I need help...

[datahawk]

Yes, I just said that. As Duncan so lovingly pointed out last week, I have 30 lbs of shit in a 10 lbs bag.

I am a pack rat. And as neat and loving as rats are, a pack rat is annoying. I need advice on what to do with some of my stuff, cause it's getting really annoying to look at. What I want to do is clean out stuff that I no longer use/want. I have lots of decent stuff, good and usable. Meaning, I won't throw it away. But it's stuff I'm not gonna use. A rummage sale didn't work, we had two this year and barely moved anything. I wouldn't mind giving it to the salvation army, but they charge way to much. And honestly it's way to nice to just give away (but I'd rather do that at this point and just get rid of it). Any suggestions?

I also have stuff like folding chairs, sleeping bags, a bicycle, roller blades and costuming that needs to be stored. The attic works for some things (like the skates, which we likely won't use much in the winter). However the attic isn't easily accessible, I need someone else to help me up and down, and is well packed with other crap and Christmas decorations. Not to mention the books, and computer crap and other 'needed' things around the house that need useful places to be put. A number of you have been to my place and know it's fairly small. We have a 1 bedroom with a 'den' that's pretty much another bedroom without a useful door. I have very little closet space and very few cabinets. Honestly a garage would make a few things easier to deal with, but I digress. Any ideas? (that wouldn't mean getting rid of stuff I do use and need)

Plus, of course, I have way to many clothes. Now I am, above all things, a clothing whore (like my mom). If it still fits, I'll keep it. But even without those I still have way more clothes then closet/draws. There is also my letterman jackets (I was a jock and a band geek, go fig), my prom outfit, plus a few other things that I want to keep and don't want to store in a box in the attic, but is taking up space in my closet.

Plus I won't even go into my other things..you know like Barbie’s, Cabbage Patch Kids, Hockey Jersey's, Star Trek, Jem...ok you get the idea, that I really want to keep and especially have no room for (Garfield) that I know I will never really have the room to put 'up' (baseball hats) but really really want to keep anyway.

I know a house would help with things, like enough space to store linens and towels, cleaning fluids, vacuum cleaners, buckets and such, but I can't afford a house right now and sure the hell don't have the credit (let alone down payment) to get one. Any clues, WTF I should do? Cause if you have ideas, you got more then I do. Sorry, this was all brought up when I went into the attic to get the xmas decorations and spent as much time fighting with other boxes as I did actually getting the decorations down. I'm just really sick of this (looks and points around). My mom and grandmother are both pack rats and both still have stuff from when they were in their teens. I'm finding the same to be true for me and I don't want to end up in house/apartment full of shit that someone will have to go through when I'm dead. I want to be relatively normal. I know I will never be truly normal, or have one of those 'Martha Stewart' clean homes. But just having some place to put stuff would be sooooo nice.

Ah well, off to go through decorations boxes. Maybe I'll find gold in all that crap. And if you've read this far, thank you.

Comments

[tinbender.livejournal.com]

eBay?

It's not a bad way to go if you have the time to deal with it (packaging and shipping) and it only costs you anything if something actually sells. Being a fellow pack rat, I should probably do this myself.

And if it's any consolation, NOBODY has a 'Martha Stewart' clean home.

*grins*

[datahawk.livejournal.com]

Well, hello :)

I've thought about that. I know people sell all kinds of stuff on there and it's honestly probably the best bet. I don't mind packing stuff up and shipping it. And if I only do a few things at a time, it shouldn't be too overwhelming.

And if it's any consolation, NOBODY has a 'Martha Stewart' clean home.

I actually have seen houses almost that clean. I'm sure my mother-in-law thinks everyone's place should be like hers and be clean like a hospital and look like a museum. :P But I just want oganized.

Thanks for your thoughts!

