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

Thx - I have a fab strong smart looking box for my own sentimental stuff and have edited it down to fit it , so I think I will measure that box and try to locate roughly matching sized ones for each child. THEN tackle the sifting out....

Swimming stuff - I hear ya! I've swithered between keeping everyone's in one place and in rooms but I'm now back to keeping everyone's stuff in their wardrobes...

the cleaning of my sewing desk has begun; I see dry land!🤣
(before & right now photos )

I am putting stuff away where they belong as well as chucking things. So far: used envelopes, empty thread spools, 2x broken lanyards, broken plastic bags & hair bands, lots of bits of paper (inc order slips I no longer need).
I've also found some open packets of biscuits (the shame!) that are definitely not edible anymore.

zingdrama that is such great progress.

Today’s outs are some outdoor children’s chairs that I have realised are far too small for dc. I always keep them in case someone visits with toddlers which is silly because even folded they take loads of space. Also a tiny violin is going with music and a music stand and I’m going to put batteries in a toy and see if that can be sold.

Ditched some food packaging as have decanted things into my new canisters. Yay. Just have to wait for the labels now. Yay.

thanks @stealthninjamum!

Day3
so far in the bin are: ironing board cover (old & full of holes), sellotape dispenser (middle piece missing), dried up or used gluesticks, random bits of thread I can't use, cardboard boxes & Christmas cards!🤣

I've also found a small bag of leftover fabric, which I can cut up properly and add to patchwork stash.

Does eating a full, big bag of popcorn by myself count as decluttering?🤪

I’m zingdrama hmmm not sure if popcorn counts as I’m sure you’ll be buying more at some point! Whereas my current breakfast cereal is Honey Cheerios that we’re bought during the first lockdown as normal Cheerios had sold out. None of us like them but I am determined to have them for breakfast rather than throw them away!

Don’t have time to declutter today so I am pleased to maintain my one a day with another teddy bear that had been added to the pile to go.

Busy here getting ready for the move . We payed for our house in the weekend and getting keys on 2.9. the first day of school for DD at the new school . She had a day at a hockey camp on Tue while we visited our new house and saw it finished for the first time although they’re fixing a few snags . We picked her up and took her for a tour after it too. We’ll have a snagging company check it out on the 8.9. and the first of the new kids furniture is arriving the day before . I’ve ordered another big load of furniture day before yesterday inc a kitchen table mostly pieces going to ground floor thankfully . we have many more things left to sort out .we have several bits of furniture and mattresses etc left to order , the second sofa I was planning on for the tv room doesn’t quite fit and in smaller options they’re out of stock on the colour of course . Atm trying to lock down the movers for the sat 25.9. They said they’re available so it should be confirmed tomorrow . My livingroom is now full of deliveries of new stuff for the house I’ll sort by room and condense into less boxes and label then they’re ready to take next week . After that’s there’s more room to start packing ,we have boxes etc for that already waiting . I’m trying launder things around the clock to get through the normal laundry and all the ones I’ll have to wash separately plus new sheets ,mattress and pillows protectors etc that I’ve bought . That’s another thing to buy washer and a dryer . Kitchen had everything ready and alarm system was in so that’s one thing off my list . Garden was looking fab the lawn will never again look this fresh and perfect ! We will have it landscaped later and put in hedges for privacy . I’m also thinking I want an awning over the Patio for sunshade and privacy . We are considering a hot tub since couldn’t put a pool in in the development despite there being plenty of space for it in the garden . That’s still my dream I love water and swimming maybe one day . Also thinking about putting in a garden studio I was thinking for a gym but we’ll see . We need to put shelving cupboards and workbenches into the garage for DH and all the boxes up sports equipment etc . Have to book the shutter company to measure since they take months to put in apparently. Need to find a temp solution the windows now they are pretty but a bit tricky sectioned ones . DH had found some options but he’ll have to devote a few h to do 20+ windows . Need to take some blankets and mattress toppers to the laundromat. Managed to finally order rest of DS clothes for school and sign up to all the what’s apps and fireflys and jot down dates in my diary from the new school emails , transfer money before school even starts for teachers presents etc to get those out of the way . I’ll even head to the y5 coffee morning with a friend before we’ll go out to lovely breakfast to catch up after it next week . Not sure we’ll make it to the new parents drinks we initially signed up to in the spring we’ll see . The only reason I am even entertaining the thought is because DH would be there since now DS is old enough to watch DD and the dog which is very useful . Both kids have several doctors app lined up currently dh is kindly ferrying them to those , I am meeting friends for lunch ive only seem once in the last 18 m or so on my birthday . We used to meet weekly . DH will go to his moms for the weekend since the eBay auction ended and our little boat without a motor inc went for a 1000£ , one engine for around 500£ the other nearly 300£ The boat and one engine should be picked up on fri and sat so we are very happy with that . Another 3 bigger things decluttered ! Need to arrange so many things in 5 w while DH is having to go back to the office as well most of the week for the first time in 18 m . I’ll be left alone with the dog all the time when he’s not at the doggy daycare which is new to both of us and DD starts at the new school and I’ll have the aft school run to the school bus unless DS can do it for me hopefully so none of this is ideal timing with the move . I’m so super exhausted and dizzy all the time let alone in pain I can’t sleep at night then sleep in the day . If I get through this in one piece it’ll be a bloody miracle .
Soon a large amount of furniture , a couple of mattresses , bedding , bathroom stuff etc will be decluttered but for now in the last few days

