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September decluttering challenge! - Page 5

post #81 of 175
9/8/08 at 10:39am
We cleaned out our basement.

I wanted to take pictures, but I didn't. After I realized I forgot to take before pictures, I decided to take pictures of the trash pile (which took up our entire patio in the backyard) and donations (which overfilled my husbands large pick up truck bed). Well, he took the trash down before I got a picture and I had to get the stuff to the care and share so he could have his truck back. Sigh.

But, my basement looks great! Well, as great as a dungeon type basement can look.

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post #82 of 175
9/8/08 at 10:40am
Oh, and my husband organized his garage. It's still a disaster, but its a contained disaster. People can actually walk around in it. We could even park a car in there, if we were so inclined.

Pretty cool, this decluttering stuff.
post #83 of 175
9/8/08 at 11:01am
Ok...I'm going for it...I am starting with 100 items this month since I've never tried the challenge before, and if I can handle that, I will go higher next month. My problem is always bagging up stuff for Goodwill but it never leaving the house cause we can never get there...well, conveniently a brand new Goodwill just opened right down the street from my office so I am taking that as a sign! :
post #84 of 175
9/8/08 at 11:22am
I'm revising my decluttering challenge.
I was talking to my mom about it and she suggested rather than picking a number of things to declutter I should make my goal to make my dining room functional.
Right now in my dining room is my homeschool cupboard, dishwasher, freezer, benches/chairs and a table that is too small for us to use.
We came up with a plan that would enable me to make a bigger table top and we could actually all fit around our table.
I have to declutter my linen closet so I can move my freezer into it so we can move the hs cupboard and use our table!

SO, my decluttering goal for September - broken into baby steps:
1. move the bottles in the filing cabinet in the linen closet to the empty kitchen cupboard
2. move costume to clothes boxes or find a place or give away if there is no place
3. purge baby blankets & store in empty drawers in ds's room
4. purge kids' clothes
5. move 1 set of sheets to each person's dresser
6. move quilts to under mattresses
7. freecycle filing cabinets
8. move towels to empty bathroom cabinet
9. get electrical outlight lightbulb combo for linen closet
10. move freezer to linen closet
11. purge homeschool cupboard
12. move homeschool cupboard to other side of dining room
13. make a new table top
14. move table left and actually USE it for meals


I'm excited to get started!
post #85 of 175
9/8/08 at 1:19pm
Ok so I was going to try and sell some clothes on ebay but realized that honestly it was more hassle then it as worth so I decided to give all my boys old but still in good shape clothes to a friend with 3 boys. So far today I have added to her pile:

18 pairs of jeans
3 sweatshirts
41 long sleeved shirts
1 oshkosh wind breaker
6 pairs of track pants
9 pairs of jammies
2 pairs of khaki pants

This is in addition to 2 huge bags that I already have going for her. WOW this really feels good and it feels better then the few dollars I might get selling them. So far 214/700 WHOO HOO!!! I think I may break the 700 mark.

Tonight I am going to tackle the linen closets and get rid of all expired meds, and lotions and potions that we never use
post #86 of 175
9/8/08 at 1:25pm
I finally decluttered our recycling system today! I purchased a 3 compartment laundry sorter that has solid vinyl/fabric so that it is not see-through. I have it right in the kitchen next to the trash can. Such a simple thing but I never got around to finding a solution to our multiple bins taking up space. It's easier to reach and will be easier for the kids to use.

And so simple and inexpensive a solution, I don't know why I didn't think of it before!
post #87 of 175
9/8/08 at 1:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonkeyPrincess View Post
We cleaned out our basement. ...
But, my basement looks great! Well, as great as a dungeon type basement can look.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonkeyPrincess View Post
Oh, and my husband organized his garage. ... Pretty cool, this decluttering stuff.
You rule And your totally organized and clear basement is going to provide a bit of inspiration for our own decluttering plans this month, so thanks!
post #88 of 175
9/8/08 at 1:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mama_ani View Post
I'm revising my decluttering challenge.
I was talking to my mom about it and she suggested rather than picking a number of things to declutter I should make my goal to make my dining room functional.
Right now in my dining room is my homeschool cupboard, dishwasher, freezer, benches/chairs and a table that is too small for us to use.
We came up with a plan that would enable me to make a bigger table top and we could actually all fit around our table.
I have to declutter my linen closet so I can move my freezer into it so we can move the hs cupboard and use our table!

SO, my decluttering goal for September - broken into baby steps:
1. move the bottles in the filing cabinet in the linen closet to the empty kitchen cupboard
2. move costume to clothes boxes or find a place or give away if there is no place
3. purge baby blankets & store in empty drawers in ds's room
4. purge kids' clothes
5. move 1 set of sheets to each person's dresser
6. move quilts to under mattresses
7. freecycle filing cabinets
8. move towels to empty bathroom cabinet
9. get electrical outlight lightbulb combo for linen closet
10. move freezer to linen closet
11. purge homeschool cupboard
12. move homeschool cupboard to other side of dining room
13. make a new table top
14. move table left and actually USE it for meals


