The Clutter Fairy Weekly #219
Forgotten, But Not Gone: Identify and Clear “Outdated Clutter”
An audience member recently asked, “Is it time to let the Rolodex roll away?” Good question! Why do we keep so many things in our spaces long after they’ve outlived their usefulness or relevance? In episode #219 of The Clutter Fairy Weekly, Gayle Goddard, professional organizer and owner of The Clutter Fairy in Houston, Texas, explores the sources and causes of “outdated clutter”—stuff that’s overstayed its welcome but still takes up valuable space in our homes.
Content in this episode is based on the results of audience surveys.
Some content in this episode is based on results of a survey of our audience.
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The Weekly Tittle is an exercise designed to focus your attention on a specific space, aspect, or challenge of decluttering and organizing your home. We assign a new tittle in each webcast/podcast, then check on your progress the following week.
Out With the Dated
This week’s assignment is to clear an item of “outdated clutter” from your home:
- Identify an item that you’re still keeping even though its value, desirability, or usefulness has significantly diminished over time.
- Jot down one or two reasons you’ve been keeping the object in question.
- Now make note of any persuasive arguments for letting go of the item. For example:
- “Someone else will make good use of this item after I donate it.”
- “This object no longer fits the vibe and aesthetics of my home.”
- “I hardly ever use this thing and could probably replace it with a newer version if I ever need it.”
- “Cleaning and maintenance for this item are no longer worth the time and effort they take.”
- Reflect on the pros and cons you’ve come up with, and then decide whether this item really still meets the standards of value, beauty, usefulness you’ve established for allowing an item space in your home.
- If the answer is “yes,” you can feel good about keeping the item.
- If the answer is “no,” make a plan to discard, donate, or give away the item.
For the full discussion of this week’s tittle, watch the Weekly Tittle segment on YouTube.
I’d like to respond to the Tittle from July 8.
1) I have an old (really old computer (40 Mb hard drive. HUGE monitor) Hidden in there are computer programs that my kids wrote after I taught them Basic when they were in highschool. The computer goes on but cannot boot. Does anyone know how I can remove the hard drive and get these files off it so I can put it to rest and free up space? Both of these kids are now computer programmers so they really want to see those files.
2) I have been decluttering 30 years of papers from graduate school through all my years of teaching chemistry as an adjunct in different schools. Since I got my degree when my children were young and taught while they were growing up, each semester I would just dump things in a box and start the new term. Today I took 3 boxes from 2007 (of the thirty that are in a rented storage unit in my
co-op’s basement) and widdled them down to half a box.
A comment about ClutterFairy. I think you are the best site discussing clutter because you are respectful that everyone can make their own choices. You don’t have “50 things you don’t need” but allow people to evaluate what they need. You also give so many alternatives of how to look at their attitudes and give them time to progress slowly. (Working on keeping surfaces clear)
All the best,
Rosalyn Strauss
Rosalyn.Strauss@gmail.com