One Man's Junk, Another's Treasure

This is the season, yes especially before the Passover Holiday, when the local email list/group has lots of letters offering "come and take it." It's a time many try to clean up by getting rid of things, or fix up and buy new. But the result is the same, there's lots available to give away for free.

Last week I sent out an announcement/offer for hangers, and within minutes three people contacted me that they wanted some. I must have gotten rid of at least fifty 50. None of the hangers had cost me any money, since they came from the "dry cleaners."

Yesterday, I took advantage of the extra week of Passover Vacation I had from work and made some changes in my room. You probably don't know, but when I worked in Yafiz, for six years, we got no special time off before the Passover Holiday. Actually, there was pressure to work more hours especially us part-time workers, because that is one of the big busy seasons in the store. And last year, when I did manage to get a good schedule with three days off just before, my father died that first morning, so I was in mourning, not cleaning mode until the Holiday.

In Israel, for good and for bad, depending on whether you're a teacher or parent of young active kids, school closes for Passover a week or more before the Holiday. In the high school where I teach, they take the students on the big annual trip the week before that, so our vacation starts a week earlier.

WOW, what a fantastic deal for me! So, I decided to make some changes in my bedroom and get rid of the bamboo shelves.

I'm not a great housekeeper at all, so these shelves had been storing all sorts of things for up to at least twenty years, since one of my daughters had given them to me. She had used them in her apartment, and they weren't new then.

So, yesterday I very slowly, so I wouldn't panic and give up, bit by bit took everything off and sorted through what I found. I threw out tons of makeup I'll never wear and was probably long past any "safe to use" date. Other things found "new homes" in the house, and the garbage can needed to be emptied a few times.

When the shelves were finally bare, I took them to the front door and sent an email to my neighbors, with a photo, of course, offering "first come first serve." Just take it!

Within minutes my phone beeped with a reply:

Oh wow I want that!

So, I spoke to her and had my husband move it to the merpeset, terrace, and wrote back to the list that they had already been reserved.

Call this a "win-win situation." And now that I've begun making some sort of "improvements" in my room, I'm getting the urge to have it painted... It's looking more and more possible that I could handle that sort of "challenge." Remember that to paint a room you have to clear the junk/possessions out first. Fly Lady would be proud of me.

Cleaning, Clearing and Donating

Is this Baile Rochel talking?
Could be...

How can one clean when buried under an avalanche of things?

Shuffling/transferring stuff from one place to the next doesn't really help, even if it's the only way to reach the floor. I look at my house and feel sick. I can't paint it, not just because of the expense. I just can't imagine moving everything around and then having to put it back. Just the thought of it, and I go catatonic.


Not all that long ago, the woman who coordinates the senior citizens activities sent out a notice that she would like a few music CDs, so I happily filled up a bag. I haven't bothered listening to my collection for almost four years. I got out of the habit when my mother passed away, and it was forbidden to have music on. Since then the news is on TV most of the day. But I still have too many. Now I'm at the tail end of the year's mourning for my father. Will I start listening to music when it's over? I don't know. But seriously, how many CDs do I need?


I've given away a few dozen books, but they hardly made a difference to the gazillions here and all the papers. And I must say that probably under 1% of the books are mine. So, I don't have the authority to get rid of them.

But I'm very proud and excited to say that this week I did get rid of some stuff that had been inhabiting a nice bag for years. I transferred it to a bag that we really didn't need, killing two birds with one stone! Call it "double riddance," for sure.

Yes, I got rid of lots of yarns from my hat crocheting days. OK, I'm keeping the crochet hooks. I brought them to the senior citizen center when the weaving teacher was there. My plan is to do a very different weaving project next which will incorporate the yarns I've donated. 

Granted it's a small step, but that's how we start. Step by step, nothing traumatic, nothing drastic. Isn't that what Fly Lady tells us?

Saying Goodbye to 50 Year Old Sweatshirts

Nowadays it's hard to find anything as strong and warm as my old 100% cotton sweatshirts, which I've held onto for almost half a century. I got them from NCSY and YU Seminars.  Here's a picture of me wearing one to high School.

