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

Its today have been a dog shaped cookie jar, a set of measuring spoons, a pair of DD pyjamas that no longer fit, an old frying pan and my patience 😂

Ins today have been things for ds’ party

Stealth I only get boots own version of calpol now. It has the same syringe to dose out too.

Mine are very slightly out of date too now I come to think of it. I bought it for the start of the pandemic but of course the kids have been less ill than other as gone nowhere to catch anything ( except ds3 who has just had covid)

hi all.

I pretty much haven't stopped since kids gone back to school and only a tiny amount of it was spent decluttering.

And today I got caught up in that horrendous traffic caused by the utter cunts protesting on the motorway....because nothing says "stop environmental pollution" better than making thousands of vehicles stuck in hours long traffic 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
I'm still fuming.

Still, I've managed to resist.emotional eating (I started a diet 2 weeks ago and lost 3 kgs already). It took so much willpower. Definitely deserve a medal for that🤣

Out: 11 various boxes, 26 lids and a mouldy jester hat.
DH finally dragged the very old mattress out from behind shed so that & the old mattress from kids rooms will be collected this weekend (too big and nasty for us to take to dump).

In:
because of new diet (plain old calorie counting) I've decided I need a microwave again. so bought a Hotpoint Curve which fits beautifully in a corner!
I also bought a power blender - still not had time to unwrap it since Sat.
And a whole bunch of Lock & Lock boxes for when I finally have time to batch cook & freeze soup and meals.

And breathe...

Hope you are all well x

ememem84 incessantnamechanger I usually buy own brand medicines where I can but I bought these in March 2020 when I realised our medicines were out of date and I was concerned we’d be ill with covid. What’s really annoying was that the supermarkets and Boots sold out so I got really expensive products from a local corner shop and we didn’t even open them!

No decluttering today other than shredding and some batteries recycled from the toy I threw away a few days ago.

No new decluttering in the past few days, but I took another bag of DD’s clothes (sorted out previously) to the charity collection bank today.

Still trying to resolve the recycling textiles issue. I’ve found out that the H&M near me takes clothes for recycling, so I can take the bags of worn-out/ ripped and torn clothes there. I’ve also got a bag of old sheets and towels but I don’t know if H&M accept those as well. Local animal shelters aren’t taking towels/ bedding at the moment, they don’t recycle textiles at our tip (DH took them on when he did the tip run and the staff said he should just put them in the general waste), and I don’t know if the clothes recycling banks would accept them. Possibly charity shops would take them for recycling, but I need to check.

I also have a bag of (clean) worn-out underwear (knickers and boxer shorts) that I feel weird about taking to H&M for recycling, and I don’t want to take them to a charity shop for their rags collection either! Not sure what to do with them.

This week there’s steady progress on the new house but I still feel like we’ll run out of time since DH is back at the office , kids at school and I can only do so much .
On Tuesday we had the washing machine and the dryer delivered and installed successfully thank god .
Also received our dining chairs , table should come on Saturday and something else maybe the two barstools or a larder from the same company it’s been delivered by a different delivery firm so it’s a bit of a mystery to us. Yesterday the shutter people came to measure and now ordering our shutters we’ll get put in in January. Still waiting for rest of our temp blinds . Only downstairs has any in the windows . In a pinch DH would have to order more from the first more expensive company but for upstairs he’d have to cut them . He’s been organising the utilities , got the last place in the school bus for DS and has been looking at the train . He’s built the kids furniture that arrived , washed downstairs floors ( need to wash all bathroom floors still) and vacuumed everywhere repeatedly , cleaned inside kitchen cupboards and wardrobes , mowed the lawn a few times and watered our plants in the front . He’s dealt with the builders about the snags outside hopefully they’ll get on with them , there’s a few inside I want them to do before we move in ideally ! He’s also been packing more here . I’ve been dealing with the furniture company and their delivery firm about last weeks cancelled delivery and chased rest of our furniture, tried to sort out the doggy daycare , medical appointments, been buying things we’re replacing . And decluttering and packing . Today I stayed downstairs after our puppy went to his doggy daycare in the morning .I packed about 9 boxes , 2 with DH help , sorted out a laundry bin to go to new utility and emptied the notice board . Then after a nap I did my 2 storage locker clothing boxes and one from my wardrobe and reduced to 2 in total so quite a bit went out . Also packed a suitcase of my clothes and accessories from wardrobe drawers I emptied. DH was packing more from the kitchen for fri and sat tomorrow he’s at work and going out to work evening thing so won’t get anything done here but I’ll try do the little storage cupboard contents DH carried down for me shouldn’t take too long I’ve weeded through it before . I could also go pack food unless DH packed What we can now tonight , he was in the utility r and the kitchen . He packed a lot of crockery , oven and pie dishes , glass things and mixing bowls etc I pulled out onto the counters earlier .he was definitely doing more unity tonight and looking at TVs ( we’ve run into problems with the mounting we know nothing about them so will have research ),also looking at keyboards since kids need to practise for piano lessons on something until we sell our old house hopefully end of the month then we’ll get a proper one for the dining room . Out today :

