Decluttering / Spring Cleaning

[MagicalMom]

Anyone else tearing their homes apart & going through everything? I am amazed at how much crap I had without even realizing it. DH is off all of next week, so I am getting stuff together for Goodwill, trash, storage, etc. I guess it's time for the 100s of VHS movies that haven't been touched in years to find a new home. The plastic, ugly food containers that I always want to throw out but DH insists that he needs them for work may accidently end up in a trash bag today. The 10 opened lotions under the bathroom sink will have to go too. The closet full of size 14 clothes when I now wear an 8/10 are piled on the floor waiting to be bagged up. I am just in a mood and everything, I mean everything must go!

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

My friend is coming over on Monday and we are going to do it together. She will take whatever she wants and the rest will go.

When you said, "everything must go!" I was picturing a crazy used a car sales man.

 

[MagicalMom]

My friend is coming over on Monday and we are going to do it together. She will take whatever she wants and the rest will go.

When you said, "everything must go!" I was picturing a crazy used a car sales man.

That's how I feel, only it's free! I don't want a penny for any of this crap. You wouldn't believe how many sheet sets I have! I have a set I LOVE so I always wash those & put them right back on, those other sheets haven't been touched in forever. Time for them to go.

In my family they will use a pen until it doesn't write anymore, then go put it back in the pen holder next to the phone. Now I have a pen holder full of dead pens. I think it's like a special gift that they like to leave for me.

Yesterday I got rid of the old purses in my closet. I don't know why I hold onto them, I have never, ever said "I think I'll go get a purse from a couple of years ago out of my closet & use it!" The thought has never even crossed my mind.

Later today I have to tackle the drawer in the kitchen where we keep warranties and owners manuals, because I know there are papers in there for appliances we no longer even own.

 

[ChrizJen]

Yes!! But mine was sort of forced upon me...We're moving in 2 weeks, so we're purging as we pack! It's such a liberating feeling to know that there's all this "crap" that we're not going to be taking with us!!

We've done Craigs List for some of it, as we don't really want to have a yard sale. But here's how we've decided to handle the stuff that's still left over after the move:

Once the apartment is empty of the "good" stuff that we're taking with us, we're going to advertise a moving sale on Craigs List. We're going to open up the apartment and say "Everything in here is for sale!! Have at it!" And then in true Clean Sweep style, we'll have the rest of what's left hauled off to be donated to a charity.

 

[minnieandme]

I really need to clean out my garage, and the linen closet. A lot of the sheets and towels we don't use needs to go. I'm always trying to find room to put stuff instead of getting rid of stuff we don't use.

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

Once the apartment is empty of the "good" stuff that we're taking with us, we're going to advertise a moving sale on Craigs List. We're going to open up the apartment and say "Everything in here is for sale!! Have at it!" And then in true Clean Sweep style, we'll have the rest of what's left hauled off to be donated to a charity.

Oooo, good idea!


I started this last fall. Went through alot of stuff and gave away or had a yardsale. Getting ready for round 2, when it gets a little warmer will have another yard sale. I was smart enough to clean, label/price, stuff from the fall that I knew would sell in the spring.

 

[jx3smom]

DH was recently bitten by the cleaning bug and everynight he has us tearing another part of the house apart to clean.

 

[MagicalMom]

DH was recently bitten by the cleaning bug and everynight he has us tearing another part of the house apart to clean.

You're so lucky! I'm going to have to find a way to trick mine into helping.

 

[DelitefulDory]

Once the apartment is empty of the "good" stuff that we're taking with us, we're going to advertise a moving sale on Craigs List. We're going to open up the apartment and say "Everything in here is for sale!! Have at it!" And then in true Clean Sweep style, we'll have the rest of what's left hauled off to be donated to a charity.

Oooh, be careful though. Could attract some weirdos.

 

[mrsv98]

Yes! I am actually a little miffed at DH. He and DD are major pack rats and I fight with them all the time when I try and clear out. Well, DH locked his keys in his car on Tues and couldn't find the spare. Now of course, it is imperative that we do a major spring clean...

However, I am putting my annoyed feelings behind me and taking advantage of his new resolve, I know it won't last!

