How to De-Clutter

[Disneyphile]

Ok, I'm not a regular viewer, but I ended up watching Oprah with my mother yesterday.

It was a "home make-over" episode in which they helped a couple de-clutter and organize their home, which in turn organized their life.

I'm already applying some of the advice and tips while unpacking and settling into our new place, and we're already noticing the change in our environment and stress levels.

Most of the info can be found here: Click (http://www2.oprah.com/foodhome/home/organizing/challenge/challenge_start_main.jhtml)

Even committing just 10 minutes a day can have a great impact on our home, saving us even more time in the long run.

So, I was too excited to not share, and hope this helps anyone who's a bit of a pack rat like myself. :)

[3894]

My sister has the philosophy that if you've forgotten you owned something, you don't own it anymore. You must then get rid of it.

I have the philosophy that housework is the Devil's workshop. If you don't want to dust it, clean it, or maintain it, you don't own it anymore. You must then get rid of it.

[innerSpaceman]

The nightmare that was remodeling my condo had the awesome silver lining of rehabilitating my clutter habit.

I was never one buried under mounds of paper and junk everywhere ... but I did tend to keep things that I had absolutely no use for.

Nowadays, before a single piece of paper will be given a berth in my home, I ruthlessly consider whether I have any use for it beyond that momentary urge to save. 99.999% of the time the answer is 'no,' and out it goes.

I threw out about 50% of my personal belongings when I remodeled, and everything I come across now has to meet two criteria or out it goes: 1) Have I used/worn it in the last 5 years? or 2) Am I purposely saving it for my old age of remincising?

I am really careful about bringing new new stuff into my home. No more material objects, no useless paper. Any clothes coming in mean something I haven't worn in a long time goes out.

And, (backhanded) thanks to my poor memory, I've long been a "Place for Everything, and Everything in its Place" kinda guy. But the last six years have the clutterist-free ever ... and I'm never going back!

[Snowflake]

I'm loaded with clutter and trying to de-clutter. Moving across country helped, but I have had a lifelong habit of keeping paper around, and when I do do a clean up almost 100% ends up going. Important stuff I try to keep in my files immediately.

In any case, thanks DP for the additional tips

[lindyhop]

This is such a loaded subject for me. I have too much stuff. I have a second bedroom that is full of stuff, most of which can be thown out but I wrestle with how and when. I know I should just do it but my my time is so cluttered with work and commuting to work that I don't want to give up my fun time to deal with this stuff.

Then the other issue I'm running into lately is how to dispose of this stuff. I want to avoid adding usable stuff to a landfill but what's usable and who wants it? For example I have a sewing machine that's more than 20 years old that might work with a little maintenance but it was never that great of a machine so is it worth it? And do places like Goodwill take stuff that needs to be repaired? I haven't had time to find that out. I bought I new sewing machine a couple of months ago and this old one is still in my closet.

So I'm dealing with all this a little at a time and trying not to buy stuff just for the sake of buying stuff. Now that we're moving into the "buying season" I'm finding holiday ads look positively obscene.

This past week there was a series called "Consumed" on various American Public Media programs like "Marketplace" which focused on how consumerism supports our economy and is it really sustainable and by the end of the week I just felt sick listening to it all.

[Snowflake]

Well, after putting it off, not that I would mind going to a used book store to offload stuff, some titles are nice, expensive books and/or DVDs. So I listed 10 things on amazon this morning, already had 2 sales. So this is a good thing.

Inspired, I've managed to clean off my desk, and the miscellaneous piles of paper and started filling a shred bag for the office and took 3 bags of trash downstairs.

Pray I keep this up! Then I might acutally be able to vacuum up my room!

[BarTopDancer]

Goodwill does take stuff that needs to be fixed. They have a program that employees disabled people and trains them how to do various types of repair.

[Disneyphile]

Pray I keep this up! Then I might acutally be able to vacuum up my room!I think the freeing feeling will keep inspiring you. All it takes is to get one area done to inspire the rest. :) Way to go on a job well started! :snap:

Like iSm, I've become very restrained on buying new things for the last year or two. I instantly think, "Where will I put this?" and if I can't think of a place, I don't buy it. Same thing with clothes. I have clothing out the wazoo, most of which I don't even wear anymore. That's another of my de-clutter projects for this weekend.

