How about a June declutter thread? - Page 2

[Purple*Lotus]

I filled up three large outdoor sized garbage bags with clothes and purses the other day.  I took them straight to Goodwill so I couldn't change my mind.  I included any purses that I don't like, will never carry again, and clothing that doesn't fit me and that I don't feel good in.  I still have a lot to go yet, but that was a great first step.

[Amys1st]

Wow what a good start!

My personal trainer took our sofa. We bought it when we were in our previous home. Its still in perfect shape, microfiber but it just dosent work in our new space. She traded me for a bosu ball because I would not take any money for the sofa. Her and her dh came and took it. Both in excellent shape so it took no time to get that thing out the door. He teen son was thrilled.

Went thru dd2's dresser. Weeded out and I have a large quantitiy of outgrowns I need to sort to give away and donate on June 30th.

DH will go thru his dresser and do the same. He is also on a mission  to clean out the garage. We always park our cars in there, but you still need to take all out, sweep etc.

DD1 and I will attack the craft stuff this week. I usually declutter my scrap book stuff when on one of those workshops so that is set.

[mamayogibear]

Okay I hope this isn't too TMI or gross for any of y'all to handle but after all this is MDC...

I was cleaning my freezer and was sorting it into three piles: compost (via city yard waste), give to dog and garbage when I came across something I forgot nine months ago: our (mine and my sons) placenta! I had planned on encapsulating it if I had PPD or composting it for a friends garden. Well I didn't have PPD and my friend moved so now that I've 'remembered' it I'm not sure what to do with it. The city compost/yard waste is very specific about 'no meat' and I think it might count as meat. Or the city might just consider it a biohazard so I'm not even sure if I can put it in the trash, plus I think a stray dog or raccoon would try to get it. Should I just wait until the morning the trash gets picked up and sneak it in the bin? Sorry if this was TMI and thanks!

[Purple*Lotus]

Today I went through my desk and everything that was sitting under my desk and culled everything I wasn't using and consolodated my scrapbooking things to one area and my art supplies in another area.  I have another large garbage bag full.

[Sasha's Mama]

I want to join! We're house hunting right now, so it's a good time to start decluttering!

The two things on my list are:

1. match up all my gladware to lids and toss out the others (not finding a lid drives me crazy!)

2. go through my oldest son's clothes to bag up what no longer fits

[mamababamba]

Been doing great this week! I delivered the four bags to the thrift store and then culled and filled a huge box of kitchen stuff which I delivered as well. Went through all the wrapping and craft supplies, cleaned my desk and decluttered much of the kitchen dishes and pantry items. Tossed a garbage bag full of junk and expired foods. I started in on the yard areas and culled a garbage bag full of stuffed toys and books to give away as well as another bag of extra sand toys etc. Cleaning and organizing as I go...took Peter Walsh's book Its all too much! on our camping trip and reread it for inspiration. I just love the new layers of cleaning and simplicity that are opened up...now that I have been at this for about 4 years!

It takes a lot of slow to grow! Getting there!

[mamababamba]

Originally Posted by mamayogibear 

Okay I hope this isn't too TMI or gross for any of y'all to handle but after all this is MDC...

I was cleaning my freezer and was sorting it into three piles: compost (via city yard waste), give to dog and garbage when I came across something I forgot nine months ago: our (mine and my sons) placenta! I had planned on encapsulating it if I had PPD or composting it for a friends garden. Well I didn't have PPD and my friend moved so now that I've 'remembered' it I'm not sure what to do with it. The city compost/yard waste is very specific about 'no meat' and I think it might count as meat. Or the city might just consider it a biohazard so I'm not even sure if I can put it in the trash, plus I think a stray dog or raccoon would try to get it. Should I just wait until the morning the trash gets picked up and sneak it in the bin? Sorry if this was TMI and thanks!

Did you toss it? Thought perhaps you might bury it in your garden and plant something special there, of course a quick garbage sneak might be freeing...good luck!

[clutterwarrior]

Originally Posted by clutterwarrior 


2. Get rid of magazines, let's face it no matter how great those issues are I haven't got time to re-read any of them!

OK I had to wrestle a bit with my magazine demons....but I did it!! 

I just tossed 25 scrapbooking magazines!    

[lucifugous]

Originally Posted by mamayogibear 

I could have written these two sentences! I still have the exercise ball I labored on to have my dd. It has been deflated for a few years because the dog bit it yet I just can't part with it. I've gotten,popped and recycled two other ones since then. Let's make a deal you toss yourse and I'll toss mine:)

I too have way too many cloth diapers that have to go! Have you posted on diaperswappers Free for shipping. Tha'ts where I got most of mine when they were 'new' to me. I need to put about two dozen newborn prefolds and four covers on there since neither of my kids fit them. I also have 15 pockets that I only used for my son at daycare that I'm holding onto just in case when he goes back to a different daycare in the fall they'll let him use them...

Good Luck and good work!

