topic Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!! in Home

Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

marky — Tue, 27 May 2014 21:59:00 GMT

Well, I've jumped in with both feet !! I started gathering up all of the stuff sitting around--the knick-knacks, the unnecessary items, the multiples, unused items, etc. My husband loaded the bed of his pickup truck and I loaded my SUV down (I made two trips with the car loaded to the max both times) and we headed to the auction house. May take me a couple of weeks to get any money but I'm just glad the stuff is GONE. I had my grandmother's sewing machine, my first mother-in-law's machine, and my mother's also. I don't even sew, so off they went. I got rid of my first food processor. It was more trouble to clean than it was worth and it was huge. I have no idea how much I will make but it's worth it to me to be rid of the items. I still have some things to go through and I plan to continue de-cluttering but I will probably take any remaining items to a charity. I did organize my attic last fall but I plan on getting some of the ornaments and Christmas items down when it isn't so hot up there and out they go too.

It is so hard to clean with so much clutter and when I get it all clean, I'm going to hire a painter to freshen up the walls and ceilings. I used to burn candles and there is some soot that needs to be removed and the paint will make me feel like I'm in a new house. I have already cleared most of the items from a shed and plan on working on my craft room next. I still have alot of my mother's treasured papers to look through but that will have to wait til I'm not so emotional about her passing.

I feel so much better and I will soon have my exercise room back so that we can make use of the treadmill. I vow never to let this mess accumulate again. I don''t want to spend the rest of my days cleaning and rearranging "stuff" that I don't need or love.

I still have too many candles and too many shower gels but I am not going to buy anything else until I absolutely NEED it. Now, I'm off to the QVC and HSN websites to cancel all of my remaining auto-deliveries. YAY !!!

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

jackthebear — Tue, 27 May 2014 22:04:15 GMT

wow , feels good doesn't it

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

Helping — Tue, 27 May 2014 22:07:19 GMT

Sounds wonderful! Thanks for the motivation!

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

GinaV24 — Tue, 27 May 2014 22:08:02 GMT

congratulations! I've been working on cleaning up and organizing, too, but I'm not as far along as you. I never thought of taking things to an auction house - I think I'll have to look into that as an option. I hate just taking things to goodwill just to get them out of the house and I don't live in a place where I could have yard sale as it would be too dangerous for people to stop.

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

marky — Tue, 27 May 2014 22:16:39 GMT

I had never used an auction house either but a friend of mine took a van load of his things and got back around $ 170 even after the auction house got their cut and I don't have to worry about the items that don't sell. They just keep putting items together until someone buys the lot and that way everything goes.

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

~moxie~ — Tue, 27 May 2014 22:20:28 GMT

I just started this week. I still have a closet full of my husbands casual wear and some shoes. They are boxed up and ready to go to the salvation army. I have more sheets than anyone needs so I am getting rid of the ones that don't fit right on the bed and some I am saving to use on a table to do my spray painting. I have tons of clothes and more pjs than any woman could ever wear. I am donating those as well.

I cleaned out my 3 piece TV media center and found some books and toys that I kept here for my grandson. Well he is 10 now and it is time for me to donate them. I have friends that gave me little crystal angels over the years. I don't want them, I only kept them out for a bit, and so those are going to the Salvation Army as well.

I have a huge box of VHS tapes and not interested in watching any of them. Those will be donated as well. Lots of other junk like papers and ads and they will be recycled.

I am moving on to the other cabinets in the great room and since I have 4 of them plus a vintage buffet that will take a bit of my time. I do hope to be done by the end of next month as I go from room to room.

My back is still bothering me so I am moving slowly. But at least I am moving and taking care of my home. So far it feels good.

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

GinaV24 — Tue, 27 May 2014 22:20:46 GMT

Sounds like it is worth looking into to me. thanks very much.

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

RedTop — Tue, 27 May 2014 23:48:10 GMT

My decluttering started 2 years ago, and has encompassed every room in the house except for my daughter's bedrooms. Once I got started, it was easy to let go of things; some of which were laid aside for a second look, some that needed a repair I never made and are no longer of interest, things that had sentimental value at one time but not now, and the load of stuff I kept "just because". Letting go is so freeing, and for me at age 58, I just don't want to be bogged down with loads of stuff; whether it is my personal stuff, or just household stuff. My closet has half the clothes it used to now that I'm retired. My bathroom vanity holds only essentials and no extras. I have a dozen pair of shoes and feel confident that's all I need. Every week I toss something, and know I will never hang onto a large amount of stuff again. Once you make that initial start, you will be committed to continue your efforts into the future and be thankful you took that first step.

