Coming here for some inspiration. I’ve gotten discouraged since my hiring and filling of a 30 foot dumpster over a year ago. I thought it would really get me going but I got rid of so much garbage and the house and garage still are such a mess. Honestly the garage is filling up again cause my husband insists on recycling but never actually takes it to the recycling center. So frustrating. I could take it but I work such long hours and he is at home all day.
Anyway, whinge over. A couple days off have given me some energy so I filled a couple black bags this morning which will be on their way to the bin when I go for my walk. Time to try and get back to this!!
I don’t know if it will be inspiration to purge, but I’m looking forward to watching the new Netflix show by The Home Edit on organization. I’m sure it will be aspirational since this team has done work for Reese Witherspoon and one of the Kardashians, but I’m going to give it a view when it becomes available in a few days.
Looks like it’s titled Get Organized with The Home Edit. D had me start following them on Instagram a few months ago and between that and the Netflix trailer, it looks like it involves lots of clear container organization and organization by color.
@swimcatsmom : I’m delighted to see you back here! You can do this. I know your husband is an obstacle, but I suspect there are lots of places in your house that he will never see or never notice. You did your pantry, right? You can do other spaces as well!
Watching Hoarders will definitely get one motivated!
@swimcatsmom - I’m sorry your community doesn’t have a pick up for recycling. Since there is so little going on right now, could you make the trip to recycle a joint activity? “Hey, Honey! I would love it if you could take the recycling this weekend. It’s really been piling up, and I’m trying to get back on decluttering the house and the garage. Having that out of the garage will make a nice dent in what’s in there and would be a big help. How ‘bout I ride along with you and we stop for ice cream on the way back as a reward for ourselves. We can accomplish a task, spend some time together, and get a treat!” (Or a glass of wine, or a basket of fries or whatever he likes that is available to you right now).
@VeryHappy - yes, I converted a hallway closet to a pantry. Love it - best thing I ever did to this house. Got rid of the sagging shelves in the laundry area. Had it all nicely organized so we could find things but that didn’t last long. I need to reorganize it.
I also cleaned out another junk cupboard and painted it the same light gray as the inside of the pantry. I have all the cleaning equipment and supplies in it - so nice to actually be able to find things!
Then I seemed to just come to a dead stop for about a year. This year has been a mess of course. Worked from home a while. Back at the office now. Tax season lasted FOREVER. I was so stressed by 7/15 I just couldn’t get out if the funk for weeks. The junk in the house makes it hard to unwind. It’s not a place I can destress in. Ended up renting a small cabin on a river with my daughter and her husband for a long weekend. It did us all so much good.
All of a sudden the last week or so I have my mojo back a little. Did a big clear out of stuff in the entry hallway and emptied the other large hallway closet. A lot of things went into black trash sacks and straight to the bin - including my husband’s old winter coat that he hasn’t worn in maybe 36 years but never would let me throw away cause he thought our son would wear it. Son is about half his size (round - not height) plus lives in FL. Plus coat us maybe 45 years old. Didn’t ask this time. Going to paint that closet (probably after next deadline) and probably try and paint the hallway.
I did actually hit my own closet today. I got rid of lots of shoes that I have not worn since my foot injury 2 years ago and know I won’t wear again (anything that presses on the top where the plate and screws are is just painful). Also filled a bag with clothes I haven’t worn in ages. I’m just binning them. I could donate but I want them out of the house and non retrievable.
So I’m getting started. 2 bags a week won’t cut it - I’ll be dead of old age! It dies feel good to get started again.
@Hoggirl I actually talked to him about it today. Was thinking I could help fill up the back of the pickup. Once it’s in the pickup it’s easy - our recycling center employs special needs adults and they empty your vehicle And take everything to the appropriate area. Unfortunately it’s closed till Wednesday and we are forecasting lots of rain every day so prefilling the puck up won’t work. Maybe next week.
My daughter commented how the garage was filling up. She spent 2-3 days helping me haul stuff to the dumpster last year.
Getting that back to where it was after we had the dumpster will sure help me feel better. Then if we can clear a bit more out maybe we can get the garage door fixed and I can park my car in there again.
@swimcatsmom : But you’re back in the groove! You got your mojo back!! This time 'round, you’re going to make more progress. You may not get through it all, but you know what you need to do and you’re on your way again!
I cleaned out a few things from my garage - old igloo coolers, some big buckets, etc. Put them out on the curb and posted in the town facebook page Just had 2 cars here almost fighting over the igloo coolers.
This week the truck from the local thrift store came, when I made the appointment, it was back in June and September was the first availability. We had been going thru boxes and the entire basement over the summer, plus I had a lot of clothes from my parents.
