2013 Declutter & Organize Thread[{locked}]

[moosmommy]

Tonight's List:
1. Go through son's top two drawers in dresser (there will be a bunch of socks to get rid of - He wears a 12 - 16 men's socks now ) Do socks count as 1 or 2 for pair?
2. Put any laundry away
3. Wash two loads of clothes
4. Go through and sort mail sitting on counter
5. Hang mirror that has been sitting in my living room since beginning of November

Accomplished last night:
No. 4 LOL at least I did something. Going to work on this list again tonight.

[Wisconsin Beth]

I brought in the Little Tykes bookshelf/toybox combo that my sister gave us last night. Scrubbed it down with Lysol wipes. DD helped. Determined that we can make it work at the end of the hall and shoved it down there after pulling the smaller, older wooden shelf (it's actually an old radio cabinet that came from my grandparents) out and transferred most of the books from the old shelf to the new shelf. Am able to fit more books on it than the old one, which freed up some space in the living room bookshelf.

Moved old cabinet into living room and stacked puzzles on it. We have an 84 piece USA puzzle - 50 states plus border but we've lost 2 states. I think I'm going to toss it.

Started putting toys in the toy box portion. DD wants her Barbies in there but loose. It's like 30 Barbies. I want them in a bag. And DS isn't grasping the concept yet. He agrees to put something in there and then fusses when I do. But I also put the Playdoh parts in there. The Playdoh cans are still in the living roo, where I can keep an eye on them.

But the living room looks slightly better. Did some laundry and now have 2 baskets to fold.

[Deleted]

I've given most of you K since yesterday for your accomplishments!

Yesterday I stopped at 6 "parts" of the basement shelves out of 24. Today DH is at work and he says he won't want to do any clearing out tonight.

So I consolidated some things and threw out a bunch of empty boxes and cookie tins to make more room on his tools shelves. I went through and repacked the "paint crate" and reorganized some kitchenware (extra glasses for big parties) and the extra tiles.

So now I'm up to 12/24 parts. The rest is DH's boxes that all need going through.

Edited because I can't count LOL.

[Deleted]

That sounds like progress Beth! If the Barbies are in a box, does it matter if they're not in a bag? Or am I missing something?

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jan 11, 2013 11:27:04 GMT -5 @debthaven2 said:

That sounds like progress Beth! If the Barbies are in a box, does it matter if they're not in a bag? Or am I missing something?

It's a toybox. I wanted them in a bag so we can just drag the bag out when she wants to play Barbies, instead of having to hunt for them all. It's not that big a deal obviously. They're out of the living room, which was the main thing.

[Deleted]

Oh, so they're not the only thing in the toy box! Yeah, that would bug me a bit too. Would she accept putting them in a transparent box inside the toy box?

And congrats on getting them out of the LR! That's a big deal lol!

ETA: Or maybe a "special" bag?

[Deleted]

13/24 and I can't do any more without DH.

ETA: I found MORE tea sets!!! And more cutlery! And more SHITE BROWN UK pottery / dishes!!! And more glass jars!!!

ARGH!!! I prefer old bank statements, at least I can burn those!!!

[redwagon]

As part of my meal planning goal, I've been going through my cookbooks and writing down which recipes I want to try and what page numbers they are on. That way I have a master list, rather than aimlessly flipping through cookbooks asking myself "What do I want to make tonight?" and then never having the right ingredients. I'll plan ahead each week and make a master shopping list. I also wrote down the meals we really enjoy so we can have some of those each week too. Hoping this helps...

[Wisconsin Beth]

The Barbies were in a cute gift bag. I stuck it next to the toybox because when she's not paying attention, they're going back int the bag!

Debt, how did you guys end up with all that silverware/dinnerware?

[sheilaincali]

I need to drive home and give DH a giant hug and a high 5. He's laid off for a few weeks and he just texted me to say:

"The towel drawer (in the kitchen) is straightened up. Add 12 items to your tally"
"Going through my magazines now. That will be a nice stack to add to the list"

so I guess that brings us to 147/2013. How sad is that? I less than a week I can find nearly 150 items that are taking up real estate in my house and life that I don't need?

Then he texted "this weekend I want to clean out the junk drawer, the utensils and the pots & pans cabinets"

[Deleted]

Beth, I had my stuff, DH had his stuff, and his parents had enough stuff for at least a dozen households. When his mom got sick, she started getting rid of the stuff as fast as she could. His dad died 19 months later. DH and his parents' best friends made a million trips to the , 3 garage sales, sold stuff, gave stuff to friends and family.

