Hoarders Anonymous. Thread #9. We Are Keeping On Keeping On. Fighting The Cluttered Fight.

[Solo]

We are a group of likeminded householders who 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 is), health issues within the family unit, wider family, or ourselves (me too) that means sorting out our households is challenging to say the least. So...
You are all welcome to join us for support, adding your ideas to help others out, storage ideas, and even tips on actually getting those items out of the house which sounds so simple when you say it, but this part can be a huge challenge; we are often attached emotionally to our 'things', afraid of letting things go just in case we need them, or it belonged to mum or gran. This is tough stuff to deal with.
Encouragement and support abound here in our band of clutterbugs. We never ever criticise anyone! We even try not to criticise ourselves as it's not helpful to anyone, but this can be very difficult to achieve.
We hold one another's hands, dab away tears, and snot virtually.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by clutter, mess, disorganisation and generally don't know where to start. If you can't be bothered, but really do want to be bothered. If you think you are a bit lazy, or if you just need to see your highs and lows and everything in between on the screen here, join us, and we will support you. We'll virtually high-five your achievements - small or large, and virtually hug you when the need arises. If you want a hug, just ask because we are here for you, we're here for one another because we get it. The art of washing up is sometimes our great achievement of the day, but it's still an achievement. Every small step is an achievement.
My own journey is very long, I've tried to get it done, bug it's a work in progress. Single working mum (children now both over 18, but youngest has many physical issues as well as ADHD and ASD). I have chronic illness, and am in my 62nd year on the planet, so I need to deal with it. The point is. You aren't alone if you are also suffering.

Some helpful links which I hope are still valid. They aren't for everyone, but have a look if you fancy:
• Help For Hoarders by Jasmine Harman (the author/producer of the BBC1 documentaries My Hoarder Mum and Me and Britain's Biggest Hoarders)
• The FlyLady Cleaning Method by Marla Cilley
• The Organised Mum Method by Gemma Bray
• The KonMari Method by Marie Kondo
• A Slob Comes Clean by Dana K. White
• The Getting Things Done Method by David Allen

I'm not sure if The Flylady link is working, but if not, you know what to search for.
Welcome to thread #8 of Hoarders Anonymous. Thread #8. We Are Keeping On Keeping On. Fighting The Cluttered Fight (and winning, one small step at a time).

Decluttering Expert: Dana K White of A Slob Comes Clean
Learn more about decluttering expert Dana K. White and her cleaning and organizing blog: A Slob Comes Clean. Author, podcaster, blogger and YouTuber.
https://www.aslobcomesclean.com/about-me/

Disability tax:
Dealing with a kitchen bin that has been left too long due to disability rendering it impossible to take out. (Not been able to walk well for over a week now)

Flies. 4 of the bastards.

The whole bin has gone because there were potentially 50 million more flies under the lid waiting to emerge. It was close to 20 years old.

Buying a small bin tomorrow after yet another appointment. I might be able to manage a small bin.

No more driving. But still got lots of appointments: medical, school and paperwork. And an autistic burnout.

Holiday is coming fast. Dreading it. Hate packing washing.

Contractor coming unknown date . They lost my cheque so delayed a bit.

@BlackeyedSusan Good to see you. Sorry you're having a rough time. Lot of disability tax going on here too, but a situation like that averted, especially in this heat, sounds worth it. Hopefully a smaller bin will make things easier going forward.

Yesterday was launderette and shopping, but also got a bag of Aunts unused medications delivered to chemist, and sorted through a load of paperwork from one of the units resulting in three bags of paper to recycling, and also shredded lots more and got rid of a small sack of shredded paper and old plastic cards.
Managed to get a clothes airer, a sculpture and an armchair out of a unit and down to the recycling center as well. The last two have been here because of who each came from, but things just have to go.
But also got a notice that rent on one unit that I'm not likely to be able to get out of in time, is to increase in August, and that gas engineers will need lots of access in a couple of weeks. Sigh.

