| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| moggins |
Insurmountable TaskMy cellar is bursting at the seams with the detritus collected over the past 10 years. Unfortunately no one can stand up straight in it, it's filled with cobwebs and spiders and the stone steps leading down to it are dodgy too.Hence no one in the family will help me clear it out. How do I go about clearing it out, I know there's some great stuff down there, it's just not stuff I want anymore. I wish I could hold a cellar party, just invite people to come and have a rummage and take what they want 
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| Jamanda |
Be careful what you wish for - you could have just announced the next DS get together 
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| moggins |
Now that's a thought!!!! You wouldn't believe the stuff my ex used to shove down there!! Even I don't know what is stored at the back and there is even a huge wooden work bench that was down there when we moved in. | ||||
| Helen M |
remove and freecycle two things a day...before you know it you'll have an empty cellar | ||||
| nettie |
You are going to have to brave the spiders and either stick stuff on the driveway and advertise it as free to whoever wants it, go through the pain in the ass of doing boot sales, or freecycle it.
The only other alternative (take it from one who knows) is to stick it all in a skip and feel guilty for ages. So... tuck your trousers in yer wellies, wear gloves, and try not to worry about the crawly feelings 
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| moggins |
Okay, now where do I get one of those all in one disposable boiler suit thingies with the hoods on. Like crime scene people wear, because if a spider lands on my head I will be having panic attacks and people will think Fred West has arisen from the grave and is doing another cellar job!! | ||||
| nettie |
I used to be a real arachnaphobe. All i can suggest is try to make friends with the spiders. They get all the flies in summer. A broom in the rafters, followed by a half pint glass and an unopened credit card statement, are all you need to move them along to a more convenient place! | ||||
| Frewen Feltmaker |
Or wear a shower cap...or better one of those sun hat thingamies with the flap down the back 
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| Jamanda |
Do you know any beekeepers who might lend you a suit? |
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| moggins |
No, I think I might have to go with the shower cap option. I know it sounds daft but ever since one dropped on my head while I was watching telly just the thought of another one in my hair makes me shudder. | ||||
| Jamanda |
Not daft. I feel like that about moths, nasty, fluttery things. |
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| alison |
Any builders merchants will have them. Iexpect diy places would too. | ||||
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
I think you can get paper suits from tool hire places or poss even B&Q by the paint supplies.
Just do a little at a time; say an hour or one bin bag's worth |
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
thinking on - I'm not that far away from you. may be we could arange a time and I'll come over and help ( spiders don't bother me) but its probably best if it was a bit warmer (the cold does!) | ||||
| mochyn |
Beware: your cellar will end up being clean/tidy enough for you to carry out minor surgical procedures down there... |
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| judith |
I have a couple of elephants of my own to eat, and have a similar dislike of cobwebby things.
Would it be possible to advance down the steps to the cellar brandishing the vacuum cleaner hose before you, boldly sucking up the nasties as you go? Once you have secured an area, you could clean it out. |
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| mochyn |
How about a MDSC posse to help? I'm sure the others would be up for it... Actually, we could take it in turns to turn out each others elephants. I've got a barn that needs doing... |
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| nora |
Hi moggins, can't help with the cellar i'm afraid. Mine is similar and I have to pick my way carefully through to get to the washing machine. I do try and bring stuff up bit by bit though and when I have a car boot full, take it to the tip.
Just wanted to say its lovely to see you back
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| judith |
So have I.
I'm nibbling my way through the lean-to ATM. Trouble is, I have got down to the "useful" stuff, not just junk. I know that it all has a purpose, it is just deciding whether I will ever use it. About one fifth of the floor space is covered with "useful" bits of wood, for example.... |
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| mochyn |
I know. I've seen it... Maybe we could help you to categorise it? |
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| Northern_Lad |
Judith, may I recomend one of two methods (they're the same really, but oposite ways round)
Either take everything out, clean the room and then tidy up and only bring things you want back in. Or, the harder way, start at one end and move everything back a foot that you want to keep and remove everything else. All wood is potentially useful, but it shouldn't be stored in a useful place. |
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| judith |
I could give free rein to my inner librarian - a dangerous thought. |
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| judith |
That's what I'm doing, as taking stuff out of the lean-to means that it gets covered in duck poo.
