2017 Declutter and Organization Thread

[debthaven]

You ladies are doing great!

The shock absorbers did not come in, so my appt at the garage was postponed.

This week
- change DS1's sheets (Wed)
- write exam section (Wed)
- bottle bank (Wed)
- pick up Amazon package (Wed)
- take coat to seamstress (Wed)
- donation bin (Wed)
- garage (Fri)
- see A (Fri)
- pick up coat (Sat)

[wvugurl26]

Linen closet needs work. It's all the other crap stored in there though. The actual linens are used and rotated through regularly.

[jenpen]

Lizard Queen , my approach would be to try to touch each item as few times as possible, otherwise I'd get burnt out on the process pretty quickly. Sorting into subcategories is a good idea, but could you add one category for "Toss" and one for "Donate"? Then, as you do the initial sort, add to those whatever clearly isn't something you want to wear again either because it's in bad shape (toss) or just out of date or no longer your style (donate).



Once you've done that, you could start each subcategory with the question of whether you clearly have "too much" (how ever you want to define that) of one thing? E.g., if you find you have 30 white blouses, decide to keep 5. Pick out your 5 favorites, try them on if you need to. If one doesn't fit or look good on, pick another. Repeat until you have the best 5 of the lot, then put the rest in the donate pile. This saves you from having to try every single thing on while leaving you with "enough" (again, whatever that means to you).



If there's no obvious "too much" of anything (and I will admit, in my mind there is no such thing as having too many grey cardigans), then just attack one subcategory at a time. Eight totes plus your closet sounds like a ton to go through! So maybe do one sub-cat per day, plus whatever you pull out to wear to work each day.



Just some thoughts.... Good luck, and keep us posted on your progress! It's interesting to learn how others approach these major clean-outs.

[Iggy aka IG]

Hi everyone! 

I made the mistake of taking yesterday off.  I feel like I'm drowning here at the office.  Borrowing last week's list:

Focus on office to do's-There are two large stacks with my name on them, as well as 7 voice mail from yesterday, and a few months worth of filing I've been putting off.
Mail out the rest of the 2017 calendars
Walk the treadmill every day
Coordinate meet-ups at my trip destination
Start reading a new book

Adding:
Sweep and dust the office

Have a wonderful week.

[startsmart]

Finally got my car back from all the repairs and need it to not have issues for at least 2 months now. Also, I got 2 coats of paint on the last bit of trim in the master bedroom, pulled the tape and put the furniture back this morning so the master is officially done! I think I'll do the hallway and living room next because I still need to strategize before adding trim to the office or guest room to keep the chaos at bay. 


Jan 1-7th:
go through papers in the office

Jan 8-14th:
Sort through sweaters to donate
buy and attach new gutter downspout in the backyard

Jan 15-21st:
Caulk and paint quarter round in the master bedroom
Paint quarter round in the hall closet
Teach finance class
Pack all the boxes back in the closet
Finish reading 3 books (2/3 done)
Workout 3 more times this week
Bag up stuff for donation
Clean out fridge

[Jaguar]

I walked down to Canadian Tire from the hospital while I waited for my blood to be ready. I got more liners for the cupboards.

[debthaven]

I'd really like to work part time and still be paid for full time. How do I make that happen?

I've been thinking about this. Chloe, does your school require you to teach 5 days a week? I know many MS / HS / college teachers who don't teach 5 days. I have more than a FT university teaching load, but I usually teach 3 days a week (long days though), sometimes 4. I keep Fridays off. The main advantage to being an adjunct is deciding which days I'm available.

This said, I earn shite. Once DS3 graduated HS in July, I intended to work 4 days a week, hence taking that primary job. We all know how that worked out. I am still planning to go up to 4 days, because I need the money. That will definitely happen in Sept, and it may happen sooner. One of my colleagues needs time off, and I've offered to replace him temporarily if the scheduling works out.

Lizard, I think Jen gave you some great suggestions. It sounds like there is a LOT, so I agree, the first thing I'd do is go through everything once and trash / donate the obvious. As for the different sizes, I'd rid of anything that is more than one size bigger or smaller. I too am guilty of keeping clothes I can't fit into anymore, but every time I go through my closet, I manage to part with another one or two of those items.

