Deleted
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Oct 8, 2024 16:40:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2014 20:01:37 GMT
Every summer I say I am going to declutter and never seem to get around to it. This summer has been different though! We have actually done a lot around our house. We donated hundreds of books to our local library system. This was 12 book boxes of books and I probably have a couple more boxes to go. We did keep some old favorites, so we are not totally bookless. We donated several bags of clothes to Goodwill and several bags of old sheets to the animal shelter. I still have a long way to go. Dh and I discussed how to move forward with this process once school starts next week. I am ready to live a life without so much stuff. GREAT~~ I tossed, gave away, organized...re-organized my crap room. Bought a bunch of those storage cubes from Recollections/Michael's and if I knew how to post a pic....I would...LOL It seems like sometimes every room is a "crap" room...LOL!    |
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Aug 6, 2014 20:47:08 GMT
I really want to post my success on this thread, but to be honest, the decluttering is not going well at all.  It seems like sometimes every room is a "crap" room...LOL!
Yup, there's a bit of that going on here too. |
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maurchclt
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,646 
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Post by maurchclt on Aug 6, 2014 20:49:21 GMT
I really want to post my success on this thread, but to be honest, the decluttering is not going well at all. Ditto, no cluttering happening here, sigh |
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sakura
Junior Member
Posts: 55
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Post by sakura on Aug 6, 2014 20:53:21 GMT
I have been busy this summer trying to declutter our house. We spent the 4th of July cleaning out and organizing the garage. (DH was thrilled with that idea!  Seeing as he keeps throwing miscellaneous totes in the garage filled with all sorts of stuff, I figured that the only way it was going to get done was if we did it together!) I have also cleaned out a lot of my son's toys and clothes and am slowly but surely working my way through the house. I don't like clutter! |
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Post by shanniebananie on Aug 6, 2014 21:05:05 GMT
Working all the hot spots that have made me crazy all summer - one small counter that is piled with mail, the kids mud room, and the laundry room. Put in about 90 minutes and they are all spotless! Feel so much better! On to my master bath and closet now...
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Post by rumplesnat on Aug 6, 2014 21:09:04 GMT
Baby is coming in November, so since April, we've renovated the attic, remodeled his room, repainted our son's room and are now working on the basement. We've had 2 major trash haul weeks and over a dozen large bags/boxes have gone to Goodwill in the past couple of weeks.
One thing I did last week was grabbed a box and found 50 items to throw away or donate. It sounds difficult, but I did it last year as well, and I bet I could do it again! Unused kitchen utensils, knick knacks that don't have sentimental value, unused linens, etc. It was a fun challenge...and I still have too much stuff!!!
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,792
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Post by purplebee on Aug 6, 2014 23:07:55 GMT
Congrats, Rumple, hope you're taking breaks and resting a bit while working!
And Alibama hope your hubby gets a good report and can lose the neck brace.
Wow! everybody's really getting with it! My problem is that it takes me most of the summer to get motivated. I did start on my craft/scrap/mudroom a week or so ago, and made some definite inroads there. It has become the depository for STUFF. Took a couple of big trashbags full, plus three
big boxes of books and craft supplies to the Salvation Army donation center. Sorted through all of my scrapping junk, got rid of a lot, but managed to find a spark of mojo in the process to start scrapping again. Have good intentions to get more done before school starts on the 18th and I have to go back to work.
I should have had this entire house purged and cleaned, it's not very big, -
(hangs head in shame) but I've had a great summer! Onward and upward ladies, keep on decluttering!
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Post by mama2three on Aug 6, 2014 23:24:40 GMT
Well, I just posted this and half of it didn't show up.
Trying again.
We're in the process of building an addition, so we had to empty the attic, garage, most closets and some cabinets. We've had to move furniture to other rooms and shuffle stuff around the house nearly daily to accommodate the work being done. As a result, there is mess everywhere.
So far this summer I have: Taken a car load of outgrown clothing to a local charity Dropped 2 boxes of books off for the library book sale Given 4 boxes of small toys and stuffed animals to the church for Operation Christmas Child Donated a TV and other electronics Given away a lot of toys and other household items on freecycle purged kitchen cabinets and donated extra items we don't need organized the garage (easy now that it's mostly empty!) Found 2 boxes of old tax records to shred (waiting for a big shredding event as I don't want to do this one page at a time) Boxed up 5 boxes of stuffed animals that will be donated this weekend to a local charity that has requested them (I swear those things multiply in the attic and under beds!) Boxed up 3 boxes of kids books that will hopefully leave the house as part of a Girl Scout silver award project next week or be donated to the library.
