When does the joy of getting rid of stuff ever wear off. I suppose when there is nothing left to get rid of but, for me that time has still not arrived yet.

Last night my husband showed me a pile of stuff and told me I could give it away. I almost did a happy dance.

Then this morning I broke up some styrofoam from our television box that we have kept for seven year in anticipation of another move. Now we have the made the move and, although I dare say it won’t be our last, it is a more permanent situation than military life has been for the last 27 years so out all the boxes go. The satisfaction I received from breaking it up and tossing it in the bin was out of proportion to the unimportance of the object itself.

My soon to be granddaughter spent the day with my husband an I on Sunday. Together we wrote a list of the things we did so she would remember to tell her mum and my son all about it. She asked if she could keep the whole notepad and when my husband said yes I thought ~ Yay another notepad out of the house. I still have two others to use up but I use them so infrequently they seem to last forever.

So you see, decluttering doesn’t have to be a chore. It can be a real delight to see the stuff leave and have space open up in the home. I delight in every little thing that goes out the door. You can too.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter something that is too hard to clean ounce you do use it so it is easier to use something else. Garlic press and pretty much any kitchen device you can use a knife instead of.

Eco Tip for the Day

Take the first car park you see when you enter a shopping centre, even if it is far away. The walk will do you good and you will save petrol by not trolling around looking for a closer one.

For a full list of my eco tips so far click here

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

I am writing this post with this weeks mini missions in mind. It might help you identify some of those too hard to use items loitering in your home. However the intention behind it is actually to help you avoid acquiring such gadgets in the future.

When viewing product demonstrations, whether in store, at a home show, on television or online, one thing to remember is that you aren’t shown the full picture, and the person demonstrating the product may have had hours and hours of practice.

The simplicity of operation of a gadget is enhanced by that fact that you don’t see  the staging of the demo, the clean up afterwards or the training process of the demonstrator. It is easy to be wooed by a single seemingly effective use and application without giving considered thought to whether it really, saves time, is as easy to use as it seems or if you have enough uses for it to justify the space it takes up in your home.

Attributes can be suggested yet not really proved in a quick demo, such as…

• Ease of use ~ Is it as simple to use as it appears or has the demonstrator had a lot of practice and training. Remember you are expecting simplicity and instant results. That is what you are buying into. Are you prepared to persevere with a trial and error period post purchase.
• Comfort ~ In the case of clothing, bedding, linens etc. A bed you lie on in the store for ten minutes may not turn out so great after sleeping in it all night. Or, a smiling, attractive woman modelling the latest comfort bra doesn’t prove it is comfortable or that it was easy to get into.
• Multiple applications ~ Will you have enough uses for it to justify its purchase. It may be more economical to buy preprepared or hire someone for the task.
• Clean up ~ Does it take longer to clean than the time it saves. Kitchen gadget are a prime example of this. Cleaning by hand can be a real pain and even having a dishwasher isn’t always the solution. That is because the item may still be dirty in the dishwasher the next time you want to use it.
• Effectiveness ~ Eg. Beware of cleaning demonstrations. Applied dirt & marks are easier to remove than those ground in and set.
• Readiness ~ Does its assembly or state of use take too much time. Eg. I bought a super soak-up sponge once but when not in use it dried hard so took five minutes to get malleable enough to use. In a spill situation tit was useless.
• Money saving ~ Eg. A $1300 coffee machine might make nice coffee but how many years of warranty does it have verses how many years of lattes or cappuccinos could you enjoy at your local coffee shop for $1300. Also you often get told the price per cup which often only takes into account the coffee grounds or pods not the milk, sugar, electricity, the descaling solution, the water usage, and the initial layout for the machine. Not to mention you would probably have them more often because the machine is right there to use.

Give these kinds of purchases good consideration before taking the plunge. As I said before, it is easy to be wooed by a clever demonstration. Ask questions, do the math, take a cool off period, look up product reviews online, ask around…

Now I ask again. Do you have such a product loitering in your home. Now would be a good time to seek it out and let it go. Don’t let guilt cause you to hold on to it when it isn’t being used.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter or rearrange something that you don’t use because it is too difficult to get at when you need it so you achieve the task some other way.

Eco Tip for the Day

If family members shower immediately after one another you would save water by not needed the heat up time.

For a full list of my eco tips so far click here

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

Do you have things cluttering up your place that you would use if only something about it was too hard. Items you know could be mighty handy if it wasn’t for that things that makes them unappealing to use. I have had stuff like that and I bet you do too. So this week we will declutter this kind of stuff.

Monday – Declutter something that is too hard to use. It seemed like a time saver in the sales demo but turned out to be not so easy to use.

Tuesday – Declutter or rearrange something that you don’t use because it is too difficult to get at when you need it so you achieve the task some other way.

Wednesday – Declutter something that is too hard to clean ounce you do use it so it is easier to use something else. Garlic press and pretty much any kitchen device you can use a knife instead of.

Thursday – Declutter something that requires assembly to use so you can never be bothered with it. Perhaps a complicated kitchen gadget.

