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

@Nordicmom

we have a small & a big Le Creuset pan, but the big one has much less volume (because of slanted sides) than the Green Pans, which we have to of.
so far so good.

you really sound like you should take a break today.

GAh, my bloody phone. I think I lose about 50% of my posts so then I end up blurting out a badly written, quick message full of typos.

Anyway I have tidied away the mountain of clothes on the landing. I have four carrier bags which I hope to take to a charity shop later. Dd2 took a couple of things back. I’ll take the teddies another time.

I’ve also tried on my four swimming costumes and I’m too fat for all of them. They were all expensive so I’m reluctant to get rid of them I just need to lose a stone —or two—

nordicmom do you have a day without children? I would try to do nothing. Long bath perhaps?

I'm getting closer to finishing laundry mountain, just started load #17 🤣

I had such plans for today but slept terribly last night plus I have that "stressful thing got resolved" tiredness so I'm gonna take my own advice and take it easy today.
DH is away on a long weekend cycling holiday with his best mate so I need to pace myself!

Very little in the way of outs for just now. Added five more pc games to DS's bags.

Even though things are so much better controlled and tidied, I feel somewhat despondent at the amount of stuff still in this house.

mrstidyhouse despondent’s a good word. I feel the same. I’ve just taken another 4 bags to the charity shop and the house still has too much stuff.

When I go away I have a woman checking on the house and giving it a deep clean so I feel under pressure to tidy things away tonight. We’re going Sunday.

Ditched a pair of shoes and some of the kids art.

Not really decluttering but a load of weeds removed so the house looks a bit better from outside!

nice one @Pineappleapple!

does talking about decluttering count as decluttering?🤣
I've just had a friend over for a cuppa (or 3) and we spent a few hours talking about nothing and everything.
we both have kids starting new schools so bigger changes than the usual buying uniforms in next size up.

I feel like that even just talking about it helps me organise my thoughts and figure out what my priorities & also obstacles are.
It's a bit of eureka moment when I can form a full sentence explaining why I can't get organised in a certain area!

I hate it when people then go negative and say "ah, stop making excuses" but with this friend of mine we say encouraging things like "so what steps do you need before sorting xyz?" or "what if you did another xyz first which is quicker?" It's so helpful, like a trouble shooting, brain storming session!
We are both motivated to sort a few things tomorrow!

Yesterday put a pair of DD's leggings in the rag bag as they'd gone at the knee. Also went through the toy shelf and recycled some old comics and cereal boxes that had been kept 'for crafts'. We've got plenty of actual craft kits to finish off!

Zing that sounds like a lovely catch up. I could do with a friend like that! We also had a massive in of school uniform this week.

I always count weeding Pineapple! We have quite a big garden and it's been terrible for weeds this year.

Hope you are feeling better today nordic. You mentioning Le Creuset has reminded me I need to contact them as the enamel has failed on my casserole dish. I want to check if it is worth re-enamelling before I get rid. I've had it 15 years and got it very cheap (by Le Creuset) standards in a sale so it's not the end of the world, but it's a favourite that I can't justify replacing at the moment.

So pleased to hear about your DH Ellie. Sounds like that will make a big difference for you.

Hello to everyone else, I seem to have become a bit of a weekend member here!

zingdrama it’s lovely to have a friend like that. I tend not to talk about clutter as I’m always embarrassed by how much I have even though I think most people with kids don’t seem to be on top of their clutter.

I have decided a handbag must go. Not sure it counts as I bought a new one last week. I’m also going to declutter the car today.

thanks both

We haven't got a single close family member or friend who hasn't seen our house messy. and vica versa!
they've seen it tidy too but it's either them coming regardless of chaos or we'd barely see them.🤣

I threw awa 2 pairs of broken scissors.
I looked up how to dispose of them safely (wrap in cardboard, tape up securely then put it normal bin) but apparently they can be taken to the dump that have metal disposal unit.
and they have battery recycling too - our local Tesco stopped accepting spent batteries so we have a big ice cream box full getting in the way.
I'm gonna add them to the stuff DH is taking on the next run

We are very fortunate to have kerbside recycling collection for batteries here otherwise we'd have a giant box as well Zing.