There is so much more that I want to sort through and purge, but there is so much mess with everything pulled out and the house being worked on that it's not a satisfying process. Nothing looks clean and neat despite the amount of stuff I have gotten rid of.
I have a lot left to do but it is so hot here that I find it difficult to sort through the boxes. Maybe it will be better this fall once it cools down a bit. We're going to have to repaint and clean every room in the house when the workers are done, and there is no way I'm putting all the stuff back. It has to get pared down some more! I really want to reduce the amount of Christmas stuff we have but I can't reach those boxes at this point. Next step will be purging the filing cabinet since we're running out of space.
Good work everyone. It's great to hear how well everyone is progressing and keeps me focused on trying to get at least a little done at a time.
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Judy26
Pearl Clutcher
MOTFY Bitchy Nursemaid
Posts: 2,971
Location: NW PA
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Post by Judy26 on Aug 6, 2014 23:45:22 GMT
This has been apretty good summer for decluttering because:
1. The weather has sucked
2. DH spends most of his time at the river so he's not here making messes.
3. We didn't go on any vacations.
4. Kids are huge at helping me with the heavy stuff.
I did the garage, the shed, the finished basement and the yard (moving/removing shrubs and trees, etc.). I completely gutted DS's room and got new furniture to give him more storage. I went through all of my books and craft supplies and donated much of it. I still need to do the storage part of the basement. DS is building me a huge wall of shelving in the garage to hold plastic bins of seasonal stuff and other household paraphernalia. I doubt I'll be done by the time school starts but I can do the rest in bits and pieces.
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twilight
New Member
Posts: 3
Jul 10, 2014 15:40:07 GMT
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Post by twilight on Aug 7, 2014 13:15:21 GMT
I need to work on my garage, too. Every morning while I let the dogs out, I look around and either throw something out or put something back where it belongs. Sometimes it just needs to be put in its proper place in the garage, other times it needs to go back in the house. Once I get all the 'extra' stuff taken care of, I will empty out the garage, sweep the floors, get rid of the cobwebs and put things back.
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Post by juliet on Aug 7, 2014 14:23:32 GMT
So far: - my scrapbook-nook decluttered - all the baby clothes from DS2 (11 months) sorted and put away. Left with a large bag for donation, just have to drop that off. - purged all toys (afterwards I had one crate of stuff that can be tossed, need to get rid of that) - did ALL the admin and taxes. Tossed tons of paperwork. We just heard yesterday that in October all of our flooring has to come out and be replaced. Our dishwasher had a malfunction and leaked....the whole floor is ruined.  So I have until October to declutter our first floor (kitchen, living room, two hallways. office). That's not a huge task, so I don't mind. |
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Post by gailoh on Aug 7, 2014 15:04:28 GMT
Oh how I need to do this...I have good intentions to do this but get so worn out during the day to even start.
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Aug 7, 2014 15:59:15 GMT
Finally making some progress today. It's just paperwork and junk mail, but it's clutter and it's gone now.  |
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Post by mama2three on Aug 7, 2014 16:14:56 GMT
I just went through a file box of papers and threw out 75% of it. It doesn't seem like a lot given the amount of paper I still have to sort through, but at least it's something.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 8, 2024 16:40:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2014 12:48:04 GMT
I thought I'd update with what I've been doing this weekend, maybe we can keep this thread going
I tackled my bedroom yesterday. Cleaned out both closets, every drawer (they look so empty now!) I even moved all the furniture so I could vacuum underneath and around all the baseboards. It's so nice having everything organized. I got rid of about 2 big boxes of misc stuff (you know all that crap you throw in drawers thinking you might use it at some point?)
The rest of the weekend I'm doing the office. That will take longer because I have a lot of paperwork to go through and stuff to shred. I also want to continue scanning old stuff I want to keep a record of, but don't want the original. That I can do as I'm cleaning in there,
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Post by bingcherry on Aug 9, 2014 13:08:53 GMT
I've spent the past 4 days scanning old photos of my DD and organizing them. It took forever but I'm so happy to cross that task off my list. I also managed to clean and organize my scraproom. I bought a new desk/table and one of the tall Alex drawers from Ikea. It looks so good in there. I also spent some time cleaning out our office nook.
I had high hopes of finishing a few more tasks before school starts but I don't think I'll get to everything.
