Decluttering thread 7 - as the days lengthen we’ll feel more motivated to declutter

[stealthninjamum]

Sorry for the long thread title, I’ve just seen that the old thread has reached 1,000 posts.

For newbies this thread and the old one a day threads are for a group of mumsnetters who are decluttering. We’ll share tips and advice and inevitably the conversation moves on to organisation tips, pretty storage solutions and persuading our families to join in.

We’re all at different stages of decluttering so join us for support and chat.

@pigtailsandall
@incessantnamechanger
@ellieq

@realfastfoodie
@indiansummer78
@gassylady
@nordicmom

@KCSIE
@livinginabuildingsite
@vinorosso74
@freshstartfor2024
@decafflatteplease

@champagnecommunist
@pissedoffneighbour22
@daffodil2023
@heartbroken22
@lessobviousname
@ememem84
@puttingdownroots
@livingdeadgirluk

Sorry if I missed anyone, I’m hoping you can find us.

I came on to give an update but the old thread was full.

My update is that I managed to throw out 85 bits of paper - art / instructions / magazines/ colouring in sheets. I still have an absolute mountain of children’s art stuff but I’m able to get rid of some of it so I suppose that mountain is getting marginally smaller each day.

Thanks for the new thread. Dropped a bag at charity shop today. Young adult books, a tea light holder and a small plastic bathroom storage unit. First shop (where I can gift aid) wasn’t taking donations so the second local animal charity got the benefit instead.

Hi 👋
2 black bin liners full of clothing/books/shoes/bric a brac going to the charity shop tomorrow
Completely gutting the boxroom tomorrow, general dumping ground and no storage apart from a chest of drawers which is more 'chest' and not so much 'drawer' so will be perusing the Ikea website later

I've got "socks" on the Toss app today, so that will be an easy one, I think. Will try & so a few other bits too when I get home.

Hi please can I join? I've followed the last few threads and you've all been inspiring. We're hoping to move house soon but are downsizing so are decluttering like crazy.

Thanks @stealthninjamum for the new thread!

We have done some reorganisation of our kitchen/living space - sorted the curtains,small amount of decluttering, a bit of toy rotation- and suddenly it all just feels a bit clearer. Which is nice.

I’m gathering up a few things for charity and also things like size down of nappies for our local food box/bank. So hopefully I will have more outs very soon.

Meanwhile I have finally sorted out all the last of the paint from our decorators, a mixture of keep, decant and disposal. Only a few more outs but a big win for clutter in just the wrong place.

I know broken window theory wasn’t totally proven in New York (fix the broken windows and the organised crime doesn’t take a hold) but I do think it applies to clutter. The clearer a space, the more likely I am to try to keep it clear. So cans of paint definitely attracted more crap…!

What's gone today @CKMondlerlife ?

@ChampagneCommunist sadly nothing today as everyone is ill but yesterday I managed to clear one of the many toy boxes and get 3 toys into the charity shop pile which I was pleased with 😊

Welcome @CKMondlerlife I’m sorry your family are poorly, I hope you’re all feeling better soon.

@Realfastfoodie thats such a good observation about the broken glass theory. If you have piles of stuff everywhere or crammed cupboards it is very easy to stop noticing it. I have been more mindful of putting things away for the last couple of months and my house is so much tidier. I’ve also noticed dc are tidier too - without me putting any pressure on them.

This evening I decluttered 3 hand towels from my downstairs toilet and a key ring that had been sitting next to the sink for a few weeks.

Thanks for new thread!

Yesterday I rearranged the kitchen. Outs...
35. Broken grill
36. Hot water bottle with no stopper
37. Old receipts
38. Disused water filter.

Kitchen counters feel a lot clearer.

Today I'm at my parents. Been sorting out stuff they keep for DDs here.
39. Outgrown books
40. Outgrown clothes
41. Outgrown toys
All delivered to charity shop.

In... three books for £1. Planning ro read and re donate.

Last minute declutter of two out of date medicines tonight, and I know where I’m going to target tomorrow!

Another vinted sale, another post collection booked.

2024 Total - 451

February - 10

Thanks Stealthninja.

Today's out is one pair of falling apart knickers. Total is 1877

Thanks for new thread. Will update later

Bits I listed on Vinted yesterday had zero views so I'm going to go through the Vinted bag today and remove the cheap things to give to the clothing bank. Dd is seeing the gp next week about her growth so some of the things might still fit her next year. They can go back into her wardrobe.

I have a bag ready for my local charity shop. I did my Swedish death clean five years ago and revisit it every spring to keep the clutter to a minimum. I have a huge stash of wool I'm struggling to let go so that'll be next.

Still at my parents house...
42. Binned... dried up felt pens, broken crayons etc
43. Recycled... part used colouring books etc
44. Charity shop... unused activity books, outgrown books etc.

Thank you for the new thread @stealthninjamum, it's a good title!

I had allowed papers to pile up a bit too long so got rid of 7 sets of documents and shredded them. Total is 252 for this year.

Realised I need to declutter 169 items a month to keep up with 2024 items which tbh I might struggle with

Thanks for the new thread! I haven’t done much recently - one necklace I don’t wear to the charity bag, and one mouldy jar of jam removed from the fridge (discovered the mould when I was looking for pancake fillings last night).

I've just cleared out a drawer of assorted stuff and put them in the bin. It's a start.

I have had a one week opportunity to declutter a year and a half build-up while my child is being looked after for much of the day!
I have just finished and in my week I managed: 2 carloads from garage to tip, and 34 bags for life taken to the charity shop (mostly children's things) and community scrapstore (mostly crafting related things).
There were also quite a few carrier bags of rubbish to the bin/recycling, but I didn't tally those - perhaps one of each per day plus a couple of cracked plastic storage boxes gone?
I am simultaneously shattered and done with decluttering, and inspired and ready to move onto sorting out smaller evening-project things such as testing which felt tip pens still work and mending clothes that have been in a mending box for quite a long time...