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/

That's ok solo I'm not being sarcastic or accusing anyone of ignoring me, I genuinely don't care if people respond or not. I share things that I think might help and people can take from it what they will, it's not a problem. I was more saying that I don't want anyone to feel burdened by any feeling that they should respond to me, it would be a misplaced burden. So if people are short of time or have nothing to respond, they can ignore me, it's ok.

The big declutter course for free would definitely feel overwhelming I think. I know I'd pressure myself to do as much as possible, I'm that kind of person. Although it shouldn't really feel pressured, because it's free, so a person could just do one session and ignore the rest and they'd have lost nothing. That's the logic, but I think it would feel overwhelming in practice, anyway, and logic just wouldn't get a look-in 😆, that's why I paid for it. The rest of it isn't overwhelming at all because it's all done to your own time scale with no pressure and no overexcited hype. But don't feel you have to get into any of it if you don't want to. I was just sharing in case it helped anyone. I didn't know this information was out there until I stumbled across it bit by bit. Would have felt wrong if I just kept that knowledge to myself and didn't share, knowing all the while that people here are struggling.

Absolutely. I feel much the same. I'm not very interesting anyway, and I don't/haven't posted a great deal over the years because I've had other crap going on, and also didn't feel like I had much to say or share being as I had done so little. I'm feeling a bit more of a doer right now, so trying to share that, and keep motivated as well as hopefully motivating others 😀

Happy long weekend everyone.

I’m trying to take a mandatory rest day after scrubbing my bathroom tiles and shower screen yesterday. The mould had really taken hold in there so new grout is needed really.

@Solo I’ve been thinking about your sink - have you tried wiping it with lemons and then leaving the lemons in hot water in the sink overnight? I found I got stubborn marks out of a few things - elbow grease plus patience. I also buy big tubs of citric acid as the water is hard here and always having to remove limescale.

I had marks on my cream composite sink which I removed with baking soda and peroxide, after googling the problem.

Haven't done much this weekend - no real excuse. Put out another pair of slippers. They still had a bit of wear in them, but pinched my more awkward foot. Bin.

Also threw out a gold-sprayed pine cone which had been included in a flower arrangement a few Christmases ago...

I'm not exactly setting the heather alight, am I? Better than nothing, I suppose.

Also stopped myself from ordering more workout gear.

I'm throwing out paperwork whenever I can, but am now being cautious over some items - I have a bizarre situation where (through no fault of my own) I might be required to submit paperwork for a death which occurred over a decade ago. I think that (for once) my hoarding instinct has been beneficial.

It gets easier wearyauldwoman. My first few months back when I started were like this, but what you're doing is getting used to letting things go. The more you do it and the more you realise you don't miss any of it, the easier it becomes to let more go.

Paperwork is a funny one. Society is paperless these days but I always like to have it around in case I need it. I keep a year's worth of everything and more for some things, particularly if it's related to something ongoing. I don't think 10yrs is excessive if it's all organised and relevant. I got rid of things like letters telling me the interest rate was going up or down on my account, but kept the statements. I got rid of "page 2" where it was just a standard phrase and a signature, but kept letters with important information on. Only keep paperwork for cars I currently own and tenancy stuff for current address. Recently disposed of anything relating to a debt that's more than 6yrs old now they can't chase for it any more. Things like that. Managed to thin things out quite a bit that way.

I recently came across a pile of paperwork for the old campervan - MOT related, mainly, plus some insurance stuff and the original registration. I've shredded all that. (The most recent logbook went to the bloke who bought her for parts and I got email confirmation from the DVLA that he's registered as the owner.)

Today, I emptied a small cardboard box from the spare bedroom (that was actually the main bedroom until my late Dh came home from hospital - I had to change round the rooms in a hurry, which is one of the reasons that I'm muddled as to what is where).

Now...I can understand why I had seed packets in it. I can understand why I had a flower vase-thingy in it. In the name of all that's holy, however, I cannot understand why it also contained two jar lids and some pieces of plastic which look as though I cut them from the bottom of a large milk carton.

I mean - I'm aware that I was more than a bit befuddled, but...

@WearyAuldWumman well done for binning the slippers and the pine cone. The lids and the plastic from the bottom of a milk carton were potentially plant related but are also hopefully easy to recycle now.

I now think that the plastic bits were intended to be lockdown plant labels. Maybe I wanted to use the lids as plant saucers...

In the recycling now.

Things are being done. That's good no matter how small. Keep it up.

Went to mums on Sunday. Did nothing except washing up on Monday. Back to work today.

Keep on keeping on.

Yesterday: slept all morning to catch up after an awful night.

Cleaned a section of window of bad mould. Had to be done between sunset and the light going.

Put pots away.

Wiped shopping (been on dusty stairs) and put some away. (Non perishables get left as I'm out of "spoons" by the time I am done shopping)

DD hung washing.

Folded some washing.

Sent down two bags of recycling.

Sent down bin bag and some out of date food. (Bought for autistic kid who then went right off it.)

Cleaned one shelf of the fridge.

DD put a bin bag in.

