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Not quite a horder - decluttering

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Comments

  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,747
    edited August 2020

    Wren, I’m definitely going to keep some larger sizes, mostly just a size up because I have no intention on getting back to the weight I was in January. And you are correct about the location too, I don’t think I mentioned it specifically, so I’m guessing you’re very observant and/or a clever sleuth 😁

    Shetland, no closet since DH built the cabin from an idea not a floor plan but I’ll have a clothes rack and will be bringing my childhood dresser that goes where I do, it’s not really special but inside the top drawer are scribbles of me learning to write my name and it’s built with dovetails, not nails or screws, which I think is cool.

    A friend get first shot at the donations, many items have tags, so she can sell or keep what she wants and donate the rest.

  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 3,063
    edited August 2020

    During my year abroad in college my room had no closet. Instead it had a wardrobe, like the one you can go into to get to Narnia. I thought that was so cool to have a wardrobe. I’m glad you have your childhood dresser with the scribbles.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,427
    edited August 2020

    Shetland Pony - I love your term "other sized". I too have a pile of a couple larger & a couple smaller jeans. Larger was before chemo. Smaller was 60 lbs down after chemo. Now I'm back to my standard 12 but I just don't trust that I'll stay there. I did give away the one pair of each I bought in size 6 & 8 when I looked anexoric What a weird time. I like your idea of 8 of each to match the wash cycle.

    I've kept lots of work jackets & pants because I kept thinking I'd go back to work at a second retirement job. I'm pretty sure that won't happen now - unless it's as a WalMart greeter. So I took a fairly large pile of jackets & tops to the battered women's home shop the end of July.

    And here's my crazy story - actually my guilty admission. Don't laugh too hard !!! I gave away a light weight navy zip up Jones of NY jacket. Unfortunately I have two or three tops favorite tops that won't work with anything but navy. And because the A/C is always so darn cold in Houston, I have to have a light jacket inside even if I have longer sleeves in the summer. Just on a whim, I stopped by their cottage shop on the way to the med center today so see if I could find a sweater that might work. Woo hoo - score. They just put out my jacket out for sale on Saturday so I bought it back. Because Monday is 1/2 price day, it only cost $4.00. Yeah, I know, I know...

    Wrenn - thanks for the hurricane wishes. Looks like they won't be as strong as originally forecast.

  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 3,063
    edited August 2020

    Lol, MinusTwo. It’s great you got your jacket back! There have been a few things I wish I had kept during the big moving purge. But overall I think having less stuff is worth the occasional mistake. Love that you donated to the shelter. I had so much stuff to move in a short time, that I could not really pick and choose where things went. If a friend was willing to drive some boxes to a thrift store, that’s where the boxes went. I did manage to use one specialty consignment store for my kid’s old sports/hobby equipment, and it was nice to get some money back for that stuff. I also donated some nice furniture to a local bc charity that offers support groups. I still have some collectible items and books that could probably be sold, but frankly I do not have the energy to devote to it. I have some families lined up who are interested in my many boxes of children’s books once I finish sorting. I am going to tell them the deal is you take all the boxes, keep what you want, then donate the rest to the library and send me the receipt for taxes. I would have just kept the whole lovingly curated library for future grandkids, nieces, nephews, but no room now.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,427
    edited August 2020

    Since my son is not having children, I'm passing along all his books to my nieces & nephews every year when they become age appropriate. And each one costs a pint of blood. Used to be I would read them aloud before I left them with the kiddos. I haven't seen any of the kids since March.

  • mara51506
    mara51506 Member Posts: 6,614
    edited August 2020

    When I was moving to my apartment from the condo, I donated books to the goodwill. I had done a previous purge but when I saw my apartment, knew I could not bring them with me. Got digital copies of all of them, digitized all my movies except for star wars and big trouble in little china. I digitized my star wars VHS tapes as well and donated the vcrs I had to goodwill as well. If they could not be used, they could recycle them too.

