Hi Tillie--thanks for the description of your cleaning process. Very helpful for me to visualize and adapt to my own life. You are so hardworking.

I am tired from the office today. Although only 8:30 here, I'm ready to wash my face and call it a night. I took my two large bags of garbage out tonight and a large bag of recycling. I did one load of laundry. So much more to be done but I'm tired. So o will take care of myself for tonight.

KC I hope you had a good day at. work.

Ps all of my emails today were from people trying to get my cyber dollars. No thanks/I'm opting out this year. Just want to be with my loved ones. But really it was disgusting how many businesses tried to get my money today. Absolutely disgusting.

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi KC 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! for all your accomplishments! 😀
We understand how hard it is when you are already tired from working away from the house all day.
This is when doing just 5, 10 or 15 minute tasks can help make a difference.
Wishing you all the best with "the family talk". (((hugs)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YEA!!! for your kitchen being the least cluttered it's been! 😀

OK, here's my plan of attack for today...
First I will clean the bathroom. Mirrors, sink, counter, tub and toilet.
I will start the pantry cleaning project on the right side of the area, that's the easiest section.
This space has 2 stacks of 3 plastic milk crates set on their sides to make shelves.
I will empty all six crates and put them in the bath tub, spray them with cleaner, rinse them off with the shower.
As they drip dry I will wash the wall and floor where they were in the pantry.
While I'm in there I will also wipe/wash/dust the small upright freezer that's against the back wall and the 2 cupboards above it.
When everything is dry I will wipe off everything that goes on these shelves as I put it all back where it goes.
Then I will wash my hair.
So happy that that 4 day holiday is over and he's back to work today! 😀

Great work KC! Superb! I wish I could say my kitchen is clean. But I'm getting there. Right now it's the least cluttered it's been. Let's do this! You are helping me a lot, KC! I am leaving for work soon too. We can do this.

I'll see you after work tonight! Tonight is garbage night so I'll feel a sense of accomplishment once the bags are out.

Tillie, thanks for the cheers. You know this goes so much better for me when I'm posting. I have to go get ready for work. Just enjoying a cup of coffee after my shower. I'm tired after so many days off! Hope you have a wonderful day! Let us know what you are doing today. Hello to Marty & Scooter and the other cats.

I cleaned my front bathroom toilet and the counter and sink. And set alarms to call and make apps tomorrow for eyes and dentist. I go to bed feeling a little accomplished. Tomorrow I need to do at least 30 minutes of work. I work 10 hour days and don't get home until almost 7 pm. Getting supper ready is a chore. So, maybe just finishing the bathroom. And doing one chore in living room. See u ladies. Still have to tackle the family talk.

Well I got my clothes hung up and put away and did my two loads of laundry. Waiting on 2nd to dry. Kitchen is clean. 2 bags of trash taken out. 2 donation bags. Thank u so much for helping me. I like how this works. Keeps it fresh on my mind, even when I'm resting. See u guys tomorrow.

WAY TO GO Tatoulia!!!! 😀

2 donation bags & two trash bags. Shredded mail, cleaned cat box. Doing one last load of laundry before calling it a night.

Thanks for the help KC & Tillie.

Checking in--didn't nap but I did eat. I'm doing another load of laundry and puttering in kitchen. Have a bag of recyclables together and one bag of trash. Just cleaned kitty's placemat and dishes. Have dishwasher ready to run later. Am working on donation bag.

Just threw out my container of condiment packets. At first I sorted and was only going to keep a few, then I tossed them all,

Cleaned one kitchen counter. Going to putter some more.

Hey KC something I had to learn: throw out/recycle boxes. No matter how cute, how good, how strong. Another thing I've learned: Sometimes it's more important to just throw out than getting to donation center. This is your/my/our sanity at stake here.

Yay! Congratulations KC! Congratulations Tillie!

I am back from getting mom out and I'm tired. I may nap a bit. I haven't eaten either, so I'm torn what to do first.

KC,let me tell you, you have come to the right place. Something I've found to be true is if I slip and don't do anything, I don't post. And the less I post, the less I do. So post whether you have something to "report," or not. Glad you are here. Great work today!

I put my groceries away and I have some stuff to put into recycle bag. I will do this as I ponder whether I should nap or eat. I think I'll make a quick bite then nap

YEA!!!
WAY TO GO! KC 😀
Great start.

I have vacuumed & straightened the dining room area because I need that space to put the stuff as I take it out of the pantry.
Worst of it was ALL the darn cat toys.
I made 3 equal piles out of all of them.
One pile for the trash, one pile for the poor kitties in the animal shelter and one pile that they can keep.
Scooter says I'm mean. ;P
It snowed again but now the sun is shining.

Just so I meet my goal and end on success, I will hang up clothes from the love seat. Wash, dry and put away 2 loads of laundry. I've already cooked and put dishes in dishwasher. Just being able to speak openly without being judged is such a shot in the arm. I will put 2 bags of donations in my car and two bags of trash to trashcan. Than u so much. I have someone in my corner!

