Clutter Challenge Week 1 -

[McBenny]

Tips for the challenge -

Start in the kitchen. There are less sentimental items there.

Work a little bit each day, even if it's 5-15 minutes of focused work.

Focus on one space and keep this to an area that you can handle without getting overwhelmed. If you can do a room, cool. If you can't due to time or stress then do a drawer a day. The point is whatever you do will be something done.

Discard anything that you don't love or use. If you haven't used it in a long ass time you really need to think about why you are keeping it.

Avoid keeping "just in case" items. If you are unsure you can start a box for these items and date it. Don't look in it, let time pass. If later on you never went back to the box then whatever is in there must not be that important.

[McBenny]

-paperwork

-front entry/mudroom

-purse

-cleaning supplies

-fridge/freezer

-pantry

-kitchen cabinets

-medicine cabinets

-dining room

-entertainment area

-magazines and books

-junk drawer

-desk

-bathroom cabinets

-linen closet

-make up

-jewelry

-bedroom closet

-socks and underwear

-nightstands

-kids' toys

-kids' closets

-laundry room

-basement

-garage

-car

-under the bed

-shoes

-computer files

-toiletries

-emails/files on computer

-pictures on computer or phone

-holiday/seasonal items

[McBenny]

So I am starting in the kitchen so my areas will be:

over the stove cabinet
pots and pans
flatware
kitchen utensils
glasses/cups
food storage containers
under the kitchen sink
pantry
bake ware
canned foods
spices
refrigerator
top of refrigerator

[sarenu]

I'm going to start in the kitchen.

1. Fridge
2. Pantry
3. Electric
4. Serving
5. Glass wear
6. Spices

It may take me a bit, since we have a big party this weekend.

[fatpony]

I'll also start in the kitchen.

1. Pantry
2. Dishes
3. Tupperware
4. Food cupboard
5. Barware
6. Cupboards with unknown occupants

[loony]

I did the over the sink cabinet, which holds all our ball jars/lids (we use glass for leftovers and to freeze).

I threw away all the lids that have no jars and organized the other side of the cabinet which holds water bottles.

In the kitchen, I still need to address the pantry and top of fridge.

[loony]

Wednesday is a daycare day for the kids, but day off for me.

I'm planning on organizing kid clothes and toys. We need a clear out of little baby toys, since DS doesn't need theethers and things like that.

[sarenu]

Made it through one cabinet. Not much to toss because I go through it every 3-4 months but at least I know what I have for canned goods.

[kitchen]

I'm going to do the pantry and fridge today.

Everything else is pretty good because I was ruthless after we remodeled last summer. I should probably take away the old coffee maker since I got a new one though, so I guess yeah. I should do the rest of the kitchen.

[Kida]

I've already done my tupperwear cabinet. This week I'm going to try and do my pantry, my cabinets above the washer and dryer and hopefully under the sink. My fridge could use a clean out as well.

Over the weekend I cleaned out the bed of our truck that was packed with my mom's stuff. I donated a bunch. I also went through all of our clothes and donated them and organised all of the drawers and our closet.

[McBenny]

I have decided I am going to start today. I have some bigger projects to tackle. I will take pics and share.

[sarenu]

Got through two more cabinets last night. I need to sit down tonight and go through all my cookie cutters. I have a ton and I don't use more than a handful because cut out cookies are annoying and time consuming to make.

That's my project tonight.

[nelzie]

Starting small. I went through last night and purged a bunch of office supplies and organized what I kept. I also went through the hanging clothes in my closet and got rid of some things to donate.

I'm hoping to make a list tonight so I can be more organized about this.

[kitchen]

I am going to deal with this situation today.

[McBenny]

I will post some pics later. I find pics tend to inspire folks.

[kitchen]

I fixed the drawer.

[kitchen]

I made this tracker in my planner also.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

[nelzie]

I really should be taking pics.

I did the drawers and cabinets under the sink in our master bathroom this morning. I also cleared the clutter off my bookshelf. I am currently working on the master closet. It was a disaster. We are storing a bunch of things in there because we have no room so we could barely get to our clothes.

[shortskirtlongjacket]

I've done the kitchen except the utensil drawer. I am not sure why I don't want to tackle that. Since our outdoor freezer went out I will be tackling that today during nap. That's gonna be real gross

[McBenny]

Ok so question,

I don't like plastic cups. I don't drink out of them aside from solo cups.

When stepson was living here he brought some damn cups from somewhere. Also my glasses and mugs disappeared.

