2023 Declutter & Organize Your Life

[seriousthistime]

Washing walls

Kudos to you!  I don't even think about washing walls. I clean random fingerprints and such when I see them. The whole wall does not get washed.  The most I will do is Swiffer the walls just before I repaint. 

[TheOtherMe]

My cleaning ladies will be here today.  They sent a text to remind me that I told them they had to wear masks that I am providing.  

They didn't need to remind me.  They clean to my standards but my standards have never been "company" ready.  I will be rebelling against my mother's insistence that the house always look that way for the rest of my life.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Oct 13, 2023 7:49:48 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Oct 12, 2023 10:39:46 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

back to looking at the linked schedule. Seems to me it doesn't really cover everything like I'd like it to, so maybe I will copy/paste into word and do some editing....also, trying to combine the daily with my sleep hygiene schedule.......

Also going to incorporate robotics.......Once I get into a good routine, will eliminate the cleaning person. She is just too careless about the details. Everything is wiped down but nothing is really clean - she goes through the whole house for a once-over, but I'd have to check and detail everything.....floors, sinks, etc. to be ready for company. I guess the universe is telling me I need to do this on my own!

But I am going to wait a few weeks until I get better with the routine, resolve some clutter hot spots and then try to keep on track.

I had well-established cleaning routines, but I let them go when we moved into a new house and I finishing up a degree this last year. It's time for me to set up a schedule for this house now that I don't have school work to do in addition to my job. Some of the things on that list I do more often than they're suggesting. For example, we've only lived in this house for 16 months, and I'm on round two of washing walls. Ideally, I wash walls at least every other month and preferably once per month. 

I also have my deep cleaning lists in an Excel Workbook--one sheet per room. There are so many little things in each room to remember!

Yeah - i think they were too into everything fitting into the weekly/monthly.etc slots.

When you say wash walls every other month - is it a wet wash? ceiling? do you include a cleaning agent, or just a damp cloth? I usually do the lower part of the wall with vinegar if they get splattery, etc. but I don't think that is very good for the paint, and sometimes I've scrubbed through it....

On the daily list they have - I feel like I have a lot of laundry - but I'm not sure doing one load daily is the key they state. When I do my bedding, that is 2 or 3 loads depending, and I all need to be done on the same day. I have a largish L shaped sofa that I keep craped in large plush throws due to cats, plus additional ones for the usually snuggling under. I wash those weekly, but again all at once and that is 4 loads. Since the main goal is to get rid of cat hair while freshening, I do short cycles but with only 1 large or 2 smaller throws in the load with an extra rinse. But I guess if those are 2 days of multi loads then the rest of the week hould be the obligatory 1 load?  And with the bedding and the throws, while it is a lot of loads, there is no folding and putting away - so maybe that evens out? 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Oct 13, 2023 7:23:03 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Today the dentist did an estimate for my bridge, which I sent to the insurance company. I hope they pay a decent part of it. (He said they do when it's your front teeth.) 

He's going away for a few weeks. He'll order the definitive bridge when he gets back. I should have it before Christmas.

Hope they pay alot!!

[debthaven]

Rukh O'Rorke maybe this would be a good opportunity to try another cleaner/company, but only monthly for now.

PS Thanks! I hope so too lol.

[Iggy aka IG]

Oct 12, 2023 10:08:24 GMT -5 debthaven said:

This weekend
- buy DH's bag/Wed
- Shitepile/Wed
- pick up package/Thurs
- buy snacks for Book Club/Thurs
- bank/Thurs
- dentist/Fri

DH messed up my online banking by adding HIS phone number to MY online access. Two visits to the bank later, today for over an hour, it's finally straightened out. I haven't been able to use my account for 2 weeks (or pay for parking). 

I've also been having trying to get my health insurance sorted. That only took three phone calls.  I have to sign online ... but since my policy is cancelled after every semester, I couldn't get online to sign the new contract! That was even more stressful! I HOPE it's sorted. 

So it's been a very stressful but hopefully productive day.

This.  These are the types of things that drive me nuts, when it comes to both my personal and clients' business.  I miss the good old days where every transaction isn't reliant on computers, etc.  I am convinced this is why people in general are so stressed out these days.  

[debthaven]

I am convinced this is why people in general are so stressed out these days.

I completely agree Iggy aka IG ! I had to install the banking app to resolve the issue. The banker was shocked that I didn't have it. I didn't have it because I didn't want it!!! 

