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

Tackled the Corner of Doom in dining room.
Outs... Massive bag of recycling (paper, plastic etc... Its all mixed here)
Out wipe clean tablecloth
High chair which we keep for visitors... But all friends children growing out of it
Dried up pens etc
Broken head phones

Found items..
DD1s tablet
7 pairs of scissors

raspberryblonde yes still doing the landing I did a very patchy coat on three out of eight doors today and got to the point where I realised I was doing really quick, crap brushstrokes with too much paint so had to stop because it would look really rough. I am really loving my very light landing so will be worth it even if it will have taken six months to do.

sleepingstandingup 🐁 oh no! I’ve had mice a few times I hate them.

@Vinorosso74

Just need to write this down.... 2 suspicious lumps in breast, likely cancer. Had biopsies done and go back in a week to find out results and next step.

Delurking to say that outcomes have never been better for successfully tackling whatever the outcome from your biopsy Vino

Vino sorry that the appointment has led to another but sending you very best wishes that the week doesn't drag and the biopsy results mean you have solid information to help frame your decisions.

Just one out this afternoon, the frayed cord that I have replaced on a Roman blind and it now works again. Result.

A good day today with three outs on marketplace and some £s in.

A question for those who sell on Vinted: do you respond when someone favourites your item? Or just wait for a sale?

Nothing out. But nothing in. So that’s a win.

Just checking in but still not much to report. Ticking along with paperwork and the recycling etc. Have started the mammoth task of getting rid of lots of Lego sets that the kids no longer want. Slow work to find all the bits and reunite them with boxes and instructions. But when this is done we will have got rid of a lot of boxes and should be able to reduce the amount of tubs with Lego in too.
Vinorosso74 sorry the clinic wasn’t as reassuring as you hoped and hope the wait for results isn’t too stressful

I need to rejoin this desperately. House sale has just fallen through so we will be here in this too small house for a long while...I need to get rid of stuff.

sobloodytired09 sorry to hear about your house sale falling through. What are you decluttering first?

I’m going to do more painting today, shredding, admin and sorting photos.

sold & posted a toy...
pair of my reading glasses fell out of pocket & got run over in the road. That's one way to reduce I suppose.

@lljkk I had an 'involuntary declutter' on Sunday night - opened DD's schoolbag for the first time since December to find her spare set of clothes had been put in a ziploc bag while wet, and were now covered in black mould! Thankfully it was stuff that could just go straight in the bin.

Today's outs: a bag of books and an online order returned. Might treat myself to a plant though.

2 bags out of very out of date speciality flour from DDs bread making days

Sorry to hear your news Vinorosso74 I hope it goes well next week

SandAndSea We mostly use supermarket own brand soap for handwashing and I’ve used it in the shower as well. I have a lovely Chanel soap to match my perfume which thanks to this thread I am using and not saving for best . I tried Nesti Dante soap which was recommended on some of the Style and Beauty threads but didn’t find it that great; nice lather and a big bar for only a fiver but I didn’t find the scent that strong or long lasting. I know you become desensitised to it after a while but I could never detect any fragrance on my skin. A friend has a subscription to Kinkind products and says they’re good but I haven’t tried them yet.

Not much out here, DS decluttered a little leftover chocolate Santa at lunchtime and I chucked some pads the dentist gave us after DD2 had a tooth out in case of bleeding. I have a bag of outgrown clothes for the textile bank which I’ll hopefully get out tomorrow 🤞

Vin - Hope you're doing OK.

Sydney - Thanks for all that. There are so many choices out there!

I've cleared 3 more DVD cases and inserts today and played around with rearranging my shelves again.

I've also done a mammoth amount of washing up, laundry and cleaning today. We're getting a meal delivered tonight as my reward.

Keep up the good work everyone.

My scissors box now has 11 pairs in. As tempted as I am to dispose of some... They always disappear! I was tackling the craft area today.

Tomorrow is making DDs birthday cake and wrapping her presents. I've resisted the temptation to buy loads of STUFF. She has a scooter and a craft kit from us. (Plus presents from other people). She will be perfectly happy.

Glad to see lots going on for folks!

I’m still unwell 😭 today, I managed to plaster makeup on for a team meeting (online) which is progress, but I have done virtually nothing this week.

