I like your organization idea!

For me, freezer stuff is dated, the problem is that a lot of small loose packages make getting to stuff and defrosting a chore. I plan to organize the items by putting similar small items (e.g. vegetables) into larger plastic boxes or two gallon ziploc bags.

Lucille, I bought all I could find of these containers, just before they were discontinued. I love the fact, they stack nice, they have a tab on the corner, and the numbers stay on. I stack them all with the tab on the same corner, and when I put the lid on, the tab goes over the number. All makes it easy to find a particular box. Not every box is full (it rarely is) and not every box has a full meal. The stack on the right for instance has sliced turkey roast, left over from my Christmas meal.

I'm in the spring cleaning mood, well it's just barely winter.....HA! But our weather right now is more like typical Ohio Spring weather. I'm planning to go through a bunch of stuff and have a free sign outside on a pretty day and just let people take whatever they want. I don't have enough to have a garage sale. It would be a world's cheesiest garage sale if I had one. Plus a lot of it is just free type things anyway...such as handy containers from Sam's products that I couldn't stand to throw away. Those cashew containers that they sell empty at Walmart for $3. I have a ton of those that I will never use them all.

It started before Christmas with the Christmas cleanout. I did some deep cleaning. We are reorganizing boxes and regrouping and downsizing. Still keeping the Christmas tree for now in case we have to move. I don't want to replace it and then pay to move it. The rest of the house starts this week. Dh went back to work this morning. The kids go back to school tomorrow. DD is trying to make some money so I just gave her a list of chores I want done first. She can sweep. I'll mop with bleach later this week. I need to pull the ladders out to do the taller dusting that rarely gets done.

You people put me to shame!!!

Hanging my head in shame and backing out of this thread....

Ladies you saw my previous thread on mice. If you had 10 mouse traps set in your garage you'd make sure it was uncluttered too. As it was I accidentally tripped one getting the tricycle out this morning.

A flood will force you to do these things! Lol

I'm so proud of my pantry it will be post worthy! I am still working on it. My neighbors came over yesterday to get several ceiling fans we gave them and my pantry door was open because I was working on it. They were both amazed and impressed. She has a very small kitchen and no pantry and very little storage. She told me she has serious kitchen envy now that I have the new huge kitchen and 2 pantries. Lol

I have had wonderful results listening things I want to get rid of on our nextdoor forum. Stuff goes in a day! And you are only dealing with people in your neighborhood's. You can see if there is one for your area. Google nextdoor and put in your zip code. Great way to keep track of lost and found animals and robbery in the area etc I check it every day.

I had the salvation army truck come over and donated a library full of books and kitchen accessories and clothing many many boxes. A neighbor came and got my old kitchen sink and faucet and the bathroom sinks and faucets. I still have 2 perfectly good toilets out there to get rid of. We put in the taller ADA ones for me.

It sure feels good to see those boxes leaving both the full ones and the empty. That means I am making progress. It's more like my house every day.

It must be in the air. I started cleaning out underneath the one bathroom sink, and then when I got that one done, headed on to the other bathroom. I found an entire box of goat's milk soap that I had purchased to help a friend get her soap making business started. It is hard as bricks, but that will just make it last longer in the bath. Tomorrow, I plan to get under the kitchen sink and see what lurks in there. Who know what I'll work on from there.

I'm waiting until it's warmer to do the big cleaning of garage, porch, patio, and storage shed. It's a pita, but necessary.....black widow and brown recluse spiders multiply like crazy unless we do a bi- or triannual complete clean out.

Everything gets hauled out, wiped down, washed, tools get oiled, walls and floors are swept. I also apply a fresh dusting of diatomaceous earth in the nooks and crannies. All of the outdoor furniture has to be turned upside down, vacuumed, and oiled if necessary.

If we don't go through all of that, the spiders get braver. I'm not frightened of them, but I sure don't want them to be mingling with my guests. It's not as much of a task as it sounds, now that we've done it a few times.....one afternoon, then it's cocktail time!

A flood will force you to do these things! Lol

Unfortunately, I have lived this, and I know you're right. It's a good feeling to get it to the end, but not the journey.

OklaMoni, I have tons of containers almost like yours, 60 /70 of them that I store powdered laundry detergent in, this way I can keep the actual detergent boxes in a closet.