Still to do:
Clean and organize the pantry
Clean out the laundry room closet (has a bunch of unused kitchen gadgets)
Clean DD's room (will do this once school starts and she is gone)
Clean my closet
List a bunch of old furniture on Facebook
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Post by sweetshabbyroses on Aug 9, 2014 13:13:32 GMT
I have tons of scrapbook stuff I need to get rid of...........I was once a Creative Memories consultant......what are these FB swaps you all are talking about? Would someone please point me in the right direction.............I want this stuff out of here!
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
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Post by scrappington on Aug 9, 2014 13:39:17 GMT
When I moved 2 years ago I had a huge yard sale and then got a garbage bin. That helped. My late husband was a pack rat. Now I have donated 3 bags of clothes. Constantly throwing out. And funny my house is now double the size. Ihave storage now but have done well . Still have some stuff to go thru like my kitchen. But that's a huge procrastination for me.
It feels good to purge, except sb supplies. Those I keep. Lol
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Post by txdancermom on Aug 9, 2014 13:54:38 GMT
dd has done a lot in her room while she has been home this week - she took a car load of stuff to donate, I keep finding more, and have another pile started. I really need to get into my closet and clean it out, just seems like I have had no time or energy to do it.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 8, 2024 16:40:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2014 13:59:39 GMT
I have tons of scrapbook stuff I need to get rid of...........I was once a Creative Memories consultant......what are these FB swaps you all are talking about? Would someone please point me in the right direction.............I want this stuff out of here! This is the one I've used to very successfully get rid of most of my stuff: www.facebook.com/groups/384633068314625/ |
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,402
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Aug 9, 2014 14:02:20 GMT
I took 12 bags of unwanted stuff to the tip yesterday. Opens at 10 am, and those of us who arrived early queued patiently, waiting for the gates to open. By 10am there were at least 20 cars snaking up the hill, manifestly waiting to go into the tip. Up the hill comes Jack the lad, and tries to turn right into the entrance, just as the gates were opening. The sound of 20+ car horns going of in unison is pretty loud, I can tell you. The man was nearly lynched by the drivers of the first two cars. He saw the error of his ways. Some people have such an air of entitlement about them.
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 9, 2014 14:43:29 GMT
HOW DAMN BIG ARE YOUR HOUSES THAT YOU HAVE THIS MUCH TO GET RID OF?? I can't imagine having ONE bag of old sheets to give away much less SEVERAL!!! Granted, we have too much crap and I'm always trying to rid the house of things just like anyone else, but really! 15 TOTES? Who ARE you people?  This made me LOL but storage and living space are 2 very different things. Our last house was 1000 sq ft smaller than this one but had an attic that held a ton. We didn't get rid of stuff if we had a place to store it. Going through a couple of moves has made me ruthless about what I keep. Houses here have no storage space and I refuse to rent a storage locker. Twice a year the kids & I go through their rooms and get rid of all clothes that don't fit or they don't like - only what they use gets to stay. |
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MrsDepp
Full Member
Refupea #2341
Posts: 477
Jun 30, 2014 18:36:02 GMT
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Post by MrsDepp on Aug 9, 2014 15:38:14 GMT
Better for me this year... I still have tons to go. I tend to have de cluttering moods... The days I feel it. I go all day (about 12 hours). Those days are few. Then I'll go weeks without doing anything. But I have had a few interruptions family members in the hospital, my own illness, and deaths of both family and friends I really need to be more diligent at it. We are wanting to get into a new home soon.
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Post by PEArfect on Aug 9, 2014 16:57:50 GMT
Still a work in progress. I've been debating about a garage sale for months. I just don't feel that it's worth the added stress and work. Most of what I have left to purge has been saved for a future garage sale. Now I'm thinking about listing the higher priced items on an online garage sale and donating the rest. It might be easier.
My daughters and I have a good system worked out for their clothing. Oldest gives her clothes to middle daughter. Middle daughter passes hers onto younger daughter. I store the clothes that are to large for her in bins and put them on the top shelf of her closet. Then as she outgrows her clothes I take them to the resale shop. Whatever they don't want I pass on to two different friends. I took a small laundry basket of clothes to the resale shop and they gave me $60 for about half of the clothes in it. Not bad for something that was just sitting around the house.
I have a few painting projects I want to finish too.
Plus printing off and organizing photos. This will be time consuming! I have thousands of photos to go through. I need to do it though. All three daughters have been asking me to print off photos of them with their dad so they can hang them up in their rooms.
I need to finish going through areas of our garage and basement. It's hard. Most of it belonged to my husband.
