Most people think of hoarders as people that just collect junk, but that’s not always the case. There are animal hoarders, information hoarders, article hoarders, newspaper, magazine, T-shirt, shoe, and even wrapping paper hoarders.
Sometimes they’re just as frustrated with it as their loved ones are but they don’t want to do anything about it because it’s a part of them. How would you feel if someone came in and just took your computer away? You’d feel cut off and like you’d lost a friend. That’s why others can’t just come in and remove all their stuff. Every little thing is extremely important and valuable to them. They can’t lose that contact with their stuff without therapy and an accompanying drug regimen. If you clean out a hoarder’s stuff and they’re not getting help for it, it will all come back again.
When I work with hoarders, I help them figure out a system for finding all their stuff. It’s too much stuff to just tuck into closets and cabinets so we contain, label, and inventory everything so they know where it is. I haven’t met one yet that wanted to “just get rid of it all” since it’s all so important to them.
You can’t take a hoarder lightly and just take it all away because for them, it’s like ripping off their skin. Tread carefully and have some respect.
Jan Davis
www.Clutterbye.com
Monday, December 22, 2008
When You Get a Little Behind
I feel a little naughty writing that title! We all get behind. Life happens. Death and illness happen. Divorce, marriage, whatever happens, it can put you off track. You can spend your whole life being an organized person, then BAM. Your father falls ill, you’re going through a divorce, and your employer has downsized so much that you’re doing the job of 3 people.
Opening mail, filing, processing the mundane things of everyday life have to take a back seat to your sanity! Most of it can pile up as long as you’re paying your bills on time. Late charges can eat into your budget and your credit rating.
I recommend that you set up as many online automatic payments as possible. It’s liberating, allows you to be gone for long periods of time, and takes that weight off your mind. Check with your bank to see just how simple it is. If you need some handholding, I can help with that as we get you set up. I’m happy to provide some referrals from other people I have helped with that. Besides, I’m not smart enough to figure out how to siphon off your money!
Jan Davis
www.Clutterbye.com
Opening mail, filing, processing the mundane things of everyday life have to take a back seat to your sanity! Most of it can pile up as long as you’re paying your bills on time. Late charges can eat into your budget and your credit rating.
I recommend that you set up as many online automatic payments as possible. It’s liberating, allows you to be gone for long periods of time, and takes that weight off your mind. Check with your bank to see just how simple it is. If you need some handholding, I can help with that as we get you set up. I’m happy to provide some referrals from other people I have helped with that. Besides, I’m not smart enough to figure out how to siphon off your money!
Jan Davis
www.Clutterbye.com
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The Bain of the Organizer’s Existence
HGTV. There, I said it. I watch it, I learn from it, but it’s like a sitcom or game show. It’s staged. If someone came to you and said, “We’ll pay for everything you need if you’ll just do what we say”, would you do it? Hell yes! Of course you would.
The reality part of these unrealistic shows is that they make it look like the messy room is transformed in a weekend. First of all, the only day they don’t film or work is Sun. so they’re not really doing it in a weekend. Second, there are hardly any Professional Organizers that organize, paint, design custom furniture, and hang shelves. Wow, they must get paid a lot if they do! What, they don’t get paid?? The people on the show don’t know where all their stuff goes that gets removed from the room? They’re perfectly happy every time with what the organizer presents to them? Hmmm.
I know a few of the organizers that have been on “those shows” and a 20 minute show can take 5 - 6 weeks of filming! Crews of people come in, the organizer does what the producer tells her to do, (for show value), and the people have to stay elsewhere for a while.
If you can afford to move out, agree to all the perfect matching containers and baskets that they purchase, hire a painter, handyman, and don’t care how many people it takes to clear your clutter and maybe never see any of your stuff again, (without your input) then I’ll do it for you but it’s not what I normally do!
