2014 Get Organized & Declutter Thread

[acemom]

Good morning and happy new year (a few days late!)  

I SO need this board.  I am overrun with clutter and disorganization in my apartment it makes me crazy.  Last night I sat down and made a list of things that I need to do this weekend (we will probably be snowed in tomorrow, so the list is a little long!)

1.  Take Christmas decorations down
2.  laundry
3.  Pay bills
4.  Work on budget
5.  Dust
6.  Vacuum
7.  Swiffer and sweep the floors
8.  Clean bathrooms
9.  Create a chore chart for DS
10. Move TV onto table in DS room and off floor
11. Take out trash
12. Clear out my closet
13. Make something with DS' easy bake oven (he actually asked for it for Christmas!!)
14. Mail the last of the Christmas cards (i'm awful, I know...did I mention I'm a master procrastinator too??)      
15. Work on filling out passport documents
16. Declutter and create CFZ (clutter free zones) for table, dresser, and counter.  These seem to be the worst of the areas that collect junk in my house...
17. Convince my son to get rid of 14 items out of his closet (toys that he never plays with anymore)
18. I promised him I would get rid of 14 things too...  
19. Go to Target to get the other long list of things that I need

This should work for now.  I did get the bills and budget done last night.  I'm optimistic that I can get a lot of this stuff done this weekend.  Good luck ladies!  And thanks in advance for the motivation and pep talks that I am sure that I will be needing over the year

[constanz22]

acemom- Welcome!  I use printablechecklists.com for some neat charts for kids.  And they have a lot of other helpful charts and checklists too!

[KaraBoo]

I'm doing ok this morning. Already dropped off a small box of items to be donated, put some bills in the mail and I'm currently at the bank taking care of an item that's been pending since April. Still have a list of errands for the day that will hopefully cross some more items off my list.

Woohoo!

[WholeLottaNothin]

Been up since 4:45 this morning because I was all stuffed up. Worked on our bedroom a bit. Got my 6 things for the day in the donate bag or garbage. Started under the bed cleaning. Did my side but still have to do dh's side. We have a king size bed. Didn't do the sweater challenge bc I do a clothing purge a cple times a yr anyway. Roggie still sleeps in a crib so its easy to keep under there clear bc its easy to see. Hoping to get to rescue mission today to drop off what I've got so far.

[constanz22]

Well, I wasn't going to do any more laundry, especially nothing that needed hot water as I'm trying to conserve my fuel oil til delivery Monday, but two of my warm coats were filthy and next week is still going to be bitter cold so I did wash those.

Started unloading the dishwasher only to realize most of what was washed yesterday was still dirty.  Guess I turned the hot water down too much to get stuff clean.  So frustrating when I do stupid stuff that costs me more work in the end...sigh...

Picked up and put away some stuff at the top of the stairs, loaded dishwasher, paid bills and made sure transactions were right in checkbook, folded load of laundry from yesterday, found a couple more clothing items for the donation bag.  Picked up and put away some stuff on the island.  Waiting to see what the PW chore is for today.  Found a couple more items I bought before Christmas that I am going to return.  Every little bit helps, right?!

[Saving4Norway]

Constanzz - You are doing so well!! Great job!! There even seems to be a lightness in your posts - it seems like you're energized to keep going and going and going.  

[FreeSalsa]

Jan 3, 2014 11:31:27 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Contstanz, can you use them for the really icky cleaning jobs that need to get done and then toss them? Better than just straight tossing them. My mom volunteers at the local thrift store (I think I've mentioned that) and undies do come in. They can tell how well used they have been by the condition of the tags most of the time, if it makes you feel better.

ETA: and if they won't sell them there may be some other way they get used, mom's store fills a semi trailer with the unsellable clothes and someone hauls them away for something, but I forget exactly what right now.  Making rags of or something maybe? 

I heard they use old socks that are not wearable for stuffing displays or something.

How about being more selective about the underwear you buy?  Find a few types you like and then just buy those again in different colors.  Saves money and space and time and stress of having to figure out what to do with them.  Just a thought.

[constanz22]

Jan 4, 2014 11:53:48 GMT -5 Saving4Norway said:

Constanzz - You are doing so well!! Great job!! There even seems to be a lightness in your posts - it seems like you're energized to keep going and going and going.  

Thanks.  I really think the biggest help/factor is that I've been off work since Tuesday at 3:00.  Work just drains the life out of me.  During the week, I work, come home, take care of the dogs, make something quick to eat, but that is IT.  Then on the weekends, I feel like I need to relax and recharge, so I still don't get much done...didn't hurt that we had a nor'easter this week so I wasn't out ramming either.  Haven't left the house since Wed morning for a bit!

