Clearing Out.

[Ann]

Can anyone explain the mystery why, when I have cleared out a whole recycling wheelie bin full of general paperwork, newspapers, magazines, mail order catalogues/junk mail (thousands - a whole forest of trees!) computer print outs etc etc - a job which took me TWO days, I have now gone to the corner of my spare room where I keep all this paperwork/junk mail and it has filled up again overnight and looks no better at all - gremlins working on night shift? LOL ;)

[Robinia]

Yes, I know what you mean, I used to picture all the space and tidiness after my sons left but it never happened.

[B00]

Dunno!

The thought of a wheelie bins worth of crap in my house fills me with horror! Why let it build up like that in the first place?

[Ann]

Boo - must explain! I do loads of admin for various voluntary organisations, one job involves putting together a monthly newsletter, much like a magazine with all kinds of topics suitable for ladies of my own age :) People are very helpful and give me lots of expensive magazines, on tourism, food guides, handy tips, gardening, hairdressing etc which I go through to select interesting information I can use for quizzes, articles, and places to visit etc. I obviously need to keep these for the relevant seasons of the year........ some of the "crap" as you say - junk mail I don't ask for, could be dealt with as it comes piling through the door, it's just making myself get rid of it, taking names and addresses off etc before it actually reaches my spare room!! When you are a busy person, its easier to lump it all together to "hide it" upstairs when clearing up downstairs. At least its all in one place! However my New Year resolution is not to let it all build up - at present I have 70 magazines I have finished with to give away to friends, they are usually very grateful.

[naomi24]

My study is also drowning in paper, but I find it best to separate it straightaway rather than shove it on a pile. When mail arrives that I need to take something from, the bit I want goes into a stack of filing trays, I have a big bin next to my chair into which all the junk goes immediately ready for the recycling dustbin, and the newspapers/magazines go straight into a carrier bag which I take to the public recycling bin whenever I go out. Letters for the post and anything that needs to go to someone else I leave on a table in the hall and they are taken at the first opportunity.

[Georgiesmum]

Its the fairies Ann.

[jd_1984]

I am due a BIG sort and clear out soon. I am dumbfounded at how so much cr*p has accumulated in our house I really am!

[sandyRoe]

One of the spare rooms looks like one you might see on a TV programme about compulsive hoarders. I say to myself I'll throw a bit each week into the recycling bin but somehow never get round to doing it.

[woofgang]

I have just cleared out 20 years worth of rubbish. 3 garage fulls went to waste disposal, and a further 3 went to freecycle and charities. I am trying to do the deal with it now thing but yes its not natural to me....

[sandyRoe]

And you always come across something and say, 'I'll keep that, might come in useful some day'.

[vakayu]

Yes sandyroe and inevitably once it's been thrown out you find you need it!!!

[vulcan]

Therein lies the problem Sandy, years ago I threw out an item to later discover it had become a collectors item, now I throw nothing away. I fear I will end up like my Father who even kept hardened paintbrushes in his workshop.

[Ann]

Haha glad there are others like me!
Naomi - I admire you - you sound so organised :)

[naomi24]

Ha ha! I'm not really Anne. Far from it at times! I just figure if you're going to put it somewhere, it's less trouble in the long run to put it where it ought to be in the first place. :o)