2021 Declutter Stuff & Organize Your Life

[startsmart]

Here's what I'd like to accomplish by Saturday:
- paint the first half of my closet
- touch up paint around bathtub surround
- wash the dog blankets and sheets at laundry mat
- plant the rest of the tulip bulbs
- empty the pool before it rains again
- move the rest of the boxes to the 3rd floor
- clean up broken glass on 2nd floor

The closet needs a second coat but that's the lowest priority because it doesn't need to be dry outside  
I've planted 100 of the tulip bulbs, another 75 or so to go.
Pool is slowly getting empty but I'll need to work on it more next week. 

[debthaven]

startsmart i can't wait till you have your own washer/dryer! but not as much as you lol.

[TheOtherMe]

Oct 22, 2021 11:48:16 GMT -5 startsmart said:

TheO - I'm not a fan of folding either so I try to divide it all up. I'll pull stuff out of the clean basket/bag and make a pile for towels, shirts to hang, pajamas, socks/panties, etc. Then I only have to do one smaller pile at a time until it's done. Now, I do have a chair full of sheets and blankets that I washed this week and have yet to fold so mileage may vary  

This is my trick too.  I do hang the shirts right away because I am not going to iron.  I also have two loads of towels that I keep on the furniture to try to keep some cat hair off of it.  I put those right back on the furniture.

Now a trick to empty the dishwasher  

[startsmart]

A storm woke me up at 4:30 this morning and I couldn’t fall back asleep so I’m already exhausted! The storm soaked us pretty well this morning and I am so happy to have my house (mostly) water tight.

So far today I’ve made Curry Mac and Cheese, taken out a bunch of trash, sewn a lot, worked on the pantry set up and started taking down walls upstairs.

While the last owner took out the plaster (from the lathe and plaster 110 year old walls), there is still a lot of trim to remove and some rooms which were halfway done. I think I’m going to set a goal of 20 min per day and filling 2 small trash cans for the trash because it’ll all need to be removed so I can hire out the electrical. Thankfully the plaster comes off very easily with a hammer and crowbar.


Next up I’ll be doing the second coat of paint in the closet. The pieces I need at IKEA are not in stock but as soon as they are I need to place my order.

[Lizard Queen]

The good news is the bottom half of my fridge looks sparkling clean. The bad news is, I lost probably a 1/2 bottle of wine.

[laterbloomer]

Ok, so a new project list has emerged.
1. Paint the inside of my bedroom closets and the armour I've set in there.
2. Paint the wooden spindles on the half wall between my kitchen and hallway.
3. Pick up picture frames at dollar store for ISO's family pictures.
4. Wash living room rug.
There is something else that escapes me at the moment. I will add it when I remember.

[debthaven]

i managed to do shitepile yesterday! that's about all i've done besides sleep. the painkillers knock me out. 

starting today the nurse comes every 48h to change the dressing. i managed to shower and wash my hair on my own (dh was on standby). once she comes i'll have a smaller dressing.

i also started some laundry.

ps this morning i finally did a bunch of things i've wanted to do for ages: 
- i put away 2 pairs of sandals (no more sandals this year)
- i took the new inflatable kiddie pool down to the basement
- i cleared off the top of the kitchen buffet (to make room for my dressings)
- i put in some job 2 marks
- i put kids' mail in their rooms  
- i started a bag of batteries/ink/light bulbs for recycling
- i put away some empty jars
- i straightened out the "tupperware"

it feels good to finally have the time/energy to do these things.

[laterbloomer]

ok today's to do wish list;
- empty van for winterizing, including the the black and grey water tanks
- get my nails done
- ISO's laundry
- walk the dogs 4 kms
- go to grocery store for asparagus and 4% cottage cheese

[stillmovingforward]

Oct 24, 2021 9:59:31 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

ok today's to do wish list;
- empty van for winterizing, including the the black and grey water tanks
- get my nails done
- ISO's laundry
- walk the dogs 4 kms
- go to grocery store for asparagus and 4% cottage cheese
- clean bathroom

I can hear your van crying now! It wants to be used this winter! That's the best time.

[laterbloomer]

Oct 24, 2021 11:55:29 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Oct 24, 2021 9:59:31 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

ok today's to do wish list;
- empty van for winterizing, including the the black and grey water tanks
- get my nails done
- ISO's laundry
- walk the dogs 4 kms
- go to grocery store for asparagus and 4% cottage cheese
- clean bathroom

I can hear your van crying now! It wants to be used this winter! That's the best time.

It's my dream to do that but I need a road trip I can do there and back in a week from Toronto. And going somewhere warm. Any suggestions?

[stillmovingforward]

Oct 24, 2021 12:40:08 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Oct 24, 2021 11:55:29 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

I can hear your van crying now! It wants to be used this winter! That's the best time.

It's my dream to do that but I need a road trip I can do there and back in a week from Toronto. And going somewhere warm. Any suggestions?