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

Mominohio — Wed, 28 May 2014 00:19:30 GMT

You go! This sounds so wonderful and freeing! You'll be so excited when the painting is done, it does make a place look like new.

I'm throwing out 12 years worth of school papers! I saved everything my kid did! It is going down to one bin of paper, projects and art!

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

miata1 — Wed, 28 May 2014 00:25:12 GMT

I really enjoyed reading your post. It is really inspirational. I need to de-clutter so badly but keep getting sidetracked or overwhelmed by the whole thing. Last weekend, I did one little corner that had gifts from Christmas and that felt good but that is just the tip. We have things that we do not need and they end up on the shelf downstairs. Please post again so we can hear of your progress. You really made me want to get started now. I will wait for the weekend but I am going to make a list of what needs to be done first.

Miata 1

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

Sherlene — Wed, 28 May 2014 00:50:11 GMT

It is a good feeling isn't it. I'm sure your children will appreciate it too. My folks were Depression/WW2 era kids who lived in poverty and learned never to throw anything away - "you might need it some day."

After Dad passed and Mom went to assisted living, we were left to clear out the house they had lived in for 45 years, OMG what a job. I truly think they kept every thing!

I have learned I don't have to be a hoarder just because my parents were pack rats! Too much stuff is a burden that makes me nervous and unhappy. I am de cluttering now too. Hope I won't need some of that stuff someday LOL!

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

PINKdogWOOD — Wed, 28 May 2014 01:44:35 GMT

OMGoodness I am SO envious of you Ms Marky. I sat on my sofa in the living room today just looking around at all of the S T U F F all through my home - a LOT of which really isn't even mine. You know, inherited stuff from mostly my husband's side of the family. I SO want to just pack it all up and get rid of all of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dust collectors as my mother would say. I don't need or want any of it, I am SO done with 'collecting' stuff.

Hubby & I have no kids, he's 62 & I'm 61. We're not getting younger, he's not in the best of health anymore. We also have a garage & a basement full of S T U F F too - tools mostly. He won't part with anything, a real packrat he is!!!! Drives me insane!!!! I have visions of him dying on me and leaving it up to me to rid myself of this S T U F F !!!!! (I say this joking but not really!!!)

Now that I'm retired I could so hit this hard packing up stuff and getting it the heck out of here. Man, to be STUFF-FREE - I can't even imagine...

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

GCR18 — Wed, 28 May 2014 01:56:45 GMT

It feels wonderful. I used to feel that I needed alot of stuff. A couple years ago, I started decluttering. I had two separate yard sales and in between, trips to goodwill. Things are lean and I love it. I may peal another layer over the summer. Sure I sometimes miss something, but that doesn't happen often.

Great job, keep up the good work.

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

brewhaha — Wed, 28 May 2014 02:03:38 GMT

My problem is getting started. But once I get it done, it's a great feeling.

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

Helping — Wed, 28 May 2014 02:06:39 GMT

Thanks, RedTop! Your comments are inspirational, too, and hit home with me.

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

marky — Wed, 28 May 2014 02:26:31 GMT

On 5/27/2014 pink dogwood said:
a LOT of which really isn't even mine. You know, inherited stuff from mostly my husband's side of the family.

pink dogwood--(love your name)---I, too, inherited things from uncles, grandparents, parents, in-laws, etc. I have been responsible for several family members' belongings after they died. I did keep two framed pictures from my mom that she absolutely loved. We looked at them together many times when she was in failing health and discussed the subject matter. She would tell me all about the history of the item--how, when, why she obtained it and this was bittersweet to hear her sweet memories as she was in the throes of dementia. She could remember everything from the past but nothing from ten minutes ago. It is overwhelming. I just managed to sell two large items of my mother's today. They went to a gentleman that will truly love and cherish them. His eyes actually lit up when he saw the antique dresser. It was my grandmother's and he said his grandmother had one just like it. That made letting the items go much easier. I don't think our parents and other family members would want us to burden our lives and homes with their things but it is very hard to look at one of their cherished items and get rid of it.

One of my most prized possessions is from my mother-in-law who passed away in 1992. It is a plastic slotted spatula/spoon thingy that is discolored and even broken. I love it because I watched her make many, many pitchers of tea using that spoon to stir the sugar. I bet she made a million pitchers using that simple utensil. I keep it displayed along with my everyday utensils and I smile every time I look at it. Those are the types of keepsakes we should cherish and display--the ones that have such sweet memories attached. And you can bet that I use it every time I make my tea, which is often.

