SPRING-Clean Declutter - Need Help

[Former-Member]

Hi @Former-Member - I've got one of those little hand-held vacuums. It's great for quick clean-ups and cleaning out the car. I've got rid of some kid's books and things in the past week. I'm trying hard not to accumulate but I saw a nice timber bookshelf on someone's lawn this afternoon and had to have it. Nearly crippled myself gettting it in the car - it's heavy solid timber. I've put it in one of my daughter's bedrooms. Hopefully she'll take the hint to use it rather than creating little islands of stuff all over the place. It's a non-stop battle getting them to tidy up. Hope everyone else is being good de-clutterers this week.            

[Former-Member]

Sounds like the bookcase might have been an A1 find @Former-Member as you have been able to pur it to immediate use.

[Smc]

@Owlunar, Wuthering Heights is one book that I couldn't get into. Heathcliff seemed such a dark character that I couldn't face continuing the story. Jane Eyre, however, is very firmly on my favourites list- and it's a good condition hardcover book, so it's a keeper. 

[Former-Member]

Have ya ever walked around the house with a garbage bag for rubbish? it's amazing how much RUBBISH went into last nights' roadside garbage collection. This will definitely become part of my weekly routine.

Yesterday we took up an invitation to lunch, with dad's nephew / my cuz. It was an interesting catchup (haven't been there before). He & his husband, of 46yrs, live in a beautiful old brick home in the city. One's a hoarder / collector - the other is spartan (funny how opposites attract like that). What I liked about this 'hoard' was the order it was in, and the quality. It was like walking into an art museum. Every square foot of wall space displayes a plate, or artwork carefully framed and arranged... Many with wonderful stories. Every bench, sideboard, cornerstool... hold carefully displayed culptures / ornaments, glassware... and much in enclosed glasd display cupboards. Even the rooftop top kitchen cupboards displayed a collection of teapots. I don't know how he does it but there was no dust or cobwebs :/. Even the cat dishes were clean with fresh newspaper under. They had an office each, kept immaculate of cause, and the bedrooms, and granny flat. Its amazing. Where do people get the energy? And the garden 👍 BUT - the garage stayed closed 😱 (haha, everyone has a messy space somewhere, thank goodness for that!). Anyway, I reckon if ya have to have so much stuff, better on display like this than stored in a box.

[Former-Member]

ARE YOU A CLUTTERBUG?

Question 1: Do you constantly hunt for things you've misplaced in your home, or put into a stack or pile?

Question 2: When you look in your kitchen, do you see flat surfaces, such as counters and your kitchen table, or are there piles of paper and mounds of appliances?

Question 3: Do you end up buying a second (or third) of an item for use in your home, because you can't find the one you already own?

Question 4: Do you shop for "retail therapy" or only when you really need something, and have thought about it for a while, not on impulse?

Question 5: Is there a place for everthing in your home, and everything is in that place? Or, do you not have room to put some of the stuff you own away?

Question 6: Do you not pay some bills on time, not because you don't have the money, but because you can't find them to pay them?

Question 7: Is your dirty laundry mixed up with your clean laundry, and all of it lying on the floor because your drawers and closets are all packed with too much stuff to fit anymore in?

Question 8: When you need a pen do you have about 50 to choose from, but most of them don't have any ink in them or are otherwise broken?

Question 9: Do you keep every plastic food container you accumulate, but can never find a matching lid when you need it?

Question 10: When you come home does it feel like your little sanctuary or peaceful respite, or do you feel stressed out in your space because of all the "stuff" there?

Well, Are You A ClutterBug?

[Determined]

Ouch @Former-Member. LoL

[Former-Member]

Proud of myself - there's this corner in mum's kitchen where everything gets dropped. So full had it become - my brain pretends its not there, a blindspot. But, last night, I thought "before I go to bed - at least if I can box up the pile of chrissy decorations" (not sure where mum stores this stuff). BUT, bofore I knew it, two hours had passed & I'd filled a big garbage bag with rubbish, large basket for the recycle bin, and compartmentalised (in clear bags) the little collections of things important to mum (bandages & dressing, stationary...). Still worry she's gonna walk in the door & go right 'off' at me, kick me out again lol, so still trying to be respectful. BUT, the thing is - the kitchen benches & little dinning corner are now tidy, and useable 🙂 Makes such a difference. I was up 'till 2am doing it - but was on a roll (rare) & its well worth it 🙂

Gotta love that feeling of success 🙂 

[Smc]

@Former-Member, choosing a limited area to work on can be a big help. Seeing the entire job is overwhelming, but breaking it down into little tasks helps a lot. 

I've dealt with overwhelming spaces previously by filling a plastic crate with whatever is at hand, then taking it off somewhere else to sort. I had forgotten about that method though. I should revisit it. 

[Owlunar]

Hi @Former-Member and others interested in the decluttering tales

I am not a hoarder - dealing with my ex-h clutter and was not in his room, the crawl space in the roof, the shed or the garage - meant getting it into the rubbish bin each bin day when he might not notice and all the years later I am wondering if he did notice.

My comments to him - "people give you their junk so it will have a home" or "you are just giving this a different address" might be considered nagging but in the Bible - Proverbs - it says "Better to live on the roof than to share a house with a nagging wife"

mmmmm hhummmm - yeah - I wonder why other wives nag but I just wanted this stuff outa sight and outa mind and now all these years later I wonder what really did happen to it

Lapses - I wonder if dealing with your mother's stuff - collections or whatever name  - is harder or easier than dealing with what you have been doing at your own home for months now.

I think of you often and hope you are okay - I remember how I felt after my mother died - not good at all - I know it's really a tough time

But I hope you are okay - just okay

Dec

[soul]

You're doing a great job @Former-Member. I hope you are rewarding yourself along the way. It's good when you can see the fruits of your efforts.

I have managed to vacuum, clean up the bathroom  and tidy my bedroom. My dressing table is free from clutter.