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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 29, 2024 1:53:41 GMT
I’m pretty much done getting my son’s room cleaned out. I went through the sheets and have some to donate. I also cleaned the floors upstairs and will do the rest today as well. General tidying up. I’m finding myself not really wanting to get rid of much, but at the same time feeling overwhelmed with the process and the stuff. I think a big part of that is that I am doing it all myself. I don’t know about the rest of you but my Dh does not do any type of deep cleaning or decluttering. Even all of the garbage and recycling from yesterday is still sitting here. He will probably eventually take that out but a little initiative to help would be appreciated. Does anyone else get frustrated by this? Or do your significant others and family members also help? I can get my DD to go through her stuff sometimes but it’s much harder with DH. At the end of the day the last thing he wants to do is go through a box of junk and have to make decisions when he’s physically and mentally tapped out. It would be less tough if he didn’t care if I got rid of the crap he hasn’t looked at in 5-10 years, but he DOES care and will make a huge stink about it. So now I just don’t go there and he can get rid of his junk himself. What drives me most nuts is when I have already gone through the stuff, put away what I can and have identified a stack of his crap that has been in my way for way too long. I tell him it needs to go somewhere else, but he’s never in any hurry to actually do it. Remember that foil pan of crap on the small kitchen counter that I was complaining about months ago? Yeah. It’s still there and now that counter is totally cluttered up again with even more new junk. 🙄 But on a more positive note, I can’t remember if I mentioned that I was able to get the small shelf I was looking at at Kohl’s that I wanted to put on my kitchen table to hold the open jars and bags of snacks. I had $5 in Kohl’s Cash and a 40% off coupon. 😎 All the stuff that I had to keep moving off of my main counter is now on that shelf, plus the basket of napkins and salt and pepper that we keep on the table has a home on there now too. Now I just need to train my family to look there first before opening up new bags of stuff. |
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Post by dewryce on Apr 29, 2024 2:51:14 GMT
Wow y’all got tons done today! I didn’t get anything done at home because I was at my sister’s all day today. But I helped her go through one huge tote of clothes and a small part of her closet and we have 3 full bags to donate, half a bag to trash and a full bag of hangers so she’s pretty excited. And it put me in the mood to get rid of more of our stuff.
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Post by lg on Apr 29, 2024 4:21:09 GMT
Another to do list declutter today - emptied out all the random almost expired foods from the fridge and made them into salads for work lunches this week, finished the first week of our Japan trip album for last year and forced myself to use as many of the Disney papers and embellishments that I could (was amazing what I could make work when I forced myself to stash bust!) Also started on the week 2 album part of the trip so will soon be stash busting my Harry Potter and Nintendo items (not nearly as many!)
Majorly condensed my Disney papers, got rid of remaining scraps that are not in useable sizes and put them away for next trip.
Dd got rid of a few outgrown clothes as she needs to clear space for her new purchases - she has a double closet so any clothes that don’t fit need to go in an “I love this more” style of decluttering, I’m not giving her more space for clothes as it’s unrealistic especially when she wears the same three shirts and shorts sets 90% of the time!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 29, 2024 14:08:39 GMT
I would be working in my basement studio today but the crew is here starting work to install solar panels. They are going to be in and out and all over the house today (basement, attic, garage, yard) so my primary focus is keeping my dogs inside and try to keep them from constantly freaking out.
I don’t think I’m going to get much of anything done all week, ugh.
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Post by dewryce on Apr 29, 2024 15:11:30 GMT
Daily declutter task from My Simpler Life Declutter Calendar:
Go through wrapping paper and ribbon.
I love wrapping presents, have since I was a teenager, so this has been and could still be an area with a lot of excess for me. Peter Walsh made a suggestion to reduce your stash enough and have a “signature” paper and ribbon for all your gifts and I scoffed at him. But eventually I grew to like the idea, as long as I could still go a little crazy for Christmas wrapping. So now I keep several watercolor rainbow striped rolls of paper I love, and many ribbons that coordinate well with it. And a couple of rolls of white glossy paper which can be perfect and elegant for weddings and showers with the right ribbon. But I haven’t culled through the ribbon lately so I’ll do that.
eta: Okay, went through the wrapping box and took out less loved ribbon and some organza bags. I had too many of both for as many presents as I wrap during the year. Then when I was doing laundry I went through the warranties and manuals which I inadvertently skipped over last week*** and took out some that are no longer needed and/or valid. And then while putting away clothes I selected 3 shirts that are fairly recently too big for me. No big hauls, but it feels good to tweak the different areas as I come across them.
