Empty box of dioralyte.

Today has been challenging with a the toddler. But still managing to find things to get rid of.

Day 152:
Wrap sling gone via freecycle as I can't get on with it.
A cushion inside listed on freecycle but no interest yet.

A quieter day for me today.

I sold one item on ebay last night but when I packed it this morning I noticed it had a hole! I was cross because its brand new - it must have arrived like that as its (embarrassingly) been sat in the bag it came in when bought. So have refunded the buyer and decluttered the item.

On the upside, something I listed yesterday has sold tonight, so will pack up ready for tomorrow’s post.

I got rid of five bits from my toiletries after another pass on it and put two full items in the bag for the food bank.

I also cleaned my sink and the undersink storage. This is no mean feat for me - I’ve mentioned before about my struggle with maintaining my home. My bathroom is not great - and I’ll be honest I do not have the spoons to do it all on one day. Tomorrow I will do the bath, then toilet/flooring etc after. I would never admit this in person!!

Got rid of a grand total of three toothbrushes over the weekend. Having a difficult time at work and suffering from stress headaches. Had staff meeting after work so have been in from 7.45am-7.15pm, just exhausted.
After I've had something to eat I'll try to find something to throw out!

Well done hag! I find house maintenance really tough too. I have fibromyalgia so totally get you on lacking the spoons! We have to just do what we can when we can and not beat ourselves up when we can’t do something. TBH it’s a big motivator for decluttering - less stuff, less mess, easier to clean!

Not done anything today except decluttering some excess energy by going for a walk. I am confident about getting my tasks done tonight though as per my challenge. So chuffed that I’ve managed every day this month so far, and it’s feeling easier to find the three things or more each day. Yesterday I did a kallax square instead of a toy drawer - have moved my most played piano music to a better height shelf now I’m playing a lot more.