Organization 2010 - January/family room

[BernardandMissBianca]

It's been 2 year since we've done this. Time for a refresher course!

Ok I found my paper. This is from a magazine I bought several years ago. This was written by Franny van Nevel in Woman's Day 1/2/01

Goal: Find the remote! or in my house the remoteSSSSS

Declutter:
- Recycle old magazines, flyers, mail order catalogs. Sort the rest.
- Cull piles of photos- separate the good, the bad, and the ugly. Toss the bad. share duplicates with friends and family. Set aside the rest for now.
- Go through CD's, videos, books. Create piles for keepers, loaner-returners, donation or resale.
- Paw through the stacks of games and toys; collect missing pieces and put them in appropriate boxes. Create stacks to donate, to toss, to store elsewhere and to keep in the family room. Donate what you can't use. like our 1000 different Monopoly games
- Start inventory list of model and serial numbers for your TV, stereo, VCR, DVD player, etc., for your homeowners insurance.


Clean:
-Vacuum and clean floor, walls, bookshelves, entertainment centers, windowsills, mini blinds, and ceiling fans.
- Dry clean or launder drapes, throws, and area rugs. If possible, switch sides when rehanging drapes to minimize sun damage.
-Spot clean sofas; vacuum cushions and sofa base; flip and rotate cushions. Dig down the sides for lost coins Hey for those saving for big trips this is good and writing instruments and don't forget food -blech

Maintain:
-Choose a drawer or find a basket to hold remotes. Or attach infrequently used remotes to components with Velcro.
-Buy acid free photo boxes or albums for pictures. Spend 1/2 an hour a week arranging albums. Obviously written before the scrapbook obsession took hold LOL
- Designate a basket or box to hold on-load tapes, books, videos. Write return dates on the calendar.
-Initiate weekly 5 minute cleanups with family members( ) to keep things moving toward their designated spaces.
-Once organized take a photo or videotape of the room to keep with your home inventory list.

Daily Task
Jan 1 - transfer all appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, and automatic payment schedules into your 2010 calendar
Jan 2 - Write down all of your Goals and plans for the year. Break them down into steps that a required to complete them.
Jan 3 - Start planning your vacation for the year. The sooner you start planning, the sooner you can start saving.
Jan 4 - look for inexpensive family entertainment. Example - movies and books at the library.
Jan 5 - Tackle junk drawers - one day at a time, sort through one drawer at a time. Add trays to keep things organized.
Jan 6 - Call energy provider and schedule an energy audit for your home.
Jan 7- Start planning holidays for 2010 now. Plan to do a little bit each week.
Jan 8 - Inventory emergency supplies for your car. Scrapper, brush, flashlight and batteries, blanket, small shovel, first ad kit, tool kit, water, sand for traction.
Jan 9- Home maintenance - new furnace filter, water heater check, clean humidifiers and check filters, test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Jan 10 - End of year accounting. Gather file tax paperwork, donation receipts, home improvement receipts, papers if you purchased a new car, etc.
Jan 11- Set up files for new year. Include a file for 2010 taxes and receipts
Jan 12 - REplace shelf paper and drawer liners
Jan 13 - Go through house and tighten screws on doors, drawers, and furniture. Carry a note pad to list minor repairs that need to be done. Note and supplies needed. Take one trip to the hardware store and have all of your supplies handy when you go to do the work.
Jan 14 - Take advantage of sales and purchase new linens and bedding, gym equipment, storage containers.
Jan 15 - Clean your range hood filter.
Jan 16 - Clean faucet aerators and turn on indoor faucets that don't get used much.
Jan 17 - check fire extinguishers and recharge if necessary. Be sure you have the appropriate extinguishers in kitchen, garage, and basement
Jan 18 - Start planning spring garden now. Start seeds
Jan 19 - Day to rest
Jan 20 - Research Martin Luther King
Jan 21 - Go through medicine cabinet and remove all expired meds
Jan 22 - Picnic in the living room
Jan 23 - Clean out freezer, toss old food. Inventory the rest and work it into meal planning
Jan 24 - Go through Magazines. Tear out articles of interest and place them in sheet protectors in a binder, toss the rest
Jan 25 - Clean one more shelf in your pantry
Jan 26 - Call and schedule for oil change, check antifreeze if you live in cold areas
Jan 27 - Get caught up in your correspondence. Write thank you notes and surprise a friend with a hand written letter
Jan 28 - Order pizza and have a pizza party!
Jan 29 - Deadline for W-2 forms are upon us. Start gathering tax papers and set appointment, even if you do your own taxes.
Jan 30 - Double check Feb calendar for upcoming events
Jan 31- Review resolutions and make adjustments

