Decluttering one item a day thread number 19 – running out of ideas for original titles

[stealthninjamum]

Another ‘one a day’ thread. We’re still here.

This is a group of mumsnetters who are slowly decluttering our spaces and organising our lives, chatting as we go.

We all want to live in a nicer, emptier, clearer more relaxing environment and this is our space to talk and moan about our husbands and children who often do not share our desire for such a peaceful, decluttered haven!

We only aim to get rid of one item a day, when we have time, although often we manage more. Newbies are always welcome to join us.

Previous thread here.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/housekeeping/4259830-Decluttering-one-item-a-day-thread-number-18-quickly-stashing-our-clutter-in-charity-shops-now-we-can-let-people-back-inside-our-houses?pg=1

@LivingInABuildingSite
I did make it! Three things gone from my house and a bit of money to boot.
I had to make two attempts though because I accidentally went in their lunch hour sit was shut.
Taking a massive bag of toys in for a friend tomorrow.

Well doneNuffaluff! 👏

Stealth - go for it with the charity shop drop off tomorrow, I felt so much lighter after I did mine.

London mummy - thanks, and yey for sewing stash home!

Loads of Playmobil collected today ✅

Tomorrow:
More playmobil being collected
Need to try and drop off cat food my cats won’t eat at a pet charity place 🙄
Review all other FB listings/tidy up/reduce prices
Need to pick a few more black hole spots and check them out/clear them out.

It’s amazing that feeling when you do get rid of something, isn’t it? I get this weird feeling in my brain, like it’s getting lighter, like the worries and stress are rising up out of it.
Good luck today everyone.
I’m going to make a little list tonight of the next phase - what’s going next.

I seem to have hit a wall where I can't find anything else to go but there's still so much 'stuff' around 😣 I'm dreading the influx of toys and general (not that we're ever ungrateful) unwanted gifts at Christmas! Don't think it would be as bad if DH would get on board with the whole 'put things away when you've finished with them'! I swear half of my time is spent tidying up after him more than the kids!

My brain definitely feels lighter too.

If you feel you’ve hit a wall, can you take a break? Or find a new area you haven’t looked at yet?

Playmobil collector hasn’t turned up, or replied to messages, Grrr.

Have cleaned lots of the kitchen, and sorted the Tupperware/takeaway boxes.
Am taking the Decluttering books advice and storing all boxes with their lids on. I have plenty of cupboard space and it will make everyone’s lives easier.

2 x lids gone
1 x lidless box gone
Lots of crumbs from inside toaster gone too lol 😂

First aid box next as overflowing…

Thanks livinginabuildingsite I took the bags to the charity shop. It was three big bags for life and I’m sure they’ve been hanging around for about a month now.

I think I’ve hit a wall as well. I’ve still got so much to get rid of. A few weeks ago I put some books into ziffit and they offered me some money but it’s been so long ziffit has forgotten them. I might bag them up for a charity shop just to clear a space.

I'm trying to do smaller areas now and be very strict!! I've managed to hit 101 items out of my 200 target today by going through DS sick draw as he still has all his newborn socks that are too small now and also got rid of 2 pairs of his pyjamas that are far too summery for this time of year (short sleeved) so I'm happy with that for today. I'm gonna try and go through all the files and folders with bank statements, bills etc in as I can't remember the last time I did them!

Well done all.

First aid/medicines tidied.
Out:
Out of date medicines (including pile cream from when I had DD, she’s 10!)
Old plasters that don’t stick

Have kept 3 thermometers only because I don’t know what to do with them. I’ve more recently bought a point and press one that’s better. How do I give away/dispose of old ones? Left them in the box for now.

Offering cake tins for kids cakes to SIL who’s here this weekend, hoping to —palm off— generously pass along a few things for her DS!

Relisted a few FB bits.

Well done everyone

Sadly DH's aunt died in the early hours so the bit of today that wasn't volunteering at the vaccine centre has been making phone calls and associated admin, what ever I could take off DH's shoulders.

Sorry your loss London 😢

I completely forgot I had a volunteering job yesterday so I went today to make up for not turning up yesterday.

I cant declutter tomorrow either as my cars headlights have both died so I will sitting in the dealership tomorrow until they get a few spare moments to fit me in.

I told DH I was fed up that we never going anywhere together. He has made all the right noises but of course nothing booked in still.

I feel like lead the life of a of hermit some days. My wardrobe only needs to be maybe 14 outfits per season. I rarely buy new clothes now. I just look at things and think "where would I wear that?" Thecanswer is no where. So not sure why I am struggling to let things go.

Is there some way/ method like putting coloured sticker dots on things then seeing what still has dots on in say six months?

incessant I’ve seen people say you should put all your clothes in the wardrobe with the hangers one way. When you’ve worn them once you put the hanger the other way. At the end of six months you can see what you’ve worn. I’m sorry your dh is still being useless, I know you want him to make an effort but could you organise something yourself?

londonmummy I’m sorry to hear your news.

livinginabuildingsite I’d be inclined to put the thermometers on freecycle or Facebook to give away. I’m sure if they contain mercury you should dispose of them carefully.

