Decluttering one item a day thread number 18 – quickly stashing our clutter in charity shops now we can let people back inside our houses

[stealthninjamum]

Here we are again, still decluttering and still chatting and sometimes getting rid of some clutter.

This is a group of mumsnetters who aspire to live in a lovely clutterfree environment, usually scuppered by husbands, children, dogs and in my house ‘valuable’ bits of twig and stone or origami versions of aardvarks and komodo dragons.

We are slowly decluttering our houses, chatting and updating each other on our slow progress as we go. We only aim to get rid of one a day but often manage more. Newbies are welcome to join us.

Since the last thread charity shops reopened and things got closer to normal. I’ve now invited friends over for the end of June so have a month to get the house ‘guest ready’.

Previous thread here.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4183135-Decluttering-one-item-a-day-and-counting-down-til-the-opening-of-charity-shops-thread-number-17?pg=38

nothing decluttered as such but have taken an executive decision and have replied to an email from our kitchen design guy and have asked for amendments to his first design. dh hasn't really had time to sit with me and look at this in any great detail so i've bitten the bullet and have gone for it.

one job off the to do list.

That’s great about the paperwork Stealth!

Yesterday I didn’t get an afternoon at home by myself as planned, but I still managed to go through DD’s clothes from last summer and bag up some of it to go to the charity shop. It was only 14 items (mainly dresses & some PJs), but it’s a big achievement for me as I find it hard to let go of her clothes (an acknowledgment we won’t have any more children). I kept one dress and one set of PJs to keep as a memento.

They still have to be taken out of the house, but they will go. Then next weekend I will do her summer tops and leggings from last year.

@IncessantNameChanger I find that my DH is supportive of decluttering, but I don’t think he understands the emotions behind it - I suspect he thinks I just don’t have the time to sort through stuff, or just can’t motivate myself (the way he is with his stuff). I’ve noticed that he needs Special Time to do the paperwork sorting he’s been doing recently (like Saturday when I took DD out for the day), while I fit mine in where I can.

@EllieQ

That’s great about the paperwork Stealth!

Yesterday I didn’t get an afternoon at home by myself as planned, but I still managed to go through DD’s clothes from last summer and bag up some of it to go to the charity shop. It was only 14 items (mainly dresses & some PJs), but it’s a big achievement for me as I find it hard to let go of her clothes (an acknowledgment we won’t have any more children). I kept one dress and one set of PJs to keep as a memento.

They still have to be taken out of the house, but they will go. Then next weekend I will do her summer tops and leggings from last year.

@IncessantNameChanger I find that my DH is supportive of decluttering, but I don’t think he understands the emotions behind it - I suspect he thinks I just don’t have the time to sort through stuff, or just can’t motivate myself (the way he is with his stuff). I’ve noticed that he needs Special Time to do the paperwork sorting he’s been doing recently (like Saturday when I took DD out for the day), while I fit mine in where I can.

the "special time" to do the sorting resonates with me too. Dh is exactly like this. apparently he hasn't "had time" to put his basket of clean clothes away because i never give him the time alone to do it. he'll have to do it when he has annual leave in a couple of weeks. whereas i just put away as i go.

it takes me maybe 10 minutes to put a basket of my clothes away. dh it'll take him around 4 hours. because he needs to sort through, fold ridiculously, play on his phone, have a nap...

EllieQ that sounds like a productive afternoon.

Since my last post I went through a huge ringbinder of stuff related to buying a flat and I threw 90% of it out. The only bits I kept were the estate agent leaflet and a few plans / maps and land registry exchange of ownership.

If I get the chance I will shred the stuff. I also have a small folder of stuff related to my sale of the flat that I’ll also go through.

I am wondering if I can get this ‘historical stuff’ into a box file rather than the big box it’s currently in.

I've just thrown away 67 pieces of mouldy, muddy pieces of toys and a cracked plastic box.
these have been sitting by the shed for ages.
gone!

I agree about the men. I hate making generalisations but it seems that they really can’t multitask. Every so often I was made to take dc out because my ex had a Very Important Admin task and he needed silence to do it in - and to find the paperwork that would be all over the house. Even now he sometimes won’t see dc for a fortnight because he needs to spend a weekend on admin / housework. He can’t do a bit every day.

@stealthninjamum

I agree about the men. I hate making generalisations but it seems that they really can’t multitask. Every so often I was made to take dc out because my ex had a Very Important Admin task and he needed silence to do it in - and to find the paperwork that would be all over the house. Even now he sometimes won’t see dc for a fortnight because he needs to spend a weekend on admin / housework. He can’t do a bit every day.

we must be the exception to the rule.

