A hint for Spring Cleaning~~~

lunchlady1948

16 years ago

"Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be Useful and believe to be Beautiful"

William Morris

This is how I am going to simplify my house this year :)

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Comments (26)

gadgets
16 years ago
Gosh, I envision a lot of DH's being tossed this spring.
sandy_in_ia
16 years ago
I just went through our front shoe closet! I had shoes in there from when the girls were in HS yet!!!!! For some reason, I kept thinking they might want them...HAHA "/

So......today they went! It was amazing to actually see the floor in there!
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We too try to do a little bit each weekend and don't confine it to any one particular season, just try to chip away at it year round. I can't do too much all at once or else I put myself flat on my back for weeks, and for the most part DH has to be supervised (at his request, after he did something that was the polar opposite of how I had explained how to do it - in writing!). I actually vacuumed/dustmopped three rooms on Tuesday, which laid me out for the rest of the day but I got it done. I'm absolutely worthless today, a combination of a residual migraine left over from yesterday, working too hard at physio yesterday, and Major Tom's come to town. A couple of weeks ago DH finally put up a shelf and hanging rod in the guest-room closet so he could move his clothes out of the MBR closet - he gets up at oh-dark-thirty so he dresses in the guest room because I'm a very light sleeper. We have bouncy floors upstairs and just his walking across the MBR floor is enough to wake me up. We also sorted his clothes and a couple of bags went off to Goodwill, and a lot of the boxed-up stuff stored in the guest-room closet was moved to the back of the much larger but very daftly-designed MBR closet (it's under the eaves so you have to bend over double to get to 2/3 of it). Irritatingly, DH has a commitment for Sunday from 11 to 6 which means we'll get Sweet Fanny Adams done that day, and that's supposed to be the only decent day of the weekend weather-wise. I need to sort my clothes - 80% of which won't fit right now but the docs assure me they will again, but at least half of THAT is stuff that will never see the light of day (raspberry suede mid-calf skirt? black velvet blouse with burnout sleeves and deep keyhole neckline? nuh-uh) so I might as well be rid of it, and maybe I'll do that Sunday while he's gone. I did sort my shoes and threw out most of them - beyond worn out, I had had one pair for 23 years! - although a couple did make it to the Goodwill bag. I'm also hoping that we can get the guest room furniture rearranged (we've been here since Sept 2007 and the furniture in there is all still pretty much where the movers dropped it! LOL) on Saturday so I can get the bed made up... the bedding is very bulky and is making quite a big pile. DH won a set of really nice pots and pans in a contest at work so when that arrives we'll need to reorganize the kitchen cabinets and ditch most of our existing stuff. Most of it's quite worn and was mediocre quality in the first place so I'll probably pass it along to friends for their camping gear. Don't talk to me about the kitchen junk drawer though. Just don't.
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We live in Northern Virginia (7b) and leave our pond (900 g) going all year long. The pond covers the width of the backyard of a townhome overlooking a golf course. We use a pump to move the water from the pond to the top water fall where it spills into a bifurcated stream that then meets in a small ponding area and drops from another waterfall into the large pond. So, for maintenance in the spring and fall we check to make sure vegetation hasn't started growing into the pond. From time to time, tree roots will try to invade by growing along side the liner and then into the stream. We clean the settled leaves from the bottom of the pond with a skimmer, the excess mud out of the stream and then with a scrub brush clean the filter on the end of the pump. I also thin out the irises that grow in the ponding area as they can completely take over. This takes about a half day in spring and again in the fall. Once or twice a month I check the vegetation and check for algae growth. Weekly I check the water levels and the PH once or twice in the summer. This weekend it was in the 60s so I did all of this in a Sunday afternoon. In winter, the water movement keeps the pond from completely freezing over. It may look frozen on top but the water continues to move underneath. Often an ice layer forms over the pond but there's a cushion of air between the pond water and ice layer so it stays insulated, it doesn't get cold enough for the pond to freeze completely over. Over the years we've used a pond heater, an air exchanger and bubblers which helps keep the pond from freezing over and also helps to aerate the pond. I find that the bubblers proved to be one of our best assets and we now keep them going all year long. Hard to believe they have lasted so many years in all kinds of weather. We also put a mesh screen across the pond in the fall to capture the leaves; it also helps to keep critters out during especially cold winters. Raccoons are crafty, they devastated our pond one year when we weren't careful about how we laid down the screen. We didn't want it to get all caught up with the ice that formed along the waterfall. That was a mistake! Let me know if you have any other questions. Am glad to help! It's really such a wonderful addition to our life and has been fairly easy to maintain. It's a natural part of the landscape and has worked out so well for us. FYI, keep koi, fantail goldfish, shubunkins, tadpoles/frogs, snails and other aquatic plants so that there is a natural balance. The pond has attracted a significant amount of wildlife from visiting turtles, birds, skinks, and the occasional snake and/or raptor (the small birds seem to attract the winter raptors). Since water flows regularly we've never had problems with mosquitoes though we did also purchase mosquito fish just in case.
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lindyluwho
16 years ago
LOL at gadgets!!!

