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

@Slothkin that's one hell of an accident!
@Vinorosso74 hope you're doing ok
@bookgirl1982 only if they've liked several things as I have a bundle deal. It annoys me when I like one thing and someone is immediately like Hiya!! I'll often like a load of similar things say puddlesuits then go through and unlike any that aren't as good in comparison so it's awkward if they've messaged you 😂😂

I've got a bit of a wall but went through my drawers today.
361: three pairs of tights in the bin
362: some modesty panels in the charity bag, my boobs are too big
363: also an eye cover thing for night. 3 kids, I'm up and down all night so it's a bit pointless.

I've realised how many rights I have so my mission is to try a pair on each day and wear one to work out which ones need chucking. I'm always in leggings so I might as well make the most of thick black tights!

Also pulled out all the 18-24 sleepsuits and t-shirts to sort charity / bin / sell and so I've brought in leggings so might as well

Pulled out all the 18-24 sleepsuits and t-shirts and will swap for the he 2-3s once washed. I intend to thin out the t-shirts as I've brought ten in plain colours so don't actually need an additional 30!

I have 8 things for the pile today. Plus, I took back the bedding I bought which filled a bag4life. And, I'm currently half-watching a DVD which I think I will be adding to the pile.

I was doing so well until my mum turned up with 2 bin liners of clothes for dd2 cheap off Facebook (£3!). All lovely clothes, some barely worn and stuff she loves and I wouldn't necessarily buy! (Fashion/sporty stuff that she loves!) We went through kept 1 bin liner (summer stuff so will save money!!) And I've listed the others on ebay to raise money for the DM sandals that fit her really well and I cant usually afford!

7 things to post from ebay tomorrow (including a board game that sold for £27 which was a surprise!)

I’m in bed still but have woken up early and dh is downstairs with the dc.

I’ve mentally earmarked two bags to go to the saddlers for mending. They’re dms bags which I’ve been meaning to take for a while but covid. So will take them tomorrow lunchtime and see if there’s anything that can be done. If not back to dms house they go.

nocutsnobutts I thought you were going to say your mum turned up with two bags of tat but it sounds like she did really well. I have a board game to sell but keep putting it off because I don’t know how to package it. How are you doing it?

I got woken early by dd2 with a home made card - and a tantrum because I refused to make eggs for breakfast. Dd1 is in a sulk. I’m guessing that it will be a normal day so I’m about to wash their sports kits as both need them tomorrow.

Happy mother’s day!

Woke up this morning with an urge to declutter some books. Found 18 to get rid of, with a few more earmarked to go.

I want to get rid of old online courses print-outs, as I haven’t looked at them since I did the courses. I thought they’d be useful to look back at one day, but that day hasn’t come in the last 5 years so I’m happy to get rid of it now.

Happy Mother's Day ladies, may your presents be not clutter!!

365: a pair of knickers with the banding coming loose

Day 185: yesterday
Record player and cabinet listed on marketplace and freecycle.

Happy Mother's Day everyone.

Day 186: today
Balance bike gone to live at mother in laws

Happy Mother's Day!
I received a new hoody and a small Lego set. I was just thinking my new hoody could mean chucking two of the old ones... (Black with bleach stains, and one with a torn pocket) but I use them for messy work and we move soon so decorating etc to do...
AHH.. what shall I do?!?

I'd Def keep one at least so you aren't having to find something else but commit to chucking once you're moved in

Happy Mother's day to you all too! I received some tulips and some Turkish delight. No clutter.

Happy Mother's Day all.
Card and cake came in the post from DCs. Packaging in recycling except for the postage box which will be re-purposed to send DC an Easter 'egg'' as they are not coming home from university this year.

Will tackle the magazine/newspaper pile today, so there will be outs to recycling.

I got chocolate and new gardening gloves (to replace the ones I binned the other week) for mothers day. So that's a win on the clutter front.

