A work in progress
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (346284)
Rockingham, Australia
February 15, 2025 2:51am CST
I’ve just come back from my sister-in-law's where I was helping her declutter one room of her house. The photo shows the room before we started.
We only spent about two hours on it and then she had a visitor and we had to leave it for the day. We did get quite a lot done and she is pleased with our progress so that is the main thing.
She volunteers at a St Vincent de Paul charity shop but they only take certain items. I’ve brought home quite a few items that the charity shop near me will be happy to have. We were able to discard quite a few things along with bits and pieces of material, lace, sewing, etc.
The main problem was that she had to tell me the story behind everything which of course slows you down a lot. I was careful not to take over and she said she’ll ask me over again one day soon so I guess that’s a win for me. 
25 people like this
25 responses
@allknowing (140788)
• India
15 Feb
Clearing clutter is not as easy as it seems specially when there is emotion involvled.
4 people like this
@allknowing (140788)
• India
16 Feb
@JudyEv I still have a crude cardbord box in which my Ma in law gave something to my husband when he was leaving home for the first time. He was just a teen ager then
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346284)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
@allknowing Oh my goodness. That would be quite old now.
@arunima25 (88949)
• Bangalore, India
15 Feb
I have done that to one room in my home today and now I need a break . I had some important mails to send by 2 PM and so I left it in between. Now, I feel like taking some rest before resuming the work. Having a company always helps. It was nice of you to help her.
And yes, everything that I keep aside for giving away or throwing has a story that goes on in my mind. 
Having someone to share them would be good.
. I had some important mails to send by 2 PM and so I left it in between. Now, I feel like taking some rest before resuming the work. Having a company always helps. It was nice of you to help her.
And yes, everything that I keep aside for giving away or throwing has a story that goes on in my mind. Having someone to share them would be good.2 people like this
@arunima25 (88949)
• Bangalore, India
16 Feb
@JudyEv Yes, it does. Happy to know that you enjoyed helping. I wish that I had someone to help and chat with when I do such decluttering. I end up doing it alone all the time. Music gives me the company.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346284)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb
@arunima25 You need to have the right person helping in a way. But luckily she and I get on well. Music would help too I'm sure.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (7011)
• United Kingdom
15 Feb
That’s quite a lot of ‘clutter’.
There is a programme on tv here right now called, “Sort Your Life Out with Stacey Solomon”, where she goes into people’s homes and, like you’re doing, helps (or tries to) them declutter. It’s amazing how much stuff people collect and how they get emotionally attached to things for the most bizarre reasons.
Good luck!
There is a programme on tv here right now called, “Sort Your Life Out with Stacey Solomon”, where she goes into people’s homes and, like you’re doing, helps (or tries to) them declutter. It’s amazing how much stuff people collect and how they get emotionally attached to things for the most bizarre reasons.
Good luck! 2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (7011)
• United Kingdom
16 Feb
@JudyEv Did she throw them out, or did she retrieve them from the bin after you left? That can happen.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346284)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
@Orson_Kart I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have done that. What went out was pretty much trash.
@JudyEv (346284)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
I enjoy doing it. She has a huge heart but can be very abrupt and prickly. You just have to remember that none of it is personal.
@snowy22315 (185246)
• United States
15 Feb
Decluttering takes time, but ultimately, it is worth it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346284)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb
@snowy22315 I didn't get the chance yesterday but if I go back again I'll try to get one.
. That's great you are helping her out like that and that you kindly listened to her stuff stories.
@DaddyEvil (141568)
• United States
15 Feb
At least you got a lot of work done on the room before needing to leave. I'm sure the charity shops will be happy with the donations.
And you learned a lot of past experiences which could have been interesting for you... (I'd rather not learn past history for things I'm getting rid of but that's just me.
)
)1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (42400)
• United States
15 Feb
She sounds like a hoarder, but glad you were able to help her.
1 person likes this
@nicegolden (302)
• Shenzhen, China
16 Feb
no problem,only a little worse than mine
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346284)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
Haha. It looks a bit better now but hasn't been fully cleared out yet.
@RevivedWarrior (3524)
• India
16 Feb
That looks like a very productive and rewarding day! Decluttering is a definitely challenge. We need to know where to start and how to start and then do things. And in your case, sentimental items are there. Good to know your sister-in-law felt great about the progress. Again, it is nice of you to donate the item to different charity shops. It is always nice to spread the usefulness around! I totally understand and agree the storytelling can slow down things but reminiscing is just part of things. Well, looks like a good balance was struck and hence she is inviting you once again. You should have done something right. Hope the next decluttering session goes better than the last. Take care!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (162177)
• United States
15 Feb
It is good you can work on this together without stepping on toes. It is much harder to deal with when someone has already passed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346284)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
It went well. Equally as well as I expected. Hopefully I can get back to help finish the job.
@BarBaraPrz (48536)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
15 Feb
Interesting room. What's that nook behind the table? Looks as if it was meant for a stove. And there appears to be a pantry, too.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346284)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb
It looks better now but still hasn't been fully cleared and tidied.
@wolfgirl569 (111642)
• Marion, Ohio
15 Feb
That is a lot to go through. Glad she is letting go of things
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (82497)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
15 Feb
Best of luck decluttering the rest.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26919)
• Singapore
15 Feb
I had occasions when I had to declutter my home all of a sudden.
I collected, or was left with, books when others moved out. This happened mostly in Indonesia as English language books were not of much interest to the local residents.
Each item has a story behind it and also is nostalgic to the owner and so tough to part with it.
1 person likes this
