Too Late for Swedish Death Cleaning (Decluttering My Parent's Garage - Day One)

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  • Опубліковано 7 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,2 тис.

  • @MidwestMagicCleaning
    @MidwestMagicCleaning Місяць тому +1404

    Man, I wish I lived near you. This is right up my alley.

    • @rebeccajordan4491
      @rebeccajordan4491 Місяць тому +230

      That would be a DREAM collab ❤️❤️❤️

    • @kristymiller2098
      @kristymiller2098 Місяць тому +77

      Just hope on your moose you will be there in no time!

    • @Wilma.Flintstone
      @Wilma.Flintstone Місяць тому +62

      See, Mack, I bet you're really regretting all those moose you spun-kicked right about now, huh? They could have created a moose-and-carriage situation to get you out to California!

    • @labradorite8256
      @labradorite8256 Місяць тому +41

      How can we make this happen?
      I'm in Australia and I wish I could come and help her! My Dads house had mice inside by the end, it was truly truly awful. My last memory of my childhood home was huddling on the laundry step with the family Christmas decorations, waiting to be picked up because it was raining and the moisture just made the mouse dropping smell inside intolerable.

    • @notyayo
      @notyayo Місяць тому +19

      Gasp, would love to see that!

  • @nancybryant4325
    @nancybryant4325 Місяць тому +278

    I’ve started Swedish Death Cleaning this year. I’m 75 and do not want to leave a big mess for my daughter. That will be the best part of her inheritance.

    • @dianapetro2665
      @dianapetro2665 Місяць тому +8

      Absolutely!!!

    • @Iquey
      @Iquey Місяць тому +3

      It's important to do! they say your life flashes before your eyes before you die, but if you die in an instantaneous way that doesn't let your brain go out peacefully, why not review what you have before just in case?

    • @ARebuh
      @ARebuh Місяць тому +1

      I respect you for taking this step so very much. It is not easy so start but soooo worth it.

    • @FoD2001
      @FoD2001 Місяць тому

      @@nancybryant4325
      Bless you ❤️

    • @buckeyejen1076
      @buckeyejen1076 Місяць тому

      Just throw the shit away!

  • @zhannas3033
    @zhannas3033 Місяць тому +361

    Carla, you do so many declutter with friends sessions, why not have one of your friends be a support buddy for you for a change while you handle this enormous project? You could really benefit from emotional support while tackling this. ❤

    • @LindaMz24
      @LindaMz24 Місяць тому +11

      That's a great question and very sad. ☹️

    • @kathleen9929
      @kathleen9929 Місяць тому +16

      I was thinking the same thing. Someone with no emotional connection that can say "No one is going to want this". That's what I need help with!

    • @par11
      @par11 Місяць тому +6

      Yes you deserve the help and support! You e helped so many people including your subscribers! Love to you and peace ❤

    • @janohare916
      @janohare916 Місяць тому +5

      @@zhannas3033 I like the support buddy idea. Maybe they could take turns?

  • @kristinestocker
    @kristinestocker Місяць тому +504

    I recommend getting one large Rubbermaid bin for yourself and each of your siblings for sentimental items. Realistically, everything else should probably go. Good luck! This is a huge project.

    • @otakelblanchemanor0659
      @otakelblanchemanor0659 Місяць тому +11

      I was thinking the same thing!

    • @melodep275
      @melodep275 Місяць тому +10

      Thats such a great idea!

    • @marge2225
      @marge2225 Місяць тому +13

      This is so sad. My mantra is "you can't take it with you." It keeps me from purchasing or retaining stuff.

    • @FrogeniusW.G.
      @FrogeniusW.G. Місяць тому +9

      The car & antique books can definitely be sold!

    • @unstoppablefavour6224
      @unstoppablefavour6224 Місяць тому +8

      When my parents passed away I took absolutely nothing out of their home as I am already very blessed and did not need any more stuff. I left it all for my brother, he can do whatever he wants with the stuff.

  • @karenhaire5451
    @karenhaire5451 Місяць тому +535

    This is hard to watch because I've been through it. Also, as a librarian who dealt with donations for a long time, please do not donate those books anywhere. Discard them. Recycle if possible, but sometimes that isn't even an option. Don't feel guilty! Bless you for this.❤

    • @nellautumngirl
      @nellautumngirl Місяць тому +68

      I'm a librarian as well. I know how attached people are to their books, but realistically, if it's not in very good condition or something very special, we don't have space for it either :) Exactly, recycling!

    • @SMTRodent
      @SMTRodent Місяць тому +20

      @@nellautumngirl The M6 Toll Road in England is built on old Mills and Boon romance novels!

    • @wendajones9040
      @wendajones9040 Місяць тому +19

      So true. Libraries need to be full of clean, relevant books.

    • @M_SC
      @M_SC Місяць тому +20

      Putting them out on the edge of the lawn in a box marked free tends to get rid of them. But it depends on the neighborhood. Lots of dogwalkers and other pedestrians around here

    • @nancybryant4325
      @nancybryant4325 Місяць тому +8

      Our library takes books to sell in their little shop. They also have a big book sale every year to raise money. Some of our thrift shops take them too. I’ve been getting rid of books as I declutter.

  • @carolann811
    @carolann811 Місяць тому +388

    Baby books. My mom wrote in mine the time she dropped me on my head at 3 months. No other notation, just "Dropped Carol on her head at nap time."

    • @TheCarlaProject
      @TheCarlaProject  Місяць тому +79

      Baby books holding all the secrets!

    • @TheCaitling
      @TheCaitling Місяць тому +54

      Calendar kept the year I was born - Tuesday: Caitlin was very cranky today. Wednesday: Caitlin was very cranky again.

    • @scoutc315
      @scoutc315 Місяць тому +59

      Haha, mine was: Rolled off changing table. Seems fine. 😂😂😂 How did we survive?!

    • @MarionHoney
      @MarionHoney Місяць тому +22

      This gave me a laugh I really needed today. Thank you all for sharing these gems.

    • @smallhouseinthemeadow6131
      @smallhouseinthemeadow6131 Місяць тому +19

      @@scoutc315 OMG, My son did that. He is 42 now. I almost had a heart attack. He also flipped uoside down in his car seat when I turned a sharp corner because his father hadn't strapped it in. Back then, we kept kids in the front seat to give them a bottle if they needed one. When I was a kid, we didn't even have carseats or seatbelts. It's a wonder we all survived for sure.

  • @sherrypeck4062
    @sherrypeck4062 Місяць тому +41

    We are 84 and 78 years old….your channel is helping me see and know I must declutter or it at least START! Thank you sweet girl…❤❤❤🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

  • @reneewolf1738
    @reneewolf1738 Місяць тому +94

    This is a huge undertaking for one person. Sending you many hugs and good vibes. One suggestion I thought for next time is have a tote ready for
    Any photos or memorabilia and put that in the tote to go through later when you are ready to tackle it. That way you won’t get pulled into looking at sentimental items until you decide you are ready. You are doing awesome Carla!

