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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Decluttering support thread
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The Intrepid Mrs S
Shipmate
# 17002
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Posted
Today I have decluttered (temporarily) some of the family photos, prior to putting Chateau S on the market. I feel bereft! ![[Waterworks]](graemlins/bawling.gif)
Next step is to get rid of the GIN Museum - it's all right, Piglet and Pigwidgeon, the GIN Museum contains only empty GIN bottles! But, they are unusual ones like Twisted Nose, Star of Bombay, Copper House and so on. I shall be sad to see them go, but it will provide an opportunity to start emptying a selection of *new* empty GIN bottles ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif) for a new GIN Museum when we do finally get to move, if ever that happy day comes!
Mrs. S, sadly stacking empty bottles
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Don't get your knickers in a twist over your advancing age. It achieves nothing and makes you walk funny.
Prayer should be our first recourse, not our last resort
'Lord, please give us patience. NOW!'
Posts: 1464 | From: Neither here nor there | Registered: Mar 2012
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Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
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Posted
Having donated so many clothes over the past few months, the empty hangers have been multiplying and are threatening to take over the house. So I was delighted to learn that my favorite Thrift Shop will be happy to take them off my hands (I know some places are equally overwhelmed with hangers and won't accept donated ones). They'll be heading to greener pastures this afternoon.
In a couple weeks I'm having my bedroom closet re-done, so I'll be moving the contents to the guest room during the process. NOTHING will be allowed back into the bedroom closet without careful consideration.
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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
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Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
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Posted
Wait, wait. Does the S household empty these gin bottles before adding them to the collection? should I come over with vermouth and some lemon peels?
There are a class of items which are difficult to sell on ebay -- bookcases, let us say. I have discovered that Facebook Yard Sale allows you to sell items to people within driving distance of your house. Shed a bookcase and an apple peeling machine yesterday, and am looking forward to getting rid of boxes of oddball Xmas ornaments today.
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Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
... the empty hangers have been multiplying ...
But of course they have - leave two coat hangers in one place and they'll breed like rabbits.
Having said that, when we moved (without our belongings - we didn't think we'd be without them for as long as we were) we only took the clothes that we could fit into two suitcases and an overnight bag, and coat-hangers didn't occur to us, so we actually had to buy some ... ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Needless to say, they started multiplying as soon as we got our stuff back.
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
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Posted
You do realise, don't you, that paper clips are the larval form of metal coat-hangers?
Not sure where the wooden ones come from - although there is a great hatchery which goes by the name of "IKEA" (even available in Piglet-land, I see).
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
You do realise, don't you, that paper clips are the larval form of metal coat-hangers?
![[Killing me]](graemlins/killingme.gif) Quotes file!
quote:
... "IKEA" (even available in Piglet-land, I see).
Sadly, Piglet-land is a Very Big Country, and the nearest IKEA is in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which is 4½ hours away. There is a collection point here, but that's not as much fun as actually going to the shop (and you don't get the gravadlax or meatballs).
One day we'll get round to visiting the Halifax or Montreal branch (Montreal's 8 hours away).
At least the modest dimensions of the Pigletmobile should put some limitations on our spending ...
[ 01. November 2017, 00:19: Message edited by: Piglet ]
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Cottontail
Shipmate
# 12234
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Posted
Declutterers might find some motivation in this: The Minimalist Game. The idea is to get rid of one object on Day 1, two on Day 2, and so on. By my calculations, that would be 465 objects over 30 days!
Could be good for a New Year project, though I am starting now, as I will be away for a couple of weeks in January. Today, I threw out a cheap and nasty 'kangaroo's tail' from a dressing up set. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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"I don't think you ought to read so much theology," said Lord Peter. "It has a brutalizing influence."
Posts: 2377 | From: Scotland | Registered: Jan 2007
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Boogie
Boogie on down!
# 13538
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
You do realise, don't you, that paper clips are the larval form of metal coat-hangers?