Cleaned computer desk.

Wiped loo seat multiple times.
Picked up bath mats X3
Wiped down fridge and frequent touch points in kitchen.
Did physio.
Wiped down some paintwork.

Today so far:
Cleaned draining board.
Washed some plant pots. Carried several plant pots through to kitchen. (Some are still there waiting to be emptied)
Spent two hours before sun came round cleaning mould off the window and frames and surrounds. (Lots of walking back and forth to kitchen) So far done less than a quarter of the window and frames. Lots of planes of different sizes. (One large, three middle sized, four small)

Hoping to finish the bottom section of the side I've been doing today.

Never buy windows with fancy molding. Too many crevices to scrub.

Sneaking back in whilst I have time during the Easter holidays... I haven't posted since I started my new job back in September, sending best wishes to everyone!

I've spent most of the holidays catching up on the cleaning and tidying that I just don't have time to get done during term time, now I work in a school - it was a career change for me and I had no idea how all consuming it would be I mean I'm enjoying it most of the time, but my goodness, term time is just busy morning till night...

DS1 is at a sports club most days during the holidays (his choice, he loves it there!) and they have a clothes recycling point on site, which is really handy for me to drop off bits and pieces when I drop off and pick up. One of my big decluttering issues is getting rid of stuff when I decide we don't need it any more so a recycling bin is amazing! I still have a bag of stuff to go to a charity shop and one to go to my friend (clothes for her DS which my DS has grown out of), but after a massive declutter at half term things aren't looking too bad. I used to use Freecyle/ Freegle a lot but now find the Olio app much easier TBH.

The house and garden are looking ok after a solid fortnight's worth of work another issue is getting DP to actually help with the bits I'm not able to do - for example, helping me put heavy stuff in the loft - I'm happy to go up there, I just can't lift it up without help! He'd rather trip over it for weeks than just give me a hand he's still telling me how much he wants to lose weight and go to the gym, whilst watching at least two hours of TV every night... I only wish I had the same free time but I just don't! I've been ill for a few weeks now with an awful cough I just can't get rid of, about to start some antibiotics which will hopefully shift it, but school holidays just aren't restful when I have DC to look after and a lot of cleaning and tidying to do after not having much time to do it during term time.

Sorry for your loss @FiniteSagacity I think I said on here before that I'm dreading my DM and DF dying - not just for the obvious reasons but because they are both such hoarders - they divorced years ago with each blaming the other for our childhood home being a tip. Well, they have had separate houses for many years now and each is crammed to the rafters with stuff, so I guess they were both to blame! They've both been retired for about ten years now and have time on their hands, but still don't even make a start on reducing their clutter...

Good to hear about your progress @Solo - we have scratches and marks on our bath which I just can't get rid of - think it's just the age of the plastic unfortunately!

I had a big clearout of gardening stuff this week @WearyAuldWumman and like you, there were bits which I'd hoarded kept in case they were useful and which have never been used! I've planted lots of the seeds (although they're very old and I don't hold out much hope for them), and will invest in some new veg seeds to try to have home grown peas and tomatoes this summer.

Well done to @Elleherd and @BlackeyedSusan (and anyone else I haven't mentioned!) in their continuing fight against the clutter

The windows got finished then I crashed out.

Today has been paperwork and laundry. Mowed ex's lawn. He will repay with bin emptying etc.

Put three tops in the rag bag. Cut the front hedge.

@KittyTalbot I sympathise with the difficulties of working in a school - I did it for 40 years. I now have a gym membership again and am working on my fitness level. Attended two classes this morning.

today is an autisitc day of waiting in for a parcel and not being able to do much else whilst doing so.

2 out of 3 loads of washing have been hung. Ive taken stuff away from the front door. (mainly the loads of washing in binbags)

I've rearranged a bedroom and now it's easier to get down the side of the bed, so that's a huge win. Also a smaller win - been crafting because it's raining and it used up some supplies.

Hello everyone. Progress is good, well done everyone. And thanks for the sink tips. Will try.

Welcome back @KittyTalbot - nice to see you.

My progress, if you can call it that...

Trying to clear the sofa. One box which I'm throwing letters and 'keep' paperwork into. One rubbish bag. One shredding bag. So much more to do.
Laundry done.
Found some jewellery that I couldn't find. Yippee.
Threw away the no good shoes and the no good plates taken from Mums on Easter Sunday after I gave her the set. "Do you want them back" she asked. I didn't hesitate in answering "no" 😁, but I have thought about it. But no. I can't. I won't.
Old food out of thecfridge gone. Thankfully not too much this time.

Keep on keeping on

Busy day!

