Today’s tidying tasks:
1. Went through massive stockpile of regular toothbrushes (acquired via dentists, school programs, clearances) and got rid of all but a small handful. Everyone in the family except me uses electric toothbrushes. The ones I got rid of are all in packages, so they can be donated to the local food pantry (which also gives out household basics like soap and paper towels).
2. Went through the closet and bureau in our room. Got rid of two bags of clothes we never wear. Bringing to clothing donation dumpsters. Also threw out about ten pairs of the kind of big-knit socks people get for Christmas. Threw out a pair of worn-out sandals I thought I’d already thrown out.
3. Found TWO Hello Kitty back-of-seat car organizers I bought on clearance lonnnnnng ago and suddenly remembered I had. Put them in the car. Used the bag they’d been stored in to gather up a bunch of trash from the car, and found Elizabeth’s headband cat ears that have been lost since last Halloween.
4. Threw out four boxes of hair color so old it’s bound to be no good anymore, even if I were planning to dye my hair that color. Remembered to salvage the excellent little conditioners that come with boxed color.
5. Established corner of dining room to start putting piles of stuff to be donated. It’s right where I walk past on my way out the door, so I’m hoping that will cue me to take things when I’ll be driving past the drop-offs for them.
This list looks more impressive to me than the actions were. None of them were THOROUGH cleans/tidies; all of them were quick first-scan types of tidies, where I got rid of the obvious stuff and didn’t push it to the hard decisions. I’m still doing more “If in doubt, keep it,” reserving “If it doubt, toss it out” for later or possibly never.
Glad you saved those little conditioners. My mom saves all of hers for my curly-hair daughter and I’ve never found anything better.
Hmmm….the kids must have gone back to school. Nah,,,,you’d be a partying…..
Why don’t they just sell those conditioners already?!
You know what, though? When I decluttered our house, I found I did it in layers. First all the straight-up garbage, then the obvious stuff to be donated, then the stuff that was buried a little deeper, etc. It’s not an overnight job… good for you for the great start you’ve already accomlplished! Don’t worry, you’ll get plenty more ruthless as you go along.
Oh, so smart to save the conditioners!
I’m doing a big clean/declutter here too–so far it’s not shaping up to be as clean as I expected/wanted or hoped for. Sigh…
As someone who works in a charity shop selling donated items, it’s always impressive when someone takes the time to make a donation. So, you should feel good about yourself whatever the state of the house.
I spread mulch on our nasty, weedy flowerbeds today. Our neighbor must be dancing.
I hope some of this sinks in and I start clearing out things, too!
By the way around here the Salvation Army (and a number of other charities) will pick up your donations when they have a truck in the area. In case you’d rather not drive it around. Only catch is you have to remember to put the stuff out early in the morning they are coming – which I forgot once or twice (eeee the guilt!)
I wish I had a Hello Kitty car organizer!! My car desperately needs some help.
And the “quick first-scan clean” will make a world of difference.
You have officially invaded my unconscious! I have been very relaxed about the pre-baby to-do list and suddenly, after your nail polish post yesterday and reading this this morning I’m CRAZED. hahahaha…
I did pretty much exactly what you did today and it felt so good even though it didn’t seem like much at the time. Plus, I organized and put away like 7 stacks of books in our bedroom. We have too many books…
Woo hoo! That sounds like a very productive cleaning day!
My bedroom is getting way too cluttered… it’s actually reaching the point where it’s going to drive me bonkers soon… that’s when I usually get the urge to finally thoroughly clean it like a mad woman.
I’m really impressed with these update posts. Lately the chores I get to are:
1. Laundry, when it is ready to walk itself to the machine and we have nothing to wear
2. writing down the chores I should do the next day – ha!
3. returning to various shelves items which Michael has pulled from various shelves
You are light years ahead my dear!