The Paperclip Game
Play at your peril and don’t blame me for time eaten!
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Garden. Room. Walk
Posts: 13030 | From: Boogie Wonderland | Registered: Mar 2008
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
I would so love to play the Minimalism Game with D's ancient collection of periodicals about the organ, but if I even suggested it, I suspect I'd be the one that would get de-cluttered.
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
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Posted
Yes, attempts to declutter organists are highly dangerous.
And don't even think of trying to Sort Out The Choir's Music Cupboard.
[ 10. December 2017, 15:20: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
D's been working on Sorting Out the Cupboard* ever since he arrived in the job - it was in a bit of a mess, and he actually rather enjoys doing that sort of thing (his mum's a retired librarian, so I suppose it's in the genes). I'm not averse to spending the odd hour or two helping out; I'd say by the time he retires he'll probably have it set up the way he wants it.
* including a fair bit of disposal of (whisper it) illegal photocopies ... ![[Help]](graemlins/help.gif)
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Curiosity killed ...
Ship's Mug
# 11770
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Posted
I wish I'd found the minimalist game at the beginning of the month. I think I've probably got rid of more than enough stuff but I haven't been counting. Having finished the Job, I have decluttered several rooms, to recycling, charity shops and the bin, and I'm still working on it. I stopped last week to declutter a fair amount at my daughter's flat as I packed her up, and we're still shifting stuff as we keep tidying - and disposing of stuff that is irretrievably impregnated with the pong. Currently I have a bag of old sheets and towels waiting to go to the vet tomorrow, assuming they are open.
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Mugs - Keep the Ship afloat
Posts: 13794 | From: outiside the outer ring road | Registered: Aug 2006
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Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
D's been working on Sorting Out the Cupboard* ever since he arrived in the job.
Ah, but is licenced (or even expected) to do that, unlike us Lesser Mortals.
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
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Huia
Shipmate
# 3473
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
* including a fair bit of disposal of (whisper it) illegal photocopies ...
Not the legal approach I know, but a workmate once said to me, "Copyright, means I have a right to copy it."
I think he was joking.
Huia
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Charity gives food from the table, Justice gives a place at the table.
Posts: 10382 | From: Te Wai Pounamu | Registered: Oct 2002
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daisydaisy
Shipmate
# 12167
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Posted
Each time I go into the roofspace i try to bring something down that won't return there. Last time it was a box of toys from my childhood, including 2 baby dolls that are still in good condition so I'm helping Santa's elves out by passing these on to 2 neighbouring children (I checked with their mum first) at Christmas. Knitting a few extra items for the dolls is also decluttering my wool stash Putting them into nice boxes is also decluttering my box stash
Posts: 3184 | From: southern uk | Registered: Dec 2006
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Boogie
Boogie on down!
# 13538
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Posted
Another cupboard decluttered and tidied - the evidence is on my ‘Room’ blog ![[Angel]](graemlins/angel.gif)
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Garden. Room. Walk
Posts: 13030 | From: Boogie Wonderland | Registered: Mar 2008
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Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Boogie:
Another cupboard decluttered and tidied - the evidence is on my ‘Room’ blog
Good job!
![[Overused]](graemlins/notworthy.gif)
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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
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Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
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Posted
We are driving to Atlanta, GA, to visit my daughter and grandson for the holidays. And we're hauling along six or eight big boxes of books, which are going to Vintage Atlanta, the best used book store on the east coast. Their great virtue is that they adore my books, and have many books that I adore. So we roll in with our 8 boxes, and come back with perhaps five books in exchange. Books we don't want are turned into (many fewer) books we do! And this has liberated two or three bookcases, which instantly go out the door as well. I have my eye now on the largest bookcase of all...
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Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
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Cottontail
Shipmate
# 12234
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Posted
I started the Minimalism Game worried that I would not find 465 items to discard. Now I am at Day 17, and I am worried that 465 items will not be enough.
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"I don't think you ought to read so much theology," said Lord Peter. "It has a brutalizing influence."