[Deleted]

You are all on fire! Fantastic progress!  

I've been unwell for over a week and finally went to the doctor this morning. The meds completely knocked me out so I slept most of today. 

I did bring up the Christmas decoration box, and I got DH's permission to cull some of the old items. The few things that I bought this year will fit in that box now. There will be a second, small box too, for a small light-up seal I found yesterday (50% off) for DS3, who is still obsessed with seals LOL. 

I will take down the tree tomorrow. We usually do it on 6 Jan but that's a school / work day so I'll do it tomorrow instead. 

[FreeSalsa]

You guys are all so funny lately!

I also read that Helen Reddy and was thinking you were giving us a super-woman power song to get us through our declutter days!  Of course, I think the song is about women's lib, which does not exactly jive with us cleaning our houses!  It made me smile anyway.

I also liked the PW FB page though I may not do any of the challenges.  I have a to do list for the weekend and we'll see how much I get done.  I feel like I'm coming down with something so I'm going to try to get some rest between chores.

[constanz22]

UGH, the PW task for today is luggage and tote bags.  I don't think I can tackle that today.  I think I was overly ambitious at what I could accomplish today after being pretty productive yesterday.  I'm beat, sore, and starting to get a headache.  May have to save that one for another time...

[Chocolate Lover]

I have shredded 2 Wal-Mart bags full of paper and filled 3 small paper bags with paper recycle so far today. I still have stuff to file and coupons to go through but I can see the flat surfaces in my kitchen!

[NastyWoman]

Does a free "score" count? I read the insert of last week's power bill last night (was going to throw it out) and it had some interesting info on it -> we can bring in 2 boxes of paper to be shredded in about 6 weeks or so. I am talking about large boxes here the moving kind and my shitepile reduction always stops when I overtax my shredder. And then it lasts weeks before I get back to it. Last year I took advantage of this annual event for the first time and my boxes were so heavy, I had a hard time lifting them. LOL. So going to do this again...
Also the annual clean-up campaign will be a few weeks later, so I will get prepared for that too. I so love letting others do the dragging away work for me

ETA that was a little confusing -> I do not get weekly power bills, I just received the latest last week LOL.

[Malarky]

A couple of people have posted about having a lot of shredding to do. I try to shred as I go along, but when I have a ton, rather than burn out the machine, I keep it in the kitchen and just do a few sheets every time I'm in there.  I never do enough to get the motor hot. 

I've been known to leave a folder next to it that says "Shred Me" so the kids will help. 

[Chocolate Lover]

I'm beyond a simple shred me pile Malarky. I need to burn most of my backlog or find one of those places I can take it to a commercial sized machine. I have a box that held 10 teams of paper that's almost full of crap to shred.  I did get it all handled today though and am down to that step now. Woo hoo!

4 hours it took but I did it! 

[kilroy]

That's a lot of shredding!  I'm grateful that our co-op sponsors a shredding day in the spring and all we do is collect stuff throughout the year & then take it to the big truck.

[Chocolate Lover]

It is! I'm ashamed to say there was junk mail and such that was 2 years old in these piles. Wait, it's 2014, there were coupons from 2011 in there.    

[NastyWoman]

Jan 4, 2014 16:37:29 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I'm beyond a simple shred me pile Malarky. I need to burn most of my backlog or find one of those places I can take it to a commercial sized machine. I have a box that held 10 teams of paper that's almost full of crap to shred.  I did get it all handled today though and am down to that step now. Woo hoo!

4 hours it took but I did it! 

That's me CCL,  and it is the reason I am so happy about that shredding program. Clean-up day.  I just drive my boxes over and the paperwork is shredded right there and then.  I can also take e-waste to be disposed of at the same time and some other PITA items to get rid off.  The program is so popular that they require proof of residency to be able to use it.  I pay a few dollars every month on my utility bill, whether I use it or not, so I might as well get something out of it   and besides, I am too disorganized for a regular shred it as you go situation...

[Chocolate Lover]

I do have a free day at the coming, hazardous stuff, electronics, I suppose I could take all the shred stuff too...... we also have to prove residency to it all.

[mizbear]

I got more accomplished today than what it looks like on paper, but that's fine. I am getting ready to go permanently mute my mother's TV if I have to listen to this CD one more time...

I have over a month of healthy meals ready to go- granted they are all chili, but that's fine- they are also all veg.

[Malarky]

So today I did very little decluttering. I recycled 6 phone books but I put a case of mason jars in it's place.  I needed more because I keep running out when I batch cook.  I freeze soups and stocks in them.  Today was tomato basil soup, tomorrow I'll do pumpkin. 

I know all the work I did yesterday made a huge difference, a friend stopped by today.  People we know just walk in.  I heard him yell:  "Holy shit!!!  Someone stole all your stuff."   

