Decluttering one item a day (and counting down til the opening of charity shops!) – thread number 17

[stealthninjamum]

This is an accountability and chat thread for mumsnetters who dream of living in an uncluttered haven of calm and tidiness.

Bit by bit we are slowly decluttering our houses and keeping our fingers crossed that charity shops will open on 12th April – although we’re also adding to the list of places in the second post that will also take our clutter.

The aim of this thread is to help us get rid of just one item a day or 365 a year. We just report back on our progress and then chat about anything and everything. The thread is for anyone so newbies are always welcome.

Previous thread here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4144854-Decluttering-one-item-a-day-and-having-nowhere-to-put-it-thread-number-16?msgid=105205665

vinorosso glad to hear from you. It’s good that your organising things.

I have 126 books to go now from the bedroom bookcase and probably an equivalent to stay. I started to put them on ziffit but most are second hand / damaged and others weren’t worth anything. I might advertise them on freecycle / Facebook. Otherwise I’ll bag them up and start taking them to charity shops next week: There’s probably another 30 in my pile behind the settee that I decluttered from jan to March.

I’m feeling really pleased I’ve done it but given that my aim was to get rid of the bookcase I don’t think that’s going to happen.

I forgot to mention that my second tray / organiser thing has arrived for vinegar / oil bottles and I love my food cupboard even more.

I also made some bread that hasn’t risen much. I’m wondering if it’s a problem of out of date yeast or my ten year old bread maker on its way out. That would upset me, I love that machine.

My local charity shop is reopening next week!!!!

I am so excited! Going to use this weekend to dig my bags out and get them OUT. Its at least two large laundry bags worth, plus maybe a large carrier’s worth.

I’ve also gotten rid of some paperwork - I was self employed for a few years and look forward to binning off a year of papers every April. Only 3 years till the lot of it is gone!

Pops back....

My initial impression that 1 item per day would take thirty years...might have been an underestimation.

I posted on the 20th March and it has taken this long to come back with any items.

So
1: one small toy plastic orange went in the bin and was fretted over for days as it should have been recycled/ donated. (See why I may need 30 years?)
2: one large plant pot returned to ex to grow runner beans in in the summer.
3and4: stained clothes that have been chucked instead of buggering about being cleaned. (Technically they are still in the flat in the bin so not sure if they count yet but there is no fretting and they are staying in the bin)

So up to the 24th March then.

Some items are pending as in identified for the charity bag..
One small white kids cardi
One toy potty
One toy tin can.

I have identified a half eaten box of chocolates for ex to finish. Somebody who should have known better found them and opened the box. A win for ex. Must remind him not to give any to the small person who ate the first half.

Ground coriander goes in curry here...God knows where the original recipe was from though.

Also pending, in the recycling:
One school timetable
One board book that ds used to love in the library.
Several empty packs of sandpaper, the loose sheets are all together in one bag now.
In the rubbish: one box DD made in reception, 10 years ago. FFS.

Had a very productive day here, helpful that baby ice sleeps during the day, my eldest DD would only ever sleep during the day and night if I was with her and my youngest DD dropped naps at 16 months. So as the two girls have been entertaining each other I have cracked on.
1x spare single duvet
1x bag of fabric scraps
21x baby clothes that are outgrown already!
10x maternity clothes that are too big (yippee)
14x clothes for fabric recycling
1x shoes
1x cushion cover
1x rucksack
Load of colouring sheets I am counting as 1 item.

blackeyedsusan ha ha I think it’s a lifetime project but it will be worth it.

I’ve added another 9 children’s books to the pile I made yesterday. I’m also wondering about getting rid of my childhood asterisk the Gaul books but annoyingly I can’t find them.

Today's total is 41. Total to date is 78/2021

blackeyedsusan thanks fore the curry suggestion. I have found a recipe that is basically potatoes, chickpeas and spinach - all things I have in the house. In fact I may cook it 4 times as I have 4 tins of chickpeas. I had a phase of trying to make the perfect hummus but never succeeded!

I tend to count things as 'out' when I have decided I want them to go and they are bagged up ready. It's the mental process of them going that's usually the hardest to get over - although obviously with lockdown getting stuff out of the house has been a challenge.

