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

Shutter company visit booked , another furniture delivery being arranged , a Gp app for a dermatologist referral for DD Alopecia done , birthday presents and video sent for DD friend in Philippines, laundry load after load being done I now have another mountain to fold yeah 😒 , Optician rescheduled , called about DD suit trousers for school that are being altered of course they’re delayed aaaarghhhh he’s got others but hopefully won’t need to be in the suit on Friday day on next fri ! Stuff is being done but so much more left and both of us have migraines atm too

You’re on a roll Zing !

Hello all, stumbled upon this thread after googling ‘how to declutter’ and have lost a fair bit of time reading through previous posts! I’m hoping to hold myself accountable by posting here as I am trying to declutter ahead of a house move and I am stunned by the amount of stuff that we have, plus the way that we store and accumulate that stuff. My husband grew up in a clutter free house and has frequently been overwhelmed by the mess so we are trying to change our (my?) ways.
So far so good as now I’ve started I’ve become so irritated by everything I’m giving away or throwing away a bag a day.

Thank you to whoever mentioned the YouTube channel clutterbug - have been using a few of those methods. Also wanted to see if anyone else used BuyNothing local pages on Facebook to give things away as I have had a lot of success with that.

Essay over, just wanted to de-lurk and say hi 👋 xx

hi @Outonmyear!

Zing that's interesting, I can see his her method really works for you then. I am tempted to do it with clothing but have a toddler and so keep thinking I will go back to pre-baby clothes. Tricky.
Such a nice feeling with your jam jars going to people who are really pleased to get them, that's great.

Today I did go through a drawer though and put about ten things in the charity bag. Though I didn't pay much attention to quality so need to double check they shouldn't be for the rag bag! Also dropped off old medicines with the pharmacy that I sorted out weeks ago.

EllieQ honestly think plodding is the best way. I do a bit then stall but plodding works well.

Acolddunk.... Sometimes a sit down is exactly what you need. It does add you bit it's hard, I did well with my lounge at one point but it's gone backwards now.

nordicmom you’re on a roll yourself! You’re always so active. Have you thought about getting professional packers? I did it the last time I moved and it made life so much easier. Having said that it took me about 8 years to look in all the boxes but that’s why I’m on this thread!

outonmyear welcome. I haven’t heard of buynothing Facebook pages but I do have a local free page I sometimes put things on. I think you’re the first person here who has a tidier partner!

acoldduncangoodhew I hope you had a good break. Decluttering - being an adult, doing adult jobs, in fact - can just be knackering so try not to get despondent. When I got depressed about the slow progress (or even backwards progress) I used to look for a quick win - either a big item (such as a big toy) or some surfaces ie something where I can see I made a difference. Would it help to do something like that?

Today I’m thinking about some big items. A few years ago I bought some horrible garden chair cushions. They’re really ugly so I have no idea what I was thinking of. They’re going. If I can see replacements in a sale I might get them so it’s not necessarily decluttering.

I also have a camping table and two benches that folds into a case. Stbexh insisted on buying it and I don’t think we used it more than once. It lived in a wardrobe and now is probably too small for my dc. I’m also thinking about a camping chair I’ve had for about ten years but never used. I think I’ve been avoiding getting rid of a lot of these things because it feels like I didn’t get my money’s use out of them but what with the chairs I found a couple of days ago and other bits that’s the equivalent to the boot of my car just sitting in my Room of Doom.

Does anyone else get a need to do some decluttering at the weirdest and most inopportune times???
It's 3.40am, I'm sat in bed feeding my baby and all I'm thinking is, I want to sort through all those coats! 🤣🤣

@ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba

Day4

now what? this is overwhelming!!!

Holy moly that’s a lot of books.

I need to sort through the dcs books.

zing you’re on a roll! Good job!!

I’m doing the kondo on my clothes on Tuesday. Have the week off so am going through things and working out what (if anything I need to buy).

If I can I’ll also do the dcs clothes this way too. Work out who needs what for winter.

My canisters and labels arrived in the kitchen. Well most of the labels.

@Nordicmom I would also suggest getting professional packers, especially with your health issues. We got them in for our last move as I was about 10 weeks pregnant on the move date and had been exhausted on the run-up to the move, so had no energy to pack. They were worth every penny we paid, and if we move again we’ll definitely book them!

A bit more done yesterday - sorted through age 3-4 summer tops and 8 of them are now in a bag to go to the charity shop. I kept a couple of my favourites to go in the memory box. Keeping a few clothes from each age seems to be working for me so far.

