DECLUTTERING

I just read that you don't have to organize as you declutter. You have permission to just declutter first. Once you are done, then you can organize what is left. That makes good sense to me. But I catch myself thinking that I need to clean, and organize at the same time I am decluttering. Is that how you feel too? I suspect that is exactly why I never seem to get around to decluttering, or don't stay at it if I do start. I may have to keep reminding myself that I have permission to focus only on decluttering. I AM the only one living in this house, so the only one I have to answer to is myself.

Now, do I declutter the whole house first, and then start cleaning? Then do I get all the cleaning done before I start organizing? Hmm.

I am inclined to think that I need to do it one room at a time. I think that will keep me more focused, otherwise I get too distracted and never get anything done.

Where should I start? I would guess that I need to do the public areas of the house first, right? So why do I always want to start in my bedroom? And work on closets and pantry where most people will never see anyway?

I think a decluttered, organized and clean bedroom is necessary for good rest. At the other house I did quite well in keeping the bedroom tidy. But in this house? Not so much. For one, it is too crowded. For another the computer desk and filing cabinet are also in the bedroom because there is no room anywhere else in this house where it can go, and that creates its own clutter. If there were room I would set up a screen in front of the computer so that I don't have to look at the clutter all the time. Every bit of wall space in this house has something in front of it, and it isn't that I have a lot of furniture, but I do have some large pieces, such as the antique upright piano in the living room, as well as a large entertainment center, and a large dresser with hutch/ mirror on top that overpowers the bedroom. Small, one bedroom houses with no basement or second floor can be a problem. It is a good thing that what I collect is paper - magazine articles, recipes, etc. That does take up some room but not as much as antiques and other collectible items.

I have rambled on long enough. I had intended to write a different post tonight, but then noticed this draft sitting here unfinished. At least I can say that I finished something today! Meanwhile the decluttering, organizing and cleaning are waiting for me.

'Tis Home Sweet Home - Dish Cupboard Decluttering

BEFORE

This is my small dish cupboard in the kitchen. I got tired of reaching to the top shelf every morning to get my coffee mug. I am 5'8" but it is still a stretch for me and even more of a stretch to reach the ones toward the back. So with my current decluttering mode, I took a look at this cupboard as I knew there were a few things I never use in there, and some that I just needed to stop using. And I need things convenient to me in order to use them at all. One day I was mulling it over in my mind as to what I could do with this, and it finally dawned on me. Move those coffee mugs to the bottom shelf! I rarely use the fragile drinking glasses so why are they the handiest? A major shift was in order.

AFTER

I see I didn't get a very good picture since I cut off half the right side, but this gives you an idea of how I changed things. Now the coffee mugs are closest to the sink. My morning coffee is a mug of water heated in the microwave and then flavored instant coffee powder added to the hot water. Fast and easy and oh - so - good!

The Christmas mugs are still on the top shelf since they are seasonal and not used every day. I wish I had enough room to have the luncheon plates in a separate space from the dinner plates, but I haven't found that space yet. Maybe some day.

This is what has been removed from that cupboard and will be donated. I never use the small juice glasses so why should they take up precious space? Does anyone use juice glasses anymore? The yellow glasses are cheap plastic. The white mug in front of them is a Care Bears plastic mug. Maybe they are worth something to collectors today, so someone will get a lucky find. The two mugs that are dark green outside and white inside are free ones that came with a Gevalia coffee maker my kids gave to me several years ago. They have gold on them so can't be used in the microwave, so I never use them. Then there are two clear plastic glasses, and behind them is a water bottle minus its lid. I think that might be in a drawer so need to check that out before it is donated. The dark cup is a single that I got on clearance once, thinking I would use it at the sink for quick drinks of water or to take pills instead of the ugly plastic one I have used for a long time. But this mug shows all the water spots from our hard water and I really didn't like to use it either. The three blue cups are Melamine that we had in our camper trailer. For some reason I thought I had to keep them when the trailer was sold. Don't need them. The mug in front with the picture on is a souvenir mug that was given to my husband by his daughter when they went to Washington DC. It means nothing to me, and it now has a small chip on the edge. Out it goes. And the three cups on the right are plastic travel cups from a quick stop. My husband always had to have a cup of coffee on the road so they were used a lot. I even like drinking out of them, but they are so ugly with half the printing worn off, and I don't need them. I love my large capacity green mugs from the dollar store, and I have 8 of them, so that is enough for company, and enough for me to use between dish washings. All those things are now packed in a box and ready to take to the thrift store.

