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Original poster

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

999 replies

stealthninjamum · 23/01/2021 20:33

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
Iceisnice · 09/02/2021 20:38

Had the 'opportunity' to run through the toys. Turns out my DD5 had taken to chewing her barbies hands for some reason. Also managed to get rid of some other things.
4x folders of tabliature recycled
1 barbie dolphin
1x trousers for my dd friend.
1x maths learning book completed
Whole load of barbie accessories - chewed
1x play baby bottle
2x fingerlings
Unwanted craft items
9x dolls with chewed hands Angry
2 toy telescopes also chewed
2x top trumps packs
2x kinder egg toys
1x toy keys chewed
1x toy forky from toy story also chewed
1x woody from toy story with chewed hands
1x barbie picnic table
1x wooden worm also chewed
Some hair accessories broken
Some unwanted barbie clothes
While load if random plastic toys not played with.

Trying to see the funny side but failing....Sad

SingToTheSky · 09/02/2021 21:05

Only thrown two tiny things so far today. Number 3 was going to be some grimy bath toys but I just realised I could try them in the dishwasher first 😂

SingToTheSky · 09/02/2021 21:07

Aw ice that’s a shame :( have you heard of chewigem? I know it’d be an in but might help her sensory needs. Sounds like she’d need one with fairly spindly bits (as she’s going for hands etc) - I think you can get ones shaped like stickmen.

Vinorosso74 · 09/02/2021 21:40

Sorted through the pens in the kitchen and binned 3 dried up ones and a small glue. Finished a face mask tonight to declutter the pores. Slow progress and small items.
I'm just trying to keep on top of things.

Iceisnice · 09/02/2021 21:42

@SingToTheSky. Hi never heard of chewigem but going to look into it. Thought we were well past this stage tbh. The worst part is that some of this stuff was for her xmas present so it is all new stuff. Thanks for the tip!

UnlimitedChipsAndSalsa · 09/02/2021 21:47

I spent about an hour in the Upstairs of Despair, and got rid of quite a bit of recycling (I count recycling if it's something I've gone hunting for), including the box and inner packaging for our printer. Even though we arent planning to move, I did have to talk myself into getting rid of it.

I also used up yet another mini toothpaste...but found THREE more. Where are they coming from?!? I'm starting to believe in the tooth fairy...

EllieQ · 09/02/2021 22:39

2021 day 40 update:

General decluttering: Shredded more work paperwork.

I also had a box of notes from GCSEs/ A Levels that I’d brought back home and sorted through not long after my mum died. I’d emptied the files, kept a few papers from them as mementoes (nice comments from teachers, that kind of thing), and put the rest in a box for recycling, but couldn’t quite put it out with the recycling at that time... However, half of it has gone out this evening, and the rest can go out with the next collection. I’m pleased I can let go of it now.

SleepingStandingUp · 09/02/2021 23:25

My boxes were collected nice and early and I recommended them to the cashier Morrisons so a good deed too!!

235: Put on a cardigan and realise the arms are funny on it, its v well worn and washed so think it's all got a bit shrunk and stretched so that's gone.
236-7: one holey pair of socks and one pair of pants losing their hem. Less washing to do as I'm still without a washer

Miaowse · 09/02/2021 23:36

Just used up soy sauce and recycled the bottle. I have one or maybe even two bottles in the cupboard so I’m counting it as an out.

Also a small portable speaker to be put out for electrical recycling when the bins are next collected.

ememem84 · 10/02/2021 09:10

used up golden syrup on my porridge.

SydneyCarton · 10/02/2021 09:20

Finished off a bottle of talcum powder that I bought to go with my cheap-but-still-rather-nice perfume from M&S. I won’t replace it as I got some proper perfume for Christmas so it counts as an out.

Original poster
stealthninjamum · 10/02/2021 11:40

iceisnice that must be awful to have to throw away good toys. My dc went through phases of cutting dolls hair and colouring on them with felt tips but that was to make them pretty. It was still annoying, I hate throwing things away that can be used by someone else.

Toss asked me to declutter tools and shoes and I have done both recently which makes me feel so happy. It then suggested socks. I only have about 6 pairs of socks so I think I’ll look at dd2s. Also we have a bag of single socks who have lost their pair. I wonder if I’m brave enough to throw them all out or will the pairs appear after I’ve binned their partners?

Is it sad that if I had a time machine I would use it to freeze time so I could wash, dry and put away every sock in the house!

OP posts:
oohmama · 10/02/2021 11:55

How do you guys sell your old clothes?
I find bigger items and baby stuff sells well on Facebook market place but clothes don't
And with eBay fees I'm not sure it's worth the hassle
But then I have some really nice stuff that's just too good to charity shop!
Any suggestions?

TeacupDrama · 10/02/2021 12:55

clothes4cash pay by the kg

Original poster
stealthninjamum · 10/02/2021 13:42

There’s a Facebook group called stylesellers uk that has some nice clothes. I’ve never sold on it but it might be worth you trying.

