SDMB Slob Reform Club - March edition

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I didn’t see a thread already started for the March version of this, so I thought I might start one.

After not doing anything through most of February, I am now tackling something that I’ve been putting off for years: eliminating the boxes of ‘miscellany’ that clutter my apartment. These boxes have moved with me. In a very real sense, they are part of the psychological clutter of what I am starting to think of as my ‘old life’, which I now want to move beyond.

These boxes contain piles of paper and receipts and bills and magazines and bank statements and all kinds of stuff: the paper trail of my daily life. I am going through each box and either placing each thing in a folder in my underused filing cabinet, or tossing it in the recycle bin. A small number of things are going in a ‘secondary sort’ pile, which I will tackle in a second pass. but not many.

So far, I have found: [ul][li]paperwork I need to copy and send to my sister (finding this was the original motivation for the task);[]an essay on Parallel Resonant Fields that I was looking for–I printed it out in 1996 and the website is now gone;[]missing tax records from 2005 and 2004 (I’d done the taxes, this was just the paperwork);[]info I need for this year’s taxes;[]pictures I need to scan for someone;[]a half-finished design I need to complete for a friend;[]receipts, bank statements, old maps, letters, greeting cards, all kinds of crap.[/ul]The recycle bin is getting quite a workout. :)[/li]
There are four more boxes, including the ones under the bed. This is going to take some time.

2

:: several hours later ::

Halfway down into the box, I found a layer containing more tax records and bills and things, plus the only existing copy of “Doodler’s Magazine”, which I drew and wrote in 1979. :slight_smile:

Maybe I’ll get through this box tonight, and maybe not. I already have three more bags of stuff for the recycle bin. I just wish we didn’t use so much plastic wrap. I have to throw that out.

3

OK, I have an official question for the Reforming Doper Slobs. You have made at least a few steps toward cleaning up your nest, and perhaps gotten some better habits. How do you feel about your progress and your newly cleaner home? Does it make you feel better? More relaxed, cheerier, more competent–or do you care much? How does it make you feel about yourself? And how do you feel when you walk through the door–happier than you used to feel, about the same, dread of what might be lurking, or what?

I’ll post my own feelings about all that in a bit. Meanwhile, I’ve done OK this week except for the bathrooms. I did, however, clean out the pantry–there were some things lurking in there that needed to go. Like, I really got into whole grain and bean recipes and stocked up on beans and stuff a couple of years back, and then my kid became allergic to them, so they’ve just been sitting there. And there are cans of cream of broccoli soup that are way expired, and so on. I had to go to a Tupperware party a little bit ago (and I have decided that product parties are not just unfeminist, but downright degrading and anti-woman, but that’s a rant for another day) and I ordered some of those things for pantries, which I think will really help. I’m anti-product parties, but pro-hygenic pantry. :dubious:

Anyhow. I’ve been giving a little bit of thought to writing an essay, to be a defense of housekeeping. It seems that everyone I see hates housekeeping and considers it to be a horrible thing. I do not claim to be a good housekeeper, but I am in favor of it and think there are a lot of reasons to work at it. Any opinions?

4

:: returns after trotting even more stuff out to the recycle bins ::

“More relaxed, cheerier, more competent” kinda sums it up, really.

Before, my home was private, a den for sleeping, a refuge from the world. Now, gradually, I am looking at it as a place display art and the things that inspire me, a place to design and draw and write, a place to bring selected guests. Eventually, a girlfriend. It’s tied in with the more stylish wardrobe and all that: part of my process of moving out into the world.

You may be interested in a book I gave my friends a couple of years ago: Home Comforts: The Art And Science Of Keeping House. Rereading the Amazon reviews, I think I want to get it for myself now.

I think there’s been a huge amount of misinformation and cultural stereotyping around the art of housekeeping. Even when I was in high school, it was presented as ‘girly stuff’, while us boys got electronics and welding and machine shop and woodworking and auto shop. And such was the misogyny that we boys would do anything rather than be thought of as ‘girly’. This is why I never took typing, something that would come have in handy only five years later, when I went to university and encountered computers. (It was 1981.) If I’d really thought about it, I would have taken that class and been in among all the girls. :smiley:

And the misleadingly-named ‘home economics’ was actually cooking and sewing, and it was restricted to girls! To me, home economics should be part of the art of keeping house, and it should be the part that covers juggling bills and dealing with mortgages, and estimating operating costs for houses and cars before you commit to buy, and all that financial stuff. So many people desperately need that knowledge.

