Cleaned out 2 crowded corners of my first storage room. There’s more to go, but it’s an important start. After that, I’ll tackle the second storage room. Much of the stuff there is my daughter’s and unless she goes through it, I will toss it all. (She knows this. I will feel NO guilt if I purge special items!)
Our plan is to retire and move in the next 1.5-2 years so I have been working at purging since that decision was made last month. Clothes were culled well when Marie Kondo premiered on Netflix so I wasn’t sure what I would do this weekend when I got the email yesterday.
Today I had a couple of men over to clean the chimney and the dryer vent. (both long overdue and I feel so much better to have it done). They said it would take 1.5-2 hours so I hunkered down in my room to keep the dog out of their way.
I tackled the last couple of small boxes of my mom’s personal stuff. She died 3.5 years ago. It was not as hard as I feared and I got through it before they were done cleaning up. It was mostly letters and photos (lots of my brother who died 8 years before she did. ?) and I have a box to send to my sister after scanning a bunch of stuff. Last year that box for my sister would sit around for weeks. It is packed up nicely with a warm note and sealed, ready to take to the PO.
Did anyone get the clothes task done? I think I will be deferring a lot of the big weekend tasks since we travel on weekends in the fall. Today’s task is to stop clutter at the source. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/preventing-clutter-september-sweep-36644837?utm_source=at_septembersweep2019&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=09162019 - and remove 3 things from the monster zone.
When I did this last year I stopped a couple of magazines we weren’t really reading and tried to do the 1 in 1 out on clothes. I need to rededicate to that one. Also need to unsubscribe again to the emails that send those enticing sales 
I already open mail at the trash can. We are going to do more experience gifts this year for the holidays. A lot of good shows are coming to town.
I often do the 1 in, 1 out for clothing. I would do well to just try and unsubscribe to one email a day.
Today is a 20 minute sweep of the entryway. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/entryway-decluttering-list-september-sweep-36644844?utm_source=at_septembersweep2019&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=09172019 Set the clock for 20 minutes. While the clock is counting down, look for anything that’s trash, out of place, or just ready for a new home and gather it all up into your basket. When the timer stops, return everything to its proper home, or into trash, recycling, or your “sell” and “donate” boxes from day one. And take 3 things from the monster zone. With everyone coming hoe from work during things inside the front door we definitely have entry way issues. Actually 2 of them but the front is the one for today.
Today is getting rid of - preventing paper clutter. This is one that was successful for me last year and we have pretty much kept it up, with occasional backsliding that is relatively easy to deal with . https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/paper-organization-system-september-sweep-36644842?utm_source=at_septembersweep2019&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=09182019 - and remove 3 things from Monster zone.
So far, this is the best I have done with one of these “challenges”. I am sure the fact that we are years into an empty nest helps! Yesterday was the entryway. We come in through the laundry room from the garage. I redid the laundry room last year, taking out the sink, stacking the washer and dryer and adding a table with drawers and storage and shelves above the table. I had new outlets with USB ports put in and created a “drop zone” for keys, phones, mail etc. It is my space and I love it and I thought it was in good shape but went in yesterday for 20 minutes.
I found 2 lottery tickets tucked in a drawer (worth $4 each!) and two and half jars of change. I have been waiting to exchange the coins for bills forever. We bank online and I didn’t want to pay the surcharge to Coinstar. I put it all in the car yesterday and today I went to a grocery that took all my plastic (I use reusable bags but the plastic from things like TP and paper towels is recyclable), cashed in the lottery tickets and hit the Coinstar. I am $105+ richer and feel so much lighter!
@whitepicketfence that sounds great! I have not had that kind of luck yet. Today’s task is to do the 20 minute kitchen declutter. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/kitchen-decluttering-list-september-sweep-36644841?utm_source=at_septembersweep2019&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=09192019 And take 3 things from the monster zone. Kitchen is not too bad after a remodel and last year’s sweep we have kept it pretty good, but it could take a touch up. There are somethings I know we have not used and some duplicates I could part with. And. Basket for keys has somehow morphed into 3 baskets of small things. And those plastic bottle and travel cups do seem to multiply.