• 4 old straw table mats I loved but have had for about 10 y so they can go finally
• rusty gingerbread cutters
• 2 bent cake pans
• yellowed Tupperware
• some loose wooden cutlery , a few candles ,loose paper plates and old napkins
• The few DD toucan box art kits she never touches
• last of playdough again doesn’t play with it anymore

-2 too small dog coats

• a super long training lead
• a too small Dog raincoat
• a few bits from utility stained but clean laundry pile I emptied to ragbank
• a pile of worn out sweatpants etc of mine to rag bank clothing bank
• 5 sweaters and one cashmere long cardigan to charity shop

-Some soup tins to food bank

• 2 too small dog surgery suits
• one large and 4 small strapping baskets to dump I saved two brand new ones for wardrobes for small bits
• DH too smelly shower gel he doesn’t use , rest of the mouth wash when I was packing my bathroom

I'm having a duvet day today, just about to watch Romy & Michele's High School Reunion (lost count...) but earlier I threw away some expired medicine and a rusty baking tray.

Outs today are 4 pairs of DS dungarees and 8 of his vests that no longer fit 😢 we're officially out of the 'newborn' clothes 😭

I’ve been back in the kitchen this afternoon , so far after doing the housework and a laundry load after another I haven’t packed much yet but been organising . I did do the meds and there was a bunch of old meds plasters etc again. Last time they made dh remove the packaging at the counter so I’ve done it all and have half a large ziplock labeled ready to go to pharmacy later . Will now try to do a few cupboards down here then tonight I can do more upstairs . So far out

• several old medicine packets and plasters ,

Insect repellent etc

• old mattress protector and a pillow protector to rag bank
• 2 plastic strapping laundry bins will go to dump we’ve got different ones to new house
• a bunch of old food from the pantry am packing the rest that we don’t need ,since my last declutter around jan there’s quite a lot of old food again 😒if I have any energy left I’ll try to do DD colouring book drawer or some kitchen utensils etc then go up . Tonight dh has to stay at work late for a night out so DS is having to help me or I won’t get anything else done . He also just did DD y5 settling in zoom call from work , I already talked to her form teacher last week . DS collected DD from the bus , then he took the dog for a walk and put his food out it’s just dry kibble and he’s not interested atm but had a bad stomach yesterday so it’ll have to do I’ve given him some biscuits too so he’s not starving . DS will vacuume , dust in the top floor which he didn’t do in the weekend since he was helping with moving and at school ,and he’ll do his own and DD dinner , his own bed and put away the small Waitrose delivery that just arrived . Luckily neither has homework for tomorrow . I need to forge on with the moving stuff or it won’t happen since DH is back at work tomorrow has to go to new house for furniture deliveries on sat early so will actually sleep over . If they come late it’ll take over the whole day just as I need him here . We have a dump load , blankets to pick up from the laundromat and packing to do for sun when we are getting a van for 3 loads again . Then next week he’s at work on Monday and tue has wed , thu and fri off but fri will spent mostly him going to a funeral then we only have the sat left DD has a bloody school open day too of course 🤬. Thankfully a friend has offered to take her there and back with her and DD friend . I am feeling like we wont be ready on time I have my limits but if I get more of this kitchen done tonight and DH some tomorrow night and I’ll feel better . Damn DD misbehaving at dinner again I’m

Ready for her to go to bed ( which is where I’ve sent her to read for school now ) . I think I’ll stop at the food cupboards I’ve bloody had enough I’ve been in the downstairs and the kitchen for hours now so I’ll go up to to do dd clothes and spare room cupboard contents in front of the tv

And I forgot to say on next week wed and thu there are appointments at the new house ;the window film guy and a water softener company so DH will be there for those hopefully also driving a few loads there in our own car / van and packing here . Why does it all take so damn long at least it does for me ?! I guess because I’m in pain dizzy tired and looking through stuff like the food for old stuff rather than just throwing it all in a box . I’m reaching my limit now I’m absolutely exhausted .