As for books, we have one bookcase in the garage that is for all the dust-collecting novels that we love to re-read, but really aren't in condition for displaying. As for holiday decor, we're setting limits (number of containers) for each holiday. Whatever doesn't fit in that space gets donated. And, anything new will have to replace something old.

We're also going to clear out our off-site rented storage area and sifting through that as well. Once done, it will save us $55 per month.

I'm looking forward to being more free, having more space, time and money.

[Not Afraid]

Our books, records, CDs, and DVDs are here to stay - they are too much a part of my life. But, I've tossed quite a bit of other stuff. Now, I need to work on selling off some of my collections, keeping my own collection more focused.

[BarTopDancer]

I forget the name of the organization - but there is an organization that takes donations of professional womens clothing and gets it to women who are basically starting over in life so they have clothing for job interviews and professional jobs.

[3894]

I forget the name of the organization - but there is an organization that takes donations of professional womens clothing and gets it to women who are basically starting over in life so they have clothing for job interviews and professional jobs.

Dress for Success (http://www.dressforsuccess.org/affiliate.aspx?pageid=1&sisid=86) is the organization. I understand that they are very glad of donations and most especially looking for larger-sized professional women's clothing.

[lindyhop]

Goodwill does take stuff that needs to be fixed. They have a program that employees disabled people and trains them how to do various types of repair.

That's what I thought but they don't publicize that fact so much any more. Sometimes the people handling the collection centers aren't too clear on what they should take. I tried to give away an old paper shredder and the guy freaked out thinking it was an old computer. They were happy to take old monitors but not computers.

[wolfy999]

I can hardly wait to see DP's progress.....should be interesting!

[MouseWife]

This is a topic I deal with daily. All of your reasons/stories, I can relate.

But, like NA, I am quite attached to my books, records, cds, movies. I also am an avid photographer {not so great, but, I love to do it and love looking through albums} and collect toys.

Oooo, I know what is going through your minds {messy messy messy!!}. And, yeah, not the tidiest of homes. I have become more organized with my 'schtuff'. I do want to keep things, so, I have gotten rid of a lot of other things. I have gotten rid of things that we don't need and I box up things we want but don't want laying around.

That is a great price for storage, DP.

Thanks for the reminder of the clothes for working women. Also, right now they are taking donations for fire victims. Oh, and the winter homeless shelter opened up yesterday {I think} and they always need things.

Umm...that seems off topic...

[Disneyphile]

Dress for Success (http://www.dressforsuccess.org/affiliate.aspx?pageid=1&sisid=86) is the organization. I understand that they are very glad of donations and most especially looking for larger-sized professional women's clothing.Thanks for the link! Goodness knows I have plenty of exactly what they're looking for. ;)

But, like NA, I am quite attached to my books, records, cds, movies. I also am an avid photographer {not so great, but, I love to do it and love looking through albums} and collect toys.We took our 400+ CD collection and 200+ DVD collection and put them in binders (with the cover art) and chucked the cases, and stored some of the cases that have collectible value. It has saved us a load of room, and it also makes it very easy to carry over to friends' homes to share. :)

As for our Disney collection, it stays - it's not like I'm diminishing to "one item per shelf" or anything. It will still be pretty elaborate/overloaded, but there won't be stuff crammed in boxes or waiting to avalanche from closet shelves. And, it will stay dusted on a regular basis. And, we're making the rule that the floor is for furniture and a few select large pieces (like these few jumbo Disney statues we have) only. Shoes go in the closet, purses/bags have hooks, etc. So far, it's looking really good, and it's not costing us any time at all to keep a tidy home, always ready for guests at a moment's notice. It's amazing at how less stressed we are already.

One of the show's main tips was to respect those things that you cherish by displaying and treating them properly.

[Disneyphile]

We got the garage sorted over the weekend, and I'm amazed at how little still "needs" to come in and be unpacked/put away. After that stack, there's a lot out there to go through and get rid of/consolidate. But, the tip of the iceberg is exposed, and now it will be easy to take care of the rest.

