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

@ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba I have a stash of them in the garage for when we move house even though it's looking like that won't happen for a few years yet 😂 I'm glad it's not just me!!

Very excited to see a Facebook post today from someone asking for second-hand toys and books for the school summer fair (postponed from July because of pushback of "Freedom Day"...), so I'll be sending the DDs in with as many bags as they can carry for the next two weeks . Last year I went through a lot of my books checking if they were available on my e-library app, and marking them for donation if I could easily borrow an electronic copy or buy the Kindle version for a couple of quid, I just never got round to actually getting rid of them

Some ins in the form of joggers for DS as all his existing ones are 18-24 months and he's now 3, plus some drawer dividers to better sort out his clothes. I'm in two minds whether to give up on summer altogether as it's been pretty rubbish here, and just pack away the summer clothes, or hang on till October in the hope of a last ditch bit of sunshine.

Also declutted a few inches of hair and had my first haircut in almost a year

@Mommabear20

I allow myself to keep what fits up here. Gotta be ruthless with the rest.
I actually threw away 6 various sized cardboard boxes today. Heroic or what?🤣

photo helps

@SydneyCarton nice job with hair cut and plans with books.

Haha 😂 love it 😁

Thanks @ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba - I am so envious of your craft room! We have a Kallax box for craft stuff, and my sewing machine is somewhere in the depths of the downstairs storage cupboard . I used to do a bit of dressmaking for myself, but the most I've done since having the children is take up the hem on a too-big Frozen dress. Now they are a bit older it would be nice to do them a costume for Hallowe'en or World Book Day, or even just PJ shorts!

DS' clothes are all more or less nicely sorted into various dividers, and I've put away his too-big summer stuff (age 3-4) for now, the smaller shorts and Tshirts can hang on till October for that last bit of sun.

@SydneyCarton

I've been meaning to make clothes for my kids since DS1 was little.
He's now 20 and I haven't quite got there yet!🤣 I even bought an overlocker 3 years ago, haven't even tried it out yet. it scares me.
I've done a lot of mending, cuffs /hems, reshaping etc and obviously quilting but clothes ...still to sink my teeth into that.
The older ones need pj trousers fixed, so I'm hoping that will give me motivation.

I hope you can unearth your sewing machine soon!

I managed to clear the floor, desk is still messy but I'm done for today. I've simply run out of energy. I'm gonna sit & crochet now.
Side note: I'm very excited that Part 5 of Money Heist is on Netflix, as of today!!!! We've watched the first episode at lunchtime and I can't wait to carry on tonight!

@Nordicmom Congrats on completion!

Glad the exchange went ahead @Nordicmom, it’s always a very stressful time. I have dropped a bag of books to Oxfam. Have the kids clothes and a glass vase to go to Barnardos hopefully tomorrow. The youngest has agreed to get rid of some travel toys/card games too but hasn’t quite got around to sorting them yet 🙄🙏🏻

Full of admiration for those who can sew. I can sew a button back on but that's all I would attempt!
I do like a nice box... Glad you l understand!! I have a couple which are pretty, waiting to find the right thing to go in them!!
Today's out is a jumper which I loved, was hoping to slim into it but when I looked it's very bobbly so in the rag bag. Also tried to clear some space and found a tip I bought for DD. It's been summery so best get it worn on the next warmer day!!

Anyone else watching the Nick knowles declutter programme? I love a clutter tv show, inspires me to have a go.

I'm only on page 27, I am very behind with the thread! I have been decluttering away and feel like I am getting somewhere. I've been doing this for years and I think it will be an ongoing project. I'm finding I do the best decluttering when I don't plan to, worked on the loft, the children's bedrooms and the shed, all on days I didn't plan to. A pushchair, some clothes and toys have gone to the Afghan refugee collection near me, I needed to feel like I was doing something to help and I'd rather it went to someone who needs it more than I do.

@Cocopopsss One of the decluttering influencers, I think it's The Slob Comes Clean has a podcast about containers, she says that a container is a limit. So once the container is full, that is the limit and everything else has to go. I have the same problem, things quickly fill their limits.

