2022 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[Empire the P.A.]

Jan 12, 2022 9:20:15 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

I also packed two more boxes yesterday.

My pace is exactly like your picture. I figure slow and steady is better than doing nothing.

[debthaven]

I emptied that teaching binder at Job 2 today. I recycled 90% of the contents and gave away the binder. I also cleaned out my cubby there. 

To do
- bottle bank/Wed
- bank/Thurs

[startsmart]

I am getting so close to the end of the laundry room floor (step 1) and have 2 more sheets of plywood to install, one around the utility sink pipes, the other in the half bath around those pipes.

Then I absolutely have to deal with all the crap which came OUT of the laundry room and decide where it goes. I’m thinking upstairs in a storage bedroom. It’s mostly paint and accessories, tools, and electrical components for the upstairs. Oh and cleaning stuff.

Hoping to get that looking good so I can have the house clean before friends on Friday and maybe pour the self leveling floor this weekend? It’s supposed to snow again so who knows. While that dries I will have to take the dogs out front so they don’t ruin the floor so we will see.

[Iggy aka IG]

nikiz628, can the Spin mop be used to clean a huge tub?  Inquiring minds. 

This week's primary focus has been using up food sitting on the main counter brought in during the holidays, as well as the produce drawer.  This morning, DH ate the rest of the spice cake given to us from our neighbors, last night I ate two pieces of See's candy, packed the last one in my lunch and tossed the box, Monday night I served the last rather sad avocado with supper, bagged up the holiday M & M's, put them in DH's lunchbox, and washed the candy dish.  The counter is now cleared off of all food except the fruit holder.  

The produce drawer has been "decluttered" except for tomorrow night's yellow squash and zucchini.  It is time for a good fridge scrubbing and grocery shop.

[catsareme]

Does cleaning out the glove box in the car and truck count?  

[anciana]

Jan 12, 2022 16:38:23 GMT -5 catsareme said:

Does cleaning out the glove box in the car and truck count?  

I say we count that! And then I'll count cleaning out my purse and decluttering some old receipts and stuff last weekend as well; it sounds more and more like I did something 

[catsareme]

Jan 12, 2022 16:48:35 GMT -5 anciana said:

Jan 12, 2022 16:38:23 GMT -5 catsareme said:

Does cleaning out the glove box in the car and truck count?  

I say we count that! And then I'll count cleaning out my purse and decluttering some old receipts and stuff last weekend as well; it sounds more and more like I did something 

Ooh, I like that idea.  I cleaned out my purse too.  3 things decluttered and it was easy to do!!

[anciana]

Jan 12, 2022 16:52:38 GMT -5 catsareme said:

Jan 12, 2022 16:48:35 GMT -5 anciana said:

I say we count that! And then I'll count cleaning out my purse and decluttering some old receipts and stuff last weekend as well; it sounds more and more like I did something 

Ooh, I like that idea.  I cleaned out my purse too.  3 things decluttered and it was easy to do!!

I gotta start with small wins once again since the previous plan didn't work so well for me. So, I am all for celebrating ALL the wins right now!

[Empire the P.A.]

www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/storage-ideas-hacks/how-to-organize-your-home/?cid=eo_em_mkt_newsletter

I copied what I wanted to tackle for myself from their list of 30:

"What about your space is making you feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed?" 

4. Create a System for Your Entryway
Set up a "command center" so your front door doesn't become a lawless accessories arena, especially during winter months. Add hooks for coats, bins for shoes, and a mail sorter if you need it. - I try but it is a constant battle, some days I just want to chuck out everything thats collected by the door.

7. Pare Down Your Utensils
You've accumulated several dozen kitchen utensils in your culinary career: can openers, microplanes, four wine openers (what?!). Cut back the collection and use drawer dividers to keep the rest in order. - Drawer dividers I have. Just so many odd shaped utensils.

8. Reconfigure Your Pots and Pans
Stop digging around in your shelves for the oversized, cast-iron skillet. Donate the pots and pans you hardly use and install cupboard organizers to help manage the rest. - I need more storage in my small kitchen!