There was still so much left when DH sold his parents' house that by the evening of the move-in date, DH was still moving stuff out the back door while the new owners were moving in the front door. He had what was left brought here because he hadn't had time to go through it, and there were books, photos, his dad's watch, medals, etc. 13 years later, he still hasn't found the time.

He really did his best at the time (DS3, our fourth, was newborn, and we are France and his parents were in England). I just can't stand the sight of it anymore. I'm OK with anything on the basement storage shelves, but 13 years later we all have more Stuff and I don't want things on the floor.

This is part of why I am SO anti-clutter. The truth is, DH probably didn't bring even 5% of the Stuff from his parents' house here, and he gave away a lot then. He gets angry when I say it but to me, his mom was a hoarder. A neat one, perhaps, but a hoarder nonetheless. He says she was, um, a "collector".

I'm very depressed now. When I see what is in those boxes, I just want to leave. I guess I have to be grateful that he's finally willing to go through them. It doesn't necessarily mean he'll be willing to get rid of much though.

[Wisconsin Beth]

debt.

[Deleted]

Thank you Beth, I appreciate it. I'd hug you back but I can't do those icons on my Mac.

I just texted DH a LONG message DH telling him I feel like we are both completely weighted down by this Stuff. He has PROMISED me to start ebaying it. I don't think anybody will want it, he does, hopefully he's right and I'm wrong. It's great that he's willing to part with it.

BUT, since he has a tendency to start new projects without finishing the last one, and the basement is now a HOT MESS, I'm going to say NO ebaying till we've gone through everything.

I did the "house" stuff today and his mom labelled everything really neatly, so I know what was in there. Whereas I know there is a LOT to burn in DH's boxes of papers. (I saw one box labelled papers 2002, which means they are probably from 1998 onwards, but I couldn't reach it, and there is so much on the floor, I couldn't get a chair near it.)

The other thing I did, I know he won't like it but too bad, is I found a box of books he says he "absolutely loves", even though they have been boxed up for 13 years. So I got took down one shelf's worth of OLD National Geographics to make room for them.

I don't know where I can take the National Geographics (in English). I will try our version of Goodwill but my guess is they won't want them anymore than they wanted our old video cassettes.

But at least the books are on the bookshelves now! The books are another story, but I know that DH's books are "non-negotiable". Let me get through the basement storage room, then I'll worry about the books.

I also have to go through MY basement stuff, but I do that regularly. I refuse to do it now because I know that DH will take any space I free up.

The other reason I feel a sense of urgency (besides work starting up slowly) is:

a) DS1 (the humanitarian aid worker) is thinking about buying an apt later this year. His bedroom is next door to the storage room. So if he empties it out, DH will just take it over and fill it with his Crap.
b) DS1 is away with his GF until 20 Jan, and then he'll be home till mid-Feb. It is not practical to work on the basement when he is home because it means going back and forth through his bedroom, so I want to get at least the lion's share done before then.

Who am I kidding?! I want the lion's share done this weekend, or at least major headway!

[Deleted]

H (no DH) went TOTALLY MENTAL about the National Geographics, rushed down to the basement and went TOTALLY MENTAL again.

Hoarder mother, hoarder son, turns out the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Of course I didn't even KNOW about his parents' hoarder house when we got together.

I give up, I am done, we are done. I knew this was a risk but it really got to the point where I just couldn't take it anymore. I took a risk and I lost. I thought it was a small risk, I was wrong.

The problem with hoarders are that their things are more important than their people.

I will be fine, AS LONG AS ALL HIS CRAP LEAVES WITH HIM!!!

[sheilaincali]

Sorry Debt

[redwagon]

:-( debt

[Deleted]

I am so upset, I never expected him to choose all of that SHIT over us!!!

[redwagon]

1. Organize closet in nursery.
2. Clean bathroom
3. Dust
4. Put away laundry
5. Return stuff to Kohls to get it out of my house
6. Deal with baby shower thank you cards (ie likely recycle them)
7. Organize coupons
8. Put away Christmas stuff (sadface)
9. Put stuff in attic (DH has to do this)
10. Health insurance claims
11. Finally deal with filing
12. Pantry inventory (this is more long-term)
13. Meal plan for next week
14. Reorganize top shelf of glasses cabinet
15. Put up paintings in our room
16. Dining room table

Cleaned the bathroom! added dining room table to the list though, as my parents will be here this weekend. Plus we really want to start eating at the table again instead of in front of the tv.

[Deleted]

K Red. I gave K to a many of you over the past 24 hours. I generally try to give K between posts although obviously that doesn't always work when I post a lot as I have recently so sorry if I missed anymore.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Oh Debt. I'm sorry.

