(Part 2) Top products from r/declutter

My Mum liked https://www.amazon.com/Manage-Your-Home-Without-Losing/dp/0718079957 which helped her start without feeling so overwhelmed. But most of the heavy lifting is done when someone else is there, mostly because it's very emotional for her and she likes to talk it through with someone. We normally attack something when I'm home for Christmas. I try to make her make the decision of what stays and what leaves, so I don't get the blame, and focus on actually getting things out, and leaving what's left looking better than it did.

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Getting rid of your own stuff is the best thing you can do this visit. If you've got a bit of spare time, you could help her go through one space, to see whether you helping will achieve anything. Until they decide they actually want to get rid of stuff, you forcing the issue probably won't help. The kitchen or bathroom are good places to start, as they are often less emotional than other spaces, and even if they don't get rid of much, you can do a deep clean and reorganise and make them function better.

Moonsafari makes one thats pretty nice

Rocketbook Cover for Executive Size 8.8" x 6" Smart Notebook like Everlast or Wave with Pen Holder and Pockets for Business and Credit Cards https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K5HB7C8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0LMqDbCHQEM9J

This one's a little more substantial

Folio Cover for Rocketbook Everlast, Wave, One Executive Size, Cloth Fabric, Multi Organizer with Pen Loop/Phone Pocket/Business Card Holder, fits A5 size Notebook, Blue, 9.4" x 6.3" (BLUE) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N1LMMQ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NMMqDb2VM7Y0H

This is probably my next purchase

Genuine Leather Rocketbook Cover Everlast - Executive Size Notebook Cover Frixion Pen Holder and Pockets for Business Credit Cards - A5 Size Soft Tan Premium Leather Cover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SKY2TB7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JNMqDbY11YBAF

I also made one out of a day planner cover. I just removed the ring binder from the center. It zips closed.

Hope this helps

You might like this book; I really want to get it: Cozy Minimalist Home. I don't like cold sterility in a house, either, but I also don't like tons of clutter. I think there's a happy medium.

As for normal/realistic, that means quite a few things to me: Countertops, tables, beds, couches, floors, and bathtubs are free from clutter and are usable for their intended uses. Plumbing, HVAC, and electricity are in good working order. Drawers, cabinets, and closets are organized so that the items within them are easy to find and use. Duplicate (or triplicate or more) items are pared down to just one whenever possible or feasible. Broken items that are not able to be repaired are trashed, recycled, or donated as appropriate. There are no dirty dishes, dirty clothes, trash, newspapers, empty boxes, or random debris strewn about the house. Dishes and laundry are ideally washed and put away on the same day (complete the process every time). Cleaning the house is always possible because clutter isn't impeding areas or rooms.

Your house should be safe, livable, maintained, reasonably clean (does not have to be immaculate), and comfortable.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/23/garden/home-organization-advice-from-marie-kondo.html?_r=0

An article that summarizes the book pretty well. You can read the novel if you want some motivation to start cleaning.

Tips: Start with the clothes, and in an order from clothes->novels->paperwork->accessories.

The order of the clothes:

Tops (Shirts, sweaters)/
Bottom (Pants, Skirts)/
Hangable stuff(Jacket, suit, coat)/
Socks/
Underwear/
Bags/
Accessories(Scarf, Belt, Hat)/
Shoes

US Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418119527&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Life-Changing+Magic+of+Tidying

UK Amazon:http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-effective/dp/0091955106

i agree with /u/cursethedarkness/ so i have a few suggestions for ideas

also, go vertical for your guitar

You will get a more room in your wardrobe once you fold things properly. Keep all your grooming products in small basket

Keep all your paper organizer, again go vertical.

your wallet, glasses, keys, bags and jacket should go on one of this by the BD door. (i used to take them with me to my room and lose them all the time)

Whats bothering you about the wire basket? it looks like a lot bulky items not properly arranged and small boxes/packaging. If you would get other areas organized im pretty sure you wouldnt need to have that in the room.

Also, can you stack the bookcases? it would save you much more room.

Question, do you have any love for dvd, cds and old games? would you miss them if gone? we live in a digital age so there is that to think about. If you really want to keep them consider moving them to above the wardrobe maybe, if they are not regularly used there is no need for them to be in such an accessible place.

EDIT: crap, i just read you are bone-broke, sorry ... well, even old boxes are good for organizing and avoiding the floor raising clutter piles.

Do you ever repair/embellish other clothes you have? I have pieces of fabric from my grandmother's stash that I used to just keep in an old suitcase but now I use them to sew patches onto other things. I really recommend this book, Mend It Better, which has tons of ideas for repurposing fabric you love.

You could try watching the Marie Kondo Netflix show together and see if they get inspired. Best bet, though, is to read her book and fix your own stuff. Lead by example.

I highly recommend the book The Great Beanie Baby Bubble.

yeah it will change the way you physically see things, too. the decision making process of what items to start with, when you put them back, will be very telling. please update us on how it goes, i'd really like to hear!


and two links for you:

wabi sabi



arranging things: a rhetoric of object placement

I actually gave up a few of the books I absolutely adored on the mindset that I knew people who would also love them - and have trouble getting access to them. (Like friends from highly religious families that need a little humor in their lives)

I may regret it a little, but in the end, someone else got to read something cool, and my shelf space can only grow.

I was pretty much on my way to being a hoarder when I finally changed. A couple of things came together for me that helped me. One, at work we all got trained in 5S methodology so I was forced to learn how to look at spaces and figure out how to organize them for maximum efficiency. At about this time I also went on antidepressants and started to feel more motivated to do something about the mess. Lastly I discovered this book. I don't think you have to have ADD to benefit from it.

One of the biggest revelations for me from my training was realizing that you shouldn't put things away for the sake of putting things away. Hiding a thing out of sight doesn't make life better if you have to use it often. You should put things you use frequently as close as possible to the place where they will be used. Mess happens when there's too much distance between where something's 'supposed' to go and where it feels 'natural' to have it.

Akro-bins (NOT the clear ones) are probably the best bet BUT do you NEED to keep the stuff or is it more of an in case of.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000189CSM or https://www.amazon.com/Akro-Mils-8212-Stacking-AkroBins-Hardware/dp/B00002NB5I

Get rid of the microwave and get an electric kettle that makes boiling water in seconds to heat up your cups of tea. To reheat food, use the stove top--using your hands and taking a few moments to get in touch with your food may prove to be more satisfying than pressing buttons.

For coffee--make single servings. Each cup will be fresh and since you have the electric kettle you will have boiled water right there in seconds.

As for the toaster and dish drainer--I have no suggestions.

I also recommend checking out FlyLady and Eat That Frog! I thought of these since you mentioned Konmari and wanted to pass along what I learned from my mom! ❤️

By Terence Conran. Plain Simple Useful www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1840916559

It's a woman. She's coming out with a book:

https://www.amazon.com/Unf-Your-Habitat-Youre-Better/dp/1250102952?tag=smarturl-20

I have this, and I just stick all the receipts in the appropriate month and forget about them unless something comes up. It's not too bulky (at all), so it takes up like no room. My parents were uber anal about keeping them when I lived with them (my mom's loosened up a bit, realizing it's not gonna be easy to return two month old eggs..) so it's just kind of a learned behavior. IIRC they chuck them after two years or so.

^(They're self employed so that might explain it? They also analyze bills like fucking crazy, so they check all purchases with the receipt.)

Sounds like Swedish death cleaning: my mom has gotten into it as of late -

nice summary article

the book on it