Ok it's a deal! I took it out of the closet the other day so it could sit all rumpled and ugly in my living space, lol. It's going out this morning! I have plenty of mamas in my area that would love to have the diapers but still hanging on hoping for cash for them :/

ETA: Once I decided to do it, it was easy to get rid of 2/3 of our pillowcases!! Also culled some shirts out of D's drawer and threw them into the donation bag.

Edited by lucifugous - 6/11/11 at 8:40am

[thriftyqueen]

I am in the position of a forced decluttering.  We (as well as 10,000 other people) were evacuated from our homes due to flooding.  We had to move everything from our 3200 square foot house out in a matter of 7 hours.  It was a mass effort to get everything out and all of our stuff is scattered in other people's garages and in my in laws basement.  What a mess!  I don't want to bring nearly as much back into the house when we can move back so it is time to rid myself of clutter!  I have slowly been working on it by going through items in my mom's garage, but it is going to be an entire summer project to get everything organized, decluttered, and moved back into our house.  In addition, our basement was ruined by seepage so we can't put any of that back in until a complete remodel has been done.  What a project!

[enkmom]

Working steadily on the books.  Can't make myself start the magazines yet.  Dh is going to help me start on the basement today, and we have spent the morning purging kitchen equipment.  We tossed storage containers missing a lid, warped cookie sheets, and 3 muffin tins (I don't remember the last time I made muffins,  and I don't have the patience for cupcakes).  We also cleaned out our covered back porch. 

I can't believe how much we have accomplished, and it is only 11 AM.  I never seem to start things because in my mind it will take "forever".  No wonder I have a clutter problem!

[clutterwarrior]

I DID IT!! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by clutterwarrior 

4. Declutter one area of garage.

Today I had a rush of enthusiasm for decluttering the garage, which is rather odd as I have been having dizzy spells all day, but somehow I managed to get all this done.

Unfortunately I forgot to take a before photo, but on second thoughts that may have been too embarrassing to share! 

Anyway here are my newly decluttered shelves, at least part of them done anyway.

[sweetjasmine]

Thriftyqueen, sorry to hear that! Good luck to you!

CW, good job - there's so much space there that if it were me I'd be tempted to fill it up again. That would be just like me and I have to guard against that.

I have more kitchen counter space in my new apartment than any I've had before including previous houses and apartments. I filled up the spaces when we first moved earlier this year but gradually have cleared it. Now there's a large empty space in the middle but I love it. So much more room for food prep. The other day dh looked at the counter and said it keeps changing and asked me what I did with everything, lol! Now to ensure that I don't fill it up.

I culled some more books on Sunday as well as dvds. I have one row of a bookcase with some beloved books, the next shelf are dvds and on the one below it sits vhs's. I also took some more clothes to Goodwill as well as the slow cooker and food processor I mentioned awhile back. I culled my greeting cards even more. Can't get rid of all of them but I don't want to at this point but I think I have them down to a respectable number that fits into a large shoebox.

[thriftyqueen]

I have almost made it through one of the 4 places where we are storing all of our belongings since the evacuation.  I feel pretty good about getting rid of 1/4 of the items in the one storage space.  Now I just need to go through the other 3 and get rid of that much.  Would feel pretty good to move back in with 1/4 less stuff!

[herakatgrl]

YES!!!  I need advice on decluttering.  Mainly, how much of certain items (towels, etc) do I really need.  I feel overwhelmed and irritated by all the stuff we have. 

-christy

[mitchfammom]

Originally Posted by herakatgrl 

YES!!!  I need advice on decluttering.  Mainly, how much of certain items (towels, etc) do I really need.  I feel overwhelmed and irritated by all the stuff we have. 

-christy

My opinion about towels and sheets.... two sets of bath/hand/washcloths per person and two sets of sheets for each bed.  I keep the sheet set I'm not using folded under the mattress, so when it's time to change the sheets the next set is right there.  I learned this trick from the flylady website when I didn't have a linen closet.

That being said, I have a linen closet now and it's a MESS!!!!!

[lucifugous]

Way to go thriftyqueen!!! I love that you're turning a disaster into the most positive thing it can be! And I hope that you are able to move into a healthy home soon. Mold is such a b!tch!!

It's so relative, herakatgrl! What she said (above) is great. Also I think some people have to do it in increments, even for a given item. It can be wonderful to cut out a lot at once, though, if you know logically that what you keep is plenty for the lifestyle you want. I was talking to a friend earlier (don't be mad I shared!! lol) who was explaining to me why she needs like all twenty of the pots and pans she has, and I just had to listen and understand that she's not ready for less yet, you know? But I like being down to "just enough" (missing one piece at the moment, I'd say) and I have experienced that being forced to wash something before using it makes me much more likely to wash it right after using it in the future! In the past I liked having a ton.

And mitchfammom I had totally forgotten that storage tip ages ago!!! WOW that really would have helped in my last living situation. Now I have space but I just might do that anyway so everything else can have more room to breathe in the drawers... maybe even have a dedicated drawer just for DD's books again :) I've been missing that book drawer in the bedroom, since we currently don't have -any- shelves.