Good luck with your mammoth task elleherd I hope you can get some good news at your aunt's place too.

I took about ten bags of clothes to the charity shop over the last month, a lot of summer clothes no longer fit well. I've earmarked a few coats and bits of furniture that can go soon too. The bathroom is slowly emptying as I use things up. I want to get to a point where I can eg put a plant on a shelf, instead of every flat surface being crammed with spare products.

Thanks @BlueSummerBaby it's feeling impossible at the moment.
Well done getting things out, and yes to shelves with nothing more than a plant on them.

Yesterday didn't go well thanks to contractors and my own stupidity.
Couldn't go anywhere and didn't dare work inside as it seems to be an invite to them, so went for trying to do outside jobs.
Have manged to cut down two sacks of greenery and water everything. Sort out a dead root ball, and semi stand a collapsing greenhouse up, which was a lot harder than it sounds. It's had it, but I'm not in a position to deal with it properly at the moment. Messed up and tipped out of chair and hurt my shoulder.
Have to make today a better day.

Yesterday managed to make a little more space in the big unit, and identified more stuff to go. Also dug out some stuff to temporarily repair greenhouse. Have hospital this morning then back out to try and do more of it.

Hope you are feeling better Elle after your tumble.

Operation clean for contractor is going too slowly due to heat, illness and lack of sleep.

Wiped down paintwork yesterday.
DD washed up.

Today we have cancelled appointment due to illness,
Booked men b vaccination
Cleaned bath and plughole
Wiped some shopping. Put some of it away.
Taken some washing upstairs
Hung window insulation.

Thanks@BlackeyedSusan hope things are going ok enough for you.

I suspect the tiredness and unwellness from the heat is the hardest part of it all.

Shoulder is a mess tbh. Doing things makes it worse, but not doing things doesn't make it better.

Trying to make space in the big unit, but really struggling with costs to get back and forth, heat, and little space to work in. Have had to cancel notice on the other one but no money to pay for extra time.
So far have got rid of a large tv, phone and answering machine, two large computers, sack of decorative leaves, old plastic sheeting, glass fronted cupboard, seven cushions/seat pads, water feature, large keyboard, cupboard, disability equipment (NHS won't reuse) display unit, insulating material, a bag of bits and bobs, and two carrier bags of rubbish.
Dismantled a desk and ear marked other stuff, but it's all not happening fast enough.

Hello everyone.
Well, firstly, I'm sorry I've not been around. I had to work my socks off at work so that I was I was in a position to actually go on holiday. Even then, I've had to do a bit whilst away. I have rested a lot on holiday, but still feel absolutely exhausted. It's not been much of a holiday. And I've had to borrow a 1/3 of the money from Dd as UC didn't pay me this month. I knew I'd have a reduction as Dd left education at the end of June, but I didn't get a penny. I don't get very much anyway, but am grateful for the support as i don't think I can work full time again. It just makes me relapse and unable to do anything. Going to have to sort it when I get back next week.

Mum came home from the hospital after a month, but she's fairly helpless, as she's not too mobile. Also, cognitively, she's gone downhill a bit, but I blame that on basically having little to no stimulation for her months hospital stay. She was almost scammed on thd phone a couple of days ago. She wouldn't listen to her sister and bil when they told her it was a scam, so her sister phoned me to get me to tell her. Honestly, I've never heard mum so confused before. But we sorted it, and all is okay. This time.
If any of you have elderly relatives, friends or neighbours, please tell them to be careful. The scammers are very convincing. The lady I spoke to at the bank said I was the 5th one she'd spoken to that day, reporting it, and it was only half way through the afternoon.

Before my hols, a friend came to help with my overgrown garden. It wasn't done. But we did manage to clear a bit at the front, so I can get in and out more easily. Well, I could 2 weeks ago! Hope it hasn't grown back.