ETA: One of DS1's 2 duvet covers ripped in the wash (it was OLD), but since he doesn't live here I'm not going to bother replacing it. 

[Lizard Queen]

Thanks for the input, jenpen and debthaven.  I realized that my clothes were sorted pretty well in the totes according to sizes and seasons.  Just one of the totes was gigantic, so there was a variety of pretty much everything in there.  I know I'm supposed to do all this in one go, but I think I'm really going to have to go through clothes twice.  I'm planning on doing 2 garage sales this summer (beginning and end) because I also have a bunch of kids' stuff to get rid of that sells well.  I'll keep the better stuff of mine to see if it sells too.  Donating/trashing the rest.

My goal this year was to just vaguely put in the time for housework on days I didn't have anything else going on.  It's been a rough start so far.  I only did Sunday and Saturday last week.  It was a fail on the rest of the days, but I was pretty sick all week, and had both kids home Monday and Tuesday.

Current declutter amount from memory:  57+24
Stuff set aside to donate/sell is not included in these numbers.

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh 31 Days to Get Organized challenges.

Day 1 - TABLE TOPS
Day 2 - SET UP A DONATION BIN
Day 3 - GIFT BAGS
Day 4 – TACKLE THE FREEZER
Day 5 – UNDER THE SINK
Day 6 – TWO DRAWERS IN YOUR OFFICE (OR ELSEWHERE)
Day 7 – SHOES, SHOES, SHOES
Day 8 – THE CRAZY TANGLE OF CORDS AND CABLES
Day 9 – SOCKS AND UNDIES
Day 10 – SUITCASES AND LUGGAGE
Day 11 – GET BACK IN TOUCH
Day 12 – KITCHEN UTENSIL DRAWER
Day 13 – CONQUER THAT MAIL
Day 14 – CLEANING PRODUCTS IN YOUR LAUNDRY
Day 15 – UNDER THE BED(S) CLUTTER
Day 16 - MAGAZINES
Day 17 – PENS AND PENCILS
Day 18 – BROOMS AND MOPS AND THINGS THAT SWEEP
Day 19 – RECIPES AND COOKBOOKS
Day 20 – YOUR CLOSET (YOU CAN DO IT!)
Day 21 – ONE ‘SECRET’ SPACE
Day 22 – KITCHEN COUNTERS
Day 23 – THE PANTRY
Day 24 – LINEN CUPBOARD


Day 25 – YOUR CAR
It may well be too hot or too cold to tackle the clutter in your car today but give it a shot. If not, let’s hear what you decluttered instead!

[startsmart]

Dropped off another 74 burp rags with the charity today! I have much more to do but painting trim in the hallway is next. 

[Saving4Norway]

Jan 25, 2017 9:16:06 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Thanks for the input, jenpen and debthaven.  I realized that my clothes were sorted pretty well in the totes according to sizes and seasons.  Just one of the totes was gigantic, so there was a variety of pretty much everything in there.  I know I'm supposed to do all this in one go, but I think I'm really going to have to go through clothes twice.  I'm planning on doing 2 garage sales this summer (beginning and end) because I also have a bunch of kids' stuff to get rid of that sells well.  I'll keep the better stuff of mine to see if it sells too.  Donating/trashing the rest.

My goal this year was to just vaguely put in the time for housework on days I didn't have anything else going on.  It's been a rough start so far.  I only did Sunday and Saturday last week.  It was a fail on the rest of the days, but I was pretty sick all week, and had both kids home Monday and Tuesday.

Current declutter amount from memory:  57+24
Stuff set aside to donate/sell is not included in these numbers.

Call me crazy, but.......

I'd think it would be a hoot if a bunch of us could magically get together IRL with cozy blankets and cocoa and "help" Liz sort out her extra clothes by being her (very kind) wardrobe judges. We'd give honest opinions about which colors and styles look best on her. I'd bet she'd be able to whip through the totes in no time.

