What did you declutter today? Part II

[disneysteve]

Had a productive morning in a brief amount of time. Cleared a few things off my dresser. Put one suitcase back in the garage from our trip last week. Folded and put away some laundry. At the office, entered survey data from last week for the study that I do. Entered a couple of Coke Rewards points. Got a bunch of papers into the recycling pile that I had been saving last week while my partner was out of town and I no longer need.

[cypher1]

Finally got my Snapon tool box/tools from a friend's place. Built a workbench on top of it. So I was able to clean out my old metal desk of tools,and take apart and throw away. Awesome feeling of clearing out garage for room this winter, also most tools are organized.

[snafu]

cypher1: getting tools together so you can find what you need when you need it is a gigantic accomplishment! We have unending problems figuring out how to organize tools to be convenient to use. We've put the heaviest items in the bottom section just to keep the unit from tipping over. I've finally convinced DH to use the high shelf bolted to the wall for tools with cords that can just hang and not require staying coiled.

I've failed to convince anyone it's a good idea to keep the tools used the most in the drawer at waist height. DKs bought me a hot pink colored tool set-in-a-box [kept in the kitchen] for those small tasks tightening drawer pulls, hanging pictures, measuring which container will fit a specific place etc. used more than expected! How do you keep screwdrivers, pliers/pinchy tools, wrenches etc organized...not a jumble? Any suggestions are appreciated.

[disneysteve]

Followed up my productive morning with an equally productive evening. After taking out the trash and recyclables, I couldn't help but notice how mild the temperature was. So I spent about 20 minutes in the garage and packed up 2 more carton boxes of stuff for Goodwill. Not only that, but I put those boxes straight into my trunk so that I can drop them off tomorrow on my way home from work. That brings my total to 12 cartons donated since starting the decluttering challenge. I then swept the accumulated leaves out of the garage, came inside and swept and vacuumed the kitchen and just listed a book for sale on half.com.

[disneysteve]

Spent a few minutes this morning organizing some clothes in my closet. I didn't get rid of anything but made it quicker and easier to flip through stuff when I'm getting dressed in the morning. Now I don't have to constantly move things back and forth to get to the things I actually need. The summer stuff is more toward the back and the current stuff is more toward the front.

[marvholly]

Since w have had an usually warm Oct & Nov (so far) I have not done my closet changeover yet.

I will be decluttering, at least on a temporary basis, 2 items this week. Was emailing w/my brother and he feels Dad will need a wheelchair when he goes back to his senior apt. Late DH was about Dad's weight & I sill have his unit + the extra VERY thick cushion. Going to clean it up, get the tires filled & take it over by Sunday.

[Aleta]

snafu: I like your suggestion about having tools in the kitchen. I have a small tool case (2" x 3"). I think it was an advertizing gift and have had it in the closet. After your suggestion, it's going into a drawer in my kitchen. If you have multiple stories in your house, it may be good to keep a container with a handle but like the ones used for carrying household cleaning supplies. One could be kept in a linen closet of each floor.

I think that a tiny measuring tape (roll-up type that professionals use) that is on a key ring is an excellent idea as well. I bought one for my brother and he uses for multiple measurements as a guide. Might be good to be in a kitchen drawer as well.

One biggee for me was picking up ideas from resorts. In rooms that have items that need or have instructions, - is a drawer that holds them.

Kitchen: Appliances, coffee maker, blender, pots % pans, etc
Master Bedroom: TV and cable or satellite instructions, alarm clock
Family Room: Stereos, TV's or any electonics, clocks

Those easily accessible places have saved me time by having them close at hand.
I also keep a screwdriver on a shelf in my air-handler closet. It is just for that removable cover.
My husband has all of his tool manuals in a 3 ring binder.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I got rid of 2 liters of vegetable oil used for frying fish. Someone on Craigslist wanted it. That almost is as good as the time someone wanted my box of broken cobalt color glass. Also gave away two tropical plants that I do not have room for in the house.

Read through the Craigslist wanteds or Freecycle every now and then to see if it spurs you to move along something you did not really want in your house.

[snafu]

Sorry DF requires a wheelchair but good that you can supply it and support cushion as these are high cost items. Your late DH's unit will serve another. If you have other support items like wheeled walker, seat pads, tub bench, non slip tub mat, 'D' cabinet handles, raised toilet seat, they are all important for limited mobility. You likely have the knowledge needed for space planning for mobility.

Does apt. management allow installation of aids like ceiling hoist, lift, fold down & stationary grab bars?

DS: Week 8 of de-clutter project, Grrrreat! If there was apparel you didn't wear this past summer, you likely won't wear it next summer so this is the best time to bag items to donate and cull anything stained, stretched, ripped, missing buttons/broken zip etc. Turn on a timer for 15 minutes and challenge DW, DD to see what they can get done in their closets!