This weekend is time to tackle sentimental items. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sentimental-clutter-september-sweep-36644840?utm_source=at_septembersweep2019&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=09202019 and remove 3 more items from the monster zone. I had pretty good success last year for some categories but definitely need to tackle a lot more that I did not get to then. I have a lot of inherited entertainment items in glass, crystal, pewter, silver, china that I don’t use anymore. I will have to defer this one though since we are out of town again.
My goal this weekend is to attack my 1000s of photos. Hard copy, not digital. I have a VERY hard time getting rid of photos, including duplicates, out of focus and damaged pictures. Sigh. My monster zone is looking better!
I did the photo purge earlier this year and it was great (cut down by almost 50%). When I looked back at the duplicates and out of focus prints, I kept saying to myself - why did I keep them in the first place?
I didn’t allow my other family members to see what I got rid of. Some things were thrown out in context of other pictures (I don’t need 4 pictures of the same group of people at the same event) and they wouldn’t have known that by just looking at my discard pile.
I also moved some photos into better albums. I had lots of photo albums that had mold on the outside or on the pages inside. They all got thrown away.
This is the worst I’ve done on this challenge lol. I’ve had visitors staying here since the beginning of September (three different visitors) but maybe next week when I’m alone I can jump back in.
Today is another 20 minute sweep. This time the bedroom. In 20 minutes take the basket and pickup things that’s don’t belong there from the list here https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/bedroom-decluttering-list-september-sweep-36644853?utm_source=at_septembersweep2019&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=09232019. Remove them from the room and sort. Also take 3 things from the monster zone. I’m still traveling but I have kept things pretty good from last year. I will do a touch up when I get home.
The monster zone at my house is the my sewing stuff, currently occupying both of the guys’ bedrooms and some space in the basement. Dear friend with whom I coordinate a charity quilting group just moved to smaller digs and I have acquired all of her quilting gear, fabric and works in progress. OMG, it is a humongous project.
OTOH, have hauled two carloads of other stuff to the dump and chucked a large, large stack of magazines next to my bed. If I haven’t read them by now, it ain’t happening.
Day 12 of 15 is to set up dump zones in each area that tends to collect clutter so that you can corral it and deal with it periodically. And remove 3 items from the monster zone. We have a dump zone in the kitchen that has a small basket and paper collection spot. I need to figure out how to set one up for the front entrance. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dump-zones-clutter-trick-36644852?utm_source=at_septembersweep2019&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=09242019&recip_id=2097604. How are you doing?
Getting near the end - today is a 20 minute sweep of the frig and pantry. Instead of a basket, use a trash can and donation box. Toss the old, expired, gross and freezer burned. Things you aren’t going to use that are good go to the donation box for the food pantry. And remove 3 things from the monster zone. We downsized our frig last year so have had to do a pretty regular purge but the pantry definitely could use it. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/fridge-freezer-decluttering-list-september-sweep-36644851?utm_source=at_septembersweep2019&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=09252019
^^I’m with you - I have started doing my refrig more often, but the pantry could use it. Take your extras that aren’t expired to an organization that collects food.
I’m finding that a lot stuck from last year. My fridge is organized and doesn’t have extras or things needing to be used up or thrown out. My bedroom doesn’t have items on any surface that don’t belong there (lamp, clock). My closet needs the fall/summer switch and I have to tackle the basement. I’ll have to look at these again in October. September was too busy for some reason.
^^^ I sort of agree with you @psychmomma. September is still “summer” to me - if I’m not at work I’m going to been enjoying outside or doing outside work. Not the right time for me to focus on indoor tasks! And yes, even a 20 minute task is tough after work, making dinner, exercising, walking the dog!
Yes, it’s still summer to me, too. We have decent weather until mid October or later. I’m still digging in the dirt now! I’ll focus on the inside on rainy days or in November. This is also my visitor and vacation time of year.