Posts: 2377 | From: Scotland | Registered: Jan 2007
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Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
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Posted
To the Atlanta bookstore today, and garner nearly $200 in bookstore credit! With the most assiduous application we were only able to find $90 worth of books to take away again. So now we have a large store credit there, sigh. Must come back and find more desirable books...
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Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
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Twilight
Puddleglum's sister
# 2832
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Posted
Last year we brought the Christmas things down from the attic, leaving the attic completely empty forever, because we only kept the amount of Christmas decorations we could neatly fit on the top shelf of our all purpose closet.
We don't have a basement and our three car garage holds three cars so there's only room for a few garden tools, a mower, one bike and a ladder along one side. We are now officially on one level floor and all the rooms except for one are in a very clean, minimalist state. Except for that one.
That one is my grown son's room and, "his to do with what he wants". (Twilight repeats to herself over and over.)
A relative got him an exercise machine for Christmas so he and I just rearranged his room to fit it in beside his large double dresser and queen size bed. Out of his smallish closet came, eight large watercolors done by his grandfather, three "paintings" by his grandmother, a dozen more paintings or wall decorations showing his father's families "coat of arms," and several wall hangings we could not actually define. His shelves also had fishing poles and other sporting equipment he hasn't used in 20 years. The collections of years worth of five different magazines, hundreds of books, a baseball cards sorted in large notebooks, a huge electronic dart game and other such gifts never opened.
Here is my point, if I have one. Most of these things came from older relatives, now deceased. Thus they all have great sentimental value for him, plus, art work or homemade quilts all represent creative work they have labored over and so he feels like it would be wickedly wrong to dispose of any of them.
Where does it all end? How many generations must bear this load? Is there a reasonable balance somewhere between the sentimental hoarder like my son and the cold-hearted disposer like myself?
Posts: 6817 | Registered: May 2002
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Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Twilight:
... Out of his smallish closet came, eight large watercolors done by his grandfather, three "paintings" by his grandmother, a dozen more paintings or wall decorations showing his father's families "coat of arms," and several wall hangings we could not actually define. His shelves also had fishing poles and other sporting equipment he hasn't used in 20 years. The collections of years worth of five different magazines, hundreds of books, a baseball cards sorted in large notebooks, a huge electronic dart game and other such gifts never opened.
All in a "smallish" closet? I've lived in apartments that wouldn't hold that much stuff.
Perhaps he could be persuaded to declutter the not-used-in-20-years sports equipment and the gifts that have never been opened or used? They wouldn't have the sentimental value of the creative work of his ancestors.
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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
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Twilight
Puddleglum's sister
# 2832
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Posted
Thanks, Pigwidgeon, that's exactly what he did with all the unused, unopened electronic games, and waterpics. The fishing pole stayed, though. I guess hope springs eternal for that idyllic day on the river bank.
After I jumped in and cleaned the closet we managed to put everything back in like it was a preplanned puzzle. The room is cleaner and more organized right now than it has been in years.
However. In true hoarder form, he did go out to the trash and retrieve a few items that were already making him feel guilty.
I can only laugh. There's something very sweet about you sentimental folk.
Posts: 6817 | Registered: May 2002
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Golden Key
Shipmate
# 1468
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Posted
FWIW: some people need a physical connection to their memories, feelings, heritage, etc. So it's important to them to have their things around them, or easily accessible. If their things are easily visible, the people can look around and *see* their lives, and the things they cling to to get through it. And that shores them up.
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Blessed Gator, pray for us!
--"Oh bat bladders, do you have to bring common sense into this?" (Dragon, "Jane & the Dragon")
--"Oh, Peace Train, save this country!" (Yusuf/Cat Stevens, "Peace Train")
Posts: 18601 | From: Chilling out in an undisclosed, sincere pumpkin patch. | Registered: Oct 2001
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Huia
Shipmate
# 3473
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Posted
Thanks Golden Key - I think I am one of those people ![[Hot and Hormonal]](icon_redface.gif)
Huia
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Charity gives food from the table, Justice gives a place at the table.
