Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories?
Replies
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RubyRed427 wrote: »i recently went through every holiday’s decorations... Halloween, Thanksgiving, (not Christmas) and the others. I threw away half of each holiday’s stuff. And put each category in it’s own box marked with the holiday. This was no easy task because I threw away perfectly good things, but you cannot keep it all. Right? Streamlining.
I also have been staying away from Target. That place can suck you and make you buy 10 extra things you don’t need. Small triumphs.
I’ve gone through our basement and have maybe 4 more big totes to look through. I labeled each box I went through with a person’s name of who the items belong to. My husband has hundreds of books in so many boxes, it’s really awful. Those poor books suffocating down there. I felt like that when I saw them. It is so much better for us to share the books, trade them, donate them and only save the most favorite ones.
And your favorite books should be on a tidy bookshelf. My two cents on books. 
Wow! The answer is YES and super mega YAY YOU. That's a lot of hard work and the accomplishment you are making and striving for is nothing less than terrific. Girl...I love what you said about Target ( I love Target too and it's soooo easy to over do it, because of the super cute (NICE) stuff they carry). That's one of the reasons when I started this thread it was/is about declutter people/PLACES/and things that are fun, cool, NICE but that we must learn to control ourselves in or stay out until we do. But here's the rub...for me (and I'm thinking a lot of others) if I don't get a handle on the "emotions/self control" of places like Target--I'll just substitute Target for something/someplace else. Like weight-blastification and a "lifestyle" of decluttering...it's going to take TIME, and maybe a lot of time. Little by little, step by step and then, maybe sooner, maybe a LOT later--BOOM, the light goes off and we'll able to go to Target or anything else with moderation and self control.
You're such a lovely person and I'm so thrilled your posting here--YAY YOU, get it girl!2 -
brenn24179 wrote: »MarisaMSimon wrote: »I hope my story could help someone going through this. I'm glad I came across this thread!
I consider this my psychological success story even though my body is loading at the time
I was always told by my abusive father and step-mom that I'm ugly because I'm fat and that no man would ever love me. I was on the upper end of a normal weight on my BMI when they would tell me this and I was in swim/water polo/volleyball in high school. My father would make me wake up every morning to run 5 miles and then after school I would do 2 hours of practice with my respective teams. When I got home, I had to do more weight training. I would workout approximately 4 hours a day because I was forced to. It's part of my abusive upbringing...which flash forward until last year when I turned 27 years old and I had a mental breakdown. I have gained 80 pounds since high school and now I'm seen as a clown and an outsider to the family. My father continued the psychological abuse and I couldn't take it anymore and almost committed suicide last year a couple months before marrying my hubby. My husband was terrified to lose me and made me go to therapy. I was diagnosed with PTSD and wrote a no-contact letter to my family and uninvited them from my wedding. I have been 1 year without my family and I feel like I am now free. I have lost 27 pounds so far and I have about 50 more to go. I feel like a different person. The stresses from my family were really getting to me emotionally. I was so suicidal and now those thoughts never cross my mind. It was a very tough journey and I walked myself down the aisle on my wedding to start a brand new life with the people that I love and those that love me back.
If you're going through something like this, make sure to put your emotional health first. It's so tough when you feel like everything is crashing down. Once I took care of that, everything else fell into place. If anyone needs to talk, please message me. I would like to connect and maybe help you on your journey if you're going through something similar.
I was called short and dumpy by my abusive father, still cant get that out of my mind even though I am at goal weight. Abusive Mom would say do you have fluid? what does the Dr say? They would say we will have to take walls down in the house if she gets bigger. I was about 40 lbs over weight. He would call and leave on answering machine, how many sandwiches have you ate today? laughing. These are the same parents that had Xmas dinner with my exhusb and lady he left me for. They are best buddies so yes I have distanced myself and had a good holiday this year without family.
