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this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2024
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Melbourne
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I’m really sorry. I know how it is to live somewhere you hate.
Re the fridge, I used to live somewhere the kitchen was so small it didn’t account for a fridge (literally no place for even a bar fridge - not built to accommodate one) so I kept my fridge nearby in the lounge. If it turns out that the fridge just doesn’t fit you can get creative or you could use a buy nothing/swap site to get a smaller one just to last you for the 6 months.
(If you have the money you can be a little lenient on convenience/tinned/fast foods just until you get out of there, or cook one pot food. Snacks help greatly.)
I’m sure Givit would take the big fridge, and perhaps the drawers(?). You might get a tax discount for the donations too.
This might not be legal in Australia bc food safety but in Slav countries the washing machine is in the kitchen with hot plates sitting on top because of space and also that’s where the plumbing allows it to be.
And this is hypocritical because I am a packrat/clutterbug when space allows - but I definitely did have ways of storing things/things I would cook or ways of doing things that helped me manage in a small place. Hit me up if you want some tips.
Just focus on survival for now, you’re in a great position to move in with family and save up for a strong return. It’s a lot easier to tolerate a bad situation if there’s an end date in sight.
Edit: I also know that Diabetes Victoria does pickups of clothes and other stuff, and there was a thing I used where you could download a prepaid postage label and mail donations to the Iconic.
However if it’s too much hassle or you don’t have time just do whatever you have to do. I should have thought to tell you this stuff earlier
Thank you for the considerate and thought out reply - it's helped me see things in a bit better perspective and to work out what I can do within this space (and it's ok to stay in survival mode just a little longer). I do think I've been rather spoiled in my current place with so much built in storage that I've sort of sprawled over everywhere. Not having a linen cupboard is a big drawback but I think I can make it work.
I went back to my place and the fridge I have will JUST fit with about 1cm of space at the top and 2cm on the sides. My washing machine will also fit in the tiny closet (?!) that they have for it. I've culled my clothes as much as I could - I suspect some will just stay in boxes until I leave, especially the winter stuff. It's sad that I won't be able to cook as freely as I could but I guess it'll help me narrow down my focus to work and study (and a bit of fun - outside the home).
I think there's going to need to be a tip run for some things - an old rug, an old ironing board, an old POANG chair scratched up by a cat, an old swag that I've done my best to clean the mould off of but there are still visible marks... and an old feather doona - donated by friends, they shrank it in the wash and it's now badly stained anyway. RSPCA won't take it as it's got feathers in it :/
Plus this long couch nobody wants...
That’s ok. The place where you live is a really important component of wellbeing.
I’ve got a strategy for lack of linen cupboard if you want it. Or a few. Depends on what you’re working with. A lot of these tips are about being flexible with what you have.
Make sure you leave enough space at the back of the fridge if you can! Top and sides I think is less important (I think) but it needs the air gap at the back for ventilation or could overheat.
The clothes could be shrunk down flat in space saver bags but it depends on the quality. Cheap ones reinflate themselves even when well sealed, saving no space -_-
And yeah. Hate to say it but if things aren’t in a condition anyone would take them they might have to go to landfill.
I'm keen to hear your linen cupboard-less ideas! I've had the same experience with space saver bags back in Singapore when I was storing all my winter clothes from living in Australia - they'd just reinflate.
Ok - this isn’t for everyone but I kind of break up where the linen is stored into the rooms where the cloth is used.
The clean tea towels and cloths for wiping the bench get folded into a kitchen drawer. They are NOT being stored in the bathroom.
The bath towels get folded and stacked on top of the freestanding over-toilet unit (which also holds a small tub for hand towels and cleaning rags, tp and cleaning products). Yes, I hate it but no real choice. I keep them right at the top and always put the lid down to flush but if you want to put the towels inside a plastic tub with a lid to avoid germs go for it. I might actually do that.
Another option is a narrow vertical corner shelving unit or drawers. I’d suggest storing them above the washer (there are freestanding over-washer shelves) but sounds like your washer is enclosed.
Storing towels in the bathroom does risk mould but you know. No linen press. All I can do is consistently use the fan when showering and keep an eye on the situation, for now they remain clean and dry. It’s been years so fingers crossed. I don’t have many so they all frequently get used and washed.
The pillowcases sheets and doona covers get folded or rolled small and stored in those cloth shoe shelves that hang from the bar in your wardrobe or from a clothing rail. (Bulkier blankets or doonas go in airline carrier bags or space saver bags at the top shelf of the wardrobe.) It really depends if you have a spare wardrobe or enough leftover space in the main one. I have only 2-3 bedding changes for space but keep more pillowcases as they take less room and need to be changed more often.
You can also buy a bed with drawers underneath, buy under-bed cubes or those long flat rectangular tubs on wheels, or put bricks under the legs of your bed to raise it enough that standard storage tubs can easily fit underneath.
I used to like to keep my kitchen linens separate from clothing or bedding for hygiene reasons, but I don’t have room for another hamper so everything goes in the same large hamper. But each category gets washed carefully as its own load.
Great recommendations, thanks so much!
There's only one in-built cupboard in this whole place. I probably would draw the line at storing fresh towels in the bathroom (not to mention it's tiny so no space there really). I suspect what I will do is leave most of my clothes in boxes ready for the move out (it's mainly winter gear, technical wear, and dresses taking up space). Put the absolute essentials in the closet and make more space for three sets of linen and three towels.
Good tip with the shoe shelves - I use one of those for my undies. I think I'll get another one, need to utilise more of those space saving hacks. I've got one of those flat rectangular under-bed tubs for essential documents, might try and get a couple more and that'll really bulk up the storage! Alright, this is feeling a lot more doable now :)
Fully agree with melba about keeping cloths where they are going to be used. If you have a built in wardrobe, then the top shelf is real resource. My 'linen cupboard' is used for other things as it's connected to a larger cupboard that houses the vacuum cleaner and shopping trolleys etc. and the smell of dust was contaminating my linens so I had to find another solution.
I found that a fitted sheet, flat sheet and 1 pillowcase fits nicely in the other pillowcase to make a neat flat bundle. Other linens likewise can be packed into useful bundles or rolled up. I put small tensioning rods in the top wardrobe shelf just far enough apart to hold these bundles oriented vertically, making each easily accessible while taking up a minimum of space. I found I needed two rods to make a vertical division that holds securely. The lovely thing about these rods is they are completely removable when you move out. They can't hold much weight when installed horizontally, but are completely fine to control sideways movement of an object when installed vertically. eg stop it tipping over. And you can change the spacing to suit your needs.
Curtain/blind shops have them, as they are intended to hold lightweight lace curtains etc. on metal window frames that you can't screw into. Maybe Bunnings too but I haven't looked there.
Have been considering using them in my pantry to control stacks of tins etc. but I need to get more. The very small ones are the ones I use, and they can be hard to find.