Posts: 10382 | From: Te Wai Pounamu | Registered: Oct 2002
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Twilight
Puddleglum's sister
# 2832
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Golden Key:
FWIW: some people need a physical connection to their memories, feelings, heritage, etc. So it's important to them to have their things around them, or easily accessible. If their things are easily visible, the people can look around and *see* their lives, and the things they cling to to get through it. And that shores them up.
That's so true. I've seen these tangible memories be really important to older people. If they have to go in to some sort of assisted living space, it helps so much to be able to take some of them along.
Posts: 6817 | Registered: May 2002
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lily pad
Shipmate
# 11456
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Posted
I think I have posted this before, but I do find that taking a photograph of things that I need to get rid of does help. Some of those large paintings he has might do well at a nursing home or school where the art would be appreciated and he could have one framed photo on the wall that incorporated all of the donated items. It has helped me so maybe it would be an idea.
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Sloppiness is not caring. Fussiness is caring about the wrong things. With thanks to Adeodatus!
Posts: 2468 | From: Truly Canadian | Registered: May 2006
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Curiosity killed ...
Ship's Mug
# 11770
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Posted
Decluttering here continues, some involuntarily. The pile of funky-smelling possessions that came home with my daughter has been sorted and much reduced. Not all has been decluttered as some things have been replaced - such as card cases, covers for phones and tablets and Tunisian crochet hooks.
For anyone who has to do this, the smell of cannabis can sometimes be removed by using citric cleaning solutions, cables which could be cleaned required surgical spirit (rubbing alcohol) and WD-40. Vodka is also supposed to work, but it didn't clean the anorak that was washed three times and still stank. I've also had documents sitting in bicarbonate of soda. The DMs were cleaned over several days using cleaning solution, sitting in the open window to air, Arm and Hammer toothpaste*, being sat in bicarbonate of soda, surgical spirits and WD-40.
* Baking soda toothpaste may be traditional, but there's a reason it isn't used so much nowadays, it tastes very salty. However, it makes a good cleaning product.
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Mugs - Keep the Ship afloat
Posts: 13794 | From: outiside the outer ring road | Registered: Aug 2006
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Moo
Ship's tough old bird
# 107
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Curiosity killed ...:
...it didn't clean the anorak that was washed three times and still stank.
IME hanging things outdoors for several days will get rid of odors. Obviously, you have to make sure they don't get rained on.
Moo
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Kerygmania host
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See you later, alligator.
Posts: 20365 | From: Alleghany Mountains of Virginia | Registered: May 2001
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Golden Key
Shipmate
# 1468
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Posted
Curiosity Killed--
Maybe try soaking the washable things in a borax solution? (I don't know if borax has another name where you are. Here, the brand is 20 Mule Team Borax.)
If the item is clothing, make sure you rinse it really well afterwards. Borax is alkaline, and can bother sensitive skin.
But it's really good for clearing odors. I have chemical sensitivities. When I bring home something that might give off chemicals (and badly smelling ones, at that), like maybe a vinyl shower curtain, I soak it in borax, then rinse it very well--and that tones down both the chemicals and smell.
FWIW, YMMV. There's online info about using borax.
[ 30. December 2017, 02:44: Message edited by: Golden Key ]
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Blessed Gator, pray for us!
--"Oh bat bladders, do you have to bring common sense into this?" (Dragon, "Jane & the Dragon")
--"Oh, Peace Train, save this country!" (Yusuf/Cat Stevens, "Peace Train")
Posts: 18601 | From: Chilling out in an undisclosed, sincere pumpkin patch. | Registered: Oct 2001
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Golden Key
Shipmate
# 1468
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Posted
Huia--
quote:
Originally posted by Huia:
Thanks Golden Key - I think I am one of those people
Me, too--at least to some extent. I don't think it's bad. But it does make it difficult to get rid of stuff.
