Incomplete Gadgets

Clutter can sometimes be defined as gadgets missing pieces.  We fully intend to complete the set again, but just haven't gotten around to it.  The stuff just sits around, unused, cluttering up our cabinets, drawers, shelves, and garages.

I have a set of cheese grater accessories with no holder or handle.  It's been a couple of years.  I really want to replace the missing apparatus.  There comes a time, however,  when something unfixed needs to exit your life.  It's not worth the wait or effort to fix it.

I'm making a plan today to see if I can replace that part.  If not, I'm going to give the parts away.  I've survived without it this long, and I won't mourn the loss.

Scaling Down Collections

My aunt had amazing collections.  I loved visiting her during her pencil sharpener phase.  Lest you worry about her connection with reality, she collected these pencil sharpeners that looked like antique items:  victrola, Model T, wringer washer, etc.  And any of them could sharpen your pencil should the need arise!  It was a history lesson just looking at them throughout her home.  She probably had 30 to 40 at the time.  This collection may have led me to my career as a teacher who loves teaching history.

If you collect something and it brings joy to you and others, by all means, keep it.  However, if you begin grumbling about having to dust it all, find room for new ones, or your spouse is complaining about the growing collection, consider paring it down to your top five pieces.  Take photos of the others if you want the memory and sell or give away the rest.

Habit

How is your decluttering going?  You may see great progress or think you haven't yet made a dent.  By ridding ourselves of at least one thing a day, we're developing habits.  I remember watching the TV show Clean House for several years.  The team would go to a VERY cluttered, messy home.  Certain rooms would be emptied, the stuff sorted into keep, trash, and sell piles.  After a big yard sale, the proceeds would go toward redecorating the house.  I wondered about the follow up.  Can people with a collecting or messiness problem change in one quick week?  I think in general, no.  Developing habits of change is important to keeping our spaces neat and uncluttered.  Keep plugging away each day…you are building stamina and good habits.

Drinks in Hand

Ah, the memories seeing this photo of Melmac dishes!  One summer I had a plate, a bowl, and one of these mugs as my dinnerware for nine weeks.  Each of us kept our dish set in a drawstring bag and washed the dishes after each meal.  A lady from my hometown had loaned them to me because they were solid plastic but lightweight and indestructible.  I worked and lived on the island of Haiti in the Caribbean that summer in 100+ degree heat and humidity, outside much of the day, and our very modest sleeping area had no air-conditioning.  Many times during the summer, I wished I had a bigger glass or cup.  My little mug was indestructible, but only held about 8 oz. of water or Koolaid at a time.  Plastic water bottles were not yet discovered in Haiti.  Because I only had this ONE cup, I took very good care of it.

I survivied the entire summer drinking 8 oz. at a time from that mug and was able to return the dinnerware to my kind benefactress.

Le cadeau idéal (thé perfect gift in French) lately is a drinking tumbler, water bottle, travel mug, etc.  So many of us spend time driving places that it's nice to bring along refreshment or coffee.  We often have MANY of these in our cupboards.  Look and determine how many you like and need to keep.   Attempt to declutter that storage area!  It's a proven fact that a person can survive with one plastic 8 oz. cup.

Sewing Patterns

I remember having a strong reaction to a teenaged guy who expressed surprise that sewing patterns could be used more than once.  Perhaps he thought the filmy, thin paper wouldn't hold up to multiple uses.  For a seamstress, it's a badge of honor to be able to use the same sewing pattern for multiple projects!

That  is why it's very difficult to get rid of patterns.  What if I need it again?  What if this skirt comes back in style later?  I guess the questions we really need to ask ourselves are things like:

"Do I even sew much anymore?"  (that's a sad one)
"Do I have anyone to sew for?"  (someday I hope for grandchildren)
"Did this pattern make a nicely fitted outfit the first time or was it awkward?  (If the answer is "no," get rid of it and find a better one next time)

Keep your favorites and your hopefuls.  Weed out any that are out of style, didn't flatter you,  or will never be used again.

Sheets

To simplify our lives and declutter our homes, we need to have a plan.  What we keep in our homes should have a purpose or be beautiful to us claim the experts.  In that vein of thought, I'm targeting my sheet collection.  As empty nesters, we have extra beds used only when guests come, which isn't very often.  Here are questions I'm asking:

1.  How many sheet sets do we own?  I just pulled a pile out of my cedar chest and there's a pile.
2.  How many sets do I need for the beds in the house?  For guest beds, probably one set each.
3.  Do we have random fitted, flat sheets or extra pillowcases that don't match?

I am washing the entire lot, sorting them into sets, and then will declutter the extras.

Phone Books/Directories

I've concluded that the people who deliver new phone books to our neighborhood aren't the brightest bulbs on the tree.  Every year they fling the plastic covered book into a mud puddle or this year, into a snow bank.  Some of our less attentive neighbors just keep driving over their books.  It's like a science experiment to me…how long does it take for a thick phone book to disintegrate in a driveway enduring the elements and the weight of multiple tire crossings?

All that aside, do we need phone books?  When I do look up someone's name/number, or even a business, often they are not listed anymore.  Probably ten or more years ago, competing companies began delivering more than one phone directory per year.  NOT NEEDED!

I am recycling my newest phone book along with another.  For some reason, I like having ONE in the box by the home phone.  If my husband has his way, that landline phone will be gone soon as we receive too many political or research calls on it.  When that happens, the phone books will also go in favor of the Internet and cell phone contact lists.