Well, we have decided that it is way past time for a whole house "clean sweep". We are going to have the Salvation Army come with their truck and just take everything when we are done. I called this morning and they need a count of everything you have before they can schedule it, so we have to get this all done first! Is the best thing to do is just go room by room? Is that how you keep it from becoming even more over whelming than it already is?? We are going to finish about half of our basement and make it a game room. That is what started the whole thing. When we don't use something anymore, it just gets taken to the basement! LOL So the basement has tons of stuff in it. But I figure, if we are cleaning that out and having the truck come, it is a good idea to just do the whole house too!! So is the best thing to do just go room by room? Is that what you all would do??

By Hdelfuego on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 01:51 pm:

I think it's a great idea. I love the feeling of getting rid of stuff. Let someone else have it who might actually use it. That's great. You'll feel like a load has been lifted. Trust me.

By Tonya on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 02:12 pm:

Only do 1 room at a time. If you do more than you will be over stressed about it all. We are in the process of this now. I have 6-7 garbage bags of cloths for purple-heart right now and huge pile of things for a friend that just had twins and another pile for a friend with boys. Jade's room looks like new again. Timmy's room is ready to be redone next month. The only room we have to go through still (other than cloths) is ours. Under my bed is awful so is the inside of my closet from clutter. On the floors and on the shelves is yucky!!!!! Good luck!

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 02:15 pm:

Go room by room, write down what the item is and its condition (VG - very good; G - good; F - fair; P - poor). You do this to have a record for income tax purposes. Soft stuff (clothes, etc) put in big plastic bags, and you can add stuff as you go through rooms. Breakables, wrap as if you are moving; hard stuff pack in boxes.

The thing with the tax record is that if you deduct over a certain amount (not sure of the amount) as donations of things to a charity, the IRS wants a list of what you gave and how you valued it. How you value it is "between a willing buyer and a willing seller". What I do is do a quick run through a charity thrift shop, note what they are charting for the kinds of things I give - blouses, various kitchen stuff, etc., and use that as the value. I did this when clearing out Mom's stuff after she died.

If you rate the item as in poor condition, and it is not likely to sell in a thrift shop, just throw it out. Don't give the SA people the extra work of doing that.

As for the basement, do a reasonable amount each day - set a goal of one shelf, or 4 boxes, or 3 bags, or whatever. If you reach the goal, great; if you surpass it, even better. But make the goal reachable so that you don't get discouraged. As you sort, list and pack the stuff up, move the packed stuff to your "Salvation Army corner" so you don't find yourself sorting stuff twice.

By Vicki on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 02:59 pm:

Well, my closet, dresser and bathroom are done. I did dd's closet and dresser over the weekend and dh did his closet yesterday. So after I do dd's bathroom, the upstairs is done!! (with the exception of the play room, but we just did a huge clean out in there in November, so I don't think it will be too bad) The big thing on the main floor is the kitchen and then we will start the dredded basement! I actually had more for the trash than I did for the Salvation Army, but like Ginny mentioned, anything that is questionable, went into the trash. I can tell you that I am not going into Bath and Body for about a year. I swear, I could open my own shop. LOL But now it is all organized and in one spot, so I think I will actually use it!! LOL I have no idea why I have kept some of the things I did, but they are in trash bags now!! I am loving this!!

By Mrse on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 04:24 pm:

I just junked out an old sewing machine, and 3 bags of clothes and an old stero dh got from his brother and never hooked up, so it all went to the thrift store just before I came on line. I am just taking this bit by bit to the thrift store, because if it was in the bag and sitting their I end up going through it and dragging things out again. I would get the truck to come if I had bigger stuff to donate, good luck with the task.

By Reds9298 on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 04:56 pm:

I agree to write it off your taxes. I would go room-by-room. I give our things to the Salvation Army and they have a price list on the back of their tax sheets as to what things are worth. I always use that. I've had their truck come and get furniture and lots of bags before - it's a very convenient service and everyone benefits!