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.

@EllieQ that's great that your good influence has rubbed off! I must say, dh is less grumpy about having to go through his paperwork now that we did thr initial huge declutter. He's also much more willing to let stuff go.

@LivingInaBuiltSite that's great, I find it do frustrating to donate online but when it works it's great!

@Realfastfoodie don't worry too much, you've made such excellent progress in the last year. So sorry to hear sbout the flood though!

I've cleared out more garden rubble but not counting that. It's looking quite nice and tidy now! I did get rid of one broken garden chair.

Also out: 8 documents shredded as finally shifted dome paperwork. And it didn't even take that long.one huge birthday candle, a1 digital declutter session where I got rid of tons of photos.

Year total is 774

One trousers too big
One too small
Two toy hairbrushes and a toy comb to s friend
Total is 2201

Last shift with current colleague tomorrow, sad as we’ve got on really well. Not sure who I’m working with next week.

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures - make some decisions on what is going where; all at least downstairs together for us to look through
2. Decide about the shelves we used to have as cat shelves/put up or get rid - DD doesn’t want them so will prob get rid
3. Take sentimental broken wooden box to a friend who says he’ll try and repair it
4. DS2 paperwork: started blue badge

Not quite outs yet:
more stuff on Vinted - some of DD’s better stuff to list on there (need to take photos and list approx 5 items)
21 items in a Music Magpie box but waiting for password reset email to actually confirm sale - system is not working for me - need to try this again
old ironing board (Friday) - DH forgot to put it out
lots of bedding GONE ☑️
3 x old duvets to find a home for

Out:
2x fitted sheets collected today
819+2=821

@PissedOffNeighbour22 well done, 3 stone is a massive achievement.

@EllieQ great to hear your dh is more onboard these days.

I think I’ve finished decluttering the garage. I found some rusty secateurs and a rusty wallpaper scraper so they’re in the pile of stuff to go. I’ve emailed the rubbish clearance guy and asked him to take them.

Ive generally been sweeping paths and patios. Some of them have dead moss on them from where I decluttered two weed killer sprays last week so I might see if I can get our very old jet sprayer to work tomorrow.

Three ancient condiments bottles from the fridge. Total is 2204

Got the three baby play mats out from under our bed today, and have washed them ready to be donated.

DH surprised me again by clearing off the junk from his side of the chest of drawers in our room - mostly receipts and random bits of packaging. Admittedly, the receipts have just gone into his bag of paperwork to shred. It’s so unusual that I did wonder if he’s been taken over by aliens 😆 but I’m not complaining!

It prompted me to tidy up my side. I’ve thrown away a bottle of perfume that I never used and some gel cushions that go in shoes, reorganised the jewellery storage so everything fits in, and dusted everything. It looks really nice now, and I want to keep it that way.

Also put two more outgrown pairs of PJs in the charity bag, but these will need to be replaced.

DH threw out 2 different types of cheese.

I know that may not sound like a big deal but considering he a) loves moldy cheese and b) refuses to observe best before dates this is a pretty major event.

I had put them on the table at lunch in the hopes that he would eat them so I could use the containers for something else but he said the blue cheese was too blue, even for him. He then proceeded to eat my nice, non-mouldy cheese but that is a price I am willing to pay.

It also comes hot on the heels of sorting out the mug cupboard this morning. 9 mugs are off to the charity shop.

One shampoo used up. Total is 2205

Youngest has sorted through the books in the bedroom. New bookcase is filled and about twenty books identified to go. May try and squeeze in a tip run later as there are now three bags of old textiles to go. Or I may enjoy the bank holiday and obsess about Bridgerton instead!

Six bags of books (100 books?) in the car now ready for donation. Inspired by minimalist mum and this thread.

My declutter was supposed to turn up for a discharge meeting today but cancelled 5 minutes before. I'm sad really as it could have been so useful. Boys are still reassuring me I'm doing well.

Youngest son has now tried on his entire wardrobe so that done until next year. I replaced nothing at all.

Just going to get dd to try on her pjs today. I have £200 on my vinted sales which is a nice visual of getting rid

So pleased with all the DHs getting on board - mine managed to throw out 2 packs of bicarbonate of soda after googling and finding out they do go ‘off’ 😂

Have had a mega day ripping up the ancient carpet in the front room (apart from 2 small sections under bookcases), plus the underlay, plus getting all the staples and carpet gripper up. All ready for the tip when DH gets back from a few days at his mums (plus he’s taking various bits back to hers which is good news).

This has sparked off various other bits of Decluttering as sometimes I find you go blind to a box of crap until you move it for another reason.

