The DIS-Clutter Thread!

[binny]

that one notebook has literally changed my life!
It has made me much more motivated and given me the neccesary push that I needed to keep it going


Good work everyone.

 

[Briarmom]

So glad people are getting rid of stuff/putting it where they belong. I threw away all the crap in my freezers that was YUK. It didn't take but 5 minutes. Why didn't I do that before? Anyway, glad to hear that you are all doing well. Keep it up. Before you know it, people could drop by my house UNEXPECTEDLY!!

Now if only I could get rid of pounds of my self as well as pounds of stuff from the house...

 

[EthansMom]

Well, you all inspired me.

My house isn't so bad -- not as organized as I would like, but good enough that I can have people over without worrying about what they think.

But after reading this thread, I sat down and filled out a response card for a wedding we were invited to and filled out and got ready to send two offers for free videos from Kellogg's Eggos. Have been meaning to do this stuff for weeks. Now, it's done and not cluttering up my desk -- yay!

 

[mom2boys]

My living room is clean & pleasant. I can't wait to go in there & read my book this evening. DH will think he's in the wrong house. I really don't know if I would have stayed motivated if it hadn't been for this post & Binny's website. Thanks for the link!

I am inspired. Tomorrow it's on to DS1's room. That has been a work in progress between DH & I for a couple of months. All that is left is one cabinet, his top bunk & under the bed. DS1 starts middle school in 2 weeks & really needs a quiet study area. He might actually get a new desk out of the deal. BTW - DS1 will be helping me tomorrow.

Heading out for some well earned ice cream! If only I can locate some chocolate moose tracks

 

[Briarmom]

bumpy bump

 

[powellrj]

ok, last night DD nine spent the night with her cousins so I tackled her room. I have warned her all summer to get that mess cleaned up or I was going to do it. Last night, 3 hours and 7 trash bags later, I am done. Today I am going to tackle DSs room. He is home and he is helping me because he can throw things away without the tears and drama that come with clearing her room out. This afternoon we are painting the upstairs hallway and stairwell and the upstairs will be done!! I need to put new bathroom baseboard around and the bathroom will be done. The downstairs hallway and our bedroom are done. The dining room needs new border and it will be done. The kitchen needs a new faucet and it will be done. I really think I can finish this weekend and I will be completely de-cluttered and inside repaired!!

Now all I need to do is get the carpets cleaned and start on the outside and this house may really become ok! DH is getting the porch screens replaced this week and DS painted the garage and we cleaned out the junk in the garage, so MAYBE we will be done before fall!!!

 

[Nite0wl71]

Good morning ladies.

Just checking in, I won't be doing any decluttering this weekend. I work in retail so this is like my Monday, I work from now until Wednesday, then I start my weekend.

powellrj-It sounds like you have alot accomplished.

 

[NCRedding]

I'll post my first baby step in my declutter battle. Today, I processed the last two weeks worth of mail, and put every single piece where it BELONGS!. Sounds like something small, but I almost never do this. I'll put stuff in a basket to file, or box to shred, or put it down, just for now.

Today: I shredded, filed, and even wrote cards I had been meaning to.

 

[cheyita]

OK, I'm in.

I, too, am a Fly Lady drop-out. My house was never as clean as when I was on the Fly Lady plan, but we got sick and tired of 15+ e-mails from it a day. I thought I could stay disciplined without the reminders, but I fell back into old habits.

Today I will declutter my computer desk and create a Household Notebook to keep on said desk. I will also label all the school supplies I purchased and get them off the dining room table finally!

powellrj - I give you credit. I threaten this all the time but cannot bring myself to toss much of my girls' stuff. I feel SO guilty!

Good luck to everyone as we strive toward a more sane existence!

 

[luv2nascar]

we all have too much stuff in this house. Their are 4 of us. We are supposed to be decluttering towards a community yardsale in Sept. Well things are going that well only I have gotten several things together. and trust me there's lots more. I have a high chair, booster seat, 4 bags of kids clothes & 1 huge box of assorted stuff. I could probably fill a truck with what needs to go. Today I am digging more stuff out of the basement.

 

[Briarmom]

Hello Clutter-havers!

Today we are going to spend a lot of family time together. For my decluttering this weekend:

My closet (this may take the better part of the weekend).

Kids closets (shouldn't take too long because I went through their closets not long ago)

Guest room closet (I don't want to talk about it)

Game closet (does anyone have this closet? The one with all your games/puzzles/play-doh? Ugh.)

The Island in the kitchen. I want it to be used for COOKING! I had a post-it with NO CLUTTER written on it and it really worked, until we had company and I was embarassed and took it off.

Have a great time. Post your accomplishments!

 

[swilphil]

This weekend I'm going to work on de-cluttering the kitchen counters and organizing the toys. If I have time I will tackle our bedroom.

 

[TammyNC]

I have been really inspired by reading this thread today. I am in the same boat as many with the whole house just being cluttered. We homeschool so I also find that our books, etc. just are taking over the kitchen/family room.

I started yesterday without realizing that I was going to read this today. I had purchased a new computer and was ready to actually ready to be in the office of our house. I had DH move my computer, desk, etc. to the front part of the house last year so that I could work while the kids were doing school work. Well, it was in the front room of our house, when you came in through the front door or back door there was my computer. No. 1, I never felt I could go by it without sitting down to work, No. 2, it looked like an office with paper everywhere, etc. So, I ask to move it back. Well in the year that I was in my temp. space the real office had become a junk room. We have that cleaned out now, electrician is coming Monday to put additional receptacles, lights and telephone line in.