DS 16 first day of school here today , remembered to take a picture even . He looked very smart in his suit , ready for the office 😁. He said it was weird to see everyone in suits today not in school uniforms , I think he feels all grown up !
DD is getting used to her new school , she was less tired today afterwards ,had swimming and decided RPE is her favourite subject 😁. She took the school bus in and back for the first time today and I managed to get DS to pick her up from it ( he finished unusually early )which was very useful . Lucky since I tired myself with the new school coffee morning ,a breakfast out after it and then cleaning and tidying downstairs after several sleepless nights . I then did something to my hip on my sciatica side trying to get out of bed when zooming with my friends to check on our dog and couldn’t walk for a while it’s still feeling weird and aching . I’ve been having trouble recently lifting that leg to get into our car that’s high , a taxi , climbing our very steep stairs etc so it’s not a completely new problem . Didn’t then manage more physical jobs today but I have looked through more of the linen cupboard pile on the sofa and put aside towels and sheets to keep after throwing out old mattress and pillow protectors the other day . I’ve scheduled some more furniture deliveries now that we’ve got the keys on the two days next week we’re at the new house anyway , ordered some towels . Last night I ordered a vac cleaner we only had a new Miele cordless one which will be good for the stairs and for a quick clean on downstairs but for this much bigger house needed a bigger vac cleaner too .our dyson stick one will become the garage hoover . Also got a karcher cordless floor washing machine we have lots of light coloured tiles and some wood floor on the ground floor ,a big grass garden and a new dog . You can chuck the rollers in the washing machine i’m hoping this machine will be good . Also got some kitchen appliances, bedding etc . Ordered new toys for puppy the manky ones I’ll declutter when we move . It’s his 1st birthday in oct too . I’ve gotten mattress , sofa, armchair etc moving bags and we got more film for carpets for protection. DH needs to order the tv boxes . We are choosing a mower ,the old one broke ,the lawn is big DH is reading about robot mowers and is trying to make up his mind , also looking at a tv for over the fireplace in the main open plan living area , washing machines and dryers ,garage storage , garden shed / cycle storage , garden hose trying to decide if we should mount it on the wall or not they are all so ugly ! I’m agonising over the dining room table the one I was thinking about is too long to fit with a piano ( need to decide on that too) . Also a problem is the tv room sofa but that can wait a bit as long as we get the fireplace tv then we have one sitting area with a tv and that’s fine. Ditto with the dining room table we’ll have one next to the kitchen hopefully anyway already I’ve ordered it although it’s not yet in stock should be early sept . DH ordered the temp blinds to stick on the 20 + windows I’m praying they work we then have several months wait for our shutters . He’s gotten home insurance right away which was a priority and is signing up with the council , utilities , choosing internet provider etc . Developer got us bins so that’s done although will need a bin storage for them . They’ll look at the en-suite door that doesn’t close on monday. I’ve hopefully found a company to frost the front door windows it’s one of my few complaints about this house but hopefully easy to rectify if I can get these people to do it . Need to still book several people like the wardrobe makers to come in we want more shelves . We need a decorator to paint part of the banister ( later putting up a wall into the attic room to divide it into storage and other use ) need to find a gardener I’m going to check if current one covers the area , also need to find cleaners but I’ve got one possible comp in mind now at least . I’ll have to also check on Monday that kids furniture will definitely be carried to their rooms on first floor and change the dog bus to the new address . Need to also cancel oct halfterm boarding I don’t think we want to travel right after moving. I for one will be half dead and not in the mood to be planning anything else , packing or physically travelling so we’ll do the move , wait to go to see my family in Finland in dec and book something for feb , April , next summer instead I think . I was so tired I went to bed at 7 / 8 and missed dinner but now I’m awake and hungry . I will eat a bit and try going back to sleep so I can get into a bit better sleeping schedule instead of being up all night with anxiety then sleeping in the day . There’s too much to do and I’m sooooo tired

@Pineappleapple

Anyone else watching the Nick knowles declutter programme? I love a clutter tv show, inspires me to have a go.

I’ve watched it. The one on Thursday with the childminder lady made me so sad for her kids.

I’ve also been watching hoarders tv shows on YouTube. I’m not there yet so it makes me happy

Have got 3 bags of random items to go to the charity shop sorted today! 😁
Also made a start on a box of craft bits for our local brownie unit.
Waiting on some metal shelving units now which are due Tomorrow so I can get all these newly organised boxes out away and off the living room floor 😂 just need to convince DH to dismantle the 2 draw units that need to go now! 😂 he hates it when I give him jobs to do 🤣 also need him to put a second hanging rail in DSs wardrobe so we can finally separate DD and DS clothes completely into their own wardrobes.
Also trying to convince him to finally ditch the TV from our bedroom which is broken but he's convinced he can fix! Not that he's bothered in the 4 months since it broke! 🤦‍♀️
Weather has turned very autumnal here so going to go through all my summer clothes this week and ditch anything showing even the slightest signs of damage s as I definitely have too many clothes!