Donated a big box of washing powder.
Collected dirty washing. Two loads of washing done.(still in bin bags)
Emptied a window box of compost. Half in a bucket, half on the floor.
Emptied the hoover,
Hoovered compost,
Hoovered half the hall,
In half the hall, washed all paintwork and stairgate (hypermobile light headedness hits at the lounge door, the stairgate has now become a fixture to stop me falling over. Probably need grab handles but can't be arsed)
Plughole fishing and plunging (bath and basin)
Cleaned the bath, panel and inside of basin.
Handwashed handwraps.
Rinsed, wrung out and spun socks.
Sorted out dry from damp laundry folded or rehung.
Unblocked a loo.
Took kid to school
Took kid to meeting,
Collected kid
Pharmacy
GP
Sent recycling down
Found kids clothes.
Fished rinsed soggy handwraps out of a bath so DD can shower.
Rung school
DD ordered meds.
Washed some cups at friend's house.

Provided pyjamas at 2.30 am (reason why late to school, spent hours trying to get to go bed and an hour trying to get me out of bed)

Got to go and wipe kitchen touch points and later the loo seat inside and clean the inside properly, then collapse.

Bloody knackered.

Back to driving tomorrow.

Ps Sadly the cauliflower has yet to take itself to the bin. Fridge still needs some shelves sorting.

You've been busy, @BlackeyedSusan well done Sorry you're still not feeling great.

Recycling into collection wheelie bin for tomorrow.
Specsavers.
Looked at some net curtains and took photos of some of them and the prices for mum. She had bought some from Dunelm a few (probably 5) years back, but they weren't dealt with straight away as they should have been. Not a clue why, but probably because she put them away, and I didn't do them for her. Got them out and they are totally the wrong length even though we'd taken the measurements with us and got the sales person to sort them. They weren't cheap, so she's really annoyed.

The jewellers were closed. I was taking two rings in with some broken gold chains to see if I could get them made bigger without it costing too much money. I'm a bit wary about getting rid of my broken gold as I've been advised by a friend to keep hold of it. I'd like to wear the rings, though, so got to do something.

I'm about to cook dinner. I won't be doing much else though as I'm absolutely shattered.

I need to take watches to Winski's in Kinross for battery replacement and get them to clean up Mum's engagement ring if possible. It's supposed to be gold and platinum, but there's some discolouration. (I've been wearing it recently - it's been a drawer for 11 yrs.)

I have to put out the recycling bin tomorrow.

I have some glass to take to the bottle bank - one jar and a Cinzano bottle that had one unit left in it...I drank it...

I've decided that I don't have to wear up my old clothes to the gym or even newish clothes that don't suit me. I already bagged up one gym top that fits widthwise but is too short for my long torso. I've bought two long-line vests and two long-line t-shirts, so I obviously need to put out at least 4 items.

I've bagged up a pair of jogging bottoms that are too baggy in the bum for me now and have faded. Also a faded vest top. I'm looking to get rid of more.

Well done Waw.

Yesterday:
Drove (85miles)
Topped up petrol
Two supermarkets
Put some shopping away.
Checked up on friend who's been ill.

Today:
Drove
Petrol top up
Bought milk from petrol station
Wiped some shopping.
Caught up on sleep.
DD washed up.
Sorted out some food storage. (Far too many packs of noodles but they are in date order now. )

Hello - could I please join you?

I've been a hoarder for years, and so is DH.

We've been quite happy living in our shabby but extremely cluttered house, with DVDs and history books galore (DH) and craft supplies (me).

DH is now very ill - I had to turn the (unusable at the time) dining room into an emergency bedroom for him when he was discharged from hospital in January, and I dealt with that by renting a storage unit.
In my defence, I only had a few days notice that he was coming home.

I had started to sort things out, telling myself that this is to make life easier for us both, when he was readmitted to hospital a couple of weeks ago after having a stroke.

So now all sorting has ground to a halt - but I do need to start again, partly as a distraction from the nightmare of DH's illnesses.

I do have the support of DSis and DSiL who are both very kind and helpful when it comes to cleaning and decluttering, but I seem to be absolutely unable to get anything done on my own. When they are here - usually once a fortnight - I can crack on, but left to my own devices, nothing happens - which is probably why my home is in the state it's in.

So I do need some accountability, I think, to get me going again.

Even if it's just an item a day.

Yesterday, cut up a ‘cleaning top’ and used it for dusters.

Washed front door and step.

Today, Senior Flex class followed by leg extensions, leg curls and chest fly.

soup and toastie in cafe.

Chemist. Prescription not ready. Home. Weedkilled drive. Put two plastic cans of diesel oil in boot.

Drove to tip on way back to gym. Emptied cans in oil disposal unit and empty cans into landfill.

Having coffee at gym, prior to Pilates..

That has to be hard with both of you hoarding Jaffa. I guess this is the problem, when it all comes to a head one day and now it's costing you in storage fees.

One item per day is 365 items per year so it will soon add up without any real effort if you persevere with it. The main thing is to stop bringing more in, or make sure you're doing one-in-two-out. Easier said than done, I know.

One thing I did was to promise myself I'd never rent storage. For me this was a simple financial decision because I don't have anything expensive. So the cost of storage would be more than the cost to replace the stuff if I decided I'd made a mistake binning it. If you're in the same situation I'd see if you could enlist help to clear the storage unit and take it all to the tip, my one has a re-use shop there for anything that can be sold. Otherwise you're just going to waste hundreds of pounds on storage, on top of all your family's other problems.