I'm excited to get started!
Well, I just *love* this plan -- you go, momma!
post #89 of 175
9/8/08 at 2:05pm
we got rid one several big bags of clothes and have started a new pile of clothes to get rid of. dp has to take the books someplace but they are in a pile and ready to go. we plan to exchange some of them for store credit so i can buy new books but it will be fewer books than we are getting rod of
post #90 of 175
9/8/08 at 2:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MamaBug View Post
Ok so I was going to try and sell some clothes on ebay but realized that honestly it was more hassle then it as worth so I decided to give all my boys old but still in good shape clothes to a friend with 3 boys. ...
Ha! I've totally been there, too I figure, it's just more important to get things OUT OF THE HOUSE QUICKLY sometimes, right?
post #91 of 175
9/8/08 at 3:13pm
I am attacking Liz (dd1)'s room while she is at school. I need to go thru the clothes etc plus make room for things here and there. I have been keeping a running count and will need to up date my OP.
post #92 of 175
9/8/08 at 3:36pm
I am in for 200. I am having a garage sale in less than 2 weeks. Everything is pretty much set for that, although I want to go through the house one more time to try to find a few more things. If I can get 50 more items tossed in the garage sale, I will be happy.

Goals:

64/50 garage sale items, priced and put into a box
27/40 giveaway to homeless or domestic violence victims' shelter
5/10 goodwill donations
53/100 toss

for 200 total

I really need to go through the toys. We have so much, but I hate to get rid of it because most of the toys were gifts. I don't buy toys. DD doesn't really play with toys very much. She does have little people that she likes. But then we have just baskets and baskets of random stuff.

I need to organize my desk area, maybe I could get rid of a few random things there.

I already sorted all of DD's fall and winter clothes and matched them into outfits. I got rid of anything that I didn't love, or anything that couldn't get matched. Anything that won't work is already priced and hung for the garage sale, so that won't count towards the total.

Otherwise, everything else that I declutter will just be random stuff.
post #93 of 175
9/8/08 at 4:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikaela View Post
Ha! I've totally been there, too I figure, it's just more important to get things OUT OF THE HOUSE QUICKLY sometimes, right?

Exactly and honestly it feels so much better to give them to someone who truly needs it and will appreciate it.


Off to attack the hall closet before the kids get home!
post #94 of 175
9/8/08 at 4:47pm
ok I'm starting a little late, but I'm in for 100 this month. DH and I keep skirmishing over the state of our apartment- he'd like it cleaner, I'm not so bothered. He's really into "a place for everything..." and I have a hard time creating these special places. BUT maybe if there were less in here, we'd have less to put away, not to mention more space to put everything. So I'm in.
So far today: two huge bags of plastic shopping bags to recycled- they were taking up ALL the space under the sink. Now what should go there?
Two down, 98 to go!
-Lisa
post #95 of 175
9/8/08 at 5:44pm
So I hit both girls' rooms and man, I could add more, but all the little "stuff" and papers etc I am only saying 60 items. So I am a bit over 100 items and still going. I need to hit the books and I can freecycle the fiction ones that are bestseller etc and I will give some books to the preschool.

Weird situation:

My MIL made us a large Caterpillar from the "Very Hungry Catapillar". Its just like the one in the book and she sewed it. Buts its a very big one and takes up some space. Library or school? She would not mind if I pass it on!
She also made a pillow case out of the chicka chicka boom boom for Maggie, her favorite book.
post #96 of 175
9/9/08 at 1:03am
Thread Starter 
We FINALLY finalized the list:
  • Declutter/clean out basement
  • Install cabinets in basement
  • Measure bathroom
  • Declutter bathroom
  • Take down tile and ferring strips from bedroom ceiling
  • Staple up baffles and insulate bedroom ceiling
  • Decutter bookshelf in bedroom
  • List for sale art deco bureau
  • List for sale mid-century modern dresser and mirror
  • Finalize chore schedule
  • Get rid of 100 items

The bathroom stuff is part of the monthly room challenge and there are actually some other chores associated with it (mostly pricing things out for an eventual redo).

We've already gotten started on several of the items, and I even remembered to take before photos of the basement. Updates and a flick'r album to follow shortly!
post #97 of 175
9/9/08 at 1:05am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LisamommyRN View Post
ok I'm starting a little late, but I'm in for 100 this month. DH and I keep skirmishing over the state of our apartment- he'd like it cleaner, I'm not so bothered. He's really into "a place for everything..." and I have a hard time creating these special places. BUT maybe if there were less in here, we'd have less to put away, not to mention more space to put everything. So I'm in.
So far today: two huge bags of plastic shopping bags to recycled- they were taking up ALL the space under the sink. Now what should go there?
Two down, 98 to go!
-Lisa

Good for you -- for giving it a shot *and* for already knocking two things off your list :
post #98 of 175
9/9/08 at 4:14pm
i dropped off a big plastic storage thingie at goodwill the other day and i'm thinking about a yardsale saturday.........
post #99 of 175
9/9/08 at 6:30pm
Soooo, attacked DDs' book collections. I thinned out 99 books!! 35 are going to my niece who just started kindgn and can use those ready reader style books and SIL can return them after she is done and MAggie can use them. Then I went thru the other ones and stuck them on freecycle. Some of the books were doubles and gifted etc.

Since DD1 loves to order off the scholastic book order form, I can remind her how we gave away the books she outgrew and now can get more.

I also moved a bunch to Maggie's collection so even with what is left, we still have plenty of reading material.
post #100 of 175
9/9/08 at 6:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by annettemarie View Post
I'm blogging about it!
http://natural-childhood.blogspot.co...luttering.html

I have pictures.
Me too! Blogging about it has been all the more inspiring. I even did a 'Tackle it Tuesday' meme today!

http://onetruething.vox.com/library/...t-tuesday.html

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