February - home office/scrap room
March - Basement
April - living Room
May - Attic
June - Dining Room
July - Bathrooms
August - Bedrooms
September - Garage
October - Closets
November - Kitchen
December - Laundry Center

[cbmstephanie]

Just want to make sure I understand this.
Are you doing a project of a different room each month for 2010? With the first room being the family room and we should do these steps?

If so, this is right up my ally and I promise to follow thru till 2011....I so need some organization, cleaning, all of that stuff in my life this year!

[BernardandMissBianca]

Yes, it's a full year, starting in January with the family room. Some months you may not have a room (like the office) so you can maintain, pick a different room not on the list or take the month off.
Start with the decluttering part, then the clean, and wrap up with the maintaining.

I'll edit the first post in a minute with the rooms for the year (DD woke up and needs me :) )

[MazdaUK]

We've gone a bit crazy and done both DS's rooms and one side of the conservatory - couldn't get to the other yet as the bikes were still there from the garage because it was full of stuff sorted for charity shop/dump:rotfl:

We've already repainted DS(10)'s bedroom as a practice for DS(16)'s bigger room. We're going to have a bed recycling - DS16's high bed is going to DBIL for DNEph(13), DS(10) is getting DNeph's cabin bed and DS16 is getting a new bed and a new wardrobe, work station and possibly chest of drawers (because I want his for my room because the one I have is gross and the drawers stick:rolleyes:)

So even before Jan we have one repainted room, two carloads of stuff junked and I can walk through the conservatory without treading on bits of plastic:goodvibes

[DisneyIsTerrific]

I want in!!! This sounds like a great way to get things organized and clean around here.

[PrincessNancy96]

I'm in! Plan on working on this exact task the Monday the kids return to school! The decorations will all be put away and the room will be fairly empty!!!

This will also help w/ the remodeling/repainting we have to have done by May 15th!!!

[donac]

This is something that I have wanted to do. Dh started painting the living room in Nov and clean and threw things out as he was working. It was great and looked wonderful when he was finished. I want the rest of the house to look that great.

I'm in

[BernardandMissBianca]

I'm also going to add a daily task to the main post that I got off of 2peas.

[rlovew]

I am in- once we arrive home- I will be a few days behind at first but I should be able to catch up in a week or 2.

Rebecca

[lovingthemouse]

Ok, I am so into the room a month club, but a daily task???? I have enough trouble teaching, coming home, getting things done without more Buffy. I will read what you're suggesting but may have to stick with that room per month.
Hoping to sell this huge house in the next yr or so, and this is one way to stay on top of the situation. Thanks, I think!!:confused3

[vanyel]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/happinessproject/default.aspx

Not trying to hijack the organization thread but saw this and found it interesting. It has the same theory - tackle one area a month for 2010 but not in your home.

"Each month, I’ll propose an area of life to tackle for your happiness project. Each week, I’ll suggest one or two simple, manageable resolutions to consider (in fact, you may find some of them laughably manageable -- but they all worked to boost my happiness). Of course, every happiness project is different, and I’m just throwing out some ideas. Your happiness project will look very different from mine.