YAY you for distancing yourself from toxic/foolish people. YAY you for not buying the lie that this is my (fill in the blank) so I must put up with (fill in the blank) because that's "just the way it is or they are" NOPE--BYE and best wishes. The key to LETTING GO AND DON'T LOOK BACK is all of this "way of thinking/living/being" MUST be 100% without an ounce of anger, self-pity, bitterness, malice, wrath and all that stuff. DARING NOT TO FEEL SORRY FOR THEM NOR YOURSELF EVER...Why? Because you don't have to to allow anger/wrath/bitterness/self pity and yuck to influence and fill you up with it's POISON. You MUST let go and not allow their YUCK to fill you with anything other than sheer unadulterated JOY that your eyes are truly open, you have POWER to do what's necessary to not only "survive" but THRIVE IN A NEW LIFESTYLE OF LIVING AND THINKING/DOING/BEING and using that "energy" of yuck to better your life/thinking/handling stuff with power and because it's over/you're DONE with the yuck, you not only "see" them now, but "see" yourself too and/or you're no longer going to "wink an eye" at their foolishness nor your own foolishness anymore--giving yourself over to mental, physical, emotional, financial, spiritual HEALTH and well-being/doing, Why? Because your can. MAN!!!! That's the place to be--in control of yourself and your emotions and not giving place to "prison" of anger, bitterness and UGH. {{{{ Hugs}}}}2 -
Hey gang!
Just wanted to share this super important thing/way of thinking that helps me so much in dealing with toxic people/places and things....
NICE DOES NOT EQUAL GOOD. Just because someone, someplace, something is "nice" doesn't mean you must embrace them/it. Go for GOOD (for in thru) you always, instead of "nice". Like my earthly daddy always tried to teach me: "EVERYTHING THAT LOOKS/SOUNDS/SEEMS good, ain't good" and if it aint good...LET IT GO AND DON'T LOOK BACK, period. Don't wait, as soon as you "sense or see" something aint right/good--make like a library and book, make like a tree and leave, make like a shepard and get the flock outta there! Why? Because you CAN!2 -
For the last few weeks I've been going through boxes. My spare room has been accumulating the half full boxes (bad idea)! Today I decided that was enough, so I went into the blackness. To my shock, I only had 1 box, 1/2 full, and a bunch of empty boxes! I had a bunch of things for my daughter, so I filled 2 boxes for her.
WIN!1 -
For the last few weeks I've been going through boxes. My spare room has been accumulating the half full boxes (bad idea)! Today I decided that was enough, so I went into the blackness. To my shock, I only had 1 box, 1/2 full, and a bunch of empty boxes! I had a bunch of things for my daughter, so I filled 2 boxes for her.
WIN!
"so I went into the blackness." STOP IT, I can't stand it...
I am ROLLING over here, I'm laughing sooooooooooooooo hard at your saying "so I went into the blackness." it's too much, you're sooooo funny!
YAY Snoo girl, win indeed--super YAY YOU!!! {{{{ giggling big time still and HUGS }}}}}}}}}}}}1 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »For the last few weeks I've been going through boxes. My spare room has been accumulating the half full boxes (bad idea)! Today I decided that was enough, so I went into the blackness. To my shock, I only had 1 box, 1/2 full, and a bunch of empty boxes! I had a bunch of things for my daughter, so I filled 2 boxes for her.
WIN!
"so I went into the blackness." STOP IT, I can't stand it... I am ROLLING over here, I'm laughing sooooooooooooooo hard at your saying "so I went into the blackness." it's too much, you're sooooo funny!
YAY Snoo girl, win indeed--super YAY YOU!!! {{{{ giggling big time still and HUGS }}}}}}}}}}}}
I'm laughing with you, I didn't realize how funny that sounds0 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »For the last few weeks I've been going through boxes. My spare room has been accumulating the half full boxes (bad idea)! Today I decided that was enough, so I went into the blackness. To my shock, I only had 1 box, 1/2 full, and a bunch of empty boxes! I had a bunch of things for my daughter, so I filled 2 boxes for her.
WIN!
