Decluttering
 

Right now I'm sitting down to take a break. I'm surrounded by STUFF :eek:

Where did all this stuff come from??? How did I get so much of it???

I'm at the point now where it is more than a little overwhelming to look at.

My house looks like I need an intervention from the hosts of that hoarder show! Most of my drawers are empty so stuff is piled EVERYWHERE! Literally every flat elevated surface is covered with something. I figured empty everything out and go through it piece by piece. I dragged in totes from the garage and have one labeled for every room in the house, plus one labeled donate, one labeled discard that is lined with a contractor size garbage bag, and the last one labeled repurpose. If what I'm going through belongs in the room I'm in, I'm putting it away in its new designated space.

Has anyone else done a major Declutter like this? Any advice or tips that worked great to get organized? And what kept you motivated to keep going? I ordered a bunch of things from the Container Store, which were delivered yesterday. They spurred me to get stuck it, but I'm not even a quarter of the way through and I'm already getting burned out.

Oh you go girl! I am envious of you. I need to follow your lead!!

OMG, do I got stuff, I promised myself this week I will re-organize and find homes for all this stuff. It is a bit over whelming lol. Hope you get some tips, I sure could use some. Happy decluttering.

Great subject! I need help too. Most of my mess is clothing-for some reason I had to have 2 or 3 of everything. The most successful thing I've done is DON'T BUY ANY MORE STUFF. It's embarrassing. good luck and keep me posted. Maybe we can keep each other motivated. I just start and then stop.

Yes, I inherited some of my parents things, and while it wasn't my taste, it had "sentimental value". Actually, watching episodes of "The Hoarder" kept me motivated to do a major decluttering. I recorded it and watched it during breaks. :D I tried to limit myself on what I could keep, I refinished my Dad's wooden office chair that I remember as a child when we visited his office, and now it looks great and brings back fond memories. Giving things to Goodwill really helped me to let go of things, I can't bare to throw certain things in the trash, but to think someone else will enjoy them brings me happiness. You sound like you have a great plan and sometimes just setting the timer and telling yourself, to work for 15 or 30 minutes will keep you going. If the decisions get too hard, put those things in a box and revisit it a month or so.

Glad to here I'm not alone in this experience.

I downsized from a house that was around 3,600 sq ft to one that is less than 1,000 ...but that was four years ago! And I have held onto soooo much stuff all thus time. The last house had a nook and a dining room, a living room and a family room, three bathrooms and a finished basement. I had duplicates, or triplicates of everything! And while I was able to pass on a lot of the big stuff to help furnish both my kid's college apartments, all my stuff from the various rooms I'd kept for the most part.

Now, I just have one living room, one kitchen/diner, one bathroom, and every one of my current rooms is much smaller than the previous. My bedroom is half the size of my last, and my bedroom closet is a quarter of the size of the previous, so I was literally busting at the seams.

I have 3 huge contractor size bags to throw out thus far. My garbage day isn't until Friday, so I reckon I will probably fill another 3 by then. I also have two totes overflowing of items to donate, so I'll be heading to Goodwill first thing in the morning to empty those.

*having the empty totes to sort things into is really working out great! It's much better than piles on the floor. Everything is contained neatly and I just walk a filled tote to the room it belongs in and grab another empty one to take its place.

Good idea about the totes, the more organized you feel while you're doing it, the more motivated you'll be. I've been known to stuff a few bags in different neighbors containers the night before trash pickup. Don't tell anyone!

Watching Hoarders definitely inspires me want to clear out, but I have a hard time watching that show because of the "ewwww!" factor. If it's just pack rats, I'm fine, but so many of the places are disgustingly filthy, and that I can't handle.

While the cleaning gene skipped me, my mum has it in spades. She is one of those strange individuals that LIKES cleaning! And not just her own home, she enjoys coming over to my place to "help me out". Now that she's semi-retired she likes to come over more frequently, so while I have lots of stuff, it's clean stuff. In fact now that I think about it mum might be a bit disappointed to have less stuff to dust and wipe down. She'll be over Thursday, so I'll let you know how she takes it.

I am the opposite of a hoarder. Having too much stuff makes me uneasy. However . . .

When we moved from Chicago back to Virginia, we cleaned out the family storage unit. We gave a lot to Salvation Army and AmVets.

I have some sentimental items too. We are down to 2 regular size closets of stuff that we can't let go of. For instance, I have a couple of largish soft dolls that my mother sewed for me when I was a child. They have aged to the point that I cannot give them to another child, and they are not something I would display, but I don't have the heart to let go of them.

I've been watching Minimalist Living videos all day while going through my stuff. I'm not ready to have everything I own fit in a backpack like some of those minimalist people, but it really makes you stop and think about how materialistic we are as a society. One of the key principles of minimalist living is that happiness is not found in stuff. How true is that? My best memories aren't about things, they are about people.

