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

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]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

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!

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.