[jenpen]

Call me crazy, too, cause that sounds like fun! I wish a group of you could have magically shown up at my house last weekend to help cull my wardrobe 

[Lizard Queen]

Jan 25, 2017 19:20:30 GMT -5 Saving4Norway said:

Jan 25, 2017 9:16:06 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Thanks for the input, jenpen and debthaven.  I realized that my clothes were sorted pretty well in the totes according to sizes and seasons.  Just one of the totes was gigantic, so there was a variety of pretty much everything in there.  I know I'm supposed to do all this in one go, but I think I'm really going to have to go through clothes twice.  I'm planning on doing 2 garage sales this summer (beginning and end) because I also have a bunch of kids' stuff to get rid of that sells well.  I'll keep the better stuff of mine to see if it sells too.  Donating/trashing the rest.

My goal this year was to just vaguely put in the time for housework on days I didn't have anything else going on.  It's been a rough start so far.  I only did Sunday and Saturday last week.  It was a fail on the rest of the days, but I was pretty sick all week, and had both kids home Monday and Tuesday.

Current declutter amount from memory:  57+24
Stuff set aside to donate/sell is not included in these numbers.

Call me crazy, but.......

I'd think it would be a hoot if a bunch of us could magically get together IRL with cozy blankets and cocoa and "help" Liz sort out her extra clothes by being her (very kind) wardrobe judges. We'd give honest opinions about which colors and styles look best on her. I'd bet she'd be able to whip through the totes in no time.

Hey--that does sound like fun...come on over!  Party time! 

[startsmart]

Jan 1-7th:
go through papers in the office

Jan 8-14th:
buy and attach new gutter downspout in the backyard

Jan 15-21st:
Finish reading 3 books (2/3 done)
Bag up stuff for donation
Clean out fridge

Jan 22nd-31st:
caulk and paint quarter round in hallway
catch up on laundry
pick up the back yard
mow the front lawn and back lawn
take the last piece of gutters to the

[busymom]

Paid another pile of bills tonight. I declare! The mail truck "threw up" a huge pile of mail for us yesterday.

I also went through my coupon box, & threw out a bunch that had expired.  And, I found a small pile of Christmas catalogs that I'd forgotten about, & got rid of them too.  I still have filing to do, but got distracting today cleaning out my emails.

[plugginaway22]

Everyone seems to making good progress.  I have been mostly paper sorting and pitching, and the more strenuous work has been waiting for another time.  Slipped on ice and fell about 2 weeks ago with injury to lower leg.  Due to this thing called advancing age, it is taking longer to heal than I would have thought.  Anyway, fun making lists and dreaming of what will happen when I am 100%.

[debthaven]

I hope you feel better soon Pluggin.

[debthaven]

This week
- change DS1's sheets (Wed)
- write exam section (Wed)
- bottle bank (Wed)
- pick up Amazon package (Wed)
- take blue coat to seamstress (Wed)
- donation bin (Wed)
- pick up olive oil (Thurs)
- garage (Fri)
- mend grey coat (Fri)
- see A (Fri) She cancelled
- pick up blue coat (Sat)

This is the last weekend without marking for quite a while. 

[Chocolate Lover]

I delcuttered my Bills folder in my email. I had been making one a year until 2012.... now ever year has a folder and is archived in the previous years folder. I even found a receipt for something that keeps showing on my credit report as unpaid, I think. 2 kids had ER visits in back to back years and I think this is the one that is on the report. Crossing my fingers that when I get details I'm right.

[busymom]

Unfortunately, today does NOT count as a productive day. I'd hoped to complete a rollover on an IRA with a former employer, but my old company is in the middle of a transition, so the earliest I'll be able to start that process is next week.

I'm going to swing by the post office, & Bad Boy Puppy needs another bag of food, so I'll get that done before I pick up DS.

[startsmart]

I am seriously de-motivated this week. Aside from a wonky sleep schedule and not having my assistant show up 2 weeks in a row, just trying to get ahead of the messes around the house is driving me batty. I managed to get the hallway trim cleaned and caulked this morning but painting it is going to take some strategy since I KNOW the dogs will run around and I don't want black hair on my white trim. 

I would love to empty out my office and focus on the trim in here but it would mean the rest of the house is a disaster and I am just now getting a handle on the paperwork and donations which are both in my office at the moment.