Categories:
• January--Energy
• February--Love
• March--Work
• April--Money
• May--Mindfulness
• June--Order
• July--Spirit
• August--Fun
• September--Family
• October--Friends
• November--Attitude
• December--Boot Camp Perfect"

[tinkryansmom]

I'm in!!!

Can't wait for school to start!!

[BernardandMissBianca]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/happinessproject/default.aspx

Not trying to hijack the organization thread but saw this and found it interesting. It has the same theory - tackle one area a month for 2010 but not in your home.

"Each month, I’ll propose an area of life to tackle for your happiness project. Each week, I’ll suggest one or two simple, manageable resolutions to consider (in fact, you may find some of them laughably manageable -- but they all worked to boost my happiness). Of course, every happiness project is different, and I’m just throwing out some ideas. Your happiness project will look very different from mine.

Categories:
• January--Energy
• February--Love
• March--Work
• April--Money
• May--Mindfulness
• June--Order
• July--Spirit
• August--Fun
• September--Family
• October--Friends
• November--Attitude
• December--Boot Camp Perfect"

Oh, I like this idea. We can definitely incorporate that!
did you join?

[BernardandMissBianca]

Ok, I am so into the room a month club, but a daily task???? I have enough trouble teaching, coming home, getting things done without more Buffy. I will read what you're suggesting but may have to stick with that room per month.
Hoping to sell this huge house in the next yr or so, and this is one way to stay on top of the situation. Thanks, I think!!:confused3

the daily task is pretty easy Caroline but you don't have to do it, if you don't want to. Some are actually lumped in with the room a month club.

[New England Eeyore]

I'm in. I really did a good job last year with the de-cluttering, so this year it should be mainly about maintaining, except for a few "hot spots." I can tell you right now March won't be pretty.

[vanyel]

Oh, I like this idea. We can definitely incorporate that!
did you join?

I'm thinking about it. I've spent this week cleaning out closets, boxes and my craft room and feel like my house is in good shape. It's my life I need to worry about :)

I had 3 bags of garbage, 6 bags of paper/plastic for the recycling bin, 3 bags for goodwill, 2 bags of books for a local book sale, and a bag of scrap/craft stuff for a friend's kids when I finished clearing out the craft room. I feel great!

[BernardandMissBianca]

I'm thinking about it. I've spent this week cleaning out closets, boxes and my craft room and feel like my house is in good shape. It's my life I need to worry about :)

I had 3 bags of garbage, 6 bags of paper/plastic for the recycling bin, 3 bags for goodwill, 2 bags of books for a local book sale, and a bag of scrap/craft stuff for a friend's kids when I finished clearing out the craft room. I feel great!

It's weird I feel very liberated when we get a dumpster. LOL

It's time to do it again.

[ddavis860]

It is so liberating when you let go of stuff! My 2 DS's are great at seeing stuff for what it is. I love it when they help me purge!

I'm in! I did it 2 years ago, and I need to have another go at it!

Thanks Buffy for posting this again!

[BernardandMissBianca]

I'm the only pitcher in this house. Everyone else hoards stuff!!! I wish they would help me purge.

[funkychunkymonkey]

I want to join. I havent gotten on a good cleaning jag in awile. My problem is that i clean the living room but then I get hooked and move all the funiture. I want to orgizie the living room but I cant take down the tree yet since mom has my bucket. Im excited to get my new baskets for under my coffee table too (which will hold toys and books for guest children). Can we post our room issue and get help?
My room issues: I have a grey vinyl chair that I love the style of and hate the color, how do I change it? Problem 2: I have a ugly green furry rug,it looks like someone flatened the grinch. I love the rug, hate the green. Could I dye it?

[BernardandMissBianca]

well short of reupholstering the chair, I'm not sure how to help.

what is the rug made out of?

[cbmstephanie]

I want to join. I havent gotten on a good cleaning jag in awile. My problem is that i clean the living room but then I get hooked and move all the funiture. I want to orgizie the living room but I cant take down the tree yet since mom has my bucket. Im excited to get my new baskets for under my coffee table too (which will hold toys and books for guest children). Can we post our room issue and get help?
My room issues: I have a grey vinyl chair that I love the style of and hate the color, how do I change it? Problem 2: I have a ugly green furry rug,it looks like someone flatened the grinch. I love the rug, hate the green. Could I dye it?

