2024 Organizing & Decluttering Thread

Finally feeling human. The plus side of being so sick…the fridge, freezer, and cabinets have been culled.

I am the one that shops usually. Have been home for a week and a half and nothing has been coming in, just leaving the house.

I’m caught up to here in reading. I haven’t been too productive because even though it’s been 4 weeks since I got Covid, it threw my autoimmune issues into overdrive. Just when I thought I could start making a dent, DS ended up with strep and flu. Today I got done more than I think I have in 6 weeks. I managed to get through all of the DS’s sheets and blankets from being sick. I also managed to get the kitchen to the point that it’s not a disaster and found the countertops. Went to put solo cups in the cabinet and they wouldn’t fit so I decluttered the paper goods shelf. Tonight we are eating dinner on sesame street paper plates from DS’s birthday 6 years ago because I don’t know why I was saving them.

Definitely a fun way to head into the weekend!

Did any of the organizing ideas look like they might help you? 

Well, that Clutterbug quiz was interesting.

While doing it, I thought that some of the options were too similar, or didn't make sense.

When I finished, it told me that I am a bee.
I would agree with that description!

I got butterfly on that quiz too. I don’t think that description is exactly right though because some of my stuff is insanely organized and neat while other stuff is a total hot mess. I will agree with the concept of using clear bins or labeled containers and I do utilize some of that. But I’m not really a fan of using tons of hooks or open shelving because those are the very types of things that tend to quickly fall into hot mess status in my house. I will admit to being a piler and that’s definitely a thing I need to work on. Right now my kitchen table is a hot mess already again, and I just had it totally cleared off a couple weeks ago. 🤦🏻‍♀️

ETA: I think I’m a cross between a butterfly and a bee, because in some areas I’m highly detail oriented and want things put away (such as filing cabinets and drawers). But in other areas I’m not and I want to see my stuff, especially in my studio space where I enjoy seeing all the colors and textures of things out in the open on shelves (but I would really like those things to be more organized AND visual.

That was the original plan. They’ve been up there for too long now. I was going to just toss them yesterday but figured they should get used before heading to the landfill. I stuck them on top of the regular paper plate stack and plan to use them up first. DS had his lunch on a daniel tiger plate today. He rolled his eyes at the plate because, well he’s 8 and “Daniel Tiger is just so uncool mom”

Eta: No, this is not Deja vu. I tried responded on the road in the middle of nowhere a couple of hours ago and it didn’t appear to go through at the time. So I responded when we got home, went to catch up and saw the original. Oops.

My craft space doesn’t follow my natural tendencies for everywhere else either crazy4scraps. Because I’m willing to trade function for hiding things. I mean, if I could afford a room full of cabinets with doors I’d probably take advantage. But, not if I have to sacrifice function in key areas.


Well, that’s super frustrating. As soon as you make the decision you’re probably ready to let things go NOW. 




I thought some of the answers were too similar as well, but in the end it categorized us perfectly. Do you think there is a category that fits you completely? Is the bolded due to you or your family? I think a lot of our (general) issue is that people in our households have different organizing styles than we do. I’m a cricket (hidden, micro organizing) and DH is a butterfly (in view, macro organizing). So, complete opposites. Does anyone else have this combo? We have a lot of hooks on the backs of doors, so easy to access but you don’t see them when the doors are open. Our entry closet has them on the inside of the door so he doesn’t have to hang the jacket he’s currently using on a hanger, or his hat and some running things. And tons of our items are macro organized in bins, behind doors or cabinet doors. Easy for him to just toss something in, but I don’t have to look at it. They’re labeled, but he likes what they suggested about having big labels, so we’ll switch that up. 

However, while he, as a butterfly, likes seeing his things he can’t function when they’re out. If there is a horizontal surface, there can be next to nothing on it because it gives his brain permission to just leave things where they are or set them down instead of putting them away. We’ve tested this so many times. And for me, while I like micro organization as that’s how my brain automatically sorts things, I function well with macro organization for most things. Better, in most situations. And DH finds it easier to use as well. The biggest thing I have to fight is my anal retentive, perfectionist tendencies. I have to tell myself to ‘get it done now, perfect it later.’ Otherwise I get paralyzed and have a hard time starting. I’m often not successful 

What do you do to fight your natural inclinations that don’t work for you?