But we men need to keep our houses as well. While families may divide up the tasks any way they want, everyone should have access to at least the basics of knowledge in all areas. (How Heinleinian). :slight_smile:

5

I’m still in, although I’ll only be around on Sundays. I’m doing pretty well.

Keeping up with the housework does make me feel more relaxed. If it’s clean, I’m happier, and if I’m maintaining it I’m much less likely to get depressed about the amount of work piled up. It really does help.

6

I went into this with a rather cocky attitude, and although I can’t say I’ve been humbled, I have been rather surprised at some of the discoveries I’ve made.

I’ve always adhered to the credo “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without!” But I’ve found that I was a bit lax in the “use it up” and “make it do” categories. I already posted about the lotions and bath oils and so forth that I’ve started using up. Now I’ve uncovered my stuff-that’s-badly-in-need-of-mending pile. These items were too daunting to be included in the regular mending pile, and gradually worked their way to the back of the closet. I’ve now made some tough decisions (the black velvet dress was, sadly, beyond hope) and am in the process of salvaging what can be salvaged.

Incidentally, a friend who’s been couch-surfing for about two years now, saw me mending the ghastly rent in the blue paisley skirt. I showed my progress to him and Mr. Rilch, and was telling him how it became torn (Dear Og, why did that day have to be the day my boss asked me to do inventory?) and he said,

“Can’t you just get another one?”

“Well, I got it at a thrift store–”

“Yeah, but can’t you find another one like it?”

“I don’t think there is another one like it. In fact, I’m not sure it was originally purchased in the US.”

“Yeah, but you could find something like it. Try Campaigne Internationale, or whatever that place is called.”

“Nah, nah. They’d charge 50 bucks if I’m lucky for something that other people have too. This is unique; that’s why I want to save it.”

Mr Rilch: “Rilchie’s like an Amish person. Once she has something, she has it for life, no matter how often she has to fix it.”

Guy: “Oh, well, if something of mine breaks, I get another one like it.”

Me, thinking: “And that’s why you’re still couch-surfing.”

I’ve also set aside some pieces of jewelry to be mended. I think I’m going to have to toss that rhinestone necklace you guys gave me advice on cleaning, though. It’s broken as well as dull, and since there’s no point in mending it if I can’t get it sparkly, and I won’t give it away if it’s broken, it’s just going to have to be jettisoned.

Something else that’s fretting me is what to do with all my trinkets. My Peanuts/Classic Pooh/Simpsons/other figurines, my Trilon and Perisphere from the 1964 World’s Fair (parents let me have it), my dried-up piece of cactus, and so forth. I will not get rid of them, or even put them in storage, because they’re all me. It’s not even like I don’t see them and appreciate having them there, because I do. But the only place to put them is on the bookshelves, and what I don’t appreciate is always having to move them to get a book out. I looked for display cases online, but they all cost so much! Perhaps I can get Mr. Rilch to put up shelves. He could use them for his action figures as well. (Why yes, we are Gen-X: why do you ask?)

7

Home Comforts is a wonderful book. If I know that I really need to vacuum or mop, but can’t find the determination to do it, I just take Home Comforts off the shelf and read a few pages–and get inspired.

Cheryl Mendelson is more than a little wacky (she unplugs and cleans out her entire fridge every week…), but also very soothing to read.

8

Well, my current place is a one-room furnished apartment. Having reorganized it so that the unused bed is almost-invisible, the bookcase which actually has books is easy to reach, etc sort of makes me feel efficient. Walking in the door and seeing a clean place and a made bed does not make me feel like “I’m such a slob, I really oughta neatify.”

And walking barefoot and not stepping on stuff is a lot nicer than walking barefoot on random bits of fluff (I have long hair, amazing what a single hair can pick up) and breadcrumbs.

I’m waiting on the final offer on a job, posted an IMHO about that but I’ve been bad about updating it. If I get the offer, I’m dropping the job I have now now. If I don’t get it, I’m most likely dropping my current job at the end of my current contract (May 4th, it says). So this last weekend I didn’t neatify (should have), did a dark load of laundry, did go to the zoo although it was raining (the only animals who weren’t hiding in whatever caves they have were the rhinos, who were doing like in the Discovery channel, the flamingos and the sea lions) and did buy only a little food.

9

Well hello! I am so pleased this thread has been started. I, for one, do feel better seeing my house looking less grimy, and more orderly. I LOVE ticking off my boxes on my ‘to do’ list and my house looks so much the better.
It isn’t that I was miserable when everythng was dusty and messy, but now it looks nice, I take pleasure in keeping it that way.