• one small motorboat without a motor
• 2 outboard engines
• I think DH is considering decluttering the current motorbike after we move he won’t be able to commute on it but will have to take the train and the tube and that’s why he got this one after his nice newish bmw touring bike was stolen right before we moved here . He could then get a new one of those instead .
• also earmarking garden veg trugs if I didn’t already
• and ditto the cycle storage box that I hate the colour of it’s meant to be white but is really yellow cream . He’s told me there’s grey so we’ll get that Instead .
• next he’s listing an exercise bike and there’s another motor left too
• earmarking my DS two little sailing boats as well he’s grown out of and DD has never really gotten into but they won’t be listed right now maybe even next summer .

Day4

now what? this is overwhelming!!!

DH, 2 youngest kids and I are shattered.
just finished sorting books.
37 books binned: too broken, stickers used up etc

I will count the rest tomorrow; on photos are most of what we are getting rid of
2 free boxes outside are partially filled, this way people can easily see what's there & take what they want.
Boot of VW transporter filled up just so it's all out of the house:

• on right side in 2 card board boxes & green basket are books going to a friend (toddler & infant school age stuff). she'll have all the Mr Men, Little Miss and Thomas TTE books too
• red boxes contain everything else that I'll gradually fill the free boxes with (someone already took 5 books!)
• shallow box in back & left has stuff I want to offer to school library next week

we also have 5 red boxes worth Hungarian books someone might be interested in, another basket filled with Bibles, kids' Bibles & Stories, sticker books, Christian books we are giving away to our church and we have another box to give back to MIL.

phew!!! that's a lot of decluttering!!
we have more books downstairs and other bedrooms but this was the big one as had to be done in one go - now we can carry on sorting the rest of the yellow bedroom.

DH is ordering burgers & chips for dinner, we ain't cooking tonight!😁

Jumping in!

Desperately trying to de clutter the house after the birth of DC2 while I'm on maternity leave! Feel like I've done so well, I've got rid of soooo much stuff, so why doesn't the house look any tidier??? 😭😭😭

Zing I only followed Marie knondo for books andisy say I cheated a bit and pulled everything out of a bookcase at a time rather than all at once. Got rid of way more than I ever thoight I could though, maybe something about having to either out in a to-go pile or back on the shelfase me more decisive.

Nordic mum wow you sound busy!

Mommabear same here house always looks like a disaster!

Got rid of a couple of bags to chatoty earlier in the week but stalling now. Though one jumper in a newly started charity bag.

@Mommabear20
congrats on baby #2!

I think tidy is not the as organised. maybe that's why?
with small kids you need so much stuff that even if you are organised the sheer amount of their things (which are in constant use) looks messy, no matter what you do.

I have decided a long time ago that I don't care for catalogue living. I don't actually want my house look like nobody lives there.
As long as it's organised, practical and everything has a place I'm happy!

*not the same

@Pineappleapple

KonMarie or not I was gonna do this anyway because we had to find book sets (Mr Men/Little Miss, Secret Seven, Beast Quests etc) and it's much easier to sort stuff into piles on the floor.

What I found interesting about her methods is that a lot of it I had already been doing before I read her book.
I have ADHD and so object permanence is a big issue for me (if I don't see it it doesn't exist) so I can only sort stuff if it's in a big pile in front of me - whether it's lego, socks to pair, medicines to check if out of date etc I always collect everything into a heap first.
It definitely works for me, obv for personal reasons, but I think it's a useful method generally for anyone

I forgot to say yesterday that I offered up my Bonne Maman jam jar collection in local neighbourhood group (for free).
I have kept 52 of them in one box, got more somewhere in the shed and cupboards, and I no longer want to do my original project with them so they are up for grabs.
Someone just messaged they wanted 20x and will pick up tomorrow. yay!

zingdrama that’s fantastic. I did a bookcase like that a few months ago and got rid of so many books. I prefer the gradual approach rather than Kondo but with kids books it does work.

