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Archive through March 18, 2007

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan. 2007 ~ Mar. 2007: Home and Garden: TVCH's Home & Life Organization (ARCHIVES): Archive through March 18, 2007 users admin

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Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 9:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Hey, HermiPackrat! Starting with the junk rooms is a good idea.
This method has been working for us declutterers:

Tackle one room at a time. Break that down into doable jobs (meaning, a dresser, cupboard, closet shelf, closet floor, closet hanger section at a time). Set a timer for 15 mins, then take a break, have a little fun at TVCH or get yourself a snack.
With your batteries recharged, tackle the next 15 mins job.
I know, it may sound ridiculous to those with loads of energy and a healthy body, but when I started this way, I was surprised how much I could actually get done during those 15 when focused and trying to beat the clock. It also doesn't put the unnecessary pressure on you of having to "climb a big mountain", but taking hill by climbable hill instead. So,....

1 bin or box each for "keeps", "donation" and "garbage". The critera for deciding on each item is:

Does it still make me smile? Yes! --> keeps
Is it still functional? Not really! --> garbage
Do I still need this? No! --> donation
Do I already have one, do I really need 2? No! -->donation

As a bin/box gets full, dispose of it. So, for your truck for the Vets, maybe a corner in the garage to stow the boxes to get picked up. No point calling them now and then having more to hand over later. Do it in one swoop.

But the "keeps" gets put away; not just shoving it somewhere, but actually putting it in a logical place where you will be looking for it later.(You will appreciate it later when you have to pack up each room for your move and then unpack again).

Same with the "garbage" bin. When it's full, out it goes. If you are recycling, sort it right into those garbage cans/bags, whatever the system is in your neck of the woods.

Good luck!

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 10:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Yankee_in_ca a private message Print Post    
My problem is with my dh. While incredibly clean, he is a packrat. You can't open any of his desk drawers because they're crammed full of receipts, papers, anything. The dresser we put in our spare room for use by his son or guests, is packed with dh's wires, cords, papers, receipts (not important ones -- I'm talking grocery store, coffee shop, etc. receipts). In our storage room downstairs (which we had to rent for $60/month), we've got boxes and boxes of the same kind of crap because he won't throw anything away and when his drawers get too full he dumps everything into a box and sends it down to the storage unit.

Yes, I've talked with him about this.

Yes, I've explained that it gives me anxiety.

But it does no good.

All I can do is clean and minimize my "own" stuff -- which I do all the time. But it's a mess. Any time I tell him I'm going to clean or organize, you can almost see the hair on the back of his neck stand up because he's afraid I'm going to throw away something of his. Sigh.

I'm tired of paying $60/month to store junk and slips of papers and trash.

There. That was a rant.

Thank you.

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 10:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Yankee, I feel your pain. Got me one of those husbands, too.LOL
If he won't throw anything out, and you can't decide on your own what is garbage, could you set a time a couple of times a week, where the two of you go through all those papers?
Grab a bunch of filing folders, seperators etc at STaples. Armed with those, a shredder, stapler and hole puncher, tackle one box at a time.
My personal experience is, if I lead the charge, then suddenly this pile or that pile becomes less important than previously thought, and the parting seems easier. Somehow justifying keeping things to someone else is a little more difficult.

Hermione69
Member

07-24-2002

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 10:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hermione69 a private message Print Post    
This is hard work!!!! I may have to call my BIL to get one of the headboards downstairs! I already have a pile of stuff on my lawn for AMVETs.

Back to work!

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 10:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
Good job, Hermi!

That's a great post, Lum!

My one other suggestion is that when labeling those boxes of "keeps" to be very precise. You don't want it labeled "Stuff" and you do want to know where to find the toaster. I'm serious. Labeling anything "kitchen" is ridiculous. Don't ask me how I know!

Yankee, my suggestion for you with your dh is to treat him like a big old kid. Make it as FUN as possible. Silly as that timer sounds, it works like a charm around here, but I imagine that you can come up with even more creative ways!

Darned mice, Wargod. How frustrating! I am so happy to know that you actually did do the baby steps. I thought that concept was not your style. But it sure does help the kids to know that they won't be slogging away all day long without any fun breaks. Works for grown-ups, too.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 10:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
It depends on the job, Vee. Outside work is usually done like that cuz it's just too hot to work straight through the day. For me inside it's just easier to do it all at once so I don't have to worry about it. I also waste too much time finding other stuff to do if I don't, lol.

