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

making some good progress today, DS clothes are now all sorted. 2 bags for the clothes bank and a vacuum bags worth to be stored for winter/Xmas.

also managed to work through 75% of his bookshelf. 70+ books to one side for now to be taken to the charity shop on Monday.

We are packing a storm here today . now too many boxes from other rooms in the kitchen / dining room waiting to go tomorrow to add more there since DH is still packing kitchen stuff so needs space for those . Will start piling boxes in the livingroom instead where we’ve emptied the bottom part of the bookcase of consisting of console games and kids school play dvds plus a few photo albums and photo books , and a footstool of cables and console game accessories. DH has been doing his study . We’ve now pretty much decluttered and packed livingroom ( toystorage drawers have been decluttered and organised before as was the wheelie large book basket ,and will go in our own car / van as they are , movers will take the rest of the storage unit itself . I have emptied a toystorage chest we’re not keeping of board games we just have to decide which wheeled basket out of 3 I’m keeping and declutter 1/2 ,and pack 3 picture frames . The tables lamps we are using so they’ll go on last day . We’ll take a tray table and a paper bin tonight . Then I’ll consider this room packed for now ( of course there’s the furniture some of which we’re keeping that’s going in the truck and sofa covers we’ll pull of on the moving day ,they’ll be washed and new ones put on ) and some pillow cupboards I’ll wash also a throw , sofa pillows will replaced . I need to finish my own shoes and bags etc from my bedroom and look through some plastic boxes of clothes that can then go out of the way . I might then join DH in the kitchen or the utility r or do the rest of spare room upstairs ( one cupboard of wrapping paper etc left since I did the linen cupboard earlier ,and I’ve decluttered it recently so shouldnt take too long ) . I want to get at least 2 van loads maybe three taken tomorrow and a carload tonight ,we only have 2 weekdays DH has taken off both remaining weeks and we have app and deliveries in the new house on some of those and one and a half weekends before moving day in two weeks on sun !other days DH will be at work and kids at school and then he’ll spend a day at a funeral also DD has to attend an open morning at school day before we move so Dh has to spend 2 h driving her there too . it’s a hurry here !!! Everything we’ve packed except already decluttered and labeled plastic boxes we have managed to declutter something from so it’s worth doing this ourselves I think . Out recently ;

• a pair of brand new ugg australia slippers I just don’t like the look of and don’t need to charity
• a pair of brand new designer slippers I forgot to return in time after changing my mind about I will sell ,they’re still in a box with all the tissue etc so hoping to make some money out of them
• 10 kids console games like fifa (DS just kept the newest one ) to charity
• a bunch of useless cables to dump
• old Apple TV boxes and remotes to electrical recycling
• 4new fabric masks in their packaging to charity
• a few of my old pyjamas pants with holes to rag bank there’ll be a bunch of more clothes going from the clean laundry mountain In expect
• 7 egg cups to charity I decided we don’t need more than one set of 6 surely
• an old scratched butter dish
• a few kids water bottles ( there’ll be more of this kind of stuff going once I do that cupboard !)
• earmarked now possibly the book case I emptied we are getting a new one
• 2/3 wheelie lidded toystorage baskets possibly another oval open one too from dd room that houses soft toys atm
• dog crate mats that have been washed a lot when he was younger and now worn out and not needed

-a soft dog toy basket that’s stained he’s getting a replacement

• all the manky soft dog toys will be replaced I’ve bought new ones for new house already

( I’ll wash the hard plastic ones that can then be kept )

• a few worn out of plastic bags for life from hall cupboard I’m keeping fabric ones
• 6 glass espresso cups DH has decided to let go without being asked , this is amazing
• a company advertising mug we don’t need

Kids are at the park so nice and quiet here while me and Dh get on I’m yet to eat my lunch or have a shower so that’s next . DS had to go help at school open day this morning he was giving tours it went well …

Sounds good Stealth, all your hard work decluttering and organising is paying off!

Managed to do another batch of DD’s old clothes today - 7 things gone in a bag to go to a charity shop. I have nearly finished her age 3-4 clothes now, so that’s most of a large bag for life out of the house or waiting to go.

I need to find somewhere that takes textiles for recycling as I have a couple of bags of worn-out things to get rid of. Something to research next week.