"so I went into the blackness." STOP IT, I can't stand it... I am ROLLING over here, I'm laughing sooooooooooooooo hard at your saying "so I went into the blackness." it's too much, you're sooooo funny!
YAY Snoo girl, win indeed--super YAY YOU!!! {{{{ giggling big time still and HUGS }}}}}}}}}}}}
I'm laughing with you, I didn't realize how funny that sounds 1 -
From the you learn something new everyday and DUH files:
One of my favorite stores is having a home stuff sale and have pillows that are a decent price with a coupon. WELL, after reading reviews on various pillows...I discovered a lot of people, wait for it--WASH THEIR PILLOWS
I've been on this earth for a fairly LONG time and I NEVER knew/thought about washing pillows, I simply threw them away once I've had them for a while. How embarrassing (and unnecessarily EXPENSIVE) that I never knew you could/SHOULD be washing your pillows.
If anyone has any other, Wow...I never knew you could/should (fill in the blank) with a decluttering/cleaning tip, please feel free to add.
It's wonderful that there are so many things I don't (and should) know. I love learning, no matter how "tacky nor embarrassing". Yikes and YAY!!!!4 -
I never washed my pillows either. Just the special cover and the pillow cases of course...
I heard about the washing but I am very concerned that once I put them inside the washing machine, the pillows will end up in the trash. I need to take an inexpensive old pillow and use it as a guinea pig..Stay tuned
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I never washed my pillows either. Just the special cover and the pillow cases of course...
I heard about the washing but I am very concerned that once I put them inside the washing machine, the pillows will end up in the trash. I need to take an inexpensive old pillow and use it as a guinea pig..Stay tuned
I know, I always have/used pillow protectors and CLEAN pillowcases always, but never actually washed the pillows and from what I've been reading, you can make your "GOOD" pillows like new again by WASHING THEM....DUH!!!! I was reading about it and A LOT of people wash their pillows on the regular and they come out as good as new, all fluffy and everything--YIKES and super YAY!!!!!
HOW TO WASH PILLOWS--THE ULTIMATE GUIDE HOW TO GUIDE FOR PILLOWS
https://www.nectarsleep.com/posts/how-to-wash-pillows/
Here's some Before and after pillow washings pics:
https://www.practicallyfunctional.com/how-to-wash-pillows-in-washing-machine/
Here's another one:
https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/how-to-clean-pillows/
https://diyreal.com/how-to-wash-whiten-yellowed-pillows/2 -
Thanks for the links. I will take a look and try first with the guest room pillows. Mine and my husband are special "foam" neck pillows so I don't know about the washing. Maybe I can look and see if I find a tag for washing instructions.3
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Thanks for the links. I will take a look and try first with the guest room pillows. Mine and my husband are special "foam" neck pillows so I don't know about the washing. Maybe I can look and see if I find a tag for washing instructions.
Best/well wishes on the "experiment" of pillow washing and I have a feeling you're going to LOVE the results. That said, I was reading where some people washed down pillows and some feathers got their washing machine jammed up and they had to get their machine repaired--a couple of people mentioned this, but the greater majority were thrilled. Also, from what I read, you're right--the "foam" pillows need to be spot washed/clean...not put in the washing machine. Best of all, as you said, looked at/follow the instructions on the tags. Here's to re-NEW cleaned pillows!2 -
Until recently, I've had feather pillows so I never considered washing them. I am now going to have to rethink this!2
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Until recently, I've had feather pillows so I never considered washing them. I am now going to have to rethink this!
{{{ waving *Hi* Snoo }}}}}
I LOVE wiki-how so much, I learn so much from that fabulous site. I found this for you and anyone with down pillows:
https://www.wikihow.life/Wash-Feather-Pillows
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I have always washed pillows...altho not as often as I probably need to, lol.2
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RetiredAndLovingIt wrote: »I have always washed pillows...altho not as often as I probably need to, lol.