Inspired by your cleaning spree, I went outside and violently brushed all the siding on the front of my house–this got rid of a LOT of dirt, cobwebs, dead bugs etcetera. It’s not crazy-clean yet–I probably still need to power was it or bleach it or something, but banging at cobwebs with a broom is shockingly theraputic.
I am LOVING the Swistle Cleans series of posts. I am reading them much the way I read magazines in that I think, “That’s a GREAT idea!” and them promptly forget about it. But seriously, after this post I might just be motivated. Maybe.
Good for you! That feels good, clearing out the clutter. Hope you saved the cool rubber/vinyl/whatever gloves that also come in the hair coloring boxes. (I hear.)
“This list looks more impressive to me than the actions were. None of them were THOROUGH cleans/tidies…”
Hey, progress is progress. I’d be happy with myself if I got that much done at home. It feels good.
I’m impressed!
And apparently also inspired- I just vacuumed and mopped my floors (haven’t mopped for almost two months…). Yay!
LOVE those conditioners! yeah, WHY don’t they just sell them?!
I tend to focus on one room at a time. I fixate and obsess about all the crap in all the corners of that particular room. I de-crap that room and shuffle stuff around and move to the next room when that room is in order. But everyone has their own groove. some people do a superficial house-wide sweep and then go a little deeper with each sweep.
whatever works. I hear explosive work wonders. I’ll let you know when I finally reach the garage project. Notice it was not on the list of things I’ve accomplished in unemployment…cuz its housing all the crap I took out of the corners!
is all this really for your MIL? damn.
Nice job!!
I’ve been trying to declutter and get rid of a lot of stuff, which very difficult considering my natural packratty nature. My sister gave a mantra to repeat: “Keep the memory, not the thing” and it’s helped….
Can I make a suggestion?
If the clothes you are donating are decent, I would suggest taking them to an actual donation center instead of one of those dumpsters. I think the dumpster places shred the clothes up for use as insulation. And if they’re good clothes, it’d probably be better to let someone else get some use from them.
You’ve inspired me. A couple years ago, I bought 2 packages of Scott toilet paper. Used one roll and it was awful. So why have I stored it for 2 years? No idea. It’s now in the donation box. lol.
dude seriously on the hair color conditioners, why does no one sell that shit i bulk i would pay a ton for it
I’ve been doing some whining (on my blog, at WIM) about having no time to do any cleaning/organizing, but your little tiny chunks are starting to inspire me.
(Bet no one ever said that to you before.)
I’m attempting to clean out our junk so we can sell our house. It’s actually making decisions much easier, because I have one question “It can’t stay here…do I really want to pay to store this item?”
The one room I’ve finished (this house will NEVER be ready) was brutal. Sooo many trips to the dump and Goodwill.
I vote you bargain yourself a child-free Saturday to drop the bags and bags of stuff off, and reward yourself with a long book lunch at Panera.
I know the dumpsters just shred the clothes for whatever, but they ARE going to be re-used and that is something. Do you even want a tax deduction slip out of it? I never do, plus I hate the smell of these thrift shop places, and I just use the dumpsters to be RID of it. Nobody wants those thick-knit socks.
I found out that some schools will take kids’ clothing donations to pass on to families that are hurting. Don’t know if it’s worth the hassle of delivering them, though, since they don’t pick up.
You are making an awesome investment in a more comfortable home.
Be encouraged, you are on the road to becoming a “If in doubt, toss it!” person. And if you have less clutter and stuff it will make your job of cleaning and tidying FASTER and EASIER TO MAINTAIN!
You are doing great!
you’ve inspired me. also for the next time if you separate the kids clothes, the school nurse is always looking for donations. good luck and enjoy your making progress clean house.
I am working on decluttering/tidying/cleaning, as this house is going up for sale in 6-8 weeks. I do one room at a time, but whatever method worksis the best one.
Re: conditioner, I really miss the hair dye ones, since I decided to go gray 6 years ago [I dyed my hair ash-blonde with a violet rinse and continued that until it was long enough to be just gray]. The nearest conditioner I’ve found in quality is Aussie brand.