School will soon be starting, and we have been working very hard to declutter and clean. However because of the emotions involved, going through one small box or moving a few items here and there seem like a monumental task. Sunday I woke up with a predetermined goal. I wanted the garage cleaned out so I could even think about working on our family room.
Before I could even begin going through dad's things on the scale that I wanted, we had to first start by cleaning out our own garage so that we could put anything away that goes out there and not have piles in front of the garage door waiting for the day we cleaned it out. Usually we do this twice a year. I set donations in the garage and random items end up in there that we aren't sure what to do with and before we know it, the garage is not user friendly for what we need. Now we have everything at least on the shelves leaving the middle open. The goal for the garage was to clear out the middle to set up the treadmill and park our bikes. I am very happy that our goal was reached! Now to keep it that way through the winter by donating items as we have them instead of setting them in the garage.
Yesterday, my goal when I woke up was to clear out our family room to start with. I wanted to get our house back to our standard of normal as much as possible before school started. Normal for us is clear, clean, clutter free surfaces. With the exception of my sewing room/office because I am always working on a project in there.
When we brought my dad's things home after cleaning out his house, our house turned into a literal storage facility. I had paths and random items carried by hand from the truck ALL over my home. Six hours of my time was spent going through paperwork of my dad's that were in huge drum liners and trash bags stacked randomly around my family room. File boxes full of files, and cardboard boxes as well.
After about twelve hours later, our sofa and floor at least on one half of the room is clear and clean. Sorting paperwork was a process that yielded small results but lifted a huge weight from me personally. I knew that it would be a very time consuming process but so important. Once those papers are gone they cannot be replaced. It was just a matter of determining what was important to keep and what could be burned. I only have a few small file boxes to sort through at a later time and that big job is done.
After some appointments today, I will return home to hopefully finish clearing things out in the family room and if I have time I will work on the dining room. If I stop now, in my experience clutter is a magnet and more will grow and build on what is left. It's getting there!
I hope everyone joining Rhonda's decluttering for August is able to reduce a few items here and there and are feeling relaxed and enjoying their space as they reduce what they do not need. I enjoy open space very much and in a small home, open space is a luxury!
Before I could even begin going through dad's things on the scale that I wanted, we had to first start by cleaning out our own garage so that we could put anything away that goes out there and not have piles in front of the garage door waiting for the day we cleaned it out. Usually we do this twice a year. I set donations in the garage and random items end up in there that we aren't sure what to do with and before we know it, the garage is not user friendly for what we need. Now we have everything at least on the shelves leaving the middle open. The goal for the garage was to clear out the middle to set up the treadmill and park our bikes. I am very happy that our goal was reached! Now to keep it that way through the winter by donating items as we have them instead of setting them in the garage.
Yesterday, my goal when I woke up was to clear out our family room to start with. I wanted to get our house back to our standard of normal as much as possible before school started. Normal for us is clear, clean, clutter free surfaces. With the exception of my sewing room/office because I am always working on a project in there.
When we brought my dad's things home after cleaning out his house, our house turned into a literal storage facility. I had paths and random items carried by hand from the truck ALL over my home. Six hours of my time was spent going through paperwork of my dad's that were in huge drum liners and trash bags stacked randomly around my family room. File boxes full of files, and cardboard boxes as well.
I have more work to do, but you can see the scope of the project below. I hesitate to post these photo's because I do not want to mislead anyone into thinking that I have decluttered my own belongings etc. This is from moving my dad's house into our house almost a month ago.
After some appointments today, I will return home to hopefully finish clearing things out in the family room and if I have time I will work on the dining room. If I stop now, in my experience clutter is a magnet and more will grow and build on what is left. It's getting there!
I hope everyone joining Rhonda's decluttering for August is able to reduce a few items here and there and are feeling relaxed and enjoying their space as they reduce what they do not need. I enjoy open space very much and in a small home, open space is a luxury!
3 comments:
It is a mammoth job isn't it? I remember having our garage laden with my mums belongings and it took ages before we had a sense of normality in there. All the best.
Keep on keeping on,my Friend! It seems so overwhelming,especially when there is deep emotion involved.Sending you a hug-Donna
Thank you so much to you both, yes it is a mammoth job and at times extremely over whelming as I am at times overcome with grief and another moment chuckling to myself over my dad's wonderful sense of humor. Very emotionally involved as you say Donna.
Thank you for all the hugs and kindness I appreciate it so very much :)
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