The Right Way to DeClutter The Mess!!!

@thesids (22180)
Bhubaneswar, India
September 9, 2015 4:17am CST
Hello friends. I was on this discussion from dear @Berniezeitler wherein he mentioned that his office was all cluttered up. And I know, I cannot post my response on that one. Why? Spare a minute reading this and you will know Personally I stay in a mess around. Everything is cluttered and dear OceanTiara would recall the photo I had uploaded on her discussion to showcase it. Normally, I have to adjust but then there are times when I just get frustrated with all the clutter around - with almost no space to walk by. (how people love living that way). So when the things go beyond my thresholds (I know, Casper, at my age, too has a threshold) here is what I do - a. Turn the table 90 degrees up. That is all it needs to start with. With everything down on the floor, you have space (read free - uncluttered area) on the table. b. I simply throw out everything that comes my way from the cupboard where the clothes are all messed up and finding a kerchief needs an hour c. Pull up the bedsheets such that everything on the bed goes off. All of the above gives me more space and that is where the decluttering process initiates. Now before you start wondering and getting angry about my actions I should also tell you the why of it. I have always felt that we always procrastinate - and love being our comfort zones. Unless we get into situations where we have no other way out, we wont bother. Doing the above means, you do need to spend time in fixing the mess that spreads around and by the end of cleaning it up, you end up putting the things at the right places. And you are all set and ready to start cluttering again. Back to the topic of discussion - Do you think I should have put this as my response to dear @Berniezeitler's discussion? And if you were posting that discussion, what would have been your comment to such a response. Statutory Warning: If you are staying with your girl or even are a loving husband, it is my responsibility to mention - DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK and especially when the love of your live is away. Post Inspired from my personal experience and posted today due to (see the link).
I have an office that is a disaster zone. How do I start decluttering and organizing it properly I start but never seem to get close to completing it. I get...
29 people like this
25 responses
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Sep 15
I just laughed so hard when I got to the warning! sometimes it is easier to dump it all in a pile and start over for sure!
3 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 15
Completely agree with the piling up and restarting. Otherwise, we would mostly keep procrastinating and planning to do the things
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 15
@Jessicalynnt Awesome start already
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Sep 15
@thesids pretty much! I am glad I got at least one thing done today, may be done, but hey at least the front lawn is mowed.
2 people like this
• United States
9 Sep 15
i live with a hoarder 'n ya had me rollin' on the floor! i put my foot down indoors 'n my lil sanctuary out back - but he's taken o'er 3 garages, a huge driveway 'n 2 'f my big barns. i fear there's no place to dump his schtuff 'n he lacks the motivation to do more 'n move one pile to 'nother. one takes their life into their owns hands jest to get to my back porch. 's fer puttin' this on his discussion 'r startin' yer own? i think ya done alright.
3 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 15
Oh. That is a big one. 3 garages, a driveway and 2 big farms. Wondering what might he hoard in that big an area!!! The 'steps' I mentioned on the discussion came from personal experiences. wife and others around my life with the clutter and there are days when I just disapprove. I tried explaining many times, did not work.
3 people like this
• United States
9 Sep 15
@thesids i reckon its kinda like here - i get that dear 'n the headlight look 'long with that 'ya jest don't understand - i might need that some day'. ugh...its maddenin'! there's broken tillers, ridin' lawn mowers, ol' fencin', tons 'f huntin' equipment, light fixtures, antique furniture, 50 'r so diff'rent hammers...heck, i e'en bought this fella those tool storage thingies! yepperz, they're empty 'n those hundreds 'f tools 're jest scattered 'bout the place.
1 person likes this
@owstalaga (4707)
• Philippines
9 Sep 15
hahaha, I am also not a clean freak so my stuff tend to be in a mess too. I just clean up whenever I can. Mostly when everything is piled up.
2 people like this
@owstalaga (4707)
• Philippines
9 Sep 15
@thesids Indeed. Now that the topic is about decluttering I should start doing some later!