And to make my day even better I was trying to get salad dressing out of the fridge door and broke a bottle of good wine all over the floor. When I go out later today I'm gonna smell like a wino. RIP wine. 

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh 31 Days to Get Organized challenges.

Day 1 - TABLE TOPS
Day 2 - SET UP A DONATION BIN
Day 3 - GIFT BAGS
Day 4 – TACKLE THE FREEZER
Day 5 – UNDER THE SINK
Day 6 – TWO DRAWERS IN YOUR OFFICE (OR ELSEWHERE)
Day 7 – SHOES, SHOES, SHOES
Day 8 – THE CRAZY TANGLE OF CORDS AND CABLES
Day 9 – SOCKS AND UNDIES
Day 10 – SUITCASES AND LUGGAGE
Day 11 – GET BACK IN TOUCH
Day 12 – KITCHEN UTENSIL DRAWER
Day 13 – CONQUER THAT MAIL
Day 14 – CLEANING PRODUCTS IN YOUR LAUNDRY
Day 15 – UNDER THE BED(S) CLUTTER
Day 16 - MAGAZINES
Day 17 – PENS AND PENCILS
Day 18 – BROOMS AND MOPS AND THINGS THAT SWEEP
Day 19 – RECIPES AND COOKBOOKS
Day 20 – YOUR CLOSET (YOU CAN DO IT!)
Day 21 – ONE ‘SECRET’ SPACE
Day 22 – KITCHEN COUNTERS
Day 23 – THE PANTRY
Day 24 – LINEN CUPBOARD
Day 25 – YOUR CAR


Day 26 - RECEIPTS
Managing paperwork is usually a challenge. Today we're focusing on getting your receipts under control and organized. A little bit of organization will make a huge difference here.

[moneysquirrel]

Updating the list.  Still have a lot of things to do that didn't make the list.  

Need to do several loads of laundry in the next day or two as well as some additional cleaning.

Jan 22, 2017 22:40:36 GMT -5 moneysquirrel said:

My newest list:

Home/Personal

Maintain progress
Clear off the flat surfaces – BR (this is my clutter area) It is better but still has too much stuff on it.
Exercise – Monday
Hair Cut – Wednesday
Tutoring – 2 days 1 hour each  Changed to 1 day for 2 hours
Begin scheduling medical appointments for spring/summer – Need to make 4 medical doctor appointments. Tests appointments will have to be made later. (Dentist already scheduled)
Begin working on taxes – have to wait for several papers to come in before I can do a lot in this area. Still waiting for papers to get more done

School

Sub assignment for field trip on Thursday – create and send to office
Field Trip – Thursday (all permission slips are in)
Schedule Quiz
Upload Quiz to Web – trying out another testing site since the one we currently use is the pits

Crafts – Some will take longer than one week

Continue crocheting baby gift (pattern has 74 rows and 2 ruffles) – hope to get to row 65 this week. I did get to 55+ this past week so this is reachable I think. Reached row 74
Necklaces (6) with summer/spring designs, charms for upcoming spring craft shows

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Saving4Norway, brilliant idea!


debthaven, that's not an option for me unless I work at the alternative school. They work four tens. I prefer where I'm currently teaching. I know I really do work about 3/4 time if I consider that my contract is for 190 days per year; I need to be grateful for that. 


No progress from me this week. I'm in a funk. I think it's a combination of the presidential turbulence, raising teenagers, and winter time.  

[startsmart]

After 4 hours of calls today it feels good to get work done on the house. Sitting too long begins to hurt, even if I got adjusted today. 

I just did the second coat of white paint in the hallway and first in half of the living room. After doing a second coat in the living room I'll be able to more out the couch and dresser and finish up. THEN I can move on to the office and do the trim there. 

After seeing how nice things look I'm really reconsidering if I should paint the kitchen cabinets white as well. I have a few other things on the house list to tackle first but I think it would make a big difference. 