These are ice cube trays that make long, skinny 'cubes' to put in water bottles. I used them when I was still going to Curves and took water along to exercise sessions. I don't go there anymore, and so don't need these. I did use them this summer for extra ice cubes, but they did not come out very well and were more of a nuisance. So I found some regular cube trays and these are going out. They were not in the dish cupboard, but are part of my general decluttering.

'Tis Home Sweet Home - Pantry Reorganizing - again

It is hard for me to believe, but it has been over a year ago that I talked here about cleaning out and organizing my pantry! Well, I was at it again recently. 

Above is what it looked like when I was in the process of organizing 15 months ago. That wide board is the front half of the middle shelf. I had also removed the front half of the top shelf. That makes it so much easier to find things on the shelves below.

The above picture is what it looked like a week later, after I had gone shopping and stocked up on a whole lot of great sales. Not too bad considering what I have to work with. I am in no way an expert at organizing, especially in getting it to look really neat. I just have too much stuff that has to go into a small space. I would like to stock up even more when there are good sales, but there just isn't room -- yet.

This picture shows you what it looks like today, after I put in the can storage racks and got the canned goods neater and able to find what I need, and what I am low on. I could use a couple more racks but there is no more room. I have one-of-a-kind cans there that do not need a place in a rack. At least now I am able to see what I have. I wanted to eliminate the front plank of that shelf, but there is just too much there to be able to do that. I am happy with the way it is for now.

I think you all know that it takes constant effort to keep pantries in shape. Since I am a low energy person, whenever I go grocery shopping, I am just lucky to get it all in the house. It might take me another day to get around to putting it all away, and sometimes don't have the time to do it right, so it just gets put in anywhere I can find a space. I do hope that I will do better at it now that the racks are in place. It is so much nicer when I want to cook and I can find what I need right away instead of having to move can after can before finding it.

Tis Home, Sweet Home

While I was ordering my stool and cart, I also ordered this:

When I cleaned out my pantry previously here, I looked at can storage racks like this one, but did not order any. Later when I did a large stocking up shop I ran out of room again and was wishing I had this rack. So now it is on order and should be here by the time this post is published. And by then I will have my rolling stool, so I should be all set to get organized once more. (picture of finished project later)

This 'n' That - More decluttering

MORE DECLUTTERING

Before

After

 

 I showed you the 'before' picture in  this post . Now you see the hutch after doing some decluttering. Below is part of what I removed.

There was also a large stack of white dish towels and a small white platter that I gave my daughter. I think there were a couple other things she took too. I also took out some large coffee mugs that were put in another cupboard. Below is how it looks today. I am sorry I didn't get a 'before' picture of this part.

On the left is what I kept of the embroidered white flour sack dish towels (my favorite to dry with). In the middle are a few terry type kitchen towels that I use to cover bread dough as it rises, or the baked bread to help soften the crusts a bit while it cools. On top of those are what is left of my dish cloths. I transferred a couple of ratty ones to the rag box. I have a couple that I knitted that I have held back for gifts but I think I need to 'gift' them to myself! On the right side are kitchen towels with crocheted tops to hang on cupboard handles that a friend gave me, and some of my microfiber cloths.

Bottom shelf - small plastic serving plate, divided pickle dish and a covered candy dish on the left, a matched crystal sugar and creamer set (could as well get rid of that as no one uses them anymore), and then a stack of serving bowls, one wicker bread basket, and two salsa bowls. Those larger bowls are only used when my kids are here and we have a large meal, which is maybe twice a year. 

