uncluttering one day and one thing at a time

As previously noted, I'm doing Unclutter 2014, which involves getting rid of 1 thing per day in 2014, plus an extra thing for every thing that comes into the house. I thought I'd also keep track of where the things go (landfill, charity shop, recycling, etc). I'm planning to post once every ten (or sometimes twenty) days, giving a summary of how I'm doing.

Days 1–320: 528 out (131 landfill, 189 recycled, 132 charity shop, 29 gifts, 1 returned to owner, 8 Freegle, 1 bartered, 17 used up, 12 food waste, 8 archived), 131 in, net out: 397.

Days 321–340 totals: 61 out (5 landfill, 15 recycled, 22 charity shop, 14 Freegle, 1 used up, 4 food waste), 7 in, net out: 54.

I seem to be accelerating well past the finish line! My next update will be on 31 December with the final grand totals. Details of the past 20 days are below.

Day 323: 13 out: 9 CDs, 2 DVDs, and 2 DVD box sets taken to the charity shop.

Day 325: 5 in: 5 new bras arrived in the post.

Day 327: 23 out: 1 broken button put in landfill, 10 pots of fabric paint given to Freegler, 1 bag of soda ash and 3 packets of dye given to a different Freegler, 2 broken pieces of tupperware and 3 old plastic spoons put in recycling, 3 bags of ancient food from the freezer (prawn shells, gingko nuts, parmesan rinds) put in food waste.

Day 328: 2 out: 1 empty packet that's been hanging around in my wardrobe for over a year (recycled), 1 bottle of cream cleaner finally used up and recycled (we switched to spray cleaners a very long time ago).

Day 330: 5 out: 4 knitting needles which no longer have another half (landfill), 1 handful of yarn scraps (composted, counting as food waste).

Day 331: 8 out: 4 pairs of shoes put in textiles recycling, 4 pairs of knitting needles taken to charity shop, 1 in: old bus leaflet bought on eBay, arrived today.

Day 332: 5 out: book, hat, 2 cushions, and ball of yarn taken to charity shop.

Day 335: 1 out: old booklet put in the recycling, 1 in: local history book arrived in the post.

Day 338: 4 out: tshirt and bathmat put into textiles recycling; packet of soya chunks used up (been in the cupboard for ages); plastic box put in recycling.

As previously noted, I'm doing Unclutter 2014, which involves getting rid of 1 thing per day in 2014, plus an extra thing for every thing that comes into the house. I thought I'd also keep track of where the things go (landfill, charity shop, recycling, etc). I'm planning to post once every ten (or sometimes twenty) days, giving a summary of how I'm doing.

Days 1–280: 464 out (128 landfill, 185 recycled, 83 charity shop, 26 gifts, 1 returned to owner, 8 Freegle, 1 bartered, 15 used up, 9 food waste, 8 archived), 124 in, net out: 340.

Days 281–300 totals: 4 out (2 landfill, 1 gift, 1 used up), 2 in, net out: 2.

I am slowly, ever so slowly, inching towards my goal. Details of the past 20 days are below.

Days 281–284: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 285: 2 out: A broken clothespeg and a broken bowl, both put into landfill.

Day 286: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 287: 1 out: Top given to friend to take to clothes swap.

Day 286: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 289: 1 out: Tub of dashi that's been in the freezer since September 2011, used up.

Days 290–297: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 298: 2 in: An original painting and the bubble wrap used to transport it.

Days 299–300: Nothing in, nothing out.

As previously noted, I'm doing Unclutter 2014, which involves getting rid of 1 thing per day in 2014, plus an extra thing for every thing that comes into the house. I thought I'd also keep track of where the things go (landfill, charity shop, recycling, etc). I'm planning to post once every ten days, giving a summary of how I'm doing.

Days 1–240: 451 out (127 landfill, 179 recycled, 83 charity shop, 20 gifts, 1 returned to owner, 8 Freegle, 1 bartered, 15 used up, 9 food waste, 8 archived), 113 in, net out: 338.