10. Stack Your Pantry Staples
Make better use of your pantry by sorting through your staple dry goods — think flour, sugar, pasta, oatmeal, dry beans — and put them in airtight, stackable containers. You'll free up a ton of space, too. - I shop BJs and Costco I would need a ridiculous amount of containers to do this. 

11. Downsize Your Kitchen Gadgets
You had noble intentions when you purchased that spiralizer. (Zucchini noodles every night, right?) Give those space hogs to someone else with lofty dreams. - I have a problem. 

13. Sort Your Food Storage Containers
No singles allowed. Toss any tops or bottoms that have no mates. - Started kinda. Worn out ones are getting tossed after I use them.

16. Put Clothes on New Hangers
Switch your clothes over to the slimmer, grabbier hangers. They use less space and keep your clothes from sliding down to your closet floor. As you do this, discard the clothes you never wear. - I’m trying! Clothes just keep multiplying. 

20. Shred Old Paperwork
Not every form, statement, and tax record needs to stay in your filing cabinet forever. Check out this list to make sure you're not wasting space. Shred the rest to ward off identity thieves. - Started .

21. Tidy Your Files
Now that you've shredded unnecessary paperwork, tidy up your files by organizing them and labeling them clearly. Colorful folders can help organize by theme (home stuff, tax stuff, work stuff, etc.). Started  .

22. Get Rid of Mystery Electronics
Admit it. You've got a drawer where black mystery cords, chargers, and oddball electronic bits go to die. Free up that drawer for better uses or at least get rid of the items you know for sure are "dead." - I have this fear that I throw out something essential. 

23. Pare Down Your Personal Care Stuff
Your intentions were honorable when you bought that curl-enhancing shampoo — but it expired two years ago, and you haven't used it since. Throw away any expired potions, salves, hair products, and medicines. - I’m better at doing this now. 

28. Organize Your Junk Drawer for Good
There's no shame in a junk drawer, but why not organize it? the whole thing on one surface and sort everything into piles. Use drawer dividers to keep each pile in its own space. I have more than one junk drawer  .

[Opti]

I dropped off a small bag to the clothing bin today. Found the slip that went with the wedding dress when doing the hall closet, so I put it in a bag with a few other things and dropped it off after food errands. More to do, but sometimes just getting whatever it is out the door feels good.

[CCL]

Went thru my pots and pans and matched them up with the lids. I had 11 lids with no pot or pan that fit lol. So they are gone.

[finnime]

Realtor came yesterday. We're going to hire him; DH and I both liked him very much. He thought a lot of the house and admired our recent efforts. We do have some biggish things left to do. One he thought we did NOT have to do was refinish our hardwood floors. They are generally in good shape but have a few spots that are worn. He recommended we do something his brother had done with great effect, which was to use Rejuvenate Professional high gloss treatment. So, we're going to do that and save over $2000 - $2500.

Major finishes left: add railing to top the portico, paint sunroom, declutter, declutter, declutter yet more and get rid of some large furniture pieces including a beloved china cabinet--Pennsylvania House, it is part of a set I bought post-divorce just because I wanted it. I'll also get rid of the very large table and chairs that go with it, but keep the server. It's lovely and we can reuse it anywhere we go.

[Iggy aka IG]

Today I'm shipping off four items to a friend in California.  Tomorrow I'll return a sheet pan to a family member from the holiday season.  
Dishes were done last night, and the main counter is finally cleared off.  Here's to my upcoming 3-day weekend.  

[startsmart]

I was not planning on working on the dirt pile today and then the neighbor girls asked if they could fill up my wheelbarrow with dirt. We ended up doing 4 loads and it was great until the mom next door came over to be a general annoying, whining person which I cannot stand. 

Tonight's goal is to install one more sheet of plywood in the laundry room and start working around the back door. 

[debthaven]

startsmart ugh I'm sorry. Is the whiny mom these girls' mom? Because the girls sound like fun!

I have become the QUEEN of procrastination.

Today I:
- finished my Christmas cards (here you can send them through January)
- went to the bank  
- went to the post office  

I also did 2h of teaching on Zoom.  

After reading your posts, I reorganized our food containers and put 6 items in the recycling bin. 

Not going in on Thursdays (till April) is LIFE CHANGING!!! I am SO much happier/less stressed! I feel like I should do something constructive with the extra time, but I don't wanna.