On the right side are some jar candles and an empty beer bottle. Why do I have an empty beer bottle? I use that when I make an angel food cake. I turn the cake pan upside down and put the center hole over the bottle to hold it up while the cake cools. It has been my experience that every time I make an angel food it rises higher than the little legs around the top of the pan, so when the pan is turned upside down, the cake ends up touching the counter and that is not a good way to cool it. Years ago I used an empty pop bottle but most are plastic now. (I don't drink beer - can't stand it)

The last picture is of some more books and magazines I have culled out, along with my wristwatch that no longer works. I think the battery is dead, which could be replaced, but the band is also broken. I had been wearing it with the broken link tied together with dental floss. Since I only paid $10 for it, getting a new band and battery would cost more than a new watch. So I have a new one that I like even better. The magazines are from a stack waiting for me to read, and these I finally finished. I cannot throw out a magazine that I have not read! The book "Jars of Clay" is one that I have tried to read a few times but just can't seem to get interested, so rather than have it sitting on the shelf and making me feel guilty every time I see it, I am finally letting it go and maybe someone else will find it a good read. I think I may have bought it at a rummage sale in the first place.

I am just getting started on the decluttering and organizing, but this is more than I have done in a long while so am feeling pretty good about it. You didn't get to see all the magazine articles and pages printed from the internet that I tossed out of the filing cabinet. Still not finished with that either but things are looking lighter.

This 'n' That - Decluttering

 

 DECLUTTERING

Here are some of the things I have decluttered so far. They aren't out of the house yet, but as soon as I get a box in from the garage, they will be donated. I am thinking about listing a couple of the cookbooks on our local swap FB page, but if they don't sell, they will be donated with the others. There are also several different Curves member diet guides and a Curves hardcover book that I might also try to sell first.

1. 5 cookbooks
2. 5 Curves books
3. small glass dish ( I have several nice crystal dishes, don't need this cheap glass) I never use it
4. 2 wicker bread bowls - maybe used once or twice since moving here. I kept one fancier one if I ever need one for dinner buns
5. 5 white dish towels ( they are sort of silky and don't dry well)
6. 1 dish cloth that is going to the rag box
7. 4 fleece squares - I cut to use on Swiffer sweeper but now I only have carpeted floors and don't use a Swiffer
8. about 7 (or more) white flour dishtowels (not pictured) that I gave my daughter. I still have more than enough to last me forever.
9. 1 small white platter (also didn't get a picture as I gave it to my daughter) I had ordered it online and was disappointed that it wa so small and shallow. Should have sent it back but it was a clearance item, and naturally I thought I would use it anyway. But that didn't, and isn't going to happen.

I don't have pictures yet of the stacks of magazines and papers culled from file folders. I might also take pictures of the newspapers that will be going to the recycle tub as they tend to pile up before I get them all read, and then the whole stack gets taken out. But that is a recurring thing so not really downsizing.

So I have a good start and need to keep the momentum going.

This & That

THIS & THAT

 

 

There is a lot of this and that in this picture, don't you think? That is what Mondays on this blog will be about. Or at least I hope so. We will see how this goes.

You see, I have totally been disorganized with my posts so far. And my mind has not been very fruitful as to what to write, so my posts have been sporadic. I have been looking at some other blogs and many have a main theme, or each day has a theme. I have also gotten some ideas for what kinds of pictures to take. So the other day I sat down and wrote some daily themes. And when I think of something to write about I will write the post and then schedule it for publication in advance. I think that way I won't feel as pressured to get something posted. Here is the list:

Monday - This & That ( whatever doesn't fit in the other categories)
Tuesday - 'Tis Home, Sweet Home ( house, decorating, gardening)
Wednesday - What's Cooking (recipes, etc)
Thursday - Down Memory Lane
Friday - Faith Friday

I don't have a day for sewing, crafting and other projects, so unless I add Saturdays, they may be included either in This & That or 'Tis Home,Sweet Home. I think I would like to take weekends off, but we will see. This isn't written in stone yet, so there may be some tweaking or changing as time goes on. This is still a work in progress.