Friday – Declutter something that you bought in order to make something from scratch but after a couple of uses decided it was too much bother. Perhaps a pasta maker, sewing machine, ice cream maker…

Saturday – Declutter something that you thought would be useful but turned out not to be. Perhaps a camera bag that wasn’t so practical, a pocket multi-tool that would be confiscated at airport security,

Sunday - Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.

Good luck and happy decluttering

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Deb J

We have a plethora of pots and pans as you can see by the picture (see below). This is an area I feel needs to be decluttered. Does anyone need this many cooking pots? Maybe a gourmet cook, which we are not. There are 3-4 of these we use on a regular basis. We make a lot of soups in the stock pot. We water sauté veggies a lot in the big skillet. We use the medium pot for steaming and the smaller one for cooking individual veggies. So why in the world do we have all the rest? Because Mom says we might need them. Mind you, we also have a microwave we use with a couple of covered glass dishes for cooking. Most of the things we usedf to do with the medium and small pot we now do in the microwave. This is one of the holdover areas for Mom. I’m still struggling on this one with her. I’m thinking a move to an independent living life care unit is on the horizon. They provide at least one meal. Maybe that will be the trigger that gets much of this decluttered.

How are you doing in this area of your kitchen.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter  something that has wiring in it. An old lamp, excess cables, jewellery, computer gear, a small appliance…

Eco Tip for the Day

Investigate mopping with microfibre. All I have used for the last 10 years at least is a microfibre mop and a little water (not a bucket full and no detergent).

For a full list of my eco tips so far click here

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Doodle

So, it’s the New Year, a time to look forward with new plans and hopes.

I’ve often wondered if the New Year has different significance in different parts of the world. (Of course many cultures and religions have dates different to the Western world use of January 1^st). Here in the UK, in the northern hemisphere, January 1^st,  is the traditional time for people to start diets and new exercising regimes – ironically at probably hardest time of the year to do so as winter is just kicking in and it gets dark by 4.30 pm. as does the need for warming comfort food.

Historically, in this country until 1751, New Year used to be March 25^th. This seems to be an eminently more sensible time to deal with the sense of promise that the New Year seems to engender, with spring springing.  As a professional de-clutterer, this is reflected in the fact that work goes very quiet over the dark winter months, but come spring the phone starts ringing.

My gesture to New Year, New Start this year was to tackle my underwear drawer. Though to be correct, I don’t have a drawer but three wicker baskets on a shelf: one each for socks, knickers/ bras, and long sleeved undertops.

I finally cleared out the mishmash of my old limp underwear covering various sizes I have been and bought in new:  I now have just four bras,   (plus two for sport) and 10 pairs of knickers. They feel fresh and fit perfectly (I got measured for the bras) and remind me of that lovely childhood feeling when starting the new school year with new uniform and fresh exercise books.

There is something very life affirming and self valuing about new underwear.

All my holey sock have gone out and been replaced and I’ve  got 5 new silky thermal long sleeves vests (includes some for outdoor exercising), getting rid of  what I had before that were all becoming a little less than fresh .

How’s your underwear drawer, if I may be so bold?

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter something made from glass or china. Crockery, figurines, eye glasses, glass beaded necklace…

For a full list of my eco tips so far click here

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Anyone who has been following my blog for a while knows that I don’t talk much about organising. It is my experience that getting rid of a bunch of unused stuff makes it easier to organise the useful stuff left behind, so I focus on the decluttering side of organising.

However rearranging an area in your home can be a great catalyst to letting go of the stuff that doesn’t fit with what you expect as the end result of this task. Being bogged down in the same old, same old can be energy sapping and blind you to the stuff laying unused everyday right under your nose.

When I was a child it was not unusual to come home to find my bedroom rearranged, or indeed, not even where it used to be. I always found this refreshing. Like moving house without actually moving. “A change is as good as a holiday.” so they say. My mother obviously thought so too because she did this often enough that I remember it as one of her loveable quirks.

My sister-in-law, who has just been visiting me, told me she was planning on doing a bit of a furniture reshuffle when she got home. She was open to a little decluttering in the process. She said that it had only just occurred to her that she could use the furniture she already had to change things up a bit and sounded excited to get started.

Even though the philosophy behind one a day decluttering is to take it slow and not disrupt the household with a major reshuffle, sometimes that is exactly what is needed. The best way to approach this is to pump yourself up with a vision of what you hope to achieve, devise a plan of attack and throw yourself in wholeheartedly. Don’t look at it as a chore but as an adventure. It is amazing how much more energy is generated when one is excited about the task ahead.

Do you have an area of your home that would benefit from a reshuffle? It doesn’t have to be a whole room, perhaps just a closet, a work space or some kitchen cupboards. Any area that could be more functional or pleasurable than it is right now and get rid of some stagnant stuff in the process.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter something made from fabric. An item of clothing, lines, raggedy or napkins, handkerchieves…

Eco Tip for the Day

It is better to refuse than to reuse or recycle. Imagine if everyone refused to use plastic bags. How much less trash would that generate.