  • @vanessaadams1452
    @vanessaadams1452 Місяць тому +275

    One rule when you are doing this kind of clean up. Slick your hair back in a ponytail or cover your hair with a scarf or something and use a mask. All love ❤️

    • @RobinLNJ
      @RobinLNJ Місяць тому +32

      Baseball hat, and clear glasses that cover your eyes and much of your face, to also protect your eyes from dust and random debris that rains down.

    • @poco3219
      @poco3219 Місяць тому +4

      My thought exactly.

    • @pjglory3348
      @pjglory3348 Місяць тому +8

      @@RobinLNJand any rodent poop dust, just in case…

    • @richardw3470
      @richardw3470 11 днів тому +1

      The wife puts shower caps on us - and we both have short hair.

  • @madzabinga8382
    @madzabinga8382 Місяць тому +90

    I could see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice that this was tough for you. What's great is that you are the perfect person for this job! You have all the skills to handle this! Cheering you on!!

  • @serenitynoworganisingvanco8220
    @serenitynoworganisingvanco8220 Місяць тому +78

    This is a hard go Carla. It’s not a regular decluttering session - emotions, grief, nostalgia etc. Don’t pressure yourself, take it in manageable chunks and plan food and good friends or family time around it so you are balancing the process ✨

    • @SandyTCF
      @SandyTCF 9 днів тому

      Such great suggestions ❤❤❤

  • @idonyb-h3370
    @idonyb-h3370 Місяць тому +65

    That photo of your dad in the air force was just gorgeous. I'd frame that and put it in your house to treasure forever ❤

  • @leahpollard3710
    @leahpollard3710 Місяць тому +94

    i wish i lived in LA so i could sit w u and hand u iced coffees and play w Samson so u didnt have to be alone doing this. My mother was a hoarder. I have prob moved her about 10 times in the last 15 years. My sis was the keeper of all the mom things but she just downsized and now i am the keeper. I have all her old records, the photos, my mothers art (which i am framing and displaying all over my house)her 50 years of journals. When she left independent living many years ago i had to go to NH alone, stay in a hotel (because her home was too depressing without her in it)and i sorted through all of her things to make sure nothing important to my family got thrown away. I know u prob wont see this but i highly recommend next time you go to bring a buddy, your family, anybody w u to support u. This is hard hard stuff. ty for sharing this journey, i can see from the comments many people can relate

    • @TheCarlaProject
      @TheCarlaProject  Місяць тому +32

      Yes, I so relate to this. When I did the big Declutter in 2019 I stayed in the house but this time I can’t even spend a single night there. So I’ll just drive back-and-forth. Better for me to have my own space to come home too.I’ll have to see what friends I can rally to come help❤

    • @leahpollard3710
      @leahpollard3710 Місяць тому +7

      @@TheCarlaProject I wish u the very best. U provide so much amazing content for us and helping friends and family u deserve support too!

    • @womanofacertainage5892
      @womanofacertainage5892 Місяць тому +6

      @@TheCarlaProject Maybe a few of the people you have helped on your channel would be willing to come help you this time? Or if you and Mack ask your viewers, we could pay for plane tickets for him and a helper to come with him and a hotel -- would be an awesome collab video series!!

  • @purplegrl
    @purplegrl Місяць тому +92

    This is why estate sellers are amazing. My dad was overwhelmed dealing with my grandmother's house, and she was not even a hoader. She just lived in it for 50 years. We both walked the house and took what we wanted. Called the estate sellers, and they dealt with everything else. Papers, trash, everything, even her car. They even cleaned the house, so it was ready to be put on the market.

    • @emilylewis5373
      @emilylewis5373 Місяць тому +9

      That’s what my mom did for our grandparents. Due to time constraints we did the family picking the afternoon after the funeral, and honestly it was really nice to have that family time right after the funeral remembering.

    • @purplegrl
      @purplegrl Місяць тому

      @@emilylewis5373 Yes, it helps alot if you are short on time, too! He waited a year. No one in the family was in a hurry, and I live across the state 5 hours away. I walked the house for my cousin as she lives in another state and mailed her the few things she wanted. No one else wanted anything. IMO, this is the only way to do it.
      I was quite amazed when we interviewed the company. We didn't pay a dime. It came out of the sales. Anything we might have missed, was placed in a box. They even went through each and every book, and found notes and photos. I was about to start cleaning her fridge and pantry out that day, and she told me to stop. They would handle it, plus they would clean it after.

    • @unknown-ie4hl
      @unknown-ie4hl Місяць тому

      How did this cost? ​@@emilylewis5373

    • @milkygalaxy1566
      @milkygalaxy1566 Місяць тому +2

      I would like to see a tv show about estate sellers

  • @cait.
    @cait. Місяць тому +84

    I just went through this with a family member’s house I moved into last year after they passed. The garage looked exactly like your parents’ garage. Even down to the beer steins and wonky homemade wooden storage shelves that we’re definitely made of scrap wood… I’m pretty sure it traumatized me into minimalism lol wishing you the best of luck with this project ❤

    • @TheCarlaProject
      @TheCarlaProject  Місяць тому +23

      Traumatized into minimalism lol I so relate!!

  • @InTheDeepBlueSea
    @InTheDeepBlueSea Місяць тому +30

    When I lost my parents 30+ years ago, I got big plastic storage bins and put anything and everything I believed all seven of my siblings might want to keep. None of them had spoken to my mother in over 30 years (good reasons) and all had moved to other states.
    I was left here to care for her by myself and only because of a sense of duty.
    So when she died they all flew in just to help me. I'm thankful to all of them because we got to spend a few days together finally.
    I wrote each name on their container and then we all went through each one and reminisced about the old days growing up.
    Everything else either went to charity or the dumpster. It took three full days but just spending time with all my siblings make it worthwhile. It was literally the only time in our lives we had all been in the same room.
    Now I'm looking around my home and deciding what to save for my own children and what to get rid of.
    Don't leave a monumental task for your family to deal with. Please.
    ~♡~

    • @janohare916
      @janohare916 Місяць тому +5

      I'm so glad you all took that time to reunite and reminisce. ❤

    • @sirmadam8183
      @sirmadam8183 Місяць тому +2

      You seem very kind and patient. You mother and siblings won the lottery with you.

  • @goofygirl1311
    @goofygirl1311 Місяць тому +56

    I have found that as I sort through and find photos, albums and other sentimental items that it's easier to place that stuff in a special bin to go through later rather than get side tracked looking through it all. That way I can focus on clearing out the stuff that is a quick and easy decision for me to make and I don't lose my momentum. It's good that you have a game plan with the bulk pickup and dumpster scheduled. I know this is hard and emotionally draining beyond words. You are doing an amazing job.

  • @annag1202
    @annag1202 Місяць тому +63

    I had to do this 3 years ago after my Mother died, 50 years of stuff, everything randomly shoved all over the house and she never had got rid of anything, it was emotionally and physically so draining and took months. I’m 58 and I’m doing Swedish death cleaning now, no way I’m leaving my daughter with such a terrible task. Good luck Carla, just keep a few things you will use or really cherish. You could always just take a photo of your limbo champion glasses to remember them without physically keeping them.

