April Clutter Control, 2015

[Harriet]

It's the quarter-point of the year!

One-fourth of 2015 is past. You're the judge. What is your verdict on your clutter control last quarter? '

Are you where you hoped to be? Would you like to brag a little, because we are all ears!

What is the plan for the next month? What are the tools you'll need?

Here are a few ideas - what are yours?

Do you need to start over with a clipboard?
Go around and make a to-do card for individual box/pile/stash/stacks?
Delegate to family members?
Plan a marathon session?
Start recording pounds or square feet redeemed?
Move your decluttering time up to earlier morning?

[Harriet]

If you’d like some partners while working:

Some of us like to use decluttering as a preceding step that can (literally) make cleaning a glide instead of a stumble. We go along with the Focus Cleaning Schedule (that link will take you to the Cleaning calendar in the Cleaning Forum, where you can also post your cleaning thoughts in the monthly threads there) and we place decluttering of each of those rooms in the week AHEAD of their Focus.

So you’ll find some April declutter partners in these rooms and areas:

Week of Mar 30 – Bathroom decluttering (Clean up in the Bedrooms!)
Week of April 6 – Office/Other decluttering (Clean up the Bathrooms!)
Week of Apr 13 – Closets decluttering (Clean up the Office/Other!)
Week of Apr 20 – Laundry Area decluttering (Clean in the Closets!)
Week of Apr 27 - Storage Areas decluttering (Clean in the Laundry!)

Always substitute a different Focus area whenever it will match your home’s needs best.

[Nancy]

Trash pick up had some clutter that left today. More shredded papers to go in next time as well.

[Harmony]

I dropped off my bin full today. 2 blankets, the picture frames, the purse.

Funny, I talked myself into going in to bring home that tray I saw. Ours really is rusty on the top and on the bottom. It got used a lot. I figured, one in one out. Well, it was gone. You snooze you lose! I'll have to keep looking.

[Nancy]

Took 2 bags to the thrift shop today.

[blessedw2]

got rid of my truck - gave to my brother but he still gave me something for it which was so nice - I didn't want anything for it. 160,000 miles on it. and still runs beautifully and looks beautiful - certain things weren't worth fixing and he can fix what is needed . But it's gone!!! dh wanted to keep it for sentimental reasons and I had such a hard time getting rid of it - knowing it went to my brother makes me happy.

[Nancy]

I got a bag of donations sorted and loaded in the car trunk.

[Harmony]

I got a head start on next week's declutter, the office. We have a whole room for that plus other spots. I usually think of decluttering as mostly throw away / give away. But this chore in this room is a lot of organizing and put away also. I had a stack of papers beside the binder and sorted through those and put in the binder in proper spots and shredded duplicate copies. Stacks of papers on another desk meant a bunch of filing, sorting, and all the little notes thrown away. I'm not sure it's altogether correct, but it was the best I could do with my understanding.

It seems more satisfying to see a big stack or box of things to give away, leaving big spaces blank... but the work in this room is different, harder almost. I've decluttered the bulletin board also. Trying to focus on the cleared surfaces so I'll feel like I actually did something. Man, this space is hard!

[Nancy]

Dropped off more donations today.

[ellyphant]

3 white sheer curtain panels to donate bag. These came with the house and I've used them in several different rooms, but now they can go.