housecleaning

[mizkit]

I do not understand how I can simultaneously want to GET RID OF CRAP and yet still have such attachment to much of said crap. Ted and I both gave up cleaning at the same time, having apparently reached some level of existential despair about the entire matter. We’ve made great progress, but we’ve gone past the point where it seems like it should

Comments

[ursulav]

I generally have to wait until I am in a particularly merciless mood, and then I can pitch all kinds of stuff. But the mood has to hit.

Alternatively, if you can find them, watch a couple episodes of "Hoarders." (Or there's a really good book called "STUFF" that does the same thing, albeit more slowly.) If you do not have the desire to throw away everything you own afterwards, I would be very amazed.

[mizkit]

There's really actually huge piles of useless paperwork and *crap* that just needed sorting through. We've gotten rid of 4 large garbage bags worth so far.

The clothes, though, are going to be a problem. I'm in the midst of a really bad "it'll fit if I lose thirty freaking pounds" phase and am too attached to the clothes I don't fit in to dump them. Bleh.

[jamileigh17]

From my experiences with weight (I've gone from US size 20 down to 4s and back, and am working my way back down again, and most every size between). Designate one drawer or smallish box as "Doesn't fit", and only put your favorites in there. That way, when you do get to that size, you have the clothes you wanted most, but not all the "this will fit, but is easily replaced" that otherwise clogs up the wardrobe.

[irishkate]

I hate getting rid of stuff. I get far too attached. You have my sympathy and commiserations.

[phantomminuet]

Don't give up. All the decluttering blogs and books I've read say pretty much the same thing...don't try to do it all at once. Pick a manageable project, like a closet or a room, and finish that project first. Then move on to the next project.

I've been working on my house for a year and a half, and I'm still not done.