Very stressed with school uniform buying at the moment. I have been complacent as I only need to get a few things, and now everything I want is out of stock. Tried to book a foot measuring appointment over this weekend but I had left it too late for our usual shop, and the other two shops in town are independent shops and expensive

I’m really annoyed with myself. Also annoyed that despite having next week off work, I won’t have a chance to do any school shopping as we are at PIL most of the week. When we agreed to visit, I had assumed it would be for a long weekend, but instead it’s ended up being Tuesday - Saturday, and we have been guilt tripped for not coming for a whole week. And the thought of doing school shopping with PIL (because they would want to Be Involved) is too much

@Mommabear20

yes. I also cut my hair at that time or hoover up or just watch tv & crochet.
The joys of ADHD hyperfocus combined with insomnia 🤣

@Nordicmom
I second getting a moving company that will pack up all your stuff. we did this both times (1st time I was 3m pg with DS1, second time I was 7m pg with baby #7), but even if I hadn't been pg I wouldn't have had the energy & patience.
it's worth every penny

@ememem84

I'd just finished counting up books before DH left to drop some off at his mum's & our friend's.
So far we've gotten rid of just shy of 450 books, all out of the house!
Still have church books & books for school to go & add to tally.

Day6:
I've started sorting through some fabric in craftroom, so far I filled 50 l plastic box with stuff I don't want. The box is now sitting in car boot, waiting for a friend to visit and pick out what she wants.
She is involved in school drama club & shows so always needs things for costumes. I also have lots of buttons, ribbons, zips etc I don't need - I'm sorting through them next week.
Whatever she doesn't want I'll offer to school as well.

DH bought some uniform bits yesterday for youngest 3 & will take them shoe shopping this pm. DS4 needs new shoes too and new style PE kit.
I'm so glad DS3 is starting college so doesn't need uniform anymore!!

I'm taking a break now, watching Rescue Riders with little ones.
Looking forward to watching White Chicks with older kids tonight, they haven't seen it yet and will be in for a treat!🤣

I’m alone for the weekend so I will have to get more done . I have a laundry mountain in
the livingroom waiting for me and I can see clothes that can go to rags or clothing bank so will do that . Then I will continue to look through and organise the new stuff I’ve ordered ready to go . I got a few boxes ready yesterday already and DH has packed more in the kitchen / dining room . this time it was my porcelain collection of a low bookshelf so that’s another piece of furniture were not keeping that’s now empty yeah !
I still have the 4 more boxes of kids clothes to look through in my room and on the landing since they’re not a priority .they could be just be moved to our new attic room if I need to do that .getting everything we want to replace ordered and rest sifted through and packed from cupboards and drawers we are not keeping is more important . This is why I won’t have packers ! We are not taking it all so I want to look through as we pack . We are also not packing everything but taking full drawers of stuff from chests where we can , clothes on their hangers just covered in a bin bag with hangers sticking out straight to the new wardrobes since we have time and are going back and forwards for furniture deliveries and shutter and snagging app etc anyway . We will also get a zip van for a day or two . The movers will take all the big furniture ,all the furniture we are getting rid and any boxes we have left by then we told them 50 boxes so that’s plenty . Luckily since I decluttered so much before moving here and now in the last 6 m we shouldn’t have as much work to do as in the last move I had a whole topfloor of clutter to sort out as I packed . It’s just that I’m replacing so much that that is a lot of work too .
DS brought down his old school uniform last night that’s now going ditto the shoes since we are getting the “ smart office wear “ for him . His suit trousers that were being altered are being delayed though and ups had some weird problem like last time ordering from this same company with our address although they deliver from other places here just fine ,so it might take another phone call . he’s got a pair of trousers , one shirt , 2 sweaters , the suit jacket and a pair of shoes here he can wear his old tie in a pinch but hopefully we can get the suit trousers from the dry cleaner and the parcel from ups before next fri when he starts .
I am going to check and then pack the rest of deliveries by room and label them and make room for more packed boxes this weekend then we’ll double check we want to keep all the remaining books we have decluttered already several times in the livingroom cabinet DS can pack . Then he can do the console games etc too maybe into an open box they’re bound to need some of ten but I want that cabinet empty , then DH will do my remaining porcelain and crystal items . I will have to look through the board games from a chest we are not keeping possibly or at least it won’t house them anymore and they can be packed then livingroom is packed except for furniture and the tv . I got a bed ordered that takes a few months since it’s made to order now looking at 3 mattresses we need to replace hopefully DH can choose his own this weekend so we can try to get at least the 2 singles from John Lewis possibly delivered on a date we are at the house anyway . He can also decide on the living room over fireplace tv and order that . I’ll try to get a charity and dump
loads ready for him by next weekend again also then we should have our keys so he and DS can go move stuff in out of the way . Just realised we need to cover windows before leaving any boxes there visible in the ground floor while not yet living there . There is an alarm system I guess we’ll start using that .
I realised I have three wheeled lidded storage baskets so the worst condition one I’ll at least declutter need to check DD room one .
I have a few restaurant booking made but I’ll reschedule them to after moving . I’m
Seeing friends for a breakfast next fri after school coffee morning and then when I have Optician and I just went out to lunch with them on thu plus we all went to celebrate DS GCSEs that I don’t mind waiting I want to not have anything extra to do now just this for next 4 w !!