Have you tried a slipcover for the chair? They are much nicer than they used to be and will actually stay on.

[funkychunkymonkey]

Have you tried a slipcover for the chair? They are much nicer than they used to be and will actually stay on.

Slipcovers wouldnt work, its the wrong kind of chair for one to fit. I was thinking of reupostlering it. THe rug I think is a cotton/poly blend but its like fur sort of a shag rug. I bought it at target in the college isle like 3 years ago.

[PrincessNancy96]

My family/living room is complete!! Swept, dusted, cleaned, cleaned, cleaned!!! Jan 1 and my task is complete!!! Yay!

Found on Christmas Tree album too.. I need to complete the page for this year and that book will be current!

[rgrutland]

Count me in!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE to get rid of things & organize, but I am not always that organized with doing it!! :lmao:
I run a bi-annual children's consignment sale so I sell all of the kids unused things to earn some extra money for out Disney trips! This will be a good way to help me organize for the upcoming season of sales!
I will definitely be following along with this thread! :thumbsup2
Robyn

[BernardandMissBianca]

Welcome aboard Robin!

[BernardandMissBianca]

My family/living room is complete!! Swept, dusted, cleaned, cleaned, cleaned!!! Jan 1 and my task is complete!!! Yay!

Found on Christmas Tree album too.. I need to complete the page for this year and that book will be current!
over achiever!

[ddavis860]

My family/living room is complete!! Swept, dusted, cleaned, cleaned, cleaned!!! Jan 1 and my task is complete!!! Yay!

Found on Christmas Tree album too.. I need to complete the page for this year and that book will be current!

I'm behind already!

STOMP, STOMP, STOMP...SLAM :snooty:

[joyah]

well I thought i'd at least attempt a start on the living room, instead i spent the WHOLE day on the scrap side of the office/guest/scrap room. Tomorrows chore will be the office side of the room a MUCh smaller area. and then i will haul all the xmas boxes to the living room. Tom has to be here to help I can not do our tree alone. Boys were usless today. I want the bulk of everything gone before i go back to work. He can clean out the tree on monday when were all gone, since it usually involves a chainsaw.

While cleaning from xmas I will hopefully have the living room finished no later than the 9th/10th.

[funkychunkymonkey]

so how do you store VHS tapes? I have a huge collection and no space on the tv stand.

Today I:
Did the declutter
Vaccumed and cleaned
Spot cleaned
Orgizined all photos to the drawer in the guest room
took the tree back to the guest room (to await its box)

I have to:
Clean the loveseat cover, blankets and pillow collection
Hang the picture from above the couch that CRASHED!

[Disneymommy2006]

Count me in!!!!!!!!!!!

[BernardandMissBianca]

Welcome aboard Lisa!!!

[BernardandMissBianca]

Today is Declutter day at Casa de la Blink!

I can't stand the mess!!! I'm also going to audit DD's toys. She got a bunch of new stuff for Xmas so the babyish toys need to go!!!

[BernardandMissBianca]

so how do you store VHS tapes? I have a huge collection and no space on the tv stand.


Do you have a cabinet or any wall space were you can store them?
I bought a mission style VHS/DVD cabinet from Sears a few years ago.

Have you weeded out ones that you no longer want?
How many do you have duplicates of or you have a second copy on DVD?

[BernardandMissBianca]

Daily Task is up for yesterday and today. Sorry I forgot!

[rlovew]

I did Jan 3rds task already!

Rebecca

[funkychunkymonkey]

Do you have a cabinet or any wall space were you can store them?
I bought a mission style VHS/DVD cabinet from Sears a few years ago.

Have you weeded out ones that you no longer want?
How many do you have duplicates of or you have a second copy on DVD?