As I was researching this, I found people are washing their pillows either twice per year (WHEW, hearing that made me feel less, ummmm, "narley" as people used to say) AND I like the idea of washing pillows rather than replacing them every year too--"good" pillows are kinda hard to find and can be expensive as all get out--shocking how expensive good pillows are--hmmmph! ). Also, I've been reading that some people wash their pillows every quarter (3 months)/when they turn their mattresses over. I like the idea of every quarter when turning the mattress. 3 -
I don’t wash my pillows; I usually buy new ones. But I do put the pillows and comforter out in the sun on a sunny, breezy day to freshen them a bit. Smells like sunshine!1
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Many mattresses can't be turned over, just turned around. Most of them come now with a "top pad" attached to the original mattress (I have no idea what is that thing called) that can't be removed. I have a Cal-king size bed, so it takes two people to do the rotation, and hubby is not too happy with that chore.
Mine has a thick mattress cover that I send to the cleaners once a year because it doesn't fit inside my washing machine. I had to buy two covers so I never have to leave the mattress without protection. Oh the things that we do for health and cleanliness!3 -
RubyRed427 wrote: »I don’t wash my pillows; I usually buy new ones. But I do put the pillows and comforter out in the sun on a sunny, breezy day to freshen them a bit. Smells like sunshine!
What a terrific reply. I LOVE the idea--especially giving the pillows and bedding a
"sun/fresh air bath" which will freshen the a bit and get them to "smell like sunshine"
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Many mattresses can't be turned over, just turned around. Most of them come now with a "top pad" attached to the original mattress (I have no idea what is that thing called) that can't be removed. I have a Cal-king size bed, so it takes two people to do the rotation, and hubby is not too happy with that chore.
Mine has a thick mattress cover that I send to the cleaners once a year because it doesn't fit inside my washing machine. I had to buy two covers so I never have to leave the mattress without protection. Oh the things that we do for health and cleanliness! Turning our king size mattress is a source of comical relief/delight and a feat of strength for hubby and I. We have sons that help us most times, but sometime it's just my beloved and I. We've done it so often, we've got it down pat and it's a relatively quick job, but it's still funny and kinda hard too--but we LOVE the results.
"Oh the things that we do for health and cleanliness!" I know right?!? 1 -
Pillows update: I washed two pillows today and I am happy with the results. They look nice, fluffy and fresh.
The pillows were in pretty good condition, including the covers (I washed them too). No yellow marks or stains. The pillows were in one of the guest rooms, and they are only used once a year (grandchildren rooms). When I removed the covers, I noticed the brand and I realized that they were very old since that store closed long time ago.
I didn't mind if the washing was going to be successful or not because the pillows were old, but now that everything turned so well, they will stay in the same room for a while longer. However, I am thinking in changing the pillows in the main guest room since they are also old and more worn out because they used more often. Probably not worth washing.
@NewLIFEstyle4ME Thank you for the links. They were very helpful, but I admit that I didn’t follow the instructions as written all the way. Nevertheless, I had great results.
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I read and donated around 150 books off my bookshelves in the past year and a half. I'm down to 236 books on my bookshelves right now. I'm hoping to get down to under 200 books by the time I move. My books are sorted into two groups. The books I intend to keep and the books I will read and then donate. I'm currently reading a book a week.9
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serendipity22 wrote: »I read and donated around 150 books off my bookshelves in the past year and a half. I'm down to 236 books on my bookshelves right now. I'm hoping to get down to under 200 books by the time I move. My books are sorted into two groups. The books I intend to keep and the books I will read and then donate. I'm currently reading a book a week.
You're a first class winner and all time champion--YAY YOU! I love reading and books so much and before this LET IT GO AND DON'T LOOK BACK adventure, I had maybe 1,000 books (okay, I had MORE than 1,000 books) I had so many books, I had to use/redesign one of my rooms into a library--filled with bookshelves and reading areas that was/used to be a cluttered MESS--all the time. I gave away, and tossed (
) hundreds and hundreds and HUNDREDS of books. I threw away a ton--LITERALLY of books ( and thus of cash getting) getting rid of those books but I also threw away an "addiction" of sorts and I don't miss one book I got rid of and my library is now so pretty and practical--just a lovely space now (inside my mind and heart AND home).