I have gone through my adult books that I’m getting rid of and managed to get £8.95 from ziffit. I’m sure I did this before and couldn’t find a box for them so gave up. Anyway I have started to bag up dc’s books for the charity shops next week but run out of carrier bags. I’m wondering whether anyone would want them on Facebook if I give them away for free. I just want them out of the house so might advertise them tomorrow.

Still not back at the kitchen but ;
-more DD uniform to donate from the clean laundry pile

• worn out socks ,pants and T-shirt’s to rag bank

-a few more things to clothing collection

• a couple kids clothes to charity shop
• another game out
• a pair of really old Ugg boots
• a broken small makeup mirror
• rusty nail scissors
• went through rest of the medication in the utility room a few added to go to pharmacy soon

And congrats on your new arrival Ice !

Ooh I forgot

• splash mat for crafts although this was replaced
• 3 Easter ornaments

And threw away about 10 magazines I’ve been saving from my magazine basket now there are only 3 and one supplement which I’ll read when I get the next ones.
DH got rid of two computer monitor stands that took up space on his desk and replaced them with a double arm that holds two screens off the desk leaving more space on it .

Decluttered five pairs of glasses, four glasses cases.

Binned two ancient pillows which will be replaced from spares that have been taking up so much space in my cupboard.

We have booked a dump run for Monday. Will have a look over the weekend to see if there's more to go but so far we have: aforementioned cardboard and paper from deliveries, bin bag of shredded paper, big bag of clothes for textile recycling, a few light bulbs and batteries.

Thanks for the reminder, Vin. I've just booked us in at the dump too.

I've got lots of bits&bobs going out due to emptying a box of 'hobby' stuff. About a year or so ago, I got this down from 3 to 2 boxes and I've now got it down to 1 box. I'm quite pleased about that.

I've added a big, Winter coat to my charity pile.

I've sold an item of clothing which made far more than I expected, so I've bought myself a pair of new shoes. They've just arrived and I think they're OK. I find it so hard to tell with shoes though - I have to wear them in before I know and then it's too late to send them back. I probably need to go through my shoes actually - I'll get back to you about that.

I really MUST sort my bedroom out soon. It's littered with containers which need to be cleared out and organised. I've been stepping over them for ages.

I have been going through more books and my ziffit stack is now worth £26.25. Lots of books are worth nothing but I found a doctor Seuss book worth £5.

I have advertised some free sets and so far no one wants them and some sets like David Walliams for money and no one wants them either.

I have also done more painting. I think I have finished 7 out of 8 doors. I’ll do the last one this weekend and finish the door frame / skirting boards when dc go back to school.

One ebay sale out the door!

Thank you @Nordicmom! I am enjoying the snuggles and he has turned into a chunky baby almost overnight... must be the constant nightfeeds but who needs sleep?!
I will list my items later but have exciting news... DH has mentioned that he is going to have a sort out of his wardrobe soon and he has also started sorting out his workshop which is a day that I never ever thought would come. It is filled with locks (he works with them) and has earmarked some for selling and a load that he can get rid of. This is someone who has never got rid of anything to do with his job...! There is still a lot if stuff he has to go through in his workshop and I think it will take the best part of 3 months but wowsers!

I watched the Stacey Solomon programme Sort your Life Out yesterday - thanks to the poster who recommended it. It is like the Netflix programme Consumed.
I could relate to the lady on the programme about the toys - we have a lot of toys here. I posted two sets on FB marketplace and both sold today so it has motivated me to do a bit of a clear out in the playroom. We are finished with baby toys so I will start there.

Sorted out another cupboard. Got rid of instruction manuals for a washing machine we don't own anymore, the filter out of the old tumble dryer (I have no idea why it was kept), and a broken Pyrex dish which had been put back in the cupboard at some point. Also two bags full of plastic cutlery that had been kept from when dd was small... she's now 15 (which might explain why I haven't found any calpol syringes!)

Now have enough space to put away food tins that have been piled on the side for a week

Day 210:
Struggling to do anything here with outs so just unsubscribed from about 10 different emails and had a go at deleting some google photos.