The cabinet this is my main isssue. I dont have the room for one in my tiny living room. Im thinking I might build a box and shove them under my end table. I have gone through them. Im down to what I want. No duplicates cause I donated them all to my daycare.

[joyah]

Well the tree is finally out and the furniture is rearranged. I have vac'd and mopped and gotten rid of christmas. The stairs and the shelf over the window will be the next project on my to do list. I still need to wash the curtians then that room will be done.

Right now I have to find my table so we can get ready for dinner and back to school and new job for me.

Good job cleaning everyone.

[BernardandMissBianca]

de-clutter has commenced. DH needs to work on his stuff on Friday. I went through DD's toys, man she had some serious My Little Pony duplicates from McDonalds!

[cbmstephanie]

I took down the Christmas Decor yesterday so I am ready to get a move on cleaning the family room. Thanks for the daily list...I'm a few days behind, but I'm sure I can catch up!

[Piglet18]

Hey, can I join too? I just found this and am a little behind, but hoping to catch up this coming weekend. I like the room a month for sure... Daily tasks will probably end up being "weekend tasks" for me, but I shall try.

[BernardandMissBianca]

You sure can join! the more the merrier!

Daily task has been updated through 1/9. Some of these are really important for those who live in the north so please read carefully!

[lisah0711]

I'm in! (Even though I'm still a little scared about tackling my two biggest rooms right off the bat! :scared1: I need to push myself out of my comfort zone! :laughing:)

DH will be out of town this week-end so I will catchup on the daily tasks then!

Thanks, Buffy, for telling us about this thread and organizing it! :goodvibes

[BernardandMissBianca]

Glad you could join us Lisa! I'll post a new one every month so keep checking back. Or I can post on the BL9 thread when a new one comes up.

Just remember when you get those 2 rooms done the rest is easy peasy lemon squeezy!

[New England Eeyore]

Couldn't resist:


Daily Task

Jan 8 - Inventory emergency supplies for your car. Scrapper, brush, flashlight and batteries, blanket, small shovel, first ad kit, tool kit, water, sand for traction.


I like to keep my scrappy friends close, but this is a little cruel, don't ya think? ;)

[BernardandMissBianca]

Couldn't resist:



I like to keep my scrappy friends close, but this is a little cruel, don't ya think? ;)



OOPS!!! MY bad!!! :rotfl2:

[PrincessNancy96]

Originally Posted by BernardandMissBianca
Daily Task

Jan 8 - Inventory emergency supplies for your car. Scrapper, brush, flashlight and batteries, blanket, small shovel, first ad kit, tool kit, water, sand for traction.


I read it twice and missed that!!!! Have funny! Buffy is on a roll! ;)

[PrincessNancy96]

Although DH said that if we were smart to weight down the cars during the winter months it would be easier just to haul all that "scapper" stuff out to the car and it'd be weighted down enough!

[BernardandMissBianca]

uh, yeah!!! paper weighs a ton!!

I like his thinking!!

[PrincessNancy96]

The way I see it.. if I store everything in the car... than he would have no clue when I added to the collection, right???? He sees it as smart, I see it as even smarter for me! LOL

[BernardandMissBianca]

:rotfl2::rotfl2: :idea:

[ddavis860]

Is it possible to sticky this thread and Hopes thread? They keep dropping down the list if no one posts...

[funkychunkymonkey]

all my junk drawers are in my kitchen cant I clean them when I do the kitchen? Please??/ I dont wanna clean anymore. I did every room today (minus the guest/junk/scraping/craft/office/ dumping ground)

[Piglet18]

It is taking me days just to go through my magazines as part of the decluttering! But I am about half done now. I want to finish and do the cleaning today, since I have family coming next weekend. Then I will finish the rest of the decluttering I think.

[BernardandMissBianca]

Is it possible to sticky this thread and Hopes thread? They keep dropping down the list if no one posts...

sure can, I'll do it now.