I have ADHD and can not multitask. sometimes I can't even task🤣
DH on the other hand is efficiency personified, not only does he multitasks he loves it & is bloody good ad it.
He cooks Christmas lunch for example. it's amazing. if it was up to me we'd eat pizza

excuse typos
see? can't even task

Fallen off the thread, but have been plugging away with bits and pieces. DS is three today (where did that time go?), and I've gone through his clothes and charity-shopped anything in 18-24 month size which is for autumn/winter, as it won't fit by the time the weather gets cooler. The 18-24 month summer stuff can be worn over the next few months and then got rid of in October/November.

I have been very lucky to have had all the children I wanted (in fact DS was a surprise bonus ), but it must be hard to get rid of things if there is still that vague sense of wanting more. My mother-in-law also likes to buy stuff for the DC, so I have less of an emotional investment in their clothing when I haven't chosen it myself. Oddly, I am struggling with getting rid of two old stretchy crop top/sleep bra things, as I was wearing them when I had DD2 and DS - they're ok for wearing in bed under PJs, but have definitely seen better days.

zingdrama lucky you, your husband sounds lovely 😊. My newish boyfriend seems competent too but it’ll be interesting to see if he’s just trying to impress me.

I’m going to step away from my phone now and pay attention to dd1 who’s home schooling and dd2 who finished school on Friday. I have a six inch pile of papers to be shredded and a big ringbinder and lots of plastic wallets to go. I feel so chuffed with how much I’ve got rid of.

Bad news here. I went into the Next sale today. I only bought six tings and I think I will have 40-50 outs this week. So not to bad I guess. My will power needs work.

I'm having a bad time with sons disability socail worker changing his respite package. It feels like constant stress and shopping makes me feel better. However I did manage to only buy what the kids needed ( ok they dont REALLY need anything but its spare trainers and two pairs of leggings)

I got myself two jumpers. Definitely dont need them. I will try them on and if I keep them and older jumper will have to go.

@IncessantNameChanger

Bad news here. I went into the Next sale today. I only bought six tings and I think I will have 40-50 outs this week. So not to bad I guess. My will power needs work.

I'm having a bad time with sons disability socail worker changing his respite package. It feels like constant stress and shopping makes me feel better. However I did manage to only buy what the kids needed ( ok they dont REALLY need anything but its spare trainers and two pairs of leggings)

I got myself two jumpers. Definitely dont need them. I will try them on and if I keep them and older jumper will have to go.

I’d chalk that up to a win. Only buying 6 things is a record in my book.

Well done everyone with outs this week, it sounds like it was hard, but still wins were achieved!

Battling on here, felt tired and demotivated after illness. Have got rid of all the baking stuff (mostly went to local FB then DH took the rest to Oxfam) Also sent some bags and shoes and plastic shoe boxes there today.

I love living with my DSis next door and DM just up the road, but moving all at the same time negates some of the advantages. I spent 2 hours today helping DM chuck paperwork (cheque book for closed account anyone?) instead of my own decluttering! Saved at least a whole moving box with my ruthlessness though and also sorted out some bedding to pass on from mine.

How do you get rid of bedding?

Ememem84 it's so much less than I would normally buy. I think when I went to my last next sale last summer I bought about 20 things. I looked at all the dresses and keep asking myself where I would wear it.

Youngest ds needs a spare set of trainers for his boarding one night a week.

Dd likes the active wear type leggings and i was itching to buy some. I actually took her with me ( she is six) to make sure she would wear them. I dont normally do that either so it's a small move in the right direction.

Definitely need to try it all on.

If only running felt so good 🤣

Vets normally take any type of bedding or any dog shelter / animal rescue.

If its duvet covers then charity shops or even giving away on FB.

Which reminds me I'm still waiting for my CF to pick up my dd leggings 🤣. I'm not sure FB is a good idea really to give things away.

