Hoarder's Anonymous, Part 6

[Solo]

Well, here we are embarking upon part 6 of our epic journey of sorting out our homes.

We are a varied group of likeminded householders that are leading somewhat challenging lives; be that living with too much 'stuff' that we find difficult to deal with, houses that are falling apart (mine included), health issues within the family unit, wider family, or ourselves that makes sorting out our households challenging, to say the least. So...

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us for support, adding their own ideas to help others out, storage ideas, even tips on actually getting those items out of the house which sounds so simple when you say it. Encouragement abounds here, and we do not criticise. EVER! We even try not to criticise ourselves as it's not helpful to anyone.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, don't know where to start, can't be bothered but really do want to be bothered...think you are lazy, just need to see it in print here...we'll help. We'll virtually fist bump your achievements - small or large, and virtually hug you when the need arises, and if you want a hug, just ask because we are here for you. Here for one another because we get it - the highs and the lows, the art of washing up is sometimes our great achievement of the day, but it's still an achievement.

Welcome to thread #6 of Hoarders Anonymous - Carrying On Sorting It Out

HERE

Oh Solo what awful news about your friend. How are you feeling today?

I managed to move some more piles of books and clean/dust. I’ve found quite a few to donate if I’m allowed… I might put them in a box out of sight for a while and see if anyone misses them.

Thank you, Miaowse . Covid wise, still not great, and still positive. Frend wise; I'm very tearful. It's all really bloody sad and unfair. I also think that everyone that you lose that is under 70 makes you fear death - which I've never really done until the last couple of years.

I cooked today. I also actually had a shower. I'm not usually a minger btw, I just haven't felt up to it/very much.

*Friend

Take it as easy as you can. Hope both you and your Dd are feeling back to normal very soon.

I'm sorry to read your news, Solo. So sad for you. It's such a tough thing to go through especially as you've got covid as well (and your dd).

I eventually folded my laundry, but it hung around for ages just looking at me. Making more chaos. But anyway it's away now.

I really am not on top of things at the moment. But this morning I did some fear based cleaning and tidying. A friend is picking my dd up this afternoon and I just felt so embarrassed at the state of the house! Argh! I'm glad I've tidied one area and it's clean. But it's like making a silk purse from a sow's ear though. The whole place needs a good going over. I've just been feeling useless this last couple of weeks.

So sorry solo. It is very hard just to do anything when you are grieving, let alone when you are poorly too.

Thank you

How're you doing today? Hope you are coping.

Hello everyone, and welcome to @AwkwardPaws27, @Stripyhoglets1 and @YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp! 🤗

My deepest condolences to you, @Solo And I am also wishing you and your DD a speedy recovery 🙏

February was quite a failure for me, too. I’ve stayed on top of my laundry and my previously decluttered, deep cleaned and organised/sorted areas but I've made no progress whatsoever with regard to other areas 😞

The only ‘accomplishment’ is that last week I started a self-help/self-improvement blog on Facebook and Instagram, and decided that having a modern and powerful smartphone would be of great assistance.

So I’ve upgraded my phone for the first time since September 2015 (!), and although it took me only ten minutes to transfer all the data from the old phone to a new device, I spent three days reviewing and updating my contacts, reminders and notes, transferring photos and videos to an external hard drive, and installing some apps which I wanted to try for a long time but my old phone’s storage was too small to allow for that.

Hopefully, March is going to be a better month for us all!

I've been keeping on top of laundry. I'm pleased with that.

I've given the toilet and bathroom sink a good clean today.

I've wiped down our tallboy. I'd like to buy a couple of house plants to go on it. I'm hit and miss with house plants. Some survive some perish. But I love greenery inside.

My husband said yesterday that his work colleague would need to come here for the day for a certification that they need to both do. I immediately felt horrified because the house is a mess. But this morning I cracked on and managed cleaning and tidying. I really needed a reason to be focused. I wish I could just get myself focused without an outside reason.