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Me and my wife need to do the same thing. We have so much crap that its just getting unbearable. We started but stopped and haven't gotten back to it. I know, I know, we shouldn't have stopped, but we did. We're planning on getting back to it after my wife's performance this weekend. Once the stress of the performance is out of the way she and I can start to concentrate on the house.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Yes! I am actually a little miffed at DH. He and DD are major pack rats and I fight with them all the time when I try and clear out. Well, DH locked his keys in his car on Tues and couldn't find the spare. Now of course, it is imperative that we do a major spring clean...

However, I am putting my annoyed feelings behind me and taking advantage of his new resolve, I know it won't last!

Whatever it takes, grab on and take it as far as it'll go.

 

[kinntj]

I usually start Spring cleaning in April, when the weather is a little nicer. That way I can open up the windows and let the breeze blow through the house while I'm cleaning from top to bottom.

I did declutter the laundry/craft room last week during my week off of classes for Spring break. One garbage bag full of stuff gone. Nothing I could give away or donate. That's where DH throws all the stuff that doesn't work and he hopes it revives itself.

I do need to declutter the girls linen closet this weekend, as things are starting to fall out of there when you open the door. Can't be good.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I have been doing this in my attic when I can get to it, for a couple of months.. I have so much crap for each holiday, stuff I will never, ever have the time or inclination to use. So I just got it in my head that "EVERYTHING MUST GO", just like the OP... It IS a liberating feeling, because stuff weighs you down. I have bagged up probably three big black garbage bags full of NEW little seasonal mark down toys and such...my boys are already too old for most of it. I took it in to the school, and the ladies I turned it over to for prizes and whatnot were SO excited. It felt good, so I went looking for more! I still have about half the attic to go through, but throwing stuff/moving it out of the house feels wonderful!! And of course, I had to vow NOT to replace any of it!

Our subdivision prohibits garage sales, so that makes it so easy. Bag it up and take it to Goodwill..don't have to hang on to it for a pending sale, because then I would have time to reconsider..

This was wierd, though. When I took stuff to Goodwill, the worker said they do not accept toys any more, because of all the recalls and problems. Do the Goodwill stores anywhere else do this? I haven't gotten to the boys room, yet, but I am not going to be able to throw out toys that are in perfect condition. Maybe Salvation Army has lower standards....

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am moving, so in process of selling the house and my house is almost spotless. Of course DH has taken 2 truckloads of stuff out here....

Yep....I am going to be having A LOT of garage sales when we move.

 

[PatsMom]

The last time I decluttered was when I moved and that was five years ago. It is time to do it again. We have stuff we will never use. Time for a major overhaul of the basement. And we are up to two storage sheds full as well. DH just boxes things up and moves them out. I'm not even sure what is out there now. But the outside sheds will have to wait until I don't have to go through five feet of snow to get to them. I am hoping for start on the linen closet and kitchen drawers this weekend.

 

[sassyat30]

I'm right there with ya, OP!

I've started organizing closets, throwing junk away (thinking "why in the world did we keep *this*?") and getting rid of things we don't use.

But, I'm sneaky and do it while the kids are at school, so they never miss any of it.

Simplify, simplify, simplify has become my mantra.

 

[sassyat30]

Oh and I forgot to add that once the weather warms up, we'll be organizing/decluttering the garage.

Right now, it's too chilly to be out there for any length of time.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Magical Mom..only 10 unopened lotions? You're my hero!! My Mom came over yesterday and we spent 6 hours just cleaning out the Master bathroom!! I'm a recycling freak so had to empty all the bottles etc.... LOL!

DH and I are on a very long overdue purge. We have about 60 boxes and bags in storage and still heaps of stuff in the house to get through. Once we're done, I'm hoping my pack rattiness will be cured.

Good luck fellow purgers!

 

[sassyat30]

Magical Mom..only 10 unopened lotions? You're my hero!! My Mom came over yesterday and we spent 6 hours just cleaning out the Master bathroom!! I'm a recycling freak so had to empty all the bottles etc.... LOL!

DH and I are on a very long overdue purge. We have about 60 boxes and bags in storage and still heaps of stuff in the house to get through. Once we're done, I'm hoping my pack rattiness will be cured.

Good luck fellow purgers!

I think it takes me less than 6 hours to do the entire house! LOL

'Course, I'm not much of a pack rat to begin with... I can't stand clutter and I throw things away when we don't need them anymore...still working on DH on that one.