Aleta: thanx for terrific ideas, cheap, made in China promo 3" x 5" tool sets can 'save the day' on ea. level. How do you organize light bulbs cache? We can't keep them in the garage, too cold here.

[disneysteve]

DS: Week 8 of de-clutter project, Grrrreat! If there was apparel you didn't wear this past summer, you likely won't wear it next summer so this is the best time to bag items to donate and cull anything stained, stretched, ripped, missing buttons/broken zip etc. Turn on a timer for 15 minutes and challenge DW, DD to see what they can get done in their closets!

DD actually called me into her room last night to show me her closet. She has been working on it and it looks much better. She has done that all by herself (though I'd like to think I've been setting an example that has spurred her on).

I have gotten rid of some clothing items over the past 2 months. I'm sure there is still more that needs to go. I did the easy stuff first. Now I need to dig a little deeper. I need to get rid of the stuff that is in good shape but that I just don't wear. That's the stuff that is harder to part with. Even though I never wear it, I know it is in good wearable condition and fits me just fine. I realize, of course, that holding onto it serves absolutely no purpose at this point. Perhaps I'll focus on that over the next few days.

The first thing I'll get rid of is items that have been set aside because they needed some minor repair, like a button. Some of those items were set aside many months ago and I've lived just fine without them all this time. I'll toss those things in the Goodwill pile.

[cypher1]

cypher1: getting tools together so you can find what you need when you need it is a gigantic accomplishment! We have unending problems figuring out how to organize tools to be convenient to use. We've put the heaviest items in the bottom section just to keep the unit from tipping over. I've finally convinced DH to use the high shelf bolted to the wall for tools with cords that can just hang and not require staying coiled.

I've failed to convince anyone it's a good idea to keep the tools used the most in the drawer at waist height. DKs bought me a hot pink colored tool set-in-a-box [kept in the kitchen] for those small tasks tightening drawer pulls, hanging pictures, measuring which container will fit a specific place etc. used more than expected! How do you keep screwdrivers, pliers/pinchy tools, wrenches etc organized...not a jumble? Any suggestions are appreciated.

Its all peace of mind for me I agree with putting most of the heavy/bulky tools on bottom. To give you an idea in my box, here's what I did, even if its different size. Very top drawer has socket sets, 1/2", 3/8, 1/4, ratchets. Below that one: screw drivers sets, misc ones, and pry bars. Next below are plier sets, vice grips, cutters, plumbing stuff. Below is wrench sets, metric/standard. On the side drawers, I have one for electronic stuff, cutters, splicing, fuses, test light. One drawer for carpentry tools, like drill bits, laser level, misc sets. The very bottom big drawer I keep my battery powered tools. I was able to fit dewalt circular saw, angle grinder, saw zaw, 2 drills, etc. in there. On right side bottom drawer I have my snapon impact gun and a circular sander.

This winter I will pull all my chargers/batteries out of the garage since, since its not fully insulated, and keep in the office. Otherwise my goal was to keep primarily auto tools, secondary carpentry, and plumbing (hardly any) into the box. The easiest solution for preventing sliding of tools, is to get grip mats for each drawer. Some screw drivers may roll around, but everything else stays. I would think inexpensive, and any hardware store or department store would have. They're similar to rubber mats in kitchen shelves for dishes, but heavy duty. As for waist height,thats a good rule of thumb for accessing most used tools. But as long as you have a decent system for organization, and know where everything is, it shouldn't matter. Come next spring, I'd like to go get some cupboards in the garage just over my work table for storing similiar corded items, and bolt down a good vice grip and bench grinder on each side of table.

[disneysteve]

I need to get rid of the stuff that is in good shape but that I just don't wear.

I just went through my closet and added the following items to the Goodwill pile:

5 shirts
4 pairs of pants
1 suit
1 suit jacket

That freed up some space and allowed me to rearrange the items that remained. I moved my suits, which I wear infrequently, to the back of the closet and my every day work clothes and casual clothes to the front.

[cypher1]

I just went through my closet and added the following items to the Goodwill pile:

5 shirts
4 pairs of pants
1 suit
1 suit jacket

That freed up some space and allowed me to rearrange the items that remained. I moved my suits, which I wear infrequently, to the back of the closet and my every day work clothes and casual clothes to the front.

I just tossed out a few older shirts that I never wear anymore from the closet. My girl friends always comment on the order of dress shirts for organization in closest. Left to right, dark to light: mostly solids so blacks, grays, blues, red, purple, pink, whites. With slacks and suit coats off to farthest left. Jeans folded/stacked on top left shelf, work khakis on right shelf.

[My English Castle]

I've tried to sell some perfectly good denim skirts on Craigslist and ebay--very cute ones--and was frustrated that they never sold. But I made someone very happy on freecycle today!

[irmanator]

I went to Lowes and got me a peice of pegboard so I can organize my tools. Can't ever find anything in the basement. I am gonna fix that.