[NastyWoman]

Oct 13, 2023 9:34:32 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

My cleaning ladies will be here today.  They sent a text to remind me that I told them they had to wear masks that I am providing.  

They didn't need to remind me.  They clean to my standards but my standards have never been "company" ready.  I will be rebelling against my mother's insistence that the house always look that way for the rest of my life.

My house is always company ready - it is a bit of a mess and company can come and enjoy it the way it is or they can stay stay away. Their choice - so per definition it is company ready 

For the record: my home is not filthy/dirty or a hoarder's nest just not in "showroom" shape.

[NastyWoman]

Oct 13, 2023 11:46:00 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Oct 13, 2023 7:49:48 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

I had well-established cleaning routines, but I let them go when we moved into a new house and I finishing up a degree this last year. It's time for me to set up a schedule for this house now that I don't have school work to do in addition to my job. Some of the things on that list I do more often than they're suggesting. For example, we've only lived in this house for 16 months, and I'm on round two of washing walls. Ideally, I wash walls at least every other month and preferably once per month. 

I also have my deep cleaning lists in an Excel Workbook--one sheet per room. There are so many little things in each room to remember!

Yeah - i think they were too into everything fitting into the weekly/monthly.etc slots.

When you say wash walls every other month - is it a wet wash? ceiling? do you include a cleaning agent, or just a damp cloth? I usually do the lower part of the wall with vinegar if they get splattery, etc. but I don't think that is very good for the paint, and sometimes I've scrubbed through it....

On the daily list they have - I feel like I have a lot of laundry - but I'm not sure doing one load daily is the key they state. When I do my bedding, that is 2 or 3 loads depending, and I all need to be done on the same day. I have a largish L shaped sofa that I keep craped in large plush throws due to cats, plus additional ones for the usually snuggling under. I wash those weekly, but again all at once and that is 4 loads. Since the main goal is to get rid of cat hair while freshening, I do short cycles but with only 1 large or 2 smaller throws in the load with an extra rinse. But I guess if those are 2 days of multi loads then the rest of the week hould be the obligatory 1 load?  And with the bedding and the throws, while it is a lot of loads, there is no folding and putting away - so maybe that evens out? 

Are you using those Bounce dryer sheets that are supposed to remove pet hair? I am wondering if those actually work.

[debthaven]

I have a largish L shaped sofa that I keep craped in large plush throws due to cats, plus additional ones for the usually snuggling under. I wash those weekly, but again all at once and that is 4 loads.

Rukh O'Rorke just thinking ... those plush throws are really thick and take up a lot of room in the machine. Could you get cotton ones to protect the couch instead (and keep the plush ones to snuggle under)?

Also wondering why you have 3-4 loads/week for your bedding. We do 1 load/week a week for ours (bottom sheet, duvet cover, pillowcases). We do a second load a few times a year when we also do the mattress cover and pillow covers, but not every week. Just curious! 

(I have visions of you in a huge bed with several comforters and tons of pillows LOL.)

This evening I cleaned out my backpack (which I use as a handbag) and re-Shitepiled. 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Oct 13, 2023 15:02:40 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Oct 13, 2023 11:46:00 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Yeah - i think they were too into everything fitting into the weekly/monthly.etc slots.

When you say wash walls every other month - is it a wet wash? ceiling? do you include a cleaning agent, or just a damp cloth? I usually do the lower part of the wall with vinegar if they get splattery, etc. but I don't think that is very good for the paint, and sometimes I've scrubbed through it....

On the daily list they have - I feel like I have a lot of laundry - but I'm not sure doing one load daily is the key they state. When I do my bedding, that is 2 or 3 loads depending, and I all need to be done on the same day. I have a largish L shaped sofa that I keep craped in large plush throws due to cats, plus additional ones for the usually snuggling under. I wash those weekly, but again all at once and that is 4 loads. Since the main goal is to get rid of cat hair while freshening, I do short cycles but with only 1 large or 2 smaller throws in the load with an extra rinse. But I guess if those are 2 days of multi loads then the rest of the week hould be the obligatory 1 load?  And with the bedding and the throws, while it is a lot of loads, there is no folding and putting away - so maybe that evens out? 

Are you using those Bounce dryer sheets that are supposed to remove pet hair? I am wondering if those actually work.

no, just washing and drying. I don't use dryer sheets or any fabric softeners....