I'm even decluttering ZoE's things! I have a little tub of bows, sweaters, hoodies and harnesses, I don't use.

Sentimental items are tough. I just can't part with some things either because of my memories attached to them. But I'm okay with storing those things in a tote in the basement. I built two storage rooms when I finished my basement, one for my regular storage stuff, (holiday items, winter/summer stuff, etc) and one for old things of mine and my children that I want to keep. I even have the purse carrier I used with my last yorkie, Chelsea, stored there with her sweaters, a few bows, and a lock of her hair. I bawl every time I look at it, but I just can't part with it.

Oh yes . . decluttering takes place around here quite often. Just last weekend cleaned out the garage and boxed up a ton of stuff from years of collecting for garage sales. What family doesn't need or want will be taken to our local Good Will store.

If you haven't heard myself and a couple other YT members have a resale page on FB called Waggin Tails Resale for this type of stuff. You are welcome to join.

If you haven't heard myself and a couple other YT members have a resale page on FB called Waggin Tails Resale for this type of stuff. You are welcome to join.

OOO! that's a terrific idea!

Ok, I'm following this discussion - I really, really need help decluttering. Awesome!

While getting rid of stuff,we also started a new rule at our house. If you bring something in , two things must go. Buy a pair of shoes then two items from your closet must go and two socks does not count.
Everytime I start to purchase something for the house I have to think of two objects that I am willing to get rid of.
I am still going through what came in our house when I cleaned out my parents house. I'm hoping that by the time all of my kids move out and take their stuff with them, I will have things trimmed down enough for a smaller house.
The only place that this does not apply is the three little furgirls wardrobe.

I'm constantly decluttering! I've made great strides but always find that something I gave away is now needed!


Always reminds me of this George Carlin clip.

Definitely! Very interesting about the Minimalist Living. There must be a sense of freedom in it. I don't think I could go as far as a backpack, but one of those miniature houses is a very attractive idea to me.

Ha! Love it! So true!

I am quite envious of you. You go girl! I would have done one room at a time, I'd faint if I started in on all the rooms in my home!


I have a very hard time getting rid of books, then there is my parents photo albums, I have two sets of my Moms china I am still holding on to, God knows why - just can't bear to part with them.


I am really good with my clothes, as twice a year - fall and spring - stuff goes to Goodwill, and I am really not a clothes shopper so my wardrobe fits into one small closet.


Kitchens are bad for me, for example I have 4 strainers, I truly only use two, but each time I go to give to Goodwill the other two, somehow they never make it into the Goodwill box!


Your organization sounds like it is working for you! Let us know how you do.

Still plodding along...

It would undoubtedly be more efficient if I could set things aside to be completed later, and move onto another section...but I can't. If I'm working on a drawer and I don't have enough dividers, I stop and run out to the store to get what I need. If I'm working on my closet and need an extra shelf, I stop run out to my garage, cut one and install it. It's definitely slowing the progress, but what I have done so far is DONE!

Also, I have come to the conclusion that I'm living in the past. I have enough toiletries, soap dispensers, toothbrush holders, etc. to supply the 3 bathrooms and a powder room that I no longer have. I have enough cutlery to have my dishwasher full and still have enough clean place settings for back in the day when I would have my son's whole hockey team (20 kids) over for a "team dinner"...my son hasn't lived at home in over 4 years.

My donation pile is becoming a mountain!

:D Ohhhhhh, Karan.....!!! :D

For the past few years, I've got my Andy to bring home the 'tipper truck' that they use at work, 2 times a year.....

He parks it outside our house for that evening/night....we load up all the stuff we don't want - and then off 'it' all goes. Basically - so I can't change my mind....:rolleyes:

All the stuff that's really, really important to me is properly sealed and boxed up, and put in the loft - and actually has been for years....photos, kids work, mementos....mind you, I never really look at any of that - just can't bear to actually 'let it go'....:( :)

My idea of living the minimalist life would be moving into the RV. You have to live small if you are on the road.

Yes, but RVs have such nifty storage and folding things!

Our local community center has an RV expo every year and even though I am not any kind of camper and never will be, I love going to the expo. The way they utilize space is amazing..all the stuff that folds up, folds down, tucks away, pulls out...I just love the ingenuity of it!

How funny... I started this like 2-3 weeks ago.. Still at it! I think I bagged up about 6+ bags of just clothes alone. I even found my prom dress. LOL I'm currently going through electronics box up and take to the recycling dump. Oh yeah, I even found a floppy disk. And I mean the OLD 8" floppy.... I think that says enough of how much of a pack rat I am. -_-;

That's awesome that you 're still sticking with it and working your way through your stuff! I find staying motivated tough.