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Blessed Gator, pray for us!
--"Oh bat bladders, do you have to bring common sense into this?" (Dragon, "Jane & the Dragon")
--"Oh, Peace Train, save this country!" (Yusuf/Cat Stevens, "Peace Train")
Posts: 18601 | From: Chilling out in an undisclosed, sincere pumpkin patch. | Registered: Oct 2001
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Huia
Shipmate
# 3473
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Posted
It has it's upsides too though. I found a really loving card that a friend had sent me right at the time I needed to hear the word she wrote ![[Yipee]](graemlins/spin.gif)
Huia
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Charity gives food from the table, Justice gives a place at the table.
Posts: 10382 | From: Te Wai Pounamu | Registered: Oct 2002
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Golden Key
Shipmate
# 1468
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Posted
Yup. I keep cards and letters, too. (Which is traditional, and some people forget or don't know that.) Handy for shoring up, as you mentioned. Also for keeping track of the history of a relationship. And good for reminding yourself "Yes, I really did confront so-n-so about what they did, and neither of us died, and I did good".
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Blessed Gator, pray for us!
--"Oh bat bladders, do you have to bring common sense into this?" (Dragon, "Jane & the Dragon")
--"Oh, Peace Train, save this country!" (Yusuf/Cat Stevens, "Peace Train")
Posts: 18601 | From: Chilling out in an undisclosed, sincere pumpkin patch. | Registered: Oct 2001
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Curiosity killed ...
Ship's Mug
# 11770
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Posted
I managed to clean all the clothing but that waterproofed coat and another coated fabric by washing, including backpacks. Most of what has gone is paper (including books, patterns and games), leather or has a rubberised surface that seems to have permanently absorbed the smell - cables, cutting mat, handles, ... Airing did not help, believe me, I tried. It was so pervasive that anything something impregnated touched had to be cleaned too.
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Mugs - Keep the Ship afloat
Posts: 13794 | From: outiside the outer ring road | Registered: Aug 2006
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Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Golden Key:
Yup. I keep cards and letters, too. (Which is traditional, and some people forget or don't know that.)
I think that depends on your tradition. I keep very few letters, and almost no cards.
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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
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Huia
Shipmate
# 3473
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
quote:
Originally posted by Golden Key:
Yup. I keep cards and letters, too. (Which is traditional, and some people forget or don't know that.)
I think that depends on your tradition. I keep very few letters, and almost no cards.
My tradition is obviously to keep some letters as I have just come across one written to Mum by her older brother. Both of them are now dead
![[Tear]](graemlins/tear.gif) but the occasion of the letter was Mum's 21st birthday. It was lovely to read it, but it's definitely going into the discard pile, although I may first ask the family genealogist if she's interested.
Huia- claiming back my house - one item at a time
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Charity gives food from the table, Justice gives a place at the table.
Posts: 10382 | From: Te Wai Pounamu | Registered: Oct 2002
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Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Huia:
My tradition is obviously to keep some letters as I have just come across one written to Mum by her older brother. Both of them are now dead
but the occasion of the letter was Mum's 21st birthday. It was lovely to read it, but it's definitely going into the discard pile, although I may first ask the family genealogist if she's interested.
Huia- claiming back my house - one item at a time
Have you thought about scanning it so that you could keep it without it being clutter?
(Hmmm... maybe I could do that with a few letters and such.)
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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
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Huia
Shipmate
# 3473
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
[QUOTE]Have you thought about scanning it so that you could keep it without it being clutter?
It's a good idea but we technopeasants* don't do scanning
Today, I had planned to stitch the
Thank-you card I designed for my optometrist. I had decided to use my favourite purple (DMC 550 for anyone who is a thread addict), but I couldn't find it. I knew I must have some and I was determined not to buy anymore.
The upshot is I have totally reorganised two rooms and am still in the middle of putting things in their new places. No needlework done, but I did find the cotton I wanted and I have also filled the rubbish bin for tomorrow's collection and the recycling one isn't far off it.