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Oct 13, 2023 16:25:20 GMT -5 debthaven said:

I have a largish L shaped sofa that I keep craped in large plush throws due to cats, plus additional ones for the usually snuggling under. I wash those weekly, but again all at once and that is 4 loads.

Rukh O'Rorke just thinking ... those plush throws are really thick and take up a lot of room in the machine. Could you get cotton ones to protect the couch instead (and keep the plush ones to snuggle under)?

Also wondering why you have 3-4 loads/week for your bedding. We do 1 load/week a week for ours (bottom sheet, duvet cover, pillowcases). We do a second load a few times a year when we also do the mattress cover and pillow covers, but not every week. Just curious! 

(I have visions of you in a huge bed with several comforters and tons of pillows LOL.)

This evening I cleaned out my backpack (which I use as a handbag) and re-Shitepiled. 

think I'll need to make that come true this winter! at least in my standard full size bed....

Thought I said "up to", if just sheets, it's one. I have a thick matress cover, a blanket, and comforter. So the depending on how it all goes, could be 3 if combine blanket and matress cover, but sometimes I try to do it in sequence so I can put it back together as I go along, so matress cover 1, sheets 2, blanket 3, and comforter 4. But no, I don't always do all of them! 

I got cotton ones for the couch and just didn't really work. I pusposely keep the washer low filled for these, thinking it gets more cat hair, but maybe I am fooling myself! It really isn't a whole lot to just do them separately and I do have a newer washer so it adjust the water to whatever is in there so custome sizes the load. I really don't like that because my old trick for pet hair or more cleaning was to do a small load but say it was medium or large.

[snapdragon]

I am back from the TS concert movie! Lots of fun, singing, dancing in my chair and using "Dance Hands".  Only annoying thing was the 7 start time and over 25 minutes of commercials, Show actually started about 7:30 and went on for 3 hours. My voice& throat are feeling it. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

[Rukh O'Rorke]

weird. So I've been keeping up on my daily list pretty good since the cleaner's tuesday visit.....meaning there is nothing much to do today on the 'usual' chore list, although many large organizing tasks and one-off type things. But feels pretty good.

I've reorged the daily list to AM PM and EOD chores, and my iniital time estimates is that it is 2 hours per day. That said, some of those can be variable, 5 mins today/20 tomorrow type things, and then a lot of them I was already doing either daily or regularly, but hadn't had them schduled nor time estimated. So - while 2 extra hours each day would definitely be a no go, it isn't all 'new' time, and in fact, might save me time on the more irregular things. Like on cleaning day enough has gotten out of sorts for it to take about 2 hours min to get in shape. Now, could pretty much walk right in and start.

So.....what do I dig into over the weekend? Should I just stick with developing my new daily and let that get more settled into a routine? Or try to dig into some of these deferred tasks/piles? My preferrence would to try to coast on the new routine today...and dig into something tomorrow, but have family event Sunday so will definitely be coasting on housework....

Things to ponder over coffee!

[NastyWoman]

I have been pretty productive this week but now I am done even though it is only noon. 

I emptied another couple of boxes and got rid of most of it: two FB buy- nothing pick ups, a large stack for Goodwill tomorrow, very little in the trash and even less that will stay. I also did another hazardous household waste drop off (can only be done by appointment) and got rid of remnants of paint, car stuff like coolant ec., and some harsh household cleaners I no longer wanted.

Next week will be tough and I don't know how well I will do with those boxes as it is mostly Xmas stuff that I collected over the years and across continents and love... We'll see. For now I am just going to enjoy what I did get done.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Oct 13, 2023 11:46:00 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Oct 13, 2023 7:49:48 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

I had well-established cleaning routines, but I let them go when we moved into a new house and I finishing up a degree this last year. It's time for me to set up a schedule for this house now that I don't have school work to do in addition to my job. Some of the things on that list I do more often than they're suggesting. For example, we've only lived in this house for 16 months, and I'm on round two of washing walls. Ideally, I wash walls at least every other month and preferably once per month. 

I also have my deep cleaning lists in an Excel Workbook--one sheet per room. There are so many little things in each room to remember!

Yeah - i think they were too into everything fitting into the weekly/monthly.etc slots.

When you say wash walls every other month - is it a wet wash? ceiling? do you include a cleaning agent, or just a damp cloth? I usually do the lower part of the wall with vinegar if they get splattery, etc. but I don't think that is very good for the paint, and sometimes I've scrubbed through it....

