Angie Workman: February Clutter Clean-up

For a large portion of my life, I have not felt well and for the last 10 years I have been trying to figure out why at doctor after doctor.  After my baby was born almost five years ago, my health took a real nose dive--to the point I couldn't even get myself out of bed for very much of the day.  I had given up on ever finding the source of my problem, but after a friend recommended a hormone specialist, I decided to give it one last try.  I have never been so excited to be told there was something wrong with me!  I was diagnosed with hypopituitary disorder and my thyroid was wreaking havoc on my defenseless body.  I had horrible headaches, freezing all the time, unexplained weight gain, super dry skin, my hair was falling out, my body ached all the time, my joints ached and I was tired all the time, no energy or ambition, among other things.

Unfortunately most doctors only test TSH, which in my case was low and therefore did not raise a red flag to any of my previous doctors--they all just wanted to put me on anti-depressants.  The thing this doctor did differently was test my free T3 and free T4 levels, along with all of my other hormones.  They were all low, indicative of a pituitary disorder.  I have been so grateful to find a doctor who had the proper knowledge to diagnose and treat me...I have a relative who is struggling with some of the same symptoms but her doctor will not test her T3 and T4 because her doctor believes her TSH is fine.  If you are suffering from these symptoms, please search out a doctor who understands this info.  If you want to do any further research, Mary Shoman has a great deal of info on the internet.  After listening to my story, several of my friends have gone to be tested and also found out they too had thyroid problems.  I just wanted to share this with you all because so few doctors really understand it, especially in people like me who are euthyroid as a result of pituitary issues.  So if you are feeling bad and doctors are telling you your just a busy mom or are depressed, consider finding another doctor--too many people are suffering needlessly!

Well, off of my soap box now...as a result of my poor health, one of the biggest things, besides my poor family, to be neglected was my house.  I remember that nesting instinct before my baby and then bam--nothing!  Over those five years, my house has not received the deep cleaning or dejunking it really needed and it was driving me crazy!  So for February, I set the goal of dejunking and deep cleaning all the rooms upstairs.

These are my first two secret cleaning weapons.  I have children who loooove to plaster Scotch tape...anywhere...on everything.  As a result, I have a lot of tape residue all over my doors and moldings, which are natural wood stained.  Paint thinner has been my saving grace...it is also great for cleaning those greasy finger prints off of the peanut butter cabinet--as long as the cabinets are stained and lacquered!  Do not use on paint!  The other little trick I pulled out of my sleeve was the denatured alcohol.  When I painted, I had a few drips of dried paint here and there that never got cleaned up...so denatured alcohol to the rescue!  Again, this only applies to stain-grade moldings and doors--not painted!  I didn't clean my boys rooms due to the high amount of bio-hazards located within, but I did get all the tape residue cleaned off their doors and moldings.  (Before left, after paint thinner right)

Next I headed to the laundry room...talk about dust!  I also had been storing the dressups in there, so every time the girls played with them, they were all over the place.  I got the kids' stuff out and thinned out my blanket collection.  Hauled away three bags of trash & donation items...if only I could say it looked that nice the next day;)

Next was the bathroom...ugh!  Tile, tile, tile...all coated in toothpaste...and lots of it!

Yep, my kids are certain they have a maid service!

I had a small hand-held steamer that I used to use, but it was such a pain.  And, the last time I used it I might possibly have let it run out of water and ruined it...so I found this baby on Amazon for about $80.  Talk about a miracle tool!  It holds 48 ounces of water and at 1500 watts really puts out the steam!  I wouldn't recommend it for large floor surfaces--I have a different steam mop for that--but this little Wagner rocked the grout!  I was done in far less time that ever before...so glad I ruined my old Scunci!

Here's my grout before...

...and after!

 

Ta da!

 

And the room I dreaded the most...

...the library!  As a teacher, when I designed my house I thought a library with lots of fun books, games and crafts would be so fun for the kids.  As you can see, they take full advantage of it.  But the problem with calling it a library, they think they have a librarian!  As much as it goes against my teacher grain, besides wiping down all the surfaces, I also thinned out my books and games...ouch!  Hauled off several boxes of donation items, but it is really nice to have a place for everything again.  I'm going to confess, I didn't attack my craft closet...we'll have to save that one for another day...but this sure feels nice!

Next was the playroom...don't have a before, but just imagine all the toys spread all over the floor with 5000 granola bar wrappers smashed in the couch and you get the idea.  The thing I have found that helps in this room is that everything has a place--if not it goes.  My girls used to have a ton of play food and a horrible play kitchen that just had one hatch for everything to store.  We got rid of it all, they got a new kitchen that has shelves and cabinets and they just have a few nicer items.  They take pride in it and don't have to dump it all out to find that favorite piece of cheese!

Now as I mentioned, I didn't really attempt the boys' rooms because they are old enough, but I did tackle my daughter's room.  We even decided to earn some bonus points and paint--she got a new bedspread for Christmas to help get her through those tween years, so it was time for a new color too!

I don't quite have the room put back together yet, so I guess that will give you something to come back for next month!

I've loved all the bags of trash and donation items I've hauled out of the upstairs...it makes me feel so much more organized and things feel much more spacious.  I do think I bit off a bit of a large chunk...I hated how much I kind of ignored my kids while I was doing this, but I also know if I don't get my stuff done in the house by March, spring hits and it has to wait until next January.  I liked some of the other people's ideas of tackling a new room each month and then keeping up with the previous ones...but given the fact of how neglected my house was, this was probably a necessity!  Come back next month and see how we did at doing the same thing for the main floor during March:)