It will probably take me a week or so to finish, because some of the needlework things haven't found their "forever home" yet and I think I have more decluttering to do - anyone interested in a large chart graphing Nefertiti in cross stitch?
Huia
* one of my favourite words - Thanks Uncle Pete
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Charity gives food from the table, Justice gives a place at the table.
Posts: 10382 | From: Te Wai Pounamu | Registered: Oct 2002
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Pigwidgeon
Ship's Owl
# 10192
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Huia:
It's a good idea but we technopeasants* don't do scanning
I believe there are places that will do it for you at a reasonable price (or perhaps a friend?).
quote:
Today, I had planned to stitch the Thank-you card I designed for my optometrist. I had decided to use my favourite purple (DMC 550 for anyone who is a thread addict)...
Ooh! I love DMC 550 -- one of my favorite colors! (I do very little stitching these days -- something I'm considering as a resolution for 2018* -- but some of the color numbers are still in my head.)
*We have over an hour of 2017 left here.
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"...that is generally a matter for Pigwidgeon, several other consenting adults, a bottle of cheap Gin and the odd giraffe."
~Tortuf
Posts: 9835 | From: Hogwarts | Registered: Aug 2005
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lily pad
Shipmate
# 11456
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Posted
Many printers are also able to scan, you may know someone with one just sitting there waiting to be used. I find it really satisfying to have a copy of things that way. My library also has a scanner for use and, in a pinch, a photo of the letter may be useful too.
No decluttering done here lately but the dish mountain has moved from the "dirty" side of the sink to the "clean" side.
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Sloppiness is not caring. Fussiness is caring about the wrong things. With thanks to Adeodatus!
Posts: 2468 | From: Truly Canadian | Registered: May 2006
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Cottontail
Shipmate
# 12234
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Posted
I'm on Day 24 of the Minimalism Challenge, and have so far cleared 300 items. The scary thing is, the house doesn't look less cluttered at all. Though some of my drawers are pretty clear.
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"I don't think you ought to read so much theology," said Lord Peter. "It has a brutalizing influence."
Posts: 2377 | From: Scotland | Registered: Jan 2007
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Zoey
Broken idealist
# 11152
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Cottontail:
Declutterers might find some motivation in this: The Minimalist Game. The idea is to get rid of one object on Day 1, two on Day 2, and so on. By my calculations, that would be 465 objects over 30 days!
I missed this the first time round. Anybody fancy joining me in a January version of the challenge? (I know what I will be throwing out as object 1 for 1st January. Tomorrow I will need to identify 2 items for 2nd Jan, 3 for 3rd Jan and 4 for 4th Jan and then I'll go day-by-day as intended.)
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Pay no mind, I'm doing fine, I'm breathing on my own.
Posts: 3095 | From: the penultimate stop? | Registered: Mar 2006
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Curiosity killed ...
Ship's Mug
# 11770
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Posted
We're still throwing huge quantities of stuff out and have lost count. I'm not sure if we managed 465 items for December, but I suspect so: it's easy when things go out in sets of a dozen Tunisian crochet hooks, a set of 16 cutlery pieces.
The local vets have had three bags of sheets, quilt covers, pillowcases, towels and fleece blankets, or was it four? Another bag went this morning.
I delivered a bag of clothes to Cancer Research yesterday and there's another bag of clothing in the bathroom plus a bag of computer and education stuff for a local education charity by the door. Today I binned a pencil case and the contents of working pens, pencils and rulers, plus some other stuff because it reeked. There's another bag I hoped to take tonight full of clean good enough stuff for tombola prizes and/or lucky dips for the next fundraising, but we postponed that meeting.
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Mugs - Keep the Ship afloat
Posts: 13794 | From: outiside the outer ring road | Registered: Aug 2006
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Cottontail:
... the house doesn't look less cluttered at all. Though some of my drawers are pretty clear.
