Not quite a horder - decluttering

I came home Sunday night and opened my pantry and smelled a horrid odor.  I was sure there was a dead mouse in there or something.  So I proceded to take everything out.  I finally located a bag of flour that I had set in a gallon zip lock.  There had been moisture in it and it was "rotting".  That odor was so pungent it is still in my nose!

On the upside, most of my pantry shelves got a good wipe down.  And reorganization.

I usually keep my flour in the fridge in a plastic storage, but I had extra flour for Christmas baking and evidently water got in the plastic bag.

I have a couple of those old canning jars with glass lids.  I used them for display and to hold my pie weights.

Anyone know where Suz is?

I just heard from her.  No big problems.  She's a busy woman.  We can relate to that, can't we.

You go, GramE!

As a Feng Shui consultant and de-clutterer lover, I adore this thread.  I find that it's much more difficult to get my energy together to keep things as tidy as I did before my dx but this is inspiring...especially hearing the "today I'm going to do..." sharing. 

So, today I am going to go through all the paperwork and multiple binders of info I have collected over the last two weeks (especially during my whirlwind time at MDA last week) and get it all consolidated.  That alone will clean off my desk and dresser top!  If I feel up to it after that, I may mop the kitchen floor!

This may be posted somewhere already (I'm still reading my way through the thread) but the 3 most helpful things I learned from my FS and de-cluttering studies are to get rid of anything that: (1) you do not LOVE; (2) is broken; (3) is never used.

I guess with a BMX and recon coming up, I have some closet and drawer cleaning to consider, as well.  = )  Thanks for a great thread!

Blessings, I'd swear you were talking about my place!  I really need some shelves in my sewing room so I can put little boxes of stuff in order.

I have "stuff" on top of a desk in the den and more "stuff" on top and in the cubby's of another computer desk that I have not touched in a few years.  I would really like to just sweep it all into a trash can and be done but then I'm afraid there will be something I want and it will be gone.  Really, if I haven't needed it in several years will I ever?

BIG Gold Star GramE!

Meece, do you have (room for) a dresser in your sewing room? I use an old one and have the drawers separated into trims & notions, and small boxes of various craft supplies.Shelves would be nice but haven't happened yet. I just have to remember which drawer a little box is in...

DH is a builder & maker-of-things, and he saves everything that might be useful someday, especially broken stuff. He has his space (shop, shed, "bone-piles" of metals and woods) and as long as I don't look at it, I can be delighted when he builds something from all of what looks to me like man-clutter.  Shelves are on my wish list, but he just built a portable wood-burning heater to protect our small orchard from late frosts... so shelves are waiting their turn.

Blessings, we sort of did that when we moved to this house and the clean, airy feeling we got was very calming and soothing.  One thing I did and I think it helped the vibe or FS, was I cleaned every thing that came into this house. Everything. Washed, polished, etc. It took months to do it right, but it felt sooo good.  Now seven years later, I need to re-paint, and will go through the whole process again, I'm sure.  Funny how clutter builds up. I like to do a big spring cleaning, we'll see how this year goes.

When we lived on our 30' sailboat, there was a saying among boaties that if you didn't watch out, you built up stuff to the level you needed a foot bigger boat every year.  That lifestyle was my best de-cluttering mode, but 30' was so small that whatever you needed had somehow migrated to the bottom at the back, even if you just put it away on top....

You women rock.

Today I'm going to work on the garage again, with the thought of  why do I have this if it's in the garage....

I have a dresser, but put it in the closet and have some of my fabrics sorted in it.  I need to use up more of my "supply" instead of bringing more home.

Hi, Lost_Creek!

I know what you mean about clean and airy being calm and soothing. We had this house built and the entire grand room is full of windows so it is very light. Plus the ceilings are high, which is nice.

To move into a house where I didn't have to scrub someone else's dirty toilet was a dream come true for me. My other house was very old when I bought it, and stuff never really came clean.

Coming home from the hospital (after my BMX) to new carpeting was SO nice. It's soft and cushy and warm and feels good on the feet. We're being a bit obsessed about it, wearing "indoor shoes" and "outdoor shoes"......we even spray Lysol on the soles of our shoes when we've come home from hospital and clinic visits.

Oh my - you lived on a boat! Now THAT requires discipline, doesn't it? To not bring more stuff in unless something goes out? I've never been able to stick to that rule for some reason!

Gingerbrew - If someone is coming over, I just sweep all the stuff off flat surfaces into a bankers box and label it "Current Stuff".

I think I now have about 20 boxes labeled "Current Stuff" and I have no idea what's in any of them!

Gingerbrew,

I do the samething. I've lost (misplaced) so many important papers that way. I do eventually find them but THATS GOT TO STOP.

I have a stash of fabric that I have forgotten what I was going to do with it.    It is mainly pastel shades and all cotton.    It was not for a quilt, maybe some pillows for "decor"...    I do not remember !!    

Yarn stash is being used for scarves using Knifty Knitter.   10 hand/wrist  surgeries so this is easy for me to do, but does take a bit of time.    A friend got a white, silver and black scarf for her birthday, only one week late and everyone loves it and wants one now...