[lisah0711]

Daily Task
Jan 1 - transfer all appointments, birthdays, anniversaries, and automatic payment schedules into your 2010 calendar -- Done! Thank you Google calendar!
Jan 2 - Write down all of your Goals and plans for the year. Break them down into steps that a required to complete them.Done! Thank you Biggest Loser Challenge!
Jan 3 - Start planning your vacation for the year. The sooner you start planning, the sooner you can start saving.Done! Thank you DVC!
Jan 4 - look for inexpensive family entertainment. Example - movies and books at the library.Done! Library has a bunch of great stuff and now DS 10 can appreciate the wonders of the VHS tape! :lmao:
Jan 5 - Tackle junk drawers - one day at a time, sort through one drawer at a time. Add trays to keep things organized. Done! I only have one junk drawer so it wasn't too bad!
Jan 6 - Call energy provider and schedule an energy audit for your home.Done! Did this a couple of years ago and are almost done replacing windows. Did you know that you can get credit on your energy bill for things like new furnaces and windows?:confused3 Every little bit helps!
Jan 7- Start planning holidays for 2010 now. Plan to do a little bit each week.Done! It will be simple just like 2009!
Jan 8 - Inventory emergency supplies for your car. Scrapper, brush, flashlight and batteries, blanket, small shovel, first ad kit, tool kit, water, sand for traction.Need to work on this one
Jan 9- Home maintenance - new furnace filter, water heater check, clean humidifiers and check filters, test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.Done! DH did this before he left this week-end!


Okay! I'm ready for a big clean in the family room next week-end and caught up with those daily tasks -- for the most part.

Just remember when you get those 2 rooms done the rest is easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Yep! That's what I keep telling myself "easy peasy lemon squeezy!" ::sunny::

[Piglet18]

Okay, so I tackled the living room last night! I took everything apart, including all those drawers, vacuumed, washed walls, everything. So today I am doing laundry and finishing going through those magazines (I had cupboards full in the living room; I'm over half done now though). Luckily for me, my tv and everything like that is all in the basement, so I can wait to do that until I get to that room. I also realize I have a lot of knickknacks; I want to get rid of them, but since I am having a yard sale this summer I will wait until then - finding place to store boxes is actually more of a concern than storing the knickknacks on display where they are now.

[BernardandMissBianca]

all my junk drawers are in my kitchen cant I clean them when I do the kitchen? Please??/ I dont wanna clean anymore. I did every room today (minus the guest/junk/scraping/craft/office/ dumping ground)

That's fine. I know the lists contradict themselves at some point.
All I'm focusing on is laundry today!

Okay, so I tackled the living room last night! I took everything apart, including all those drawers, vacuumed, washed walls, everything. So today I am doing laundry and finishing going through those magazines (I had cupboards full in the living room; I'm over half done now though). Luckily for me, my tv and everything like that is all in the basement, so I can wait to do that until I get to that room. I also realize I have a lot of knickknacks; I want to get rid of them, but since I am having a yard sale this summer I will wait until then - finding place to store boxes is actually more of a concern than storing the knickknacks on display where they are now.

Great job!!
Could you rent a small storage unit to store the boxes as you work through the rooms? Then when it's time for the sale your items will all be in one place and all you have to do is price and display.

[BernardandMissBianca]

Okay! I'm ready for a big clean in the family room next week-end and caught up with those daily tasks -- for the most part.



AWESOME!!!! You are really on a roll!
I'm adding next weeks daily tasks now.

[Piglet18]

Great job!!
Could you rent a small storage unit to store the boxes as you work through the rooms? Then when it's time for the sale your items will all be in one place and all you have to do is price and display.

I would love to be able to, but unfortunately $ is pretty tight right now. I packed some into boxes in the garage, but that is getting full now too. I think I will just have to wait. Fabulous idea though - if it works out, I definitely will do that!

[Piglet18]

I don't mean to be whiny, but I was just wondering if people are still doing this, since it doesn't get posted to as much as it did right off the bat. I am guilty too, and no worries, I know we are all super busy all the time, I was just wondering.