How about putting some of the remaining clutter into the drawers?
And the prize for Stating the Bleedin' Obvious goes to ...
... Piglet! ![[Devil]](graemlins/devil.gif)
I'll see myself out.
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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Boogie
Boogie on down!
# 13538
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Posted
Laundry room decluttered - hurrah!
This job has been hanging over me for months.
Where does the junk come from? Two huge bag fulls to recycling/rehoming/tip ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
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Garden. Room. Walk
Posts: 13030 | From: Boogie Wonderland | Registered: Mar 2008
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St Everild
Shipmate
# 3626
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Posted
I have 4 plastic carrier bags of paper recycling in my study (from when the paper recycling bis was full). The plan was to take then to the recycling centre ourselves. Hasn't happened yet...I am still stepping over them every time I want to get near my desk. Maybe confessing all to you might make me do something about this...
However, I did make a start on my "jumper drawer" on Tuesday. It is now a thing of beauty, with all the jumpers neatly folded and rolled. I actually wore a wooly jacket I had forgotten I had yesterday. And he unkept items have already been taken to Oxfam, where I hope they will be found by someone for whom they will be treasure.
(I still have a massive ironing pile, though...and still nowhere to put said items once they have been ironed. So still a work in progress.)
Posts: 1782 | From: Bethnei | Registered: Dec 2002
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The Intrepid Mrs S
Shipmate
# 17002
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Posted
On a smaller scale, I decluttered the church Christmas tree decorations this morning If I've thrown out something very dear to someone's heart, I shan't be here when they find out it's gone ![[Two face]](graemlins/scot_twoface.gif)
And whoever thought two-inch high glass Christmas trees might be a good plan for decorations in church - you were wrong.
Mrs. S, feeling smug again
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Don't get your knickers in a twist over your advancing age. It achieves nothing and makes you walk funny.
Prayer should be our first recourse, not our last resort
'Lord, please give us patience. NOW!'
Posts: 1464 | From: Neither here nor there | Registered: Mar 2012
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Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by The Intrepid Mrs S:
On a smaller scale, I decluttered the church Christmas tree decorations this morning If I've thrown out something very dear to someone's heart, I shan't be here when they find out it's gone
And whoever thought two-inch high glass Christmas trees might be a good plan for decorations in church - you were wrong.
Mrs. S, feeling smug again
I too have decluttered ornaments! At my office the boss decreed the office tree was too sad-looking, and went and bought two big boxes of matching shiny red balls with glitter on. To make room for them a number of the shabbier balls have to go, and I set them aside to give to Goodwill. But now I have a new idea. I am going to make pussyhats for them, and they shall enjoy a new life in this American election year. If I sew them out of pink tee shirt material it won't take a jiffy.
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Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
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Huia
Shipmate
# 3473
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Posted
I think I will investigate the scanning, but will do it when I move on to sorting the photos and family stuff cleared from my family home. I'm planning on making cards from some of them to send to my brother with Parkinson's (I send a card a week to keep in touch and these are memory joggers he can discuss when our youngest brother visits him).
Today however is a declutter free day and I am stitching my card as a reward for what I have achieved so far.
Edited to add - Mrs S - love the 'declutter and run approach.
Huia
[ 04. January 2018, 20:10: Message edited by: Huia ]
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Charity gives food from the table, Justice gives a place at the table.
Posts: 10382 | From: Te Wai Pounamu | Registered: Oct 2002
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Piglet
Islander
# 11803
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Boogie:
Laundry room decluttered - hurrah!
We're rather lucky: our laundry isn't a room, it's more a cupboard. It looks like a built-in wardrobe in the hall, and you open it to reveal the washer and dryer.
This means that apart from the shelves above the appliances, which contain detergent, boxes of Christmas decorations (currently still empty), spare light-bulbs and a few otherwise unallocated teddy-bears, there isn't actually any space to put clutter, so there isn't any.
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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music
Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006
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