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

Well done Londonmummy - one of the tips in the Decluttering book is to always look, even when you think you know what’s in a box or bag.

Sydney - hope your DS is feeling better.

Out today:
One Lego bag collected and paid for
3 x running tshirts given away at parkrun
Lots of out of date paperwork recycled while looking for SILs parkrun barcode

May bring in some Christmas presents later as taking visitors to the shops.

Hi I'd like to join in here for some solidarity!

I've lived in my house for over 2 years now and we have SO MUCH STUFF!!

Before we moved in I had a big clear out, I had a charity collection, sold loads on eBay and FB, music magpie, put stuff in the recycling centre but now I'm just overwhelmed.

I have just filled a boot load to take to the recycling centre tomorrow. A lot of it is clothes that I think I'd have trouble selling. I have a huge bag of baby clothes that I'm taking tomorrow but I feel bad that it may not be the best place to take it.

I feel like I've been putting it off for so long cos I don't know where to take things and I don't want them to end up in landfill.

So old toys, broken toys, lampshades, old toothbrush chargers, nursing pillows they all seem to be in the miscellaneous category and will end up lingering in my house.

Does anyone know if you can put any hangers in the Tesco recycling or if it's just Tesco hangers?

I don't find fb marketplace a good place to sell - very strange requests on there from unscrupulous buyers.

I find eBay good but a faff cos it usually involves posting so it isn't efficient when you have large quantities.

Going to read this thread now for tips. I'm feeling so overwhelmed by it all today.

hello @Sortingitallout - it is daunting but a bit at a time and the experienced hands on here say it feels better after a while - I'm still waiting...

Out today - just a bag of stuff to the charity shop - mainly old games the DC no longer play.

I have put together a small bag of bits for the two little girls next door which I will try and drop off tomorrow as I think they will like them (their dad is keen to have it)

A bit annoyed as something I put on a local mums' group is waiting for collection - lots of people wanted it but i went with the first to ask and now she is not getting back to me with when she will collect. Feel like putting it up again!!

@londonmummy1966 I don't have problems sorting things out and choosing what to let go of, my issues come from what to do with it. I feel bad if it might be "wasted" and would feel a lot better knowing it went to someone else and was used.

It takes a lot of time though to make sure you find a new owner for each item. Charity shops are good but access to ones around here aren't great. So most of my stuff will be recycling centres or clothing banks.

Does anyone ever get those bags through the letterbox asking for donations? I sometimes fill those up when I get one.

Anyone used cash for clothes? I see a van round here but never used it.

Also I did try freecycle but felt like fb marketplace and eBay were easier and bigger audience. What's everyone had most luck with when giving things for free? I've posted cupboard doors for a penny on eBay before and they went. Should try a bit more of that. Saves going to recycling centre and feel really good knowing it's useful for someone!

Welcome @Sortingitallout I also struggle with getting rid of things as I hate the idea of something going to landfill when it could be reused or recycled.

Just checking in. Zero decluttering this week apart from sorting through a few pieces of paperwork and shredding/ recycling some of it.

Have been feeling a bit upset as I posted a thread in Chat asking how long it would take people to do the housework that I’d done last Sunday, as I’d felt that I hadn’t done as much as I could in my 2.5 hours of free time. Lots of people responding saying I was very slow, they’d have cleaned the whole house, that kind of thing. I’d mentioned in my OP that I’d taken a few breaks but didn’t say why (chronic disease affecting energy levels), so got a few comments about that.

Frustratingly, the helpful tips I got were either stuff I already do (meal planning etc) or stuff that isn’t possible (I don’t have space for four different laundry baskets to pre-sort clothes!), so I felt very down by the end of it

Anyway, will try to get some decluttering done today, maybe more of DD’s clothes.

@EllieQ it would take me that long to clean (probably longer). Surely it depends on size of house and how thorough you're being?

Would take me forever, and not cos I live in a mansion!
I tend to perfectionism and no ow that I won’t achieve it, there’s a proper phrase for it now that I can’t remember.
So I don’t start because I know it won’t do it all. Then have to do some crazy blitz before house guests come, I spent hours hoovering the other day, had to stop to move things/put things away/general faffing. And have a break sometimes too.
So I do the hoovering and it takes longer than it should as I’ve left it for too long, then clean the toilets, and the basics in the kitchen and that has to do.
Waffling really, but sympathies.

Out today
House guests 😂
Who’ve also helpfully taken:
3 large Lakeland shaped baking tins
A pile of kids books
A spare duplicate pair of running shorts
The towel they left last time
Small bag of plastic animals
Box of cereal their DS likes but my DC don’t.

So I’ve done well without doing anything 👍

Have a couple of hours before I pick up my DC from scout camp, but think I’ll nap lol.

EllieQ I saw your other thread, the replies were so negative, I wrote so many replies and deleted them (in case they inflamed the negativity) but honestly, no I wouldn't have been able to do more, I take breaks too- shoot me- and well done to you

I de cluttered my be
From yesterday I have 3 bags for charity shops nothing worth selling unfortunately but it feels and looks great.

How horrid to have people being snotty - I never feel my house is clean as it is a bit like the Forth Bridge (but not as big!).