Stealth - I'm fed up of organising everything. I think dh would be happy if nothing ever happened to him except going to work ever again.

He is more than happy working with added excitement of the occasional trip to Costco.

Thank you everyone - she was a very old lady who led an interesting life and had all her wits about her right to the very end so we are trying to be positive and think about the good things but she will be much missed. She had an extraordinary vocabulary and a major winning streak on 15 to 1 in years gone by so we will try to remember the scramble for the dictionary after she had been round for tea. Lexicon on Boxing Day will be somewhat less challenging this year.

Aww she sounds fab! We can only hope our relatives think so fondly of us when we’re gone.

Have taken the thermometers out of the overstuffed box and put to one side while I figure out what to do with them.

Nothing has actually left today I don’t think but I’ve been busy.
Old CD player being collected later if they turn up 🤞

Tomorrow (hopefully)
Big baby doll toy bundle (incl pram, high chair, etc)
Maybe playmobil house if she comes
Maybe cat food if I get to the charity

& 🥁
All 3 DC who are going to the same scout camp for the weekend 🎉🕺😂

@IncessantNameChanger no advice, but it sounds hard

Drawn a bit of a blank on the decluttering today as DH decided to WFH in the room I was trying to declutter.....

Only thing out today was a music stand which my neighbour picked up
I have also put some GCSE revision things online in the hope someone will pick them up.

I have also liberated a large bag of old school uniform from a cupboard upstairs and am going to sit and cut name tapes out this evening so it can go to school for the secondhand uniform sale later this term. All those hours of sewing them in just to cut them out again. Sigh...

I also had two lovely emails today from ebay buyers to say how much they liked their items - I always feel a bit better when I know someting has gone to a good home!

Can totally relate on the cutting out of the name tapes!!
Ds1 has just brought home more scout badges to sew on, sigh.
Sew them on the right tops, only to have the unpick them and re sew them onto the blanket as they move group.

The old CD player was collected so at least something left today.

@LivingInABuildingSite - time your scout learnt to sew!!! Meanwhile I managed to cut a hole in DDs skort when trying to remove one of the extra massive name tapes that had to be sewn onto the front of it to prove she was wearing her own. So now its no use to anyone.

I did some more Christmas shopping today so tat out = 0 tat in = tonnes of tat 🤣

I was sensible. I did think about how much use everything would be and my conscious is clear, unlike my house.....

Yesterday I put some toddler coat hangers into the charity shop. While doing this I found a white top that was part of a dress up outfit. We had loads of dress up outfits and I sold / donated them all apart from a box on wheels. I’m going to go through that again because I’m sure we have a load of outfits bought for school plays and theme days eg Tudor servant, Victorian child. I’m going to donate them or sell them today.

I went through the dress up box, there are some quite obscure clothes from school plays that I don’t think anyone would want but I advertised them anyway. So far I have interest in pirate outfits and a witches costume that I should’ve advertised before Halloween.

Always the way, finding things after the event. Check for anything Christmas!

Out so far:

Dolls x 2, bunk bed, bath, high chair & huge toy pram, yey! 🎉
Lots of rubbish wrappers found in DD’s various ‘handbags’
One hoover full of dust and cat fur

Having imminent house guests is a great incentive 😂

Out so far:

Dolls x 2, bunk bed, bath, high chair & huge toy pram, yey! 🎉
Lots of rubbish wrappers found in DD’s various ‘handbags’
One hoover full of dust and cat fur
Pile of rejected cat food tins to pet charity
Random selection of plastic cutlery also to same charity
Old swimming costume of Ds into fabric recycling
Manky squidgy toy of DDs into bin

@LivingInABuildingSite I know the feeling! DD1 is having her first playdate this afternoon and although they're only going to be here for half an hour or so before DP takes them rockclimbing, we have done a quick blitz and the flat looks tidier than it has in ages

Unfortunately DS decided to declutter his stomach at 11.30 last night, twice! Puked on me, on himself, on the bed (not envy!). So the tidyness of the flat is somewhat offset by the sheets and duvet covers hanging from the doors - no tumble dryer and it's raining.

On the positive side my hand was forced into binning the ancient Primark duvet which was cheaply out together and never fitted any of the duvet covers (not even the Primark ones ). No point going to the hassle of washing it, so it has been binned and the nice winter weight feather one put on instead. I'll need to get another lightweight one at some point, but it's an out for now.

Also binned a broken blow up bed, some cardboard boxes which had been hanging around for ages for no particular reason, some Happy Meal-esque plastic tat and a bottle of floor cleaner (working through a stash)

I managed a slightly more productive day today

Out
Another bag of random stuff for the charity shop
A bag of craft items which DD1 has taken to the little girl she is babysitting tonight (did ask her mum first)
30 mini hats I'd knitted for the Innocent/Age Concern campaign that have been sitting on the dining room table for ages

I also discovered that the big bag of school uniform I dug out yesterday was actually a top layer of uniform and a middle layer of outgrown Hollister and Roxy over a bottom layer of many many pairs of very tatty socks - so the clothes are in a bag for isecondthat which is now half full and the socks went in the bin.

I now need to go on a hunt for the rest of the uniform as there is a sale later this term so it makes sense to send it in now.