Doris Puls

I was reminded of a valuable lesson this week working with a club, who will remain nameless, cleaning out their storage space. What I was reminded of was that no one wants to deal with deciding what should be saved, donated, or tossed. I met with two board members and we sifted through years of supplies and papers, some going as far back as the 1990s. Papers were literally stashed anywhere there was a free space and nothing was in order except a cart that was currently used. The rest of the “stuff” we put in containers and labeled, as numerous people would be using the space. It took three of us two days working four hours each day to get through everything including sorting each paper for saving, recycling or shredding. The papers alone took eight hours to sort through. The lesson learned is, “Don’t leave the mess for someone else.” “Someone else” doesn’t want to deal with it either. It may not be your mess but clean it up anyway if it needs it.

What I have found over the years is that when you are a member of a church or club, the question is, “Who has the right to dispose or donate what isn’t used?” Just because you think a faded picture on the wall looks bad, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have special meaning to someone else. Just because you think a space is cluttered and looks bad doesn’t mean others do. Maybe they want the space to be used for storage (or they don’t know where to put the stuff). When you decide to go through things that are not used, you are taking a chance that someone might be offended. It might be best to check with a person in charge, but sometimes no one is.

At our church we have funeral luncheons and potlucks. After these events there are often dishes that are not picked up and can still be there months later. I found a solution to keep from taking anyone’s personal dishes. I put tape on each dish and a notice in our church bulletin to remind everyone to pick up these unclaimed dishes or they would be donated the month after the announcement. Most of those left are probably meant to be disposed of anyway. I don’t take anything away that has not been there for months.

Many people are concerned about saving historical items. I agree that significant items should be saved even if they may never be used again. History of an organization, club, or church can be very valuable when someone wants to know the beginnings or for anniversaries. In the club’s space we cleaned out, there is now a designated space for historical items that can be easily accessed, not stashed anywhere and everywhere.

This same principle can be applied if you are leaving a job. Leaving without cleaning out your space is not okay. Being respectlful of the next person using that space makes it so much better for them to adjust. I have heard many stories of people leaving these spaces in appalling shape. Even if that space was a mess when you started, it still is important to clean out areas that are messes.

What about in your home? Are you saving old bills, statements, and boxes of stuff that you should deal with? Is it right to leave it for the next generation? I think not, as you are the one that made the mess in the first place. Don’t leave the mess for others to clean up. They will be very thankful. Again, historical items can be saved and appreciated, but there are many things that should just be thrown out.

Don’t leave messes for … the next generation, the next board members, the next employee, the next… even if they may not have been your messes but now there is no one responsible to do it. You do it! The satisfaction of accomplishing the task is well worth the time invested. Hopefully the club will take pride in their newly organized space and keep it cleaned up.

Doris Puls, of D & O Decluttering and Organizing, is a professional organizer whose mission is to make a difference in the lives of the people she works with in homes and businesses. Contact her at organizealpena@gmail.com or at 989-356-9545.