@Elleherd you have, as always done so much. I hear you with regards the cost of storage which is ridiculously expensive. Mine has got to go, and the money situation now makes that even more obvious to me. So that's going to be motivation to do some more sorting, getting rid of, and cleaning to bring home my stored items.
Anyway. You sound like you've worked wonders (as alwsys). I hope your shoulder is much better.

@BlueSummerBaby 10 bags to charity is brilliant! And I totally understand what you mean about every spare surface space being clogged up with things. I'm terrible for that too.

@BlackeyedSusan are you feeling better? Hope so.
Did you manage to get the contractors pinned down for a date?
Question, please. What is window insulation?

@Jaffapaffa your sil sounds ace. It sounds like you're doing really well too.

I may not be back again for a while, but will definitely try to drop in next week, at least.

Also, I like thd sound of the hour thing one of you mentioned. Sorry, that's sounds awful, but I can't remember who said it.

Keep on keeping on. Every small bit sorted. Every item gone. Every small step is a step closer to being more comfortable, and feeling more relaxed.

Not sure if this has been mentioned on here before but Anglo doorstep collections is brilliant if you can't get to the charity shops for whatever reasons. I've booked 3 collections already and got rid of loads of bags and boxes of old clothes, toys, books and bric a brac. See their website for what you can/can't donate & you get a choice of charities they donate to. I'm now scouting about the house & dreaded loft for more stuff to go. Our loft is being insulated and boarded out so needs clearing! Also did 3 dump trips with the old tat. Unfortunately I also have a lock up and we are slowly clearing that. Disability sucks!

@Solo
Window insulation: an old sheet/duvet cover/wool blanket with elastic sewn on the corners, hung behind the curtains on cable pins nailed into the frame.

Requires climbing up and down every time.

Bloody knackered one day into holiday prep. Have emptied 3 Aldi bags of varying amounts of stuff and started distributing it to where it goes, even if temporary home. (Lots of bending down, walking about, stair climbing , wiping, hand washing, sorting and throwing out. Still a lot to go. (About the same amount again, possibly the trickier half)

Meter man is coming tomorrow and I needed space in the kitchen to clear out the stuff under the stairs, which is also holiday stuff that has to come out.

Already pissed off with the whole thing. Kiddo (freshly minted adult) going abroad with their dad and causing extra packing hassle.

Having a break then going to sort out some of the lighter stuff from the cupboard so DS can do the heavy lifting.

Suitcases out.
Lots of stuff back in the cupboard whilst leaving the path to the meter clear.
Some hall and some kitchen hoovered.
Cleaned up after removing suitcases.
Some clean pots away.

Dd washed up,
Cleaned some boxes
Made tea
Provided coffee

It's still an embarrassing fucking mucky mess but slightly less so.

Another trip to the dump aka recycling centre after another clear out of our garage. Partner smashed up a dilapidated chest of drawers so we could fit it in the car, took an old massage table that I was storing for my friend who no longer wants it & it's gone all mouldy & wood rotted. Partner was keeping loads of stuff of his late parents that he's going to let go of except some photos. Sack of home recorded videos of things like Red Dwarf and Bottom/Young ones thrown. Found loads of really good tools that we brought home to go in our shed. Much more orderly and tidy in the garage now & stuff labelled in containers on the shelves. Mental note of around 5 large things to be cleaned and photographed for online sales so hopefully these will sell and free up more space.

Well done.

It's the big packing week. I'm not getting up early tomorrow as there has just been a middle of the night autistic meltdown which has probably woken several people.

Not made much progress at all due to

Medical telephone appointment.

Meter reader did not come. Waiting around for that.

The list is written though.

Bathroom floor flooded, now wiped. (Fingers crossed on the kitchen ceiling. )
Toilet blocked, unblocked.(Seat was banged a few times.wiped seat)
Loud swearing.
Stomping and banging on floor.
Bucket kicked over in kitchen.
God knows what went over in their room. It was loud.
The door has probably come more apart as slammed.
Stomped through living room where I sleep shouting. Clean clothes acquired with some throwing of other clothes.