  • @mijaumiaumiao
    @mijaumiaumiao Місяць тому +83

    I know that feeling of being overwhelmed with memories of your family members who have passed. If you can I would recommend not doing it alone. Having your family around you makes it more enjoyable bc you get to share those moments and remember the moments together and also create new memories. Makes its less melancholy.

    • @Stacia-ep9vr
      @Stacia-ep9vr Місяць тому +9

      Yes. Let your family help you. Don't feel like it is all on you. Get a dumpster and everyone pitch it in. Love and prayers.

  • @sc00b3rt
    @sc00b3rt Місяць тому +82

    My parents are deceased. Hoarders of antiques and collectables. My father passed away last right before covid. 3 years i couldnt touch anything. Im finally into the very last corner of stuff. I cant wait to be done by the end of this month. It has been a lot. Then on to my own stuff. Im so tired of stuff.

    • @hrissyvp
      @hrissyvp Місяць тому +3

      well done! 👏 you've done a huge job!

    • @meghansullivan6812
      @meghansullivan6812 Місяць тому +3

      great job. i'm sure that was really tough. onward and upward!

  • @tbunny711
    @tbunny711 Місяць тому +75

    This one was such a vibe. You cleaning out whats clearly all sentimental stuff with "oh baby its a wild world" falling down in front of you with that beautiful song playing. 😢
    Dont forget these videos will catalog what youre seeing so even if you get rid of stuff, you can watch these videos back again! ❤

  • @jaynecrews2778
    @jaynecrews2778 Місяць тому +182

    I moved my mom and dad into my house in November, 2019. I started cleaning out their house a year prior by going through all their papers. They had paperwork dated back to 1980. It took me 6 months, 8 hours every Saturday. My mom at the time was able to help me weed through the paperwork and shred everything they did not need to keep and then I organized the remaining documents in labeled plastic containers. After that I cleaned out my dad's work room. It was 500 square feet piled high with tools, equipment, RC Airplanes and parts and a lot of trash. It took me 6 months, 8 hours every Saturday. I brought sellable items to my house and sold them. Gave money to my dad. At that time my dad had Parkinson's and was not able to control his hands. Then in June, 2021 my parents decided to put house on market. I called my mom an organized hoarder. She had 5 large closets packed, s paced she'd and a packed attic in garage. I spent every Saturday and Sunday 8 hours each day for a month packing all their stuff because my mom refused to let anything go. It took two 26 foot moving trucks to bring furniture and boxes to my house. Half of the furniture came into my house . the other half was stored in my 2 1/2 car garage with all boxes. It took me a year to go through boxes, help my mom decide what to keep, what to sell, what to give away and what to donate. I have never been a person to hold onto things. I declutter on a regular basis. If I haven't used something in a year, it's gone. I don't keep paperwork longer than 7 years except house papers and life insurance papers. I do not want to leave it behind for my children to handle.

    • @daCubanaqt
      @daCubanaqt Місяць тому +19

      Wow, that sounds like a lot of work! I’m sure your parents are very grateful that you were able to help them. I’m glad you are doing all this decluttering while they are still alive and can participate in the process with you.

    • @LuxuryOption4756
      @LuxuryOption4756 Місяць тому +13

      @jaynecrews2778 My friend, you are a hero! Blessings! 😊🤗

    • @nickywarner5826
      @nickywarner5826 Місяць тому +15

      Seriously wow. Respect. That was tough.

    • @jaynecrews2778
      @jaynecrews2778 Місяць тому +4

      The process was much easier with them advising me!

    • @FoD2001
      @FoD2001 Місяць тому +14

      Well done! ⭐️ My in-laws (78 & 82) have paperwork and belongings going back to the 1950s, they refuse to get rid of anything, refuse our help, refuse to downsize - it’s like a heavy weight hanging over us. We respect their wishes, and support their choices, but dread what we will have to deal with eventually. 🥺

  • @gabriellabodai5943
    @gabriellabodai5943 Місяць тому +45

    I am so touched by this video. I feel your sadness when you had to go through all of your parents memories 😔but I also feel that your Mom is so proud of you to do this decluttering. ❤️

  • @christine1373
    @christine1373 Місяць тому +58

    I know this is very difficult on a few levels and I’m sending positive vibes your way. Stay hydrated, remember to snack and eat, take plenty of breaks, and when you feel overwhelmed just walk away for awhile. ❤

  • @janefreda7034
    @janefreda7034 Місяць тому +44

    You are a good daughter and sister. ❤ Lovely seeing photos of your beautiful parents.

  • @JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge
    @JoyfulLivingwithJenLefforge Місяць тому +23

    "I love to declutter I just don't want bugs falling on my head." I mean, seems perfectly reasonable. Bless. I shared this video with my patrons because it demonstrates so clearly what can happen to priceless family memories. Such a great video - thank you for making it.

  • @Gisseppii
    @Gisseppii Місяць тому +165

    I'm wondering if getting a huge dumpster will be easier and working your way from the outside in... this way you can pull things out properly, quickly throw out trash and take your time going through the sentimental items while getting fresh air without having to worry about bugs and critters surprising you. 🤔😊
    Do you have anyone who can help you so it doesn't seem so overwhelming?

    • @WellEditedCo
      @WellEditedCo Місяць тому +29

      This is exactly what I was thinking! Dumpster in the driveway, and start at the door. Get the big stuff out of the way and into the dumpster first. Then the animals should leave too-at least the bigger ones. 🤮😱🙀And you’ll have an easier time going through the smaller items with space around you.

    • @Smittenhamster
      @Smittenhamster Місяць тому +8

      I second that

    • @tonisjustknotright
      @tonisjustknotright Місяць тому +4

      They have the big contractor bags that may be an option. I can not see the books being salvageable, it looks like there are several bags of plastic bottles. Those can be tuned in as well as finding a space that will take the tires.

  • @bearisland55
    @bearisland55 Місяць тому +17

    Oh sweetie! This really spoke to me.❤ I had to clean out my estranged father's apartment by myself when he passed and the entire process changed my life in so many ways. I'm now in the process of caring for my sick and elderly mother as well as slowly removing her things from the house. She has dementia, so she is not missing her items as much, but the process for me is so sad. Take your time and get some help if you need it.

  • @PoopsieVS
    @PoopsieVS Місяць тому +39

    Be strong Carla huge emotional task! Know your virtual UA-cam fam is here to support you. Sending lots of ❤

  • @annakout
    @annakout Місяць тому +11

    This video made me cry so much because I’m in the same boat as you. We lost my mom 2.5 years ago and she left so much crap for us to deal with. Anytime I start to declutter I instantly become sentimental and shed so many tears. You got this Carla, one trash bag at a time. ❤

  • @Margaret3-q7t
    @Margaret3-q7t Місяць тому +11

    im 17 and i've been doing swedish death cleaning since i was 14 going on 15 lol 😆i can't wait to have my own house that only contains just the right amount of things so that I can appreciate them all and make sure they all have a specific place. I don't know why people buy and keep things that they don't use? Like i totally understand if it's sentimental value but my mom will literally buy multiple of the same beauty product, use like 1/3 of one container, and then keep the rest leaking out in a box or drawer for years on end, fighting me anytime i try to get her to throw stuff away.
    Being on the internet a lot my whole life has been detrimental to me in some ways, but I also find it's helped me to learn life lessons that other people spend a lot of years figuring out later on.