Once again, you so rock and I admire you so! {{{ Hugs & High Fives & THANK YOU so much for posting) 0 -
Pillows update: I washed two pillows today and I am happy with the results. They look nice, fluffy and fresh.
The pillows were in pretty good condition, including the covers (I washed them too). No yellow marks or stains. The pillows were in one of the guest rooms, and they are only used once a year (grandchildren rooms). When I removed the covers, I noticed the brand and I realized that they were very old since that store closed long time ago.
I didn't mind if the washing was going to be successful or not because the pillows were old, but now that everything turned so well, they will stay in the same room for a while longer. However, I am thinking in changing the pillows in the main guest room since they are also old and more worn out because they used more often. Probably not worth washing.
@NewLIFEstyle4ME Thank you for the links. They were very helpful, but I admit that I didn’t follow the instructions as written all the way. Nevertheless, I had great results.
{{{{{{{ Gisel }}}}}}}}} You are such a superstar, period. I have to admit, the sale on pillows/bedding was a "who can say NO" deal, so I purchased new pillows and bedding. Another reason I purchased new ones is I'm decorating/re-designing/re-organizing my bedroom into an even more "spa" like space and it's looking tremendous thus far. I am going to wash the children's pillows today and will let you know how it turns out! Thank you Gisel for being a source of inspiration and for being so bold/cool to try it. I'm thrilled they turned out great--YAY YOU!!!! 1 -
Books
Before you dump them in a libraries return bin, make sure they accept them! I work at a library and we DO NOT accept donations. Anything dropped in our return box is thrown out. Especially magazines (including National Geographic) and text books.
Save yourself some money anyway and use your public library, why own a book your only going to read once?1 -
Books
Before you dump them in a libraries return bin, make sure they accept them! I work at a library and we DO NOT accept donations. Anything dropped in our return box is thrown out. Especially magazines (including National Geographic) and text books.
Save yourself some money anyway and use your public library, why own a book your only going to read once?
Thank you ever so much for these excellent tips and for your contribution to this thread!
Also, probably about 90% or more of the books I had and have are so old and/or not popular, many of the books I love, their copyrights have expired, and were/are not available at our library (anywhere in my entire state) nor in stock or available via inter-library loans--what a major bummer that the greater majority of subjects and books I am and always have been interested in reading/studying are RARELY available at public libraries. I have made special requests for my library to order certain books that were available/still in circulation that I've wanted and over a say, 20+ year period--they've only ordered a handful or less, so I had to order/buy them. I tend(ed) to be interested and read/buy books that are no longer in circulation and hard to find books or again not popular AT ALL . Also, the greater majority of my books that I LOVE and am also attracted to/interested in are/were non-fiction and/or very old classic fiction (from the 18th/19th/early 20th century) books that again, are no longer in circulation as well.
Some of the subjects and books I love are online, like Project Gutenberg
https://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
"Our eBooks may be freely used in the United States because most are not protected by U.S. copyright law, usually because their copyrights have expired. They may not be free of copyright in other countries."
and more, but I really don't like reading books on-line, I like the feel/experience of "real books" reading better than reading/studying online or via some device, plus I tend to make a lot of notes in the books I read too--which of course one can not/must not do in public library books.
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W W I washed one of 3 of my children's pillows. The boy's pillows were super yuck to the MAX. One of my daughter's pillow (in the middle) was okay, not as super yellow and "nasty" looking as my sons. WOW...I too didn't follow directions in the links. I put them in my washing machine with half a cup (the cap from the tide) of tide oxi-clean and half a cup mixed in the tide with Dr. Bronner's Hemp Lavender castile liquid soap in the soap dispenser and bleach in the bleach dispenser and put the washer on permanent press. WOW, they came out like NEW (not a trace of yellow nor YUCK)--super fluffy and smelling like sunshine and, ummm, LOVE --they smell ultra mega super BETTER than clean and soooooooooo very good!!!!! I put them in the dryer for 20 minutes on air dry, 5 minutes on bedding (medium high heat) and 10 minutes back on air dry and they look and smell absolutely tremendous!
