#4 - Hoarding, Sorting, Organising, Friendship, Understanding. All On One Thread.

[Solo]

Are you a hoarder? Are you in a mess, untidy, disorganised? A bit lazy with housework? Are you are ill and not coping with the housework? Are you totally overwhelmed? Are you are emotionally attached to items for whatever reason and can't let them go? Are you unable to just ask someone in for a cuppa at a moments notice or do dread the meter reader asking for access?
Do you find yourself nodding whilst reading any of this? If you have a combination of any or all of these things or something completely different, please come and join us. There is no judging. We have something in common here and we have a common goal. We share our ideas and we share our disappointments no matter how big and our celebrations no matter how small. We cheer one another along and drag the drowners from the depths of despair.

Join us; we don't bite! Welcome to thread number 4.

No.
My skirtings are filthy atm. I have in the past got to that stage of cleaning, but not for the last five years
I enjoy that stage, but it is getting to see the skirtings that counts here (blocked by boxes), hoovering needing doing first.

Vacuuming and mopping...looking forward to that, I really am. when I've shifted the piles and reduced the earth coming in from outside paths.

Nettle thank you

I suppose life does go through these stages and I may be stressing because there's not much else to do. I've just had a chat with mum. Now I'm going to alternate a bit of TV with just finishing off some bits.

I'm much better in the evening than the morning!

I hate to say the L word but in my flat, some of the madness is related to lockdown. When I had regular visitors, cleaning seemed much less of a chore.

Didn’t do my toss app in the week but I do enjoy skipping tasks to see what next one is, it is making me motivated. Anyway this weekend I’ve cleaned out all the food cupboards and tossed away my TefAl steam cooker. I was convinced by hubby that haven’t used it since I left my flat 18 years ago !!!! Also binned loads of rubbish manky toothbrushes although bought new ones but only 1 each. Plus 2 pairs of shoes in shoe bank

Not going to ask what a toss app is....

ASatisfyingThump Thank you, though I wouldn’t have minded our tree still being up when it was snowing! Instead I had a dismantled tree not put away. Worst of both worlds. Good luck getting the box brought down.

Luna I’m also rubbish with computers and similar. Hoping to do a basics course once I’ve got more on top of the situation here, but a bit worried it wont make a difference.
Like Nettleskeins I do wipe skirting boards when I can actually see them – so a theoretical yes here, but it’s rare.
I also struggle with ‘might be useful’ syndrome.

Apologies if it’s not really done to post long lists on Sundays but so much time’s gone by that I haven’t used…
Everything from the list got done but had to work really hard to get there and damaged myself making me useless and grumpy today and I got a token amount of paperwork into recycling.
It's also meant bringing more stuff inside, as well as into already full storage, and the garden which feels counter productive and is disheartening.
There’s still a couple more bits to clear but trying to remind myself at least the worst is done and actually no one else was doing theirs at the same time.
Did manage to declutter one and a half a dozen glass jars and a lamp in the process. A drop in a large ocean, but training myself to get rid of stuff is still in its infant stages.

Okay, I do wonder what the toss app is but don't dare google it.

Elle are you okay? You say "damaged" so I'm thinking cut or something? Hope okay.

you've done loads! I couldn't sleep last night and did more sorting especially paperwork.

Re computers, I don't think you'll find it hard to learn. It's not hard, it's annoying. All the banks seem to have added extra steps though apparently. And the fact that my regular ones change their web appearance all the time....sorry, it's probably not the right thread for that rant.

Today, the one thing I thought I'd keep from TOMM, I have realised is no good....frozen onions. Just used them for the first time, nuisance, all clumped together. I hate shopping so I don't just have stuff like that in.

Something I should do tomorrow...I bought some No More Nails because the laminate coverings on the kitchen cupboards are falling apart. So I should do that. I hope it works! Don't want to pay for new doors.

Hoovered my bedroom today
Swept up some more of the path at the back
Did the recycling!

Luna no cuts and I will be ok. Just need to stop pretending I'm a fit athletic 21 yr old! I'm disabled so all sorts of things cause problems inside and out anyway, and lots of hospital time and too much time under the duvet has left me weak and unfit. Perfect set up for clearing out and lifting things!

When you find the thread for that rant, shout me. I'm frequently unable to navigate getting important medication as as fast as I learn them they change systems and I get lost navigating them.

If you can clamp the laminate to the mdf/wood while the NMN's dries, you'll get best results. It might be worth taking the doors off and using weights if you don't have clamps.

We currently have 2 rooms tidy and hovered, so that's a start. I'm bracing myself for the bathroom, and indeed the kitchen floor. I did a quick tidy of the hallway shelf too, and laundry once and dishwasher twice. Dd1 being back at preschool certainly gave me an energy shot even if it's only three hours.
Luna I love frozen onions! Obviously they tend to flood the pan a bit when they first go in but I just boil off the excess water and then they fry well enough for sauces. As I'm frequently cooking with a toddler in one arm they're a life saver.
Elle hope you feel better soon

@Elleherd

Luna no cuts and I will be ok. Just need to stop pretending I'm a fit athletic 21 yr old! I'm disabled so all sorts of things cause problems inside and out anyway, and lots of hospital time and too much time under the duvet has left me weak and unfit. Perfect set up for clearing out and lifting things!

When you find the thread for that rant, shout me. I'm frequently unable to navigate getting important medication as as fast as I learn them they change systems and I get lost navigating them.

If you can clamp the laminate to the mdf/wood while the NMN's dries, you'll get best results. It might be worth taking the doors off and using weights if you don't have clamps.

Elle

Glad you are okay

Yes, re computers it's now 4 logins and captcha steps to get my repeat prescription. My old computer actually can't do one of the revamped bank log ins so I'm going to go in to the branch and ask to be taken offline.