*** As I was looking it over and straightening it out I thought “those are the manuals and warranties” and then my mind just went to the next thing. Maybe because it’s all nice and neat, not even close to being too full, and I’m just used to it being there. I’ve discovered a lot of things I do this to this last round of decluttering.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Apr 29, 2024 15:48:33 GMT
I sorted and purged spices and seasonings this morning. Two lazy susans on a shelf and one drawer in the island added up to more than I thought I had and an embarrassing number of duplicates. I purged 18 items. 18! Yikes. But it all looks soooo much better and I'll be able to put my hands on what I need easier.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 29, 2024 18:44:34 GMT
dewryce I started buying the double sided rolls of wrap at Costco over a decade ago. I only pick the ones that have a neutral B side that can be used for other occasions such as birthdays, etc. This allows me to have just a handful of big rolls that last us years even when using it for just about everything.
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Post by dewryce on Apr 30, 2024 13:20:30 GMT
Daily declutter task from My Simpler Life Declutter Calendar:
Go through small toys or a craft supply pile.
If I don’t have either of these it means I get to just play in my craft room, right? I suppose I could put away from stuff from crafting at my sister’s this past weekend but that doesn’t sound nearly as fun!
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Post by cecilia on May 1, 2024 2:26:46 GMT
Got 5 large totes/boxes of stuff to go to volunteer group yard sale. Deliver it Thursday. Hopefully we can add some more to it. Also hope we don't buy too much to support them more. They are selling plants and baked goods so maybe we will buy some of those instead. www.facebook.com/LoyalLadiesEHC?mibextid=ZbWKwLHere is the link to the group's Facebook page if anyone wants to check it out. It's a "sister group" to the two I am in. (I am in All Things Home and Yes We Can). |
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Post by Linda on May 1, 2024 3:39:05 GMT
Read a couple of books and added to the donation pile.
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Post by dewryce on May 1, 2024 4:24:05 GMT
Another medium sized box of donations added to the car. Made another pass at our cleaning supplies and got rid of around 10. Tried on all of the clothes my sister sent home with me and kept 6 items. 2 are too small right now but I love them, and 1 I exchanged for a similar item I already had because it fit better.
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Post by dewryce on May 1, 2024 18:43:31 GMT
Daily declutter task from My Simpler Life Declutter Calendar:
Go through the play room or hobby room for 15 minutes.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on May 1, 2024 18:46:02 GMT
Go through the play room or hobby room for 15 minutes. 15 minutes? Yeah, that's not happening! Once I get started it's like falling down a dark hole and I'm sucked in for a few hours - and a big mess! |
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Post by dewryce on May 1, 2024 22:25:45 GMT
Go through the play room or hobby room for 15 minutes. 15 minutes? Yeah, that's not happening! Once I get started it's like falling down a dark hole and I'm sucked in for a few hours - and a big mess! Do I remember correctly that you still have one category of fabric to go through? You could set a timer for 15 minutes and start going through it and refolding the fabric. When the timer goes off finish the one you were working on and put the fabric bin back. Once a day for 15 minutes could make a dent. Or, is there a drawer that could use a tidy? A surface to dust? Today I’m not working on regular decluttering, but am decluttering a few small projects. I even fixed some pants before they made it to our project room, that felt good! |
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Post by ntsf on May 2, 2024 1:57:42 GMT
my dd who lives in new zealand is visiting and being a bomb about going through bins of stuff that is hers... and the garbage and recycle bins are full!!!
what she can't take this time, we can take in dec when we fly there with a big luggage allowance.