  • @plynn136
    @plynn136 Місяць тому +30

    Wow. This is going to be a great series. Be strong.

  • @karenpage9383
    @karenpage9383 Місяць тому +80

    Just moved my 88 yo father to assisted living and sorting out his house. My mom passed 16 years ago and he has not decluttered anything of hers, so I'm mourning her all over again. Only now, almost everything has to be trashed because things degraded so much in that time. Elastic on clothes dry rotted, fabric and papers yellowed with age, photos stored improperly so they are fading, yellowing, and tear when you try to remove them from sticky albums. Dad is a pack rat and didn't trash anything deemed "useful" so there were over 100 empty coffee cans stacked in a tower. He kept every grocery bag in the last 16 years. He kept every type of old technology... slide projector, reel to reel, 8 track, cassette players, etc and every gaming console, from pong and atari up to the first nintendo. He had 12 tracphones, 5 rokus, 3 george foreman grills, 4 magic jacks... some of these still in their original packaging. He's been in that house 49 years and its never been remodeled, so everything but the carpet is circa 1973. My brother and I went through and took the things that meant something to us. Neither of us took more than would fit in a couple grocery bags. Then our spouses went to town looking for things of value or things we might have over looked. A dumpster is scheduled for the end of this week and I suspect it will be filled twice with crap from the house I cannot even understand why my dad saved. He kept every manual to every purchase, as well as every receipt. He had payroll and tax info dating back to 1949, paperwork on every car and insurance policy, and every nut, bolt, and screw he ever saw in the last 75 years. Its all disorganized, so amidst the medical bills is his marriage license. Under the silverware tray is a car title to a vehicle he no longer owns. And for the last 5 years he's had delusions that someone is stealing from him so he took to hiding things, both big and small. He hid money in the wall inside an air vent. There was a shoe horn and back scratcher hidden in the tube of a roll of paper towels and deodorant hidden in a shoe box. He kept a list of the things he thought had been stolen, and we are slowly finding them all in the house. Not sure if the story was for attention or the very early stages of dementia. Thankfully his house doesn't have rodents, but its in FL and it does has roaches, especially since with his declining eyesight he couldn't clean up well after himself. I live 600 miles away, and my hubby is spending the entire month down there renovating his house and unfortunately having to make the judgement call on many of the items there. But he and my SIL have the benefit of objectivity and so while they won't know what is sentimental, they will be able to recognize important papers and things of value. You really need to line up help from a non-family member who can catch you when you start to spiral in moments of nostalgia and help you to only keep the things that are important. I don't think I could tackle my dad's house alone, and I while I know you can do hard things, please get help to speed the process, share the heavy lifting and dirty work, and minimize the emotional trauma. And I agree with everyone who said get work gloves, a mask, and start from the driveway. You'll feel infinitely better when you have a dumpster and can get some big stuff out.

    • @suzanneroelofse5970
      @suzanneroelofse5970 Місяць тому +14

      I went through a very similiar experience with my dad's house. It's traumatic. I'm sending you and Carla a lot of love and strength ❤❤❤

    • @sjwestmo
      @sjwestmo Місяць тому +9

      Wow what a story! I like your idea of a non family member

    • @chapman1569
      @chapman1569 Місяць тому +6

      My dad had dementia and he thought somebody had stolen the cheese and a bag of flour. In the meantime nobody had stolen any money or my mom's purse. Amazing. I tried to reason with him but couldn't he didn't understand. My mom could see the logic but for awhile even her was wondering about the missing cheese!! My dad wanted to stay up all nigh with his shotgun to catch the thief!
      Fortunately he didn't. We installed a camera and there was no thief, only my dad and mom going about the property.

    • @karenpage9383
      @karenpage9383 Місяць тому +8

      @@chapman1569 Oh honey, I feel this so much! My dad had this elaborate story that the guy he bought the house from *40+ years prior* was a locksmith and he could gain access with a bump key. "Sticky Fingers" never took anything of value, just everyday items to inconvenience him or things that might be sentimental. First he installed unmonitored cameras, but those weren't good enough. He installed a full monitored security system, then supposedly saw on tv where people could get some device off Amazon that could override the base unit of any security system, so of course the locksmith would have one of them! I asked how the thief knew when he was gone since at 80+ he hardly left the house but for the doctor. First he blamed the appt card on the refrigerator, then declared he still had friends on the street that would tip him off when the house was empty. ***I found the previous owner's name, and then found his obituary***, and told my dad he was dead, hoping it would end there. Nope, said his son took over the business. I'm like the son had no grudge against you! Oh, but the son was honoring his dad with the thefts 🤦‍♀ Through all of this he wasn't calling the cops, which I would point out. If I had an intruder, I'd involve the police. For years, we thought it was all for attention, but I only recently learned it is an early sign of dementia. Its been at least 10 years of Sticky Fingers stories, but getting him into assisted living has finally stopped the shenanigans. While there were times the whole thing gave the family a good laugh, it was more often a source of stress and annoyance over the last decade and it made people not want to be around him, which is sad. And the amount of time and money wasted try to thwart Sticky Fingers is sad too. And no logic would ever sink in. Near the end before he moved he said he realized it didn't make any sense and he was starting to question his own sanity. When we found some of the "stolen" stuff in the house after he moved, I brought him one of the items, a serving ladle from a very old set of serving utensils. Something that couldn't have been bought in a store. He recognized it immediately but instead of being excited it was found, he just accused Sticky of hiding it from him all these years. No, my dad took the ladle and a few other utensils off the hooks to hang things that were more useful to him. He put them in the hutch, because that would be where he would look for them if needed. But he forgot he did it, so 16 years later they "must've been stolen". Now every inch of his house has to be thoroughly search before stuff is thrown out or donated. And every ac vent has to be checked. Also found stuff hidden above a floating ceiling. *sigh* Its overwhelming and I'm relieved that we have 4 of us working together on this! Thank you for making us feel less alone in this though cause I honestly felt like we were the only ones dealing with something like this!

    • @karenpage9383
      @karenpage9383 Місяць тому +3

      @@suzanneroelofse5970 Thanks sweetie! I tell ya, the up side of this is that its helping me Swedish Death Clean my own house so I don't leave this kind of mess to my son to clean up!!!

  • @helensotiriadis
    @helensotiriadis 11 днів тому +1

    I went through this 2yrs ago. My sister's handicapped and only I could do it. It felt like climbing a mountain. Thankfully my partner helped.
    The sentimental stuff was the hardest. I'd cry a lot.
    I hope you're finishing up

  • @robinartemis8695
    @robinartemis8695 Місяць тому +41

    Zone the items. Put similar items together. Yup, collect all the photos. Remember the room you have in your place. Where will that item live? Get other people to help you. You got this!❤

    • @Volkbrecht
      @Volkbrecht Місяць тому +1

      None of that nonsense. Unless you already come to that junkpile with a clear idea of an item out of it that you want to own, don't even think of any of it as items. Just get the big dumpster and start tossing. This garage is barely a two-day job. Even the people who owned this pile didn't want most of it, which is why it is sitting in the garage, not in the house.