Mum does nothing online and I'm beginning to think that means life is easier.

I can't think of a bigger disaster than me trying to remove cupboard doors. I'm crap at this stuff. Recently fell off a ladder due to vertigo. Now don't fancy going up a ladder ever again.

Luckily it's lower coverings that are coming off. I don't have clamps but I could lean against them for a while and browse MN? I thought giving it a good whack to secure the adhesive would be okay?

Happy International Women’s Day! 💐 Welcome, @FiniteSagacity and @Elleherd! 🤗 Thank you for sharing your stories ❤️

My flat (especially the ceilings, bathroom and kitchen) needs renovation but I keep postponing it 'thanks' to my clutter.

Huge respect to everyone here who does gardening in addition to house cleaning 🙌 I wish I lived in a house with a garden but then I’d probably get completely overwhelmed with all the garden-related tasks.

“I’m trying to refuse to beat myself up any more. It’s never made anything better and there are others only too keen to do it for me”.
This resonates with me so much! 💯

I would just like a garden for enjoyment, I wouldn't be turning it into a chore.

I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get a second diary. I hate myself for it but I am not naturally a housekeeper and need to be better organised for things to run smoothly. I don't want to mix up work diary with other stuff.

It just seems really tedious, putting chores and domestic to dos in a diary. But I won't remember them if I don't.

I'm getting far this week. I've been procrastinating. I've put bleach down the drain, so that's one tiny job.

I ve got rid of 10 cardboard boxes this morning, just simply remembering to leave them out in time for the veg box delivery. (New box!)Usually I forget and they have piled up in understsirs cupboard.

Im going to tackle some more pots at the back.

Gardening being mindful and reflective has a tendency to embrace "little things", green shoots etc, and then clutter can follow, without you noticing. I try to think of decluttering in my garden as caring for my garden rather than attacking it...I have the tendency to feel very guilty about not reusing things , or then growing far too many seeds and not having homes for them and basically not doing the "light and air" because I havent left room for ME to use the garden or walk in it....

Tripping over stuff in the garden isnt such.a good vibe..

I cleaned behind and under my oven as a result of the workmen which is huge as don’t think I’ve done it ever before

Other than that, the workmen have added to my woes and chores with the dust etc. We had to take all the old stuff to the HRC but a local scrap dealer did pick up the big stuff, which was a help. I’m trying to enjoy all the fixed things and see beyond the hassle the progress.

So glad I encouraged others to join by sharing. Be reassured that I can’t see many of my skirting boards and they’re definitely filthy behind the boxes/papers/crap

I also scrubbed mould off a wall on Friday and while it was a horrible job to do, it wasn’t as bad as I dreaded and I notice it’s absence whenever I walk past the area now - big improvement on the self-loathing I always felt when I walked past and noticed its presence before. Small victories!

I have very little time in my working week to tackle anything bigger than the necessary laundry/catering/clean up after meals. Mainly trying not to get too down looking at the mountain and seeing this perfect weather to tackle it being wasted on work time!

I had a long list of tasks for today with the No More Nails at the top.

But once again, bad insomnia and now a headache. I'm going to take ibuprofen now but if I don't feel up to anything in an hour, I think
I will just take the day off.

Place is untidy again after being really tidy on Sunday. I have got to start picking up after myself.

Picking up after oneself is so distracting though by the time ive put the milk bottle out, moved a sweet wrapper from corner, done a load of laundry, taken dog out, I am completely distracted from dealing with bigger ishoos. Like repotting bay tree, which was holding me up from lots of other stuff.

So, now I have to be untidy in shortterm.for big things to change.

My front garden finally looks like a garden not a rubbish dump. Binned the rotting dustsheet which I had been meaning to dry and wash. All £10 of it. That perceived tenner stopped me chucking it months ago. That was a mistake.

Ive have put lots of seedpots in greenhouse, reusing the old plastic pots and incubator covers, thrown away some dead geraniums, repotted some hopeful "roots", now tackling the old strawberry runners which have nowhere to grow, ive put one iin an old mop bucket which is.a tasteful red. Still clinging on to tat alas, but I will give it till June to prove me wrong!

However

Nettle you are doing so much!

Hmm..not sure....my parents just clean up after themselves naturally. So does my best friend.

I have really got to learn how. I would never be untidy in the office, so why here?

I gave the breadmaker away and the footprint is already occupied with...stuff.

Sorry, I feel a bit defeatist today.

Luna, I have all day to do these things, as my kids are older and mostly away at uni. Nor am I working. This is the backlog of years.
Once you have reached ground zero sorting wise, it is so much easier to tidy.up as you go along. But for the people who do that, it can come at a price, I have many friends whose houses are "sorted" but they endure other stresses. It isnt the only thing that makes us happy or unhappy, just to be tidy and "organised".

Hope headaches and exhausted feelings are less tomorrow, to all on this thread

Thank you Nettle

I am very part time after two decades of a 60 hour week being a norm. So perhaps a rest isn't a bad idea!

I have done some small jobs now though, headache has gone.

@LunaHeather don’t beat yourself up - I think an office is a bit different as there’s less stuff to deal with/put away. Though, thinking back, when I was office based my desk was very messy

By the way the Toss app just gives prompts for things to toss in the bin, nothing dodgy

Here’s today’s prompt for me:

[quote Miaowse]@LunaHeather don’t beat yourself up - I think an office is a bit different as there’s less stuff to deal with/put away. Though, thinking back, when I was office based my desk was very messy

By the way the Toss app just gives prompts for things to toss in the bin, nothing dodgy [/quote]
Thank you for clearing that up