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

PINKdogWOOD — Wed, 28 May 2014 13:13:20 GMT

Many of the items are very pretty, some may be worth something even but I have no want, desire, use for them. They're in a china cabinet that they had in their home. Hubby's brother didn't want the stuff when we cleaned out their parents' home so we got stuck with it. But hubby's a packrat so he felt he just had to have it. Our home is/was his grandparents' home that they wanted us to have and we LOVE it. When we first moved in we could have filled 2-3 homes with the overload of furniture we had - it was like your's, mine & our's!!!! We live very close to a major college where I worked as well. Had many students I worked with too - furnished many apartments by giving away rooms full of furnishings. They appreciated the stuff and I was glad to help AND get rid of a lot of furniture at least. We kept the antiques and we have many. But it's the little china things, trinkets, STUFF I do not need. I crossed over the line some y ears ago whereby I do NOT NEED this kind of stuff in my life anymore. Understand though that there are items that I would never give away, I think we all feel that way. My mom's collection of Irish belleek are many items that hubby & I bought for her through our years of travels to Barbados. The duty free shops sell this stuff by the droves and dirt cheap too although I could never figure out how or why it was so cheap there - and gorgeous pieces too, almost one of a kind pieces.

I don't know - I just cannot imagine attempting to unload all that we have by myself years down this road. I know what it was like when my parents died and my sister & I had to do this with all of the dust collectors my mom accumulated. What a nightmare! I think truly the worst part of all of this is figuring out what the heck to do with all of it!!! It becomes mind boggling. Sis tried to sell it on ebay, yard sales, auctions but ended up not able to unload much of any of it. The garage was so loaded with tubs of stuff, I still don't think she can park her car in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It just ends up becoming a very sad situation. Stuff you want & need to get rid of but how.....

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

Just Plain Crazy — Wed, 28 May 2014 18:24:57 GMT

On 5/27/2014 marky said:
On 5/27/2014 pink dogwood said:
a LOT of which really isn't even mine. You know, inherited stuff from mostly my husband's side of the family.

pink dogwood--(love your name)---I, too, inherited things from uncles, grandparents, parents, in-laws, etc. I have been responsible for several family members' belongings after they died. I did keep two framed pictures from my mom that she absolutely loved. We looked at them together many times when she was in failing health and discussed the subject matter. She would tell me all about the history of the item--how, when, why she obtained it and this was bittersweet to hear her sweet memories as she was in the throes of dementia. She could remember everything from the past but nothing from ten minutes ago. It is overwhelming. I just managed to sell two large items of my mother's today. They went to a gentleman that will truly love and cherish them. His eyes actually lit up when he saw the antique dresser. It was my grandmother's and he said his grandmother had one just like it. That made letting the items go much easier. I don't think our parents and other family members would want us to burden our lives and homes with their things but it is very hard to look at one of their cherished items and get rid of it.

One of my most prized possessions is from my mother-in-law who passed away in 1992. It is a plastic slotted spatula/spoon thingy that is discolored and even broken. I love it because I watched her make many, many pitchers of tea using that spoon to stir the sugar. I bet she made a million pitchers using that simple utensil. I keep it displayed along with my everyday utensils and I smile every time I look at it. Those are the types of keepsakes we should cherish and display--the ones that have such sweet memories attached. And you can bet that I use it every time I make my tea, which is often.

Marky,

I had a slotted spoon/spatula that sounds the same & one day Mr. Crazy broke it. We have looked and looked for another one but can not come up with one that I like as well. I also have the solid one bought at the same time many years ago and I have threatened Mr. Crazy within an inch of his life to not break that one. Those were and are my go to utensils. Boy I miss that spoon and so does Mr. Crazy. Everytime we are close to a kitchen store, he has to look for another which I know he will never find.

JPC

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

marky — Wed, 28 May 2014 18:35:43 GMT

JPC,

I just found one like mine on ebay. Look under "vintage plastic nylon foley slotted spoon scoop utensil.

marky

Re: Let the De-Cluttering Begin !!!!!!!

Just Plain Crazy — Wed, 28 May 2014 22:40:27 GMT

On 5/28/2014 marky said:
JPC,

I just found one like mine on ebay. Look under "vintage plastic nylon foley slotted spoon scoop utensil.

marky

Thank you marky for finding these for me. I am going to show them to mr Crazy as soon as he gets home. Will have to see if he wants to go that high on one. I think they are darn close to the one he broke except I think the one we had was rounded on the end.

thanks again for the work you went thru to find this spoon. I really do appreciate it.

Hope I can repay the favor someday.

JPC