[AlexWyattMommy]

;) We all ditched and are leaving you with the maid's bill.



Sorry, my bad. :flower3: I do need to do this. I haven't even begun and the month is more than half over.

Need to do my scrap room too.

Anyone want to come over and help?

[rlovew]

I didn't expect to get to this at all this month and I haven't - we have been away over half the month and are headed out for half of next week. Jan and June are my worst months for doing anything as I seem to be away a lot in both months.

Rebecca

[lisah0711]

I'm still plugging away bit by bit. I think I will be done by the end of the month but some of that depends on whether I can shake this bad asthma I've had all week. As Scarlett O'Hara would say, tomorrow is another day! :flower3:

[hopemax]

I'll probably be joining in this challenge in later months. But being in the house is so new, that we haven't had time to mess the family room up. Everything was washed and painted in Nov. I did have a couple boxes that needed unpacking, and I got that finished.

[BernardandMissBianca]

I don't mean to be whiny, but I was just wondering if people are still doing this, since it doesn't get posted to as much as it did right off the bat. I am guilty too, and no worries, I know we are all super busy all the time, I was just wondering.

still plugging away too. I need to add this weeks daily task but I've been really busy. I will add them tonight.

[New England Eeyore]

I don't really have to do the living room as posted, as that is in good shape, but I have been working on home organization in general over the past few weeks. I made a list of all the "hot-spots" in the house - drawers, closets, etc - and I've been doing one each day off - much more manageable that way.

[4 Ears]

You make want to check out other threads. Over on the Budget Board there is a pretty active Destashing thread. It is called who is Destashing in 2010http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2361070 Hope this works, never done it before. If not, hey I tried :goodvibes

[BernardandMissBianca]

Daily task is up for the rest of the month!

[YodasMom]

This is all I'm doing other than my regular life activities until I'm satisfied with my organization at home (no swapping, no scrapping, no buying scrap items, and no desire to do so at this time).

Just wondering what people do with electronics that you want to dispose (ie: TV, old Direct TV receivers (I upgraded), old fax machine, old printer, etc)? I hate to put it on the curb for garbage pick-up and then into the landfill.

[hopemax]

When we lived in AZ, a local Boy Scout troop had a "once a month" drop off location for electronics recycling. They were partnered with a recycling business. What was still functional would find its way to those in need, and what didn't, was properly recycled.

In WA, there was a "hotline" you could call, and find out which local recyclers would take what, and if there was a fee.

It looks like Best Buy has a recycling program where you can bring in 2 things per day. They charge $10 for some items, but they give you a $10 GC.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025&DCMP=rdr0001422

[Shmily01]

I'm joining in...this is a great idea and just the thing for me. I tend to start strong with my cleaning/decluttering but fizzle out....this will keep me on task!:yay:

[PrincessNancy96]

Still plugging away... as my family room was done early on after taking down the tree, I've been hitting hot spots... cleaning out kitchen cupboards, junk drawers, desk drawers, shredding weekly unnecessary junk.....

[YodasMom]

When we lived in AZ, a local Boy Scout troop had a "once a month" drop off location for electronics recycling. They were partnered with a recycling business. What was still functional would find its way to those in need, and what didn't, was properly recycled.

In WA, there was a "hotline" you could call, and find out which local recyclers would take what, and if there was a fee.

It looks like Best Buy has a recycling program where you can bring in 2 things per day. They charge $10 for some items, but they give you a $10 GC.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025&DCMP=rdr0001422

Thanks, Hope, and, yes, Office Depot provides the service, too. I can call Best Buy or the Depot and confirm, etc.

We also have an organization that sponsors clothing, metal and electronics, medication, crayon, etc drives for recycling. There are none of those until May, though, due to the weather. Just wanting to get rid of some stuff before that.