Warm? No idea. I just get in my rv and drive in any direction without storms in the foreseeable future. Mine is very well insulated plus I have add-on insulation I can put up if needed. It works for extreme heat as well!
Being parked in an rv in a rainy windy storm is delightful (driving, not so much)!
Route planning is for the weak. 🙃
Keep the water and propane tanks full and the others empty 😄

[laterbloomer]

Oct 24, 2021 13:05:16 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Oct 24, 2021 12:40:08 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

It's my dream to do that but I need a road trip I can do there and back in a week from Toronto. And going somewhere warm. Any suggestions?

Warm? No idea. I just get in my rv and drive in any direction without storms in the foreseeable future. Mine is very well insulated plus I have add-on insulation I can put up if needed. It works for extreme heat as well!
Being parked in an rv in a rainy windy storm is delightful (driving, not so much)!
Route planning is for the weak. 🙃
Keep the water and propane tanks full and the others empty 😄

"Route planning is for the weak." 🤣🤣 some day I hope to do that. I'm not there yet. My van also has a furnace etc. But in February I'm looking to get away from winter for a while, for my mental health.

[startsmart]

Much more lazy weekend this time but I did get some stuff done!

- made chicken tortilla soup
- baked brownies
- cleaned the kitchen
- took down more plaster upstairs
- prepped a bunch of receipts to be scanned
- watered the mums
- bought straw for the garden
- second coat of paint in the closet
- finished another book (56 for the year!)

[stillmovingforward]

I wish cleaning my house was as fun as cleaning my rv.

[laterbloomer]

Oct 24, 2021 9:59:31 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

ok today's to do wish list;
- empty van for winterizing, including the the black and grey water tanks
- get my nails done
- ISO's laundry
- walk the dogs 4 kms
- go to grocery store for asparagus and 4% cottage cheese

I got everything done except totally clearing out the van. Emptied the tanks, just need to bring in some food and clothes I leave in there for the season. I also managed to hem 2 pair of pants for ISO. A productive day.

[toomuchreality]

Oct 24, 2021 11:55:29 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Oct 24, 2021 9:59:31 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

ok today's to do wish list;
- empty van for winterizing, including the the black and grey water tanks
- get my nails done
- ISO's laundry
- walk the dogs 4 kms
- go to grocery store for asparagus and 4% cottage cheese
- clean bathroom

I can hear your van crying now! It wants to be used this winter! That's the best time.

One more time, at least! 😉

[laterbloomer]

Oct 24, 2021 0:48:00 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Ok, so a new project list has emerged.
1. Paint the inside of my bedroom closets and the armour I've set in there.
2. Paint the wooden spindles on the half wall between my kitchen and hallway.
3. Pick up picture frames at dollar store for ISO's family pictures.
4. Wash living room rug.
There is something else that escapes me at the moment. I will add it when I remember.

5. Recover the kitchen chairs! I have the material and the staple gun ready to go!

[toomuchreality]

Oct 24, 2021 20:35:05 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Oct 24, 2021 0:48:00 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Ok, so a new project list has emerged.
1. Paint the inside of my bedroom closets and the armour I've set in there.
2. Paint the wooden spindles on the half wall between my kitchen and hallway.
3. Pick up picture frames at dollar store for ISO's family pictures.
4. Wash living room rug.
There is something else that escapes me at the moment. I will add it when I remember.

5. Recover the kitchen chairs! I have the material and the staple gun ready to go!

Glad you remembered! 😊

[moneysquirrel]

Good morning!

All of you have been doing so much.  I read but didn't post the last few days and all of you have been very busy.  My last week or so has been about as usual -- household chores, classes, errands and crafts.

Today's list:
* Two loads of laundry started  -- One is now finished, other in the dryer
* Dishwasher unloaded
* One area cleaned and organized.  -- Several items trashed
* Repaired my display rack that came apart as I was packing up at the end of the craft show this weekend
* Lesson for this week's class printed.
This week: 
* Need to renew at least one item on Etsy -- Will need to do a few others this week.
* Need to calculate and send in state and local taxes for craft show  -- will do later this week as I also have another show Saturday.  This way I can save on postage.
* Need to remake one of the holiday earrings that sold out.  I plan to only make a few pairs before Friday,
* Paperwork  to do.
* Spreadsheet to work on and another one to update.

[anciana]

You, guys! I can't believe it but we had a successful weekend, and garage has been (mostly) cleaned out. DH needs to install hooks to hang bikes on the ceiling, and two things that are still there can totally go to the basement, but for the most part, it is looking good! We had to put the lawn mower all the way to one end, blocking some of the stuff and I am still not sure if it's enough but we have nowhere else to put it.

Get this though, this garage is a bit shorter and now we're not sure if the car will fit there, after all this work! So I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and next weekend we might be playing musical chairs to see which car fits where. Wish us luck!