For a full list of my eco tips so far click here

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

Stuff is made of all sorts of stuff. This weeks mini missions challenges you to find clutter made of different substances. You can really use your imagination for these. I’ll name the substance and you find some clutter made from it to declutter.

Monday – Declutter something constructed with wood. Perhaps a photo frame, a piece of furniture, a pencil…

Tuesday – Declutter something made from fabric. An item of clothing, lines, raggedy or napkins, handkerchieves…

Wednesday – Declutter something made from glass or china. Crockery, figurines, eye glasses, glass beaded necklace…

Thursday – Declutter  something that has wiring in it. An old lamp, excess cables, jewellery, computer gear, a small appliance…

Friday – Declutter something made from plastic. Toys, Tupperware, pens…

Saturday – Declutter something metallic. Cutlery, tools, utensils, hardware…

Sunday - Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.

Good luck and happy decluttering

Eco Tip for the Day

Take care of the thing you own. The longer they last the less often they need replacing. Which means less manufacturing.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Today’s Decluttered Item
A bunch of old warranties and manuals.

While decluttering some paperwork last week my husband came across the removal manifest for our move from America to Australia in 2007. We held on to it to make the comparison with this latest move.

There were no fewer than twenty pages of this manifest. That did not even include the items that were in storage here in Australia that were also delivered to our home. All of our electrical items, furniture and any items that would not fit in a packing box, when we left for America, were all left behind. So If I took a conservative guess I would say there were at least 23 pages in all, of boxes, furniture, individual items, suitcases, bikes etc.

So, drum roll please, guess how many pages were to the manifest of our recent move. Fifteen? No! Ten? There were not quite five pages. And that my friends is the power of one a day decluttering. So if you have any doubt the one a day can be effective then give up that doubt right now. Granted it took three and a bit years to get to this level but the difference was staggering even to me.

Today’s Mini Mission

Start a trial separation of stationery items.

Eco Tip for the Day

As you light globes wear out replace them with LEDs, they use less power and don’t have the disposal issues of CFLs.

For a full list of my eco tips so far click here

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Today’s Decluttered Item
Some poster size photos that we have no wall space for.

On our daily walks by the beach my husband and I pass by a little rock pool area. As we walked by the other day I wondered something of Steve that not one minute later he put into words ~ “Do you sometimes regret decluttering the snorkelling gear?” After laughing and telling him I had just wondering if he though that, my unreserved response was no.

You see we had had that snorkelling gear for at least twenty years when I finally decluttered it. It hadn’t been used for about nineteen of those twenty years. The fact is that if I hadn’t began this declutter mission, and let go of all the things we didn’t use, then we would likely never have fitted into our lovely little apartment near the ocean.

Peoples’ lifestyles continually change and if we kept everything because we thought that life would go full circle and we might need things again and again then we would be so bogged down in stuff that life would likely become stagnant. Now that is something I would regret.

Today’s Mini Mission

Start a trial separation of costume jewellery items.

Eco Tip for the Day

Clothes don’t usually need to go in the wash after just one use. Wearing them at least twice will save on laundry detergent, electricity and your time and energy. (This does not apply to underpants. 😉 )

For a full list of my eco tips so far click here

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

There was a lot of chatter generated yesterday about an overabundance of plastic containers. It seems most of us still have an excess of these.

In a bid to reduce food items in both the fridge and pantry due to my long vacation and impending move late last year, I have become very efficient at catering, shopping and using up leftovers to the point where my need for plastic containers has become greatly reduce. I mostly shop for fresh produce, meat and dairy these days from which there is very little waste. Any leftovers are soon devoured.

I have also eliminated several baking items in my pantry. Because I only make dessert once a week, if that, there is no need for a plethora of ingredients to be stored in the panty. For starters, I managed for seven and a half years, living in America, using a combo of baking powder and plain flour rather than stocking self-raising flour so I decided that was good enough for here too. That eliminated one large canister in my pantry. We use rice much less these days too due to our lower carb eating choices so I reduced the amount I stored. Similarly ingredients such as desiccated coconut were so infrequently used I decided it could also go, along with several pasta varieties, chick peas, noodles and white sugar. Should I ever wish to make something with any of these ingredients I buy the smallest possible quantity so there is little or no leftovers, any of which I include in another recipe ASAP.

I also have a variety of glass mixing bowls that nest inside each other which can also be used of storing food. If I can make and store the item in the same bowl it also saves on washing up adding a little more efficiency and an element of eco friendliness. These bowls have lids, but if they didn’t I would opt for a plate to seal the food in rather than waste cling film.

Admittedly not having any children left at home has added greatly to this streamlining.

Is there an area in your life where efficiency would allow you to declutter?

Today’s Mini Mission

Start a trial separation of fashion accessories.

Eco Tip for the Day

Yesterday I cleaned all the glass doors on my balcony. What did I use to do that? Microfibre cloths and water. No chemicals and they are as clean as a whistle. A few good microfibre cloths and good old H2O is better for the environment and can save you cash as well.

For a full list of my eco tips so far click here

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow