Bit by the Decluttering Bug

(Originally posted on WP 3/31/21.)

Not sure if it’s the yearly spring cleaning bug that’s bit me, or just the fact that, with this long bout of anemia and low RBCs I’ve been working on, I’ve been needing to spend a lot of time lying down, which only leaves the brain left to work. And what does it work on? It thinks of things that need to be organized, cleared out, spruced up, fixed, and redesigned – all the things waiting on the other side of the gate, with me chomping at the bit, for the gate to open!

I had been making a mental list of all the stuff that needs clearing out of this house. I hate clutter and as this is a vintage house (1947) it is not burdened by a lot of closets. I say that facetiously, of course, because having a lot of closets is hardly a burden! So, it’s been bugging me - the old tat I’ve been hanging onto, thinking that one day it might be useful and/or I could think of ways to recycle it into something else.

As mental lists tend to lose accuracy over time!, I wrote down the list.  Aack, so much stuff - everything from old pillows, blankets, and worn out rugs, tchotchkes from I don’t know where, non-working small appliances and real glassware I don’t trust myself to use (I much prefer Duralex Picardie bistro glasses, which are more indestructible).

And lest we forget, there’s the behemoth (85 lb) non-working Phaser 8560 clogging up table space in the dining room studio.

Along the way, there’s also a lot of heavy boxes stored in the eaves upstairs which will need to come out of the eaves, so the insulation guys can get into the eaves.

As hubby can’t get onto his knees to squeeze himself into the 3 closets, where the eave hatches are, guess who will be doing it?! LOL, this is one reason I hate to get ill – there really is no time for being ill, not when the other half is already out of commission.

But at least I can then work on the yearly job of shredding the old files stored there which are due for eradication.

Rooms and closets to go through on 3 floors: 13, give or take.

The goal? To actually be able to easily access the stuff we do use in the closets and cupboards, and know that if and when we may need to/want to sell this house, that this chore will already be done. And mentally it is freeing to not be surrounded by shabby stuff that needs *help*, as I have neither the time nor inclination to do all that helping!

One problem with clearing out, that became evident immediately, is that after all this stuff is pulled out of closets and cupboards, it then coagulates in large piles on the floor in various rooms, until it can be bagged up and brought to all their final resting places.  As we aren’t also burdened by a lot of floor space (I wish!), I need to bag up these piles asap and store them in the garage.

Thus far, I have a pile of old felted wool mats and throws that can go to the animal shelter and boxes of glassware and doodads that can go to Goodwill, along with some clothing I know will never fit me again.

The dump, unfortunately, will be getting the preponderance of stuff, although as I haven’t done this deep a clearing out for several decades, I figure I’m still ahead of the game.

Has anyone else also been bit by the decluttering bug? I like to imagine that we’re all feeling this need, especially after the long tedious year we’ve all had, stuck within our well-used four walls. We could all use feeling a little lighter…

Onward,
Dawn