The Old Stool Has to Stay

This past weekend I dug my heels in the garage and like a white tornado I got it decluttered and organized. I was determined to get it completed before my daughter comes down next Sunday. I had so much stuff from when we closed our shop, things from Alex and Lia when they moved to Indiana and just STUFF that was time to let it go. So much went to free sites, lots went to donations and the rest went to the recycling center.

But the old stool has to stay! I sent a picture of the old stool we had at our shop probably since we moved here in 1994 to Alex. She always climbed up on it while she was at work with us when she was younger than Lia is now and when we retired, the old stool came home to the garage. Rich cut the legs off and we used it as a stool for one of our sewing machines and when Lia started sewing it was her turn to love the stool. But I felt it was time to go so I sent Alex a picture and said, “Say goodbye to the old stool.” She messaged me right back and said, “Noooo!”

So I rethought my plan and decided the old stool has to stay since it has so many memories and I would give the larger stool away. Alex was happy that the stool will still be here.

Now on to my decluttering and organizing in the garage.

WARNING: Some of the pictures I was embarrassed to post but then I thought it might help others in the same situation of trying to get rid of things. It has always been hard for me to toss things but I can give things away and if that person wants to toss it, that’s fine. So on to the before and after pictures!

I’ve been working on reorganizing the garage for some time now since when I organize a room in the house, everything that didn’t have a place ended up in the garage. I saved some good sized boxes because I can start sorting things and put in the boxes. So this is just one little section of my Market Place finds with the cabinets. I removed stacked boxes of stored items and now I had a place for them. But as in the first picture, I had cardboard boxes of “stuff” stacked on them. But now I have things organized it the plastic bins and it’s so nice to see the boxes gone.

OMG, I can’t believe I’m showing you all my clutter! It’s like something from a hoarder’s show. The first picture is before I started and the next one you can see progress with the bins. Piece by piece I went through the shelves and had my three boxes of toss, recycle and donate ready to fill. I didn’t think I would get this done so soon but Saturday my neighbor came over and asked if I could use some extra storage buckets since they bought larger ones. YES I SURE CAN USE THEM!!!

I have the bins labeled so I know which is which and I even cleaned off the wall shelves. I will probably move a few things around before I get the right fit but for now everything has a place. I started this area yesterday morning then took a break to run to Trader Joe’s with my neighbor. But as soon as I got home I finished it up. It probably took me about four hours total just for this section.

I love how this entire wall is so organized and easy to find things now.

My goal for the weekend was to get the bin wall completed and I would do the front wall another day. But once I’m on a roll, I like to keep that ball rolling. Again, the first picture is so cluttered and sometimes it’s hard to start a project because it’s too overwhelming but I did it! Little by little I cleaned off a section of the bottom shelf and then moved to another section. My biggest dilemma was trying to come up with some way to store the spray cans instead of just having them on the shelf. So I went through by plastic bin stash and found two that worked perfect. I wish they matched but at least everything is orderly now. I can probably move things around because I know I have another matched one somewhere.

I know I will keep everything organized now because I have a spot for everything. When you declutter it feels so good to see progress and now if I have something to store it will be put away immediately. I still have to go through some of the cabinets and the desk drawers to get rid of unwanted things there but I’m so excited that the major part is done before Chris arrives!

The daily prompt is have you faced a challenge recently that you made it through. I didn’t read that email until after I finished writing my blog but the topic is right on! I seem to turn every project into a challenge and I don’t quit until I have completed my challenge! I’ve mentioned my decluttering method before, start in a small area and finish before moving on. Stay focus, don’t jump from one area or room to another. I keep wondering if there will ever be a time when I can stop reorganizing or is it just in my blood? But for now I’m totally excited to have this major part completed.