Out today, about a dozen ancient conkers I found in DD's bedroom and a broken paperchain.

@RaspberryBlonde
how old is and is she in cahoots with SS6 (7)? I found a bunch of rocks & pebbles next to his mattress yesterday!

Fitted sheet
Anniversary flowers
Ds’ old shoes
Cushion cover

And two more things in the charity shop
Bags

@ememem84

great job!

Also have a bag of batteries here waiting for me to remember to take them next time I go to the supermarket!

A few outs today, about ten books and a vase. Hooray. Very little progress recently so that's good. Also found some coins - a bag of £5 of 5ps and £1 of 2ps. I used to take them to the bank but then covid... And I barely use cash anymore. Can they be used in self checkouts does anyone know? Save me a trip to the bank?

I have had the best day of tidying. My house always used to be tidyish before lockdown and with homeschooling and decorating I was too tired/ lazy to put stuff anyway. I’ve basically gone round tidying all the surfaces and just putting stuff in the places they actually belong - so tools, photos, coins, medicines, stationery, paperwork, toiletries, stuff to be recycled (paper, batteries, glass). In terms of decluttering I have found one handbag, two books, one skirt, a pair of child’s trousers with a hole in it, two drawstring bags, and a dress that’s missing a belt. I also emptied a handbag which was full of receipts, old shopping lists, loyalty cards, tickets.

Admin wise I paid a bill and renewed my home insurance which is annoying because once again I haven’t found a different company. And I worked out how to use timers and now have two lights on a timer for when we’re away and a third controlled by Alexa. I also printed out my rac membership details and insurance details. We’re going on holiday tomorrow so I thought I should have this stuff in the glove box.

And I packed my suitcase and helped dds pack theirs.

Haha, she is also 7 @ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba! I think you may be right about them being in cahoots as there were quite a few pebbles in there too! There are a few of us on this thread 'blessed' with DC who hoard nature I think.

How you have a great holiday @stealthninjamum and I'm sure you'll appreciate coming home to a tidy house.

I'm sure I've paid with pennies at self check out before pineapple. Probably be prepared for some funny looks though! They sometimes limit the total number of coins per transaction too.

pineapple I’ve thrown all manner of coins in a self checkout previously. It’s money isn’t it?

Hit send before I means to.

I have a bag of stuff which dd has outgrown to take to work for colleagues brand new baby. He’s on pat leave until sept so will just leave it on his chair so he can pop in to pick up. Will take that in during the week.

Will do charity shop run too. All my bags are in the car.

Outs this morning.

Deodorant finished and binned
Packaging from some beauty products - had to take them out to fit in drawer
Old make up bag

@RaspberryBlonde

🤣 being 6 or 7 and collecting conkers, twigs and stones come hand in hand so I was 99% sure they were the same age!

I haven't thrown his away yet. he shares a room with DD & DS4 and it's an utter pig sty atm so a few stones make no difference, might as well let him enjoy them for longer.

Thanks @RaspberryBlonde and @ememem84. Maybe I pay with a few each time!

Have done well today, sorted through some baby clothes and didn't get too sentimental. Have got a bag of stuff to pass on/ pass back/ charity shop.

Have just found this thread and am tempted to work through every previous one.

I’m a minimalist at heart but have a husband and almost 5 year old twins who have gallons of stuff. We also live with my mother in law temporarily (it’s been two years but hopefully, HOPEFULLY, next year we’ll have our own house) and despite having a massive house with our own floors there’s so much crap about and no storage.

Yesterday I spent 6 hours deep cleaning and decluttering the living room, today it’s the hall and living room. Phew!