How to De-Clutter - Page 2

3894 · 11-17-2007, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Dress for Success is the organization. I understand that they are very glad of donations and most especially looking for larger-sized professional women's clothing.

lindyhop · 11-17-2007, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 11-17-2007, 06:15 PM

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

MouseWife · 11-17-2007, 10:07 PM

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 · 11-18-2007, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3894

Dress for Success 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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MouseWife

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 · 11-19-2007, 12:31 PM

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.

Snowflake · 11-19-2007, 12:43 PM

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!

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 · 11-19-2007, 01:15 PM

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 · 11-19-2007, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

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 · 11-19-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

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.

11-17-2007, 06:15 PM	#13
wolfy999 Eyes like Sapphires! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2.4 miles from Disneyland Posts: 1,523	I can hardly wait to see DP's progress.....should be interesting! __________________ Diane "Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy." - George Carlin 1937-2008 DISNEY IS FINALLY PAYING ME BACK......STILL OWES ME ABOUT (oh, wait....way too much)!
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11-17-2007, 10:07 PM	#14
MouseWife Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Da' Beach Posts: 2,957	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... __________________ Summa' time....when the livins' easy.........
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11-19-2007, 12:31 PM	#16
Disneyphile SQUIRREL! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: On the curbside. Posts: 5,098	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.
	Submit to Quotes

11-19-2007, 12:43 PM	#17
Snowflake lost in the fog Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 7,831	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! 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! __________________ Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. - Oscar Wilde
	Submit to Quotes

11-19-2007, 01:15 PM	#18
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	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...
	Submit to Quotes