  • wren44
    wren44 Member Posts: 7,967
    edited August 2020

    Illimae, We lived in Houston for 16 years and had a wonderful camping trip to Big Bend National Park. So not really sleuthing, just familiar with the terrain. I think you'll love it there. That was the camping trip where we were sleeping in the VW bus with the door open and our feet sticking out. Woke up to a picnic table lined with vultures waiting to see if we were alive or not. Quite a shock.

  • aussie-cat
    aussie-cat Member Posts: 5,502
    edited August 2020

    Well done everyone on the culling you're doing!

    I am still slowly going through things since I moved house in April. Our charity shops are closed at the moment due to Covid-19, so I can't donate things yet.

    Wren, I'm also very allergic to wool. I get itchy even when other people wear it.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,427
    edited August 2020

    Aussie - oh my goodness. A wool allergy in Australia really has to be an oxymoron.

  • aussie-cat
    aussie-cat Member Posts: 5,502
    edited August 2020

    MinusTwo, thanks. Some people do wear wool in winter and there are wool carpets but I don't think too many people use wool blankets or socks anymore. We can't have any wool in my house at all now or I would get itchy. I have to be very careful what I touch these days.

  • mavericksmom
    mavericksmom Member Posts: 1,275
    edited August 2020

    I LOVE this thread! I agree with Aussie-Cat, great decluttering everyone! I donated 7 large garbage bags full of clothes ( some never worn, yikes!), usable household items and toys.

    We have been in the same house for 40 years and I have been decluttering for years, wondering if I will ever be truly finished??? It sure didn't help that my kids have been on their own for 12+ years but never took all their "stuff!" I gave them chances to take whatever they left here. Both have homes much larger than ours, so it it hasn't been claimed by now, it is mine to give or throw away, and I have! So far the items have never even been spoken about, let alone missed!

    I have been giving away clothes that are many sizes smaller than I wear now. I do need to lose weight, but my taste in clothes has changed and I can make do with much less, so as I lose weight, I am sure I will be able to buy what I need. I held on to things way too long!

    Uncluttering is liberating!Smile

  • mara51506
    mara51506 Member Posts: 6,614
    edited August 2020

    I got rid of more clothes today. I need to go through my outdoor vests that I wear when the weather cools down. There is not enough room in the closet and I cannot see the point of keeping things on the off chance I might wear them. I would sell them on facebook for less money but covid does not allow me to consider that.

  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 3,063
    edited September 2020

    MinusTwo, I feel your pain about the books. But I like to imagine how delighted your nieces and nephews will be when each year's installment of books from their auntie arrives. Hopefully you will be able to read with them in person soon. For me no little nieces, nephews, or grandchildren are in existence yet. I want to make bookplates to put in the books I am saving for them, so they will know I loved them and saved these books for them even if I never get to meet them. (I don't believe love is bound by time.) I can, with regret, give away most of the nonfiction to the families I mentioned, but the picture book and chapter book fiction are friends, and will be stored for the future by relatives who have more room than I do. I will label the boxes by general age group. Same with the really special toys, though the ordinary ones have been given away or sold.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,427
    edited September 2020

    ShetlandPony (almost typed poney like Stone Poneys for those old enough to remember) GREAT idea about the book plates. If you find a good place to get book plates made, let me know. I could write a little note about the provenance & history of each book.

    One of my neighbors has his parents staying. He had to use all of our recycle bins last week to get rid of the jars that his Mom has been saving the last 3 months. Boy that made me feel guilty. I wash all jars and save many so that nails can be separated or seeds can be stored, etc. I remember seeing a box in my garage last week with 10 jars. Out they go...

  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,747
    edited September 2020

    Still sorting through clothes but with these kind of weather changes on the mountain, it’s just hard.

    image

    Packing up less used kitchen items too. I found at least wine 30 bottle openers, DH insists on keeping them all.

  • divinemrsm
    divinemrsm Member Posts: 6,621
    edited September 2020

    illimae, my suggestion would be, even tho you're downsizing, take as many clothes as you can to the new place with the mindset that you can continue to discard clothing once you determine what you're more likely to wear. A few extra boxes of clothing won't make or break the move. I'm a big fan of decluttering yet also feel not all things have to be discarded immediately or when there's uncertainty. Often after a period of transition, when things settle down, decisions can be made with more clarity and make more sense.

