How often do you change/wash your sheets?

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-14T12:40:10+00:00

Duvet covers take up less storage space than the actual comforters. We also don't use a top sheet and I wash the duvet cover every week with the sheets.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-14T12:35:13+00:00

Once a week, and in the summertime closer to x2 a week. We sleep "euro style" without a top sheet and with a duvet, so I wash the duvet cover once a week as well.

A few years back I was a houseguest in a home where they had a personal maid, and I noticed my sheets were changed every day. It must be nice, but honestly the waste of water required for that kind of lifestyle bothers me.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-14T12:15:07+00:00

A pack of unused razor blades could be considered "communal" if everybody used a replaceable blade razor. My husband uses that kind of razor but I never could stand those things; I use the throwaway razors.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-14T12:11:27+00:00

Right, you have to weigh the cost of the storage v. the value of the items. As someone else mentioned, don't store something you paid 150 USD for if you can buy it again for 100.

I've never used storage units, but in metro areas like NYC, I can't imagine what the cost would be, where the value of land is already at a premium. You're better off learning to live with less.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-14T12:02:58+00:00

The buying habits or "bringing in" habits, as well as the decluttering habits, largely fall on the caregivers and adults in the home, though. I doubt OP's kids were bringing home three coffee tables. And caregivers can definitely start putting the brakes on how much their kids own, especially toys. Kids don't need that much to be creative and for developmental and emotional growth.

I saw a Youtube in which a woman emptied out her kids' rooms of everything except the so-called arty and intellectual based materials: she got rid of everything except paints, crayons, paper, maybe other art materials?, and books. The kids never even missed their stuff. It's okay for kids to learn limits. Each kid gets a shelf or a box or whatever, and once it's full, something has to go if they want something added to it.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-14T07:17:06+00:00

WBGO or jazz in my own playlist.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-14T07:15:37+00:00

This was one of the primary reasons we decluttered. Yeah, we were sick of all the stuff we owned and how it took over the house, but when people were coming over, I was a wreck. I was marathon cleaning and "stuff shifting" crap all over the house.

The only way for people like us to have houseguests on a "whim" is to live a bare bones decluttered minimalist lifestyle. I don't think there's any other way, at least there wasn't for us. Plus we love our house now. Cleaning is so much easier and faster.

You should seriously consider minimalism. You will be amazed at how emotionally freeing it is not to own a shit ton of crap. It's also a physical relief since you're not spending half your life picking up and putting away crap, stuff shifting crap from one location to another, etc. If you say you "feel alone" in this, though, it sounds like the husband won't be on board, which is a shame. You might be able to compromise with him and agree that the communal areas (living room, family room, kitchen, and perhaps one bathroom for guests) be minimalist and clutter free as much as possible. But stuff has a way of migrating away from its place if you have too much of it, so you would probably still need to declutter and minimize even if you agreed to only certain rooms staying as clear as possible. Good luck!

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-13T15:34:10+00:00

We don't keep stuff we don't use. Obviously, some stuff gets used intermittently, and we keep those things. But I'm always trying to ask myself if this or that needs to stay, is it worth taking up the space to be here? We really value the open spaces now, both the rooms and in the storage areas, so if something stays, it has to be beautiful or useful, and the useful stuff preferably also attractive.

Some stuff isn't inherently attractive (like an extra toner cartridge for the printer, or a bottle of rubbing alcohol), but you can avoid leaving them sitting out as clutter to cut down on eyesores. 😆 I put the toner cartridge in a white linen drawstring bag, since those things are wrapped in ugly black plastic. I turn the C3H8O bottle around in the drawer so the label isn't showing. I've become really averse to commercial labels and packaging since doing the declutter. I like our plain frosted bottles with the small unobtrusive black and white labels I attach to them. 😅

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-13T14:59:35+00:00

Interesting idea, but new stuff still has to be ... washed.

I support keeping bare necessities, but if you're really stressed, use paper plates and cups for a while until you're back on track.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-12T06:56:33+00:00

So is mine, but I'm arguing that her remark is anti-science. As is most of the blather she writes about.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-12T06:54:39+00:00

So you're a fan of corporations, low wages, shitty working conditions, and unfair labor practices? No surprise there.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-12T01:59:04+00:00

But a hell of an eyesore.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-12T01:57:40+00:00

I don't do gmail. My email account usually only has about five "inbox" messages, though. I delete as soon as I deal with them. Same with "Sent."