Wow @Nordicmom I’m in need of a lie down after reading what you are managing. Please take care not to overdo it and make yourself unwell just when you should be enjoying your new place. @stealthninjamum I loved your description of finding the blow up beds AND crucially the pump It is indeed very satisfying when a little victory like that happens.
I’ve sold a couple of bits on eBay so need to package and dispatch those today. Taking eldest off to uni next week so will be taking lots out but then need to complete the bedroom swap and neatly store what is left including several musical instruments need a just thinking about it

Sold a huge set of draws from kids bedroom today which has made a huge difference and made room for DS cot to go in after Christmas when he's 6 months old.

I have 1 large reusable bag full of stuff to sort through and then it's just the garage to tackle!

Gassylady , we haven’t moved in yet !!!! I have no choice now than to get this all done unless we get packers . We have 2 w left until moving day ! Lucky DH can physically do what I can’t . I rest a lot believe me . I was up half the night but only now getting up . I ended up not having the energy to do all that packing yet I planned to or the laundry folding but DH did his share and took a load last night and finished building a kids desk too . Now we’ve got until 4 pm when we have the zip van from for 4 h . Luckily we’ve got a good amount ready ,another van + so we can get the second load done by 4 . I think we’ll get the van in the week too at this rate . DH is next taking tue and wed off so need to get more packed by then . We’ve got a washing machine and a dryer and chairs coming on tue . I wish the dining table was coming ! I’m thinking we might not have a table to eat from when we move at this rate . I guess in a pinch we’ve got kids desks we can carry down from first floor 😒.

Haa, just found out that we’ll have the van for 6 h tonight so we can take 3 loads !
Trying to decide if I should just send the kids clothes boxes as they are that my goal is to reduce but that are neatly packed now in labeled boxes . They could just go to the attic room since we have so much to do rather than think I can now still declutter from them . I reckon I’ll just have to send them to be sensible we have so much more to do and now a third van full to gather up . Annoying but I’ll just have to think I’m decluttering other stuff as I pack rather than start rifling through already packed boxes . We’ll have to locate all the good charity shops where we are moving , and the dump although DH will still have come here several times for the cleaners , to take things to the dump from the garden and otherwise , to sell his bike box and to move the bikes etc so he could take charity stuff then to the shops we know are good . A bit depressing that I’ll have to continue to do this decluttering there but I’m trying to limit what I still have look through to that attic room then do 6 monthly decluttering like I used to .

looks like everyone is making great progress this weekend.
@EllieQ our local council provides textile carrier bags that are collected alongside the recycling - not sure if anywhere else has a similar scheme.

tip run done this morning, so outs there included:
2x imaginext playsets not suitable to pass on.
DS baby car seat that has expired.
bulky plastic garage that had been in the shed.
broken down set of drawers.
2x dismantled bedside tables.

dropped both bags of DS clothes at the clothes bank on the way and just got back to find all 3 of my eBay toy bundles have not only finished but all sold and paid for 😁
will get them packaged up now and ready to despatch tomorrow.

on to the board games...

Just binned ds’ fireman helmet. He left it on the stairs and I slipped on it and went down. Ffs. I’ve told him a million times not to leave it lying about. So in a fit of rage have binned it. (He has two so won’t miss this one).

Kids library books are going back tomorrow

Omg , I’m
About to fall over so finally having my shower and my late lunch but we’re trying to get more ready for further van loads since in an hour DH will get the van and start taking the loads and won’t be here helping to pack
. Not sure if DS is going with him as well or staying here to help me …

I’ve decluttered today so far ;
-Lots of kids wooden hangers to charity shop I’m changing DD clothes to adult hangers in her new full-size wardrobe

• a few dog toys
• a few too small designer clothes of DD in perfect condition so putting them aside for now but they will go I have lots to add from my plastic storage boxes some I might do before we move but most will have to be sorted out in the new house
• a bunch of DH trousers , shorts , swimming trunks , T-shirts , a shirt , a new unused cashmere / wool sweater he doesn’t like to charity / few bits to rags like the past their best shorts we packed his clothes except what’s in the clean laundry pile , a few other bits and a suit, shirt and a tie for the funeral

@Nordicmom I know you have a while yet but you don’t want to get in there and have to take to your bed and be unable to enjoy. Some kids PJs and yet more books added to the start of the next charity bag. Only eight days to uni drop off and barely a third of the room has been sorted

I’m just doing what I can now and of course I always stop when I can’t do more . I’ve have my illnesses about 11 y I know when I’m too unwell to continue , the arthritis and sciatica are another issue I just have to take some painkillers and do things sitting etc . Lucky I have 3 healthy people in here to fetch and carry things I don’t do any of that I just look through and pack what I can and direct people 😁. Unfortunately looks like DH has some super important meeting in the office the days after moving day if not I’d want him to take it off to help !