[AlexWyattMommy]

There is always FreeCycle if you don't mind strangers coming to the house.
Are there no GoodWill or Salvation Army places that will pick up by you?
If you want to pay for the removal, those Got Junk places do the lifting.
Or you could put an add in the paper saying come get the stuff at the curb before garbage day.

[YodasMom]

Are there no GoodWill or Salvation Army places that will pick up by you?


Oh, yes, we have all of that, but the items I am speaking about wouldn't be used for resale since they're either not working well enough for that or are really outdated.

[AlexWyattMommy]

Ah, my bad.

What about a dedicated junk yard? We have those. We have to pay to have them taken there, but the guy can work miracles on broken stuff. He then donates the stuff to the Goodwill.

[BernardandMissBianca]

I know there are places that take broken computers and what not and disassemble them.

Try these guys:

http://earth911.com/electronics/

Best Buy:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025&DCMP=rdr0001422

[YodasMom]

Oh BTW, I did drop off the old television at Best Buy on Friday for recycling. Wow, was that thing heavy for a 20 inch TV. I pulled up in front of the store and got an employee to bring out a cart for it, went to customer service, paid $10 and got a gift card for the same amount. So, that's out of the way.
They do take a lot of other electronics, too.

I plan to take a couple of old laptops to my computer geek at a local computer shop and he has a source for recycling after the hard drives are removed.

On to the next project.....!

[BernardandMissBianca]

Good to know! DH has a ton of old computers and we have the old flat screen, I think I'll take those to Best Buy. I want them out of the house! LOL

[lisah0711]

Just make sure that all of your personal information, i.e. passwords, account access, data is wiped clean before getting rid of your computers -- unless it is to someone you trust. My computer guy takes the hard drives out for me in front of me and then I whack it with a hammer! Protects my data and I get my ya-yas out too! :thumbsup2

I am plugging away. If I work a little at it every day this week, I can finish my family room by the end of the month. :yay: With that done, the rest will be easy-peasy!

Thanks, Buffy, for doing this.

[BernardandMissBianca]

DH is a computer guy so he pulls the hard drives or scrubs them clean. No retrieving data from that guy! LOL

My room is just about done, I just need to tackle the big table but that's an ongoing battle. Horizontal surfaces in this house are bad!! But DH is gone this week so his 1/2 of the table is clear, I just need to do mine.

[BernardandMissBianca]

Today is the last day for the family room!!!

Tomorrow is the home office and/or the scrap room!

[joyah]

Mines still in pretty good shape. Just need to do the weekly sunday chores in it.
Dust, vac, fold blankets on chair backs, clean off top of dog kennel. I really sould be doing those but................ it's more fun to sit here with all of you.

[we3are1]

Ok so I am subbing here!
I so need this and it gives me one thing to do a day.
I'm a month behind but figured that way if I don't get online I can just have the whole month of January to work on.
Plus we are probably going to be snowed in a few days so maybe I can get a few days stuff done. Can't wait to get cleaned and decluttered!

[lisah0711]

Today is the last day for the family room!!!

Tomorrow is the home office and/or the scrap room!

Yay! Got the worst room done! :cool1: On to the home office. DH was just mentioning the closet to me this week so it is very timely. Thanks Buffy for doing this!

[BernardandMissBianca]

Ok so I am subbing here!
I so need this and it gives me one thing to do a day.
I'm a month behind but figured that way if I don't get online I can just have the whole month of January to work on.
Plus we are probably going to be snowed in a few days so maybe I can get a few days stuff done. Can't wait to get cleaned and decluttered!

We are doing the living room in a few months if you want to wait until then to tackle this room. Unless you have both.

[BernardandMissBianca]

Yay! Got the worst room done! :cool1: On to the home office. DH was just mentioning the closet to me this week so it is very timely. Thanks Buffy for doing this!

Remember that Closets are in October, so if you just get to the main body of the room you will be ok.
Glad you finished your worst room!! Mine is the basement, I have all of MIL's things in there that DH needs to sort through.

[BernardandMissBianca]

I'm going to unstick this on Friday but it's linked in the Feb thread.