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures - make some decisions on what is going where; all at least downstairs together for us to look through
2. Decide about the shelves we used to have as cat shelves/put up or get rid - DD doesn’t want them so will prob get rid - Listed in freebie FB site (5)
3. Take sentimental broken wooden box to a friend who says he’ll try and repair it
4. DS2 paperwork: started blue badge

Not quite outs yet:
more stuff on Vinted - some of DD’s better stuff to list on there (need to take photos and list approx 5 items)
21 items in a Music Magpie box but waiting for password reset email to actually confirm sale - system is not working for me - need to try this again
old ironing board - this Friday
3 x old duvets to find a home for
butterfly growing net thing on FB
11 clarinet books on FB
14 folders on FB*
2 sets of dividers on FB*
Stack of plastic folders on FB*
*due to be collected tomorrow

Out:
2 x bicarbonate packets
DD craft stuff (approx 10)
3 cds to charity box
3 cushions to charity box
small picture frame to charity
1 large carpet/underlay!
821+20=841

I had a kitchen cupboard that didn't shut properly. Had a change over reorganising three cupboards and two drawers, end result is cupboard now shuts.

Outs:

• Shoe polish sponge thingy, don't know how it works, never used it, think it must have been bought by ex, we split over a decade ago.
• Stack of plastic disposable party cups, I have never held a party, think they must have come from moving in day and no access to usual kitchen things, I've been here over 5yrs.
• Dish brush that I can't remember buying or ever using, which has bent up bristles and looks well past it's best.
• Baby dress, stained.

There's more in the kitchen that I feel as though I ought to let go of because I've not used it in this property but I just can't. Total is 2209

Finally got around to doing that remaining drawer in the living room today , also DD big books and board games in a side board ,plus organised all the other books in the bookcases as well . Only removed 3 of DDs since the rest had been weeded through recently . A good sized sack of games and a few books to charity , and some bits from the junk drawer to bin and recycling so it was all worth doing . Might brave the attic next.
A couple of other random bits removed in the last week as usual .
Out since the last time :

• 11 pairs of old socks
• 2 old T-shirts
• 2 packets of food to food bank
• 1 broken sheet
• 1 old bank card
• 1 DD small wetsuit
• 2 pens , 1 rubber
• 1 Heely shoe key
• 1 hair band
• 1 science kit part
• A pile of leaflets etc
• 1 sheet of old name labels
• 3 old Christmas CDs
• 8 board games
• 6 DD big books
• 3 DD other books
• 1 kids DVD

DH managed to finish cleaning all the windows and shutters so that’s off the list for a while . Lots more jobs left we’re trying to get booked in and then realised we’ll need to add finding a tree surgeon onto the todo list too .

New total is 1044

Well, it turns out that chaos and flooding is the quickest way to help me declutter! Several bags of rubbish and recycling out including lots of things which could have gone ages ago.

My DH referred to the Dana K White “mantra” (his word) yesterday. He said, he liked the mantra and it had meant he was able to find something for our renovation instead of buying a new one…!

Flooding? I hope everyone is okay.

Thanks @declutteringonedayatatime. Everyone ok, it could have been worse… but it’s definitely going to be a while before our house is “sorted” again….

Oh no! What happened? @Realfastfoodie

@IncessantNameChanger - a water pipe burst and a lot of water came through the ceiling (now I am well and truly outed - hello friends and family 😘). It really could have been worse but I’m not looking forward to wrangling with insurance companies

Sorry to hear about the flood. It’s bad but I used to fantasies about my house burning down to a pile of ashes (obvs everyone safe and unharmed) just to get rid of all the crap in one go, then only purchase needed stuff. I think I’m over that now lol.
Now I fantasise more about living somewhere small - after we’ve extended this house🙄

Jobs:

1. Hang up framed pictures - make some decisions on what is going where; all at least downstairs together for us to look through
2. Decide about the shelves we used to have as cat shelves/put up or get rid - DD doesn’t want them so will prob get rid - Listed in freebie FB site (5) GONE ✅
3. Take sentimental broken wooden box to a friend who says he’ll try and repair it
4. DS2 paperwork: started blue badge

Not quite outs yet:
more stuff on Vinted - some of DD’s better stuff to list on there (need to take photos and list approx 5 items)
21 items in a Music Magpie box but waiting for password reset email to actually confirm sale - system is not working for me - need to try this again
old ironing board - this Friday
3 x old duvets to find a home for
butterfly growing net thing on FB
11 clarinet books on FB
14 folders on FB* GONE ✅
2 sets of dividers on FB* GONE✅
Stack of plastic folders on FB* GONE✅
*due to be collected
karaoke machine, microphones & cds to list on FB

Out:
Large IKEA storage unit collected today
4 storage boxes also collected
dried up paint in the bin
841+6 = 847

Oh no Realfastfoodie ☹️ at least it forced some decluttering.

OMG LivingInABuiltSite, same! A sign I had to do something about it.

Outs today:

Local paper
Speciality magazine
Newsletter
The world's most uncomfortable bra
2 x baby trousers
Face sleep mask, broken

Total is 2216

Help! I was digging around in dds room and found boxes of summer clothes under her bed! 😨 she is 10 down and some is 7-8 but she tried the bits on and they still fit her!

Dh has said if it makes my life easier just to rotate the lot into her wardrobe and tackle it again next summer. I had just ( thought) I had got rid of all the 7-8 bits.

This is inspiring me to not have dds summer stuff packed away. None of the boys have their warobes packed away out of season.

Fml.

Or I could count items and thin it all out