Resolve to Declutter in 2010 with me....

[SnowWhite607]

I have a 1500+ sq ft house and 3 people (me, DH and DD8). Every closet is full, every drawer is full, you get the idea.

My mom came over and we worked on the playroom yesterday. We got 3 trash bags for Goodwill and 2 1/2 trash bags of throw away.

It just always seems like there is "stuff" everywhere and I hate it.

Definitely want to join you for Decluttering 2010!!

 

[Kit'smommy]

My house is pretty organized, but I do need to convince DS to let some of his toys go. They are definitely the biggest source of clutter in our house.

I do find that it works for me to set some boxes up in the garage or guest bedroom to collect donations. I add things to them as I find items we no longer want or use and get them out of the house as soon as they are full.

I set a timer for 15 minutes or so and tackle one small area. When the timer goes off, I add the things to be discarded to the trash can or donations bins and put away what is left. Start to finish, I only work for about 20 minutes at a time, but over the course of a month that really adds up and I don't get burned out and quit.

 

[dawn1620]

Joining the club!

We moved house a couple weeks ago so I'm decluttering in the process. We still have several rooms and a basement left to move on Saturday so that will be a huge purge right there.

 

[ChrizJen]

YES!! I missed this thread before, but looks like I caught it just in time!
I like to think that we were fairly organized until DD2 came along. Now the combination of an extra person in the house/more STUFF/less time to deal with clutter, I feel like I'm trapped in the clutter!! I think my goal is going to be to devote each Saturday to a different room in the house. I LOVE the feeling of purging and simplifying!!

 

[PaulaSue]

I'm in... Actually I already started 2 weeks ago. I think I may be early OCD but seeing the picture that someone posted here a few weeks ago of their room scared me. Watching those cleaning shows scare me too.

They scare me because I am a big bargin shopper and I stockpile a bunch of things I get with coupons. I have lived here about 18 months and my free spaces are less and less. So far I am pretty organized but it scares me that it could over run me.

So Christmas was very generous with stuff I got cheap, I made goodie bags for people who I don't normally give too. Gave tons of kids stuff to Toys for Tots, etc. I also have been trying to live out of our pantry and freezer since before Thanskgiving for that challange that they had done here.

Yesterday I went through the girls closets and took out a huge bag of clothes to donate. (I just did it a few months ago when I changed over to winter clothes.)

So I guess it is on for the bathroom...

 

[Luv2Scrap]

Count me in! I was doing really good until I started school last May. Now the clutter is piling up again.

I did get my paper clutter under control this fall, though! I bought a nice three-drawer filing cabinet and filed EVERYTHING away, very neat and organized. Problem is, I have a basket on top of the filing cabinet to catch the papers that need to be filed "when I have the time"... now that's full again. Gotta catch up again!

I WILL get my house under control!!!

 

[kimwim8]

I'm in too! I actually just moved and threw a lot of stuff away, but I haven't taken the time to get the house set up to be organized....if that makes sense. I need shelving for the basement for the holiday decorations (and get them out of cardboard boxes). I need hooks to hang things, shelves in my pantry closet and my bedroom closet, etc, etc.

 

[acename]

I've got to get on the ball with this too. I'm having a baby in mid February and I have to make room for all of his stuff. Now that the holidays are over I realized just how soon he'll be here.

 

[storzo]

I'm in!

I was watching Hoarders the other night and my DH was like...you're almost there. LOL. It was a joke, of course....it's not that bad but the show motivated me!

 

[donac]

I want to join in too. I started by cleaning my closet in Nov and Dh started painting the living room in Nov and while he was doing that he cleaned and threw out a lot of stuff. The living room looks so good that I want the rest of the house to look that good.

 

[SpaceGirl]

Declutter 2010

I'm in...I tried to start last fall, all I accomplished was making a big mess in my living room.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

I'm in!

I was watching Hoarders the other night and my DH was like...you're almost there. LOL. It was a joke, of course....it's not that bad but the show motivated me!

That cracked me up!

I'm in, too. My house is pretty organized, since we bought a new home and moved just three years ago. I did some major purging when I moved! I've been careful to keep things neat and orderly in my new home. But, I could definitely get better control of my filing and paperwork, and the utility room could use some work. The big thing is my DH's workshop. He keeps saying he's going to do some major cleaning/organizing after the first of the year. I am planning to help him, just so it is done to my satisfaction. This thread should help motivate me. Thanks OP!