On the daily list they have - I feel like I have a lot of laundry - but I'm not sure doing one load daily is the key they state. When I do my bedding, that is 2 or 3 loads depending, and I all need to be done on the same day. I have a largish L shaped sofa that I keep craped in large plush throws due to cats, plus additional ones for the usually snuggling under. I wash those weekly, but again all at once and that is 4 loads. Since the main goal is to get rid of cat hair while freshening, I do short cycles but with only 1 large or 2 smaller throws in the load with an extra rinse. But I guess if those are 2 days of multi loads then the rest of the week hould be the obligatory 1 load?  And with the bedding and the throws, while it is a lot of loads, there is no folding and putting away - so maybe that evens out? 

I use a wet rag, yes. If a spot won’t come off, I’ll use dish soap. I’ve not tied vinegar on the walls though. I’ll probably try that in the bathroom soon.

[startsmart]

And now the typical ups and downs of a birthday.

My best friend sent me flowers 😊
The cats ate my birthday cupcake ☹️
I got a yummy lunch 😃
The cats knocked a bunch of water into the litter box 😡
I finished another table runner top 😍
It’s overcast and cold and icky outside 🙄

Is it Sunday yet?

[TheOtherMe]

Water in the litter box?  Have not had to deal with that and I hope I never do.

Happy birthday

[debthaven]

Happy birthday Startsmart!!!

Rukh could you find a small pile to do too? Only if you feel like it of course!

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

22 to task to go…2:15pm…ugh.

[NastyWoman]

Just made another Goodwill run and dropped off a medium sized load. As I remembered for once I also went to Comcast and dropped off a redundant modem cable box. While there I got really brave and decided to drop cable starting the 22nd - so one more trip there next weekend to drop off the other cable box because my tv watching habits changed significantly over the last year and my bill will go down by almost $100/month. I really should have done this at least a year ago but I was waiting for an alternative to Comcast for internet which always seems to be "just around the corner" but never reaches quite to my area. 

[Sharon]

I had all 4 grandkids and two dogs Wed - Fri.  The two oldest were supposed to be in school Wed, and Thurs but school ended up being cancelled on Wed due to a power outage.  By the time they were picked up Friday night I was beyond tired. 

Yesterday I didn't do too much other than get the sheets changed on the bed and a few things picked up.  DD and family also came back over last night for dinner and college football.  DD and collaborated and split getting the ingredients for meatball sliders.  I made dessert and she made a salad.

Today I got several things done, not the things that I planned on doing but things that needed to be done.  I did three loads of laundry, got the kitchen cleaned up including cleaning the inside of the microwave.  One of the dogs kept putting paws on the office window and the patio door into the family room.  Those windows were just covered in mud.  I got the windows washed, inside and outside, in the office, the kitchen, and the family room.  We get so much dust over here that some of the windows were just covered in dust.

In the family room I moved all the furniture and vacuumed and mopped really well.  It also gave me a chance to find toys that were hiding under the furniture.  I also went through the big basket that holds a lot of the toys and put like things back together.  The kids are good about putting things away into the basket but things tend to just get tossed in.  The stacking buckets are now all back together, and the rings are back on the ring stack, etc.

During a break today I took my car down to the local car wash and got it washed.  It was also incredibly dirty.  While DD and DSIL were gone I also had mail/chicken duty at there place.  To get to there place is driving over 2 miles on a gravel road.  On Thursday I left from there house to pick up the kids at school, that was an additional 6 miles on gravel roads.

[moneysquirrel]

startsmart -- Happy Belated Birthday. 

Have been busy,  Had a very long craft show day yesterday so I have been totally wiped out today.  It was a community festival with live entertainment, lots of food vendors as well as other craft booths.  The weather was beautiful and the temps were toasty.  I did manage to get at least two loads of laundry this morning before I crashed this afternoon.  The other load will be done tomorrow.  I also plan to get some cooking done tomorrow and also some household chores  that I have neglected recently.  None of this will be very taxing so I will probabily also continue to rest up from this past weekend.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Got through all but five tasks. 
Need to plan the week.

[megaptera]

Drop off Goodwill donations.

Clean out and organize pantry.

Laundry.

Scan paperwork.

Make laundry soap.

Finish current craft project.

Planning on the Goodwill run tomorrow. Pantry might happen this week.

