Comments on: An impartial participant can help get rid of clutter

By: The sentimental factor - Simpler Living - timesunion.com - Albany NY

The sentimental factor - Simpler Living - timesunion.com - Albany NY — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:20:33 +0000

[...] has a good post regarding how hard it can be to de-clutter when so many things have so much sentimental [...]

By: laura

laura — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:59:17 +0000

Friends help the decluttering process even when it’s not sentimental stuff. I had a friend of mine come over as I went through my clothes (which I have a hard time parting with). Not only was she quick to say “I have never seen you wear that, get rid of it!” She also nabbed a few things to keep herself that no longer fit me. Everyone wins!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:38:22 +0000

“Hey, we’re all allowed to be sentimental fools sometime! That doesn’t mean keeping the pair of socks you wore in high school!”

Unless you’re still in high school.

By: remaras

remaras — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:36:39 +0000

We can accumulate stuff so easily and the job of uncluttering our work spaces can be a real challenge. My wife and I moved into a new home several years ago, but while we were in the process of looking for our home we created a motto that still rings today, throw, throw ,throw. Keeping our work spaces free from clutter is ever ending process.

When we moved we downsized and don’t have as much room as we once did. Once we moved though we also decided to try to live more simply. We purchase what we need and made it our aim not to accumulate unwanted or unnecessary things. We ask ourselves a simple question before making any purchase; do I really need this item.

By: Charity

Charity — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:24:11 +0000

i find that every time we move our stuff gets less and less sentimental. When it the sentimental stuff out-weights the humans toting it around its too much. we went from 4 massive blue rubbermaid bins of sentiment to 2 milk crates. 1 is stuffed toys and dolls our various grandmothers gave us (my boyfriend is a softy too). THe other is picture albums of friends and my birthson. total weight is 9 pounds. I dont mind moving that

By: Another Deb

Another Deb — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:06:11 +0000

I agree with the spouse thing. There are so many power dynamics and Mars-Venus perspectives that you begin to suspect their motives. Better to have an efficient friend or hire a professional to help.

Then when you both have complaints about the system you can blame a third party! Of course when it all works out better you can take full credit for the foresight you had.

By: Marc

Marc — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:49:11 +0000

This is a sure way to divorce in my expereince. My wife is the sentimental on and I am the minimalist so if I start working with her to toss stuff she is about ready to toss me out in the end.

By: infmom

infmom — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:37:24 +0000

I don’t think spouses are necessarily the best people to help clear clutter. Sometimes there are ongoing issues that make one person cling just because the other one says it ought to go.

By: ellebee

ellebee — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:25:30 +0000

I recently played “semi-impartial participant” to my parents as we helped them “clean sweep” their house in preparation for a move and the thing I learned that was most valuable to my own cleaning-out is that doing it in bulk really does make it easier. If I come across a meaningful card or note or something sentimental at home, I have a hard time throwing it out, as I can simply file it away. But when I’m going through several boxes of that stuff? It is SO much easier to throw it out. I found my parents reacted the same way … the first few items were hard, but then they got more and more ruthless and threw out all kinds of stuff they never would have parted with on an individual basis. Of course doing it like this takes a lot of time, but emotionally I find it much easier.

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:33:54 +0000

things you don’t honor – boy, that’s a tangled web there. Because I am sure alot of people think “honoring” is storing in a box in the garage!

By: Harris

Harris — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:03:49 +0000

There is such a difference between clutter and things with sentimental value. Seems to me that we are all so caught up in “stuff” that we’ve lost sight of what’s what. As I’ve decluttered, I’ve realized how freeing it is to get rid of the excess and how valuable the things I’ve kept become. Three boxes of my childhood toys collecting dust in the attic didn’t work but the few dolls and toys I kept for my grandchildren to play with are priceless. Same with inherited furniture and things. It can be hard to let go but if someone else can use and enjoy something and I have more than I want and need, well, it’s good.
Hanging on to something you really don’t want for sentimental reasons doesn’t make sense….unless you have a really big house!

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:02:37 +0000

@Beth — If you love something, honor it by displaying it and/or regularly enjoying or getting utility from it, then it isn’t clutter.

Matt is talking about purging clutter — Things that you don’t want, things you don’t honor, and things that you derive no enjoyment or utility from. He’s not saying to get rid of something because it’s sentimental, he’s saying to get rid of clutter than at one point may have been sentimental.

By: Tabitha (From Single to Married)

Tabitha (From Single to Married) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:02:33 +0000

I agree! Not only is it difficult to let go of some items, but it makes the process take forever! It’s so much better to set a timeline and stick to it. That helps with the sentamentality factor too because you don’t get wrapped up in looking at every item and reminiscing.

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:56:20 +0000

Amen, Beth!

By: Christian

Christian — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:03:36 +0000

My cousin is great for this. He’s very neat so whenever he comes over to our place, he starts telling me what I need to throw out without being asked.