  • @Roonknit
    @Roonknit Місяць тому +16

    You can do this Carla! You’re right not to rush through the sentimental things, make those decisions later. My mom has been gone over 16 years and I still have some boxes stored away. Wish I could display things but the space doesn’t allow it, but I’m still not ready to let go. There’s no harm in waiting. My heart understands your emotions here. ❤

  • @sophiabright8371
    @sophiabright8371 Місяць тому +30

    Carla, after quite a few decluttering adventures with your friends, it is an honor to be a witness/accountability buddy for you doing this for your family home.
    Maybe set up some critter deterrent systems so they can run away to another place? I've lived through a massive rat invasion. It can be done relatively quickly and not too expensively.
    I strongly recommend vinegar and a MASK!!!! Rat & mouse poop for someone with breathing issues are just no bueno!
    The music is always beautiful, and so are YOU!!!! ❤❤❤

    • @thebookwyrmslair6757
      @thebookwyrmslair6757 Місяць тому +3

      It seems silly, but check with your local cat rescues. There are a few that will essentially rent out what could be considered barn cats - they'll hunt the rats out and they're spayed or neutered so you aren't increasing the local population. 😊

  • @juliej2263
    @juliej2263 Місяць тому +63

    If something jumps out at me, my soul will leave my body. 🤣 Exactly what would happen to me too!

    • @M_SC
      @M_SC Місяць тому

      I hope you never get mice

  • @JuliaRoseHabertoes
    @JuliaRoseHabertoes Місяць тому +10

    Went through similar a couple years ago when we inherited my dad's house. I know how overwhelming it can seem to see the whole space at the outset. I recommend getting as much of the trash out of the way if possible, having more visual space and space to maneuver will help ease the walls-closing-in-on-you feeling. I saved photos/sentimental stuff for last and found a video Benita Larsson did on her channel about going through her Mom's photos to be very helpful. Weirdly, the good side of rodent problems means that so much more stuff is dumpster bound. It sucks but it does make for fewer decisions. Please stay safe, physically and mentally during the process and thank you for your vulnerability in sharing it with us ❤️

  • @sirmadam8183
    @sirmadam8183 Місяць тому +7

    This is so generous of you to share this with us. Thank you! We all appreciate you.

  • @moth1967
    @moth1967 Місяць тому +12

    Oh my. This takes me back to doing my parents' home of 48 years. My siblings left me to deal with it all which sucked. I love that you went through it all to not miss the treasures.

  • @EzAnderson
    @EzAnderson Місяць тому +25

    My parents sadly died young. Dad in 09 at 51 and Mum in 15 at 54. Mum couldn’t clean out the Garage (her cancer journey started 18 months after Dad died) and Dad was a hoarder of old printing press machines, wood, window frames. My siblings and I couldn’t believe how much stuff was on the property because the house was tidy and usable. We ended up getting two giant metal bins with a tonne capacity each delivered and just went at it throwing everything that we could move ourselves and had A metal buyer come get the printing presses. Death cleaning your parents/family home of 26yrs… was painful and still impacts how I live and what I bring into my home and how I parent my children.
    If you can get your siblings in on this journey it could make it much faster and less overwhelming

  • @nette101
    @nette101 Місяць тому +118

    Wish your sister were there with you , because I love the way you guys work together.

    • @Daisy-the2nd
      @Daisy-the2nd Місяць тому +13

      @@nette101 True but her sister seems to have a lot under her roof and still needs help herself .

    • @trinn4ever
      @trinn4ever Місяць тому +4

      It might be an eye opening experience too

  • @josephdaly2015
    @josephdaly2015 Місяць тому +14

    Carla please be very kind, gentle and patient with yourself doing this monumental task. It will be emotional. I think you need to get more family members to help with this. This UA-cam family will be cheering you on too. Take plenty of breaks and stay hydrated. Having a plan for the large pickup items will make a big difference too. Have a great week. Mary, Joes wife 👏👍💪🙏💐🐕‍🦺

  • @lpawlowicz3077
    @lpawlowicz3077 Місяць тому +5

    Thank you for caring what other family members might want.

  • @poodlegirl55
    @poodlegirl55 Місяць тому +34

    This is a hard job, I hope you get help. I am 69 and this makes me feel good to know I have worked hard and will not leave a ton of stuff for my kids when I'm gone.

  • @charminsavage2512
    @charminsavage2512 Місяць тому +48

    Make sure you go through all the "random" boxes of stuff one paper at a time. When my grandmother passed away, we found import papers stuffed in boxes with old newspapers and magazines...you don't want to accidentally toss out house/car/insurance/stock paperwork that has been buried in the chaos. My kids give me grief for being hyper-organized, I tell them they'll thank me later. I wish you weren't doing this alone, it's harder when you don't know what someone else might want. Blessings

    • @jessAdores
      @jessAdores Місяць тому +6

      This! went through this with my grandmas passing too! She had 3 sons but I was like her daughter, my uncles and dad have no attention to detail and don’t care if the stuff just all goes to trash 😔 but my sister and I went through EVERYTHING, every piece of paper …it was current day cvs receipts mixed with vintage photos from the 1950s that would have been lost, cash, gift cards and her kids school papers from 50 years ago 😂 we separated everything by son and for the extended family are currently scanning the photos, no one else would have done it and we would have lost all that family history

  • @lcalvert-barnes3782
    @lcalvert-barnes3782 Місяць тому +9

    My sister & I recently cleared out my parents home, barn, shed….etc. It was so very hard. There were so many family pics that we found. They are now stored in my closet, waiting for me to scan them in & share with other family members. Smaller boxes are recommended. Photos are very heavy. Take your time, don’t forget to breathe. ❤ you got this.

  • @fabienneroure9995
    @fabienneroure9995 Місяць тому +8

    Decluttering the family home is not an easy task.😢 I went through that difficult journey, you go down memory lane and experience so many emotions. Hang in there Carla you can do this.❤ Sending you hugs and positive vibes from Ontario Canada

  • @pameladelancey5834
    @pameladelancey5834 Місяць тому +8

    Carla, this is such a hard road to go down. My Father has been gone 10 years and my Mother 4. Going through their home was so hard, the only way I could do it was have my youngest brother there and together we got through it. It took alot of time but twice a week we met and tackled one room at a time. The problem is my Mother had bins and bins of family photos, 60 years of diaries and tons of other stuff. My brother and I are alot alike and ended up bring home so much of there stuff!!! Four years later I can't bring myself to go through any of it!!! Neither can my brother. Be careful with what you keep because it doesn't get easier least it hasn't for us!!! Best of everything on this journey!! Love you!!❤❤❤

  • @lunagabriella213
    @lunagabriella213 Місяць тому +9

    ❤❤ Thank you for bringing us along. IDK if I've ever shared this, but especially when you showed your high school pics, I felt nostalgic in my own way because you look almost exactly like my high school best friend. She unfortunately passed away from a drug overdose. High school was when she started. She was sweet, smart, lovely, and fun to be around. She was my Rocker Girl Bestie. RIP Bree. Your videos bring me joy and closure of what it could've been like if things were better for her and I.