This is a seminar sweatshirt decorated with SSSJ Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry buttons. In all honesty I must admit that this picture, and the sweatshirt, is probably only forty-eight (maybe 47, but not younger than that) years old, not fifty.  But when something is so close to half a century old, you can round it off, even if you're a CPA's daughter.

My sweatshirts made their way to Israel with us in 1970, and for most of the years, they hibernated peacefully in my closet. A few years ago I began sleeping in them on cold winter nights.  And now they really look their age:

So I decided, in a fit of Passover cleaning, considering that the tears exposed my shoulders to the cold making them pretty useless, to retire them. I actually threw them out.  I'm very proud of myself.

My old flybaby buddies should be proud of me...

If You're Like Me and Hate To Clean...

.. then this isn't your favorite season, if you're Jewish.

Pre-Pesach (Passover) is the excuse for many to totally take apart their homes to destroy the elusive and forbidden "chametz." Chametz is any leavened product, like cake, cookies, noodles, etc.

Of course, if you don't eat any where but the kitchen diningroom areas, and you launder your clothes after one wearing, the chances of crumbs migrating to the bed, den, windows etc are close to nil.

Even in homes in which it's common to eat in bed, you don't have to wash the ceilings.

With only two full cleaning days to go this year, it's probably too late to follow these ten rules from Consumer Reports, hat tip "t."

10 easy house-cleaning strategies
Conquer housework’s drudgery with our easy-to-follow tips

Spring is here, but you've got better things to do than clean. With smart planning, a few easy-to-establish habits, and the 10 tips below, you can make cleaning less of a hassle. The advice below is from How to Clean Practically Anything (Consumer Reports Special Publications, 2002).

Divide and conquer. As with any daunting task, housecleaning is easier if you break it into smaller parts. Doing a chore or two a day is easier than letting tasks accumulate and become overwhelming. Cleaning regularly gets rid of dirt before you have to scrub it, saving you elbow grease and the things you clean unnecessary wear and tear. Regularly brushing Fluffy and Fido may cut back on the amount of pet hair around the home. There are also a number of easy--and often free--things you can do to improve the air quality inside your home: See our indoor-air-quality report for tips.

Devise a schedule. Many people find that a schedule lets them take control over housework, rather than the other way around. Start by making a list of cleaning tasks in your home. Then note how often each chore needs to be done--daily, weekly, monthly, or seasonally. Devise a schedule that spaces your daily chores evenly over the course of a week and your weekly chores evenly over the course of a month. Happily, few chores need to be done on a daily basis.

If it's not dirty . . . You don't have to clean things that aren't dirty--sometimes a touch-up is all that's necessary. If there is a handprint on an otherwise perfectly clean mirror, don't clean the whole mirror; just attack the print itself. You don't have to dry-clean a suit that only needs to be aired, brushed, or pressed. Surfaces that you or your visitors can't see--like the top of a cabinet--don't need to be cleaned regularly. Put some paper down, and when it gets dirty, pick the paper up and throw it out.

If you can't clean, straighten up. If you're short on time, getting rid of clutter can make a room feel a lot cleaner. Make it a habit to tidy things up every day or two and there'll be less to do when you do haul out the vacuum cleaner and dust cloth.

Simplify and unclutter. If you don't need or like something in your house, give it away, throw it away, or recycle it rather than clean it. The fewer things you have, the less clutter you have. And, of course, the less you have, the less there is to dust, polish, shine, vacuum, and otherwise take care of.

Reevaluate your storage needs. Cleaning is much easier if you have well-thought-out storage space for the possessions you do hang on to. Look at each room in your house to see if additional storage can help you solve some of your day-to-day cleaning problems. For example, if you have a crate for shoes and boots near the door, it's less likely that shoes will be scattered around the room. Plastic containers with lids are great for getting such seasonal items as skiwear and beach gear out of the way. If you're considering buying an install-it-yourself organizing system.

Keep lists. Everyone knows how making a shopping list before you go to the supermarket helps keep you from making impulse buys. Lists can be handy in organizing your housekeeping, too. List the chores you need to do in a given week. If you notice a problem--a scuff on the wall in the stairs, a wobbly leg on a chair--and you don't have time to fix it now, write it down so you don't forget about it.