I’m so sorry Solo !
Since I was here last I’ve been on a steady daily housework routine of quickly blitzing the first two floors daily and since I’m doing it so often there’s less to do at least some days although laundry etc is never ending . I
Am liking it being so clean and tidy but it’s tiring and I get angry about cleaning up after other people . I’ve finished decluttering all the kids clothes boxes at least what we could find and managed to go down from 8 to 3 of too small I want to keep for now at least and one box of DD summer and too large new clothes so happy with that . Then I did the under stairs cupboard that had gotten messy and other than labelling some storage boxes it’s finished and quite empty . I found 5 pairs of shoes and a few other things to go so was worth doing . I then moved on to finishing the fridge DH was supposed to have done the week before but discovered he hadn’t done fruit and veg drawers properly so I cleaned those and have been in general staying on top of it , I’m trying to reduce food waste . I also organised the freezer and a small pile of old food from there got tossed out too . We’ve washed the spare covers of one of the sofas , footstool and an armchair ,and will change them this weekend then we’ll wash the current ones to store in the attic . It’s white so needs doing a few times a year. DH wrong colour garage drawers were finally picked up today and miraculously another truck delivered the correct ones a bit later . He’s been steadily carting stuff out to the dump , all the kids clothes etc to charity shop and a few loads to the food bank too . This weekend he can take the remaining wood pallets and other packaging from the garage furniture etc and some storage boxes of which contents he’s been organising into the new cupboards and drawers to the dump . What we still need is the damn garden shed to get the many bikes , lawnmowers etc out of the way in the garage and for him to sell his motorcycle he doesn’t use and an office chair . Landscaping company has been the slowest ever but I’m trying to hold hope it’ll actually get done eventually like these other things . Admin and endless appointments have been taking rest of my energy and it feels like nothing is getting done but in reality we are doing lots and ticking jobs of the list all the time it just is never ending . Atm I’m agonising trying to organise a trip to go see my family for the first time in 2 1/2 y but now having trouble finding boarding for our dog since his daycare is booked up for the holidays . Maybe we still can work it out . I just finished my 4th m of minimalism challenge and for some reason have started the next but I’ll need the stuff from the storage locker to finish this month . I will need to finish organising the attic room to do so .I’ll just have to try to venture up there to repack some stuff from cardboard boxes to plastic etc . Maybe we can get rid of something else too than moving boxes .

I wrote a list last night of things to try and tackle today. I really need a list! I've ticked a few things off this morning. I'm glad to just get anything done. Little by little it adds up.

I did a tiny bit of dusting yesterday. I did some laundry. I am wanting to get on top of a few things next week.

for you DownUdderer you’re right and even little changes really help.

It has not been going well here. Washing machine and dishwasher are still going on every day but it’s a bit haphazard.

I’m reading a book that will go in the charity shop once I’m finished, along with various outgrown joggers (already bought some larger ones though).

How are you feeling Solo?

Popping back in. Decluttering has happened a tiny bit lately but for the most part has taken a major back seat. I have been approved for a permanent contract (initial hire was till July) and increasing my hours too, so between working and starting my OU course there hasn’t been a lot of time for much else! Some days we are barely keeping afloat in terms of housework and general organisation.

Today though we’ve had the fab news that DSD is going to move back in with us for at least a couple of months while flat-hunting with her friend. It was lovely having her here before (for about a year before covid arrived) so I’m excited! Luckily she and her friend are hiring storage so she won’t be bringing huge amounts with her, but still, I am really feeling the urge to power through and sort out more of our house before she’s here in under two weeks!

We also now have our first family pet. This is progress in itself - I’ve put it off for ages feeling that we just weren’t able to because of how disorganised we were, but when someone I know posted that they were sadly having to rehome this lovely bunny, I felt that we were ready.

Solo I’m so sorry about your friend 💐

I've got my mum and dad visiting in three weeks time (fingers crossed). I am trying to go around everywhere and get things tidy and neat and clean and organized.

I'm having a party for my oldest daughter in 4 weeks so I'm also thinking about stashing some bits and pieces in the laundry or my room on the day to create that extra bit of space in the dining room.

Anyway I'm having to face a number of task's I've been putting off! So today I've soaked and hand washed a crochet blanket that got a bit muddy absolutely ages ago. I've been ignoring it all this time! So it's hanging outside drip drying. Then when it's dry of course I can fold it up and put it away.

I have of course procrastinated for three weeks before getting my arse into gear this week.

My bathroom looks lovely. It looked terrible for at least the last two days, but it's done now. I stopped half way, and it was a mess, but it's all lovely now.

I bought quite a few houseplants, some had been reduced in price so I was really happy!

Hello everyone. I hope you are all keeping well. I couldn't seem to get on mumsnet for a couple of days, then I cleared some cookies and it was ok again. I had to Google for help! I've had a very busy week of cleaning and tidying. My body aches!

I'm pleased with the progress. I'm pleased to have tackled head on, some lingering jobs I've been ignoring. For example washing windows and blankets and curtains.

I'm going bit by bit.

If I look at something and I figure out what needs doing I get on and do it. Instead of thinking about it (like I normally do).

I'm also telling myself it doesn't have to be perfect. I've been listening to an audiobook at the same time so that really helps.

for you DownUdderer!

Sadly no gold stars for me this week but I could have a productive weekend

To the fair the dishwasher is already on I also folded all the washing on the airer and put away about a third of the clean washing mountain. Better than nowt.

Hey down and miaowse

I haven’t been decluttering every day. Progress has been made on the kitchen though - got rid of lots of random stuff from the food cupboards, determined to make it better

I bought some kitchen tidy things that made our big kitchen cupboard 100% better. They were from Aldi, a rack for lids and one for baking trays.