  • @colleenisaac6647
    @colleenisaac6647 Місяць тому +195

    I kept screaming; you need a mask! You really can’t donate any of that stuff because it’s been contaminated with rodent droppings.

    • @susanmulvey6311
      @susanmulvey6311 Місяць тому +37

      I’m screaming with you! My husband’s cousin died because of cleaning dressers with rodent droppings!! And she should throw out all papers saved, because of the same reason!

    • @cyndij8312
      @cyndij8312 Місяць тому +18

      Yes! Hantavirus can be deadly.

    • @blahblah4129
      @blahblah4129 Місяць тому +8

      Agree.

    • @izabelasiczek3547
      @izabelasiczek3547 Місяць тому +10

      Me too rat urine and poo so dengerous!!!

    • @danielandvala
      @danielandvala Місяць тому +29

      She definitely should throw out the papers/photos but I would recommend taking a picture of each them first - that way she could still hold onto them without the fear of getting sick!

  • @aliciacassio4215
    @aliciacassio4215 Місяць тому +6

    Your siblings are fortunate to have you and your skill set. I was an only child and cleaning out my parents homes was a marathon. Then 20 years later I did my in-laws home. Determined not to leave this much for my kids to deal with.

  • @adriannahuezo6112
    @adriannahuezo6112 Місяць тому +80

    You definitely need a dumpster for immediate garbage one tub for each sibling and keep, donate, or throw out pile

    • @daCubanaqt
      @daCubanaqt Місяць тому +3

      Agreed! I made the same comment about getting a dumpster, but she needs decluttering help if she was to rent one.

  • @perezv5447
    @perezv5447 Місяць тому +5

    Carla ,Thank You for doing this and for showing us all of these steps that you are going through, it's all very real. I think this will help out alot of people that are going through this or to help us to not let it get to this point. We are rooting for you, take it one day at a time.

    • @DarleenBeals
      @DarleenBeals Місяць тому

      I ❤ you Carla ! You are my kindred sister!

  • @Pppssst
    @Pppssst Місяць тому +11

    I’ve been there. It’s devastating. But once it done you are free😃. Play music that makes you happy bring a friend that has no connection to the stuff. Treat yourself to all the things that uplift you. And don’t have your siblings come. Better to save things for them then have them there! You’ve got this. My heart is with you.

  • @Wabzfunny
    @Wabzfunny Місяць тому +14

    I remember decluttering my mums house after she passed. I did it in stages.
    She was a collector of books and a hoarder to some extent.
    When she was alive, I made her go through some of the documents, which helped alot. We got rid of more than a tonne of paper.
    After she passed, it took me 5 weeks to go through each and every remaining paper and document. 3 weeks to declutter the photographs.
    I sold most of the household furniture and cutlery. The rest i gave away.
    I donated and gave away alot of the books and her clothes.
    It was such an exhausting process, I cried a lot as it was overwhelming, tiring, exhausting, irritable.
    Decision fatigue is real!!!
    The whole process took at least an year with month long breaks in between.
    Swedish death cleaning is important, i tried telling my mum about it, but she wasn't comfortable with it. Which is understandable.
    I've become more careful and mindful of the items I now own. Am not a minimalist, but if the item hasn't been used in ages or I've forgotten about it, I get rid of it.
    I can say I now spend my money more on experiences than on items I dont need.

  • @PaladinDansesGirlfriend
    @PaladinDansesGirlfriend Місяць тому +51

    Oh Carla - my heart goes out to you. I was my parents executor and my mom passed at the beginning wave of COVID.
    Please let others help you and think of yourself during this process. I still have nightmares from it - but it was cathartic.

  • @StaceyMilo2011
    @StaceyMilo2011 Місяць тому +1

    Much love and respect to you, Carla. My mom just passed last week and it's going to be rough to go through her things. Take it a little a time and take time for yourself too. 💕

  • @capturedbyannamarie
    @capturedbyannamarie Місяць тому +10

    Oh Carla! I am so sorry you are having to do all of this. I am sure it’s so difficult. I could sense the pain in your voice.

  • @kristinc7432
    @kristinc7432 Місяць тому +3

    My heart is broken for you. I've gone through one house and garage and still have one more garage with 3 generations of "treasures" to go through. It's a sad, frustrating, grief inducing, and paralyzing process. It's hard to discard items valued or sentimental to people no longer here. but when the items are damaged or contaminated, there is so much additional trauma.
    I wish you peace and patience. May you give yourself empathy and kindness throughout the process.

  • @LaLadybug2011
    @LaLadybug2011 Місяць тому +105

    Girl, let Jay Leno know about that car. He LOVES classic cars and could bring that sweet baby back to life!

    • @uslee19
      @uslee19 Місяць тому +27

      And she could get a chunk of money. It needs to be marketed to the right people.

    • @jacquelynmoloney6172
      @jacquelynmoloney6172 Місяць тому +2

      Or Robert Downey Jr

    • @katietatey
      @katietatey Місяць тому +1

      OMG a collab between Carla and Jay Leno would be amazing! :)

    • @sheelfjohnson
      @sheelfjohnson Місяць тому +2

      Or Alex from Curiosity Incorporated. He's in Edmonton, but he sometimes buys collector cars. Could be worth asking.

  • @Jen39x
    @Jen39x Місяць тому +7

    Seeing this makes me understand that maybe all that cleaning of family house is left me tired and burned out 5 years later and unable to get going on my own stuff. Especially the stuff that came from that house

  • @mtbyam
    @mtbyam Місяць тому +9

    We went through cleaning out multiple houses when we lost several family members back to back. What wound up being the easiest option was to bin up the sentimental items and slowly purge them while at home. We felt more confident getting rid of more and more each time especially once we could see how much room they took up.

  • @getthoma300
    @getthoma300 Місяць тому +2

    I understand from past experience how difficult clearing out a family home can be. Sending you positive thoughts and prayers. Hang in there Carla we are all pulling for you. 🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽❤️

  • @jadehei538
    @jadehei538 Місяць тому +19

    This is an excellent example for why Swedish death cleaning, or any form of decluttering, is important while you're still able to do it yourself. It's really difficult for kids or other loved ones to have to do this.

  • @OriginsofSpirits
    @OriginsofSpirits Місяць тому +7

    10:05 I heard that sigh from the depths of my soul, been there, my heart goes out to you

  • @catgodfrey6451
    @catgodfrey6451 Місяць тому +10

    I was just thinking you really need a dumpster & than u said it. If your siblings will be mad they should be there helping. Please wear a mask & gloves @ all times. You got this. All your viewers are here for support 😊❤😊

    • @thriftingmaven653
      @thriftingmaven653 Місяць тому +2

      I totally agree, some of my siblings chose to sit on the sideline and I was on the frontlines and had to make the others help me the cleanout. My sister appeased the side liners of there guilt and sent them there things which was a waste of time.