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,760 
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Post by mich5481 on May 2, 2024 2:11:03 GMT
I cleaned a little more from the pantry and took an entire kitchen trash bag of expired food to the dump. One box of crackers expired in 2022!
I'm trying to clean it out gradually so my mom doesn't freak out when it gets much emptier. We might need to stock up again for the winter (since we usually get snowed in once or twice a year), but we should be good for the summer.
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Post by dewryce on May 2, 2024 11:53:21 GMT
Daily declutter task from My Simpler Life Declutter Calendar:
Sort through one paper pile.
Definitely a declutter task I can work on!
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 2, 2024 12:21:25 GMT
I have a collection of stuff building for the Buy Nothing group but I just haven’t had the time to mess with it at the moment. It’s not in the way of anything though so for now it can sit until we get through the band concert and Thankful Thursday at school and a friend’s birthday party next week. The end of the school year just gets so crazy with all the stuff that happens in May.
This week was consumed by having the solar installed on our house so I ended up sitting around all day keeping my dogs from running out the door the 80 times a day the workers went in and out. 🤦🏻♀️ They’re done now thankfully so I get to play catch up with all the stuff I didn’t do earlier in the week.
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Post by cecilia on May 2, 2024 12:40:43 GMT
Should have taken another load to dumpster. Trash bin is so full we couldn't place 2 or 3 more bags in it. (can only place one extra bag on top of bin, can't place any beside bin unless it's okay county wide by judge due to snow, ice, etc).
Couldn't sleep so I have been up working on trash for next week and going through craft stuff. Behind on films so I need to work on that.
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,760
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Post by mich5481 on May 2, 2024 14:03:57 GMT
dewryce weren't you looking for the printed copies of the SG sketch books? I can't remember which thread you posted that on. Two of them are $5/each for NSD. scrapbookgeneration.com/sales-and-events/national-scrapbook-day/all-day-every-day-deals/5-sg-sketch-books/I may have ordered both of them to get when I'm at their crop in September- they'll hold onto any orders I make until the crop and then have them at my table when I get there. I have another decluttering win in that I came across 3 or 4 glass cut plates in both dinner and salad plate sizes and I decided to donate them. I held onto them in case I decided to have a few people over for a fancy lunch, but I don't host people ever! So score one victory for defeating a fantasy self idea!!
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Post by cecilia on May 2, 2024 19:33:10 GMT
Dropped off donations to yard sale. Now to take a nap and then work some more
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Post by lg on May 3, 2024 1:50:57 GMT
Wish me luck peas…
I just did a quick look through a few places I’ve already decluttered as they need more stock for the market stall I help out on and while I have the opportunity to easily declutter items there I’m going to take it!
I found a collapsible bowl with a crack I’m just going to let go of, a salt pig I never use that I can sell, a platter that can go and then I entered dd’s room….
She is a stash and forget/out of mind out of sight kid and I think she does this with items she doesn’t really want any more but feels guilty about (some were owned by deceased family members or gifts… we all fall into this trap!)
So I went through the random bags and hidden places and put all the items on the kitchen bench. We have a points system for her to do jobs to earn extra cash and I think I’ll try offering her some to help me go through these items. And get them out of the house before dh comes home as he hates clutter but is sentimental and guilts her into keeping things like the glass jewellery tray is her deceased great grandmother or something 🙄 Please note there are some items I will never get rid of/never let her get rid of/will keep to see if she wants later, I do have a heart!
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,760
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Post by mich5481 on May 3, 2024 2:06:06 GMT
Wish me luck peas… I just did a quick look through a few places I’ve already decluttered as they need more stock for the market stall I help out on and while I have the opportunity to easily declutter items there I’m going to take it! I found a collapsible bowl with a crack I’m just going to let go of, a salt pig I never use that I can sell, a platter that can go and then I entered dd’s room…. She is a stash and forget/out of mind out of sight kid and I think she does this with items she doesn’t really want any more but feels guilty about (some were owned by deceased family members or gifts… we all fall into this trap!) So I went through the random bags and hidden places and put all the items on the kitchen bench. We have a points system for her to do jobs to earn extra cash and I think I’ll try offering her some to help me go through these items. And get them out of the house before dh comes home as he hates clutter but is sentimental and guilts her into keeping things like the glass jewellery tray is her deceased great grandmother or something 🙄 Please note there are some items I will never get rid of/never let her get rid of/will keep to see if she wants later, I do have a heart! Good luck! Sentimental clutter is so difficult to deal with! |
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Post by natscraps on May 3, 2024 3:07:26 GMT
Well, in an attempt to find warm weather bottoms for tomorrow in my closet I did some unexpected decluttering. I let go of all the capris and shorts that 12 years ago me loved but 60lbs heavier today me knows I’ll never fit into again.
