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[joannecha]

My purging needs have changed since I began. When I retired from work, it was to downsize my wardrobe. In the years since, it’s to get rid of having too much “stuff” that we don’t use (mostly because it’s hidden behind something). Case in point about stuff we don’tuse: DH decided about 8 years ago when we were gardening that he wanted to can our veggies. He bought case after case of canning jars and a canning apparatus. Canning commenced for 2 years. The end. Had 8 cases of mostly unopened jars on basement shelves and I had walked right by them for years but never saw them. We cleaned out all the shelving in the basement pantry and gave away all those cases to a niece who is just starting to can. Nephew got the canner as he cans venison and always borrows from his Mom. All are happy and I now have stuff on shelves that I can see.

[VaBelle35]

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@151949 wrote:

One thing I just can't part with are paintings. We had many more walls in our old house as the current one is open concept. I have a decorator friend who purchased oil paintings for our home for us. Every one was very carefully chosen because they are expensive, and they are all original oils. In our home now we have used some but I still have a closet full of beautiful painting that I have no space to hang up, but I love them and can't part with them. A few I occasionally trade off with ones that are hanging - gives a little bit of a new look.

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That's a great idea to trade some of them out periodically.

Maybe there is one space somewhere that you can trade out the painting once a month and do a full rotation.

I have a small townhouse and the top of the stairs is where I trade things out seasonally.  It's not tied to a room, so I'm free to put anything there.

[ptagirl]

I have recently been helping my brother clean out his hoard.  He is a hoarder and his home looks like the county dump (literally).

Our main goal is to make the place safe and cleaner for him to exist without injury to himself and others...

He is older, alone,  and has health issues, and I think it's mainly because of his living conditions..

It has been quite an experience.... Right now, we're trying to work on his main living areas, so he can live comfortably.

There is no organization whatsoever and trying to teach him organization has made me become very anxious... I can only work over there for a few hours and I have to leave....

I'm not used to clutter, as my home is clean and organized...

I would love to have some simple ideas(if possible) on how to approach this issue...

Thanks...  

[Teddie]

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@Trinity11 wrote:

My ultimate goal is to have a home that is easy to care for. Too much of anything can just be too much.

I started reading Don Asslet's books long before clutter control seemed to be discussed. I had to because our living space was small and it was a necessity. 

My husband jokes I need to remember I am not entering a convent and I am allowed to have "stuff." He still thinks this is just a fad designed to have people throw out stuff so they need to buy it again. He humors me, though, and gives me a lot of space to keep clutter-free.

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@Trinity11  I love and have read all of Don Aslett’s books. I read them all in the late 90s when we were about to move. I was already living in a neat and decluttered home so it wasn’t too hard to go through each room and seriously decide what we didn’t want to take with us. The problem was that I was overzealous and got rid of some things I wish I hadn’t. 

When we arrived at our new home I discovered Flylady and signed up to get her emails. I somewhat incorporated that into our home.  

Now we've moved again into a home we designed and had built. I feel because of some problems I’ve gone through and feeling a little older, I’ve lost some of that enthusiasm I had for keeping things the way I want. Time to get motivated again!

[trenet]

@Mominohio

Great spinoff thread.  I need to re-evaluate my “purging” goals. 

So far, much as involved getting rid of garbage.  (Especially old paperwork)

I made a good start with the paperwork while my husband was out of the country for 10 weeks but, have slowed down considerably since he returned and, as the summer has heated up.  One of the good aspects of my husband working locally for a few weeks is that he can carry garbage downstairs and out to the dumpster! 

I want and need to evaluate what items I want to keep, (unfortunately, far too much!) however,  I still think my first priority is to rid my apartment of “garbage”:

the paperwork (for shredding/garbage) as well as other outdated items (e.g. cosmetics, cleaning supplies, etc) - things that have been postponed far too long.

Another priority is a cleaner apartment and making it easier to keep clean.  

[With low white blood counts during my continual cancer treatment, my oncologist recommended mask, gloves and goggles -my eyes got inflamed going through dust and bug-ridden boxes but, with the heat, I haven’t figured out how to suit up that way and survive with no AC!] 

Since the cancer and, especially the meds, already have me TIRED, I also need

to re-evaluate the process and figure out the best way to pace myself.  It is also a reason why purge and clean and organize is a priority for me. 

Thank you to all on the original purge post and this one for being so inspiring. 

[Mominohio]

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@trenet wrote:

@Mominohio

Great spinoff thread.  I need to re-evaluate my “purging” goals. 

So far, much as involved getting rid of garbage.  (Especially old paperwork)

I made a good start with the paperwork while my husband was out of the country for 10 weeks but, have slowed down considerably since he returned and, as the summer has heated up.  One of the good aspects of my husband working locally for a few weeks is that he can carry garbage downstairs and out to the dumpster! 

I want and need to evaluate what items I want to keep, (unfortunately, far too much!) however,  I still think my first priority is to rid my apartment of “garbage”:

the paperwork (for shredding/garbage) as well as other outdated items (e.g. cosmetics, cleaning supplies, etc) - things that have been postponed far too long.

Another priority is a cleaner apartment and making it easier to keep clean.  

[With low white blood counts during my continual cancer treatment, my oncologist recommended mask, gloves and goggles -my eyes got inflamed going through dust and bug-ridden boxes but, with the heat, I haven’t figured out how to suit up that way and survive with no AC!] 

Since the cancer and, especially the meds, already have me TIRED, I also need

to re-evaluate the process and figure out the best way to pace myself.  It is also a reason why purge and clean and organize is a priority for me. 

Thank you to all on the original purge post and this one for being so inspiring. 

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@trenet

I have followed your progress, and I know you are working with much more challenge than most of the rest of us. I certainly wish we lived close, and could come in, lend a hand, and make this process easier for you.

Your health issues bring up a very important point about the purging subject, that really deserves a thread of it's own. And that is the important issue of having a manageable living space in preparation for the unexpected. 

That unexpected could be anything from company arriving to stay for a week with little or no notice, to having to/wanting to move very quickly, to facing a health crisis, or even the death of someone in the home that we count on to do half or more of the work. 

Any of these things can come up in the blink of an eye, and I know I survey our home and especially our large property, and constantly ask myself, what can I do, what needs done, to make this place easier to deal with, should something like those things I listed become a sudden reality. 

I wonder if others think like that. I'm sure many do as they age, but I've been pondering such things since I was about 40.

Having the purging done, the quantity of stuff under control, or at least having a great plan of attack on how to get it accomplished is just smart in my opinion.

[Teddie]

@Mominohio

Great last post. I agree with your thought process. 

[wagirl]

I just went thru my pots/pans and skillets to get rid of the teflon non stick garbage and bought new stainless steel ones to replace them!! Found awesome deals on AMZ and at Macys too. 

[KailaS]

I live in rent so I have minimal storage space.  Purging started when I retired a bit earlier than expected because I was ill.  I needed to be able to manage what I have/ had as well as prepare for a time when my health becomes worse.  

I still have way too much, but I like going through belongings to see what I have, to determine what I need vs. want ( not always easy for me), and to really assess what brings joy to my life.  I realize how hard I worked to accumulate stuff.  Now I want/ need a simpler life.