I think though, I am going to book my icollectclothes date. I have some time off coming up, so will schedule it for the end of that time - hopefully I will have the majority ready to go but I will be motivated to use the time to get it sorted in prep!

A boring update as I seem to say the same thing every day. Did some more painting. Shredded some papers, chucked out some post and more papers, some carpark receipts I found in the car. I sorted through some photos and made more green soup. I also threw out an eyeshadow that had broken.

Day 183:
☔️Condensed some craft stuff so more room on a shelf and thins look neater.
☔️Couple of too small baby items bagged ready to go.
☔️Holy tights gone
☔️Broken changing bag thrown.
☔️Photos and emails
@Vinorosso74 just adding some support to you for next week. X

Thank you for the support all; I appreciate it. Told my mum (who will tell my dad) and a friend today although I had to do it via WhatsApp, will speak to her once we've spoken to DD.
I was told not to do anything strenuous today after the biopsy. My poor boob is sore and bruised which makes it hard anyway! Thus, I haven't achieved much today. Got a couple of admin bits sorted and booked our cat in for his annual vaccinations.
I might try and get myself out for a walk tomorrow (boob soreness depending) ti declutter my mind a bit.

@Vinorosso74 sending lots of calming thoughts your way while you wait for the next appointment. Keeping everything crossed for good news & glad your DP is able to go with you for some hand holding and support.

The eye shadow crayon/pen thing which I was determined to declutter a while ago, somehow found its way back into my makeup bag. I used it again today and messed it up again so, I have now forced myself to chuck it by breaking the makeup off and into the bin. The container is in the recycling. No regrets.

I've also let go of 3 pairs of innersoles, none of which have been used for years. I've still got one new, full size set and one half size set in case of an innersole emergency.

I have spent an hour going through more photos putting them in piles of year and 'university', '6th form', 'childhood' etc. It's really depressing, I haven't kept in touch with any friends and found photos of My First Love who dumped me Horribly and my stbexh. I've thrown quite a lot away and some guide books that are 20 to 30 years old. This is another one of those Big Jobs (like Room of Doom and decorating the landing) that is never ending and my bedroom looks like an explosion of photos, albums, little wallets of 35mm film so I almost regret doing it.

Anyway I'm now going to catch up on housework and laundry and look at the list I did on Monday. I don't think I'm going to get those jobs done. I'm feeling a bit depressed and normally would go out for lunch by myself so maybe I'll just have a long bath and use up some beauty products.

I like the idea of an innersole emergency

I have very successfully decluttered my house over the past 5 years or so, and I really feel like I am at a really good point with it now.

Still need to work on fitting the final bits I’ve left at my parents house and decluttering some weight so some of the larger clothes can go.

Now trying to apply this mindset and the satisfaction I get from it to my work emails.... not happened as yet.

@stealthninjamum

I have spent an hour going through more photos putting them in piles of year and 'university', '6th form', 'childhood' etc. It's really depressing, I haven't kept in touch with any friends and found photos of My First Love who dumped me Horribly and my stbexh. I've thrown quite a lot away and some guide books that are 20 to 30 years old. This is another one of those Big Jobs (like Room of Doom and decorating the landing) that is never ending and my bedroom looks like an explosion of photos, albums, little wallets of 35mm film so I almost regret doing it.

Anyway I'm now going to catch up on housework and laundry and look at the list I did on Monday. I don't think I'm going to get those jobs done. I'm feeling a bit depressed and normally would go out for lunch by myself so maybe I'll just have a long bath and use up some beauty products.

You can do it stealth! Take your time for yourself first, and then just start! (As my DH is always telling me)

I have a similar photo situation but in a digital format. There are around 50,000 of them, and some have 4 duplicates.... the inside of my computer looks very like your bedroom....

Thanks 1990s I think I have a similar situation with digital photos as well but thought I'd start on the actual printed ones as they take up physical space. Anyway I have just counted and I got rid of 79 photos, 1 album and about 20 tourist guides / maps / tickets.

I now have a small, organised box of all my childhood photos. There are so few that it includes a holiday in America and the only 3 in existence from before I was 14! I guess people didn't take many photos in the 70s and 80s. Anyway it's an actual achievement.