    I cracked up at your examples of you vs your dh and styles of packing and eliminating. My dh is the same way. You're right, all you need do is take care of your stuff and let your dh do his own thing how it suits him.

    NativeMainer, the picture thing about not knowing who is who after many years taught me something a long time ago. I started taking more meaningful photos of people who were important in my life and not say, large group photos with miscellaneous people from all walks of life. I really don't need pictures of my stepson's wife's large extended family who we see once or twice a year at birthday parties or my brother-in-law's co-workers who seem to be invited to family gatherings. I did go through old photos and write names on the back, but tossed blurry ones, duplicates and lots of scenery ones.


  • wren44
    wren44 Member Posts: 7,967
    edited September 2020

    Illimae, I agree with not tossing all clothes until you're accustomed to living there and know what you'll really wear. Just from the forecast, I'd say Seattle layering would be a good plan. I know from experience that losing the humidity in W. Tx makes it cooler than Houston at the same degree reading. Love hearing of the wine openers. We stopped drinking in 1988. Friends visited in 2002 and needed a wine opener. Yes, it was right in the misc. drawer in the kitchen, unused for years.

  • betrayal
    betrayal Member Posts: 3,854
    edited September 2020

    When we moved to this house, my husband had the winter semester break from the second week in December to the second week of January. I was working full-time but Monday through Friday and had two small children. So essentially I packed the entire house contents from living room, dining room, etc. and for myself and two children including the basement play room. The day the movers arrived, the third week in January, my husband was busily packing his work bench area, his closets and clothing (I refused to pack for him). The movers yelled at him about the work bench boxes because they were too heavy to lift. Now mind you he had a whole month off to do this and did NOTHING!

    Our house suffered significant damage from a straight wind storm which toppled trees on it on November 1, 2019 and in mid-July restoration finally began. We had to empty the attic and have significantly pared down what was stored there. The contents are currently in the garage and will be pared further when we have an intact attic again. Contents of the MBR, family room and living room have been displaced around the house in what we thought would be a temporary situation but now after all these months look like hoarders live here.

    To add insult to injury, we had no gutters on the house when we had the torrential rains associated with a hurricane and of course, the basement flooded. Items from other rooms stored here had to be moved to the unflooded area but we had substantial damage to the flooring and walls on the back of the basement. It is a finished basement and it was the office areas that were most impacted. The flooring is no longer available so the entire basement will have to be emptied so they can install new flooring, fix the damaged walls plus detect and fix any unseen damage. This will be another opportunity for us to sort and toss but my husband parts with nothing voluntarily. He has tons of stuff he is unaware of so this will be a new battle site. We have too many "what if we need it" items that are easily replaced if we do.

    My plan when I retired in December was to slowly sort through the attic to do the keep, give away or toss. Ended up having to do it much faster but really am tired of having to do this. Once the restoration is complete, I will have to reassemble the once damaged rooms to their former status and this again will be my job. He is teaching remotely so he will be here to move items but I really work better when he is not underfoot. This was not my plan for retirement. Being homebound due to Covid means I have not bought anything new for the house which is good. But this is an unpaid job and I don't like the fact that I can't escape it. Had a CTJ meeting with the contractors about not being their mothers and will not clean up after them. They are getting the message.

    I gifted so many work type clothes of mine to Purple Heart. When we sorted through his clothes he wanted to keep everything so when he wasn't looking I reassigned a lot of items he hasn't worn or didn't need to a Purple Heart bag. He hasn't missed any of them to date. Many of my clothes had been covered with insulation so they were shipped offsite for cleaning and I have not seen them since November. I am sure I will be culling many of them on their return.

    illimae, I would also recommend hanging on to clothing and culling later. Weather forecasts are notorious for not always being correct so I would give it some time to see what you do and don't need. Put them in a box, label by season or temp and if not used in 6 months or a season, send them to a donation center.