Have had a spring cleaning weekend here so more tidying than cleaning although a few bits and pieces have gone. A few things have gone into the garage for storage. We also used up some glue and a cardboard box earlier doing craft homework. School have already told us they will only be keeping the models until the end of term because they can't store them, so I suppose that will be another in.

I think one decorating outfit is worth having 80moves. Just don't end up like me. I once went through my clothes and found I had four pairs of decorating jeans!

Sales on Vinted and eBay will be outs tomorrow, helpful for clearing space and filling coffers. More items listed but it's a long term plan.

stealth yes she did do really well! But dd2 has so many clothes. We've had hand downs from dd1, and 3 different friends! I went to her room today and did a ruthless chuck out of faded, slightly bobbly or just looking worn clothes and a few bits she hasn't worn. Filled an IKEA kallax box. Ive offered on the free sites but if no interest by weds on my day off it will go to the recycling bin.

In terms of packaging, I keep bubble wrap and I use any box - cereal box or i cut down ones from local shops. Ive used napkins/screwed up newspaper to pad out boxes. Then I send via myhermes as I can print label off in co op and drop off anytime.

Soap and glory eye puffy pads
Johnsons lavender bedtime bath (dcs)
Keihls face scrub (dhs)

All small bits of space yahoooooo

And a candle. Yesterday my huge candle decided to burn through itself at the bottom and leak wax everywhere. So I spent a lot of this morning picking it off the floor

nocutts- I’ve just realised I threw out a load of bubble wrap last week when I bought two paintings. That’s annoying. I’m usually desperate to throw out boxes and packaging.

I spent an hour organising photos and googling events to work out the year of the photo. I have been putting this job off for years and it’s not as bad as I thought it would be.

I've thrown away old cake tin and I am hoping to get old desk thrown out. I also sorted out a big bag of old children's clothing for Salvation Army depot last week and some old shoes went into recycling thing at supermarket specifically for shoes. I am getting DH to sort through garage next week as a lot of stuff seems to accumulate there. I am also sending off a pile of Oxford Reading Tree reading books to dgc tomorrow.

Outs today: 2 dead charger cables & I used up some ancient paint.

Ins: 1 chocolate orange and fizzy pop: They won't take ages to go, so that's net Outs.

Thought I had replied about socks... I'm not happy to shred or bin wearable items. So that pile will have to attrite* slowly. I have very cold feet, so often wear 3-4 pairs at once.

*new vocab for me today!

Class bubble popped. Off til 24th March. Dear Lord give me strength not to declutter my sanity.

366: 5 pairs of tights. I don't know whether anyone will take them if they're in decent condition, got lovely woolen ones but i'm just more fat now.
367: Also broke a wine glass (thankfully empty). Annoying but i have lots, it isn't something i'd replace so i'm counting it.

MD present was a photo album of the twins cake smash so no clutter from that

More clothes in the outgrown bag... I found a 4yo t-shirt in the clean washing...youngest is 8 tomorrow...

I've been moving stuff around again. So, a lovely basket has been repurposed for useful storage, amongst other things.

Our kitchen bin has been broken (by DP) for ages, and we've finally ordered another one. Ditto a few other things, which will improve the kitchen.

I'm also thinking of buying a storage box for loo rolls - they always seem to be falling out of the cupboard, so I'm sure there must be a better way.

Out: A sellotape dispenser we never use and an out of date voucher.

I've got another DVD going out.

I've just counted my outs for March and I'm averaging 5/day so far. I'm pretty pleased with that.

@Hagqueen

Well, I’m gutted.

I tried to schedule an Icollectclothes collection for the end of next week, only to have it immediately cancelled as there is no service in my area. I don’t know what I’m gonna do with this stuff now 🥺. Our non-essential is looking to reopen at the back end of April, but past experience tells me it will be weeks after that before the charity shops are ready.

it may not be the case that charity shops will take weeks, my DH runs 2 and has already been given dates to start organising both his shops - IE changing from Winter to Spring Stock, well before 12th April opening when he does that he will be off furlough, he will check but hopefully that will mean he can start taking donations in while he is in his shops,