Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Decluttering, Organizing, & Simplifying › Need to de-clutter. May be evicted... *pics added post #85*
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Need to de-clutter. May be evicted... *pics added post #85* - Page 7

post #121 of 181
10/30/09 at 7:38pm
Thread Starter 
brymommy, I didn't think of checking to see if it was evictable but it might be a good idea to check with them (which I didn't end up doing this week) just to let the landlord know that I know my rights. I definitely think I will let them know that I cleaned it up because I had been meaning too, but that they may have overstepped their bounds. Good point.

Thanks mamas for all of the support. It has made a world of difference in keeping at it to come on here and read all of the encouragement. I still feel like I have so far to go to get it all really under control. I have a pile of clutter on my kitchen table that will need to be weeded out, a pile of papers on top of my tv cabinet, and a monstrous pile of laundry in my bedroom and a mountain of clutter in the basement. It is getting there, and I am pretty much done what the landlord asked for (with the exception of mopping), but I really want to get it all done.

I am thinking that I will keep gathering things to donate to the Salvation Army but I am going to keep the trash bags down to only what will fit in my bin each week until it is under control. I just can't live with trash bags filling my kitchen again. I am so grateful they are gone, and it was like Christmas to come home today to see them all gone from the curb, but I can't do that again until after the inspection at least.

On a bright note, I have a good friend and her son coming over tomorrow night to spend the night and I actually have a really nice space for them to stay!
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post #122 of 181
10/31/09 at 9:08am
Read the rental contract, I wonder if there is something about keeping the apartment "reasonably clean" in your contract. I had an apartment building that had that in their contract (although with them it was because cockroaches was a HUGE problem in that town and they wanted to do their best to keep the little pests away). No matter what Im sorry they are being such pains but you did an OUTSTANDING job! The place looks great.
post #123 of 181
10/31/09 at 2:26pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, the cleaning spree goes on....

This morning I woke up and put away the mountain of laundry that I had at the foot of my bed that was clean, gathered up all of the dirty laundry, put it in bags and brought it out to the car to go to the laundromat (although I still haven't made it there yet), and now that DS is asleep for a nap, I am hoping to get the kitchen cleaned up/de-cluttered (at least on the surface). I really feel like I am on a roll and want to keep going with it.

I am definitely waiting until the last minute to do the floors to have them shiny clean when they come to inspect on Tuesday.
post #124 of 181
10/31/09 at 4:21pm
I've had my house get bad but it feels so good when you finally get rid of the clutter. So much more relaxing. It takes a while to develop better habits but I think that's all part of growing up. This board helps a lot. I also like to take pictures of my kids and it motivates me to clean up because I don't want to take pictures of them with a gross background! Great job.
post #125 of 181
10/31/09 at 5:07pm
I have been checking in, but not posting.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH YOU HAVE GOTTEN ACCOMPLISHED!!!

You have truly motivated me to get my house in order Pumpkin Pie!! I love the joy in your DS's face too!
post #126 of 181
10/31/09 at 5:13pm
I know that so many other moms have said this, but I can't help but agree....you kicked BUTT!!!! The place looks great.....I can't imagine how relieved and proud you must feel!!! Sit back, relax, and enjoy a cup of tea And by the way, you have a seriously cute kid!
post #127 of 181
11/1/09 at 3:16am
I had to laugh today, my kitchen counters are a disaster, they look a bit like your sons room did only with kitchen stuff. Today I looked at it and thought about what you did on your own with no help. It inspired me to clean one half of the counter space and I hope to attack the other side tomorrow
post #128 of 181
11/1/09 at 9:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Satori View Post
I had to laugh today, my kitchen counters are a disaster, they look a bit like your sons room did only with kitchen stuff. Today I looked at it and thought about what you did on your own with no help. It inspired me to clean one half of the counter space and I hope to attack the other side tomorrow
You can do it!!!!
post #129 of 181
11/1/09 at 10:06am
I think what you did was amazing! I have a friend whose rental contract wasn'r renewed because her space was such a mess. The landlords started talking about it 3 mos before the contract was up, and she never was able to get it together to clean, so she lost a really beautiful space. Good for you and your motivation! Your ds looks like a shiny, clean star you unearthed in your pics!!
post #130 of 181
11/1/09 at 10:17am
wow you really are insperatation my house too looks like it's been hit by a bomb but now instead of thinking i just can't do it i will think YES I CAN GET HOUSE TIDY, MY HOUSE WILL BE SORTED IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pumpkin_Pie View Post
Ok, here goes nothing:

These are the before pictures of the book cases that were on my upstairs landing. Here is the pic looking up from the first floor and here is the pic looking down from the second floor. And here it is now!

These are the before pictures from the landing of my basement stairs. This is one side and this is the other. I moved these book cases into DS's room and the food into the basement. Here is the landing now!

Here is the "after" picture of the basement. (I am not ready to show anyone the before pics of the rest of the basement yet... ) These are the book cases from the upstairs landing with the canned/dry goods from the basement landing. Much more organized! You can actually see the stain on the floor from the laundry detergent spill in the after pic. It isn't quite so dark in real life. Not sure how to get the stain off, but the floor is clean and dry. It is an unfinished basement, so I don' think the landlord will freak out. At least the soap is all up.