Linda
sue36
16 years ago
"Gosh, I envision a lot of DH's being tossed this spring."

LOL! My DH has developed the habit of picking from the "freebie barn" at the town dump/transfer station. I don't want my own junk around, never mind strangers! You wouldn't believe the crap he brings home. Autographed albums (are we 12 years old?). USED sneakers (his size, but STILL!). Broken snow shovels. Every time I go in the garage there is something else.
Marcia Thornley
16 years ago
We've been filling bags in the basement. I told DH he had to put 2 bags a week to the curb and get the basement cleaned up. It's starting to look pretty good. We had alot of useless "stuff" down there just taking up space.
I also have a bentwood rocker down there. DH bought it for me when I was 21. I love that thing but we have no room for it in this house. It takes up so much floor space! I can't imagine giving it away and don't know what to do with it. We just keep moving it around the room down there! I've tried to gift it to relatives but they're all in the same boat.
I think I should have DH take a nice pic of me sitting in it and then just put it out on the curb with best offer on it. :(
Do you struggle with sentimental feelings about stuff when you purge?
Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle
16 years ago
I'm waiting from Main Man to go out of town. I will try to have a Garage Sale. He'll never miss half the stuff, he doesn't even know what he's got.

I have several bags of clothes to donate.

Gayle
shea
16 years ago
Yes, Mush! I struggle mightily with sentimental attachments to stuff that just needs to go!! I hate clutter, but I also hate parting with things. To me, if it's been in the house more than a year, it has a story and is a part of the family! Silly, I know, but I sure suffer through these clean-up jobs.

OTOH, if it's DH's stuff, it needs to go LOL!
okwriter
16 years ago
I am literally stepping over garage sale stuff trying to convert this spare bedroom into an office. I will load it all later this week and haul it to my folks' house and store it in the garage. From there, sis can haul it to her daughter's (in another town) for a garage sale in early summer. The closet where I've been storing it overfloweth...
adellabedella_usa
16 years ago
Spring cleaning this year icludes repainting and putting in hardwood flooring. I just finished painting the small bathroom, big hallway, dining room and living room. I only have the master bath and bedroom to go. We'll hire someone to do the outside and install the new floor.

My kids have hit another growth spurt. I found out that the nurse's office at the school needs the smaller sizes for those 'accidents' that happen at school. I've been happily donating.

Up until the last few days, we've had nice weather. I dug up a few shrubs from the front flower bed and gave them to my neighbors. I'm waiting for the painter to work his magic so I can start finish adding dirt and planting some flowers and veggies.
User
16 years ago
Still going strong on donating to charity. DH USED to have 6 boxes of drinking glasses - he now has 2. Only the best have been kept. If I want to go shopping, I now go to the crawl space to check out any unlabeled, unsorted boxes first just in case we already have something. Organizing and labeling has been a strong tool in this years spring cleaning. I'm now painting white base coat on the upstairs hall working to the living room. It's funny what a mood lift this is to see fresh paint.

Also, fire alarms - wanted to clean the hardwired alarm while I was doing the ceiling. It's old - 1978 - calling an electrician to get these replaced with new models that also allow a backup battery to be plugged in. You can't plug batteries into mine! NOT GOOD. Spring cleaning is also adding to the spring fix it list for peace of mind.

Still going strong at my end!