Today has been about twenty tons of washing...

Some idiot (me) forgot to put laundry liquid in one load which slowed things down.

I have also bought 12 pairs of socks for £32 (thirty two fucking quid on socks!) but it was delayed Christmas present so their choice.

We're going to be arriving on holiday three days late at this rate!

Packing hell day.

Packing is horrible. I always pack too much. I cut down for the 2nd year running, but still only wore a fraction of what i packed. Ridiculous.

@BlackeyedSusan you are dealing with a lot. Well done on doing as much as you have. And thanks for clarifying re the window insulation.

@CherryRipe1 wow! You've also been busy. Be proud 👏

We made it before dark. I'm very very sore now though.

Watched a 'Hoarders' programme on TV. One American lady had 3 rooms of her 5 roomed home crammed with stuff plus the basement, a rented storage container plus a secret container her husband didn't know about plus a secret large shop/store all rammed with stuff all costing a fortune in rent. Husband was shocked & in despair. My God that lady worked like crazy with a team of helpers and made loads of money from a sale in the shop after properly sorting the stuff out. Surplus was donated & everything whittled down to one container for her catering business. The house was reclaimed and everyone was so much happier!

Good Sunday morning to you all. How are we doing? If you're on holiday, I wish you a wonderful break, good weather, and a great reset of the mind, body and soul.
If you are not on holiday, I wish you clarity of mind, strength of both body and resolve to get something done that will make you feel accomplished.

I've had a week and a half of enforced bed rest and at the worst possible time, following a micro compression fracture in my spine. Shoulder is still causing issues and DC wasn't able to find accounts and receipts so that I could at least do that.
Disability does indeed suck.

Before that halted everything; I dragged a load of stuff from big unit into the corridors, identified stuff that could go, but ended up running out of time so it was mainly a big churning exercise. But it did move some stuff so it's better packed, and more things to definitely go are now at the front rather than the back. Better than nothing, but...
Large industrial lighting unit, another industrial electrical item, and a bigger heater hit the dump because I just don't have the time or space to offer them to others. Not a great feeling but has to be done. Also down four sacks of greenery.

Am trying to get back on top, but carefully. So far it's been a bit of watering, washing caught up with over weekend, and a bit of a customers work, (very underpaid but grateful for anything now) closer to completed. Fingers crossed but I think we can make it to the end of the month financially.

@BlackeyedSusan Well done! Hopefully there's some sort of break for you, if only a change of scenery

@CherryRipe1 Well done! Sounds like good progress made there.
We had an odd issue with Anglo collections, and I couldn't quite work out what happened. I think while the weathers good they seem to be ok, it's when it cant all be left outside they don't seem to be able to manage picking up as well, but maybe we got unlucky.
I saw that program a long time back. Having a shop as storage seemed at the time to be such a dream because of its potential to advertise and out lots of stuff.

@Solo Hope your Mum's doing a bit better on all fronts.It sounds difficult for all of you.
Sorry you didn't get as much garden cleared as you'd hoped, but well done on getting some of it done. Even if it has grown back it will at least be young growth which is much easier to cut through. The one good thing about the heatwave, is lots of people are letting shading bushes grow as much as they like, so very slightly less pressure on what some of it looks like.

Have posted elsewhere that I've scattered more packets of free seeds from gardening magazines (in my garden) to get rid of them.

Fixed the back gate, but had to order a complete set of ironmongery to get the hasp. Feel wasteful, but have chucked out the bit I didn't need.

Found a rusty pot complete with soil and the labels for the plants that have died. Binned it.

Yesterday, used a cheap willow screen to patch a hole where people have been coming through the common hedge at right angles to mine. It won't stop anyone, but it might be a visual reminder.

During lockdown, a gardening firm working for a neighbour cut a ruddy hole right through the hedge to give themselves a shortcut for disposing of clippings from the neighbour's firs. Grrr. The result is that the hedge isn't getting a chance to grow back.