Jan Davis
The reality part of these unrealistic shows is that they make it look like the messy room is transformed in a weekend. First of all, the only day they don’t film or work is Sun. so they’re not really doing it in a weekend. Second, there are hardly any Professional Organizers that organize, paint, design custom furniture, and hang shelves. Wow, they must get paid a lot if they do! What, they don’t get paid?? The people on the show don’t know where all their stuff goes that gets removed from the room? They’re perfectly happy every time with what the organizer presents to them? Hmmm.
I know a few of the organizers that have been on “those shows” and a 20 minute show can take 5 - 6 weeks of filming! Crews of people come in, the organizer does what the producer tells her to do, (for show value), and the people have to stay elsewhere for a while.
If you can afford to move out, agree to all the perfect matching containers and baskets that they purchase, hire a painter, handyman, and don’t care how many people it takes to clear your clutter and maybe never see any of your stuff again, (without your input) then I’ll do it for you but it’s not what I normally do!
Jan Davis
Monday, October 6, 2008
Mice Mice, Baby
You probably don’t have mice in your house but if you have a storage shed on your property, they’re partying in there right now.
Personally, I’m a rodent lover but that’s just me. I’ve had several hamsters, a couple of mice, and would have a rat if I had time to take care of one. I think they’re cute but two cats are enough to care for!
When they get in your stuff and chew it up and potty all over it, though, that’s not cool. I had a client that had proudly saved her oldest son’s schoolwork in a cardboard box with a drawer for each year. Then she stored it in the shed. I know, but this was pre-Jan.
Not only did it stink, but who would want to pull that out years later when they’re sitting around the fire with their grandchildren looking at what Daddy did when he was young? The whole thing was pretty chewed up.
I’m not an advocate for killing vermin, but we eventually hired a pest control company to eradicate the rodents from the shed. Happy day for the client but sad day for the rodents. She eventually had garage cabinets installed and I moved everything from the shed that wasn’t a tool or metal and containerized everything in good, sturdy plastic containers and put it all in the garage. At least her son is spared the embarrassment of sharing his school work with his children someday!
Jan Davis
www.Clutterbye.com
Personally, I’m a rodent lover but that’s just me. I’ve had several hamsters, a couple of mice, and would have a rat if I had time to take care of one. I think they’re cute but two cats are enough to care for!
When they get in your stuff and chew it up and potty all over it, though, that’s not cool. I had a client that had proudly saved her oldest son’s schoolwork in a cardboard box with a drawer for each year. Then she stored it in the shed. I know, but this was pre-Jan.
Not only did it stink, but who would want to pull that out years later when they’re sitting around the fire with their grandchildren looking at what Daddy did when he was young? The whole thing was pretty chewed up.
I’m not an advocate for killing vermin, but we eventually hired a pest control company to eradicate the rodents from the shed. Happy day for the client but sad day for the rodents. She eventually had garage cabinets installed and I moved everything from the shed that wasn’t a tool or metal and containerized everything in good, sturdy plastic containers and put it all in the garage. At least her son is spared the embarrassment of sharing his school work with his children someday!
Jan Davis
www.Clutterbye.com
Monday, September 22, 2008
How to Protect Your Stuff from Critters
Silverfish love paper. I don’t know why but every time I open an old box containing paper, they scramble away from me. I don’t know if they cause much damage but they’re just kind of gross.
Don’t store paper in a cardboard box. That’s like coating ice cream in chocolate! Mice will chew thru it, spiders will set up shop, and silverfish will have a daily cocktail party for their friends!
Plastic containers with snapping lids will deter them. I’ve never found mouse poop in one and even though silverfish are slim, I’ve never seen one in a plastic container with a good snap down lid. The ones with lids that fold down like wings don’t deter them and a loose lid bulging from too much stuff will allow them in, too.
If you really want to protect your stuff, not only use a good plastic container with a tight lid, throw in a lavender or cedar sachet. That’s like a stink bomb to them. They’ll move on to the next place that has nice, juicy cardboard boxes!