Here's the before and afters:
BEFORE:
AFTER
YAYYYYY!!!! I'll be washing pillows from now on and will wash the rest of my children's pillows today too!
They smell and look soooooo GOOD--BOOM!
P.S. THANK YOU Gisel 3 -
@NewLIFEstyle4ME
Good job! Where do you buy the "Bronner's Hemp Lavender castile liquid soap?" I like the idea of adding it to my bedding and towels washes.
I didn't use bleach or clorox on my wash because the pillows were not bad at all, but I will consider it in the future, if needed. I used the " all white" cycle in the washer because it is the only one that allows me to increase the temp to hot in my machine.
In the dryer, I used the "delicate" option and when the cycle was done I let the pillows air dry on top of the machine for half an hour, and place them back in the dryer for an additional 20 minutes of "air dry/fluff" option. I also put two tennis balls inside a pair of socks in the dryer and a damp towel with few drops of lavender essential oil.
I think that I complicated things a little bit but it was my first experience washing pillows, and I had the time. Glad that what ever we did worked fine for us.
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Most pillows wash fine, but occasionally the fiberfill will shift & lump up terribly. (I’ve had it happen twice). Also on the lavender scent...I was having problems with my ears feeling full..the Dr thought I needed tubes, so sent me to an ENT. She decided it looked more like swelling from allergies. Trying to figure out what I could be allergic to, we realized I was using lavender Downy. Stopped it & I got better..no tubes needed. Now only use non scented.6
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@NewLIFEstyle4ME
Good job! Where do you buy the "Bronner's Hemp Lavender castile liquid soap?" I like the idea of adding it to my bedding and towels washes.
I didn't use bleach or clorox on my wash because the pillows were not bad at all, but I will consider it in the future, if needed. I used the " all white" cycle in the washer because it is the only one that allows me to increase the temp to hot in my machine.
In the dryer, I used the "delicate" option and when the cycle was done I let the pillows air dry on top of the machine for half an hour, and place them back in the dryer for an additional 20 minutes of "air dry/fluff" option. I also put two tennis balls inside a pair of socks in the dryer and a damp towel with few drops of lavender essential oil.
I think that I complicated things a little bit but it was my first experience washing pillows, and I had the time. Glad that what ever we did worked fine for us.
Here's more info on site that sells Dr. Bronner's than you'd care to learn in a lifetime, I don't buy my online though..
https://www.netnutri.com/pure-castile-liquid-soap
Dr. Bronner's is one of the "declutterer's BEST Friend...I know it's mine.
I use all of the Dr. Bronner's Castile soaps in everything from "almost" soup to nuts--seriously you can use this wonderful product for so many many different things--check out the link and it'll tell you all about it. I LOVE this product so much--I love them ALL. but Almond is my regular go to for clothes laundry, I use them all, but use Almond the most. I used Lavender on the pillows and my bedding because I associate lavender with sleep. I find it at health food stores, Trader Joe's, Target and find super great deals on it at Marshalls or T.J. Maxx. My favorites are the Lavender, Rose, Almond and Peppermint (my husband loves his tee-shirts and jeans washed in the peppermint). If there is some sort of sickness trying to creep in, I use the Tea Tree, Eucalyptus and Citrus. I;ve tried the baby/unscented one...but I'm a "scents" lover--so I use that one the least. These soaps are AMAZING for how much stuff you can use them for...it's called 18 n 1 soap--because it lists at least 18 different uses for it. It's kinda pricey, but if you buy the gallon sizes, it'll last forever. Here's the link to where to find it:
https://www.drbronner.com/store-locator/
I have special laundry dryer balls to help dry time ( you'll find them at Marshall's for dirt cheap and they last forever), but I didn't use them/anything in the dryer with the pillows and they turned out GREAT!
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