tackling the general storage rooms

[beachlass]

My house has five rooms downstairs: three that are are lived in (kitchen, dining room, living room) and two that are.... kind of always edging on complete disaster:  the back sunroom and laundry room. They are a catchall for tools and games and hobby equipment and laundry and things and things and things. 

I have a friend who has been coming over and helping me clean and declutter. She came a few times before Christmas, and again today -  today we tackled the back rooms. There are some amazing ways in which this is helpful: she has no emotional attachment to any of the things, so she's very encouraging on the "get rid of it" task. And she's better at cleaning and decluttering than I am, and more focused. If she comes over we work for hours, way past when I would give up or get distracted. 

So. There are three large garbage bags of stuff thrown out; and an equivalent amount to go down to the thrift shop. Major areas of decluttering were: blankets/linens; videos/vhs tapes, craft/hobby supplies, and board games. 

Homeless at the moment are a small collection of musical instruments; but I'm hoping to move them upstairs into one of the disordered closets. 

And I'm exhausted. (and trying to regroup to go curling tonight!)

Comments

[peaceful_sands]

Well done. You might be exhausted but you should also feel a good sense of achievement and progress in your overall task. It's true that someone else's lack of attachment can help immensely - the 'why are you keeping this? If you've had it this long is it really worth keeping?'

[beachlass]

I also find it is permission giving - that she tells me it's okay if I throw away "x".

And yeah, it feels great to walk into those rooms now.

[dorothean]

There are some amazing ways in which this is helpful: she has no emotional attachment to any of the things, so she's very encouraging on the "get rid of it" task.

Heh, I love being that person.

[beachlass]

It's so helpful!

[moonreviews]

Yay for succesful decluttering :)

she has no emotional attachment to any of the things
Which is why I've offered a friend today I'd help her cleaning up! Though for my own stuff I'm also trying this a bit.

[beachlass]

There's just a world of difference when someone else is there.