Jan 1-7th:
go through papers in the office

Jan 8-14th:
buy and attach new gutter downspout in the backyard

Jan 15-21st:
Finish reading 3 books (2/3 done)
Bag up stuff for donation
Clean out fridge

Jan 22nd-31st:
caulk and paint quarter round in hallway
catch up on laundry
pick up the back yard
mow the front lawn and back lawn
take the last piece of gutters to the

[debthaven]

2h later, I have new shock absorbers and a new something else (not sure what it's called in English). Total cost 665e with Sat's work, to be paid over 3 months. I'll go back in April for the timing belt.

The car is running great though!

[snapdragon]

Hey everyone!

I have been reading but not doing much of anything right now.

I do have the Marie Kondo book and have read the first 2-3 chapters. I really need to get back to that. Though it won't be tonight or Saturday. 

Maybe Sunday?

Here's a half thought out list - 

Strip bed and wash/replace sheets blankets.
Shred paperwork that I have found.
Fold and put away laundry.
Vacuum whole house. Wipe down bathroom and kitchen floors.
Figure out what I am making for dinner most of next week.
        

[Iggy aka IG]

Jan 24, 2017 13:08:52 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Hi everyone! 

I made the mistake of taking yesterday off.  I feel like I'm drowning here at the office.  Borrowing last week's list:

Focus on office to do's-There are two large stacks with my name on them, as well as 7 voice mail from yesterday, and a few months worth of filing I've been putting off.
Mail out the rest of the 2017 calendars
Walk the treadmill every day
Coordinate meet-ups at my trip destination
Start reading a new book

Adding:
Sweep and dust the office

Have a wonderful week.

Anddddddd now I've caught the crud that has been going around for a few weeks.  My asthma is not happy.  Managed to get through one of the desk stacks and the voice mail earlier this week.  More calendars were mailed out Wed night.

Going to do little as possible today, get through my 2PM appt, and go home early.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone.

[debthaven]

My depressed / widowed friend cancelled, so I went through my closet.

I took out 3 designer outfits my late / ex MIL gave me AGES ago. I will never fit into them again, plus they're too "young" for me. If DD doesn't want them (I doubt she will) I'll take them to a consignment shop or donate them. I've been keeping them for sentimental reasons, at least they're finally out of my closet. Got rid of a few other things too, so there's more room.

I also did all 4 shelves.

There is currenly a pile on the floor of DS2's room.   

Jenpen, you said you had lots of cardigans ... how do you store them? Hanging? Folded? I'm considering putting hooks or nails on the inside of my closet doors for them. I have quite a few long ones (to cover my butt) so they take up too much room when they're folded.

ETA: Sorry I know I've asked this before but how do you tag someone?

[tcu2003]

Peter Walsh 31 Days to Get Organized challenges.

Day 1 - TABLE TOPS
Day 2 - SET UP A DONATION BIN
Day 3 - GIFT BAGS
Day 4 – TACKLE THE FREEZER
Day 5 – UNDER THE SINK
Day 6 – TWO DRAWERS IN YOUR OFFICE (OR ELSEWHERE)
Day 7 – SHOES, SHOES, SHOES
Day 8 – THE CRAZY TANGLE OF CORDS AND CABLES
Day 9 – SOCKS AND UNDIES
Day 10 – SUITCASES AND LUGGAGE
Day 11 – GET BACK IN TOUCH
Day 12 – KITCHEN UTENSIL DRAWER
Day 13 – CONQUER THAT MAIL
Day 14 – CLEANING PRODUCTS IN YOUR LAUNDRY
Day 15 – UNDER THE BED(S) CLUTTER
Day 16 - MAGAZINES
Day 17 – PENS AND PENCILS
Day 18 – BROOMS AND MOPS AND THINGS THAT SWEEP
Day 19 – RECIPES AND COOKBOOKS
Day 20 – YOUR CLOSET (YOU CAN DO IT!)
Day 21 – ONE ‘SECRET’ SPACE
Day 22 – KITCHEN COUNTERS
Day 23 – THE PANTRY
Day 24 – LINEN CUPBOARD
Day 25 – YOUR CAR
Day 26 - RECEIPTS

Day 27 – MUGS AND CUPS AND DRINKING THINGS
Cups, mugs and all things sippy-cup related. Today’s challenge is about decluttering at least one cupboard in your kitchen and opening up some space there. Also – a bonus tip on how to get your mugs looking like new!