My Home is a MESS! - part 2

Baileysonice

hi folks

I tackled my sideboard today. Oh my god I have 40 glasses of various shapes and sizes in there which in itself I could maybe justify (lots of friends and all that lol) but that is not my glass cupboard I have another one in the kitchen with at least double (cant bear to count yet) the amount :o (I clearly don't have that many friends not even on facebook )

Managed to ditch all of my remaining DVDs - 20 of them to the charity bag with the simple logic that as I don't have a DVD player anymore then that probably makes sense. Couldn't bring myself to ditch the CDs yet even though I always use an IPOD or computer to play music. Did break free from various chargers that I have no idea what they fit, and sorted out a corner of gloom where I seem to have been dumping stuff with the thinking that what cant be seen shouldn't be worried about.

Long way to go for me but small steps and all that

pollypenny

It makes me laugh to hear that I'm not the only one!

Terry is spot to say that we are used to keeping things 'in case', to make do and mend! Trouble is, we've kept but still bought new!

As for glasses, we seem to have loads. OH brought a load home from the rugby club once, why I don't know. In Belgium it's traditional to have a designated glass for each beer: we've acquired a selection of named beer glasses, which must be kept as we were given them!

Emm-in-a-pickle

Hi Messies!

Folks not wanting to let people in their house, and not knowing how to dispose of the clutter- I`m with you!!
In my case, thankfully, we`re not open plan, so I try to prioritise keeping LR as reasonable as I can, and keeping doors closed on the rest! And when it comes to getting rid of stuff, I find it a lot easier to give away or send to recycling...

Terry, don`t bin your duvets yet, if there`s an animal rescue anywhere near you offer them first, they may be glad to take any unwanted bedding, towels, etc., even stuff that a charity shop wouldn`t want. Putting stuff in the loft is probably just postponing the effort to get rid, and making more work!

Feeling overwhelmed - yes, that`s also familiar Chez-Emm!
The feelings of a Messy can be very counter-productive too.
I have come to accept that I can only do so much before I get dis-heartened, so concentrating on getting a particulat patch clear AND keeping it clear works best for me. Gives me a bit of enthusiasm to tackle the next bit.
I also fluctuate between feeling guilty about mess - crazy, but as the woman of the house I imagine people would think it reflects on me more than my menfolk - and feeling hard done by because any de-messying here is left to me.
Accepting one`s limitations, and doing a bit at a time is the only way I`ve made any progress, some sliding back and then some ploughing forwards... it helps a lot to share in a forum like this.
I`ve taken a bag of too-small tops to Barnardo`s today, shopped and put away shopping, binned a load of ancient undies, and done a WM load, and started sorting kitchen worktops. Not a lot, but not too bad!
LR is cosy and kitchen sink is clear.
Tomorrow is another day ...

Terry2013

I'm just sitting watching Hoarders, a programme I have never seen before... All I can say is, oh my goodness ! I am not like that one little bit.. lol

serena

Terry2013 I've just asked my very techy DS1 about your laptop/cables/screen stuff. He suggests googling for computer shops in your area, as there will probably be someone to recycle them there. We have also offered on freegle, and they were taken by someone doing a computer repair course who wanted broken ones to take a part and practice on.

Christmas decorations down and back in loft (thank you DS1!). He has also removed a broken desktop computer from desk, cleared clutter, dusted, and put a new working pc there. I am hugely impressed, and will not be mentioning his huge bag of presents, and numerous games that are still here. :D

I have done a bit, mostly clearing general clutter, and vacuuming.

Terry2013

Hi Serena Can you thank your DS1 for me please, fabulous idea

pathtofreedom

I'd like to jump on here. A combination of laziness, health issues, moving house a million times and never unpacking in between, means I have 2 bedrooms and a garage full of junk right now. I haven't even been in those rooms for years, so in a way I'm tempted to just get a skip, and get someone to go empty them all for me, but part of me worries I'll throw something I'll need - how can I need it if I haven't seen whatever it is for years - or I'd be just throwing away money which doesn't seem very mse.

I like the idea of having a month to do each room though as I keep saying I'll do it but it is just too much to do in one weekend so it never happens. I have a cleaner for the main areas like kitchen, bathroom, living room and my bedroom so they at least stay clean.

I'm guilty of bags of post and recipets as well that need sorting. I'm tempted to chuck it all in the recycling, but then I worry about identity theft. It would take for ever to shred it all though, and I am not sure about trying to burn it as I guess I'd have to buy something to burn it in.

Any ideas for the post mountain though are very welcome.

alec_eiffel

If a computer shop won't take the old stuff then there will be an area at the tip for stuff like that and it will be recycled.

Things that are obsolete won't become less obsolete by keeping hold of them. Yes, things cost money at the time, but they have no value now. Well, they have value as a comfort blanket, but it's largely a myth. If there's no cash an old pc monitor/ margarine tubs/ cracked cups/ old post won't improve things. They create a false sense of security, but it's one that can keep us held in the past.

In terms of paperwork, I stick things with no personal info in the recycling and the other stuff I rip up and put into a bucket of water where I scrunch it up more, until it's a mush, them I compost it or chuck it.

themull1

Terry2013 wrote: »

Good morning everyone

Well I have made a start.. Already at sixes and sevens though, I have started with the bureau, It has everything in apart from pens and paper.. I have easily binned the argos catalogues, yellow pages and numerous sunglasses (that were broken, but might come in handy for the little screws) Now I have found a dozen cook books, I hardly cook anymore, so what shall I do, bin them, or store in some other drawer??

I have a million pens around the house, shall I bin them or put them in a box, I have kept crafty thing since my son was a wee one, (he's 22 this month) lol... I hate throwing things away..

I have old cables, mobiles, old laptop, old desktop & flat screen.. all of the obsolete and not worth anything on the sales sites, so should I just take to the tip?

And I have a room full of CD's... Some scratched.. I only play them occasionally now as I tend to use internet more.. Shall I put them all in the loft??

I think part of the problem is, once upon a time we had to make do and mend, and now things are so accessible and cheap that its just as simple to go and replace things that are worn and broken...

All help and advice gratefully rec'd

Cookery books - bin or give to charity, you can get any recipe on the internet.

Pens - keep some and maybe donate the rest to a school or charity to use.
Crafty things - as above - our school loves getting crafty stuff.
Any old electricals take to the tip.

CD's, bin the scratched ones, keep your favourites donate the rest to charity. Stear clear of putting things in the loft.

Terry2013

Thanks for the advice, I am feeling there is a bit of 'comfort blanket' thing going on.. I too have moved many times and was brought up in care, so perhaps its about having ownership of 'things' a sense of 'this is me!'

I intend to make big sacrifices over the coming months, because I do think I am living in the past.... Onwards and upwards