I'd give you karma but I hang out on EE enough to enjoy you being on 69. ;D

[Deleted]

Jan 11, 2013 15:56:00 GMT -5 @debthaven2 said:

I am so upset, I never expected him to choose all of that SHIT over us!!!

It is a form of mental illness. I don't say that in any way to induce you to try to stay. I think if its done its done, but just to reshape this as saying absolutely nothing about you, your children, your value or theirs, etc.

[WholeLottaNothin]

Debt - I am so sorry When my Grandma died it took us an entire year to clean out her house. She didn't really get bad until the lst 5 years or so, she had dementia, but mad did she ever hoard! Clutter drives me nuts too. Feel free to vent all you need. Its another, cathartic way of unloading.

[Deleted]

Thank you all very much.

It is a form of mental illness.

I do know this and I always felt his mom must have been mentally ill to have collected everything she did. He knows I consider her to have been a hoarder. The rooms were clear in the middle (unlike what you see on hoarders) but they were lined floor to ceiling along the walls with organized and neatly labelled boxes. But seeing his reactions tonight makes me realize that he is like this too, albeit to a lesser extent. Part of me knows that if it weren't for me and my war on clutter he could be much more like his mom.

I have told him that I will do ANYTHING to help him clear that stuff to a degree that I consider manageable (and I've lived with it for 13 years, so obviously I'm willing to be cool about it as long as it stays in the basement).

He stayed in the basement for well over an hour and told me he "purged". Came up with a handful of cards / postcards he wanted to trash and told me mine were all in a pile and they were next.

PS DH's parents also had an attic, a garage and a HUGE greenhouse, all of which were packed to the gills. His mom literally spent the last 18 months of her life (from diagnosis to death) trying to get rid of all her "stuff". What a sorry, sorry end to a life. She was a vibrant, lovely woman. I did not know her well and for sure, I never "got" her collections.

ETA: His mom was very young when WWII started, and I know there are a LOT of people in Europe who hoard because of that. I have a friend whose grandparents were the same way. My friend's parents built them a new kitchen. The grandparents were both thankful and horrified. So they added an annex for their old kitchen (and tons of tupperwares, plastic bags, etc). To some extent I know this is a "war baby" thing.

My dad was the opposite, both my parents went through WWII too, but he taught me, nothing material matters, and my dad had one "precious drawer". I guess I take after him.

[constanz22]

I'm at 30/2013 after the items I took to the consignment shop and stuff I gave to a client. I didn't count the bag/bags of paper/mail yet. I'm hoping to get a burst of energy this weekend and add a great deal to my number. This has been one LONG week though. It was brutal, and I'm exhausted, so, not sure how productive I'll be other than my typical weekend house cleaning (dishes, laundry, vacuum, general pick up). I have no plans for the weekend and a list a mile long here, so, maybe, just maybe, I can get some stuff done.

ETA: oops, make that 40/2013. I forgot to add the bags of chips I took to work today!

[redruby]

Been working on my daily six list. I have two items left today. Clothes and start tax organization. All year I just shove receipts into box and at the end take two days to sort. I need to do something differs. Ugh. I get so carried away with doing just stuff I notice I don't play with my kids much. I hate to put that on my list but..... It is an important thing todo.
This weekend list
- start tax organization
- spend one hour with DS playing sky landers
- DD2 basketball game
- DD3 toy time.
- grade three sets of papers
- plan attack on bath update step by step

Toys: I have tried every thing from toy boxes, laundry baskets but my solution came this year. I purchased two six bin storage organizers my Martha Stewart at Home Depot and three fabric cubbies for each. I separated themed toys into the cubbies and put books and stuffed animals in the empty spaces. When DD3 wants to play blocks she pulls out the block cubby. My little ponies? That has a cubby too. I have them in the hall and when toys are away you can't tell it is a toy holder. Love it.

[Saving4Norway]

DH, my friend, I'm so sorry to hear what happened today. Please remember that it's an illness and that he doesn't really pick stuff over you.

I distinctly remember the first time I watched the show Hoarders. I never, to my knowledge, knew a hoarder but I was pretty sure they were just basically lazy people who didn't like to clean up after themselves. But after watching an episode where I saw a nice, shy, quiet man become frantic and nearly speechless with panic about recycling used plastic water bottles that I saw hoarders in a completely different light.

[Deleted]

Message deleted by debthaven2.

[moosmommy]

So sorry debt

[Deleted]

Debt. If you need people here, even if its just to vent to, that's an ok thing. Do you have real life support?

[moosmommy]

Beth I have a cube organizer I got from target they usually run them on sale pretty frequently. It has 6 cubby holes for $40. They have other sizes too. The fabric bins come in all different colors and usually around $6 each. I love them in the kids rooms.