  • wren44
    wren44 Member Posts: 7,967
    edited September 2020

    DD went through her husband's closet and re-donated numerous pairs of khaki slacks. He's thin, so there's a lot for resale in his size and he just keeps getting more (he is a hoarder). She counted 50 pr slacks at one point. Didn't count any dark ones.

    Our local store has not had an ad for adult clothing that wasn't gym wear for months. I wonder if everyone is wearing gym clothes or if they just have a bunch. Occasionally they will feature a dress for 7th graders. The stores are their own worst enemy. If they don't advertise adult clothing, adults won't buy. I think my winter additions will be an additional pr of jeans and a cardigan. They won't get rich on that.

    Betrayal, I'm just exhausted at your list of things to do. Your DH sounds like mine. I think we need to keep saying that keeping things you don't need is keeping someone else from having something they really need.

  • betrayal
    betrayal Member Posts: 3,854
    edited September 2020

    Wren44: I am exhausted and just today discovered additional damage inflicted by the restoration workers. So now the master bathroom which had no damage will need to have the ceiling and wall repaired and the entire room repainted which it was not slated to have done. Then realizing if there is damage in the master bath better check the closet which had not sustained any ceiling or wall damage and was only slated to have the hardwood floor replaced. Lo and behold, it too has nails popping through ceiling and some numb nuts put his foot through the ceiling! So now another repair site and additional painting that was not scheduled. So I am beginning to think this job will never be completed as the punch list is not shrinking, it is growing. I am just so over this. I can't even run away because if I leave the state I would have to quarantine! I am in want of a primal scream therapy room!

  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,427
    edited September 2020

    Mae - 30 wine openers? Thirty? I love the old Screwpull 'Hounds Ears' wine opener. They were a big deal in Houston 30+ years ago, but now they're hard to find. That's the only one I use, but I do keep another old worn model on hand in case I loose my "best friend".

    I've been been in this house for 46 years so you can imagine the "stuff". I've been divorced for 25 years and there are still "treasures" in the attic that my ex DH saved. Since I can't get them down & he no longer wants them, they'll go with the house after I'm carried out feet first.

  • nativemainer
    nativemainer Member Posts: 7,962
    edited September 2020

    Illi--Yup, that's a challenge! It seems Maine and the mountains have something in common--the need for heat and AC in the same day! What is DH going to do with 30 wine bottle openers?

    Mrs. M--It was funny to see so many current boy/girlfriends in the pictures, and nobody could remember their names, not even the family member they were with at the time! I like your approach better. And I have found, on my last few vacations, that I took very few pictures but re-read the journal I kept from time to time. I'm thinking it's time to get an iPad or small laptop so I can incorporate pics and journaling together. It would be more meaningful to me, and probably to anyone else who may end up looking at that stuff years from now. At least the pics would have some context. And you make a very good point about not tossing things when there is a question or uncertainty. I have learned over the last few years that decluttering is an ongoing process, with areas of life decluttered in stages.

    Wren--sometimes an item could be just useful enough to be worth giving it space!

    Betrayal--oh my goodness, the trouble you have been through! I can imagine you are heartily sick of it all and ready for a break from decluttering, rearranging, fixing and the like. It must be even harder living with someone who doesn't get the decluttering mind set. Hugs.

  • mara51506
    mara51506 Member Posts: 6,614
    edited September 2020

    I had to move stuff I was storing in my oven. Pans, cooking sheets because initially I was going to bake some washing soda in there. The oven broke so now I am moving stuff. Currently some of it is under the couch and some in the bedroom. No storage to really speak of. Going to move stuff above my kitchen cabinets as there is some space. A lot of stuff I do not use currently but decided to keep just in case like the fry pans etc. I also need better organization in the linen closet. It is my laundry storage closet. Might take one of the shelves from the living room and pop it in there. I have a LOT of powder and liquid detergent, oxyclean and home made wash soda. Love making the stuff last and due to this nothing gets used quickly. I love combining it etc. Even have a clip on washer that fits on the side of the bucket to wash things while blankets are going in the other portable. I love the laundry room, just want to get the extras out of my living room.