It has become even easier recently as I have a paper due in next week for my Masters and am widely known as the queen of displacement activity. I find myself cleaning light switches and the like. Yes, light switches, who’d’ve thunk they could be cleaned, not me until last week and they came up on my list, until then I frankly hadn’t given them much thought at all…

So, it is coming along nicely here in the house of Butterscotch as long as we don’t talk about the blocked pipe under the patio which leads into the (just discovered) illegal cesspit and the mechanical digger that is coming tomorrow to rip it all up and pull it all out , so a new and legal one can be put in:(

At least inside will be looking good… My poor garden

10

I have Home comforts, and I really like it. I just like her philosophy of housekeeping.

I agree with all that. Everyone needs to know how to run a home, because everyone has one–male, female, single or attached, we all live somewhere. And if you don’t even know how to do it, you can’t even choose what you are going to do or leave alone (always err on the side of more knowledge, that’s my life philosophy).

As far as I can tell, a well-run home is one that will let people relax and enjoy life more than a badly-run home will. Most people seem to like some amount cleanliness and order more than they like clutter and dirt; it seems to me that most people feel more cheerful when there’s less clutter.

At the same time, I run into a lot of people who seem to think that if they are good housekeepers, it automatically means that they are downtrodden, oppressed, and lacking in personality. It becomes a point of pride to disclaim any interest in housekeeping. The 50’s will usually be mentioned at this point (though my grandmother seemed to enjoy the 50’s quite a lot, and none of us knows what it was like anyway). It seems to me that this signals a lack of thought about the subject, and an assumption that to care for a home is to be low-class and anti-intellectual, not to mention overly materialistic. I am not sure that dirt and disorder always translates to a love of higher things.

Anyhow, I was thinking of trying to organize my thoughts about this topic (and they are quite disorderly) and write them down, possibly only for myself, but possibly to submit to a feminist LDS blog I read. That would mean it would have to be short, though. I’m not sure I can do short. But I am getting tired of the assumption that feminist = no housekeeping allowed.

Ahem. Off to put the sheets in the dryer.

11

Finally bought a vacuum - and I’m amazed at how much crap is continuing to come out of the carpet (it’s a bagless). I might have been happier not knowing.

I did huge, huge amounts of work around New Year’s and so far, have mostly managed to keep it up. It’s not great - but it’s a hell of a lot better than it was for a very long time. And my tolerance for mess has gone down quite a bit. I still have a long way to go - but, definitely getting better.

I’m not sure how I feel about it in general. In some ways it’s nice, but in other ways, it’s even more mentally overwhelming. There’s always more work - and more - and more. In a way, it’s an obligation…but before, it was something that I had to do, someday, maybe. Now, it’s become a pressing, nagging obligation, which is not a relaxing, comforting thing to have.

I think, during March, I’m going to try and face the big wall of yarn. And finally admit “I’m never going to use this.” One of the local yarn shops is having a “donate your yarn” program in April (they give it to programs that need yarn). I’m vaguely ashamed of how much I think I have to donate. I might just leave it in a bag outside the store - anonymously. It’ll get to where it needs to be, and I never have to admit “Yeah, I don’t know what the hell I was thinking, either.” to another person.

I also have to finish the shelves where I’ve been stuffing financial documents willy nilly. I started, but I need to finish that.

12

Well I cleaned out my fridge and cupboards this weekend. And yes I do feel better, happier, more relaxed when I look in there now.

Saturday morning I go to make myself a cup of coffee. I haven’t made one at home since last October. I know this because when I grabbed the creamer out of the fridge I noticed it was expired. It expired last October. :eek:

So being disgusted with myself I cleaned out the fridge and cupboards. I threw out 1/4 of everything I had because it had expired. I need to quit shopping when I am hungry.

13

I think it’s a good idea. I need more reasons to work at it, because right now I’m coming up with more reasons not to.

My house is probably a 6.5 out of 10. I do bits and pieces a few times a week but I rarely do the whole house to tip-top condition. It bothers me that I’m not better at it, but with working full time and getting virtually no help from Mr. K, I have come to resent housework (and Mr. K) and it’s beginning to show. I really do like a clean house, but I’m to the point where I think it would be worth it to toss a couple bills to Merry Maids and let them commence with the feather dusters.

Also, I think I’ll be better motivated to cull the clutter once the weather breaks. Throw the windows open and haul out stuff I haven’t looked at in years, clean out the file cabinets, make a drop at the resale shop, etc. I am feeling a bit depressed (as I do every winter) and I just can’t get it together at the moment.

14

Just got done with the living room. I may have posted a schedule before, but disregard it if I have.