I want to buy new glasses eventually. What do I do with these plastic cups?

[Deleted]

Jul 16, 2017 12:52:24 GMT -6 McBenny said:

Ok so question,

I don't like plastic cups. I don't drink out of them aside from solo cups.

When stepson was living here he brought some damn cups from somewhere. Also my glasses and mugs disappeared.

I want to buy new glasses eventually. What do I do with these plastic cups?

We keep them for things like cleaning he bathroom, scoop for dog food etc.

[oliversbear]

In May, I went through my books and found two bags I can donate to the church's rummage sale in December.

I cleaned out my closet, and ended up with a bag of trash clothes & shoes (I've had then for at least 8 years, so I think I got my money's worth out of them).

Next on the list is the linen closet, which is more organizing than purging (we already have a minimum of linens).

And then, it's a paperwork purge. I have binders of paystubs, bank statements, and credit card bills from 1995! It's time to go through and shred that stuff. The only thing I'm keeping is my tax returns (and supporting paperwork). I know there is a limit to what I need to keep, but having been audited before, I want to keep my copies.

[nelzie]

Went through the fridge last night. Got rid of a bunch of stuff.

Started in on my closet and filing cabinet. It's a bigger project so it will take a while. Sorted all the loose papers into things I need to keep and things to recycle. Just need to organize the things I have to keep.

Next I need to go through clothes. They are tough for me because I have a lot that is too small but I am actively losing weight so they should fit soon and new clothes are not in the budget so I feel like I need to keep most of it.

[McBenny]

Jul 16, 2017 20:08:17 GMT -6 kbw said:

Jul 16, 2017 12:52:24 GMT -6 McBenny said:

Ok so question,

I don't like plastic cups. I don't drink out of them aside from solo cups.

When stepson was living here he brought some damn cups from somewhere. Also my glasses and mugs disappeared.

I want to buy new glasses eventually. What do I do with these plastic cups?

We keep them for things like cleaning he bathroom, scoop for dog food etc.

But there are a lot. I think I may throw them away.

[McBenny]

I also have a dog food scoop and a bathroom pitcher thing, LOL.

[sarenu]

Jul 16, 2017 22:36:26 GMT -6 oliversbear said:

In May, I went through my books and found two bags I can donate to the church's rummage sale in December.

I cleaned out my closet, and ended up with a bag of trash clothes & shoes (I've had then for at least 8 years, so I think I got my money's worth out of them).

Next on the list is the linen closet, which is more organizing than purging (we already have a minimum of linens).

And then, it's a paperwork purge. I have binders of paystubs, bank statements, and credit card bills from 1995! It's time to go through and shred that stuff. The only thing I'm keeping is my tax returns (and supporting paperwork). I know there is a limit to what I need to keep, but having been audited before, I want to keep my copies.

7 years. Unless you are committing fraud (only reason to keep more), toss the old stuff. Really audits only go back 3-4 years.

[sarenu]

Jul 17, 2017 8:48:03 GMT -6 McBenny said:

Jul 16, 2017 20:08:17 GMT -6 kbw said:

We keep them for things like cleaning he bathroom, scoop for dog food etc.

But there are a lot. I think I may throw them away.

Recycle? I was surprised how much I could recycle.

[oliversbear]

Jul 17, 2017 17:53:38 GMT -6 sarenu said:

Jul 16, 2017 22:36:26 GMT -6 oliversbear said:

In May, I went through my books and found two bags I can donate to the church's rummage sale in December.

I cleaned out my closet, and ended up with a bag of trash clothes & shoes (I've had then for at least 8 years, so I think I got my money's worth out of them).

Next on the list is the linen closet, which is more organizing than purging (we already have a minimum of linens).

And then, it's a paperwork purge. I have binders of paystubs, bank statements, and credit card bills from 1995! It's time to go through and shred that stuff. The only thing I'm keeping is my tax returns (and supporting paperwork). I know there is a limit to what I need to keep, but having been audited before, I want to keep my copies.

7 years. Unless you are committing fraud (only reason to keep more), toss the old stuff. Really audits only go back 3-4 years.

Thanks.  I couldn't remember if it was 7 or 10 years.  I know I can safely shred all my paystubs/bank statements, but I am going to keep all my tax returns. I have them from my first time filing and I am not going to ditch them.  I've had issues with the IRS on several occasions and I am not taking chances having to rely on their records, which at least in one instance were incorrect.

[ripper]

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[ripper]