Days 241–260 totals: 4 out (3 recycled, 1 gift), 10 in, net out: -6.

I had another busy period (including visiting and reviewing 29 pubs in 8 days), so I'm not too worried that my total this time is negative. Details of the past 20 days are below.

Day 241: 1 out: 1 box of washing powder taken to food bank (we're swapping to liquid concentrates). 1 in: 1 book about Charringtons the coal merchants (this actually arrived a couple of days ago but I forgot to count it in).

Day 242: 2 in: 1 pestle and mortar, 1 nail file/buffer.

Day 243: 1 out: dead plastic bowl put in recycling.

Day 244: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 245: 2 in: pair of oven gloves.

Day 246: 1 in: oral history book.

Day 247: 2 out: old pair of oven gloves put in textile recycling.

Day 248: 1 in: 1 pint glass (present for bob from a friend).

Day 249: 2 in: 1 copy of The Cleaver Quarterly, 1 copy of the 2015 Good Beer Guide.

Days 250-256: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 257: 1 in: Third-place trophy for the natural goatee division of the British Beard Championships (won by bob).

Days 258-260: Nothing in, nothing out.

As previously noted, I'm doing Unclutter 2014, which involves getting rid of 1 thing per day in 2014, plus an extra thing for every thing that comes into the house. I thought I'd also keep track of where the things go (landfill, charity shop, recycling, etc). I'm planning to post once every ten days, giving a summary of how I'm doing.

Days 1–220: 406 out (118 landfill, 160 recycled, 79 charity shop, 14 gifts, 3 Freegle, 1 bartered, 14 used up, 9 food waste, 8 archived), 104 in, net out: 302.

Days 221–230 totals: 24 out (9 landfill, 13 recycled, 1 returned to owner, 1 used up), 7 in, net out: 17.

Back on track after a busy few months! 17 things in 10 days is a rate I'm very happy with.

Details of the past 10 days are below.

Day 221: 2 in: 1 Crossrail magazine, 1 handout from railway tour.

Day 222: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 223: 7 out: 1 box of instant soup, used up (counting this because I only ate it to get rid of it), 4 booklets and a small box (recycled), 1 insole for a shoe I no longer own (landfill).

Day 224: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 225: 3 in: 1 tray, 1 programme, and 1 glass from the 2014 Great British Beer Festival.

Day 226: 2 out: 1 sock and 1 pair of knickers put in the textile recycling. 1 in: 1 book about Sanders Bros (for local history research).

Day 227: 1 in: 1 new pair of trousers.

Day 288: 11 out: 1 programme from the 2013 Great British Beer Festival, put into the recycling (don't worry, bob; this was my one not your one), 1 tangram set with a missing piece (landfill), 5 envelopes of no-longer-needed paperwork (recycling), 4 torn padded envelopes (landfill).

Day 299: 4 out: 1 unwanted wardrobe pole (landfill), 2 sachets of sachets from KFC (landfill), 1 mysterious photo found in second-hand book purchase several years ago (posted back to address on envelope).

Day 230: Nothing in, nothing out.

As previously noted, I'm doing Unclutter 2014, which involves getting rid of 1 thing per day in 2014, plus an extra thing for every thing that comes into the house. I thought I'd also keep track of where the things go (landfill, charity shop, recycling, etc). I'm planning to post once every ten days, giving a summary of how I'm doing.

Days 1–170: 358 out (115 landfill, 141 recycled, 63 charity shop, 9 gifts, 3 Freegle, 1 bartered, 10 used up, 8 food waste, 8 archived), 82 in, net out: 276.

Days 171–190 totals: 13 out (7 charity shop, 3 gifts, 3 used up), 16 in, net out: -3.

I didn't get around to posting about days 171–180, so this post covers 20 days instead of 10. Another negative total! I thought I'd have more time for decluttering in July, due to the end of a large project, but actually Plastic-Free July is eating all my time and energy, so there's not much left over for decluttering. Details of the past 20 days are below.