Dilemma!

In a previous post I showed you my stuffed, unorganized food pantry when I was in the middle of removing the front half of the shelves so that I can find things better. Here is the picture when I was done, not  completely organized and neat, but at least like things are with like things - fruits, veggies, canisters, etc. And this is after I put in all the new items that I had recently purchased to build up my stores. I didn't think I would get it all to fit, but so far, so good. The paper shopping bag on the floor holds all the empty plastic containers that I have been saving to use for storing things that come in bags and boxes, but are not being used right now. No sense taking up shelf space yet, right? I do still need to work on emptying a few bags and boxes before I have it all done.

Oops! I went shopping again! A couple of grocery stores had a 2-day sale of loss leaders that I could not pass up, and some were things I will use right away, but many were to add to the reserve stores. There are 8, yes eight, 12 packs of soda pop! And I had weaned myself off of all sodas several years ago, so only have one on rare occasions. So what am I doing with all this? I just cannot pass up a good bargain! These were on sale with a coupon @ 4 for $7.88, that is 4 Pepsi and 4 Coke products. One coupon for each product. But now, where am I going to put them in an already full pantry? I bought a lot more stuff but much of it went into the fridge and freezer, and a few things I found room for in the kitchen cupboards as they will be used almost every day.

Voila! It all went in! I did have to remove the shopping bag with the empty containers to make room on the floor for all that soda pop. There is a bag of flour and a bag of sugar sitting on top of the soda pop, but their canisters are almost empty so I need to transfer them when I get the time.

So now this pantry is just about done. Next I need to work on the appliance/cookware pantry just to the right and out of sight in the picture. It hasn't been that long ago that I worked on it, but I am still not happy with it, and am certain there are things in there that I really don't need. I do need to have it organized so that the things I use most often are handy to get at, otherwise I just don't use it unless I absolutely have to. And I know there are things in there that I would use if it was more convenient to get to them.

Now I need to get to work. While writing this I got a call from my daughter and we talked for an hour. So now it is time for lunch first, and then try to get some housework done today.

Skeletons in the Closet!

Yes, I am baring my hidden secrets! This is embarrassing!

I am trying to make my pantry better organized and easier to use. I have been thinking about this for awhile but couldn't seem to get started. For some reason the 'bug' bit me this morning, and I opened those doors and started pulling things off the shelves. I actually forgot to take pictures before I started, which I had planned to do. So these pictures were taken in the middle of the operation.

This is the long shot to show all the stuff sitting on the floor. What is in the bags are the cans of food that I recently bought and never put on the shelf as there was no room. In the blue tub are most of the empty plastic containers that I have been saving to store things that come in bags and boxes so that critters don't get into them, though I have not had any problems with that as yet. But those containers have just been tossed in wherever I find a spot, and when I need one I can't find one I want. My plan is to put them all in a box on the floor so that they don't take up valuable space needed for canned goods. The boards to the right are the front part of the shelves that I have already removed. Peeking out from the right of those boards is the other half of the pantry, and that is where all the small appliances and large pans plus all the other stuff that does not fit in the kitchen has to be stored. And that is full too. I had done some decluttering in there not long ago, but I am not satisfied with it yet. So will have to work on that again soon. Right now, the food pantry is taking awhile since my body is still hurting from lawn mowing two days ago, and I have to sit quite often.



Remember, I had already started when these pictures were taken so things are even more jumbled than they were to begin with. I really did have it somewhat organized before. I don't have the canned goods organized as to category yet, but had just moved them so that I could get the front of the shelf removed.

Look how that plastic shelf sags! I think it was originally bought for shoes in the bedroom closet before I moved here. Not really sturdy enough for heavy cans. My plan now is to just put the little cans of odd stuff there, like black olives, jalapeno peppers, tune, etc.-- the ones that tend to get lost among the taller cans. The egg carton is empty. I was saving it for starting garden seeds next spring but now I don't think that is going to happen so the carton will go in the recycle bin when I get to it.