"A flood will force you to do these things! Lol

Unfortunately, I have lived this, and I know you're right. It's a good feeling to get it to the end, but not the journey."

So will moving. Moving lets you know how attached to stuff you really are. I've learned I either get my house into shape where I enjoy it or I'll be doing it for the next people who buy it. It's better if I do it for me.

Every so often, I get the bug to spring clean. I will be going on vacation and I am looking forward to helping my DH sort through his t shirts. His closet is packed and when he looks for something he always says that he has to get rid of stuff. So, I will help him do it!

I started cleaning 12/31 because I feared going into the new year with a dirty house. :)

When we moved here in 2014, we banned clutter and excess. Yesterday I spent the day in sun room, sipping wine and reading about retirement investments. Boring! But it beats moving stuff around again and again.

The flood is different in that it gets to choose what goes, rather than you :( But yes, moving does also makes it easier to see the clutter.

Yes each time we moved I got rid of so many things but still had too much. The flood got rid of the stuff I never would have. Unfortunately some of it was very valuable and some sentimental, but it is a done deal so I just go on with life. Now I get to choose what else goes. It gives us more storage space which we are not going to fill up lol.

He has to get the garage done but that will be after the house.

I like FreeCycle for getting rid of stuff. Almost always have a taker for whatever it is. I have also consigned some things and done pretty well there also.

Spring cleaning?!? I haven't finished the fall cleaning... May get to spring cleaning sometime in July. Or not...

Hubby was so sweet. He woke up on New Year's Eve and decided it was time to tackle our utility room which had never been properly gone through when we moved in (long story) so he and I worked all day Saturday and got it done.

He said he wanted me to start the new year with another room in the house finished and clean.

Now it's time to tackle the master closet and get it finished so we can actually use it.

ditto roxanna. I'm about to figure out the fallen leaves. I think. I borrowed my mom's pressure washer and I am about to go buy gutter screens. I don't have a lot to cover or clean, so I have no idea why I've waited. I still have 1/3 of the leaves sitting in my front flowerbeds instead of composting. Some day I'll catch up. Hopefully!

Rob, leave those leaves! They mulch your flowerbed, and keep the roots of your perennials warmer. Clean them out, as soon as you see greet shoots!

I gave away, and I sold so much stuff prior to moving to Florida. Now, I have to buy stuff, that I no longer own... like today I bought some stacking measuring cups, and some measuring spoons. It's easy to clean my house... not much here. ;)

Moni

Why are you not believing candy is in the store already? I am a merchandiser, and I also worked Walmart for a while. Just as soon as a holiday is over something has to go on the shelves, they can't leave it empty. If there is room before a Holiday is over it goes out. I was in Big lots today and they are putting out the summer gazebos. Look for swim suits any day!

My local Walmart( little country town) had Valentine candy on the shelf Xmas Eve.

okla we do the same thing, but also have been leaving leftovers enough for lunch...as for clutter it's contained but like 5 lenox clocks, glassware from my mom, and other pretties...I did donate 5 bags (YIKES) of books to purple heart and more to go...some how I've gone from reading a book in 3-4 days to O...it seems so different with dh home 24/7...and yet I only see him walking to the kitchen or hear him on the phone...lol... he's home officed now...

Now that the holidays are over I am cleaning out an unused bedroom upstairs in my house. I am going to redecorate it and move my sewing room in there. I have a smaller room downstairs that I have used for a sewing room for years. After I get it cleaned out my sons are going to do the plumbing and electrical and put my washer and dryer there so I don't have to go to the basement any more.

Why are you not believing candy is in the store already?

I guess in terms of sales it is believable.

Maybe it doesn't make a difference in terms of today's additives that help preserve stuff, but my thought was that I would not buy candy as a gift and store it for two months before giving it. (For one thing, there is no way chocolate would survive two months uneaten in my house, but maybe that is what the sellers are counting on, people who buy a box of chocolate, eat it, and then go buy another or three for their sweethearts) :)

Just arrived via Fedex, what looks to be my best storage purchase of the year (I bought 3), a three drawer Sterilite rolling storage piece from Walmart, $15. It is not heavy duty but perfect for off season clothes. blankets, etc.