Nordicmum it sounds very full on. Of you have to just chuck things in a box without sorting go easy on yourself! Sounds like you are well motivated to sort through at the other end. Though I appreciate you may not want to transport it.

Not many outs here, though a dead plant gone from the window ledge today. Lost my motivation really

nordicmom that just sounds exhausting, I agree with pineappleapple that I’d be tempted to just pack it now and deal with at the other end.

ellieq it’s really wasteful but I tend to throw knickers and pants out. I would give towels to a charity shop as rags and when you sat bedding do you mean duvets or sheets / blankets / duvet covers? Duvets are really hard to get rid of - animal shelters are usually the only people who take them. I got rid of a load a few years ago when we had a new boiler. Our plumber arranged for a man with a van to take the old boiler and he also took a load of duvets and stuff. So I don’t know if you have enough to ever use a bulk waste man?

Today’s out was a tiny pair of toddler pyjama trousers. Dd2s chest of drawers was stuck so I emptied it and found these cute little trousers had fallen down the back (I was probably really annoyed on this thread four years ago that I had found a pyjama too to go but no bottom).

I also found three books that dd1 no longer wants.

Nordic that does sound full on. Dont burn yourself out.

I'm feeling very under the weather so just trying to survive. Quite annoying as the kids are all back so I should be cracking on. But in not up to it. Hopefully I will next week

I am not having fun but I’m
A bit more hopeful this morning looking at my clean and tidy downstairs ( except for the packing mess ) , all the empty cupboards and shelves and the piles of packed boxes ready to go . I already tidied cleaned and did more laundry next a hot shower finally ( boiler not working last night again 🤬) more breakfast then I’ll sleep a few h . I have to
Pace myself or I won’t be able to move soon . dH is coming back in time for DD bus pickup .

nordicmom it’ll be worth it when it’s done but can I order you to declutter some bubble bath and have a relaxing bath?

Minimal decluttering here, I am really demotivated. I have about 50 pages to read of a book which will be decluttered today.

Atm I wouldn’t be able get out of a bath I’m aching so badly …

And now they want to deliver 4 pieces of furniture on Tuesday when DH can’t be there so I’m thinking about it …

The kids just broke a glass and a plate. Saves on washing up:…

Decluttered a pair of boots today after the heel broke just as we arrived at play group 🤦‍♀️

I put two dresses that I will never wear again into the charity bag and will try and drop them tomorrow when I am in town. I listed two baby items for sale. A few other small outs which was good.
I need to declutter the playroom before birthdays and Christmas.

I watched the decluttering program again yesterday and it out all this perspective again . I just wish I wasn’t feeling so poorly . I’m very nauseous out of the blue after dinner tonight . It’s a warning sign from my adrenal insufficiency so I’ve taken an extra dose of steroid it normally helps . Basically my stress hormone stores are depleted after all this also been feeling I might be getting sick again . I need to go down to do a bit if kitchen with DH before he leaves for the new house though we can do it together Sony he better if I just check and he packs quickly a few boxes of the stuff he pulled out of the cupboards then I’ll haul myself up the stairs to the couch and if I can do a few things there that I can just sit mainly while doing .

Update from yesterday - no new decluttering, but I took one more bag of DD’s clothes into the charity bank.

@stealthninjamum The bedding I have to get rid of is mainly sheets, with a couple of mattress protectors, so could go in a rag bag for a charity shop. Still dithering about how to get rid of the underwear - it is clean, just a bit worn/ holey so can’t be reused!

It’s been the first full week at work/ school for me, and I felt exhausted by Friday evening I’m concerned about the impact of my arthritis on my energy levels, as it’s definitely got worse over the past year. The enthusiasm that I had last week (that new term feeling) has disappeared now.

@Nordicmom Which decluttering programme are you watching? I need inspiration!

I have no outs to report (except misplaced school uniform, now retrieved) but wanted to drop by anyway in hope of motivation.

Hope that you are feeling better today Nordic. Packing is the worst, seems no matter how organised you are it's a mad dash at the end.

Stealth I feel your pain on the stray PJ trousers. I recently found the missing half of a pair of baby socks in a bag of old clothes, they must've been dropped in there. It had been bugging me how they'd got separated as we hadn't left the house the day they disappeared (you can tell I devote way too much mental space to this type of thing!).

How is your DH's new job going Ellie? We have kerbside textile recycling here so underwear goes in there with anything else too worn for the charity shop. I also need to start the playroom cull! Definitely a few things that could go, although getting them out might be more challenging...