Not much out today - just a chemistry set to a neighbour and some craft kits to a different neighbour.

I've found a few more things to stick on ebay although nothing has sold for a few days now.

@Sortingitallout welcome- just a little bit at a time, that’s what it’s all about.
@EllieQ don’t beat yourself up about it. Housework is never ending. We do what we can do. The problem is we have too much clutter and that makes it harder, much harder to clean. Having a chronic illness must make it triply harder.

Things out over the past few days:

• a bag of batteries to recycling (kicking around on a shelf for months and months)
• educational stuff to go back to work (a school) that was here for the lockdowns - in car boot
• laptop bag that belongs to school- ditto
• two bags of old coats - outgrown or no longer wanted - in boot to go to charity shop
• DS1 art project from 3 years ago, fallen to bits and binned
• several pairs of shoes either binned because wrecked or in the charity bag

Didn’t manage to get more things put on eBay because I was too busy but I will next weekend. I’m feeling the need for a big eBay push because now is when people will buy for Christmas.
Anyone else feeling the time sensitive eBay pressure?
Several things going on eBay in about thirty minutes time. So exciting! I’ll pop back and tell you how much I made.

Managed to make about £160. Not bad at all and will go towards Christmas presents.

Actually, will probably put some of it in the boys’ bank accounts as it’s their old toys (but I’ll keep some because it’s a lot of work for me!).

@naffaluff - £160 is brilliant - I've only managed £60 this month plus £30 from some of the girls stuff neighbours have bought. I've just got an offer from ebay for max selling fees of £2 per item - I've got a cello to sell so I might see what happens with that too.

LivingInABuildingSite He's fine, thank you - I suspect it was the poppy biscuits they made at preschool for Remembrance Day as it was the only thing he ate that no one else did!

DD2 had a birthday party yesterday, so decluttered some plastic tat from the present stash, plus some OOD noodles, gravy granules and a bao bun kit. I'm usually quite relaxed about the BBE going a few months over, but these were getting for a year past the date and no one was going to have them any time soon, so in the bin they went.

Also put a worn out thermal top and some past-their-best running leggings in the textile recycling bag, although the leggings will be replaced at some point as it gets colder!

The last week or so has been a bit of a write off here as I've not been well and have been having a lot of early nights!

I managed to sort out a bag of beyond repair clothes for our textile recycling collection this week. All of DS's trousers seem to be wearing away at the seams!

I think I am also slow at housework Ellie. I saw a thread a while back about how long people spent clearing the kitchen after dinner and was stunned that so many thought it was only a 10 minute job! I have pretty low standards too (I think). You can only do what you can do.

Not a lot happening here.

Out
One bit of a toy that I know I threw the other bit away recently, oops. Oh well gone now.

Nearly out
Boxed up Lego that needs to go to the PO tomorrow
Lots of £££ for builders latest bill…

Welcome sortingitallout I'm like you, I spend ages actually getting things out the house. When I give toys and jigsaws away all bits need to be there and I hate sending things to landfuill unecessarily.

ellieq I saw the first few comments on your thread but didn't notice it was you or I would've commented positively. Try not to feel too bad about complete strangers showing off, they have no idea about your life or home. I am positively sloth like at the moment, we all have good days / bad days .

I was going to blitz the house today. Set the timer and was off to a good start but it fizzled out by 1pm. I'm feeling constantly exhausted which doesn't help.

I need to tidy up enough for a tutor tomorrow. My 9 year old who has severe ASd cant read or write so I'm going to try to start phonics again before he starts secondary. I also need to score the country for his specialist secondary school.

Feeling so tired! I need to carry on with a few jobs tonight I think.

A slightly better day today as I managed to get another bag of stuff to the charity shop - now just one shelf left in the second cupboard in the DC's old study - suspect that the things there are things that they will want to keep - monopoly/badminton etc

Finished filling up a bag of clothes for isecondthat and dropped at the local newsagents. As easy as taking to the charity shop and I might get some cash back.

AM promising myself that I will do some ebay listing tonight or tomorrow.

Checking in, just about ticking over here. Work is becoming more and more unpleasant as we move into winter (NHS) and I always struggle anyway with the shorter days at this time of year. Sorted through some paperwork drawers yesterday lots of stuff shredded or recycled. I always find shredding so satisfying.
Have found yet another box of books that can be dropped at charity shop if not wanted on music magpie etc.
Sorry you had lots of negativity @EllieQ I take ages to clean too, partly because of clutter but mainly because I hate it!

incessant does your 9 year old like Star Wars? I have some early reader Star Wars books that are in my charity shop pile. If you want I can always post them to you. They're not phonics - more like levels 5/6 but might be an incentive.

I have found a few craft sets that can probably be donated to a charity shop but will ask dc when they come home from school.

Fallen off a little bit, we had a family loss at the weekend so just trying to maintain more than anything else.

Still have 88 items to find and declutter before the end of the month, I'm hoping the rush may actually help as I won't have time to think about things too much, it's either going or it isn't.

@stealthninjamum yes please that would be amazing. He is 9 but we are trying to get him reading. That's so kind.

Sorry for your loss mommabear