And, it feels great. :D

[Snowflake]

Well, I agree with DP about how nice it feels. The 2 bookcases in my room look so nice, not cluttered and I too the opportunity to weed out some books and DVDs. Those books and DVDs that I did not give away, I listed on amazon for a lark, and much to my surprise, of the 16 items I put up there, 11 already sold! Sure beats the prices I'd get at Amoeba or a used book store. Of course, I priced them to sell, but that was the point, not to gouge, but to help them find a new home and not take a total loss on the original purchase. I'm looking at this as funding the dinner for Napa Rose, and so far, I've made enough I can treat the 3 of us to dinner, I think (excluding wine). Not a bad deal at all!

Thanks DP, I'm inspired to keep digging, de-cluttering and cleaning up my slopppy existance. It will be nice to see the boxes gone (I've been back a year and a half and, yes, there are still unpacked things in the closet). So, those will more than likely be on the toss out of here pile, since I can't remember what is in some of the boxes.

15 minutes a day should have me well cleaned and de-cluttered by Xmas day when the roomate returns! :D

It will be nice to see the apartment again, and have things (hopefully) so that I can paint the living room, which it sorely needs!

[Gemini Cricket]

I think the only way for me to declutter is for someone to be there with me and say, "Brad, you DON'T need that." Then they would have to forcibly remove the item from my hands.
I have a friend in Monterey, CA who hires herself out to clean up people's clutter. She goes from house to house, assesses what's there and gives recommendations. She also will donate or trash the items for them. She makes money doing that...

[Kevy Baby]

I have a friend in Monterey, CA who hires herself out to clean up people's clutter. She goes from house to house, assesses what's there and gives recommendations. She also will donate or trash the items for them. She makes money doing that...How much does she charge and does she come to Southern California?



Seriously.






VERY seriously!

[Gemini Cricket]

How much does she charge and does she come to Southern California?



Seriously.






VERY seriously!
I'll check. She wants to come down here badly. (She hates Monterey almost as much as I do.)
She's honestly one of the coolest people I have ever met.
:)

[Not Afraid]

It would be easier to de-clutter if I didn't have so much stuff.

[Snowflake]

I'll check. She wants to come down here badly. (She hates Monterey almost as much as I do.)
She's honestly one of the coolest people I have ever met.
:)

Hmm, she's close to me.

If she's so cool, how come you've not brought her to join LoT? :confused:

[Gemini Cricket]

Hmm, she's close to me.

If she's so cool, how come you've not brought her to join LoT? :confused:
I don't know.
I tried to get a couple of friends to join but they're not into it...

[Ponine]

Maybe you should tell her we have a thread that needs her expert touch.

[Not Afraid]

Also, be sure to tell her we DO stalk people on occasion. ;)

[Snowflake]

It would be easier to de-clutter if I didn't have so much stuff.


It would also be easier to de-clutter if this totally did not go against my natural tendencies! Must have been a squirrel in my last life.

[Gemini Cricket]

She's such a sweetheart, too.
She gave me one of her deceased mother's art pieces and it's hanging in my hallway. I think of my friend everytime I see it.
:)

[alphabassettgrrl]

Keep posting- every time I see this thread I am reminded how much needs to go out of my home. Hopefully one of these times I'll actually get started on it....

[Disneyphile]

I'm a total pack-rat. In fact, I'll take photos of the garage and our storage unit before and after, and then post those. I think anyone will realize how easy it is, because there's no way anyone has more stuff than us, seriously.

[BarTopDancer]

How much does she charge and does she come to Southern California?



Seriously.






VERY seriously!

I'm very good at it. I'm also a great person to take shopping.

Do you need that. Why do you need that. You have xyz things that look JUST LIKE IT! Put down the [thing] and back away slowly.

[Alex]

I'll do such consultations for free. But you've got to commit to the process and accept my decisions as binding. If you can't convince me of why you should keep an object (and I don't think I would be unfair/unsentimental) then
out it goes.

[Kevy Baby]

I'm a total pack-rat. In fact, I'll take photos of the garage and our storage unit before and after, and then post those. I think anyone will realize how easy it is, because there's no way anyone has more stuff than us, seriously.You've barely seen the surface of our clutter.