Since last Wed the decluttering has slowed down as I suspected . I had an appointment on Thu although after it I tidied the downstairs and did laundry again . DS finished school then for the summer .Now both have 8 w off which is along time. Luckily they can go to MIL lots where there’s water sports etc to do. On Fri I took DD to afternoon tea with friends and we had a nice time . On Sat the boys had Wimbledon tickets to the women’s final but DD went with DH instead of DS who was sick . Luckily he’s been once before and it was her first time so that was nice for her . Both kids play tennis with their dad. Then yesterday kids,DH and the puppy went to his mom’s and I stayed home . I’m feeling unwell myself we’ve all done tests they’re negative repeatedly so probably just a cold . I’ve been cleaning and tidying in the ground floor and top floor mainly plus doing lots of laundry ,the usual dishes etc . Top floor gives me hope, there’s just some cupboards and drawers to do and they’re not full . DS room wasn’t bad even the wardrobe but it’ll of course take time anyway . I’d love to attack the big landing storage cupboard I can see a basket that can go and empty storage boxes I can use to pack duvets for one .I just need DH to get it all out for me . I still have DD soft toys to decide about and her new uniform to check and look through , wash and label then pack away to wait for fall. Just got her football boots so nearly have everything . We need to get DS clothes for A levels .He doesn’t need to wear school uniform anymore ,I wish he did because I now need to get him a wardrobe of “smart office wear “ which is giving me a headache ! There’s lots of laundry backlog to get through .I’ll try to work on that this week . Not much more stuff decluttered in the last few days but I’m so happy of what we’ve managed to recently to get out of here ,and cleaning , laundry and admin is still happening so it’s ok . Feeling pretty miserably sick atm my throat is horrible and nothing is helping so far . I might have to just do basics in the near future .Hoping DS will be well enough for his F1 next weekend it’s his Christmas present and he’s waited for it for years . Finally getting puppy groomed tomorrow hopefully , he so needs it !
A few more things going out ;

• some dog toiletries and puppy finger toothbrushes not needed from topfloor bathroom
• puzzle ball that’s dented but replaced this
• a hummingbird bakery cake tin gift set I received but don’t need to charity
• glass citrus squeezer but replaced it with a ceramic one anyway don’t need two

-a basket from top floor storage cupboard earmarked to go ,it’s different colour to all my current baskets so I won’t use it there might be similar smaller one there too I don’t remember if I already got rid of it .

• more socks , old pants etc to rags
• my king size sheet with holes to rags have replaced it

Also found some electric toothbrush heads for a brush we don’t have any more and some sanitary pads that make me itch so they’re gone too.

I got up early and have spent another two hours in the Room of Doom. I have been putting stuff from large binders into smaller plastic or cardboard wallets. For example my car stuff was randomly shoved in a box file. Now it is all in plastic wallets in a cardboard wallet. It is so space saving. I also shredded a load of stuff.

My aim is to get rid of everything in the big historical box and either shred it or condense it in a folder that takes up no room and can squeeze onto the small bookcase I bought recently.

I’m so pleased with this. I’m sure I started (4 years ago) with the equivalent or two five foot book cases. Now my papers will all be in one three foot high bookcase and payslips in another box (although I might threw those out and just keep the p45s and p60s).

Back in the office today so am decluttering my intray and inbox.

Also used up three foot Masks this week. Only one more to go….

12 out this morning. I must admit I bought home some bits from my charity shop shift🥴 so I need to make sure this weeks in are drowned by my outs.

Four things was going in the rags bag but will do as spares for holiday club bag. Three nice things so got to swop those out too. Either way my Ebay stuff is lined up and ready to go to make room

Inbox down to 50 emails which I need to deal with. Tray cleared.

An update from yesterday: more sorting and shredding from DH, and another bag of shredded paper has gone in the recycling. Oldest receipt discovered so far was from 2009

I am still feeling ok about DD’s clothes that I bagged up to go to the charity shop, and haven’t been tempted to take them out of the bags. Will try to get them out of the house this week.

I have sold some toys and books so stuff has gone out.

I was also looking at my childhood toys, and found some of them available on eBay but mine are so scruffy I don’t think anyone would want them. I’d give them away free to a good home but I don’t even know if they’re safe - I think toys from the 70s might have had poisonous paints so they can’t be played with. So I don’t know whether to throw them away.

I'm just ticking over this week. Stress with socail worker not doing his job. I'm chewing my arm off not to buy stuff. But still on target for at 40 outs. Maybe more. Ds13 is wearing his school trousers and hes finished at school as he says hes got no trousers. So tomorrow is sorting his wardrobe ( and pointing to his joggers and jeans).

I'm not buying more. He needs to use his eyes. I think he has plenty but we shall see.

The oldest two are both 5,8 lanky thin boys so if needs be I'm going to hand him down his brothers Jean's

Must
Not
Buy
More

working from home again now, so had to bring work things home (again).

am going to make a conscious effort to use things up though whilst home. today i have decluttered a pack of biscoff biscuits. mm.

also used up a deodorant and a pen. not the most exciting but its a couple of things out.