DeCluttering/Organizing Challenge Thread

[allinaugust]

I'm in full declutter mode....a New Year and Spring tend to throw me into full gear in this regard. I love to organize and get organized.

Thought it would be fun and encouraging to help each other declutter and get organized. I tend to function better when my house is organized and decluttered.

I'll try to find some helpful tid-bits on FlyLady.net to post, to help motivate. One of my favorite things I learned from the sight is that I can "bless" others with something I no longer want/need. Helps me to justify getting rid of some things.

Progress so far: Sorted and purged the TV Armoire. I got rid of several DVDs we no longer care to keep hold of-going to the Children's shelter and some to friends.

Anyone care to join in???

[HollyCochran]

I will.....I'm starting today by taking down the Christmas tree and organizing all the ornaments for put away.

We're moving again this coming Summer, where???? is the question since we probably won't find out until the end of the month or even until the middle of next month.

I need to downsize, declutter, shred and organize for the movers to come in and pack it all up. Some will get put to the side for a garage sale, some will be taken to the Good Will store (it's actually called The White E) and some will be donated to Salvation Army.

I hate the leaving part, but I love the set up of the next place. If I start now and do a little every week (maybe even a room per week) I should be done in no time. We have a small place so that is my goal for now.

[BlueSkeyes]

I'm in, too. We have way too many things and I hate having to keep it all cleaned and in order.

[skeevylorrie]

Well, I did 2 bags to go the the Goodwill yesterday and have done 3 so far today, so I've got a decent start. Unfortunately, I have so much more to do!

[Polve]

I am in.....my office needs to be tamed before my family lose me in here forever. I'm just stuck on what to do, I want it functional but pretty as well. I am having DH build me a new desk and I am reupholstering both computer chairs but that doesn't get the junk off the desk.

[tamommy]

I'm in as well. On New Years Day I did both kids closets and dressers. I've given away 3 bags of DD's clothes and have bunches more to sort through.

I did one cabinet in my kitchen today. I've got 8 kids here today, so I won't get much dont today.

[ishop2much]

I'm in. I have 2 closets and a spare room to declutter. I plan on starting after work. I wish I could take down my tree today but my BF is Puerto Rican and wants it up till after Sunday because of some Spanish Christmas tradition. I wasn't paying attention to him, i just heard he wants to leave the tree up till then and it involves presents

[allinaugust]

Originally Posted by Polve

I am in.....my office needs to be tamed before my family lose me in here forever. I'm just stuck on what to do, I want it functional but pretty as well. I am having DH build me a new desk and I am reupholstering both computer chairs but that doesn't get the junk off the desk.

Found this link for "office clutter" on Fly Lady.

FlyLady.net: Control the Chaos at your Desk

[KellyJef]

I'm in, too, but probably won't get started until after this weekend.

And......... I've decided that I am NOT going to "save" a ton of stuff for a "future" garage sale!!!! Thinking of my excess stuff as being a "blessing" to someone else is such a great idea.

[couponconnie]

I am so in!! Went through the children's linen closet removed old sheet sets they have gotten "too old for" and am donating them to the woman's shelter. Went through part of one daughter's clothes and have passed those on to the neighbor girls. I have knit up some of my yarn stash into scarves for friends and my children - and a few to donate. Oh how I long for a better home and gardens house!

[ishop2much]

Originally Posted by allinaugust

Found this link for "office clutter" on Fly Lady.

FlyLady.net: Control the Chaos at your Desk

Thank you for posting that. I always wanted to try Flylady but never looked at the site, but the link you posted is very helpful. I printed it and everyone in my unit here at work appreciates it. we all have overly cluttered desks due to the amount of work we have. Now hopefully we will have organized desks

[skeevylorrie]

Originally Posted by KellyJef

I'm in, too, but probably won't get started until after this weekend.

And......... I've decided that I am NOT going to "save" a ton of stuff for a "future" garage sale!!!! Thinking of my excess stuff as being a "blessing" to someone else is such a great idea.

I'm thinking the same way as I don't care to save it and have my kids get into it and undo all my sorting!

On another note, Lowes has clear storage bins buy 1 get 1 free right now. I need to pick up a few as it's easier if you can see what you have and they're a great help when sorting and organizing all your crap.

[ethena]

I'm moving at the end of the month (seems like I move 1-2 times a year) so its definitely time to let go of stuff I haven't used since the last move - that includes half used bottles of lotion, settling nail polishes, ill fitting socks and who knows what else?

[freer]

I just went through all my catologs and threw ALL of them away! I usually just weed them out. Honestly, I'll get more soon...too soon.. LOL

Tomorrow....the dreaded coupon box....

[mabear74]

Count me in......

I really need to get more organized......Planning on starting on the computer room, and working on a room a week......I have gotten much better about holding on to things, I toss a lot of stuff, so that helps, need to organize what I do have though

[queenofcoupons]

Count me in too! My goal this year is to minize the clutter and reduce the refuge. I am going to start this weekend by doing my walk in pantry (I am also purging all the candy, and bad for you food) because I am sure that there are still valentine stuff in there (I forget what it there and then find it and we all gobble it down). I came home to a tree being taken down (hubby is on vacation) so I have to do the ornaments tonite (go through them and pull out the broken ones, etc) otherwise I was going to start with my junk drawer tonite. But for sure count me in!

[Squeak]

count me in!
we are moving across the country in may I want to sort and prepack as much as possible

[Loves2teach]

I am hoping to do my fridge, and spice cabinet tonight/tomorrow. It is so cold in my kitchen that I may wait until after work tomorrow when it is warmer.

Also need to unpack/organize all of our christmas things from our trip, and organize my closet (a bar fell literally when I was closing the door to leave for Texas).

[CaddyLisa]

Thanks for starting this thread Ann! I'm definitely in too! My plan is to take one room at a time...like they say in AA, take one day at a time...I tend to jump from place to place or project to project without really finishing anything. A few days ago I helped my oldest DS clean out his closet and declutter his room. We ended up taking eight, yes, count 'em, eight bags to the Goodwill. I keep saving his clothes for younger DS, but he's alot shorter and probably will never fit into them anyway. I've brought in so much "stuff" from Christmas clearance this week that it's getting ridiculous. My new motto, when I bring something in, something has to go. You just can't hold onto everything! Anyway, I look forward to us all decluttering and organizing together! ~Lisa

[joyx3]

Count me in also.

I am going to start by to getting rid of outgrown clothes in the kids' closet (donating it to the woman's shelter). I am getting rid of all the tubular plastic and wooden hangers and I am hanging everything on the flocked/velvet hangers that take up a lot less space. I did this in my closet and saved a lot of room. Then I will need to tackle the rest of the house and the garage.

[Loves2teach]

I got my spice cabinet cleaned out

I even went to Walmart to use my birthday $$ to buy the spice rack shelves, and baskets to hold packets. It looks so nice and organized!

[itzme91]

count me in too!! Will start tomorrow.A friend gave me an awesome computer desk so thats where i'll start.Clean out the old one set up the new one.Already have the old one promised to my SIL.

[jaboomer2]

I got started before Christmas actually..gave away 2 huge boxes of clothes and one box of books. I try to do this every week,..some weeks I seriously fall behind..

[annadrose]

Well I am very excited this year. I have always been clean and neat however living in a very old one bedroom house with only one closet we did have an organization problem. After watching "Clean House" for so long I realized there are easy ways to get my stuff organized. I also bought a Real Simple Home Organizing book. So far I have organized my laundry room with shelves and put in three of those big Sterlite wrapping paper organizers. One is for wrapping stuff, one if for my outside big candy canes and the little fake trees I put in my bedroom and kitchen and the other has the lid flap open and keeps my DH's fishing poles neat and safe. I organized my kitchen with a big pantry shelf. And we had new floors put in and bought some new Ashley furniture (beautiful, well made and LOW priced I highly recommend them) with my favorite piece being an office piece with an L shaped desk/work surface, the two drawer filing cabinet and the shelves above the desk. I am so excited waiting for them to call to schedule delivery! I also bought some closet organizing things with my eye on the Rubbermaid components they sell at Fred Meyer's.

And people the $ Tree is great for organizing! I have bought the plastic baskets to organize the laundry rooms shelves and to make sense of the deep dumbly made bathroom cupboards. My kitchen drawers were organized last year with the blue, green, & purple drawer organizers and my built in wooden laundry room shelves have a bunch of the little laundry type baskets.