Good plan. I bet it was beautiful outside with the snow. I'm going to get dressed now and take mom out.

I have done one load of laundry and emptied the clean dishes from the dishwasher and refilled it with more dishes. I am going to hang laundry and call mom.

OK Tatoulia 😀

I will start on it this week.
It is easier if I break it down into sections and do them on 2 or 3 different days.
Easier on my back this way.
So today I will just be doing the planning.

KC! TILLIE!

let's do this! I will modify for now so that we are doing it together! I will gather up TWO bags of garbage and TWO bags of donations and I will do it today!

KC you've come to the right place! What is reasonable for you to do today?

Tillie that is a lot of work! Keep us advised of your progress!

KC
I once was where you are now.
No kids but a totally cluttered and filthy home.
The hoarder man would not stop accumulating or clean up his mess.
What I did...
I started small, the end table beside the couch.
I bagged up everything on it, under it and surrounding it.
Placed the bags in his bedroom or garage.
From there I slowly worked my way around the living room bagging all his stuff and putting it out of my sight.
I then cleaned the area and defended it vigorously.
Anything "new" he dropped there was immediately removed and put in "his" areas.
I called my areas "NO CLUTTER ZONES".
Eventually the inside of my home was clear and clean.
I have not allowed him to re-clutter my "ZONES" but he can clutter his bedroom, garage, carport and yard.
It's hard living with someone who does not value a clean home but we must stand up for ourselves with something as important as this.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi KC 🙂
Would you like to join Tatoulia and me in a challenge?
She needs to get 5 bags/boxes off to goodwill and I need to seriously wash down/dust my walk in pantry.
Not and easy task, that pantry.
First I have to remove all the stuff from the shelves, pull out shelf units, clean them, clean behind and under them.
Then wipe off EVERYTHING as I put it all back in there.
That pantry holds so much more than just food. It's the only storage space in this house for so many different and assorted necessary and used things.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
I woke up this morning to see a few inches of snow covering everything! 😀
The whole world looks so fresh and clean when it's all covered up with snow.

My house is getting the best of me. I'm so overwhelmed that I rarely get much done. I have teenage kids that often add to the mess and a husband who is constantly bring more stuff in and making his own mess. I've read books, watched shows but I'm stuck. The condition of my house is not only dirty and cluttered but now major work needs to be done on it. I just need to set some goals and get busy. I would like to start in the living room first. I need to clear the floor of dirt, trash and stuff that doesn't belong in here. Hang up clothes that were dumped on the couch. Clean and vacuumore the furniture. Vacuum all spider webs up. And sweep, vacuum and mop floor. And dust. That would be an awesome start. I get little support from my family. I don't do a good job of asking/demanding either. Just tired of not living normal and hiding from friends and family. My kids never have friends over. I send them to their friends houses. Is this a place that can help me?

Hi KC! So glad you are back. There are a lot of different threads here, The Daily Chat is by far the most active.

We post our successes, our struggles, etc here. Sometimes we have a challenge, which is voluntary, such as pick an area to clean or post what you've accomplished. For a while we did an Indoor Challenge, where we would post what we took care of indoors. Sometimes we have a monthly one. I find if I post, I get more done. What do you need help with? Do you know where to start? When I first came on here everyone cheered me and helped me get rid of my books, books, books and other treasures I really need another Cleanout and would happily join you.

I could honestly stand to get rid of five bags/boxes to goodwill. What are your thoughts? You'll see that Tillie recently wrote me a post discussing paring down items. I found it very helpful

There is also an online support group--press the red button on the right, which I think meets twice a week. I do not partake in that as it doesn't fit me as well as posting here does.

Still trying to figure this online group out. Got to figure out how to bookmark on my phone. Need a buddy to help me get motivated to clean. I had heard it's a good accountable way to accomplish cleaning and decluttering goals.

Hi Everybody 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO! for all you have gotten done! 😀
Hope you found something yummy to eat.
I find that anything goes better with a sound track, especially any kind of housework.

Well, I made the ginger bread too. ;D
Kitchen is all clean and put away, YEA! me ;P
There is a very gusty frigid winter wind blowing outside.
The sky is full of big dark gray snow clouds.
Happy to be inside, but worry about the homeless & feral kitties out there. 🙁
Wish I could do more than just feed them.

Scooter! Glued to the screen! So much fun.

Tillie baking sounds very nice and being able to pop something out of the freezer to enjoy with a cup of tea will be comforting this winter.

After sleeping all day yesterday & running around today, I am now home and doing household stuff. I decorated the hallway for Christmas (lobby of my building) and I just finished wrapping sister's gifts to mail to her. I changed my sheets and am doing laundry. I haven't had a meal and its 8:00 PM so I better look alive on that front. Music is on and I'm running around getting things done. Maybe that's the key for me--a soundtrack!