 

[acename]

This thread has inspired me already. I got up off my butt and set the timer for 10 minutes and worked on my pantry. I still have 2 shelves left to finish but I threw out a few things, found a few things I forgot I had and found the ingredients to make some cookies for a potluck party tomorrow night. Hooray for not having to go to the grocery store! So proud!

 

[4forMe]

I'm in! We've been in our house for 6 years and need to do major de-cluttering.

The areas I will be focusing on are all the kids' bedrooms, all the bedroom closets (mine alone will take a week ), and the basement. DH does a great job with making sure that the kitchen stays organized as well as the garage.

The biggest problem area is the basement. We have so many toys (preschool years) that the kids have outgrown. I did sell some at my mom's last garage sale but not as much as I would have liked. The Goodwill near our house does not take toys. This is part of my problem - what to do with the toys? I have some that are in excellent condition and can't imagine throwing out but I don't know what else to do - any ideas?

I have a friend who is a neat freak and throws a ton of stuff away (clothes and toys in great condition). I can't imagine throwing out clothes in great condition though that works for her. I'm at least good about donating clothes right away.

I will be starting the 2nd week of January as the kids will be back at school and the Christmas stuff will be put away by then. Looking forward to everyone's updates.

 

[TiggerTails57]

Made a start on DD's room today = two bags of trash, one donate bag, two bags of recycle, and two big empty boxes........I'm tempted to box up the remaining stuff give it to her and make it her problem

 

[MelanieC]

I like this idea. I could use some decluttering. I'm in

 

[hjssk8]

I'm joining. Right now my daughter and I live with my parents. The majority of my stuff is in a storage unit. I tried to go through it this year yet it didn't quite happen. My goal is to go through everything in there and get rid of what I no longer need. What I am keeping will then be organized with like items together and everything clearly labeled. Maybe, just maybe I might be able to move back into a smaller unit. That will save me some money every month.

Here's to the Great Declutter of 2010!

Holly

 

[freepixie]

The biggest problem area is the basement. We have so many toys (preschool years) that the kids have outgrown. I did sell some at my mom's last garage sale but not as much as I would have liked. The Goodwill near our house does not take toys. This is part of my problem - what to do with the toys? I have some that are in excellent condition and can't imagine throwing out but I don't know what else to do - any ideas?

Is there a Head Start program in your area? Since Head Start is a federally funded program that faces financial cuts every year, they are usually in need of some good toys. I work for a Migrant Head Start and we get donations in a LOT, and it sure helps!! The only thing that hits the trashcan is any toy that promotes violence such as toy guns, action figures, etc.

 

[reservations4five]

I am in- I was just getting into that I am overwhelmed mode after Christmas- I worked in our basement today but didn't even make a dent. I freecycle a lot! I just got rid of a dresser, nightstand and 2 huge bags of clothes. I like it better than Goodwill because I can give it someone and know that they don't have to pay for it!

 

[ilovejack02]

I'm in! We've been in our house for 6 years and need to do major de-cluttering.

The areas I will be focusing on are all the kids' bedrooms, all the bedroom closets (mine alone will take a week ), and the basement. DH does a great job with making sure that the kitchen stays organized as well as the garage.

The biggest problem area is the basement. We have so many toys (preschool years) that the kids have outgrown. I did sell some at my mom's last garage sale but not as much as I would have liked. The Goodwill near our house does not take toys. This is part of my problem - what to do with the toys? I have some that are in excellent condition and can't imagine throwing out but I don't know what else to do - any ideas?

I have a friend who is a neat freak and throws a ton of stuff away (clothes and toys in great condition). I can't imagine throwing out clothes in great condition though that works for her. I'm at least good about donating clothes right away.

I will be starting the 2nd week of January as the kids will be back at school and the Christmas stuff will be put away by then. Looking forward to everyone's updates.

I am pretty good at keeping things under control, I am a freak about getting rid of clothes that I havent worn in at least 2 years. I bring all to Goodwill.

Toys that are worth something, I put on craig's list . So far so good . Ive made a bit of money.. more than I would at a garage sale.

Sometimes I just ditch stuff in the trash..never really good items, but I just get tired of holding it all to go to Goodwill.

I am back on the cleaning out train.. I have two junk cabinets and one drawer in my kitchen. My resolution is to get it down to one cabinet in the next cpl of weeks.

Hubby can tell I have been cleaning up because I got fussed at today LOL.. the trash can is already full and i have a big bag to donate from our closets.
I have a bag of really nice kids clothes to put on Ebay, but I know that i will give up and give it all to a friend that has a son younger than mine.