Urge to Purge
Posted on March 8, 2010
Filed Under Stager Blogs |
Marjorie M. Chisholm Leave a Comment
You’ve seen it plastered on all the magazine covers, “Tis the Season to De Clutter, (or is it un clutter) “Re organize your closets” Reorganize your space” Storage Solutions” “Get Organized!”
In my youth this was once known as spring-cleaning, but it was actually cleaning then, you know, when you cleaned the windows inside and out, washed walls. But now it takes on a whole new meaning.
While magazines articles do provide inspiration, they can also make you feel perhaps a little inadequate, who has the money to equip their closets with such high-end organizers, let alone have what looks to be an entire room for a closet!
The instant gratification that comes from clutter removal can be had from something as simple as sorting or cleaning out the proverbial junk drawer. If you start there, I guarantee it will become a chain reaction!
I’ll admit it, while I’m no organizational Nazi, I do get a thrill when I open a closet or a set of drawers I’ve purged…(sometimes I just open and look in because it looks so much better and I get the satisfaction of a job well done)
The fascination with TV shows such as Hoarders, or Clean Sweep (now really are those rooms that messy??) Can make any of us wonder, is there an aspect of hoarding in me? Why am I emotionally attached to that 16” B&W TV I got in 1978 that has been stored under my stairs for 20 years!!??
Having moved many times in my life, it’s amazing how much one can accumulate, let alone a family of 4! I have discovered UN packed boxes in my basement that I actually paid to have moved several times. This taught me one thing; is that it is just stuff and if it has been relegated to the basement or attic, chances are its time to lighten the load. There is nothing like a move to help you purge out all the “stuff” you’ve been hanging onto.
A very useful strategy is to have an impartial friend help with the “keep” “toss” or “donate” decision whether it be your closet or your stash of 80’s country wooden paraphernalia (believe me, those wooden hearts will not some day be considered retro) A friend has no emotional attachment to your stuff and can help you rationalize your decisions.
I think there are a couple of fears when it comes to the home purge, and procrastination does come into play.
Fear #1 – What if I need it and I’ve just gotten rid of it?
I have faced this fear and I can tell you, the moment passes, the purge high far out weighs the remorse! Besides, if it turns out you really need to replace the item, chances are there is an improved version you can shop for and it’s probably cheaper.
Fear #2 – I will feel bad if I give away a gift from my now deceased Nana
Now we all have mementos, gifts with special significance, I’m not suggesting you get rid of those, but if space is an issue, do you need to keep 10 Precious Moments figurines? Pare it down to a favorite. Donate or even pass down a gift you think will benefit someone else or another family member, that way it stays in the family, has become useful again and honors the giver.
Fear #3 – There is so much, I can’t do it all myself, I can’t decide, where do I start?
This is where procrastination rears its ugly head, as a some what reformed procrastinator myself, I know that we wait for the right time, we wait until we feel we can do it perfectly, we hold off because we are afraid we won’t be able to get it all done NOW! But start small, take baby steps, start with the junk drawer, or the linen closet, storage you use daily, the aggravation factor will be gone and the urge to purge will surge!
Storage solutions have become mass marketed, there are entire stores and departments dedicated to the organization of the home, visit your nearest one for inspiration. Solutions can be as simple and cheap as sterilite boxes to beautiful woven baskets or pretty cardboard containers. What ever you do, don’t just put any stuff into those newly purchased organizers, be picky about what you are going to store, remember, the whole idea is to purge, not just hide your stuff!!
Another upside to purging the home is the feeling you get when you donate perfectly good stuff to your nearest Good Will or Salvation Army. It is a little strange though to see your old “stuff” sitting on a store shelf with a price sticker on it, be careful here…. don’t be tempted by the bargain price and buy it back!
If you are short on time and have the funds, call a junk service (try not to take the word “junk” personally here), they come in and remove it for you; all you have to do is the final sweep and sign the cheque. I’ve used them a couple of times and they were great! They did all the heavy lifting and stair climbing, they were polite and patient while I hesitated on the odd decision (as they heaved a heavy dishwasher onto the truck) As I walked through my now almost empty garage and basement, I felt a little twinge of sadness, but the purge high made up for it!!
One last thing, as I looked at the piles of stuff I had accumulated, I realized that it was I who brought most of it into the house, and I pledged to myself that from now on, I would ask myself the following questions before buying any more stuff;
1. Do I really need this? Do I have something already that will do the job?
2. Is this going to end up in the basement in 12 months time, never to see daylight again?
3. Is it recyclable?
Resistance is futile, the urge to purge will surge!
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