Comments on: Reasons to Keep Clutter

By: Kay

Kay — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 20:54:55 +0000

I must be pretty bad if I use 31 out of 32 excuses.

By: Kip Kozlowski

Kip Kozlowski — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 00:36:57 +0000

Oh dear–every single one applies. I’m doomed!

By: Belle

Belle — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 17:12:15 +0000

Just one more comment because I am curious what others might think. First I can’t talk to my dh about any of this. He either shuts down the conversation or turns it into a discussion of all my faults. And of course everything is my fault, not. I have tried acknowledging my part in the problem, I know he’s a busy man and he works hard. Yet I need help and I’ve tried asking for help and all I get is ignored or suddenly I have a problem or I am the problem. I should spend all my “free time” organizing and taking care of all this stuff (his stuff). So what I am thinking of doing is finding a therapist who specializes in hoarding and I will go to this person for therapy and ask my dh to join me because I obviously need help with my problem. Anyone think this could work?

By: Belle

Belle — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 17:04:50 +0000

In my house it’s my dh who is not only a chaotically disorganized clutterbug, but a hoarder of minutia. He hates letting go of things, even stuff that is broken or rusted through. I really think he would let me go before he would allow the majority of junk in our home to be tossed in the trash or donated to charity. Not everything in our house is broken or rusted, but a lot of so called “good things” are just stagnant occupiers of precious space. It is stuff that could be easily and inexpensively replaced if in 10-20 years he decides it is something he needs or wants, yet he probably never will need or want… Starting the last week or so, I decided to challenge myself to clean out as much as I can with or without his consent. I know this will take a while and I will probably need breaks from decluttering, but it is now or never. I need refreshment in my life. I am tired of the same old save, keep, stack and pile routines of my husband and kids (16, 19 & 21), though my dh is the worst of the four. Now is the time and I either suceed or I may have to think about leaving. I am emotionally drained. I am tired of living with the anxiety his need to be surrounded by clutter causes me. I have emotionally shut down to deal with those things that seem not to be in my control rather then raging at them like I did many years ago. I have come to the conclusion that I want to live rather then just exist. Please pray for my success in clearing out the baggage both actual and emotional. I put my trust in God and will do what I can and pray about the rest. Thanks for this site. It is giving me some inspiration.

By: Goodbye clutter, I won’t miss you «

Goodbye clutter, I won’t miss you « — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:32:01 +0000

[...] Reasons for keeping clutter tend to fall into common themes. [...]

By: Jasi

Jasi — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:23:16 +0000

We’re pretty minimalist here. Seriously. The only thing that keeps me from tossing something is if I paid a lot for it. Which is rare because I’m sort of frugal, too. My husband sometimes gets hung up on “We’ll need it someday” or “You’re just going to buy it again”.

The best cure for being a clutter bug is habitually cleaning up after one. Much of my childhood was spent picking up after my mother and sister (two very huge pack rats). Neither clean at all. After dusting a full set of porcelain dancing dogs bi-weekly, vacuuming around tons of furniture, folding countless adopted afghans for 18 years… I couldn’t stand owning a single thing I didn’t absolutely need. LOL Try it, really, it works.

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:50:53 +0000

For me it’s “18. Someone who loves me gave it to me.”

But lately it’s more like “Someone who loves our kid gave us this.”

My SIL shops at the dollar store and buys cheaply made baby items that I just don’t feel are safe for my daughter to use. I feel bad — but that stuff goes directly into the give-away box.

And then there’s the stuffed animals. Please, loving family, no more stuffies!

By: smallnotebook

smallnotebook — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:59:25 +0000

Thanks Sarah! Your kind note brightened my day.

Laura, I don’t know how it creeps in. I feel like I haul it out by the bagful. Even though I hate clutter almost as much as Toblerone, this time, I think it’s my stuff at fault. I’ve been cleaning out stuff all weekend.

By: Laura

Laura — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:48:49 +0000

I have a part time clutter clearing business and even I get amazed at the ‘stuff’ that arrives in my house every week. I’m sure its the children!
I never buy anything so it can’t be me

By: Toblerone @ Simple Mom

Toblerone @ Simple Mom — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:36:51 +0000

Wonderful again, Rachel! I love these thoughts. Good to think about. #18, 21, and 28 are most appropriate for me, though they’re usually not enough to persuade me. My hatred of clutter knows no bounds.