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Madi & Me
Full Member
Posts: 248
Jun 25, 2014 22:20:27 GMT
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Post by Madi & Me on Aug 9, 2014 17:34:44 GMT
Approximately seven hours of work over two days total...and my daughter's room is entirely organized! I absolutely love what I've done with it. We donated about five garbage bags of toys and clothes and tossed about four bags of useless things. I gave her my Expedit desk and used colorful Dollar Tree bins to organize her toys in the cubes. The top two cubes are strictly school supplies only (I stocked up while they are on sale). I finally moved my things out of her dresser and moved her clothes from a Rubbermaid drawer container into her dresser. That was an emotional task as her dresser was filled with sentimental items from her first few years - handprints, baby hats, photos, tutus from each birthday outfit, special toys she loved as an infant, etc. Healthy tears rolled as I sorted her things and reflected on the last five years. I'm very proud of myself for letting go of a lot of things. We are moving forward in life and this is all a part of the process. Madison is ecstatic with her new "big girl" room and she couldn't be happier with her desk. We still need to buy her a new mattress (and subsequent Frozen bedding  ) and I'm on the hunt for a large whiteboard magnetic calendar to hang above her desk. Two days ago, I was a bundle of nerves, drowning in a sea of minuscule size toys by the hundreds...and now, we are laying in her room reading books from my childhood. My mom gave me a box of my favorite books from my childhood and now they are in my daughter's hands, yellowed and fragile but so so loved and appreciated! |
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Post by donna on Aug 9, 2014 18:18:11 GMT
I love the idea of keeping this thread going!
I cleaned out two cabinets in my kitchen this week. One held all of my Pampered Chef stoneware still in their original boxes. I got rid of the boxes and then rearranged the shelf in their so that I could finally use the wooden rack I had bought over 10 years ago to store the stoneware upright.
The other cabinet had a huge Oster mixer and all of its pieces. I had held onto it even though I have a Kitchen Aid mixer because of the dough hooks. I recently realized I can do everything with my KA that I needed the dough hooks for so I am donating the Oster mixer. This freed up a lot of cabinet space!
I used some of the vacuum seal bags to store some unused bedding so my linen closet looks so much better!
I need to keep some forward movement going even though I go back to work on Monday. I am liking how my house is starting to look!
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Post by chlerbie on Aug 9, 2014 19:02:00 GMT
It's a work in progress for me. I do little areas at a time and got rid of a bunch of kitchen stuff that I never use and two big bags of clothes. Gave away a bunch of cookbooks on Freecycle and cleaned out all of my bedroom drawers. A lot more to go, but I'm happy that things are clearer.
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Post by christaw on Aug 9, 2014 20:04:05 GMT
I've been working on my scrapbook/craft room (going to be just basic crafts when I'm done). I've moved a LOT of big stuff out and it feels so much more roomy but if you stand back and look from the door with fresh eyes, it still feels like a lot of crap is in there I have moved some bigger things out of my living room too. As an incentive I'm selling lots of stuff on facebook swap groups and taking that cash and putting it towards paying off my house. It's working well. What a wonderful idea!!! I think this is what I am going to do too!!! |
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Post by whipea on Aug 9, 2014 20:26:51 GMT
I have spent tons of time decluttering and purging, but unfortunately it is just in my mind. I have a ten day break from work coming up and that is my goal, the big clean-out.
Wish we could do a yard sale, but not allowed in my neighborhood. May see if a friend is interested and we could hold one at their place where yard sales are allowed. Also have to wait until the winter, too hot now. Will be listing a few bigger items on Craigs list and taking trips to Goodwill during the break. I cannot wait to be free of stuff.
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Post by donna on Aug 10, 2014 18:10:29 GMT
We did a lot of projects yesterday.
1. We removed the door to the part of the master bath that has the toilet and shower in it. That door has bugged me for almost 11 years. Since I had one of those over-the-door towels bars on the door we bought some hooks to hang on the wall for my towels. The room looks so much better!
2. We moved the two white bookcases from our bedroom (since I donated all of the books on them) down to the kitchen to put my cookbooks on them. My cookbooks had been in 2 different places. OMG! I have way too many cookbooks. Now that they are all in the same place I either need to use them or donate them.
3. The small white bookcase that was in the kitchen became my new bedside table. This is going to work so much better than the nightstand I was using.
4. DH just got back from Lowes with some closetmaid stuff to hang a better system in his part of the closet.
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Seeing as he keeps throwing miscellaneous totes in the garage filled with all sorts of stuff, I figured that the only way it was going to get done was if we did it together!) I have also cleaned out a lot of my son's toys and clothes and am slowly but surely working my way through the house. I don't like clutter!
) and I'm on the hunt for a large whiteboard magnetic calendar to hang above her desk. 