Aaaargh! What is the potential use of a box of treated wood offcuts? I've been told in no uncertain terms that I mustn't burn it on the woodburner or risk instant death. So what can I do with those? |
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| judith |
Sorry to hi-jack your thread, Moggins. 
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| Northern_Lad |
Tsk, you women just don't get it, do you? They may be offcuts now, but when you need to wedge that thing open by somewhere between 2" and 2.5" you'll be glad of it. Trust me: get rid of it and you'll be scratting about within a week. |
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| judith |
I do get it, honest I do. I have the same problem with bits of fabric, only all my offcuts fit into a couple of shoe boxes.
You've seen how much there is in there. Do I need to keep it all? And what about the pile of copper piping and other metal "stuff"? He was saving it all up to take to the scrappie, only the price of scrap has gone through the floor. Do I trip over it for another couple of years waiting for the price to go up again, or just take it to the recycling place and let them look after it for me? |
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| Northern_Lad |
If the pipes are in good condition then offer it to one of the loacl farmers for a pint or two - you get the space and they got something shiny to hoard.
Are you talking about the lean-to at the back of the house? If so, yes, remove it all from there - it's a living space. The wood won't be totally happy in the barn, but I doubt it's going to get worked with soon. |
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| Chez |
Freecycle freecycle freecycle. It's AMAZING what people people will take away.
And what Mochyn said, Judith. We could have a round-robin kind of thing ... our Room Of Doom still needs addressing. Moggins - you can get boiler-suity things from agricultural merchants for less than a tenner. I've got an old bee-keeper's veil if that would be any good? It's too holey for bees ... but it would be fine for crawlies. |
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| judith |
I shall take you both up on that - when the weather gets a little warmer we can tackle the barn. It would be nice to be able to put animals in it again! Anyone want a lawnmower?! |
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| Chez |
Is it a push-along? | ||||
| judith |
No, it's a hover-type. With a handle that needs riveting. | ||||
| Chez |
No, thank you then. We have one of those already. Also with a handle that needs riveting.
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| judith |
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| BahamaMama |
If it was that useful you would have used it by now. Freecycle is the way forward.... this is the person that cleaned the garage over Christmas and I still get a lovely glow when I walk in and can get to what I need
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| marigold |
What's wrong with using a bit of wire or some gaffer tape to hold it together?
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| judith |
Jubilee clip is a better temporary repair. |
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| mochyn |
judith: if you're getting rid of the copper pipes I have a use for them.
Can't remember what it is at the moment, though. And if we do your room of doom, Chez, we might find Pig in a Day...
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| judith |
Consider them yours. What can I get rid of next? How about some very old-looking bits for a small wind turbine? No idea if they are all there, but they probably are. Any takers? |
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| Hairyloon |
Re: Insurmountable Task
This is one of the few things that I actually admit to being quite good at. If I knew how to market it, I'd probably do it professionally. If I read it right, then it is not really clearance that you want, which is what you'd get from most house clearance firms. What you want is a good sort out; a load of crap to disappear to new homes (preferably not the tip), and for you to see once more all those weird & wonderful things you had forgotten were buried in there. And most of all, to have the space again. |
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| Chez |
Maybe Arvo. I will enquire. But I will need to clear some room in the Room Of Doom first. Mochyn - I am keeping my eye out for Pig In A Day ... I know it's there *somewhere*
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| mochyn |
Along with (or perhaps somewhere near) the 51st Parallel...
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| Nick |
Halfords, for under a tenner, or B&Q, a pack for a few quid. |
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| Nick |
And if not, I will. I am GOING to build myself one, this year. And I'll swop them for a copy of pig in a day on DVD! |
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| judith |
Excellent. I'll see exactly what I have, then you can negotiate between yourselves. | ||||
| Helen_A |
Moggins - a big light can help a lot with the spiders... did someones cellar with them last week with the 'aid' of DPs 500W lamp... heat and spider scaring at the same time
(And no, I'm not coming to Glos. sorry...) Helen_A |
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| Nick |
Good plan. I've set of site lights you'd be welcome to borrow. Like this.
I'm due through Gloucester a couple of times next week. |
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| ros |
you have my sympathies, I have a garage and a loft to do, both infested with huge arachnids
- let me know if the light works - I guess you turn it on 5 mins before you want to start, make a bit of noise and all the nasty things scarper?? ...........must remember to put Tyvek suit on shopping list |