Also, 2 of my 4 faculty students cancelled their next classes. That's the problem with faculty/staff classes. So I'm still worried about working so few hours, and hoping I get 1 more person in February (ideally 2).

I PROMISED DH that I will start catching up on his filing and on Quickbooks ... I'm only 6 months behind. 

This weekend
- Shitepile/Thurs
- buy baby gift for K/Fri
- buy hostess gift for S/Fri
- call car repair about courtesy car bill
- DH's Quickbooks (will be ongoing)

We have to go into town tomorrow, so some of this will get put off till next week. 

[startsmart]

Debt haven - the mom is mom and aunt to the girls (they’re 9-12ish) and so negative. Try to avoid her as much as possible!

Well I got the next big sheet of plywood down on the laundry and fit it around the sink pipes. Thrilling, I know despite being covered in sawdust, I am super proud of getting this done.

One of the reasons that the room is so difficult is that there was an uneven floor, 2 layers of sticky linoleum tiles, THEN the owners put in a half bath so 2 walls on TOP of all this mess, and I’m trying to undo it all.

Cutting plywood that runs under a wall? No fun.

I have got most of the debris cleaned up and 6 day extension on friends visiting (they’re still sick) but if we keep this up I’ll have a totally clean and renovated house in no time!

[wvugurl26]

Statements and things to keep have been filed away. Still need to open the junk mail so it can hit the shred pile.

The last Christmas decorations have been taken down and put away.

It's slowly improving over post Christmas.

[laterbloomer]

This weekend I need to do a food purge. Fridge, freezer, kitchen cupboards and pantry. One thing I'm debating about is keeping my boxes of KD, container of rice and stock of pasta. I don't eat that stuff any more but part of me wants to keep it as an emergency stash in case of power outages or supply chain disruptions. How silly am I being?

[nidena]

Jan 13, 2022 18:48:16 GMT -5 debthaven said:

startsmart ugh I'm sorry. Is the whiny mom these girls' mom? Because the girls sound like fun!

I have become the QUEEN of procrastination.

Today I:
- finished my Christmas cards (here you can send them through January)
- went to the bank  
- went to the post office  

I also did 2h of teaching on Zoom.  

After reading your posts, I reorganized our food containers and put 6 items in the recycling bin. 

Not going in on Thursdays (till April) is LIFE CHANGING!!! I am SO much happier/less stressed! I feel like I should do something constructive with the extra time, but I don't wanna.

Also, 2 of my 4 faculty students cancelled their next classes. That's the problem with faculty/staff classes. So I'm still worried about working so few hours, and hoping I get 1 more person in February (ideally 2).

I PROMISED DH that I will start catching up on his filing and on Quickbooks ... I'm only 6 months behind. 

This weekend
- Shitepile/Thurs
- call hospital for receipt for insurance/Fri
- call car repair about courtesy car bill/Fri
- DH's Quickbooks (will be ongoing)

We have to go into town tomorrow, so some of this will get put off till next week. 

Purposely doing nothing IS constructive.  It's how you rejuvenate the creative juices.

[Sharon]

There is so much that needs to be done around my place so I have been trying to do a little bit each day.  Monday I worked in the yard for almost two hours cutting back on this big bush that restricts the sight line for pulling out onto my street.  The speed limit is 40mph and people frequently go much faster.  I hauled all the debris back to the burn pile which is quite a walk.  There is still more to go on the bush but it was getting dark, and cold, and I was so tired I called it a night. 

Tuesday I caught up with the shredding and then took the rest of the evening off because I was still tired and stiff and sore from Mondays' work.

Wednesday I ended up doing a grocery order since my car has been in the shop for over a week.  DD picked up my groceries for me.  I also ordered a pizza and had her pick that up too so they stayed for dinner.  DSIL moved my small sewing table in from the garage and into the sewing room for me. 

Today I cleaned the bathrooms and did a laundry load of towels.  The dishwasher also got ran today.

If Knee Deep in Water Chloe or finnime lived closer I would pass along my moving boxes.  The pile of empty boxes in my shop is impressive and most of them are flattened.

