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

After DH went to work and took DD to her bus on his way , DS left for school and the dog was picked up for his daycare ( goes twice a week soon just once ) I ordered some love breakfast, bread and cinnamon buns from a bakery for later and then cleaned and tidied downstairs plus washed a few loads of laundry . There’s several more sheets to wash for the new house and lots of new towels . Turns out DS laundry bin was also chock full when we decided go take the empty kids laundry bins yesterday so I’m working through those atm . Some last minute shopping to do as well and have ordered the first Cook frozen meal delivery to the new house while trying to figure out when exactly I could get an ocado for there in preparation . After cleaning and tidying which wasn’t too bad this time since I just did it the other day I’m feeling pretty good about the state of things since it’s now mainly furniture in the ground floor for one . the cupboards are nearly empty in all downstairs rooms so we might have some chance of making it by sun . Will take more tonight; more filing cabinet drawers ( thank god for the big sturdy carb boot !) , drawers from chest of drawers , kitchen boxes of pots and pans etc , DD books and lego possibly too although a lot of that has gone already ,clothes from wardrobes maybe from clean laundry pile if I get it folded in time . there’ll easily be a carload already I’m sure . I’m very sleepy so I’ll need to sleep more also in quite a bit of pain my sciatica is a nightmare but first I need to get myself new sheets and a laundry drying rack at least

Pleased to report that last week we managed to declutter the old horrible sofa, and a chest of drawers from the children's room via the council's waste collection service, plus DS' wardrobe which DP dismantled and took to the tip, plus a load of other bits and pieces to either chuck away, donate to the school fair or hand on to friends! It was a lot of work and at times we were a bit like Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duval in The Shining , but we powered through and it's made such a difference. We also took the chance to clean the carpet while we had all the furniture out and that looks a lot better too.

The living room looks oddly both bare and cluttered, since a lot of stuff which was under/behind/on top of furniture which is no longer here is now just shoved against the walls, so it'll take a while to sort out new places, but it definitely looks much better. We got a new modular storage type wardrobe for the girls room which now holds the contents of two chests of drawers, and put the old wardrobe stuff into a chest of drawers - sounds odd but but we now have much more floor space.

I have a bag of nice clothes to go to the charity shop, a half-full bag of torn and faded stuff for textile recycling, and I must remember to email the family charity where I donated my double buggy to let them know I have a single to donate also - after seven years and three babies my trusty Maclaren is moving on

Outs today have been an old rug that has seen better days, it's in the garden for now but will be going to the top on DH next day off. Also a set of gingerbread man shaped fairy lights that don't work anymore.

Working on clearing out some old candles that I'm not keen on so have a huge plate of them burning on the coffee table while DC have their naps.

We are going to need a new thread soon I think!

I had someone come in use my loo and feel embarrassed. so I need to start over. Maybe stopping over the summer was a bad idea.

I'm.having lots of tests for fatigue and odema and nerve issues so I'm feeling so exhausted.

Oh dear. The shame ☹

Incessant - I am sure they will have understood, especially with you being poorly. Go easy on yourself.
Outs yesterday - pair of pj's and a top. The top I identified weeks ago as one which could go, but actually getting rid seems to take a while

5 d only until moving day and were not ready of course . Signing the contract to exchange on our old house though so might complete next week if we’re lucky according to the lawyer .

Incessant try not to worry about what others think I know it’s hard I do care myself as well and living with 3 people and a dog that have other priorities while so I’m unwell that I can’t do everything I want to get done without help is hard . You can do this but by bit for yourself ! Just start again . Doing something is better than nothing it’s all a bonus I keep on telling myself always !

Theee pairs of pants binned
Two reuseable bags brought into the office to live in the drawer - I always forget bags…!
Magazine files brought into office for cupboard
Dds shorts in the charity shop bag
Ds’ shorty pjs in charity shop bag
A bra of mine binned.

incessant I'm sorry, don't feel embarrassed. I only have two dc and often my house is a tip, your visitor will understand (assuming they're not a dick). Can you channel this into tidying your loo? How much work is there to do?

I'll start a new thread later - unless someone else wants to - I have loads of admin to do at the moment and it's on my list t do.

Minimal decluttering here as I'm struggling mentally with dc. Dd2 has ASD, PDA, OCD, some ADHD symptoms and dd1 is similar but without the diagnosis. Anyway I'm making cards for vocab / number bonds / spelling etc to help dd2 at school because she needs a confidence boost. School are generally well meaning but a bit clueless of her needs so I have to support them too! I'm just trying to organise a meeting as well.

@IncessantNameChanger

I had someone come in use my loo and feel embarrassed. so I need to start over. Maybe stopping over the summer was a bad idea.

I'm.having lots of tests for fatigue and odema and nerve issues so I'm feeling so exhausted.

Oh dear. The shame ☹

Don’t feel embarrassed. Get back on it. Slowly. Carefully. And take care of yourself. Don’t stress it.

As @stealthninjamum said. Unless the visitor is a dick they won’t care.

One day and one room and one thing at a time

Decluttered the eldest to uni - still quite a few things left in bedroom here to be packed up and stored. Then decorating to be done before we can move bedrooms around. Still the lego to be photographed and sold now christmas is fast approaching. Feeling overwhelmed again at the moment.

Watched the nick knowles show last night. Amazed at just how much stuff the family had (the Liverpool collectors). Just insane.

DH doesn’t think we could get rid of 50% of our stuff. I reckon we could.

ememem84 my aim is to get rid of 50% of our stuff. I think it's achievable but I just need to bring dc on board.

I've done a new thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4354994-Decluttering-one-item-a-day-thread-number-19-running-out-of-ideas-for-original-titles?watched=1&msgid=110987304#110987304

I'd love to get rid of 50%!!

I really need to get into the shed and have a HUUGGEEE clear out in there but without having someone come and watch the kids it's impossible to get time to do it 🤦‍♀️