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 15
Neither am I a freak when it comes to being organized. but there are days when I cannot take much of it and need to start the declutter process
2 people like this
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
9 Sep 15
Boy we are messy people all of us..hahah..and what is this you and your cupboard? Good response and i'm sure Bernie would love it!
3 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 15
There are times when I need things my way. I try everything legally first and when all fails, and I cannot handle any more, this is the attempt in desperation But this works each time - and for the next 2-3 days it stays okay (if not good)
4 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
9 Sep 15
I am leaving alone and I tend to be messy, but I think I have actually reach my record : I am moving, a lot of things are in boxes here and there in both houses, and as I have not put what was in every box, I am unable to find things that I want. It is a terrible mess.
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 15
Moving!!! So definitely you forgot keeping a note of what you got into which box. I only wish that you get the right box open when you are searching for something. having moved 5 times during the past 9 years, I have learned the secrets of this for good
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
9 Sep 15
@thesids I regret to not have done it but it is impossible when it comes to my books : I have about 20000, and until my library will be organized again, I will not know where is a particular book.
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 15
@topffer OMG. I would have loved spending hours amongst your collection for sure, despite me being scared of those fat and heavy books.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (457412)
• Switzerland
9 Sep 15
My husband is only messy with his papers. All his clothes books and everything else are well arranged and easy to find. I am a little messy with my kitchen cupboards, but it's hard to keep them not messy, as we continue to buy new items and try to fit them inside.
3 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 15
I wished I was around people who believed in keeping things organized. Over the years, I have learned to be one of them which is baffling to me and makes me feel sad. I do try keeping things best I can, but then, I know someone would come and just get that disorganized. And I cannot complain as history has it, no one will bother about me
3 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
9 Sep 15
pretty funny and actually there are days i feel like doing just that but being a woman, i have to do it the long hard way
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 15
It is not being a woman you have to do it the long hard way. I agree when you are the one who prefers a clutter-free environment and people around you are just your opposite, things are tiring and complicated. Trust me, I too have a hard time getting things arranged just because today, I do not do that regularly as the woman in charge and others around love staying in the clutter. I too at times feel like giving in to her preferred ways
1 person likes this
@ifa225 (14364)
• Indonesia
10 Sep 15
Well...you can make your tips there as your response to @Berniezeitler's discussion Those are such a great tips ya know I am glad I am such a tidy and well organized person, everything is under control and I always have space But there was a time that my daughter who do that kind of mess, all I do is move to another room to have more space
1 person likes this
@ifa225 (14364)
• Indonesia
10 Sep 15
@thesids all the mess you made here make us alive Sid Tell me, who is the person whom doesn't care your feelings ? You are such a vulnerable, I would considered your feelings before doing something if I was around you
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
10 Sep 15
@ifa225 I miss you a lot my dear
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
10 Sep 15
Ah yes, when kids are around, you cannot blame them. I wished the people around me, at least cared about my feelings... maybe once in 6 months too would keep me happy
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
9 Sep 15
Dear Sid, I am lucky to tell you that my husband is as messy as I am. We have clutters everywhere and I am a procrastinator. It is noted in my planner that I should have cleaned our room last Monday, but it's already Wednesday now and I have only changed the beddings! As to my workspace, my table is messed up with my craft materials everywhere. Actually they're not only on my table, they're on the floors too!
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 15
A planner - ha, that is another one way to get started. Look at the good sides, you managed to do the beddings at least But if you get into jotting on the planner - just as my wife started when we had got married - she started becoming lazier. The steps mentioned above are sure shot acts and will give immediate results
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
10 Sep 15
It seems most men are like you . ALthough , my husband isn't much , though he has some shares of being messy and leaves them like that , knowing that i will clean them anyway . Oh men!