Welcome mommabear and congratulations on baby bear. It takes time but honestly it does get better. zings right that baby’s have so much stuff it’s impossible not to be messy when you have a baby or toddler.

zing kondo doesn’t work for me because I get bored so easily. Whenever I empty a whole area I get bored and leave it in a pile for weeks.

No decluttering today as I’ve felt a bit rough. But I did put some holey trousers in the rag bag so I suppose that’s one thing going.

Two outs today - a pair of PJ bottoms where the fabric had worn thin and a pair of tights with holes in - both gone in the textile recycling bag. The PJs are about 15 years old, so they lasted well! I bought a replacement pair, so sticking to one in and one out.

Impressed with how much people are getting done, while I’m just plodding on. Going to try to do more of DD’s clothes this weekend. I’m off work next week, but we’re going to visit PIL, so won’t have a chance to declutter (except possibly my sanity ). Then school starts the following week. Sometimes I feel time is just slipping away from me.

DH also did a load more shredding yesterday and has nearly finished going through his bag of paperwork. There are several more bags lurking round the house, but it’s a start!

Movers are booked for the 25.9. now . That gives us 4 w to order everything, organise things , declutter and be packed eeek !!!!! Luckily DH started packing tonight and did our wedding china and all 36 wine and champagne glasses so that’s a start . I ordered more things after going out to lunch with my friends and cleaning and tidying downstairs . Had an argument with DS about doing more here especially in the holidays . I can’t seem to ever go out without having to come back into mess if others are home , it makes me furious . I’ll try to order DH bed tomorrow and hopefully we can choose some mattresses, I think I’ve decided on a dining table and chairs then I looked at washing machines and dryers but need to check what we have already . Sofa is still a question mark as is the garage shelving . DH will investigate TVs to choose one for over the fireplace. Starting to get really stressed there’s just far too much to do ! How I wish DH wasn’t going back to the office right now !!!

Taking a car full of stuff to the garage today! Not got round to actually getting rid of stuff yet but getting it out of the house is a start!! 😁

Do you think I could store DH in there too?? 😂

Two ladies came to pick up jam jars just now, between them they took exactly 100!
we have tons more in Shed 2, inaccessible atm, once we unearth them they will want them too!
Score!!!

One of them keeps bees so will use them to store honey, the other is making marmalade as Christmas presents (presumably they sell them). So all put to good use.
Marmalade lady also took over 150 books, her niece runs a charity book stall so will be absolutely thrilled with the find. She'll want any other books we want to get rid of later too!
I'm so happy, recycling/upcycling at it's best.

Back to clearing out desk in craftroom.

Feeling really defeated today and am sat on the couch drinking tea and eating biscuits.

Decluttered a handful of pens, tapes and paper then gave up. I honestly feel i’ve been decluttering constantly but it’s never ending. Other than that i’m working full time and keeping on top of the housework is a nightmare. Washings, dishes, the usual.

I cant remember the last time I just sat and done nothing at all, so i’m doing it today while the kids are at school.

@ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba

Two ladies came to pick up jam jars just now, between them they took exactly 100! we have tons more in Shed 2, inaccessible atm, once we unearth them they will want them too! Score!!!

One of them keeps bees so will use them to store honey, the other is making marmalade as Christmas presents (presumably they sell them). So all put to good use.
Marmalade lady also took over 150 books, her niece runs a charity book stall so will be absolutely thrilled with the find. She'll want any other books we want to get rid of later too!
I'm so happy, recycling/upcycling at it's best.

Back to clearing out desk in craftroom.

Love this!! Feels really good to know your things can be reused by someone

@AColdDuncanGoodhew

sorry you feel deflated. not all decluttering makes a huge impact though, often it feels like shovelling snow while it's still snowing😁 or losing "just 2lbs" when you have stones to go.
But it DOES all add up.

A bit of rest is a good idea. x

Day5:

18 shoes are now outside for free-cycling.
DH sorted them with kids, I just do labels & bagging (we leave them out until they are gone, this way they don't get wet!)
I binned 3 pairs.

Also made progress in craftroom, desk is almost usable now!