Jan Davis
www.Clutterbye.com
Don’t store paper in a cardboard box. That’s like coating ice cream in chocolate! Mice will chew thru it, spiders will set up shop, and silverfish will have a daily cocktail party for their friends!
Plastic containers with snapping lids will deter them. I’ve never found mouse poop in one and even though silverfish are slim, I’ve never seen one in a plastic container with a good snap down lid. The ones with lids that fold down like wings don’t deter them and a loose lid bulging from too much stuff will allow them in, too.
If you really want to protect your stuff, not only use a good plastic container with a tight lid, throw in a lavender or cedar sachet. That’s like a stink bomb to them. They’ll move on to the next place that has nice, juicy cardboard boxes!
Jan Davis
www.Clutterbye.com
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Perfectly Organized?
Some people think that an organizer will come in and make everything look perfect. All lined up, matching baskets and containers, everything labeled and looking all nice and neat.
What we really do is make it look the way you’re comfortable with and within your budget. I like to reuse what you already have so you don’t have to go buy a bunch of new things. It probably won’t look perfect and match, but it will save you money and not be as intimidating once I’m gone. Most people prefer good enough to perfect. They’re just happy to be de-cluttered and can find things and don’t care about the matching baskets like you see in ads.
Buying a bunch of those can be expensive and they’re difficult to label so you have no idea what’s in them. Then add other household members to the fray and things get all mixed up. Is this the battery basket or the basket of unknown wires?
I’m not a big fan of baskets since you can’t see in them. I love clear or tinted plastic containers and drawers. The Container Store at www.Containerstore.com has tons to choose from at reasonable prices. If you live near one, go in and browse around. It’s like heaven on earth! In all of San Diego county, the only one we have is in Mission Valley but it’s worth the drive!
Jan Davis
www.Clutterbye.com
What we really do is make it look the way you’re comfortable with and within your budget. I like to reuse what you already have so you don’t have to go buy a bunch of new things. It probably won’t look perfect and match, but it will save you money and not be as intimidating once I’m gone. Most people prefer good enough to perfect. They’re just happy to be de-cluttered and can find things and don’t care about the matching baskets like you see in ads.
Buying a bunch of those can be expensive and they’re difficult to label so you have no idea what’s in them. Then add other household members to the fray and things get all mixed up. Is this the battery basket or the basket of unknown wires?
I’m not a big fan of baskets since you can’t see in them. I love clear or tinted plastic containers and drawers. The Container Store at www.Containerstore.com has tons to choose from at reasonable prices. If you live near one, go in and browse around. It’s like heaven on earth! In all of San Diego county, the only one we have is in Mission Valley but it’s worth the drive!
Jan Davis
www.Clutterbye.com
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Are You Being Served?
Does your stuff serve you or are you just paying rent for your stuff? What is it worth? If you pay for a storage unit, then there better be some damn good stuff in there to make it worthwhile. Storage units aren’t cheap but have you noticed how many of them are now?
Write in and tell me why you think there are so many storage places now. Is it because:
▫ We like to get in our cars to go visit our stuff?
▫ People are living in storage units because it’s cheaper than rent?
▫ We may need it someday?
Evaluate just how much you love your stuff as opposed to your day to day living. Do you love it so much that you’re willing to do without $100-$150 a month worth of gas, food, clothes, or whatever is truly important? Go in that storage unit and take a look around with a new eye. Do you really need it?
Jan Davis
www.ClutterBye.com
Write in and tell me why you think there are so many storage places now. Is it because:
▫ We like to get in our cars to go visit our stuff?
▫ People are living in storage units because it’s cheaper than rent?
▫ We may need it someday?
Evaluate just how much you love your stuff as opposed to your day to day living. Do you love it so much that you’re willing to do without $100-$150 a month worth of gas, food, clothes, or whatever is truly important? Go in that storage unit and take a look around with a new eye. Do you really need it?
Jan Davis
www.ClutterBye.com
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