Do you declutter/tidy regularly?

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
I can’t stand messy drawers and cupboards, so each weekend I tackle one or two different cupboards or drawers and declutter or straighten. None are ever really bad because Ron and I are generally tidy, but nonetheless they tend to accumulate clutter, things get put in them that actually belong somewhere else, or they just get generally messy.

Today I dealt with the kitchen cupboard that has 3 shelves and houses the first aid stuff, bandaids and bandages, Tylenol and the like. Found some pills from when Ron had his accident that needed to be thrown out, a couple items shoved in there that didn’t belong, empty bandaid box etc. Now it’s tidy again and I feel better!

Tomorrow I’ll deal with the guestroom dresser. I keep art supplies and craft stuff for the grands, and it’s also my gifting and re-gifting storage. But there are a couple drawers that have accumulated clutter…things dropped in that belong somewhere else, or don’t yet have a designated place so they landed there by default.

Do you regularly get to these kinds of chores?
 

Myself, I don't do anything regularly. However, the past few weeks I've been trying to declutter and clean one room at a time. I got the living room and kitchen done but keep getting sick in between.

I have the bed and bath to do yet but will when I feel better. I keep crap that I've had since 2000 like paperwork I don't need anymore and stuff like that. I get things for projects to keep me busy like crochet stuff or latch hook kits and I never finish them.

I don't have enough storage space for everything so I'm trying to get more organized.
 
Oh dear.

See, I have a space I inhabit a lot of the time. It has my stereo there, my music, etc. It's where I truly feel at home and relaxed.

That said, everything I remotely need tends to travel toward my space over time, like a magnetic field is there, dragging it all in. Eventually I see with my own eyes: Man, what a mess. Then I tidy. But I admit, I do have clutter around me, even if unintentional.
 
I ‘m not fond of clutter. Yesterday I just decluttered our kitchen hutch. Now it has a minimal amount of stuff and the stuff that’s there is all shiny and clean. It has my Royal Doulton dinnerware and a couple of fancy tea pots. Tomorrow I’m starting on the basement hutch. To be brutally honest the main reason I’m doing it is because we have company come in a week or so. I’ve got to clean two vehicles also.
 
Ronni said:
I can’t stand messy drawers and cupboards, so each weekend I tackle one or two different cupboards or drawers and declutter or straighten. None are ever really bad because Ron and I are generally tidy, but nonetheless they tend to accumulate clutter, things get put in them that actually belong somewhere else, or they just get generally messy.

Today I dealt with the kitchen cupboard that has 3 shelves and houses the first aid stuff, bandaids and bandages, Tylenol and the like. Found some pills from when Ron had his accident that needed to be thrown out, a couple items shoved in there that didn’t belong, empty bandaid box etc. Now it’s tidy again and I feel better!

Tomorrow I’ll deal with the guestroom dresser. I keep art supplies and craft stuff for the grands, and it’s also my gifting and re-gifting storage. But there are a couple drawers that have accumulated clutter…things dropped in that belong somewhere else, or don’t yet have a designated place so they landed there by default.

Do you regularly get to these kinds of chores?
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Yes. I am going through jewelry right now. I have a lot of costume jewelry I'll never wear.
I go through different things every year or so and clean out.
 
Just did my office on Friday with my wife’s help. What do I know about cleaning? I got rid of all the loose papers I had lying around and put up a new printer, which caused me to do a full clean up of my office.
 
I try to keep my place neat and clean. I clean up the kitchen after using the stove, etc. I do need to organize the drawers in the kitchen. Some things I never use like a melon 🍈 baller. I guess I keep it just in case!

Then I need to empty out the silverware drawer. Crumbs have fallen in there as always so I'll have to put that on my list of things to clean out.

I have organized a few big drawers in the bedroom but have more to get to in there like dusting. And need to go through the bedroom closet and take clothes I don't want or use and donate them or I could put them in my storage cubicle in the basement.

I also should get rid of some old coats that I never use. I'm going to clean the dining room area carpet with the machine I have. I just bought some of the cleaner that goes in it.