[moryssa.livejournal.com]

Honestly, you hit the nail on the head-- organize. Get some shelving units and put them up in the living room and the den. Start in one room and go through it top to bottom-- find a permanent home for something before you move on to the next thing. If you don't have a tote big enough to hold all of your socks then buy a bigger tote, or buy a second one. And throw away any socks that have a hole in them. I don't care how much you love them... if they have a hole in them, it's time to retire them. (And I have no idea if socks are a problem... it's just something I picked out of the blue as an example)

You say that you want to keep so many of your collections (Barbie, cabage patch kids, etc) but you honestly don't have the room to do it at your apartment, so in order to get things under control, you need to decide what things you want to keep accessible and what things you want because you someday want to be able to display them or whatever. If it's not something that you want to have accessible, then you need to find a viable place to store it. And if you can't find a place, then you're going to *have* to make a decision-- do you want to keep all of your stuff and live in the middle of the clutter that it creates, or do you want to get rid of it and have some organization? Lack of sufficient storage space pretty much leaves only those two options.

I know I don't have a whole lot of room to talk, but I *did* go through my house not too long ago and did some major cleaning. It makes a difference. And you know that I'm more than happy to help you clean, but you also know that my cleaning is going to result in the throwing away of a lot of stuff that you (and/or Posi) may not want to be tossed.

*hug*

[catdragon.livejournal.com]

Yah, I'd say organize, then sell off excess stuff (or donate, whichever you can do), and if you still have too much, get a storage space?

[werellama.livejournal.com]

I have a Martha Stewart clean home, but only because I am married to the male equivalent to Martha Stewart. Also, if I had to pack all that I have into a one bedroom (plus "den") apartment, I wouldn't be any better off than you. I would, however, do like everyone else is telling you to do and organize the stuff. I'd pick one room and start there. Take everything out of your den, and turn it into a closet like this here (http://magazines.ivillage.com/onlyinhb/home/articles/0,,583293_588326,00.html). You can put a couple desks in there and build the closet around the desks so you can still use the space as living space. I betcha if you sweet talked Rick, he'd even help you guys build it. He's built a couple in our house. Anyway, while you have everything out of the den, decide what to keep, and what to throw away, and then put everything else in square baskets like this (http://www.pier1.com/store/productdetail.asp?catalog%5Fname=Pier1&strStoreNavDept=&strStoreNavClass=&search=true&multipleresults=true&strSearchDescr=basket&intSearchPriceRangeID=0&intSearchCategoryID=0&intSearchTypeID=2&category_name=GROUP+Bamboo+Handled+Baskets&intPageNumber=1&intSetNumber=1). Whatever doesn't fit, you chuck. Once the Closet system is built (which Rick could do in a day), you can put the baskets on the shelves, and it would look neat and organized. Then I'd go into the bedroom. I'd take everything out of the closet and spread it out as best as you can in your living room. Then I'd put a closet system like this (http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@1341286763.1070804753@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdfadckdklmmfkcgelceffdfgidgnl.0&MID=9876). On one side of the closet you put a two tier clothes rack, and on the other side you put shelves from floor to ceiling, or on the other side make a third lower clothes rack, and do shelves from midpoint up to the ceiling. Then you go through your clothes. Get rid of as much as you can, and take the ones you want to keep, but aren't wearing and get some of those space bags (http://store.yahoo.com/vacuumcleanerbacgs/storbagspacs.html). They suck flat, and are great for space saving!!! Then hang the rest of the clothes in the den, and in your bedroom closet. Then fill up the shelves in the closet with the stuff you use regularly.

[werellama.livejournal.com]

Oops. I screwed one of the links up. This is the closet system I was talking about:

[werellama.livejournal.com]

OH! And I just found something else...In your kitchen, I know you don't have a lot of space, but you could add to your storage space with something like this:


And again, this is something that could be built relatively inexpensively. I was just looking at the local Menards Hardware store ad, and I figured that it would cost about $250 all together for the den closet, bedroom closet, and kitchen pantry.

[datahawk.livejournal.com]

This is pretty much the _size_ of my kitchen. I'd love to have space for my foods and dishes, but I'm pretty much dealing with what I got in that angle

[moiracoon.livejournal.com]

This is a completely irrational sample closet though. Who has this few items stuck in their closet (AND that are all perfectly color coordinated)?