  • @LilyEliseOfficial
    @LilyEliseOfficial Місяць тому +2

    Going through family stuff after loved ones have passed is one of the hardest tasks of any of our lives. It’s ok to keep things that remind you of your childhood and your family. You can always declutter those things again later but from experience, there are so many things I regret decluttering to soon after my grandparents passed. Sending you strength as you go through this process ❤ btw you are gorgeous! Then & now

  • @robindaniels2987
    @robindaniels2987 Місяць тому +3

    This video made me cry. Brought back recent memories of clearing out my late parents house😔buy one good sized Rubbermaid container and fill it up with your memories. Don’t take more than what fits in the one container. I brought lots back from my parents house. I still have to go through it; I keep delaying it, it’s so difficult. 😔💔I hope your dad is doing well in his new place 💕💕I’m trying so hard to declutter my house so my kids don’t have tons to go through. My hubby and I have our parents things and grandparents things but we do use them. We have a box of photos of people we don’t know. We need to have my hubby’s older cousin go through them. Thinking of you Carla💕💕

  • @conniepleasantnails
    @conniepleasantnails Місяць тому +5

    Awe Carla, I think we all felt this pain watching you barely able to move through this space. It’s a first step and it’s a big one. I lost my Mom in 1987 and all of her children were very close to her. Maybe taking some photos of things you know you can’t store in your home but you still want the memory. Hugs to you in this journey. I hope you can find some help/support to finish this project. If I lived in LA I would come help you dressed in plastic wrap and boots with a mask and hat. 😫 I hate critters. 😂😂😂😂 ❤❤❤❤

  • @Jendromeda
    @Jendromeda Місяць тому +20

    Mom in her 90s here...similar circumstances involving collecting and not purging for years. We, the kids, are nervous about it all. The average person moves every--is it 11 years? or is it 7? anyway, she has been in her home for 50. Love your channel. P.S. A mask is always necessary, airborne germs and stuff....keep safe...oh, goggles too...necessary IF rodents.

  • @rt3box6tx74
    @rt3box6tx74 Місяць тому +4

    Sad things happened at the end of my mom's life. I didn't clean out her house for five years. Almost everything I tried to sort through was like a kick to the gut.
    It's a rural house on the farm, so there was no prospect to rent or sell it. One thing that held me up was having no one to help, or even talk to about it.
    Being rural I could burn box springs and matresses, but not tires. I had to learn what to do with the lawn chemicals, etc. It was a really heavy burden to take on myself. One evening driving home I was stopped for speeding. The teooper let me off with a warning when I told him what I'd been doing. I was in a daze thinking about whatnto do with 60 yrs of business records.
    I brought sentimental items home and stored them in my garage until a time I felt ready to sort them.
    Stay strong, it's just another phase of growing up (no matter your age).

  • @pamelapeterson2987
    @pamelapeterson2987 Місяць тому +11

    Cleaning out my parents' home after my parents passed was a big motivator to begin a journey to minimize my own life. I don't want to leave others with that job when I pass. It was so overwhelming. They literally had shelves and shelves of expired food, boxes and boxes of stuff that they never unpacked after moving 20 years earlier, etc.

  • @Marzumur
    @Marzumur Місяць тому +2

    It’s a good thing you have trained your decluttering muscles so much, because emotionally this is a big job. I second the suggestions from other comments: stay safe, take breaks, bring someone to help you whenever possible. Good luck! ❤

  • @ratioetscientia
    @ratioetscientia Місяць тому +6

    this gave me an insight: if you keep picking up things from thrift stores in order to „save“ them you actually increase the chance of them all being tossed because it’s too overwhelming for other people to deal with if you don’t have Carla‘s saintly patience. The treasures are obscured by the hoard not preserved. So much work to go through and identify what can even be donated and then in the absolute best case a handful of salvageable things end up back on the thrift store shelves…where you picked them up to begin with.

  • @Xiroi87
    @Xiroi87 Місяць тому +28

    This is exactly what the Swedish term dödstädning, death cleaning, is about. Clearing your home of all the items that were your parents' after they have passed away. The famous book proposes doing your own death cleaning while you're still alive to make sure your children don't have to go through the physical and emotional stress of doing it themselves.

    • @rosymelanie
      @rosymelanie Місяць тому +4

      I feel incredibly lucky that my mom is starting this process while still alive and mentally sound. She is 68, and not a hoarder by any means. Still a lot of knicknacks and collections of stuff like books though.

    • @jessi330
      @jessi330 Місяць тому +3

      No, Swedish death cleaning means decluttering your own stuff to reduce the burden on your family. Her parents did not do that. Thus the title too late for it.

    • @leoren2685
      @leoren2685 Місяць тому +2

      @@jessi330 She's talking about the original meaning of 'death cleaning' - the book just changed it (re-read her note above).

    • @Xiroi87
      @Xiroi87 Місяць тому

      @@jessi330 Are you Swedish? Do you speak Swedish? Ever been to Sweden? Obviously not. Please, don't correct others about their languages and cultures, which you know nothing about.

    • @Xiroi87
      @Xiroi87 Місяць тому

      @@leoren2685 thanks.

  • @mamabirdie734
    @mamabirdie734 Місяць тому +7

    I had to do this too. I had categories: Recycling, Shred, Donation, Keep, Trash/
    Hazardous Waste(all chemicals cleaning/ yard/ paint/ aerosol/ disposed at my city’s hazardous waste center- very important not to put in the trash)
    Sentimental items -there will often be a 2nd and 3rd purging going over them more than once over time and slowly being more able to let go and narrow it down to the most important.

  • @kriswindley4579
    @kriswindley4579 Місяць тому +1

    I’ve been going through my parents’ huge old farmhouse for the past month and a half or so, trying to wade through the 50 years of stuff and crap that accumulated over their lives (and mine) and the mess and filth and broken down disrepair of the house that’s developed with their declining health. This video has been so helpful for me today…there’s a resentment and disgust and anger - all coming out of the sadness, right? It’s so complicated and overwhelming and frustrating. And then it feels wrong to feel it somehow. Seeing you go through it calmly and giving yourself an allowance for all the feelings is so helpful for me today.

  • @vvvv-h8m
    @vvvv-h8m Місяць тому +15

    So sad and heart breaking that kids have to go through this garbage. TO ALL PARENTS OUT THERE CLEAN UP YOUR MESS!

    • @magicgemmaster7055
      @magicgemmaster7055 Місяць тому

      I agree 100%
      Her parents were very selfish to leave this horde ..but with 5 kids, not one went over to help in 40 years?!?

    • @anonananas940
      @anonananas940 Місяць тому

      ​@@magicgemmaster7055you can't help hoarders. If you have hoarder parents and want any semblance of a relationship you cannot mess with their stuff! It's exhausting. Literally watch an episode of Hoarders and how difficult some of those people are then imagine that x2 and that is hoarse parents! I couldn't even get my father to let go of a single mouse chewed random playing card! You can't make your parents, of all people, do anything!

    • @FrinkyBaby
      @FrinkyBaby Місяць тому +5

      @@magicgemmaster7055it’s quite likely that the parents refused help, or sabotaged efforts to help. After a while, you stop offering because the arguments aren’t worth it.

