Cutting the Clutter - Organization & Decluttering

Csara · #1 (**permalink**) 05-21-2007, 10:40 AM

As I look around my house, I just see so much STUFF! What is all this stuff? Why do I need it? Where did I get it? I never use it! Things that at one point looked decorative in my mind, now just look like clutter....and I hate it. It is time to cut the clutter! I have no more room for storage. It's not like I can even really dedicate a box or a bag to garage storage for selling. I just want to get rid of it all NOW. What are some tips you've used to deal with clutter? I can use all the help I can get.

nicolef888 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-21-2007, 06:08 PM

Since we just moved (well 5 months ago) I'm having to go through everything and declutter. It's a loooong, slow process and can be overwhelming at times. What I have been doing is taking it a box at a time. It may take a few days (or even a few weeks) and that's okay but I have definitely made slow but steady progress.

RedBedHead · #3 (**permalink**) 05-23-2007, 05:21 AM

Why don't you take one room a day and pledge to yourself to throw away a set number of things. I'm going to do this today and 15 items sounds like a good start to me.

meliz · #4 (**permalink**) 05-25-2007, 02:48 AM

Ugh. I can so relate. We are prepping to move and trying to pare down the crap before we do.

We have also been tackling it room by room and donating clothes to the Sally Anne (tho I have just discovered a great little used clothing store that will BUY good items-- that is next; I can appreciate the Sally Anne but dislike their overt uber conservative Christian message) and taking household items to the local Anti-Poverty league (they will write a receipt for tax purposes). Oh, and apparently the Diabetes Assoc will do the same (ie receipt for taxes) for clothes donated to Value Village.

Our criteria is simple: if it's clothing, and we haven't worn it in a year, it gets tossed. If its dishes and we haven't used them in a year, they go. AND OMIGOSH I HAVE ALOT OF DISHES. It's an illness. Sigh. All duplicate books go. And nicknacks of no value, go. Candles that have been burned, gone. This weekend I tackle boxes of paper and the bathroom cupboards which are sooo full of unopened extra soaps/lotions etc. That stuff can go to a local woman's shelter.

I think the key is to be ruthless and to remind yourself it is just "stuff".

bjlong1 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-25-2007, 08:51 AM

With a baby on the way, I feel your pain! I have done the same thing... look around and go where did all this stuff come from! We've had some luck selling bigger items on Craigslist, but right now we have 1/2 of our garage full of stuff to either have a garage sale or donate. I am slowly but surely going through our house and making my husband and I sort through things.

I find moving helps because I've always done good when I was packing to get rid of things I saw no point in moving, but we have been in our house 4 years now and aren't going anywhere anytime soon and we have just accumulated so much stuff... that I am wondering where are all the baby goodies going to go!

We did go through our books and took a bunch of books to a resell shop. We didn't get a ton of money but at least we got 3 boxes of books out of our house!

Of course my pack rat husband thinks the answer is to rent a storage space!!!! Ugh! I have put my foot down on that one. Our problem is we have NO attic space so we have to use one of our extra closets to store Christmas/Holiday decor.

Sometimes I feel like we have made some progress this year, but other times I feel like I am fighting a losing battle!

Turtleheadfred · #6 (**permalink**) 05-31-2007, 06:10 PM

I SOOOO need to do this! I'm forever cleaning out the closets - throwing boxes and bags of stuff out (actually giving away,etc.) and I swear it STILL seems like there's just TONS of stuff here!

And when you watch those home shows... they always say, "you've got too much stuff sitting around!" I know they would probably say that about me too!

Jester · #7 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turtleheadfred

I SOOOO need to do this! I'm forever cleaning out the closets - throwing boxes and bags of stuff out (actually giving away,etc.) and I swear it STILL seems like there's just TONS of stuff here!

And when you watch those home shows... they always say, "you've got too much stuff sitting around!" I know they would probably say that about me too!

It really never ends.

heather6773 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 08:25 AM

I was snowed in with the boys last week so had a free day from work so we cleaned their rooms and my room while hubby worked. Lets just say 7 garbage bag worth of clutter came out!!! It is so clean and has been for a week. Its worth the trouble trust me

Turtleheadfred · #9 (**permalink**) 12-10-2007, 08:01 PM

I actually have really good inspiration lately! A family with 11 children (under the age of 12) had their house burn down with everything in it! The family is fine - but they have NOTHING!

A church is building their home back for them, so we're donating stuff as are my friends. Furniture we don't really need (even if it's just one thing), clothing, towels, just anything and everything. And another friend of mine bought Christmas presents for all the children! They have THREE sets of TWINS!!!

heather6773 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 05:08 AM

Thats awesome THF!!!! Really brings it out in a person doesn't it

Turtleheadfred · #11 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 04:16 PM

Well honestly, it gives me more of an incentive to get off my tail and clear out stuff that I'm not using that obviously someone else needs.

I just thought I'd share the story because maybe people could check in their areas and see if there are any needy families in the same or similar situations they could help out by clearing out some of their unwanted things too?!

Csara · #12 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 04:59 PM

Great idea, THF. I'd love to donate things to people who need them more than I do!

yonksgirl · #13 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 07:01 PM

I hate clutter with a passion! I am always giving thing away! LOL! Less stuff I have to dust around!

THF~ It is so nice to hear that, that family is being helped!

heather6773 · #14 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heather6773

I was snowed in with the boys last week so had a free day from work so we cleaned their rooms and my room while hubby worked. Lets just say 7 garbage bag worth of clutter came out!!! It is so clean and has been for a week. Its worth the trouble trust me

That poor garbage man!!! He must of thrown out his back clearing out our clutter

RedBedHead · #15 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 05:26 AM

I just did this in my house a few months ago. The toys seem to multiply in no time at all.
THF, that's awesome. I am certainly going to ask around to see if there are any families in my area in that kind of situation! God knows I have more than enough stuff!