Locate supplies conveniently. In the kitchen, you'll probably make frequent use of a few key items: dishwashing liquid, automatic-dishwasher detergent, an all-purpose cleaner, ammonia, glass cleaner, metal cleaner, and white vinegar (a great all-purpose cleaner), along with a mop, cloths, and scrubbers. Store these items close at hand. Plastic caddies fit conveniently below sinks and can be carried from room to room. Though you probably keep baking soda with your baking supplies, it's such a handy cleaner that you might want to store a box with your cleaning supplies. To get the cleanest dishes, see our report on dishwasher detergents. And if you're looking to save a little money or need a cleaner in a pinch, our free recipes for homemade cleaning products can do the trick.

Use cleaning as a way to check on the house. While you're cleaning or doing the laundry, take time to note any item that needs special attention. The time you take now can save you more time and work later. When crumbling grouting around the bathtub is not repaired, water can leak into the walls. If a dangling button falls off and you can't find a matching one, you might need to replace all the buttons. A loose piece of veneer can catch on a sleeve and break off. If plants aren't draining, they may be staining the furniture on which they've been placed. If you're wondering which household items, such as appliances and electronics, are worth fixing or throwing away, see our report, "Repair or Replace It?" (available to subscribers).

Get everyone to help. Make cleaning a family endeavor. Divide up specific tasks among family members. List chores on a calendar so that you all know what your responsibilities are. It might help to set aside a specific time when the whole household does chores. Devise a system of rewards to inspire kids to participate willingly. Everyone can pitch in when it comes to laundry, and an organized laundry room will save your family from schlepping a load of dirty clothes from the bedroom to the basement or utility room.

Remember, cleaning is always easier with the proper equipment.

But it's a good idea to try to take those suggestions throughout the year. I found cleaning easier when I was on Flylady part of the Jewish and Israeli flybaby networks.

My Own Advice:
Nothing is worth obsessing over, because it will only make you ill, and it will turn your kids away from the holiday. (I've learned the hard way for sure.)
Make a point of distinguishing between dirt and chometz. Most people spend too much time on the dirt, totally losing focus.
While cleaning and organizing, please remember to drink enough water and eat regular meals. That's for two reasons. First of all your health, and secondly, proper eating and drinking will keep you rational and prevent obsessive behavior.
Don't over-clean and destroy your appliances. And you shouldn't boil dentures. Just like you'd be insane to rinse your mouth with bleach and/or boiling water.

Common sense and safety should be paramount. Pikuach Nefesh, saving a life is the most important mitzvah. Passover cleaning shouldn't kill you or make you sick.

Now, off to start my day. I have too much food left over. I'll give some away to friends, a food Gmach (fund) and "sell" some.

f2f with a Jewish flybaby!

Yes, I can't believe it!

I used to be a very active and vociferous member of the Jewish Flybabies. Then I reached the point where I needed to reduce my email/computer time, and I cut out both that and the Israel Flyladies.

It was hard, because I had really developed close relationships with the other women. The Israeli group even met a few times. I wonder what's happening with everyone now.

From the title you can guess that I met someone from that group! Thursday I got a phone call from someone who said that she and her family would be guests of my neighbors and that we had known each other from Jewish Flybabies! So I invited them for a meal, and we got along great.

I'm happy they're in Israel and hope to see her again!

The best way to clean...

The best way to clean is just to throw things out!

Clutter is the problem. That's what I learned from Fly Lady; too bad I don't follow the rules and throw out clutter at least every week. OK, the rule is everyday, but even every week would be a major improvement.

How can there be a place for everything and everything in its place if there's too much clutter?

For a while I was throwing things out if I wanted to buy something new, but now there's no room, I've just been buying.

The children in Israel sing:

שמחה רבה
שמחה רבה
אביב הגיעה
פסח בא
Simchah rabbah
Simchah rabbah
Aviv higui'ah
Pesach Ba
Great joy
Great joy
Spring has arrived
Pesach is coming

That's what the kids say. For people with my sort of "disability," it's the nightmare season! Maybe I should return to Fly Lady!