Good new is that I have new computer set up, am getting the desk organized and files put in proper place, etc. It will be nice when I am not running from one room to the other looking for files, and when the front room of the house is back to looking nice and not embarrasing if someone comes by.

Thanks for getting this thread started. Can't wait to report how the move of client files, etc. go today.

 

[cheyita]

The Island in the kitchen. I want it to be used for COOKING! I had a post-it with NO CLUTTER written on it and it really worked, until we had company and I was embarassed and took it off.

I can totally relate! I had a post-it on the counter at my sink with an arrow pointing toward the dishwasher to remind us all not to put our dirty dishes into the sink but rather right into the dishwasher. This worked great while it was up and I thought it was a habit, but then I threw out the post-it and the sink started filling up again!

 

[EthansMom]

Game closet (does anyone have this closet? The one with all your games/puzzles/play-doh? Ugh.)

Yes, I have a games/crafts/art supplies/etc. closet. In fact, that's where I started today -- got 5/7 of the shelves decluttered and reorganized. Threw out several used coloring books and some broken bubble wands, etc. Would have reorganized the other two shelves except they held stuff that really needs to be put in the Office Closet and the Office Closet is worse off than the Games Closet!

In fact, the office itself looks over-cluttered in part because I don't have room to put more stuff into the Office Closet. At present, the Office Closet holds a collection of my crafts and quilting supplies, books, magazines, office supplies, the fire-proof safe, sporting goods, papers to shred, and bags of items to be donated to Goodwill. I've started in on the the Office Closet using some of the Flylady techniques -- basically, I'm only taking out a bit at a time so that I can put whatever back and come back to finish later and I'm starting with the easy stuff first (anything that can obviously be thrown away or obviously needs a different home -- like DS's kite that was jamming up the door so that it was difficult to even close the door and all of the clothes that need to go to Goodwill that spill out anytime I open the door). If you don't hear from me in the next couple of days, send out the National Guard, 'K?

 

[sjh801]

Bumping this so I can find it in the clutter later tonight.

Ms. Pack Rat

 

[atlnewf]

For my declutter step of the day, I took a pile of clothes and some toys to a big consignment sale in the area.

I've got a question, though, about organization. I had a toybox in my kids' playroom, which ended up with toys never being played with because they were on the bottom of the box, and no one would dig. So I got rid of the toy box and got those shelf-bins meant for kids playrooms. Unfortunately, stuff is overflowing and won't stay organized.

My question is this.. would those stackable drawers work better? If I label them with the appropriate category and put stickers all over it? Or am I just totally doomed? Any suggestions?

Ashley

 

[Briarmom]

Ashley- I have BOTH a large toy box where toys go to die AND those bin thingys. I try to say 'this bin is for cars' etc but it never seems to work. All the toys end up co-mingling in the toy box. I don't know the answer. If the toys in my house would pull a 'Toy Story 3: The toys Organize Themselves,' most of my clutter problems would be solved!

I, your trusty thread starter, have gotten NOTHING done today. We had to drive to a far away mall to finally find uniform shorts for ds. School has been in for a week. Hope these fit! I didn't buy anything 'clutter-y' just clothes. Now I am exhausted! I need to get on it. Wish I had a Red Bull...

Be back later
Jess

 

[Nite0wl71]

For my declutter step of the day, I took a pile of clothes and some toys to a big consignment sale in the area.

I've got a question, though, about organization. I had a toybox in my kids' playroom, which ended up with toys never being played with because they were on the bottom of the box, and no one would dig. So I got rid of the toy box and got those shelf-bins meant for kids playrooms. Unfortunately, stuff is overflowing and won't stay organized.

My question is this.. would those stackable drawers work better? If I label them with the appropriate category and put stickers all over it? Or am I just totally doomed? Any suggestions?

Ashley

When my kids were little (I had 4, 2 boys, 2 girls) I never used toy boxes. Everything would end up in there and pieces would get lost. I got milk crates and stacked them up like a shelf. I would have 8-10 across and about 3 high the open end faced out. Each crate was big enough for something like a FP play set.

Some would hold dolls, trucks, books, boxes of hotwheels etc. I used alot of them and on the top I put a board all the way across and used that for the bigger toys that wouldn't fit inside the crate.

It worked really well and the toys stayed neat and the pieces were with them. Also since each crate was only 1 toy basically they didn't have to dig through them to find what they wanted.

 

[Briarmom]

Good advice NiteOwl. Milk crates should be on sale right about now for 'back to dorm.'

I got quite a lot done in my closet. Not everything is done, but I would say 70%!! My closet was seriously scary. Why would I save some of that stuff? If you can look at it and say 'I will never wear this again,' get rid of it! Unless it has sentimental value. You will feel great. You will feel free. You will wonder what the heck you were thinking. You will be ready to shop for stuff that does not accentuate your buttocks! GO! GO! GO!

I have to put some stuff back in there. I have to go through my jewelry box. I have to make room for the new fall line!!

Time for dinner. Pizza, beer, and Monsters, Inc.