LOL, the kids were having a blast out there yesterday. When they were hauling the branches to the wood pile, they'd have to wait for Darren to cut the bigger ones down and while he was doing that they were sword fighting with sticks. Caleb was a barbarian attacking and pillaging Dakota's village. He also told her he was going to be the barbarian and she'd be the hooker, to which me and Darren shot each other the parental look and then said, uhm...what did you say???? He said, you know the hooker...like Captain Hook protecting her village, lol.

Hermione69
Member

07-24-2002

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 10:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hermione69 a private message Print Post    
Can someone explain to me what possessed me to buy about 20 Harry Potter Lego sets?

Hermione69
Member

07-24-2002

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 11:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hermione69 a private message Print Post    
Fruitbat is going to kick my butt for those HP Lego sets, but I am not getting rid of them. I will get rid of my GWTW plates, though.

Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 11:01 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
You must have been in a Harry Potter trance at the time.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 11:02 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
All of them? Really? Why? If you can't answer why, they have to go! LOL! (Hi, Mamie!)

Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 11:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
I was watching one of the home shows and they were going through the homeowners things and said if you are not going to use them in so many months time, then get rid of them. I've learned to do that with my books. You all know how much I read and I have 4 bookcases in my dining room. If I do not plan on reading the books again, they are gone to the used book store. It's sometimes like getting rid of friends but it does keep the shelves looking very neat and always having space.

Are all the sets, different ones? Are you going to put them together or keeping them in the plans of selling them one day?

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 11:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
You have nieces and nephews Hermi, it could be fun to play with them with the kids. Or build them and set them up in a display type thing (this coming from me who has a carnival of k'nex toys set up in my den, lol!)

Hermione69
Member

07-24-2002

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 11:12 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hermione69 a private message Print Post    
Noooo! I want to assemble them all so my nieces and nephews can play with them. They are all different. One is the castle, one is the train....

Really. Its not for me. I'm being selfless by keeping them!

Anyone buying this?

Hermione69
Member

07-24-2002

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 11:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hermione69 a private message Print Post    
See! What Wargod said!

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 11:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lumbele a private message Print Post    
Hermi, why not give your sister the pleasure of dusting those Lego thingies? You can always visit them at her house, *and* you'd definitely earn mega brownie points with the kidlets.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 11:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
Save your favorite three sets and then do what Lum says. ;>

Mamie, good for you! I didn't know that you had been weeding out all your books, too. It isn't easy I know.

Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 12:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
My nephew has a ton of Lego sets and he has them displayed on a shelf but I know how much my sister hates having to dust them!

Hermione69
Member

07-24-2002

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 12:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hermione69 a private message Print Post    
The Legos stay. You'll still be proud when I take a picture of everything that is in my front yard that I am giving to Amvets.

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 12:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
Feisty!

I am already very proud of you!!

Vacanick
Member

07-12-2004

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 12:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vacanick a private message Print Post    
I used the weed eater on the front yard yesterday. LOL!!

Absolutely not as much work as Hermi is doing but still necessary.

Hi everyone!

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 1:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
I'm going to have to stop talking to you, Nicole. It'll be nothing that a few months won't fix. : )

C

Hermi, how's it going?

Hermione69
Member

07-24-2002

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 1:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hermione69 a private message Print Post    
Its going really well. I have a headboard I'm not sure I can get down the stairs by myself. Called my BIL, but no answer. Ivan, my next door neighbor, said he'd help if I need him, so I may going next door.

Thanks to everyone who has been cheering me on!

Vee
Member

02-23-2004

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 2:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vee a private message Print Post    
Ivan lives next door to you?! Wow! Grab him quick.

Urgrace
Member

08-19-2000

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 2:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Urgrace a private message Print Post    
Wargod, may I suggest that you get some oil of peppermint and cottonballs to place around your storage area next time? It is supposed to be a safe way to rid the area of mice. Bounce sheets are also supposed to work.

Hermione, I'm sure you are doing a great job! If you are moving, why not just put your keepable 'stuff' in moving boxes, so you won't have to do it all over again?

Hermione69
Member

07-24-2002

Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 2:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Hermione69 a private message Print Post    
Okay, here's the before and after of my 2 junk rooms that I did today:


BEFORE


AFTER