My guesses:

a) A member of a cult where one must wear beige

b) An Ann Taylor retail associate

c) A member of the cult of Ann Taylor

(I'm saying this only because I have a reasonable idea that this is not a shot of your own closet)

[werellama.livejournal.com]

But that is my closet! I always dress like an Ann Taylor Cult/upper class foo foo girl. *cries*

I am SO kidding.

The multi level closet systems utilize space that you never get to use. I totally dig them. Yes, most people have more clothes than what is pictured there, but when you have the ability to spread your clothes out over multiple levels you actually can see what you have!

[datahawk.livejournal.com]

1-The Den is Posi's room, it's my attempt at having all his computer crap kept in one room. It doesn't work, but It's my hope that it works that way. tho I may have him talked into added shelves in there for some of the things, like the skates and sleeping bags.

2-The closet in the bedroom has a built in shelf along the top that would leave it impossible to build that closet unit. Besides, I like this place but I don't want to make it to nice since it's a rental. Plus it's one big one and Posi and I don't 'share' closet space, he has one half I have the other

3-I have those Space Bags, I use them with my blankets. I don't have to many clothes that would shrink with the space bags.

[werellama.livejournal.com]

Ah well...you could always have a "come and take our shit party". Put everything you don't want/need in the living room and invite your friends over. There are lots of poor furs who could probably use some of the stuff you are not using.

[duncandahusky.livejournal.com]

There's some good ideas here. I'd also throw in the six-month rule, good for clothing of just other stuff. Take things you don't use every day, be it clothing or folding chairs or whatever, and box it up and put it away for six months (storage unit, maybe?). If you don't miss it, then obviously it's not that important and you can get rid of it.

There are other possibilities besides Salvation Army, and they're not one of my favorite charities, anyway. Goodwill, perhaps?

[enveri.livejournal.com]

Agreed, although I use the year rule. Items like letterman jackets, formal dresses (wedding and prom), things that you REALLY aren't likely to wear again but want to keep can be stored, then stuffed up in your attic. Everything else.. if you've not worn it in a year, it needs to go. Seasonal gear (winter clothes), 2 years.

Ikea and home depot have rather inexpensive shelving options, and really, you've made a great start in the living room, just need to expand that to the den and bedroom.

Like Misti, I'm more than willing to help.. I would just probably urge disposing of things the two of you might want to keep. ;)

[sylverfox.livejournal.com]

I have to question some of Goodwill's policies and practices, then again I'm biased, having formerly worked for them.

[werellama.livejournal.com]

*nod nods* Up here in Milwaukee we have Saint Vincent DePaul. They come with a truck and pick the stuff up from you AND they give you a reciept so you can write off your donation when tax time comes. It's nice because they call Rick and I once a month to ask if we have anything to donate and we ALWAYS do! It really helps in keeping the clutter down.

[datahawk.livejournal.com]

Well the folding chairs we use pretty much on a weekly basis, which is why I _can't_ store them. But I still need someplace to put them when they are not being used. :P

Besides, I won't use the Salvation Army, I don't like or trust them. Besides they always stink when you go in there and they charge way to much for second hand stuff.

Doing the same here

[crim-ferret.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of in the midst of doing that here. I just went through my clothes. In 6 months or a year, I'll dump anything I haven't worn in that time.

My suggestion would be AmVets or find a shelter that takes clothes. A lot of them will and you know they are going to people who really need them.

The space bags Dali mentioned do work, but they usually need to be re-vaccuumed every so often since air does eventually get back in.

Extra shelving helps too. I've thought about mounting a few above the computer desk here.

As far as stuff actually worth something. I'm trying to find good homes for some of it. Some I'm going to E-Bay, and some will simply end up out by the dumpster for whomever wants it before the trash is collected. The two classes of items that are going to be hardest to do for me are books and plush. I have too many of both. For the books, I'll probably take the ones I don't want to a used book exchange since that would cut down on the number of books as well as get me some new ones I'd like to read. The plush I don't want will probably go to charity if they are in good shape or get trashed if they aren't. Butterscotch said she doesn't mind the Papasan chair of plush in her room, but even that is piled to the point of ridiculousness.