Day 171: 1 out: card sent to a friend (1 used up). 13 in: 12 new glasses bought as a set, 1 bar spoon.

Days 172–177: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 178: 2 out: 1 water bottle, 1 beer can cosy, taken to work by bob (counting as 2 used up). 3 in: 3 British Beard Club cloth bags.

Days 179–184: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 185: 7 out: 7 glasses taken to charity shop.

Day 186: 3 out: 3 chocolate things that have been in the cupboard for ages, given to friends.

Days 187–190: Nothing in, nothing out.

As previously noted, I'm doing Unclutter 2014, which involves getting rid of 1 thing per day in 2014, plus an extra thing for every thing that comes into the house. I thought I'd also keep track of where the things go (landfill, charity shop, recycling, etc). I'm planning to post once every ten days, giving a summary of how I'm doing.

Days 1–150: 353 out (115 landfill, 138 recycled, 63 charity shop, 9 gifts, 3 Freegle, 1 bartered, 8 used up, 8 food waste, 8 archived), 71 in, net out: 282.

Days 151–160 totals: 2 out (2 recycled), 4 in, net out: -2.

Another negative 10-day total :( Though as with the last time this happened, some of the items are things that will prevent waste in the future. Also, I'm still really really busy with things that will become less time-consuming after July. Also also, my net total out is still ahead of my number of days. So I'm not losing hope! Details of the past 10 days are below.

Day 151: 2 out: 2 broken glasses taken to recycling point.

Days 152-156: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 157: 4 in: a bag of Onya Weigh bags (counting as 1 thing because the mesh bags live inside their storage bag), an Onya Lunch sandwich wrap, 2 fridge magnets from a local takeaway.

Days 158-160: Nothing in, nothing out.

As previously noted, I'm doing Unclutter 2014, which involves getting rid of 1 thing per day in 2014, plus an extra thing for every thing that comes into the house. I thought I'd also keep track of where the things go (landfill, charity shop, recycling, etc). I'm planning to post once every ten days, giving a summary of how I'm doing.

Days 1–130: 339 out (114 landfill, 134 recycled, 55 charity shop, 8 gifts, 3 Freegle, 1 bartered, 8 used up, 8 food waste, 8 archived), 65 in, net out: 274.

Days 131–140 totals: 5 out (4 recycled, 1 gift), 4 in, net out: 1.

As with my last report, not doing very well at the moment. However, this is partly because I'm very busy with a project that should get less time-demanding at the start of next month. I actually have lots of things ready to go to the charity shop once I have time to take them there! So I'm not feeling too discouraged. Details of the past 10 days are below.

Day 131: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 132: 1 out: perfume sample posted to a friend.

Days 133-134: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 135: 4 out: 4 batteries taken to Maplin for recycling.

Day 136: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 137: 4 in: a card, 2 small bowls, and a small jug from local craft fair.

Days 138-140: Nothing in, nothing out.

As previously noted, I'm doing Unclutter 2014, which involves getting rid of 1 thing per day in 2014, plus an extra thing for every thing that comes into the house. I thought I'd also keep track of where the things go (landfill, charity shop, recycling, etc). I'm planning to post once every ten days, giving a summary of how I'm doing.

Days 1–110: 275 out (73 landfill, 116 recycled, 52 charity shop, 8 gifts, 3 Freegle, 1 bartered, 6 used up, 8 food waste, 8 archived), 49 in, net out: 226.

Day 111: 31 out: 1 greetings card used up (sent to a friend) plus a drawer clearout yielding 13 torn jiffy bags (landfill), 2 random bits of plastic (landfill), 2 dead rubber bands (landfill), 2 dead erasers (landfill), 1 dried-up bottle of Tippex (landfill), 8 dead pens (landfill), 1 torn envelope (recycled), 1 piece crumpled-up paper (recycled).

