Ways that you eliminate your clutter

scorpionldr · #1 09-13-2009, 06:56 PM

So around the house is becoming a mess, and I'm overwhelming myself considering it's year's worth of cds/dvds/video games/loose cd-r's/loose dvd-r's/magazines etc etc.

I know I can put things in shelves and cases, etc, but I know I'm just going to take it out. so, what do you guys to keep your clutter under control?

5StringBlues · #2 09-13-2009, 07:11 PM

Joe Gress · #3 09-13-2009, 07:14 PM

Clean one room at a time. Gather all the trash, throw it out. Then gather all the books, magazines, papers, cd's, dvd's, and whatnot and sort them out. Put them on a bookshelf in order. Force yourself into a habit of putting things back in order on the shelf when your done with them. Don't leave a stack of cds dvds out on the table or something like that. You can only listen/watch one at a time anyways.

Stanley Design · #4 09-13-2009, 07:15 PM

Organize all those cd's on easily accessible racks next to your cd player. DVD's next to the tv, etc. Jeepers, not that hard. I mean then you only have to walk to one spot and save time not looking on your floor for "that cd".

tomd999 · #5 09-13-2009, 07:36 PM

Hiya,

Here's what I use to chase the clutter out of the teen rooms at my place...

Tom

Mr Mean Green

Balog · #6 09-13-2009, 08:16 PM

5StringBlues · #7 09-13-2009, 08:18 PM

^ your avatar and that pic are quite the juxtaposition!

Balog · #8 09-13-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5StringBlues

^ your avatar and that pic are quite the juxtaposition!

Bunny don't play around...

two fingers · #9 09-13-2009, 08:26 PM

All of what they said and one more thing....
Be HONEST about the CRAP you don't need! I had the HARDEST time with this. We live in a condo. And although we can afford a bigger place, my wife and I are cheap. So when the baby came along, we decided not to move. Well, she needed a room and stuff had to go. You would be amazed at what you can do WITHOUT. And the best part is, I don't miss a single item I got rid of (and I really thought I would). Good luck!

**Mark Wilson** · #10 09-13-2009, 08:39 PM

Get a girlfriend.

Joe Gress · #11 09-13-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Get a girlfriend.

This works.

Thunderscreech · #12 09-13-2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balog

This.

Hell, I wish i could pile all the stuff i have and burn it. Fact is, I need less stuff.

And, in another 14 days, i'll have EMPTY BEER CONTAINERS

RAGE IS FUN

hbarcat · #13 09-13-2009, 08:56 PM

I just move periodically and leave half of my crap behind.

warwick.hoy · #14 09-13-2009, 09:08 PM

Ipods and several dock style stereos (one for the bed room,...one for the living room etc) can cut down on the CD clutter. I've got one that is big enough to hold more music than I'll ever listen to. Most of my CDs are on my ipod so the CDs sit in their jewel cases.

DVDs are a different story. Remember those 100 disc CD changers they used to make. If you could find something like that for DVDs,...that would be pretty convienient. They don't seem to be very plentiful. I saw one on ebay,...it was like 900 bucks.

For papers and such, get a shredder and a two drawer filling cabinet. When you open your mail trash the junk,...shred the sensitive stuff (credit card offers etc.) and file the bills. I keep an "actionable" folder for bills that need to be paid,...a "bills" folder for paid bills and lots of other folders for everything from old school papers, staff paper, sheet music, marriage certificate, paystubs,.....

If I didn't have that there would be important documents strewn about everywhere. Make it a point to file and make it a point to purge your files. If you go through and haven't looked at a piece of paper for 6 months,...it's garbage.

Books that you've read and will probably not read again? Pass it along to someone who might enjoy it, or are you just trying to impress someone with your Hardy Boys collection? Cook books are about the only books that you need to keep around. Make a spot in the kitchen for them. Obviously there will be other books that you'll read over and over again,...no problem there,...solution,...uh,...bookshelves.

As two fingers pointed out,...I make it a point to jettison things I don't use or don't need. It's a cathartic feeling to know that the things you own don't own you. Have a yard sale, post things on CL and take the rest to a goodwill.

I seriously believe in living simply. You can only be organized to a point that all the remaining crap is just that,...crap.

kiwlm · #15 09-13-2009, 09:14 PM

put these in boxes/shelves:

things that you have never used in the last year/past 6 months

IconBasser · #16 09-14-2009, 12:04 AM

napalm.

Balog · #17 09-14-2009, 12:13 AM

Organize all your possessions in descending order of resale value. Mail me the top %10. Done.

Jefenator · #18 09-14-2009, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Get a girlfriend.

Can you say: catch-22?

Whenever I visit my mom's apartment, I realize my place isn't cluttered at all.

Stumbo · #19 09-14-2009, 12:52 AM

I have three 6' tables in my office in a "u" configuration. Two tables have the legs removed and replaced with heavy duty office quality two drawer file cabs. One of the cab's drawers is split in two and hold office supplies.

One table has two monitors/keyboards and a lamp on it with the towers and a subwoofer underneath

Second table has a 4' tall x 6' wide x 1' deep bookcase/shelving unit on it filled with various papers/note books/blank CDs/DVDs/etc. On top of that are about 75 CD jewel cases.

The last table has on top: a 2 line telephone, lamp. laser fax/copier/scanner, scanner, laser printer, turn table. Underneath is a stack of tube stereo equipment and a reel-reel stereo tape recorder. There also a shredder in front of it.

I took off the closet doors and installed 6 shelves that are each 8' long by 12" deep. They are filled with office supplies, another shelf of CD jewel cases, software books/boxes, boxes of small electronics/etc. On the floor of the closet are card board storage boxes of varies years of tax returns, bookkeeping, etc. The closet goes floor to ceiling.

For filing, I keep a stack of manila folders on hand. For the filing cabinets, one of the two drawer cabs is divided into the following sections: one section for personal property. Pretty much a folder for each item purchased that has any paperwork that goes with it. Another couple of sections, one each for medical records. Another section for financial records.

Another cab drawer for family history records. Another drawer for education records. Another drawer for current items.

I also keep a stack of small, plastic units that have 3 pull out drawers, probably 10 units (30 drawers) each marked with projects that my wife and I are working on and for current financial receipts, paid bills, unpaid bills and a few other items.

I also have a 3 foot trash can in the room, a movable wooden utility table on wheels with two fold out arms, two chairs, and a lap top in the room. The table has a small keyboard on it with headphones that I use to practice some chords/tunes on.

I think the room is 10'x12' including the closet.

Overall, it pretty well organized except when some filing gets backed up.

To get things organized, you need to have a place to put them. Planning your setup is crucial.

Good luck.

rosanne · #20 09-14-2009, 02:02 AM

Give away what you don't need. Give to friends, post on craigslist or FreeCycle, put stuff in a box and put the box by the sidewalk with a sign saying FREE, give books to the library etc. There are many ways to give away things and they all feel good.