[debthaven]

You're so diligent about always keeping on top of everything moneysquirrel ! 

Well done anciana ! Sounds like you guys have made terrific progress! I hope the car fits, but even if not, it's still great progress!

Today was my last day of doing nothing/taking painkillers/napping. I start teaching again tomorrow morning online. I'll keep taking the painkillers at night but I can't take them during the day when I'm working.

Getting a much-needed haircut tomorrow afternoon (plus I won't have to wash my hair! As you can imagine, showering is difficult these days). My hairdresser is around the corner, so I can walk there.

I'm SO grateful for this break, I really needed it!!!

[Iggy aka IG]

Mice are gross.  That is all.    

Over the weekend:
5 loads laundry including the guest bed sheets
Dusted the rec room, guest room, and our bedroom
Moved the recliners and side table so DH could vacuum behind them
Did other mouse patrol duties 
Decorated the rec room and our front door
Unloaded and refilled the dishwasher at least twice
Refilled the ice trays and Keurig
Made a lasagna for a neighbor going through tough times
Read, played Words w/ Friends, watched a few football games and DVR programs, talked to mom
Processed boiled eggs and produce for the week
Meal and grocery planned

[nikiz628]

Iggy aka IG- Mice are THE WORST! 

[TheOtherMe]

Mice are the worst.  If I get any this fall, I hope the cats will alert me and I can get my DN3 to stop by and set traps.  He knows I consider a mouse an emergency.

I've never had a cat who actually killed them but they let me know they are present.  

We were going to have a picture hanging party of all the family photos but since BIL is having surgery, that is on hold for however long.  I've contacted the organizer to see if that is something she helps with.  It's more than a one person job.  If she does, I will have her come and then we will declutter in the time left.

[startsmart]

Busy work day today and then I had to go pick up the items that I won at auction. I got a really cool chair, a vintage step stool that I'm going to remodel, an antique secretarial cabinet, small file cabinet, mason jars, some quilt hangers and a few other small items. OH, and the thing everyone needs in the winter: an ice cream maker! 

Oddly, I get much better deals buying out of season like this. One of my best finds was a space heater that sells for $50 that I got for $15 in mid-July. Now that it's much cooler at night I could probably resell for double if I didn't have a big old house to heat.  

Anywho, I might just get my slow cooker back out of the cabinet and make another batch of chicken tortilla soup. The peppers are still growing and will be ready to harvest in a few more days. I just throw in some chicken breasts, chicken stock, peas, corn, tomatoes from the garden, green peppers from the garden, onion and a few corn tortillas and a couple hours later: soup! 

[TheOtherMe]

startsmart  Is it an old fashioned crank ice cream maker or a new fangled electric ice cream maker?

One of my best memories is all the uncles cranked ice cream for us.  

[finnime]

For several weeks now I've been taking one big thing out with the trash to be picked up. This week was an acrylic display stand that rotated we had in the basement. If filled 2 contractor's bags: gone! Last week was a four-part aluminum ladder that had two of the hinges stuck, locked in a partially open position that I couldn't budge. It was picked up minutes after I put it out. This is bearing some results already: areas of our home aren't quite so overwhelming.

I'm also picking through clothing, packing away summer wear and donating 2 bags full to the Vietnam vets this morning. I want to clear out entirely a double freestanding wardrobe I've been using and get rid of it, too. Preparatory to having the house painted, and eventually ready for sale. Since the house was built in 1945 it has smaller closets.

Getting there. Not very fast, but getting there.

[nikiz628]

I spent 3 hours cleaning the upstairs playroom last week. I didn't do a thorough toy clean out, but I did fill 2 trash bags full of old toys to sell/donate, as well as an old plastic crayola desk. We have two closets built into the knee wall that are full of toys that the kids weren't regularly playing with (so they didnt need to be out in the room). THAT is where I need to do the major cleanout. I am hoping to do this before Christmas gifts start rolling in. 

Today's goal is to organize my masterbedroom/business work space. I am prepping for my first vendor event so I have boxes EVERYWHERE. I need to go through, organize that stuff, get my open orders completed and packed for pickups, and then clean up the room. I cannot wait until we build my new workspace in our garage. I am tired of this stuff drowning out our bedroom. 

[TheOtherMe]

Scheduled the organizer for November.  There's much to still be done--especially since I added the boxes of my mom and dad's stuff.  I haven't been through those to see how much of it I want to keep let alone figure out where it goes.

[toomuchreality]

Oct 26, 2021 9:10:29 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

Scheduled the organizer for November.  There's much to still be done--especially since I added the boxes of my mom and dad's stuff.  I haven't been through those to see how much of it I want to keep let alone figure out where it goes.

I was surprised how much of my parents stuff I brought home, then decided I didn't want/need it. Luckily I had neighbors who wanted the stuff I didn't.

Having someone there with you, when you go through stuff is so helpful. Your organizer sounds fabulous!
How did you find them?