I was so excited to get all this stuff out of my house but I had an unexpected mini-breakdown as the truck was driving away. I definitely didn’t want to keep the items but it was so sad to think those days are over: no more high chair, no more kinetix toys, and no more need for nice suits for my parents etc.
@surfcity - The things are going to a new home, where they will be used and loved. It’s still hard sometimes (says the mom that just restashed the sipper cups the top shelf of the kitchen cupboard).
Remember Toy Story 3? It came out around the time our younger kid went to college, so I had to defer watching it a few months. I still cried. But… toys should get playtime.
I get it, having two charities pick up items. No one would take couches nor furniture, as so many people cleaning. Only one man agreed to take the box of costumes, and the second group took bikes.
For the first time, I know what is in all my boxes. Things I’ve held onto, like mom’s rosenthal China and glasses, I doubt my kids will want. Far too delicate for me to use everyday.
@bookworm - I had my mother’s Rosenthal china and stemware as well. I got rid of it. We used it, maybe, once a year. But, maybe not. I only have a ds, and I knew he would not ever want it. It was just taking up space. Everything in the world is so casual today - I can’t see that coming back.
When I was first married, I did do some “fancier” entertaining. I actually used my mother’s cut glass punch bowl and matching cups, silver platters, etc. The punch bowl went first. Eventually, I never wanted to exert he effort to clean the silver platters (just plated) so they went, too. Then the china. Then a sterling silver tea set I inherited from her. The only item only those lines that I have kept is her sterling silver flatware. I have twelve place settings of it and many additional pieces. I managed to find a silver box that would hold it all (it weighs a ton), and it’s stashed in a closet. Honestly, I should probably get rid of it as well. We got some decent melt money for the tea service.
Have you all held onto baby things of your children’s?? I don’t have much, but I’m wondering if it’s worth keeping either.
I have one friend whose daughter just started her freshman year of college who is using the same dorm sheets he used! And, has a quilt made by her great grandmother. I have no idea how many sets of china and crystal they have. They had to buy extra display cases for all of it. Holding onto family heirlooms is VERY important to him, so I do understand that getting rid of family items can be fraught with emotional challenges.
I’ve done a good job of recycling little kid stuff, but I’m still hanging on to too much. One reason is that I’ve expected I should have toys available when grandchildren come to visit. My mom/MIL did, and my grandmothers, and it was fun to see my kids enjoying the vintage toys.
Until we move, our grandkids will visit rarely, so I don’t really need Duplos AND Playmobil AND Waffle Blocks AND Lauri puzzles, etc.
I’ve donated the majority of it, but find myself hanging on to the especially neat stuff. Time for another go-round in the basement. When I started purging 2 years ago, I had more than 30 clear plastic bins of toys, embarrassing as that is to admit. Today I have 8. Still too many!
I held onto the Rosenthal china (can’t remember if it was my mother’s or GM’s) because of the memories it holds. I know that neither of my son’s will want it.
I’m busy cleaning out the garage. Everything I’ve cleared from my house lands down there. So my house looks fine but the garage is full. I’m amazed at how many boxes I had–I must love cardboard.
Watched the Hoarders and went to work. “What would Matt Paxton do?” is my new mantra. I see him telling some hoarder “Do you REALLY think this is useful?” “Nobody wants that!” “Where you gonna put it?” “No, your kids don’t want it–just ask 'em!”
Things I’ve saved for years are finally getting tossed (WHY did it take me this long? answer: cause I had room and it wasn’t bothering anybody. I might need it “in case”).
Back of my car is full for donation as well as my trashcan and recycle . (applause, applause!) And on the plus side I’ve rediscovered some lost treasures (“I know I didn’t throw that away…just can’t find it…”.).
I could sell some–some is new condition–but I’ve finally decided it ain’t gonna happen anytime soon (most of this is going to someone with a HUGE extended family–they can sell it too if they want. Yes, already asked if they wanted it.)
Anyway, it’s taken me days (and more than one garbage pick-up cycle) but I’m close…very close!
We just got rid of the Waterford and Lenox when we cleaned out my mom’s apartment so no one had to take it home and store it. I want to get rid of a lot of my crystal, and start using what I keep, maybe not every day but just for fun. No use having it and not using it. Fortunately there were grandkids that could use the everyday china and flatware.
I got rid of my MIL’s and grandmother’s china with no regrets. Also some goblets and wine glasses that had been my MIL’s, that I absolutely hated and never ever used. There were no memories for me with those things because I didn’t grow up with them.
I still have some glassware, china, etc. that I never use, but I’m in no rush to get rid of it. Probably in the next couple of years.
The only thing right now that is truly problematic are my photos. I have boxes and boxes of them, some in frames, all still in the basement from when we moved here eight years ago. I really have to do something with them.