[debthaven]

This weekend
- Shitepile/Thurs
- buy baby gift for K/Fri
- buy hostess gift for S/Fri
- send hospital bill to insurance/Fri
- call mechanic about courtesy car bill
- DH's Quickbooks (will be ongoing)

[snapdragon]

Jan 13, 2022 20:53:19 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

This weekend I need to do a food purge. Fridge, freezer, kitchen cupboards and pantry. One thing I'm debating about is keeping my boxes of KD, container of rice and stock of pasta. I don't eat that stuff any more but part of me wants to keep it as an emergency stash in case of power outages or supply chain disruptions. How silly am I being?

If there is quite a bit extra than I would donate it to a food bank or shelter and keep maybe 1 or 2 boxes of pasta and the rice -- unless you have neighbors with teenagers and you could give/donate to them because "extra"?

That would help you on the clutter front and I believe make you feel better about having so much extra.


"If Treading Water Chloe or finnime lived closer I would pass along my moving boxes. The pile of empty boxes in my shop is impressive and most of them are flattened." 
Sharon  -- is there a FB or offer up or nextdoor in your new area that you could post the moving boxes on to get them out of your way? 

[snapdragon]

Today after work is going to be writing up and photos of my donation pile. Than boxing so I can donate it tomorrow. 

I also need to get my photos off the phone for tax purposes so I should do that on the way back home.

[nidena]

The day after I took all the clothes to Clothes Mentor, they called me.  Apparently, they paid me for an item that they accidentally put back in the box and they kept an item that they forgot to pay me for.  I drove back up there yesterday to give them the dress and receive the $5.70 for the pants.  At 26 miles, roundtrip, I netted $2.50 on that trip so I'm not gonna fret.  lol.  I also dropped the flooring samples back off to the flooring company.

Today is going to be working on my website.  I'm aiming to get through all the "L" stores today.  So many La and Le named places, it's like Little France in the US.  Not to mention the Lace and Lady names.

But first...a walk through the state park.

[seriousthistime]

For the past few days I have not been working on the paper monster but I have accomplished other things that needed to be done.  So I have not been idle. 

[nikiz628]

Jan 12, 2022 16:16:12 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

nikiz628 , can the Spin mop be used to clean a huge tub?  Inquiring minds. 

Oh I bet it could!!! 

[nikiz628]

DS2's room took me an entire day, but it is finished (minus shampooing the carpet). We took down his nursery/toddler decor and put up his "big kid" decor. It broke my heart a little since he is our last kiddo. 

I can't remember if I shared it here or not but I am scheduled to have carpal and cubital tunnel surgery on my right (dominant) arm on 1/24. I am trying to get as much done in my house as possible before then. I know for sure I am fully restricted for 2 weeks. Then the stitches come out and I am on light duty only/no heavy lifting for awhile. The surgeon said it could be a full 8 weeks before I am feeling "normal" again. I am dreading being out of commission but I am actually looking forward to getting this surgery. I am so tired of living with pain in my wrists and elbows. I plan to declutter my DVR and my netflix/hulu/hbo max to watch lists while I am recovering lol. And to finish Outlander book 3 if I can manage to hold it open. 

Rooms left to deep clean: 
Master Bed (the current catch all of things that didnt belong in other rooms, its a nightmare right now) 
Upstairs bonus room
Finish the kitchen (clean the walls, floors, appliances) 

Then on to the basement and garage when I can.

[megaptera]

The clothing purge went relatively well. I've got a large plastic bag to take to Goodwill. I'm sure I'll get rid of more come packing/moving time.

This week's focus will be the filing cabinet and other paperwork and clutter.

Well done to everyone for all the progress being made. Good luck to my fellow movers, Chloe and finnime. 

[Empire the P.A.]

Since the last time I posted a couple of days ago:
Walked around my home opening and closing closet doors, cabinet doors, junk drawers. Yep, still cluttered. 

[catsareme]

Jan 14, 2022 14:36:24 GMT -5 Empire the P.A. said:

Since the last time I posted a couple of days ago:
Walked around my home opening and closing closet doors, cabinet doors, junk drawers. Yep, still cluttered. 

Remember the snail picture.  Just one item out of each cluttered closet, cabinet and drawer is progress.