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Original poster

I’m doing the 31 Day declutter challenge

526 replies

Sallygoroundtheroses · 01/01/2023 12:13

I’ve done it before but not for a while. Despite a huge effort to declutter last year, the house is looking a bit chaotic again. So 1 item on day 1, 2 on day 2 etc.

I’m off to find an item…

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
Stag82 · 02/01/2023 09:00

I’m having a declutter, no time scale as have 11 week old. Need to baby proof so have started decluttering and moving pens and potential choke hazards to new homes!

Made a good start so far and now have a list 😆

SquashesPumpkinsAutumnBliss · 02/01/2023 09:40

Day 1 - a washbag
Day 2 - 2 lamp bases (ancient, one broken, was keeping “just in case!”

Also de-junked toiletries etc in the bathroom.

Fourfrosties · 02/01/2023 09:57

Joining as well please, although will aim for an average of one item a day to start with rather than piling the pressure on and giving up.

Off to find the first three things and will report back!

wellstopdoingitthen · 02/01/2023 10:05

Ooh! What a great idea... can I count the bow from an empty vodka bottle that I saved (cos it was cute) then had a word with myself & threw it out?

I'm a ridiculous hoarder of small nonsense things.

I have so many unwanted scented candles it could count for most of the month!

Bemyclementine · 02/01/2023 10:06

@Fourfrosties it can be easier than you think once you start looking!

I'll add some ideas

  • for me, anything counts. Old magazines, post, random button that's been on the side for months
  • the kitchen drawer. You know the one.
  • toiletries/make up, this always yields a few for me even though I don't buy that much.
  • bedding/towels that are past their best/no longer used.
  • shoes and clothes. Especially kids stuff.
  • kitchen utensils, crockery, mugs
  • tupperware!
Bemyclementine · 02/01/2023 10:07

@wellstopdoingitthen yes I'd count that. Its clutter even if small.

I started using the candles daily last year. Or just take them to charity.

I also use the Olio app quite a bit for giving stuff away.

wellstopdoingitthen · 02/01/2023 10:28

@Bemyclementine yay! that's got me off to a great start!

I've just downloaded the olio app so will add some bits there.

Used beauty products can be taken to John Lewis & swapped for a £5 beauty voucher (I think it's 5 empties). I've been saving mine so I guess they would count too.

My DH will be thrilled as he hates my hoarding even though he has two garages full of 'come in handy' clutter.

ChampagneCommunist · 02/01/2023 10:38

Day 2:

  • tube of hair removal cream used up & chucked
  • random piece of ribbon lying around in the kitchen
BadgerLovesMash · 02/01/2023 10:57

baroqueandblue · 02/01/2023 01:43

Hoping this thread can get me beyond the decluttering I did this year which, because I don't drive, is still in boxes and bags in a wardrobe 😳 Lots more to do even so, and if I can stick to the rules then pretty soon I would feel justified in asking one of the charity shops to do a van collection. Another part of the solution would be to take small/light stuff to a charity shop every few days on the bus. But I've decided I'd do that lots of times before and then avoided it 🙄

Anyway, will keep this thread open on my phone and make myself look at it each day. Maybe you'll all inspire me! 😃 Sooooo many cupboards to declutter... 🙏

Good luck everyone 🍀

Could you try using Olio to give things away? I've done this quite successfully and you don't get the time wasters like you do on Facebook!

Also when it's dry I put things on my wall with a free to collector sign.

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 02/01/2023 11:02

Done my two things today. Pack of clay foam eldest DD wanted, used once and ignored, but wouldn't let dd2 play with, and a balloon weight I kept because it would be a shame to have to buy another one... Well fuck it, I'll buy another one if I need too, it's gone now!

Unfortunately because I'm having to do a lot of this by stealth to stop the kids reclaiming items they've both just gone straight into the bin, but once their back in school/nursery I'll be able to do more charity shop runs.

ClangingBell · 02/01/2023 11:06

Ooh, this is a good idea. Will go and find 3 things.

noproblemifnot · 02/01/2023 11:15

Day 2
2 pairs shoes either outgrown by kids or worn out (counting as one item for rapid progress)

One fundraising sign from when i was in PTA, kept for sentimental reasons which are trumped by desire to be able to use the robovac i have got for partners birthday at end of month

2023willbemyyear · 02/01/2023 11:22

Joining in with a passion. Today is my day one so I'm going to put an old toy of dd's on the wall outside for passers by. Hoping someone takes it. She got an upgraded version of it for christmas.