I wish you luck in your organizing.

[rasslor.livejournal.com]

Another option is The Container Store. They have a couple of organizing systems like Elfa and Skandia. It's not the most inexpenisive of solutions, however the Skandia is sollid wood and strong as hell. It's completely customizable as in you can put shelves anywhere. I have all my books on Skandia. And I have a *lot* of books. Also, they usually have a 25% sale in January.

At the very least, it might be interesting to go to the store and get ideas.

By the way, I'll bury this little nugget here. If you need any help with this, there's a larger and larger chance that I will be in Chicago at the end of this month.

[werellama.livejournal.com]

I LOVE the Elfa stuff!!! Menards, up here in Wisconsin, has a much less expensive version that Rick and I have put in a couple of our closets. I think because they are in an apartment, they probably won't be able to put a lot of holes in the wall. My husband has built storage units out of wood that look exactly like the Skandia stuff, but are half the price. It's pretty fricken cool because it looks like furniture.

[rasslor.livejournal.com]

I think we can keep this thread going for a while.

I put Elfa in the loft, with the ONE bifold-door closet, that I was renting. I left it there thinking it was a grand improvement over the Home Depot wire stuff they had before. Damn, I miss that loft. 18 foot ceilings, old cotton mill, awesome view of downtown Atlanta from the roof (great seduction spot *cough*), two large utility poles on either side of the bed in the bedroom, 12 foot tall drafty windows, raving screaming queen downstairs. But maybe I have said too much. :)

But I digress. If there are less expensive versions of Elfa and Skandia, than I suggest that Data rents out your husband for a couple of days or so.

Hmm...

I'm sure there was a better way to phrase that. Anyway, here's wishing good luck to Data on her fight against entropy.

[wyldekyttin.livejournal.com]

Martha Stewart would have a heart attack if she saw my place. Let's invite her over!

I'm sure you have some notion of what it took to get my place clean for Butter's party. I'm getting better, but I, too, have crap I have no business keeping. At least I can leave things like my wedding dress with my mom, but some of my costuming probably needs a good hard going through. I know my blue set of ren gear is expensive, but it simply doesn't fit or suit me (I know NOW after spending what on it, gah) and I suppose I ought to put some things up on ebay if no one else wants them, but I'm trying to cut down on the clutter. Having a fit of OCD helps. I'd suggest having someone over to help you sort. They can keep you company and keep you on task, may well accept some of the things you probably ought to get rid of, and can be your bullshit alarm if you need one. (But I need six of these! Bullshit!) I know I'm a lot more reasonable if someone's sitting there with me.

[datahawk.livejournal.com]

I'll agree with having someone over, Misti did then when I went through my bedroom not that long ago. I need to do the bedroom again. there's just so much to do, and so little time to do it in. :P Altho, my place is as clean as it's ever been. Hopefully this will be a going trend..

Coincindence? I think not!

[rasslor.livejournal.com]

19 replies to this request for help?!? Looks like you got yourself a construction crew, Data.

It's Clean Sweep in Chicago. I get dibs on the hunky blond carpenter. And damn! He has his own website with pics!

Re: Coincindence? I think not!

[datahawk.livejournal.com]

I've never watched Clean Sweep. I don't have cable. :P

More Tips

[rasslor.livejournal.com]

After exploring the website a little more, it seems that Clean Sweep has some excellent tips. And nine pages of them.

[hakeber.livejournal.com]

Ditto. I'm working through stuff to ebay. I'm going through stuff to pitch. And we now have a shelf in the garage just for stuff for the next yard sale. We did one a month this past season, and will do the same next season. It will take awhile, but we will get there. I want to be able to have the space to enjoy the things I keep, cuz right now I can enjoy none of it.

[datahawk.livejournal.com]

Thank you to everyone who has commented, I've got many good ideas from here. Now, to put them to action.