I've got my work cut out for me!
 
One thing that helped me with cleaning out drawers and cupboards was to empty them into a cardboard box and gradually return the items that I use as I need them.

It only takes a few weeks to get an idea of the most useful items and it becomes easier to let thing go.

Another helpful hint was picking a dollar amount for things that I might need someday.

If I can replace it in five minutes for five dollars, or replace it in ten minutes for ten dollars, let it go. I rarely need to replace anything.
 
Ronni said:
I can’t stand messy drawers and cupboards, so each weekend I tackle one or two different cupboards or drawers and declutter or straighten. None are ever really bad because Ron and I are generally tidy, but nonetheless they tend to accumulate clutter, things get put in them that actually belong somewhere else, or they just get generally messy.

Today I dealt with the kitchen cupboard that has 3 shelves and houses the first aid stuff, bandaids and bandages, Tylenol and the like. Found some pills from when Ron had his accident that needed to be thrown out, a couple items shoved in there that didn’t belong, empty bandaid box etc. Now it’s tidy again and I feel better!

Tomorrow I’ll deal with the guestroom dresser. I keep art supplies and craft stuff for the grands, and it’s also my gifting and re-gifting storage. But there are a couple drawers that have accumulated clutter…things dropped in that belong somewhere else, or don’t yet have a designated place so they landed there by default.

Do you regularly get to these kinds of chores?
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NO..I'm terrible... I stuff everything into drawers and cupboards so it's out of my sight and everything looks tidy...

You can come and tidy all my drawers out if you like... what a horrible job that is... I did it recently... but I have closets full of stuff, albeit on shelves, drawers full, sideboard.. *ugh* lol.. but it's all good stuff, it's not junk...if it was junk I could easily just throw it all out..

I have 30 drawers.. not including kitchen drawers... desk... triple closets.. walk-in closets.. good grief..it sounds like a jumble sale it isn't because it's all in the closets..:ROFLMAO:
 
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Most places are kept tidy, except my desk. I don’t want to deal with sorting and copying the photos. Stuff lands there. Especially receipts.

Years ago I got rid of champagne glasses. They were never used. If I win the lottery and need to celebrate, I’ll go to the thrift store and buy some replacements for that day. I also got rid of all but three vases that are unique.

My clothes are done on a regular basis. Can’t have more unless I get rid of some.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I do but it never gets easy for me.

Every few months I scrape off another layer of stuff for the charity shops. I work at it until it becomes a bit painful to let go and come back to it.

I can honestly say that I don’t miss any of it and have had to become a bit more creative about using what I have to good advantage.
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I really don't think there's anything I've regretted getting rid of in all these years.
 
Jules said:
Most places are kept tidy, except my desk. I don’t want to deal with sorting and copying the photos. Stuff lands there. Especially receipts.

Years ago I got rid of champagne glasses. They were never used. If I win the lottery and need to celebrate, I’ll go to the thrift store and buy some replacements for that day. I also got rid of all but three vases that are unique.

My clothes are done on a regular basis. Can’t have more unless I get rid of some.
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I hardly ever use my drinking glasses anymore. The same tall glass olive jar is enough. I wouldn't miss my dishes either. China I never use. Just a plastic plate or saucer from the dollar store everyday.
 
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Ruthanne said:
I try to keep my place neat and clean. I clean up the kitchen after using the stove, etc. I do need to organize the drawers in the kitchen. Some things I never use like a melon 🍈 baller. I guess I keep it just in case!

Then I need to empty out the silverware drawer. Crumbs have fallen in there as always so I'll have to put that on my list of things to clean out.

I have organized a few big drawers in the bedroom but have more to get to in there like dusting. And need to go through the bedroom closet and take clothes I don't want or use and donate them or I could put them in my storage cubicle in the basement.

I also should get rid of some old coats that I never use. I'm going to clean the dining room area carpet with the machine I have. I just bought some of the cleaner that goes in it.

