Hoarding - Springing Ahead

Pitlanepiglet

Thanks all, there were a lot of empty bags but also loads of bags filled with a large number of rubber gloves, scouring sponges, loo blocks and the like (as well as said 25 packs of anti-bac wipes). I clearly have some sort of fear of running out of rubber gloves and because the cupboard was unusable I just kept buying more and more because I couldn't check how many I had.

Don't be too impressed with the wine rack, it's mainly Dad's store of nasty wine, most of which has been there for over 10 years because it's been buried in the back of the cupboard. I've saved some and rehomed it into the cupboard where we actually keep wine, but some bottles were clearly beyond drinking even from looking outside of the bottle!

We've managed to get 6 shelves into the cupboard, with decent gaps in between so that I can put either the blue Ikea boxes that I've got a stack of or a double set of the clear lidded Ikea boxes that I've bought recently, there is also room for some of the electrical gubbins which will get those out of the ordinary cupboards. After shot tomorrow once the shelves have been finished....

Again, what wasn't obvious to me until recently is that we've been living in a mess because we had no space, when actually for the sake of half a day's clearing and a day of OH shelf building and around £40 in materials (plus boxes I suppose) I'm going to have more space than even I can fill (for a little while....). I bet I've wasted more time trying to jam things into cupboards and trying to find things....

noelphobic

Pitlanepiglet wrote: »

So....this is the "big" cupboard in the kitchen...two photo's one of the top and one of the bottom. Question 1 why do I have 25 packets of anti-bac wipes. Question 2 why does my father appear to hoard lightbulbs. (4 Ikea boxes worth!).

The cupboards look fine to me. I used to hoard cleaning products although I didn't use them nearly often enough, probably because I had too much clutter to clean around! I do seem to have cured myself of that particular habit (the hoarding, still working on using the cleaning products, although that is also improving!) I also used to hoard food - tinned, packets and frozen rather than fresh. I have also got out of that habit and one of my food cupboards is now organised in the style of 'Sleeping with the Enemy'. I find it hard to understand how I have these OCD tendencies in certain areas when I am the messiest person in the world in so many others.

Pitlanepiglet

Noel, I think it's some kind of need for control to avoid dropping back into old habits. I can see myself developing something similar now that I'm clearing the decks. I'm getting mildly obsessive about cleaning and keeping order and I'm getting very grumpy with OH who is incapable of putting anything back in its home in the kitchen.

GreyQueen

Actually, piglet, the more I look at the cupbaord, the more worried I am. I had that same red wire storage rack (now departed) as well as recognising various other of the bags. Wasn't it Andy Warhol who joked that you could switch the contents of a lot of cupboards for other people's cupboards and no one would notice the difference?

I just did a little clothing repair jobbie which required the sewing machine. It has been pending since 29/12/13. By "pending" I mean floating around the living room or it'll get forgotten and put away unmended.

You know what? With the table clear, the whole job inc setting up and putting away took FIVE minutes. No kidding. This tidiness business is a wheeze, isn't it?

Actually, it nearly got procrastinated again but for the fact I need the item tomorrow, so knuckled down despite being lurgy with a cold. But not up to making lovely laundry bags. Will do so, though, I am very keen on the idea.

Am continuing to keep the table clear and taking joy in its emptiness. It's a simple little old table with a vinyl cloth on it, nothing ritzy, but so very useful when not doubling up as a heap of carp.

lobbyludd

this evening I have mended ds's chest of drawers with the new drawer runners that were ordered for the purpose and arrived today. <Drum roll>

.........the old drawer bits are in the bin, including the screws that came out of them, and the drill put away. The clothes are back in the drawers.

<bows> I thank you.

Patchwork_Quilt

I am impressed Lobbyludd. Most hoarders would have kept the screws and fittings just in case ... You've been very brave.

Well, I am going to get rid of this skirt at bedtime. Apparently, OH doesn't like the style, the fit or the colour, but apart from that, it's all right.

Good thing I found a nice one at the charity shop at the weekend. One in, one out.

Am also decluttering a couple of tops into the 0xfam mountain by the front door. I often save half decent clothes for 'gardening' but my 'gardening' wardrobe is getting extensive. I'll just have to be brave about it.

Keep going people. Things will feel better tomorrow.

GreyQueen

:T Bravo, lobbyludd. I take my hat off to you, especially as I spent 3 months of 2013 with a newly purchased shelf loitering before going up on the wall. It's a great feeling that you broke the habits and just did it.

Although I am made a bit anxious about the old screws hitting the bin rather than being stored in a jam jar against future need. I'd've found that hard, indeed am swithering with a couple of them now...........

Today I'm off work and Mum is coming up from her town on the coach and we're going shopping for a wedding outfit for her. Neither of us like clothes shopping at all, as we're hardware store and bookstore kind of people, but needs must when the devil drives.

Between being exasperated in clothes stores, we'll have some laughs and perhaps do a couple of other things. I'm not planning to buy anything myself at all today, unless I fall through the door of a c.s. and see something which meets some need on the premises.

I do have one or two very specific things I'm after, such as a nylon straining spoon for the kitchen as mine broke two nights ago. It can limp on until I find another at 20p, I'm afraid, but that'll be a one-in, one-out situation and won't be leading to increased clutter.

Righty, table is still clear......I keep worrying that it'll somehow default into mess. Which is daft as I live alone and there's only me capable of cluttering it up. I guess one of the things about getting out from under the heap is trusting yourself not to re-clutter.

Hope everyone who was having a rubbish day yesterday has a better time today and that we're all slowly heading to where we want to be. GQ xx

kayester

another bad day for me today.
i have cleaned the bathroom and started DD and DS drawers, but DD is being a terrible 2 and not letting me do anything!

whitewing

House is getting better.

Got 11 things in the post today.

Supermarket order was packed away last night.

Still struggling a bit with the new work regime, however, it does have one advantage. We were struggling to get washing done now we're out of the house more. So I have started to use the 30 minute cycle on shirts and some of DD's stuff that has been just worn once but needs freshening. This is working much better than I had expected and does mean there is time to put a quick load in and hang it up before we leave. It'll be a real bonus in the summer too as again a lot of my blouses/tops and DD's summer dresses will only need a short wash.

Time to crack on.

ModestyB

Kayester, can you try and make a game of it with your DD? Let her help you empty the drawers and put things in bags or boxes? Teach her the game of decluttering, it might rub off on the rest of the family.

Well done to everyone, you are all so motivating. I love reading this thread.