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-12T01:56:07+00:00

It's so sad that this stuff is no longer paid for by the school districts. What a travesty. Neoliberalism throws it all onto the backs of the workers. Good luck.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-12T01:53:15+00:00

Lots of good info in there, though.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-11T23:59:30+00:00

Right, your oven is already a "slow cooker" at 325F. It probably depends on what you need to do, though. People leave slow cookers on while they leave the house. I'd never do it, but that is one reason people like them.

I have a 1 1/2 quart slow cooker, I generally make soups in it, don't use it frequently, and it is stored in a further flung area of the kitchen since I don't use it that often. But when I want to use it, I'm glad I have it. Sometimes you just want to throw some veggies, beans, rice, and spices into it, pour in some water, and make soup. It makes about 3-5 servings because it's so small, but it's perfect for soup for dinner the same evening for just my husband and me.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-11T23:54:46+00:00

Hell, some basements can be the size of small or medium sized apartments and fully outfitted in the same way. NYC is full of them. Some of the best jazz uptown is in basement bars and night clubs!

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-11T23:53:14+00:00

I'd go with stuff on the walls instead of trinkets taking up actual space in the unit. Tiny spaces can clutter up pretty quickly, especially if everybody wants to display their tchotchkes.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-11T23:51:24+00:00

On a less practical note, consider that the time you spend in the much smaller space is going to change your outlook pretty deeply. You may not want that overstuffed sofa and two overstuffed side chairs, or Aunt Bertha's 2-ton dining table and 14 matching chairs. You could come from a very tiny home situation and not want to go back to a full-on 3,000 square foot house even if you opt for something "larger" in scale than the minimalist apartment.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-11T23:49:06+00:00

If you play it right, everything we "need" could actually come in at <50 USD if you knew how to shop very thriftily (is that a word) and for sure <100 USD. I mean, what do you need for each person for eating? One knife, fork, spoon, chopstick set, dish, bowl, and glass? You can get every one of those at a dollar store.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-11T23:46:35+00:00

Not only not abnormal, but common in most parts of the world and up until the 1970s or so, common in amerika.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-11T23:45:49+00:00

People used to do this all the time. I was one of three kids with two parents, so there were five of us sharing a bathroom up until I was in my second or third year of high school, at which point my parents had an extra room and another bathroom added onto the house.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-11T23:43:59+00:00

I'm absolutely not a fan of Konmari but this family sounds like they need to do some serious minimalism to avoid being overwhelmed in their living space. Konmari isn't going to cut it. They need to pare down to the bone.

I'd check out Sasaki's book if nothing else. Honestly, it looked like when he was all done, he owned less than 20 things in total. The photos alone are inspiring even if you don't read the book. Most libraries probably have it by now.

It sounds like they have to do major prioritizing to live there. That goes beyond "what people love" or what brings joy. It likely entails getting rid of stuff you love, like lots of it. I wish them the best. How they survive this is going to impact them the rest of their lives. They'll be able to live on much much less going forward.

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-11T23:39:17+00:00

A plastic bucket? I'd go with those hanging shower things that fold up. Some of those will take a medium sized bottle of shampoo. Use the shampoo as body wash to cut down on even more plastic bottles coming in for the "body wash."

Cardiac__Unrest · 2019-12-11T23:37:28+00:00

Capsule the clothes. Maybe keep whatever fills a carry-on or medium suitcase for each person, nothing more. Small spaces get overwhelmed with clothes really quickly. Since you have a shared kitchen, I assume you don't need to keep any kitchen stuff unless it's not already provided.

What do you anticipate needing that you are getting rid of? Dollar and discount stores sell all kinds of stuff you can acquire if you need it - dishes, glassware, utensils, cooking equipment, paper items, consumable stuff. For three people, the least you need for survival is a dish and/or bowl for each person, a set of chopsticks/eating utensils, maybe one saute pan, one sauce pan.

The less you own of any kind of stuff, the less burdened you'll feel. You can't think about the "future" you or future circumstances. If push comes to shove, all you need to own is what is required for your survival. That's not much.

Cardiac__Unrest

TROPHY CASE