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Post by dewryce on May 3, 2024 19:51:13 GMT
Daily declutter task from My Simpler Life Declutter Calendar:
Go through 5 file folders.
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Post by lg on May 4, 2024 4:55:18 GMT
The bench is half cleared peas woop woop!!! Still got a large amount of paper related items to sort through but dd has done a great job (has been cursing me to the high heavens the whole time for putting everything in her room on the bench… which I didn’t do… but I did do it without asking first so I’ll weather the proverbial storm!)
So happy I did what I did though as I found sooo many “missing” items, plus putting all 15 of her bound notebooks in one place highlights that she might not need them all!
Also got rid of a few key pieces that were taking up way too much space that she never used which is awesome.
ALSO acknowledged that she doesn’t want to journal or scrapbook any more so her stash of photos, papers and stickers can be merged into my stash instead of taking up a huge space in the craft room (she is always welcome to use my things and has been told as much).
In one fell swoop I think we’ve finished the “30 days” challenge and removed the 465 items or whatever the final number is from the house.
Also, it’s her birthday soon so she’ll be filling her room right back up with more things then 😂
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Post by lg on May 4, 2024 11:01:57 GMT
It’s. All. Done. 😱😮💨
Eight bags and two crates full of items off to the next markets.
I really pushed her to look at the last few items and had to resort to promising to buy her a coffee tomorrow morning if we could finish but we emptied out so much stuff!!!!
I also went through a few more craft items while I was waiting and added them into my “to sell” pile as freebies for lots I currently have listed.
I swear the house just sighed as it just lost about the equivalent of 10 kilos of items in one day 😂
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Post by mikklynn on May 4, 2024 14:20:41 GMT
I started organizing vintage family photos, think early 1900s and on, from my parents. I placed them in sleeves, in 3 ring binders, still in the fancy folders from the photographer. I did this over the winter.
Yesterday I went through and removed about half of the photos from the frames and tosses the frames. The older, fancier ones I cut the "wings" from the frames and tossed. It really reduced the volume in the binders. Then I went through all my moms and my own funeral notices, obituaries, and news articles, along with other misccellaneous paper and added those to the binders with the photos. My plan is to type out how each person is related to us, as well as any memories I have of them. I don't know where the binders will eventually end up when I'm gone, but at least my kids will know who the people are!
I've emptied out 2 boxes and a tote doing this. Oh, and tossed a lot of duplicate stuff!
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on May 4, 2024 14:46:18 GMT
put all the items on the kitchen bench Am I correct in assuming that your 'kitchen bench' is the equivalent of our 'kitchen island'? Because a bench for us is something low that you sit on, and I was marveling at just how big (and strong) that bench must be to hold all that stuff you got out of the house!  . Great job on getting DD to work with you and get rid of so much! |
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Post by alsomsknit on May 4, 2024 15:06:07 GMT
It’s. All. Done. 😱😮💨 Eight bags and two crates full of items off to the next markets. I really pushed her to look at the last few items and had to resort to promising to buy her a coffee tomorrow morning if we could finish but we emptied out so much stuff!!!! I also went through a few more craft items while I was waiting and added them into my “to sell” pile as freebies for lots I currently have listed. I swear the house just sighed as it just lost about the equivalent of 10 kilos of items in one day 😂 Isn’t it fantastic to work through some of this with your child? I love working with my son. Since he is inheriting it all, we work together at times. He helps me let stuff go that I probably wouldn’t under my own guidance. |
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