    Food wise, shelf stable items I want to keep in kitchen cabinets instead of plates and mugs I no long use. Planning on storing them above the cabinets as well. We will see how it goes.


  • minustwo
    minustwo Member Posts: 13,427
    edited September 2020

    Jazzy just posted this on another thread. I don't think she'll mind if I copy here

    https://www.npr.org/2020/09/06/910155048/but-do-i-...

    And that's the worst of my problem. Not even my stuff, but my parent's stuff and my grandparent's stuff & my great-grandparent's stuff. It's exponential growth every time someone else dies. My son must be dreading my eventual demise. I MUST get rid of this $*it before it's left to him.

  • jazzygirl
    jazzygirl Member Posts: 11,994
    edited September 2020

    MinusTwo- thanks, I meant to get that over here and think I signed off on the site after my post on the drinking thread.

    I also just sent this to a friend too whom is on her way to New Orleans with her cousin to clean out a brother's small home who passed suddenly. They are overwhelmed with all that lies ahead, but gave them some pointers and this to listen too on their drive there.

    Per NM's comment, decluttering is a process for sure!

  • mistyeyes
    mistyeyes Member Posts: 582
    edited September 2020

    I have been working on pictures and found I have quite a few that of people I don't know. I also have a lot of those Christmas picture cards people give you of their kids, some of those were from co-workers 20 years ago and I haven't see these people since then. I am trying to make up books for my kids. NM- I like the idea of incorporating a journal and pictures. Each trip would have its own memory book.

  • mara51506
    mara51506 Member Posts: 6,614
    edited September 2020

    For my home when I moved to my little studio, I somehow wound up with a lot of framed pictures. I gave away the frames to family and friends as I was not going to be hanging a lot of stuff and then consolidated the photos into a small box. That gives me time to either use them or not, either way they are more protected as I have no room a lot of extras.

  • wren44
    wren44 Member Posts: 7,967
    edited September 2020

    I'm thinking of putting my framed photos into an album. They are mainly photos of grandchildren. They would be safe there. My walls are mostly doors, so not really good for hanging anything.

  • dodgersgirl
    dodgersgirl Member Posts: 1,902
    edited September 2020

    Reference family photos, I have a handful of digital picture frames that store many photos on a memory card. These hang on my walls so I can enjoy the photos. Some digital frames are dedicated to vacations or Christmases or events. Fun to see these photos as they span many years.

  • divinemrsm
    divinemrsm Member Posts: 6,621
    edited September 2020

    Did anyone else see this on Good Morning America today? The latest internet craze is watching people clean their homes! It looks intriguing and I’m gonna check a few out. It’s not necessarily decluttering, but maybe wanting to keep things tidy is motivation to continue tossing the unnecessary.

    I’m posting the link to the full story if you want to check out some of the videos of the women cleaning. One woman’s video got 1 million views! A couple women have 50,000 subscribers and even 100,00 subscribers!


    https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/motivational-cleaning-videos-sweeping-internet-ultimate-sign-times-72923864


    The latest sensation sweeping social media and captivating audiences online may seem mundane, but thousands are spending time watching YouTubers clean their homesas motivation.

    Videos are being created to inspire viewers to tackle their mess and get motivated to clean with the person on camera.

    Some of the motivational cleaners follow a formula to sprucing up their space, like Jessica Tull who starts in the kitchen with dishes.


    It's hard to keep up with cleaning. And seeing someone else do it, it motivates them to also do it," Tull told ABC News.

    She has been a motivational cleaner on YouTube for three years and the secret to her success is that she keeps the videos real.

    "My life was just a complete mess and I decided to just show ... how it actually is me being a single mom with three kids," she said.

    Faith Matini's motivational cleaning channel has gained increased popularity amid the ongoing pandemic. One video had 1 million views.

    "Gosh, we all need something. We all need some sort of distraction from what's going on in our lives," Matini told ABC News. "When you can kind of turn on the TV, turn on YouTube and you see something that kind of makes you laugh -- it's really, really beneficial and really needed right now."