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
10 Sep 15
In my case, its not me who does the mess. I do the clean up at times and that is how I get started
• United States
9 Sep 15
Hi Sids. I like this discussion so to answer your question about if you should have used this for your answer for another discussion, simply no. Thank you for the mention and yes I do recall the great photo you had shared with me regarding the clutter in your place there. I like your solution for clearing out the place and ready to clutter again. Sounds good with me my friend. I wish I would have thought of it actually. Good I have no one to answer to.
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 15
Ah so you like the idea. Someone finally appreciates it I tried suggesting this one to @Berniezeitler but dunno why, his name never showed up on my list. Maybe he is not following me. Anyways, I have put his name here. Hope he arrives and responds.
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Sep 15
@thesids Oh I see yes he is not following perhaps. I will see if I can relay to him Sids
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
10 Sep 15
OMG you really need to declutter. Maybe you own way too many things for your own good. We just donated some furniture and clothing to make more space. we do this twice a year.
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
10 Sep 15
Awsome. I really appreciate people who donate. It makes someone feel happy.... and trust me, it is difficult to make someone happy these days Talking about donations, we do donate clothes that wont fit in any more - once every year. And I keep wondering how each year there are at least a dozen of them when my weight and height remain the same
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
12 Sep 15
Do I know you as Casper from another site?
2 people like this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
12 Sep 15
Ah. No dear. I do not exist beyond MyLot, some Facebook that I frequented because the friends from here were there, and of course, my own website.
2 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
10 Sep 15
This gave me a good laugh. I can almost imagine you doing all that "decluttering" while laughing like The Joker.
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
10 Sep 15
I loved Late Heath Ledger - when he played the Joker in Batman Begins.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157494)
• United States
11 Sep 15
I always get interrupted when I am trying to put all of the things away. It is hard.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
16 Sep 15
I just love this topic. I am always looking for ways to declutter, but sad to say that the ways you do doesn't suit me, as I'll end up no way to walk pass. I am not a clean freak too, but I don't like the mess. I actually like to tidy up and organize, but then later things get messed again. Especially with two young children, and with me allowing them to play as many things as they want in the house, things get messy very quickly and easily. If I have no time to declutter properly, instead of turning table 90 degrees up or pulling up the bed sheet, I just take one or a few plastic or reusable bags to put everything inside first, then only I organize them later. I always always decluttering my home, and still decluttering now.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98731)
• India
9 Sep 15
I am not the neatest person, but not too messy either. I am, however, somebody who gives up doing things because the other person is messy. And my father is. My choices are...argue and fight till the house is clean, or adjust for the sake of peace. My dad is 81. I can see we don't have much time together. I would rather we be at peace when we are. If I fight and get a neat home, when he is no more that neatness would hurt. So I prefer to let it be till I don't need to.
1 person likes this
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
9 Sep 15
I can completely understand you when you say - I am, however, somebody who gives up doing things because the other person is messy. I too have no other choice to either give up or take up the entire cluttering process. On most of the days, I dont bother and do not interfere because I know, there is no point in unnecessarily raising the issue. Initially, I did try but when I realized that they are not going to accommodate, I have to because I dont want to be the one who created the scene. But then, there are times (now rarely though) that I need things my way. Every time I get things ready, I know, it will not be 24 hours before the clutter would restart. Maybe I have more to learn and accept the new lifestyle.
@much2say (53928)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Sep 15
Oh my! I picture all those chocos and cakes flying down and smashing on the floor! Bernie would have had to declutter his comments section with that big response - ha ha! Our kitchen happens to be the most organized room in this house, but I won't even talk about the rest of the place. The kids have taken over and we have everything all over - and I mean ALL OVER! It definitely looks like a lived in home - ha ha - and then some!!
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Sep 15
Everyone has their own way of decluttering. If the way you posted in your discussion is your way, then I say more power to you. When I get in the mood to declutter, I just start throwing basically everything away.
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
19 Nov 15
Well that is certainly one way to force yourself to get it sorted
1 person likes this