I've been mostly keeping up with daily stuff, but I still need to work on my big craft declutter. Goal is to have it done by end of month. 

For now, I'll just keep the pantry and Goodwill on this week's list. Surely I can manage those two things, right?

Have a great week everyone.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Oct 16, 2023 8:01:22 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Got through all but five tasks. 
Need to plan the week.

Kudos!


not only did I not accomplish anything, I backslid.....oh well! singing monday morning blues....

[Iggy aka IG]

Great job, everyone!

Yesterday I really moved forward with my home office purge and there is now so much floor space!  It will be interesting once the treadmill is moved downstairs.

-(Finally) dropped off the ill-fitting shoes at FedEx.  Thankfully the company allows for returns up to a year.
-A bag full of DH's shirts and a small decorative trunk is now in my vehicle to drop off at Goodwill.  The latter contains tchotchke odds and ends.  Because Declutter dot com didn't want any of our books, and only wanted 6 of approximately 12 DVDs for less than $1 total, I'll donate those as well.  I do have a taker for the 4 Louis L'Amour books, one of the DVDs and I'll give a neighbor kiddo the cartoon DVD.
-DH added a pair of jeans and a camping related something to the Goodwill pile.  He's been purging and organizing his garage and I'm proud of him.  
-A bag of stuffed animals is in my vehicle to bring to the local police department for first responders.
-4 more picture frames and two Eeyore items will go to my photographer friend (he collects all things donkey, LOL).
-I boxed all of the tax and other documents with the others and temporarily put the boxes back into the closet.  Which leads me to:

How do you store paper documents?  Meaning, do you use banker boxes, plastic totes, or....?

I still need to:  Burn old documents including journals, spruce up the leather tote before shipping it to the buyer, clear off the desktop, pull photos and rid of photo albums, hang the framed autographed concert poster, and purge the two or three small boxes of old greeting cards received over the decades.  My goal is to buy the comfy reading chair and ottoman before the s word hits.

I also:
-Did 4 loads of laundry including sheets
-Scrubbed two toilets and emptied the garbage
-Refilled ice trays, TP, and the Keurig
-Put away the rather large Sam's Club order
-Meal planned, boiled eggs for the week, and did the dishes
-Emptied two piggy banks, put the paper money into the Cruise Cash Stash jar and bagged the coins to take to the bank.  It's about $25.  I'll save the Susan B. Anthony $1 coins for the neighbor kiddo's Christmas stockings.
-Displayed more Halloween decorations

All of the above resulted in over 4,500 steps yesterday.  

[TheOtherMe]

My paper documents are all old and filed away in filing cabinets.  I have less than two drawers full in a 4 drawer filing cabinet.  For the last 8 or 9 years, everything is digital.  The digital files are in two cloud locations, the hard drive on this computer, an external hard drive and a flash drive just for those documents.  I hope that is overkill     

I tell myself all of those can't fail at the same time, can they?  

I had wanted my niece and nephews to come help hang photos but they are sick with Covid, so that is not happening for a while.  

I will be driving to Costco on Thursday for a Novavax Covid vaccine.  At this point, only Costco in Iowa has them and the closest one is in Iowa City, so I will drive over the day before and come home the day after.  Since I'm not traveling much, two nights at the hotel is about $50 because of all the points I have.  

The city where I was born doesn't have the brand of hotel I favor so I am accruing points in that program instead.  

I doubt that I travel before I go to Toronto, hopefully for the Toddler's 4th birthday.

I keep forgetting to take photos for the organizer.  See why I need an organizer?  

[wvugurl26]

I store current paper records in a 2 drawer file cabinet in the office area of my dining room. I have an enormous dining room and not enough other spaces to be a dedicated office.

At the end of the year or after taxes are filed, the documents go in a big manilla envelope that gets labeled with contents. The envelopes go in a plastic tote in the basement.

I get behind on filing but the system works well for me. When I've needed past documents due to a class action suit or other needs, I've been able to easily lay my hands on the appropriate documents.

I struggle very much with figuring out organization and duplicate storage of electronic files. I've had hard drives fail and lost everything. It just doesn't click for me like paper systems. I'm not opposed to electronic or online things but when I'm searching for something, it is easier for me to lay my hands on it physically.

It could also be that I don't want to devote the time to setting up an electronic system that works because I spend 9 hours a day staring at computer screens for work. The last thing I want to do after work is look at more screens.