Edited for spelling.

[KaraBoo]

Malarky - question- you freeze soups in mason jars? How? I'd be afraid of breaking the jars. Do you Stack them? How do you store them?

Do tell! Inquiring minds want to know!!

[chalupabatman]

Weekend list

* Pick up daughter's new bed from store and put it together
* put new sheets and comforter on bed
* Re-arrange daughter's room (they will be sharing)
* Vacuum cob webs up by daughter's skylight
* Take down our Christmas decorations
* prep living room and toy room to be painted
* paint living room and toy room
* touch up ceilings and trim

Friday's list

* catch up on laundry
* clean daughter's room
* vacuum living room
* vacuum daughter's room
* take recycling out to garage
* tidy up shoes by front entrance
* empty garbage cans
* clean kitchen counters
* balance checkbook

I did 2 loads of laundry (3 left until we are completely done) and went through DD's room and found a few things to donate.  Took a nap with DD while my husband set up the bed.  I am tired today and the nap made it worse   I want to put away 3 loads of laundry, pack up and count the items being donated, and empty the downstairs garbage cans tonight.  We also plan on prepping the living room, but I am not sure how much help I will be at that point. 

I love shredding papers! I asked DH for a shredder for Christmas a few years ago and almost burned it out the first time I used it.  Right now I am pretty caught up on paperwork, but it took a long time to get to that point!

Our DD's room is very small, we knew it would be tight with both the crib and bed, but it ended up being impossible to make it work.  We took down the crib and once the baby grows out of the bassinette it looks like we will assemble it and put it in the corner of our living room.  We wanted to find another home once DD started school, but that is unrealistic at this point.  I feel really bad that I pushed so hard to buy this home.  It doesn't fit our needs at all and we both hate it. 

[busymom]

Because of the chilling cold, DD's college decided to allow the students to return to campus one day early. So, last night we quickly got her packed up, & today I drove her back to campus.

Tonight I've been going through DS's & DH's dresser drawers, & throwing out everything that's got a hole in it, that doesn't have enough fabric around it to repair. (Boy, menfolk are HARD on their clothes!)  I stopped at 44 items, because when I add that to the 44 I've already thrown out, I'm up to 88 so far this year.

The weather is supposed to continue to be bad for at least 2 more days, so I'm either going to organize paperwork, or do another major purge.  I'll see what I'm in the mood to do tomorrow.  The cold is supposed to be so bad, they've actually cancelled church services just north of me.  I don't even remember that ever happening around here. 

[tcu2003]

We spent the day playing tourists in our area, so not much in the house got done. I did do PW's challenge of going through bags/totes/luggage this evening, and added some totes and purses to my donate pile. So far I'm liking his simple challenges - they're small things I can manage after I put DS to sleep.

[Saving4Norway]

I'm a shred-as-you-go kind of gal.

[Deleted]

Malarky, your friend's comment made me laugh!

The tree is outside waiting to be chopped up for firewood, and all the decorations are packed away in the box. There's a lot more room inside because I made DH go through about 10 years of Christmas cards, and he got rid of most of them. I'm waiting for DS1 to wake up so I can put the box back in the basement.

It looks likes the seal will be hanging around for a while though LOL.

I also got a small tub for the weights DH keeps under the bed. 

ETA: The decoration box is back in the basement, and the Christmas tree is chopped up. 

[WholeLottaNothin]

Didn't make it to rescue mission but did get a few more things in the donte bag. And DH decided to go through his shirts and pants and added a few things too. Still got a lot to do but I'm feeling pretty good about the challenge this time around. 

[dogmom]

Excellent jobs EVERYONE!  I've been following along...  Yesterday was a good day.  Took down the Christmas tree and packed everything up.  Vacuumed the tree needles and tinsel (what there was of it).  And took the Christmas lights down from the picture window...  But since I was there, I cleaned the sills and put up plastic sheeting (Midwest cold front coming through), washed the thermal curtains and put them back up.  Still have a bit of dusting to do.  Put plastic up on a couple of other windows so, those sills are also clean.  Also cleaned out all my dresser drawers and have a donation bag set to go.  I think today will be clean out the linen closet.  Too much stuff in there.  And before I forget, thanks for the PW facebook tip.  Looks interesting. 

Stay warm everyone!

[plugginaway22]

Day 4:  (Sat) kept up with everything mainly because of the cold weather and not leaving the house.  Worked on my and DH closets, got another bag of donates.  Also did about 3 loads of laundry, made a casserole, now for today my goal is more laundry and organizing to get DS ready for back to school next week.  More bad weather predicted for the next few days so that should help me stay on task! 
Reading what you are all accomplishing is very motivating to me.