I have made so much progress. My bedroom is amazing! Everything in every single drawer, and my closet is organized. I've moved where I kept a lot of stuff around. I created my own jewelry box in the top drawer of my nightstand, and moved my pjs to the bottom drawer of my nightstand. My bathroom it completely decluttered and organized, and I love how easy it is to find everything I need to get ready in the morning. Every single cabinet, and drawer in my living room is decluttered and organized. My kitchen is good, except for two skinny junk drawers I have yet to go through. I spent all day yesterday working my way through paperwork, which was exhausting and seemed never ending. I found a box of hanging folders at Salvation Army for $2.06! So I bought them and took it as a sign my next project was to completely clean out and organize my file cabinet.

Yesterday was garbage day here. I had 17 bags out there! So 15 more than a regular week, plus a lot of broken down wood/junky shelving pieces. It been snowing here, so I gave my garbage guys each gift cards to Tim hortons so they could grab lunch and a hot drink on me.

The next thing to tackle is my guest room, and that will be a doozy! It's a very small room that I'm trying to use as a functioning guest room, as well as a second closet for myself, and a place to store all my sewing, knitting and craft stuff, along with ZoE's grooming table. And, I built a sunroom off it two years ago, so I need a clear open walkway through the room to access the sunroom in the warmer months. Something might have to give, or it will require some seriously inventive organization and downsizing of items.

I would post pics here, but don't like how YT doesn't allow user control of posted pics in threads. If anyone knows of an easy site to load pics on a temporary basis that I could later delete, let me know. My progress might inspire someone else :)

Still making good progress.

Guest room is just about finished. In the dresser, I have organized all my craft things. I've had to get rid of a lot to make things fit! I had so much duplicate ribbon! And discovered I have no shortage of scissors, needles or thread. Before I had a tub with some sewing stuff, a large plastic craft box (from JoAnns years ago) with sewing stuff, and then I also had a big sewing basket. Now everything is organized in small storage containers in the dresser drawers..everything in one place. Plus a drawer dedicated to yarn/knitting, one for bow making, and one for fabric.

I repurposed an oak audio media cabinet, by putting it in the guest closet to hold extra bedding, an extra blanket, and guest towels on the shelves. It clears the clothes hanging bar, so fits perfectly and still gives guests space to hang clothing. And the two deep drawers of the nightstand are also free for guest use.

Now I'm just down to a few odds and ends I need to go through in tubs in the living room. Things like spare parts to existing things, home decor stuff I don't have a place to display, but can't decide if I want to get rid of, and DIY things like paint, caulk & adhesives that can't take the cold temps of the garage, so I need to find them a home.

I'm hoping to get it all finished by the end of the weekend so I can then bring out the Christmas tree and decorations. :):xmastree:

Oh, and my Mum came over yesterday and helped clean. She loved how she can whip around each room so quickly now that theres no stuff in the way and shes not having to move things to wipe under/around them.

But, she got a little distracted going through my discard & donate tubs...:D

She pulled out fleece fabric i was getting rid off, and she took measurements of ZoE's grooming table, as well as the big arm that clamps onto the grooming table. Mum is going to use the fleece to make bags to put the table and arm in so when I slide them under the guest bed, where i store them, they wont scratch the hardwood floor. :thumbup:

Put everything in the garage.....that's what I do;)

And then have a garage sale! :D

Karan, you are truly an inspiration in tackling this project. It must be so liberating and I feel your joy as you make more progress. BTW, if you want to show pictures you could put them in an album on your profile page, then you can edit and remove whenever you want.

I need to do this too, and even though I work "at" it constantly, I never get it all done. I find myself getting emotional about certain things and not able to get rid of them, but then other times I can really get on a roll and dispose of a lot.

A few months ago I took 8 huge bags of clothing out of my closet and donated to the Women's shelter. They provide items free to women in need and sell the rest in a boutique to support the shelter. It felt so good, knowing that my clothing would be utilized by women who need them.

I also took a truck load of left over building materials, good but used toilet, sink, and furniture to Habitat for Humanity Restore after my remodeling project. Both places gave me donation receipts for tax deduction.

Another truck load went to the e-cycling (electric recycling center) that included old tv, stereo stuff, lots of old computers, printers & accessories.

I still have half of my garage stuffed with stuff to go through, then I can have room to store everything from my overloaded kitchen and pantry which I have to remove to make way for remodeling my whole kitchen. That is a big project, but a big reward for 2015.

Living on an island, I always try to re-purpose items when possible, rather than throw in the trash which goes in a landfill on our little island.

My better half has been pretty caught up in this Buy Nothing group about the last year. Seems a bit time consuming to give things away but it has provided her with a huge social expansion to local people. If there is a Buy Nothing group near you it's worth looking into. For her, it started with giving things away now it's a total social club for her.
Buy Nothing Project | Buy Nothing, Give Freely, Share Creatively
Here's a news clip of something she and others did with Buy Nothing Kirkland just a week ago, my better half gets interviewed!!!: Strangers come together to organize couple's dream wedding | Local & Regional | Seattle News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KOMO News