  • @lisaparker3751
    @lisaparker3751 Місяць тому +2

    Big hugs Carla! You have been such an inspiration to me with your content. Thank you! My parents are both gone, Mom(55)1998, Dad(83)2022, I'm the only one left, besides two granddaughters and one great granddaughter. I'm slowly getting through. It's hard but you put on your gloves, mask ball cap and tackle it. I believe in you. Maybe some of your siblings, nieces/nephews or friends can pitch in. It is okay if they can't. You got this.

  • @chrisludwig3610
    @chrisludwig3610 Місяць тому +4

    Cheering you on from San Jose. ❤
    I understand your situation. I retired early to move in and take care of my parents. Unfortunately, we couldn't move in fast enough because my mother is a hoarder and wouldn't get rid of things, so Dad passed the month before we moved in. Now I'm just taking care of her. She laughs when she says she's leaving it all for us to clean up when she passes... I'm going to need a couple months vacation after I go through this hoarders mess! 😢
    Remember to be kind to yourself. It's not easy to do this. We're all behind you and wish you the best. Love and light to you, sweet lady. ❤

  • @ohMamarazziScrapbookingVicky
    @ohMamarazziScrapbookingVicky Місяць тому +2

    I just LOVE your videos! You have such a vibe.
    My parents just turned 80, and have been Swedish death cleaning for a few years. They donate lots and give the valuable stuff to me to sell. My house could certainly use some decluttering, but I am quite enjoying selling stuff and making a few bucks. It is slower, of course, than just donating.... but I can't justify giving everything away. You're awesome! xo Vicky

  • @kellylee_p9076
    @kellylee_p9076 Місяць тому +3

    You are such a good daughter and sister. your parents will be proud of you for stepping up and tackling this huge emotional project. Take your time and enjoy the memories. Xx

  • @AuntieBrendaWashington-tp5mq
    @AuntieBrendaWashington-tp5mq Місяць тому +1

    Thank you, Carla. I am doing my own SDC currently. Must admit it is daunting. I will watch this episode numerous times because you remind me to take it slow. You are a marvelous teacher. You incorporate good mental health techniques in the process. ❤️2U

  • @goldfishsnake
    @goldfishsnake Місяць тому +5

    I def agree, look through all papers and books even if you trash it all. You never know if money or valuables are hiding!

  • @KyliyJoy
    @KyliyJoy Місяць тому +1

    Just went through this with my dad this past summer...house and garage. Spent 6 weeks and it was tough...really tough. Mom's been gone for over 3 years but doubt it ever is easier. My heart goes out to you, especially since it's your family home. Take care of yourself during this time. Take your time.

  • @jnettr9859
    @jnettr9859 Місяць тому +14

    Not gonna be able to watch this through … however sending you positive vibes. I’ve got a similar project that I haven’t been able to start. 😢

  • @rebeccasmith7104
    @rebeccasmith7104 Місяць тому +1

    Hey, Carla… I pretty much never comment on anything, even though I’m a subscriber. But just wanted to say this hit me hard.
    I cleaned up my mother’s hoarded home in the midst of bringing her to live with me 8 hours away (due to her chronic health and addiction issues) while trying to manage a full time schedule as a graduate student and instructor.
    Just when I thought I had squared things away to the best of my ability, I discovered the FULL double garage on the back of the rental property and collapsed into tears. I, too, found so many family treasures packed in/among things that held virtually no value. I still regret that, in those clean outs, there were probably a lot of family treasures and memories lost. But you can only do what you can do, and I honestly tried my best.
    Just wanted to say thank you for your content, and I’m sorry you had a similar experience. You are so very patient and empathetic, which is why this is your calling, I’m sure! ❤

  • @joanvanguilder6573
    @joanvanguilder6573 Місяць тому +23

    If you don't know where the title to the car is, it could of been in the box you threw out. 🥴 Paperwork is something you definitely have to sort through if there are other documents such as birth certificates, passports, house title, etc. A friend of mine found stocks and bonds that he wasn't even aware that his parents had. I found drawings that my Dad had drawn in his work shed, you just don't know what all is there. It was emotional for my brother, sister and I when we had to clear out my parent's home after my Dad passed away. It was easier for us to be there together so we could take things with us after the sorting. We had 2 large garage sales to clear things so we didn't have to get a large dumpster.

    • @TheCarlaProject
      @TheCarlaProject  Місяць тому +5

      I went through the entire box near the trashcan before throwing it out but it wasn’t in there. I don’t think it’s in the garage, but it’s definitely possible.

    • @anonananas940
      @anonananas940 Місяць тому

      ​@@TheCarlaProjectdon't worry these things always appear when you least expect it. It will find it's way back to you!

  • @kristinaboyce9297
    @kristinaboyce9297 Місяць тому +2

    It is so hard, Carla. I commend you for sharing. I have no doubt that you are helping others navigate this very same issue. I have been through this declutter/downsize/sell/donate/trash ritual with my mom, in-laws, grandparents, and many additional extended family…it is especially difficult dealing with this task when the loved ones have passed.
    I am sending you and your family healing, light, and love. ⭐️💝

  • @brennagreenglasspeacock
    @brennagreenglasspeacock Місяць тому +5

    💕 You got this! It is going to feel so good to get it all sorted out after all this time. You look so much like your dad 💕

  • @kats405
    @kats405 Місяць тому +2

    Hi ❤ been watching you for a while, love your personality it's really warm. I hope you are okay, I actually cried watching this episode , wish you the best along the way.
    I just want to recommend keeping those cups or anything else you are sentimental about. You are not ready and you need time to feel and process , don't push yourself to get rid of stuff. Grab bug fixes and fill them up and take them home. Tackle those another time and slowly and that is when you will be able to declutter. All the best to you Carla , from my heart ❤

  • @EverythingQueen
    @EverythingQueen Місяць тому +3

    I've been through this Friend. 😢
    We get so strong when we have to. ❤

  • @sabreenaazam8876
    @sabreenaazam8876 Місяць тому +2

    Really appreciated you sharing this side of your life with us Carla.❤ Not everything or everyone is perfect. So thanks for keeping it real for us. Wishing you the very best. ❤️

  • @BettyBarnyard
    @BettyBarnyard Місяць тому +16

    You can take pictures of sentimental things you want to remember, like those glasses from the holiday inn. Would you ever buy out your siblings and live in your childhood home?

  • @leasanders9295
    @leasanders9295 Місяць тому +1

    Oh, Carla, my heart aches for you. I will be praying for you - for encouragement, peace, comfort and the energy to keep going. I, too, get really sad looking at photos from my childhood. ❤

  • @becksstuff9451
    @becksstuff9451 Місяць тому +5

    New subscriber here from Midwest Magic Cleaning’s recommendation. You have a great channel & I look forward to your inspiration.

  • @sherri.
    @sherri. Місяць тому +1

    My heart goes out to you! The hardest part of beginning is now behind you and I hope each visit will be a tad bit easier. You sure pick the most perfect music to fit the vibe. 💕

  • @TaniaThompson-d2s
    @TaniaThompson-d2s Місяць тому +5

    I am in the process of Scandinavian death cleaning for my children as this year I have been clearing my father's house. I feel your pain.