Here are the before pics of DS's bedroom. Here is the bed (if you can believe one is under there). Here is the closet. Here is the area by the window. Here is the wall by the door. And here is the finished room with the bed and closet! And here is the part of the room by the window and the part by the door!!! The books on those smaller book cases (from the basement landing that had food on them) contain all of the books that I kept from the very large book cases on the upstairs landing. All of the other books in the pics above were donated to the Salvation Army.

I don't know if I should be ahamed that it got this bad, or proud that it is cleaned up, but I am so insanely happy that it is nearly done.
post #131 of 181
11/1/09 at 1:57pm
WOW!!! I am so amazed at all the work you've done! I hope that you feel proud. Love the before/after pics... doesn't that stairwell wall (where the bookcases were) just call out for a wallhanging or picture of some kind?
post #132 of 181
11/1/09 at 2:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WeasleyMum View Post
Love the before/after pics... doesn't that stairwell wall (where the bookcases were) just call out for a wallhanging or picture of some kind?
I was actually thinking the same thing, I see a really large rectangle shaped painting and a plant on a stand in the corner
post #133 of 181
11/1/09 at 2:33pm
Pumpkin Pie, you must feel absolutely amazing! When I saw the pics of the bedroom, I was amazed that you did all that in one night! You rock on so many levels! You are strong and resourceful, and such a great example to your little boy. I really loved viewing the before/after pics. Thanks so much for posting them.

The little things left to do are now truly little things. I assure you that your landlord will be impressed with all that you've accomplished. You went above and beyond his list, and you did all the extra work for yourself, which is the absolute best reason to do it--because you know you can and you want to have an uncluttered home.

So many congratulations on a job well done. :j oy

Thanks for being the inspiration to so many.
post #134 of 181
11/1/09 at 4:16pm
Thread Starter 
I actually have a really beautiful painting done by a good friend of mine that I want to hang on that landing wall. I would love to put a plant on a stand there, but the landlord said nothing on the landings, so I can't put one there until after the inspection. I might do one after that though, and just move it when they come to inspect in the future.

I was also thinking of buying cheap frames and putting DS's artwork in them for the walls in the basement around that landing. It just looks so bare on both landings now.
post #135 of 181
11/1/09 at 5:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pumpkin_Pie View Post
I actually have a really beautiful painting done by a good friend of mine that I want to hang on that landing wall. I would love to put a plant on a stand there, but the landlord said nothing on the landings, so I can't put one there until after the inspection. I might do one after that though, and just move it when they come to inspect in the future.

I was also thinking of buying cheap frames and putting DS's artwork in them for the walls in the basement around that landing. It just looks so bare on both landings now.
Did he specify the landing FLOOR? Or the landing period? I'm thinking cute little shelf below the picture on which to put small plants You still get your plants and there's nothing to scratch his floors
post #136 of 181
11/1/09 at 5:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Satori View Post
Did he specify the landing FLOOR? Or the landing period? I'm thinking cute little shelf below the picture on which to put small plants You still get your plants and there's nothing to scratch his floors
Ooooooohhhhh! I love that idea! I am going to stop by our local salvage store tomorrow after work! I would love to put a few small pictures in frames and a small plant below the painting.

Thanks for the idea!
post #137 of 181
11/1/09 at 7:27pm
It looks amazing! Awesome job!

I need you to come do mine. I used to be such a simplicity-freak but things have been crazy.
post #138 of 181
11/1/09 at 9:27pm
Way to go, Mama!!!! You did a wonderful job!
post #139 of 181
11/1/09 at 11:15pm
wow pumpkin, your posts just seem to hit home with me recently... im a newly single mama with a 2yo son, and i just got a job at a daycare.... ive always been a messy person and a pack rat, but with the start of my new job and trying to do everything by myself, things got completely out of control, and my house was a pigsty.... my dad came to visit for a few days last week and ended up cleaning my kitchen and living/dining room while i was at work.... theres still a lot that needs to be done, but having those 2 main areas of the house mostly clean feels amazing. now i just need to be able to stay on top of things, and work on the everyday stuff and general upkeep.... and thaTs the hard part for me

you did an AMAZING job. i cant wait to hear how the inspection goes
post #140 of 181
11/1/09 at 11:28pm
Thread Starter 
And it goes on.....

Today I started scrubbing the kitchen floor while DS napped. It got down on hands and knees and really SCRUBBED. It was so bad.... I did about 1/2 of it and will do the rest tomorrow evening. I still need to sweep the rest of the house too, but that will only take about 10 minutes.

I also did the mountain of laundry tonight. I took it to the laundromat and it was 4 of the quadruple loaders. I folded it all, and actually put every single thing away which is a record for me. I have never put laundry away as I did it, especially when there is a TON from going to the laundromat. Poor DS was begging me to go to bed, but I was like, "No sweetie, Mama needs to put the laundry away so we have a clean house!" He keeps commenting on how clean the house is, which makes me giggle every time. I am trying to get him to help though, so hopefully he will grow up wanting to live in a neat and clean space rather than a mess like it was for so long.

Oh, I also cleaned the bathroom again! Woo Hoo!!! I took my little scrubbie cloths and went over the sink, toilet, and around the edges of the floor and tub. I was amazed that I went through 4 of them and they were FILTHY. Granted, I was going over things a bit more carefully than when I initially cleaned it, but still, that is a lot of dirt accumulating.

Hooray for new projects tackled and cleaning kept up on!!!
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