Ooh that’s good down I have been wondering about stuff like that! We are still sorting food storage ATM, then will move onto the cleaning/pans etc cupboards

We had a big family tidy yesterday morning before guests arrived. It was really nice all pitching in and seeing how much difference it made. We’ve decided to do that every Sunday morning - act as if we have visitors and have a proper clean.

Unfortunately our bedroom is the dumping ground so that’s even worse now and I was too tired last night to sort anything that got shoved in there. Plus I spent ages cleaning the hoover out as it was beyond gross. So that’s the aim today. We always shove stuff in our room when “panic tidying” so our room is always awful, I really need to keep yesterday’s momentum going and not let it build up in there.

I know exactly what you mean with your room being the "dumping ground".

We’ve started on our storage locker and so far I’ve managed to do 11 out of 23 boxes ( and there’s apparently two more of Lego we’ll try to donate since our kids definitely have enough ). I’ve gone through boxes of DS school books and notes and only kept a few bits so most of that went to recycling and plastic to bin . I’ve gone through 3 boxes of baby and toddler clothes and only kept about 5 things I think ,rest will go to charity . I’ve also done 3 large storage boxes of my own old or too small clothes and only kept a couple ,rest to charity or rag bank . I’ve transferred school photos to a new box , ditto DS D&T school projects I want to keep . Also kept the few toys I’ve put aside for any grandkids except I got rid of a couple of little cars there were others there ,and the few Finnish dvds . I have 12 boxes left ;a few big kids art ones contents of which I’ll mainly just transfer to new labelled boxes , 2 memory boxes which contents I’ll probably keep as well since I’m tossing so much and I have though of what I put into those . There’s one box of cards I’ll consolidate with another box in the attic maybe some can go though , a box of camping stuff we’ll check ( DH said we might not keep any of it but I’m not sure ) , 2 more of kids school books , 2 of kids picture books I’ll weed down now that I’m not saving them for another child anymore just for grandkids so I’ll only keep a few , a box of set of new wall picture frames I’ll keep and one other one I can’t remember the contents of now . Locker still has some baby furniture , 2 buggies we’ll sell , a motorcycle part , some cover for a boat , heaters and fans ,the 2 Lego boxes and maybe something else lurking behind it all. I’m praying for no more boxes for me to sort out . I’ve told DH he’ll deal with those and I’ll do the boxes . Can’t wait to scrub it off my list and save the money instead . Emptying it was one of the big tasks to do with our move and it’s great to get things done and over with. Tomorrow I should receive more new storage boxes .I’ve had a bad time ordering them since I got defective ones twice in a row so then ordered from a different place . now still have to arrange a collection for these in big cardboard boxes . Then a sheepskin pouffe I ordered was a bad colour too so returning that . Tomorrow a wine cabinet for the dining room is coming that better be in good condition .it’s matching with other furniture already there so at least that shouldn’t be a problem . I’m also waiting for dining table chairs but haven’t yet ordered the table until DH tries to take apart the elliptical to move it to top floor attic room with DS if that’s possible it’s so awkwardly big and heavy in the stairs .
Busy here always with a hundred jobs never mind everyday life and endless appointments, birthdays etc . I feel like I can’t keep up and that I have no time for my own health issues . I’m so busy with the kids ones . The garage is an on going project . DH is still unpacking his stuff into the drawers and cabinets . The garden needs the landscaper we now have to find someone else this company is useless in replying or getting on with anything . First DH will find someone to do the foundations for the garden / bike shed and we get that up and all the bikes ,lawnmowers etc out of the garage that’ll make a huge difference there so can’t wait ! DH is changing a part in his motorcycle and then selling it .there’s also an old office chair to sell . To me it all looks like awful mess in there despite DH telling me how many boxes he’s unpacked and hung up shelves etc and that it’s all progressing . I’m trying to keep the faith, I just want it done like the locker and the garden landscaping ( we need trees for privacy ,never mind everything else ). I also need to go finish the attic organising ,there’s still a few more boxes there to sort out and soon possibly an elliptical joining the foosball table we got for DS birthday so I need to make room . I should start by going to bed now but have had trouble doing that too …

Hi All, I am new here but am also a major clutterer. I recently needed to sell my house. Had an army of friends and family come and clear it out and clean it up which was an emotionally difficult process for me but I knew it was beyond what I could do myself. It is now very clean and almost empty and awaiting closing. Everyone keeps commenting to me how much better I must feel in this clean uncluttered home but I don't. It didn't bring any great relief or positive emotion for me at all. We haven't gone through my belongings - they are in storage for now but it was a good chance to get rid of garbage (14 large black bags) and 2 full vans of donations. I was waiting for a really good feeling to come at having gotten on top of this and actually gotten the house looking as it does but I don't. I also haven't really kept it clean since it sold even though that is really easy to do at the moment given how empty it is. Just not how I thought I would feel. I miss my clutter in many ways. Anyone relate or have any ideas why I feel the way I do?