I am a pack-rat. How can I de-junk my house efficiently?

Question

I'm not as bad as some people are but there is clutter everywhere. Most of it is from my son's baby and toddler things that are no longer being used. What do I keep and what do I save of my son's baby stuff. I look at some of his clothes or other things and remember when he played or wore that and I wind up not getting rid of anything at all. My house can not take any more things in it. HELP!

Answer 1

Save what he wore home from the hospital and a few other special items in a shoe box. I didn't think I could give my son's stuff away at first, but when I started thinking about babies who needed clothes I donated them in heartbeat. The memories you have won't be gotten rid of with the clothes or toys. If you think you might need some of the stuff for a future baby then save some of it, but if not take it to a charity thrift store or give it to a friend or relative who needs it. Think how many parents could have memories of their son playing in the same outfit. If you don't use an item or haven't used it months you probably don't need it. Donate, it eliminates clutter and helps others.

Answer 2

I understand how hard it is to get rid of memories. First you have to get your head right about it. Ask yourself if all that stuff is going to make you happy or if having a few precious momentos and a clutter free house will make you happy. I'm guessing the later.

I read a book by "the slob sisters" once and the best thing about that book was the three box (and a bag - which I added) method. I still use it. Take 3 boxes and a garbage bag and go into one room to start with. Don't go to other rooms until you've finished your first. It may take a while but it gets faster once you start seeing progress.

Label the first box something like "So precious even the grumpy old man down the street would gasp if I tossed it"

Label the second box "Clutter, needs to be put away in proper place"

Label third box "Give away to some really great charity, so that others may benefit and I will feel great!"

Garbage bag is pretty self evident.

Fill each box. Once boxes are full, clearly label the precious memories and put it in storage. Put all the clutter away where it belongs and take the donate box and put it in your car. On your next errand or shopping trip drop it off, treat yourself to a latte and give yourself a pat on the back!

At first this method was slow but it really picked up as I could actually sit in our dining room and not see kids toys. I have to admit that my daughter has grown and left home and I sent most of her precious boxes with her. I kept a few things but not enough to even fill one box, which surprises me!

Good luck and remember it's not the stuff that you love it's the memories and you can keep those in yor head!

Answer 3

Try visiting http:\\www.flylady.net She's a firm believer that you cannot organize clutter, you have to get rid of it.

Things have to earn their place in your home. If you don't use it, wear it, or love it then it's just taking up space and it's clutter.

We tend to hang on to things for sentimental reasons, but the memories are not the things themselves -- our memories are in our heads. What if you already have a picture or you now took a picture of an item that gives you fond memories? Then you could enjoy those memories everytime you looked at the picture, instead of having to keep the item that you don't use, which just takes up space.

The other reason we tend to hang on to things is fear of letting them go, because "what if I need that later." Well, your son has outgrown his baby stuff. He cannot fit into the baby clothes any more, he won't play with the baby toys any more, and if he's toilet trained he won't use the potty-trainer any more. You don't need those things now, they are just clutter.

Perhaps you can justify saving really special items, like the christening outfit hand-knit by a special aunt. Those are the kinds of things that are heirlooms. And maybe there's a really favorite item you just want to save. Limit yourself to one keepsake box. But most of what we have is just stuff.

Spend 15 minutes at a time decluttering. Set a timer. 15 minutes may not sound like much, but you'd be amazed how much you can get done in that amount of time. And you can do anything for 15 minutes. Do this every day, and each day's progress really starts to add up and you'll see the difference.

Sort his stuff into different boxes -- what you're keeping (he can use/wear it NOW and/or in the future), stuff to get rid of, and trash. When the timer goes off, you can close up the boxes and you're done or you can do another 15 minutes. Do a little at a time, take babysteps so it doesn't overwhelm you. Your house didn't get cluttered in a day, don't expect it to get uncluttered in a day either. If you try to do it all in a day, you'll probably just wind up making a big mess, getting frustrated, and quitting.

If the item you're evaluating is stained or torn up, just throw it away. If it's clean and usable, you can give it to someone who can actually use it. As soon as the box to give away is full, then get it out of the house. That way you'll see progress, when things leave the house.

Giving your unused items away will make you feel wonderful that you are doing something good for someone else. If you don't know someone to give your son's things to, consider giving them to a church, a charity like Goodwill, or you can offer them on Freecycle.

Freecycle is an online community that works locally to match people who are giving stuff away with people who can use it. No money changes hands, all items are gifts from one person to another. You can offer things, and the person you choose to receive them picks up your gift. You can also request things, and someone can then offer something to you to meet your need, and you go pick it up. The whole point is to keep usable items out of the landfills.

By giving something away, you are clearing your clutter, you feel great, you're building great karma, and perhaps someone else will give you something that you can use for your son or clothing he can wear as he grows.

I'm proud of you for asking for help, and I know you can do this. Lots and lots of other people have done it using Flylady's tips, a few of which I have shared here. Remember, to take babysteps. You can do it!

Answer 4

Label boxes picked up from post office they are free. Called express mail. Pack up the things you think are worth keeping for next generations to unpack and use or laugh about. Then Mail the boxes to them!

Answer 5

I would make decisions....first...do you really need...have you touched in the past six months? If you haven't...chances are probably that you don't need it..

Since you really hate to throw things away...try donating some of the things to someone who might need it. If you give it to an organization that you know will help someone directly..even better...you can see who it is gonna help and know it is going to a good home.

Hope that helps....

B

Answer 6

Time to declutter....

May I make a helpful suggestion. There is a wonderful nationwide group called freecyle.org.... they have local chapters in every state... donate the items you no longer wish to keep and help out someone else in need.

http://www.freecycle.org

Answer 7

3 points...
#1 have mega huge yard sale.
#2 whats left donate to good will and get tax deduction.
#3 Get a 30 yard dumpster and fill it.
warning (watch out for fly dumpers)
you might pay to dispose others garbage.

Answer 8

I would recomend picking stuff that you do not use and selling it on ebay. You can aslo drop some off at goodwill. I would also recomend that even though you like your sons cloths you should sell them.

Answer 9

here's what you do. you have someone else go through your house and throw away the things that you dont need. that way you won't want to keep everything you come to. keep in mind you can't get mad at them for what they get rid of.

Answer 10

Make him watch Sanford&Son until he can no longer stand it. and start up donating, backyard sales, maybe you may get a new child interior the nieghborhood to artwork for a number of it and enable you to do away with a number of it. tell him he can sell it for you and chop up the money with him. make useful your husband is in on it, regardless of each thing you mairried him.