And I’ll keep on washing new sheets and mattress protectors ,items with stains etc from the utility room dirty laundry mini mountain and will look through DD art drawers again then at least one can be packed . Too bad we can’t take the drawers out of the new chest of drawers they are going to or i’d move the whole contents of the old chest of drawers across and that piece of furniture would be ready to be disposed . I will investigate the new drawers later . I’ll also try to look through some kitchen cupboards DH can then be told to pack as he requested . God I just feel sooo tired though I had no sleep at night so slept all morning so far

I'm tired just from reading through your posts @Nordicmom!🥴🤣

perhaps another nap later would do you good? And make sure you drink enough water! Thinking is hard work.

I have now added up all the numbers properly for books, it's actually just over 600!😱
Us it possible to get high from the relief of never having to handle those 600+ objects ever again?🤣

And the 2 bookshelves I needed to be empty are now ready to be taken out of yellow room. DH will move one into my craftroom (finally I'll have somewhere to store several boxes of all kinds of paper that still needs sorting through) and the other is going in the shed.
He's having a nap now, so I'm jumping in hot tub to relax.
Water helps me think.

Happy Bank Hols weekend everyone!

600 books?!?! That’s insane. I love books though. When I moved out of dparents house I took all my books with me. Probably around 200. But they’ve all gone over time. I replaced a lot on kindle.

I’d love to have a reading room though.

Hi 👋
Everyone is really inspiring and getting through so much.

I have also left shoe buying until the last minute and so will have to draw round my son’s feet and see if I can convert it and order online, poor thing. Hopefully will be able to
Get an appointment somewhere.

I’ve spent the day dragging out all the stationery items from all corners of the house, chucking out the things that don’t work and then organising them. I think there will be more organising to go but it’s a good start. Shocked my the amount of broken tat we had in all areas of the house.

I am definitely the one who is cluttered and disorganised by nature in my relationship. My husband is very ordered naturally and grew up in a home where everything had its place and was ruthlessly decluttered.

I came from a house where everything was a mess and we had stuff bursting out and home was so badly disorganised. Nothing was really looked after and we had loads of everything.

I’m still like that - though trying to change my ways. He gets very stressed and upset by clutter but hasn’t done anything about it and now joins in with it, whilst still getting stressed and putting a lot of fruitless effort into organising and cleaning the mess.

I am hoping that doing this big sort out will help us both and will allow him to feel more comfortable and relaxed at home long term. Now I’ve got into it I’m on a roll but I know when school starts I might slip back a bit.

Had a rummage through the freezer and am using the veggies to make a curry for dinner.

Am going to try and hold off food shopping until Thursday. Or Friday of next week. Should be doable.

I’m also going to go through the kids art supplies and see what we can ditch.

Your earlier post elieq prompted me to make dd1 go through her PE kit and uniform. I’m so annoyed with both myself and her. It’s not her fault but her feet have already grown out of shoes and trainers bought in April after the last lockdown but what is her fault is that despite insisting she didn’t need any new PE kit I discovered she has lost her sports hoodie and her sports waterproof too and had grown out of her t shirt. It’s annoying because you can either buy these things online through the schools second hand shop or online through the ‘official’ ie expensive supplier. We’ve missed the deadline for both and now I have to buy brand new stuff for a small fortune because she lost the two most expensive items. She won’t get them in time for the start of term either.

Declutteringwise I have a pile of school stuff that will go when the replacements arrive.

I am also getting rid of a decorative flowerpot that lives under the kitchen sink.

Just for all of you guys having issues getting show appointments, I've recently bought a child's foot measuring tool on Amazon and loving it!! My cousin and SIL have both been round to measure their kids feet as they're in the same boat with appointments!

Everyone is doing so well, yay!!!

We have now figured out new layout for yellow room where 3 youngest will be sharing.
Here's a quite reasonable diagram.

While I'm having fun doodling DH, DS2 & DS4 are moving some furniture around. one bookshelf is now added to craftroom (2nd pic), this will store most of the crap (3rd pic) I will have to sort through next month.
The aim here is to create space quickly so DH can set up his office asap.

I don't have much energy left today but if I clear the floor before dinner I'll show you.

oops, photos are appearing back to front order...

Only real outs today were W couple of pegs.

Checking back in - we've been away for a few days. Sounds like you have all been busy!

It's always the expensive bits that go walkabout Stealth! Our school stopped them changing last year so we spent a lot less time looking for lost things! Am hoping that they keep that idea up at least some of the time.

My sole contribution to decluttering this week is politely telling my mum that no, I didn't want the box of cassettes from when I was a teenager that she found at the back of a cupboard. I can't even remember when I last had a cassette player but think it must be over 15 years ago!

5 pots of play dough binned. The kids wanted to play with it but it had gone all crispy. Luckily I have about a gazillion other pots….