Crowning the king or queen of clutter
Angie’s List, a website where consumers provide reports and reviews of local service companies, is having a Clutter Contest this summer:
Submit photos of clutter catastrophes — whether you own or another worthy candidate’s — and a brief explanation to mailbag@angieslist.com by August 1. We’ll select the most awe-inspiringly hideous office or home and crown a national king or queen of clutter. Whoever “wins” our contest will qualify for a clutter cleanout compliments of a highly rated service company in the Organization-Home and Garage category [on their website]. And we’ll feature the winner in our magazine.
Even if you aren’t a contender to be the king or queen of clutter, you might know someone who could use some help. Pass the word along (kindly, of course) and maybe your friend can win a free makeover!
Posted by Erin on Jun 16, 2009 |
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17 comments posted
Posted by Sandy - 06/16/2009
This is very interesting to me. Not the contest but using Angie’s List. I have a lot on my to-do list that I’d rather hire someone else to do. Are there members of Angie’s List on unclutter? Yes, I’d like a rating of the site. Thanks.
Posted by Nunya - 06/16/2009
This is the problem with the dumbing-down of America: rewards and recognition go to the failures in society, rather than those who have worked hard on their own to improve themselves.
Where’s the award for the best UNcluttered home? Or for ALL those of us who have uncluttered their homes and helped out charities in the process?
Posted by Erika H - 06/16/2009
Nunya – well, there’s the reward that you have a sense of accomplishment in uncluttering your home, you live in the peace and calm it provides, and get the warm fuzzies from helping others…plus tax deductions from donations.
I’m not trying to be snarky, I swear, I feel the same indignation sometimes – but I do think the reward from within is often overlooked with these things. The Queen of Clutter probably lives a pretty miserable existence, and needs the help of a clutter cleanout.
Posted by Erin Doland - 06/16/2009
@Erika — Well said.
@Nunya — I don’t see that it’s an award, I see it as giving help to the person most in need. How is it “dumb” to help other people?
Posted by Carol - 06/16/2009
Try not to think of it as a “reward”.
I don’t think of it as rewarding bad behavior but rather trying to find a reasonable method to determine one person to help when there are probably thousands in need. The exception would be if people intentionally trash their place in an attempt to “win”. That would just be sad.
Posted by Brandon - 06/16/2009
Those photos could make for a great coffee table book.
Posted by Another Deb - 06/16/2009
I am a member of Angie’s List and in the past three years have used it for several services varying from floor refinishing to veternarians. The reviews are very helpful as they contain the job done, the price charged and the customer’s satisfaction. It is helpful to read the notes left by the customer.
I am also careful to also leave reviews, so the information will be up to date for contractors. My neck of the woods is a long drive for service and I want to make sure that those who serve my neighborhood are ranked fairly.
Since most of my projects occur in summer, when I am off of school, I just join for a 3 month time period. In that time, I check out businesses I might need on an emergency basis, such as electricians and plumbers and keep that information on file at home.
Posted by gerette - 06/16/2009
We’ve been members of Angie’s List for four years, since relocating from DC to Cleveland. Buying a house and having NO idea where to find good service providers is incredibly stressful, Angie’s List has led us to great companies.
Erin, is there a link to the contest information? I can’t find it on their site, but it might be because I’m a member and have a personalized home page.
Posted by *pol - 06/16/2009
I submitted pics of my most shameful spots! Though I am making great strides on my own, I think it may be time for some professional strength on my strongholds of clutter!
Do you think I qualify as a Canadian?
Posted by Patty - 06/17/2009
YIKES — if my dear daughter-in-law sees this, she’ll submit pics of my entire house, for sure. I could qualify as queen, but it would not be an honor. I covet the clean, uncluttered, simple lifestyle, but find it very hard to get there.
Posted by Mike - 06/17/2009
Sure, they may get their house/garage cleaned out for free, but think of how embarrassing that would be? My house is far from being super messy, i’m not a horrid packrat, but even still I’m ashamed when the house isn’t tidy when company comes over. Can you imagine having a house full the gills of boxes and junk, then having a camera crew going over every square inch of that, and then broadcasting on TV? “OMG you have milk in the fridge from 3 years ago??” It would be more embarrassing for relatives I think. “Hey we saw your fathers/sisters/brothers house on TV, wow what a mess”
Posted by Ashih - 06/18/2009
Speaking of clutter, someone should submit a screenshot of Angie’s List.
Posted by Christine Simiriglia - 07/04/2009
Winning a “clutter clean-out” is great, but it doesn’t help to teach people how to keep their lives free of clutter. I hope the “clutter clean-out” involves the winner, and uses the clean-out as a teaching tool. For some step-by-step instructions on de-cluttering one room at a time take a look at: http://www.organize-more-stres.....-Time.html
Posted by Pat - 07/16/2009
Interesting. I am a member of Angie’s List and have been for several years. I have also found good contractors using the list and I found this blog and site information while reading about the contest. Now, I don’t want to be the next queen of clutter, but I am sure interested in finding ways to de-clutter. Glad I found you all here.
Posted by Ann-Marie Meyers - 07/17/2009
Nunya, since when does having a cluttered house make me “dumb?” Part of the problem around my place is exactly the opposite. This is a home full of absent minded professor types, who can’t seem to remember where they put their own heads half the time, let alone see that the stack of things they were using last weekend in a project is still there, under the stack of things someone else was fooling with yesterday for an “experiment.”
I could go on and on, but I can’t find where I left that copy of the history of great 18th Century philosophers I was reading.
Posted by Clare - 07/20/2009
@Ann-Marie Bravo! You hit it on the nose. A household with intelligent, creative, artistic, giving adults and children all with ADD will certainly get … piled high! PHD – piled higher and deeper!
Posted by KD - 07/25/2009
I know I would win hands down which is why I won’t enter but can you please tell me the name of companies that do the de-cluttering.
Oh yeah… A major part of the problem is that I was brought up to see value in everything and everyone even people like Nunya
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