Hope everyone is having a good and productive weekend! 🥰

I watched the first episode of that programme yesterday and it makes me want to throw it all away but I’ve got other’s here hindering that. Making a good go at it while moving though . I’ll have to continue to get rid of stuff from our storage locker like the kids clothes when we have moved .I can’t do it all before there’s far too much to do already . I am looking through and decluttering everything we are packing though . Today DH has gone with DS to empty last of our stuff ;his tools and workbenches from our old house shed and he’s packing it in plastic storage boxes neatly I hope ! until we’ll get the garage cupboards and shelves sorted . He’s also making a dump pile he’ll collect on his way to dump tomorrow . He’ll try to change the fuse in the mower if it doesn’t help them the old mower is broken and can go .if it works we’ll mow the old house garden before we’re meant home be completing end of Sep . For the new house we need a big mower for the back there’s so much grass and DH wants stripes and a small one for the front you couldn’t use that big one on . I guess if he fixes the old one with a fuse that would be the front garden one . We will get either separate shed and metal bike storage in grey or a shared one , figuring out where it’ll go . DH was thinking back of the garden and then have landscaping hide it somehow . For tonight we’ve got a zip van for 5 h and will try to move 1-2 loads of all the new stuff I’ll sort out by room and the things DH has packed from kitchen and living room plus contents of top floor storage cupboard except suit cases we’ll use later . Tomorrow it’s the dump run , charity shop if I’ve got enough sorted for it and the laundromat for mattress toppers and bedspreads . Mon he’s off to the office, kids to schools , puppy to doggy daycare so I’ll be alone and will have to get more done . Tue especially is crazy at the new house with appointments and furniture deliveries , wed more . My hip is better at least but I’ve got a migraine and the dizziest head ever . Need to eat and get on …

Hello all, hope everyone's back to school has gone smoothly. We are definitely not in the routine yet!

Congratulations on the move nordic, must feel great to be in.

I'm also very envious of the accomplished sewers. I've just finished sewing all the name tags into school uniform (school aren't keen on the stickers) and I am so slow at it!

Yesterday was a gardening day so not much decluttering done apart from some random bits of rubbish from the playroom. I have resolved though to sort out my maternity clothes as I had an email from a charity saying that they are doing a special collection for maternity wear this month. Am going to get them all on Vinted for a couple of weeks then if they don't sell will send them off.

@RaspberryBlonde what charity is it? I've just sorted all my maternity clothes out and didn't know where to send them where they'd be appreciated!

Do any of you lovely lot have a cleaner? I'm considering hiring one just once or twice a month to do the time consuming jobs that I hate! (Bathroom and kitchen!) 😂 if you do, how much do they charge? Are there different prices for different tasks??

I watched the Nick Knowles programme and really enjoyed it. It is like the Stacey Solomon programme but his team redecorate. I would love to reduce our stuff by half!
I am having little outs each day and it has made it easier to clean the house. I need to go through the summer clothes and recycle any that are past their best or too small.
We have two birthdays and Christmas coming so I need to clear some more toys from the playroom.

Small victories today. Sorted through all my felt tip pens and ditched any that were on their way out.
Finally ditched 2 chipped mugs that I've been holding onto for absolutely no reason and now going for a walk with the kids for some fresh air 😊

@Mommabear20

Do any of you lovely lot have a cleaner? I'm considering hiring one just once or twice a month to do the time consuming jobs that I hate! (Bathroom and kitchen!) 😂 if you do, how much do they charge? Are there different prices for different tasks??

Yep. Ours comes every other week for 2 hours (two cleaners) and charges £16 an hour.

Busy family celebration weekend here but all went very well.

Today DH has been sorting his paperwork in his wfh office. Most shredded or in recycling bin. Probably 1 ft/30 cm deep pile of various docs.

Lots of shredding done here too. Pocket games have been sorted and will be added to the bags later. Decided to have another pick through the puzzles etc as well. Thought about eBaying a cake stand I never use but it’s gone in the charity bag too. Decided it wasn’t worth the risk of smashing in transit

delurking as I really need to start making some inroads into the piles of stuff that has accumulated.

been living with parents since leaving exP and hopefully should have keys in less than 3 weeks for a lovely ha property.

if that doesn't motivate me then nothing will.

outs today:
6x pinecones from DS collection
1x broken star light
1x broken fabric storage tub
1x half used box of hair dye
A handful of snapped&tied hair bobbles

had a walk around and identified the main areas that I want to tackle first - toys and clothes being the big ones.

went through 3 drawers of the trofast unit; sorted and tidied the contents back and have listed 3x small toy bundles on ebay that are no longer collected. If no luck will drop to the charity shop a week Monday.

have placed a charity shop box by the door so things can be added as and when I come across them.