Monday – Living room. Because that’s where the desk is, and it gets very cluttered over the weekend.

Tuesday – Bathrooms. Might as well get them over with.

Wednesday – Kitchen. Low priority, because I just don’t let it get that bad.

Thursday – Bedroom. This often coincides with laundry day.

Friday – Office. If there’s anything that Mr. Rilch has to give input on, I can bring it up with him the next day.

Also, this morning, I went through the fridge with him. Don’t recall when or why that cream cheese was opened, so out it went. Likewise, the parsley. Other than that, I’ve been rotating the food pretty well. (Should have frozen that BBQ chicken, though…)

And I can’t keep pace with the Kim and Aggie episodes that guy’s been posting on YouTube! One of them almost made my heart stop. The title said it took place in Las Vegas, and one of the screencaps showed what looked exactly like my dad’s chair. And my parents’ living room. It wasn’t them, though, (and if it had been, my parents would have let me know) but man, would I love to see those two in my parents’ house! I can picture it now: In the office: “Kim! Have you ever seen an office like this!” “How can anyone fit in here?” “Well, he’s got a little path to get to the computer, and the rest is all boxes!” [Dad comes in] “How can you do any work in here?” “You’re going to be found DEAD in here! Crooshed under a pile of fallen cartons!”

Also, here’s a tip from K&A. If you have musty-smelling books, save the dryer sheets every time you do laundry. They have to be used, so the oil is washed out of them. Tear them in half, and put one of those halves in the pages of each book. I can’t testify that it works, but it’s worth a shot.

15

Sigh. You guys are all doing so good! I’ve fallen. Hard. Yeah, I’ve been sick this past week, but it’s not like it just happened this past week. There is a two week old pizza box on the coffee table. There is a piece of pot roast in the sink. From Saturday. The floor is covered in boxes because I got a pressure cooker which came in a box which came in a box which came in a box. One of those boxes had styrofoam peanuts in it. Whoops.

It’s all pretty discouraging.

16

Say what you want about the truth of astrology, but I had two Virgos over here last night making cough syrup, and my kitchen has never been so clean! :smiley: It started out pretty clean, thanks to my reforming ways, but these ladies are just so anal and detail oriented, they found and cleaned things that have never occurred to me, even with my newfound dedication. One of them pulled the stove out and cleaned the side of the cabinet next to it, because a bit of honey dripped down there. Of course, there was nearly a year worth of grunge and splatter there as well, because it didn’t occur to me that something *touching *the side of the stove could get splatters on it!

I have to brag, though: I impressed them both when I shined the sink when they were done. Both of them wrote down my technique to go shine their own sinks at home! (Soap, scrubby sponge, rinse, Bar Keeper’s Friend, soft side of sponge, rinse, dry with terrycloth towel, Windex, wipe dry with floursack towel. Bask in the reflected glow of lovely shiny sink.)

17

It is discouraging. I try to keep up with the blatantly funky stuff, but the clutter is driving me nuts. My husband and I have fundamentally different ideas on how to handle paperwork. I bought him one of those plastic file cabinets that sits under our kitchen table. Yet he insists on also keeping stacked trays on the table. And he hangs stuff on nails above the window! That drives me crazy.

I held out for three days waiting for him to move his dirty laundry from the chair to the hamper, and he finally did it today. WooHOO!

Today’s chores:

Wash throw rugs
Spot clean the cat puke spot by the bathroom door
Run dishwasher (I’m good about this…I do it every other day usually)
Clear Mr. K’s shoeboxes off the icky couch
Clean off my desk (I’m pretty good about this, too…I try to do it once a week)

18

Hey, anyone have a suggestion as to how to dispose of blank checkbooks? We’ve got some from two addresses ago that I haven’t felt safe throwing out. I suppose I could save them for a bonfire, but that means at least two more months of hanging on to clutter.

19

Do you have access to a shredder? Do you know someone who has gerbils? Gerbils would actually be better because they’d make a nice fluffy nest out of your checkbooks and no one would ever be able to reconstruct them.

I’ve slacked off this week because my fiancé is out of town and I’m fighting off a mild depression. My dishes are clean, though. I’ve been good about the dishes.

20

I don’t have a shredder. I’m so ambivalent about getting one. On the one hand, sometimes I do indeed need one, like now. On the other, I hate the idea of giving in to the Culture of Fear. Plus, of course, it’s one more big honkin’ THING to take up space, and my goal is to get rid of as many THINGS as possible!

I do have a friend with a jerboa - maybe she could use them. I don’t know if they’re chewers, but I think so. They’re gerbil-like, anyway.