Comments on: Lay it all out http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/ Daily tips on how to organize your home and office. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:42:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: zkr http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2758 zkr Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:44:01 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2758 I have a hard time throwing out old or damaged clothes.. even if I don't wear them. I keep thinking "one day I'll learn to sew, and make something fabulous with this". I have a hard time throwing out old or damaged clothes.. even if I don’t wear them. I keep thinking “one day I’ll learn to sew, and make something fabulous with this”.

]]> By: Andamom http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2757 Andamom Tue, 28 Aug 2007 03:26:29 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2757 I had done this on my own and again with a stylist. It was amazing how this stylist woman poked and prodded my wardrobe. I was happy to get rid of it all (go more than barefoot) -- but alas our society wasn't ready for that. Personally, if I ever wake up in the morning and can't stomach the thought of wearing a particular item, I eye it and generally take it to Salvation Army for donation soon thereafter. Make it easy for yourself -- if you haven't worn something and don't know when/if you'll use it, donate it! Someone almost always can use what you don't need. I had done this on my own and again with a stylist. It was amazing how this stylist woman poked and prodded my wardrobe. I was happy to get rid of it all (go more than barefoot) — but alas our society wasn’t ready for that.

Personally, if I ever wake up in the morning and can’t stomach the thought of wearing a particular item, I eye it and generally take it to Salvation Army for donation soon thereafter. Make it easy for yourself — if you haven’t worn something and don’t know when/if you’ll use it, donate it! Someone almost always can use what you don’t need.

]]> By: Richard Braakman http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2756 Richard Braakman Sun, 26 Aug 2007 22:28:48 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2756 I'm doing a similar thing with my books by entering them all into <a href="http://www.librarything.com/" rel="nofollow">LibraryThing</a>. While my books are normally "laid out" simply by being visible in my bookshelves, the process of handling each of them to enter them into the system has allowed me to spot many books that I wouldn't miss. I want to keep only my favorites. There are so many excellent books out there that I shouldn't spend more time on the average ones. In addition, LibraryThing allows me to give each of them a rating and a little review, so that I don't need to keep the physical book around as a reminder that I've read it. If I can't make up my mind about a book, I give it a tag "reread". I'll come back to those later, and if I decide I don't want to reread one after all, then out it goes :) But if I reread one and remember how much I liked it, then I'll keep it. The hardest part is deciding what to do about series that have only one or two good books. I’m doing a similar thing with my books by entering them all into LibraryThing. While my books are normally “laid out” simply by being visible in my bookshelves, the process of handling each of them to enter them into the system has allowed me to spot many books that I wouldn’t miss. I want to keep only my favorites. There are so many excellent books out there that I shouldn’t spend more time on the average ones.

In addition, LibraryThing allows me to give each of them a rating and a little review, so that I don’t need to keep the physical book around as a reminder that I’ve read it.

If I can’t make up my mind about a book, I give it a tag “reread”. I’ll come back to those later, and if I decide I don’t want to reread one after all, then out it goes :) But if I reread one and remember how much I liked it, then I’ll keep it.

The hardest part is deciding what to do about series that have only one or two good books.

]]> By: Monica Ricci http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2755 Monica Ricci Sun, 26 Aug 2007 18:27:23 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2755 One of the steps I teach my clients to do when simplifying and decluttering is to begin by GATHERING all the items in a particular family (clothing, books, CDs, etc) together so you can first take stock of just how much of it you own. Once you do this, you're at a great place to begin culling out and paring down. ~Monica One of the steps I teach my clients to do when simplifying and decluttering is to begin by GATHERING all the items in a particular family (clothing, books, CDs, etc) together so you can first take stock of just how much of it you own. Once you do this, you’re at a great place to begin culling out and paring down.
~Monica

]]> By: H20 http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2754 H20 Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:18:31 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2754 @Walter, You may try by putting all the particular clothes that you do not wear anymore in a big plastic bag, and put it in the storeroom, in case you don't have the storeroom, put it in extra warbrobe. Label the date of storage, and forget about it. By six months or if you prefer one year, according to the labelled pile, throw it all away, WITHOUT opening. If you've forgotten about them for six months or more, then the clothes are useless to you!! @Walter,
You may try by putting all the particular clothes that you do not wear anymore in a big plastic bag, and put it in the storeroom, in case you don’t have the storeroom, put it in extra warbrobe. Label the date of storage, and forget about it. By six months or if you prefer one year, according to the labelled pile, throw it all away, WITHOUT opening. If you’ve forgotten about them for six months or more, then the clothes are useless to you!!

]]> By: Jasi http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2753 Jasi Sun, 26 Aug 2007 03:01:22 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2753 wow. i just took inventory of my wardrobe as well today. i now have a reasonably stocked closet with plenty of room to keep the clothes hanging freely and one large tupperware for winter sweaters and such in the attic. seasonal attire is stored with seasonal decorations for corresponding holidays. wow. i just took inventory of my wardrobe as well today. i now have a reasonably stocked closet with plenty of room to keep the clothes hanging freely and one large tupperware for winter sweaters and such in the attic. seasonal attire is stored with seasonal decorations for corresponding holidays.

]]> By: KM http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2752 KM Sat, 25 Aug 2007 23:52:18 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2752 strangely, going through my over-laden bookshelfs to list my favourite books on Facebook helped - the FB field is limited (i found out!) and listing everything i could fit & loved made me look at what i owned (or "was holding prisoner") in a new light. strangely, going through my over-laden bookshelfs to list my favourite books on Facebook helped - the FB field is limited (i found out!) and listing everything i could fit & loved made me look at what i owned (or “was holding prisoner”) in a new light.