Hoping that on day ten this will motivate me to put some things on vinted which need listing. Going to concentrate on cleaning a room per two days until then as well. I can never do anything these days unless I view it in chucnks, so thanks OP.

RomainingCalm · 02/01/2023 11:23

I'm in.

Little kitchen drawer attacked this morning.

'Happy 3rd Birthday' banner has been binned (toddlers are now teenagers) and have binned lots of half-used birthday cake candles.

Sadly if I do now find myself with an unexpected 163rd birthday to celebrate I'll have to buy some more.

Theimpossiblegirl · 02/01/2023 11:42

You lot have inspired me.
Yesterday I decluttered the Christmas food and drink. I got rid of a lot of part bottles and dregs of food. Not by consuming them!
Today is the main bathroom.
I'm aiming for a minimum of 10 things a day but when I get to my wardrobe and kitchen cupboards it will be loads more.

How do you get your families on board?

Mommabear20 · 02/01/2023 11:51

@Theimpossiblegirl DH is very onboard with decluttering of the house, not so much with the actual helping! Complains ' this house has too much s**t in it! It needs to go!' But then sits and plays on his PlayStation while he grumbles some more 😂

IronicElf · 02/01/2023 12:06

I found this at just past midnight. Threw away a hand lotion that is half full, but getting elderly and the texture has changed - I was gifted more than I will use in a year at Xmas.

Today - 11 soap roses in display boxes. A dozen of them were sent as a 'free gift' from a supplier. I tried one and hated it as the petals are a bit slimy and leave bits stuck to the bath - the opposite of housework.

I was going to put them out front with a 'free to a good home' sign. But I'll do those people a favour and save them scrubbing their baths, but shoving the lot in the bin.

RunningKatie · 02/01/2023 12:25

Day 1 - magazine
Day 2 - 2 old school books

Sunshineandrainbow · 02/01/2023 12:27

Day two
Salt lamp and hamper wine basket collected on olio app!

Fourfrosties · 02/01/2023 12:50

Thanks for the tips @Bemyclementine I will cast the net far and wide! I did the bathroom cabinet before christmas, but have an odds and sods cupboard in mind that needs a good sort through so will hopefully be a rich source of items for decluttering😃

So far I have:

  1. Persuaded DH to recycle a pile of old wine magazines
  2. Thrown a pair of pants that are going saggy 😆
  3. Listed a game DH got for secret santa this year that we are realistically not going to plah on the local freebay site
Gazelda · 02/01/2023 13:02

Day 2
A purple bobble hat and a green scarf with gold stripes. Both in the charity shop pile.

I've also binned a couple of DD's socks that are worn through. And the Christmas TV Times.

And I've decided on Feb's challenge - unsubscribe from mailing lists as they come through each day.

Els1e · 02/01/2023 13:08

Never heard of this but sounds a great idea. Day 1 - the millennium trivial pursuit game, which is now more than 20 years old. We tried to play New Year’s Eve and lost the will to live. Day 2 - 2 Michael Mosley lose weight books.

CherrySocks · 02/01/2023 13:08

OK day 1 for me:
5 empty boxes, 15 coat hangers, 8 old t-shirts, 2 sachets expired coffee, half a broken key = 31 items (coincidentally the target for last day)

[Also ready in bag to leave house but not counting till they've gone:
7 jumpers/hoodies]

Barrythetimesprout · 02/01/2023 13:09

Brilliant, I did this a while ago following a MN suggestion. Will dig out three items tonight to get on track.
Thanks for the prompt OP. 😁

HippoInABadWig · 02/01/2023 13:18

SunshineLollipopsAndRainbows · 02/01/2023 01:11

1982mommaof4 I would seriously like to take DH to the tip as he’s been a complete arse tonight!!

I am seriously feeling you on this this morning 😐

Day 2:
*There's been a box of Shredded Wheat no-one's touched for what I thought was a few months. Turns out it went off in 2019 😮😬😳It's gone now...
*Taken down my tea Advent calendar, and put the teas I haven't got round to in the tea/coffee/ mug cupboard