I've got my work cut out for me!
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I bought a pineapple slicer. Why? It was on Aldis isle of shame and I thought, "I've wanted a pineapple slicer"
Why? Dunno. Someday I'll buy a pineapple and see if its useful.
 
I want the house looking neat at all times. I won't leave home without making my bed and sure everything is in place. I have this strange thought about what if something happened to me while I was gone and people went to my house and found it messy. Dishes are washed immediately after a meal.

I saw some posts about cleaning out drawers. There is my one of my downfalls because I hardly ever do that.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I want the house looking neat at all times. I won't leave home without making my bed and sure everything is in place. I have this strange thought about what if something happened to me while I was gone and people went to my house and found it messy. Dishes are washed immediately after a meal.

I saw some posts about cleaning out drawers. There is my one of my downfalls because I hardly ever do that.
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The kitchen 'Junk' drawer might get sorted every two years.
 
How prophetic , I would clear out regularly, when we moved here we got rid of a lot of stuff and kept doing it. My DH passed away so now not so much, in the past 2 years I've barely cleaned out anything. Today I did clean out my dresser drawers, I now have a bag for diabetes. After walking the dog the next couple of hours will be spent looking for watches that I've put somewhere.
But, my children will be here this summer and they will help me. Each time they visit I ask them to take whatever they want but they tell me they feel uncomfortable doing that. This time I've said we will sort it and if they want anything we'll box it away and keep in the garage until that time that they can take it.
 
I don't do it regularly, but when the stars align such that I can, e.g., husband isn't around to be worried about what I'm throwing out and I can get into his area and clean (which he always appreciates and never misses a thing).

Sometimes I go through the kitchen drawers and shelves, getting rid of things we never use.

Once, I spent two weeks, literally, cleaning out a basement room my husband had, over time, filled with clutter. I mean, a person couldn't walk into the room. So I get it all cleaned out and organize my husband things that stayed, and the day after I finish the job an old computer monitor appears on the nice clean floor of the room. :mad:

We had a talk. It went away again. I think he threw it out.

I love him with my whole heart, but I just about had a seizure over that monitor.

He's a bit of a hoarder. But gods love him, he's really been trying over the last several years and I appreciate that.

In his defense, he knows he has potential to be a full-blown hoarder and has thanked me multiple times over the years for saving him from it. ❤️ And hey, he puts up with my less-than-perfect characteristics.

PS: That basement room is still clean. I spend a lot of my time down here and it's become my space. That room is my exercise / sewing room now. :)

Edited to add: I just feel a little bad as I don't want to give the wrong impression of my husband. He is an amazing human being and has been taking care of me, financially and emotionally, most of my life. So, you know, we take care of each other. ❤️

Edit: typos
 
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Medusa said:
I don't do it regularly, but when the stars align such that, I can, e.g., husband isn't around to be worried about what I'm throwing out and I can get into his area and clean (which he always appreciates and never misses a thing).

Sometimes I go through the kitchen drawers and shelves, getting rid of things we never use.

Once, I spent two weeks, literally, cleaning out a basement room my husband and, over time, filled with clutter. I mean, a person couldn't walk into the room. So I get it all cleaned out and organize my husband things that stayed, and the day after I finish the job an old computer monitor appears on the nice clean floor of the room. :mad:

We had a talk. It went away again. I think he threw it out.

I love him with my whole heart, but I just about had a seizure over that monitor.

He's a bit of a hoarder. But gods love him, he's really been trying over the last several years and I appreciate that.

In his defense, he knows he has potential to be a full-blown hoarder and has thanked me multiple times over the years for saving him from it. ❤️ And hey, he puts up with my less-than-perfect characteristics.

PS: That basement room is still clean. I spend a lot of my time down here and it's become my space. That room is my exercise / sewing room now. :)
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I almost became a hoarder with Smuckers jelly jars. It wasn't till I looked under the sink and seen rows and rows of cleaned out jars. I threw most of them out and kept a few for drinking jars and junk.
 

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