Days 112-113: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 114: 1 in: Babylon 5 book arrived for bob.

Day 115: 10 out: 1 dead propelling pencil, 9 nearly-dead biros (all in landfill - tried to give biros away on Freegle but no joy).

Day 116: 9 out: 5 pieces broken jewellery posted to Alzheimer's Society (counting as recycled), 1 plastic tub they were stored in (recycled), 2 pint glasses and a kitchen timer taken to charity shop, 1 bottle Coke used up to cook gammon (Coke appears in our house sometimes via takeaways, but nobody here drinks it), 1 dead pen put into landfill.

Day 117: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 118: 1 in: vintage map from eBay.

Day 119: 3 out: 2 ancient takeaway menus (recycled), 1 broken glass (put into landfill because I can't currently justify the time to take it to the glass bin). 1 in: Another Babylon 5 book arrived for bob (a duplicate which I think he may be attempting to return).

Day 120: Nothing in, nothing out.

Days 111–120 totals: 55 out (40 landfill, 10 recycled, 3 charity shop, 2 used up), 3 in, net out: 52.

Total net out at day 120: 278.

Lots out this week, but unfortunately most of it went to landfill.

As previously noted, I'm doing Unclutter 2014, which involves getting rid of 1 thing per day in 2014, plus an extra thing for every thing that comes into the house. I thought I'd also keep track of where the things go (landfill, charity shop, recycling, etc). I'm planning to post once every ten days, giving a summary of how I'm doing.

Days 1–80: 235 out (60 landfill, 99 recycled, 47 charity shop, 8 gifts, 3 Freegle, 1 bartered, 4 used up, 7 food waste, 6 archived), 35 in, net out: 200.

Days 81-85: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 86: 5 out: 3 broken glasses taken to recycling point, 1 empty cardboard box (used to contain wine glasses; the last one broke the other day) put in the doorstep recycling, 1 travel-size thing of shampoo used up. 2 in: 2 postcards from bob.

Day 87: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 88: 3 in: 1 AppleCare booklet, 2 Oystercards for use of guests.

Day 89: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 90: 1 out: dead laptop cable put in landfill. 1 in: second-hand book on manhole covers, bought as a present for bob.

Days 81–90 totals: 6 out (1 landfill, 4 recycled, 1 used up), 6 in, net out: 0.

No progress in these 10 days, but also no backsliding. Ideally I would have taken the laptop cable from day 90 to Maplin to see if they could recycle any of the components, but I was a bit desperate to get rid of a thing to balance out the book I bought on impulse earlier that evening, so I just dumped it in the bin.

As previously noted, I'm doing Unclutter 2014, which involves getting rid of 1 thing per day in 2014, plus an extra thing for every thing that comes into the house. I thought I'd also keep track of where the things go (landfill, charity shop, recycling, etc). I'm planning to post once every ten days, giving a summary of how I'm doing.

Days 1-50: 175 out (32 landfill, 87 recycled, 38 charity shop, 7 gifts, 3 Freegle, 2 used up, 6 archived), 31 in, net out: 144.

Days 51-60: 22 out (10 landfill, 2 recycled, 1 bartered, 2 used up, 7 food waste), 0 in, net out: 22.

Days 61-63: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 64: 2 out: recycled 2 instruction leaflets for things I no longer own.

Days 65-68: Nothing in, nothing out.

Day 69: 1 out: jar of ancient pickled vegetables from back of fridge (veg in food waste, jar in recycling, counting as 1 recycled).

Day 70: Nothing in, nothing out.

• Total out so far: 200 (42 landfill, 92 recycled, 38 charity shop, 7 gifts, 3 Freegle, 1 bartered, 4 used up, 7 food waste, 6 archived)
• Total in so far: 31
• Net total out at day 70: 169

Really busy at the moment, so not much decluttering going on. This will continue for at least a week, but hopefully after that I'll have more time for it.