]]> By: SpiKe http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2751 SpiKe Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:47:01 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2751 I regularly do this with my clothes, DVDs, books etc. I have created a fine balance in my house when it comes to space (one shelf for DVDs, 2 shelves for books, etc). So when I buy - for instance - a new book, it's a good incentive to pull out all the other books on my shelf and get rid of ones I don't need to make space for the new ones. SpiKe <a href="http://www.mallosworld.co.uk/organize-it/" rel="nofollow">Organize IT</a> I regularly do this with my clothes, DVDs, books etc. I have created a fine balance in my house when it comes to space (one shelf for DVDs, 2 shelves for books, etc). So when I buy - for instance - a new book, it’s a good incentive to pull out all the other books on my shelf and get rid of ones I don’t need to make space for the new ones.

SpiKe
Organize IT

]]> By: Evelynne http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2750 Evelynne Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:38:29 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2750 Walter, there are two things that help me get rid of things I'm holding onto for those reasons: 1. I take a picture of myself wearing the item, so I can still look at it anytime I want. 2. If it was expensive and still useful, I take it to the consignment shop or try to sell it on Ebay rather than donate it. It doesn't always help, though. I have a box of basic clothes that fit well, I like them, and they are good quality, but are really out of fashion (too 80s) so I never wear them. I'm hoping I can wear them when the style comes back around. The 80s are beginning to return, after all. At least they're in a box and out of the way. Walter, there are two things that help me get rid of things I’m holding onto for those reasons:

1. I take a picture of myself wearing the item, so I can still look at it anytime I want.
2. If it was expensive and still useful, I take it to the consignment shop or try to sell it on Ebay rather than donate it.

It doesn’t always help, though. I have a box of basic clothes that fit well, I like them, and they are good quality, but are really out of fashion (too 80s) so I never wear them. I’m hoping I can wear them when the style comes back around. The 80s are beginning to return, after all. At least they’re in a box and out of the way.

]]> By: Michael http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2749 Michael Sat, 25 Aug 2007 15:51:36 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2749 I want to do this, because I have a silly amount of clothes (probably about 50 pairs of trousers). The reason? I used to be thin, then I gained a lot of weight (about 50lbs.) in a year. I'm in the process of losing that weight--lost about 20lbs.--but I think I need to weight to go through my clothes until I'm back at my target weight. I want to do this, because I have a silly amount of clothes (probably about 50 pairs of trousers). The reason? I used to be thin, then I gained a lot of weight (about 50lbs.) in a year. I’m in the process of losing that weight–lost about 20lbs.–but I think I need to weight to go through my clothes until I’m back at my target weight.

]]> By: Michael Clark http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2748 Michael Clark Sat, 25 Aug 2007 13:09:35 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2748 I am using one of the unclutterer's hints: doing it in small steps: After yesterday's laundry (socks, underwear and t-shirts) was done, after sorting and folding, but before actually putting them away I opened each drawer and looked through the clothing that hadn't been worn since the last washing. I tossed a huge pile of holy socks, ancient underwear, and torn shirts. I also found two broken belts (but I might fix them some day - yeah right, sure I will). Last week while waiting for the oven to heat up, I tackled the kitchen junk drawer instead of sitting in front of the tube. I wish I had taken a before and after picture, I will on the next junk drawer. I found nearly 100 twisties from bread, 2 complete sets of measuring cups (we now have 4!), pencils and pens, half-burned birthday candles, expired coupons, etc.... You know, junk. I tossed a ton of stuff, moved other things to the place they belong, and now that drawer is 75% empty, it only has kitchen cooking stuff in it. Thanks unclutterer for your help! I am using one of the unclutterer’s hints: doing it in small steps: After yesterday’s laundry (socks, underwear and t-shirts) was done, after sorting and folding, but before actually putting them away I opened each drawer and looked through the clothing that hadn’t been worn since the last washing. I tossed a huge pile of holy socks, ancient underwear, and torn shirts. I also found two broken belts (but I might fix them some day - yeah right, sure I will).

Last week while waiting for the oven to heat up, I tackled the kitchen junk drawer instead of sitting in front of the tube. I wish I had taken a before and after picture, I will on the next junk drawer. I found nearly 100 twisties from bread, 2 complete sets of measuring cups (we now have 4!), pencils and pens, half-burned birthday candles, expired coupons, etc…. You know, junk. I tossed a ton of stuff, moved other things to the place they belong, and now that drawer is 75% empty, it only has kitchen cooking stuff in it.

Thanks unclutterer for your help!

]]> By: Walter http://unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2747 Walter Sat, 25 Aug 2007 12:55:48 +0000 http://development.unclutterer.com/2007/08/25/lay-it-all-out/#comment-2747 I am in the process of simplifying my life and I happened to have edited my closet this weekend too. I had not really done this for many years. Suits I never wore anymore, bad purchases, many pair of jeans etc. 3 Things were holding me back: -This was a present -I paid good money for this -I might need it some day. Now in my living room there is a big pile of clothes that I paid lots of bucks for that I am not wearing anymore except sometimes, out of guilt. For some reason I cant commit myself to just give it away or throw it away. What is your advice? I am in the process of simplifying my life and I happened to have edited my closet this weekend too. I had not really done this for many years. Suits I never wore anymore, bad purchases, many pair of jeans etc.

3 Things were holding me back:
-This was a present
-I paid good money for this
-I might need it some day.

Now in my living room there is a big pile of clothes that I paid lots of bucks for that I am not wearing anymore except sometimes, out of guilt.

For some reason I cant commit myself to just give it away or throw it away.

What is your advice?

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