Girl power!
jannie
16 years ago
Useful and beautiful, right? I have so much clutter of stuff "I might need" in the future. Like receipts, magazines with recipes I "might" want to try, etc, etc. Are these "useful" or "Beautiful" ?
Marcia Thornley
16 years ago
Well, after posting here, I went downstairs with a screw driver and took apart the rocking chair. It is now stored flat, neatly and out of the way in the attic. I just can't make myself give it away. But at least now it's not taking up valuble space.
My Old Chair! It's 32 years old now.
lunchlady1948
Original Author
16 years ago
We have been cleaning out the house for months~~DH insists on keeping it all he says he is doing a garage sale (which I hate) when he retires. His offical day of retirement is tomorrow:) So it would be nice to me if he did the GS next weekend. No way he is now waiting for me to have my hyster so I can help him BLAH!!!!

I have gotten rid of alot of stull and am going strong to get rid of more! No one seems to miss what I am getting rid of:)
des_arc_ya_ya
16 years ago
I love that saying and try to (occasionally) apply it to decluttering.

Have 5 wire baskets full of books priced to sell at a garage sale this next Saturday. Still have to price a bunch of other stuff.
pranjal
16 years ago
DH wants to keep all the boxes and the packing stuff that comes with things like the TV, fridge etc. He says there's less chance of damaging the TV etc when we move house. Maybe he's right, but I don't know where to store those boxes - if I lay them flat on top of (or behind) the closet, the kittens will scratch them to bits.

I threw out the TV carton today, n DH hasn't noticed. Tomorrow I'll get rid of some more. How often do we move house, anyway? LOL

Books, shoes and coffee mugs I just can't part with!
Linda Wayman
16 years ago
I had a garage sale a few weekends ago and sold a lot of stuff. I knew there was more but first I needed to finish cleaning the attic and the shed in the back yard. Well, that's done now. I've been stopped by bad weather for the past three weeks. Hopefully this next Friday and Saturday will work out. What ever doesn't sell this time will go to Paralyzed Veterans. I hope it will be the last GS I ever have. They are a lot of work, but it feels so good to get rid of things I thought I wanted or needed at some point in time.

Linda
jannie
16 years ago
My MIL gave me a bentwood rocker when our first child was born. I didn't use it. I nursed anywhere I could sit down. That rocker went in my garage and got badly warpoed from moisture. We had a flood last winter and it got tossed in the clean-up.
susan_on
16 years ago
I had a rocker like that,Mush. I gave it to a friend of mine.
susan_on
16 years ago
I meant to add that I miss mine. I wish I hadn't given it away.
Eliza_ann_ca
16 years ago
Getting our house ready for sale,you would not believe how many boxes of pure junk I have discarded,not to mention the many trips to Good Will.
It sure feels good to let it go!
Terri_PacNW
16 years ago
Did I read that right..DH's will be tossed out..not their stuff.. LOL

Mine always notices when I toss out stuff of his he's not done anything with in years..but as soon as it's "missing" the radar bleep goes off??? How's he do that?
intherain
16 years ago
I've been working on decluttering our entire house. I've re-subscribed to Flylady and my house looks so much better! I have a bunch of stuff to take to Goodwill this week.
grinch_gut
16 years ago
I am going to have a garage sale this spring. I am going to get rid of tons of stuff we don't use or need. I have to get the house simplified and the 5th whel...I love stuff I do but I hate clutter and after Brian and D living in this 5th wheel full time for a year and me in and out for a year....we have way way to much stuff we do not even need....Stacy
kathyg_in_mi
16 years ago
Go Gadget, go! LOL!
Kathy G in MI
grandma_bonnie
16 years ago
My hint to add. Buy several greeting cards about "Hope you are better after your surgery." That way, you have an excuse for not having the cleanest house...
bigbaby
16 years ago
Well, you guys have inspired me to get off my rumpus and get busy with some neglected projects. In the last 5 minutes I made a list with 12 things on it already!

I have some chronic health problems and I think I have let that dictate my schedule becuase it's so hard to predict what kind of day I will be having. I seem to get overwhelmed easily, too. Our DS is getting married in our backyard in June and I have just been frozen with the thought of getting the house in order. Don't know where to start! Blah!!!! The list will help hopefully! Thanks for the inspiration. I'm so impressed with everyones achievements!

A hint for Spring Cleaning~~~

Comments (26)

gadgets

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A hint for Spring Cleaning~~~

Comments (26)

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lunchlady1948Original Author

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