Getting Organized

**Shelli_wnj** · 02-20-2010, 03:19 PM

OK, today was the day I finally started! As I have posted in the past... my downstairs looks like an episode of Hoarders. Ok, maybe not quite - but close. We live upstairs, so it has never been an issue before, but lately I couldn't even get to my food pantry, the bags of food were accumulating near the stairs, and it was getting difficult to get to the washing machine. I finally got fed up enough to do something about it! WOOHOO. If any of you suffer from disorganizational syndrome (made up, but real to me

) you know what a feat this is.

My husband played with the kids upstairs, and then let them watch TV while I was downstairs making such a racket they wanted to come down and see. He said it was probably just as hard keeping them upstairs as the work I was doing downstairs.

I started with the area closest to the stairs. I did like Niecy on the show on TLC (I forget the name) and had a donate, throw away, and keep pile. The throw away pile grew so big I actually had to use one of the outside cans

Donate was pretty big, too. Everything I kept is already organized and put away. I only did a section of one room (I only had 2 hours) but I can now get to my food pantry (which is organized) and my washing machine and drying area (we don't use a dryer), which was cleaned up, swept and cleared of anything that doesn't belong there. I cannot wait until I have more time to go through more stuff!

Now my husband is going to the dump and salvation army, so that everything is actually DONE, and this stuff is no longer cluttering up our house!

Has anyone done anything similar recently? Share your successes

Shelli

**dcompton** · 02-20-2010, 03:35 PM

I haven't done anything like this, but you've made a great start. It will get done - one square foot at a time.

It's smart to do it bit by bit for shorter periods. From packing and unpacking and past declutters, I'll vouch for that. Too much at a time is overwhelming.

**Contrary Housewife** · 02-20-2010, 04:04 PM

I have done a couple major clean-outs since we've lived here. The first time I did the garage I had a friend help. We left a pile on the curb bigger than my car.

Lately I've been after DH to go through his stuff. We've already donated 2 carloads of computer/electronics to Goodwill, which claims they recycle it.

**acabin42** · 02-20-2010, 04:23 PM

Way to go! I need to do this. In fact, I was glad to see your post. This has been my problem for a long time now. And since I am quitting work and staying home for awhile, I am looking forward to doing this. I have my list of things I want to accomplish the next few months, and this is at the top of the list. Thanks for bringing it up!

**Natalie's Nesters** · 02-20-2010, 05:03 PM

You go girl! Baby steps really do add up!

**AmyBoz** · 02-20-2010, 05:24 PM

Great job! It's such a wonderful feeling to have something like that started, and how smart to have dh bring it right out of the house. It can so easily wind up becoming clutter somewhere else in the house! Great work!

**Pemberleyan** · 02-20-2010, 08:40 PM

Good for you! Doesn't it feel great?

Several weeks ago we cleaned out the basement, which took three days, but it felt good to get rid of some things and get a little more organized. Last week we went through DH's office and filled a large trash can with old bank statements, tax returns, and other paperwork. I hung a couple of pictures and we rearranged furniture.

I had thought we could take some old doors and sheetrock to Habitat day after tomorrow, but it's supposed to rain.

**Gibs** · 02-20-2010, 09:04 PM

Great job! My basement needs a big declutter done now, its getting hard to get around down there, and its driving me nuts. Hopefully this week I will be able to get it all done.

**mauimagic** · 02-20-2010, 11:13 PM

Love your success stories!!

We are making inroads here, but in bits and pieces so it's not as obvious. Company is coming March 11 so I know there will be a lot of visible success by then!! Thank goodness for company!!

**Vanilla** · 02-20-2010, 11:18 PM

Love to hear success stories!!

**Hamada** · 02-21-2010, 03:42 PM

After getting really organized and disposing of unneeded items really makes me feel happy. It is always really pleasing to walk into a room or see a closet that is neatly organized.

Sounds like it is time to do this again.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 02-21-2010, 05:01 PM

Wow! You did a fantastic job in just 2 short hours!! Fantastic!

**Shelli_wnj** · 02-21-2010, 05:16 PM

Congrats, ladies! Whether you decided to get started or have already started - starting is the important thing... I know this is true because today my husband saw in the daylight just what had been accomplished. He "caught the bug" and started cleaning out his areas. We are both to blame and it will take both of us to get it done. So today he spent 2 hours and cleaned out about the same size section in another area of the downstairs! Now we both have room to go through other stuff that can't just be tossed - it needs to be gone through and weeded out the junk from the stuff we have been looking for

Look out tomorrow!
Keep the momentum, ladies!

**NikoSan999** · 02-21-2010, 07:27 PM

In bad need of here. That's one bug I need to catch. Congratulations on getting started

**Libby** · 02-21-2010, 10:46 PM

Great success!!

Originally Posted by mauimagic

Love your success stories!!

We are making inroads here, but in bits and pieces so it's not as obvious. Company is coming March 11 so I know there will be a lot of visible success by then!! Thank goodness for company!!

I agree, thank goodness for houseguests/visitors lol - nothing quite like that motivation