[Kevy Baby]

I'll do such consultations for free. But you've got to commit to the process and accept my decisions as binding. If you can't convince me of why you should keep an object (and I don't think I would be unfair/unsentimental) then out it goes.Alex, I like you a lot. But I know you well enough to know that my wife's head would explode if I cut you loose with her on this project.

[Morrigoon]

because there's no way anyone has more stuff than us, seriously.

HA! I'll see your storage unit and raise you another!

[BarTopDancer]

I just heard about a site to sell and recycle electronics. It's called SecondRotation. I posted (http://www.loungeoftomorrow.com/LoT/showthread.php?p=173650#post173650) about it in EggHead.

[Gemini Cricket]

I really should declutter. I mean, why am I holding on to my movies on Betamax?

[Disneyphile]

HA! I'll see your storage unit and raise you another!Pretty soon, you'll raise us by two. :p

I really should declutter. I mean, why am I holding on to my movies on Betamax?Beta? Geesh. I have all our VHS tapes in a box, waiting to be either replaced on DVD, or captured and burned to DVD (in the case of self-recorded stuff). I know you can do that. ;)

[Kevy Baby]

I really should declutter. I mean, why am I holding on to my movies on Betamax?And I thought it was bad that I still had all my movies on laser!

[Gemini Cricket]

And I thought it was bad that I still had all my movies on laser!
Laser? What's that?


:D :p

[MouseWife]

Hmm...I am tempted to join your bet. But, we did a big cleaning of the garage a couple of years ago. At that time we could barely walk through one small path. Now,if we move the work out equipment around, we can fit one small suv in there. :D

I like what you did about putting the cds in a binder. I, though, can't do it!! I love having it all together. I do have a book for my photo cds, though. I also put all of my cds on Itunes {crap, did I ever find that box???} and I got rid of all of my duplicate VHS/DVDs. {although for some reason I have two 'Snow Dogs'}.

I am trying to switch from VHS to DVD for my Disney collection. I am a bit pissed right now as my 'Mr. Toad' movie disappeared. So, yeah, while I love to have my things around to enjoy {and you are so right, if I have them out they need to be dusted and look good, not just 'out'} I am going to put them in a less accessible place for 'borrowing'.

This is wonderful for the cleaner and the ones who are lucky to get the no longer wanted items.

And, nope, I don't want anyone to help me. Eventually I'll get it done.

[Disneyphile]

A nice way to display things (including DVD's, etc.) is to use glass-doored cabinets. They can hold a lot without looking messy, and keep the dust out for weeks!

[MouseWife]

That is an idea I have been thinking about, DP. :snap:

I was looking at some furniture sites this weekend, checking out some entertainment 'walls' with the side 'towers' that have the glass doors.

I used to display a lot of my items in a beautiful china cabinet that had lights in it. But, I changed from a formal set to a very casual one and now have nothing like that. All open shelves. ]

All full of schtuff. :blush:

{maybe I'll post a picture sometime...I know you all would probably recognize a lot of the things I have collected....}

[Not Afraid]

IKEA. BILLY BOOKCASES.

[MouseWife]

IKEA. BILLY BOOKCASES.

:snap: :snap:

off to the ikea website....

[mousepod]

IKEA. BILLY BOOKCASES.

Yes. Oh yes.

[Gemini Cricket]

IKEA. BILLY BOOKCASES.
Are you, like, the Billy Bookcase rep for Ikea?
:D

I've been meaning to get a few of those...

[Not Afraid]

I have Billy up the Ying Yang.

[Snowflake]

I have Billy up the Ying Yang.

Does E know this?;)

[Kevy Baby]

I have Billy up the Ying Yang.I hope you used lubricant

[BarTopDancer]

Alex, I like you a lot. But I know you well enough to know that my wife's head would explode if I cut you loose with her on this project.

I'll do it.

Then we'll get distracted by the shiny things.

No seriously, I'd help. I'm good at it.

[€uroMeinke]

Does E know this?;)

We have an "understanding" - especially when media is involved