Thanks ellieq and gassylady the pump really was such a victory. And I put it back straight away for next time. The sleepovers were a success but I now have exhausted dc and I am trying to get them to declutter homework so I’m not sure I’ll do much decluttering of possessions.

ellieq are the textiles in good condition?
I think we have a ‘textiles bank’ near us which is like a bottle bank only for clothes and materials. Or you could put them on Facebook for free or freecycle. Or would a school want them? Or in a charity shop rag bag if they aren’t great quality?

ememem84 how annoying! I hope you’re ok.

nordicmom three vans of stuff sounds such hard work but it must be wonderful seeing your current house gradually emptying.

Hello, I've been here a few times in the past but not recently. I currently am filling up my car with junk as my local charity shop is limited with accepting donations. There are lots in town but a little walk from parking.
I have overcome my local tip eversion when I took garden waste to it. I may have to take stuff there this week I've sold on Facebook:
Old woodchipper
Some shelves

Things I'd like to get rid of:
Old laptops.. I've been holding on to these as I don't want data stolen and I want to see if I can restore data from the hardrive. Although they've been broken for more than 5 years now....

Garden waste wood with nails and some old furniture.

Arts and crafts supplies.. needs more sorting than anything but I'm sure I could give some to a school...

University.and even school notes!

@Nordicmom are you counting the move to the new house as “ins” 😂

I’m ok thanks @stealthninjamum told ds off for leaving toys on the stairs (again). Elbow and knee are a bit bruised. But ok.

Stealth we only managed two van loads in the end since it took 2 h to go there and back twice and it took time to get and return the van it wasn’t near plus unloading and carrying stuff to right floors and rooms in that end and of course filling it here twice . DH took a carload yesterday too . More in our own big car if not tomorrow eve then on Tue DH is definitely going there . We made a good dent but it just looks like there’s so much left to pack aaaaarghhhh. My goal is to empty whole areas and cupboards then I can see the progress better and feel less panicked . Last time moving here we had a week longer , a whole month so this 3 w is awful . I feel like I never want to move again after this but I will for a pool ! Now my back is shot so I am sitting on the sofa with a bunch of pillows behind my back watching tv and I’ll do some laundry folding or at least will get some new clean towels and bedding into a box / bag from it if I can later . DS was dropped off by DH on his way to return the van so I’ve had to ask him to heat up my meal for me before he goes to shower and bed .
Ememem84 yes the new house is a one big new in but hopefully we are decluttering the old house and the small mortgage left soon and ill very much welcome the the large in of the profits from it !

One carrier bag of clothes (ripped jeans and baggy/bobbly t shirts) to the charity shop before some new clothes I ordered arrive. So an equilibrium rather than declutter!

*clothes bin not charity shop

Now all the kids are back at school I'm back on it.

I'm feeling really under the weather right now. I just cant find my mojo at all

Kids library books back
Also paid in some coop stamps so have got them out of my handbag.

I had so much paperwork to catch on ( on my 7th SEN tribunal and trying to get a uplift on a childs DLA rate). Its mostly done now so I tackled some of the bathroom. I found I have yet again, got too many of the same type of bottles on the go at once. Some went in the bin as had a tablespoon of shampoo in them. I'm going to be more mindful of using up and buying new.

I'm going to tackle toys again tomorrow

I have just gone through my medicine cupboard and I am throwing out some unopened calpol, ibuprofen, Beechams cold stuff and some Sudafed. All had recently gone past the useby date. I hate this stuff because I buy it and never use it because we’re rarely ill. I don’t mind chucking out cheap own brand paracetamol but the calpol would’ve cost a fortune so that’s about £10 of unused stuff going back to the pharmacy to be disposed of.

@stealthninjamum

I have just gone through my medicine cupboard and I am throwing out some unopened calpol, ibuprofen, Beechams cold stuff and some Sudafed. All had recently gone past the useby date. I hate this stuff because I buy it and never use it because we’re rarely ill. I don’t mind chucking out cheap own brand paracetamol but the calpol would’ve cost a fortune so that’s about £10 of unused stuff going back to the pharmacy to be disposed of.

I only buy own brand stuff for this reason. With two littlies we always have a bottle of paracetamol and inruprofen on hand. But I really begrudge paying for branded calpol when the ingredients are the same!