As you can see I have been and am really into this. $ Tree, BB&B (with a 20% off coupon in the mail, in magazines and in the paper) has lots of stuff to help and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fred Meyer's.
Not to mention that if you like wicker baskets for organizing you can go to your local yard sales and second hand stores. And don't forget over the door shoe organizers for plastic bags and such in the kitchen or laundry room, for hairbrushes, etc in the bathroom and for small toys in the kids' rooms!

I also make a point of getting rid of things when I bring in new things.

[CaddyLisa]

OK...What are we all going to do today to declutter and organize?...I'm going to get rid of some more clothes in my closet and go through DD's clothes...Then take them to the clothing bin...TODAY! I tend to put it off and it never gets done...Once I'm finished my coffee, I'm off! ~Lisa

[nightowlrn]

Originally Posted by CaddyLisa

OK...What are we all going to do today to declutter and organize?...

Have fun!

Yesterday, we replaced all the hardware in our laundry room and cleaned out two closets, and two cupboards. The lower cupboard is where I stored all the kids arts and crafts supplies. Since my youngest is now 21 (anyone want some antique crayons?) we decided to take out 100 or so of the nicest ones and the drawing paper and we tossed the rest. We do get little kids sometimes, so we figured the crayons and paper might still give us some use.

Today - we are taking every item out of every kitchen cupboard and moving it all into the dining room. What a mess! We took down all the decorations on top of the cupboards (fake greens are out) and dusted (blech). I am going to put a "come and get it" ad on Craigs list next weekend. We have items that may be of use to someone - old hand mixer over 25 years old but never used, various old (cheap) plates/bowls/cups from when the kids were little, fake plants, etc.

Next week we start taking down the wall paper - whoo hoo

[skeevylorrie]

Okay, yesterday I dropped of 5 bags of clothes and stuff to a thrift store and bought my clear storage bins at Lowes. Today we're working on our front yard since it's 75 degrees out. I also am doing laundry and sorting that and purging as I go. I still need to organize all the target stuff and put away my holiday stuff too. Uugh, now I see that I have lots to do

[allinaugust]

Originally Posted by CaddyLisa

OK...What are we all going to do today to declutter and organize?...I'm going to get rid of some more clothes in my closet and go through DD's clothes...Then take them to the clothing bin...TODAY! I tend to put it off and it never gets done...Once I'm finished my coffee, I'm off! ~Lisa

I've cleaned out my clothes drawers and closets, and my food pantry. Tonite I will load up everything I am getting rid of, into the car, and drop it all off tomorrow. I have quite a bit, and am really glad to be passing it along, and getting it out of my house. Now, to keep the momentum going.....

[queenofcoupons]

I went through my lr today.. took pics out of frames (have over 100 in the LR alone) and weeded out it down to the basics and the most fun.. the rest I am going to add to my scrapbooking pile....huge box for a ys..

[Loves2teach]

Yesterday I reorganized my closet (pants & skirts on one side with my hang up pj/work out clothes organizers- casual shirts, sweaters, cardigans, and dress shirts on the other). I also fixed the cabinet where I store ziplock/foil & my bakewear.

Today I am going back to work. Hoping to get my desk drawers organized, and perhaps fix some cabinets that have gotten a bit harry recently.

[skeevylorrie]

Anyone have any progress? I've probably filled about 20 bags to donate, took 6 bins to once upon a child and a man is on his way to look at my sewing machine I put on Craigslist! It's getting quite a bit cleaner here, but I still have more to do!

[allinaugust]

I've been keeping at it, too. I had a slight interruption in things, but, everything is back on track now.

[ItsJustMe]

I'm in. Today the goal is to g through DD toy box in the family room. Yesterday I cleared off the entertainment center and the counter in the kitchen.

[ItsJustMe]

A little hint about getting rid of clothes that I heard on the radio...... Take all the clothes in your cloest and turn the hangers around (so they are backwards on the stick). When you wear something hang it back up the right way. In 6 months go back and "bless someone else" with all the clothes that the hangers are still backwards.

[sarsah]

Peter Walsh (from the TV show 'Clean Sweep') has a new book out called, "It's All Too Much" about decluttering & organizing. I just read it and highly recommend it. He is *much* nicer in the book than they show him on tv, by the way.

The book has a lot of good ideas for those who are really serious about cleaning out and decluttering. I haven't gone quite to the extreme that he recommends, but I've done quite a bit in the last week and it feels great!

[IrishBlonde]

I am closing this thread since another one has already been started.
I see no reason to have 2 threads of the same topic started. Irish