Thank you so much linda!

I'm a cricket. DH hasn't taken the quiz but I know we have very different systems, he tends to dump stuff wherever and likes things to be out and visible which drives me absolutely crazy.

Have been on a roll…
- Decluttered (by finally finishing!) about four craft projects/albums/tns. Now they’re done they move to a different location and free up some space in the craft room.
- Filed and recycled kids school items in preparation for the new school year.
- Listed for sale some punches I no longer use (use dies instead)
- Listed for sale skates daughter grew out of
- Listed for sale craft items I just bought that I’ll never use (part of a larger kit that I WILL use but there is zero chance I’d ever use these on a page!)
- Cleaned out school uniform cupboard and am donating items that no longer fit to school clothing pool or sick bay
- Went through sticker folder and have a pile of random stickers to donate to the local preschool (they don’t care what it is as long as it sticks but there are lots of cute Disney items etc in the pile)

Dh may be made redundant soon so it resonated with me re keeping craft items for lean times…. I have many ongoing projects but I will eventually get to them and complete them!

Clutter nests in my house are dealt with by me putting items from said pile in the rooms of the person they belong to. Or making myself finish the task so I can put it away 😂 After the kitchen reno I realised one of the nests we had contained items I didn’t have a place for as I didn’t actually need them… could this perhaps be the answer??? If it’s not worthy of a place, or your time in making sure it’s in its place, than is it worth having?

Week One -Cleaning Grand Plan dewryce

Week 1- Front Porch - The front porch is an important asset to your home. First impressions are important. If the entrance to your home is a mess, then it doesn’t matter how organized the inside is, you’re still perceived as a “messie”. Assemble your supplies, broom, window cleaner, screwdrivers, paper for lists, trash can.
Start at the front door. Is there a dead rug for wiping feet? Is it savable? Toss it into the driveway for hosing down, into the trash, or into the laundry basket.
Remove everything from the porch that you can. Trash bags, recyclables, kids’ toys, those boxes that go to Goodwill. Set things in the grass if you have to but get them off the porch.
Is there a swing? Look at it closely. Are the hinges catching on clothes? Is it a disaster waiting to collapse? A quick turn of the screwdriver can fix that. How about the cushions? If cleanable, put them with the rug for hosing down. If trash, then trash them. Write down “get new cushions” on your list.
Take the screens off the windows. Put them with the rug & cushions for hosing. Using the broom, sweep every windowsill & doorframe. Sweep down the outside walls. Look up high-are there cobwebs in the corners? Sweep ’em down!
After doing the walls & frames, then you can sweep off the porch itself. Don’t forget the steps. Open the front door and sweep off the sill too. Do you need to change the light bulb? Put new bug lights on your list.
Wash the outside of the windows. While they’re drying, get out the hose & spray off the rug, screens & swing cushions. Put the screens back on the windows.
Now step back and admire what you’ve done so far. Look at the mess in the yard that came off the porch. Does any of it belong back on there? Do you have to keep the weekly trash there or can you hide it somewhere else? Toys in the back yard? Perhaps a big bucket for front yard toys? Only you know what can stay there.
Do the hedges in front of the porch need trimming? Either put that on your list for the next nice Saturday or get out your clippers & trim them up now.
Does the front door need painting? How about its screen? New hardware can make a big difference. What about the mailbox? Does the doorbell work?
Write down any fixes and set a specific time to do them. And then do them when the time comes! As long as you’ve done this much, go ahead and look at the sidewalks & driveway. Too much junk? Remove it to the backyard. Sometimes it’s easier to hose down the driveway than to sweep it.
Now go out to the street and really look at what you’ve accomplished. Aren’t you proud to live there now? You should be! Head inside for a well deserved rest. Don’t forget to take that list you made & transfer it to either SHE cards or your planner!

Taking stuff off eBay to donate. It's stuff that's been on there awhile with little to no views.

Think my Dad is going to load stuff in van to donate today since it's supposed to rain next 3 days.