I once sold a couple of bags of clothes to somewhere like clothes4cash and got so little I regretted it. I literally put 1/2 of my clothes in bags including clothes old evening dressed and only got about £6 or £10. But it cleared out two wardrobes so from that perspective was good.

OP posts:
jobbyjg · 10/02/2021 13:43

Our cash 4 kids has been closed down since the current lookdown . It's a real pain trying to declutter just now I've piles of stuff waiting to go various places

ememem84 · 10/02/2021 13:55

I tend to use eBay for selling clothes.

dh has taken some parcels to the post office for me today. so that's 4 things out.

i put around 7 of ds' old jumpers in the "doesn't fit" box in his wardrobe yesterday.

oohmama · 10/02/2021 14:02

They are deffo too good for cash 4 clothes
It's brand new Zara dresses with tags on but I will never wear, and some other nice stuff that just isn't my style anymore
And a Geiger jacket!
Might give eBay another go but can only go to the post office on a Friday and I like to end listings on a Sunday evening 🙈

I tried the Royal Mail collection thing but it cost an extra 72p which isn't much for the service but if I sold 10 things it would take most of the profit!

I do have a few bags of charity stuff though so can't wait until they are open!

GlumyGloomer · 10/02/2021 14:38

I got rid of something! Dd2 now turns her nose up at the plastic baby forks, so we chucked them.
I think I'm going for 1 thing a month rather than day 😅
Lockdown life continues to kick my arse, so next to no progress here. I'll be back, one day...

ememem84 · 10/02/2021 15:20

@oohmama

They are deffo too good for cash 4 clothes It's brand new Zara dresses with tags on but I will never wear, and some other nice stuff that just isn't my style anymore And a Geiger jacket! Might give eBay another go but can only go to the post office on a Friday and I like to end listings on a Sunday evening 🙈

I tried the Royal Mail collection thing but it cost an extra 72p which isn't much for the service but if I sold 10 things it would take most of the profit!

I do have a few bags of charity stuff though so can't wait until they are open!

re eBay and only posting on a Friday - if this was made clear on the listing, i think i'd be ok with it. gives people more time to pay.
lazyakita · 10/02/2021 16:06

Had another go around the kitchen. Got rid of a giant rusty pan... not sure why I missed it last week! It cleared up enough space that some items that had to live on the kitchen counter now have a home, which is nice.

Also discovered an ancient chocolate bar at the back of a cupboard (best before 2013!), some crappy plastic spoons that came free with something, a couple of out of date jars of coffee and a jar of jam was used up at breakfast that won't be replaced. Also scrubbed the kitchen from top to (almost) bottom and did loads of laundry. Tomorrow I'll do the skirting boards (my nemesis).

Out: 6 items, for a total of 181.

In: Nothing, still at 4.

Vinorosso74 · 10/02/2021 16:32

Put some papers in the recycling from DD's home schooling. She's posted the work online so I don't see any point in keeping it.
Made a cake this afternoon as we had a lot of eggs close to use by date. Finished a bag of sugar.
Sorted out our "overflow" food cupboard as we've been using things up and I've only bought some essential fresh stuff as needed this week. Delivery of cat food arriving tomorrow so that will fill the space.
DP discovered a garlic baguette plate had broken in half so that was an unintentional out.

Iceisnice · 10/02/2021 17:09

@stealthninjamum frustrated beyond belief. Must have been over £150 worth of toys that I have had to get rid of. Wouldn't begrudge if they were going to charity shop but to have to chuck them away has annoyed me big time. Silver linings: less toys in the house, less for me to pick up every night and hopefully she will treat the other toys better but at the minute she isn't that bothered. Now they have a small box each for their own toys, a small box for shared toys like the wooden train set and a barbie camper van and 2 baby buggies.
I had to giggle about your DC decorating their barbies, we haven't got to that stage yet but we do only have 2 now.....!

Original poster
stealthninjamum · 10/02/2021 17:56

iceisnice £150? Did you not feel you could keep any or are you worried that the plastic would be toxic? Personally I’d be tempted to print some out so she has paper barbies that can be played with and easily thrown away / reprinted. When dd2 was a toddler I did a paper fire engine like that and she played with it.

Both dds also cut their own hair and attempted to wear my makeup so it wasn’t just barbies who had a makeover.

I’ve done no decluttering today but lots of arguing with dd1 who attempted to have a day off school. Can i declutter her?

It should be easy to pick a couple of socks to go, dd2 has loads.

OP posts:
Iceisnice · 10/02/2021 18:15

@stealthninjamum yep about £150, Barbies are about £10 each and I got rid of 9. Elsa and Anna 2 of each were probably closer to £13 each. I had a good look at each one but the hands were almost chewed through completely. Didn't want eldest DD to chew through and swallow the plastic or my youngest DD to hurt herself on them because they were sharp.
Thanks for the paper doll idea, will check that out later. Kids who'd have them?! We had the same nightmare re home learning yesterday. After that discovering the chewed toys and I was tempted to declutter eldest DD too! Deep breaths and I will be back to decluttering tomorrow.