Glad you got your wish, Anony. I wish you much happiness.

Well my dears, I'm going to make something to eat and see if I can't keep working.

I'm going back to the indoor challenge, and list what I get done. Whatever gets me going!

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
YEA!!! WTG! ;D
What a GREAT way to enjoy the day! (((hugs)))

Hi KC 🙂
Good Luck! finding cleaning buddies 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Thank you, but not really.
They were ready to make this change.
It was harder for her than him to let things go but it all worked out very well in the end. 😀
Sorry about the dental problems (((hugs)))
Keep an eye on both those cats. One may be ill and the other is now his caretaker.
I have seen this happen before, one gets sick and the others start treating them special.

Spent a lot of time yesterday sitting with Scooter (the cat) watching "videos For Cats" on youtube on the tv.
The movies consist of squirrels, bunnies, assorted birds and other wildlife going about their daily routines.
Scooter stares at the tv, unblinking for a full half hour.
All I have to do is put a video on and he is right there, sitting quietly, watching.
He doesn't even pay this much attention to an actual real life living mouse he may have out in the yard, which is why his mice always get away.
Today I plan to make cupcakes & freeze them for a future day then clean up the kitchen.
I really want ginger bread, maybe I should make up some of that too and freeze it for later.
I enjoy having sweet homemade treats in the house during the wintertime.
So nice on a cold stormy night with a hot cup of tea. 😀

Hello to all!
It sounds like you are all doing great with new accomplishments! Congratulations!
Tillie, what an amazing gift to have enabled your neighbors to declutter down that far & then travel in their RV!!! You are such an incredible woman!
Tatoulua, i have thought so much about your words on a relationship that includes personal alone time. I even told him how reading about your relationship affected me while we were broken up. He is so regretful right now & doing all he can to accommodate my needs. I know that could change later, but one thing that we have worked out that id wanted before is for him to help me with my place on his slow work days in exchange i can buy him groceries. He didnt want me to outright pay him, but hes ok with me buying him health food. He would be far more helpful than even my fantasy worker, which i may not find in my lifetime, so i am thrilled. I do feel so blessed! I felt so mixed on wanting him happy, yet wanting him to regret leaving me and i got my wish times 10! And i also got another outright wish: 2 of my tame cats have been fighting/bullying for about 7 years & are now getting along to the point of sharing the same food bowl!!! It is a miracle! Except for 2 bad tooth aches that made me fast on Thanksgiving, i am as happy as a clam, as my Mom used to say! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE, TO ALL!!! ~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~♡~

I lounged in bed almost all day, Tillie, and it was fantastic. No shopping here.

Hi KC--YES! What do you have in mind?

Anyone want to buddy up to get focused on cleaning?

Anyone want to buddy up to get focused on cleaning?

Hello people 🙂

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
So right you are about small token gifts 🙂

Has been a nice quiet day here.
Too cold to be outdoors but nice & comfy inside.
Hoping you all have had a good day too. 😉

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

YES on shopping small businesses! And let's also bear in mind that we should be buying small too. One small thoughtful card or gift is better than the shiniest newest thing out there. A scarf, mittens, a book, a little time together, that's all most people want.

Drove into town to get my take & bake thanksgiving pizza and while there we had the first little sprinkling of snow flakes! 😀

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

If you find you need to shop this holiday season for gifts and such
please try to support your local small businesses.
The Mom & Pop stores that don't have a large corporation backing them. 😉

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
(((HUGS)))
Thank you and thank you for your kind and generous friendship.

If you find a certain area or type of item is giving you a hard time sorting out or cleaning
break it down into smaller bites and or break the task down into shorter amounts of time working there.
Never push yourself to the point of total frustration.
Always try to end a session on a high note so you will not dread getting back to it after you take a break.
You can also always come here and ask us
"what we would do" or how we would do something, if you're stuck. ;D
When neighbor friend got stuck and was just standing there, my helping to talk her through her thought processes helped get her unstuck.
Yes, she loves to shop in stores and online. She had lots and lots of stuff. She really liked all her stuff.
I would not classify her as a hoarder. She is very typical and average in that she had a big house and filled all the spaces with something.
They went from a very large 3 bedroom house with lots of storage, 4 outdoor sheds and a garage with walls of cupboards, down to a big RV and a storage locker containing only the best & most loved keeper items.
We did this in little over a month and by the end we were all burned out mentally after making so many, many decisions.
Now they are living their dream of traveling the country in their RV with their 3 cats & 2 dogs.
Footloose and fancy free. ;D
Decluttering, downsizing and organizing and cleaning is all very mentally tiring work.
Be kind and gentle with yourself.
Schedule in time to eat and rest and sleep and just sit quietly.
(((HUGS)))

Sun is shining but not expected to get up to 50 degrees here today.
I will find something to do to amuse myself and the cats. ;D

Everybody be extra careful if you are driving anywhere this weekend.
Stay safe. (((hugs)))