Continued: Getting rid of stuff / Clearing out clutter! PART 2

[Trifle]

For the month of January, I got rid of 48 items.  Goal for the year is 500. 

I'm noticing I get as much pleasure out of purging little things (under-used kitchen utensils) as I do big ones (under-used side table).   I love empty/near empty drawers and cupboards.

[Dutch Comfort]

Good weekend:
- 1 spare small TV - sold (25 EUR into the kids "travel" account)
- 1 decoration globe - sold ( another 7 EUR into the kids "travel" account)
- 1 box of clothes - donated

[Roadrunner53]

My clothes closet is out of control. Yesterday, I wanted to put some things in it and there was no way I could squeeze one thing in it. I went berzerk and kept yanking out clothes till I pulled out 99% of the things that don't fit, don't like, haven't worn in years. I had a pile on my bed a mile high and my husband gasped when he saw the 'beast'! Of course I started this project late in the day and had to get the bed cleaned off. Got 3 giant garbage bags thinking that would do it. Not even close. I ended up with 6 garbage bags filled 3/4 full. Didn't dare fill them to the top or wouldn't be able to lift the bags. The hub helped me bag the stuff up. Everything was on hangers, so taking them off and folding them up a bit to place in the bag took the two of us 40 minutes! OMG, the closet has room but still seems full! I have to get back in there today to see what to do.

I had a small pile I moved to another closet. I have a coat closet that is overfilled too. Insanity!

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Sounds like you are taking some good steps to deal with it, @Roadrunner53

I sold six more items on eBay, and get them mailed & out of the house the next day. I remove one item from the house every day & list something for sale. I'm in a good spot of feeling like it's a challenge to find anything new to list. Usually after I feel like that, something comes to me, & I discover an untouched area of the house that I've forgotten all about.

[NotJen]

I have an emotional tie to an old table that came by way of XH's family.  It's actually a terrible table that I never really cared for as a dining room table, but has come in handy as a craft table.  But I listed it on FB Marketplace and someone's picking it up today.  Furniture goes so fast on there.  I temporarily moved a 30 y.o. loveseat (from my parents) into the office in its place - I need to get rid of it too, but it's the PERFECT reading chair, so I'm going to enjoy reading at least one book in it before I get rid of it.

[midweststache]

For the month of January, I got rid of 48 items.  Goal for the year is 500. 

I'm noticing I get as much pleasure out of purging little things (under-used kitchen utensils) as I do big ones (under-used side table).   I love empty/near empty drawers and cupboards.

I feel this hard. I went through our cards recently (we keep the ones with heartfelt notes and anything from family members who have passed on) and, in addition to some old cards that just had names in them, getting rid of all the unnecessary envelopes was both a *tiny* thing and yet so cathartic!

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Sold 29 items in January
-Gave away another ~10
-Recycled/trashed another ~30 (includes paper work)

For today, tossed some expired antacids, and two makeup samples I don't care for

[oneday]

Three CL-ed items claimed & gone! The last bulky item is now in the house with minimal disruption to the living space (which is shared with Room Mate).

I'd forgotten about some hobby items that I wanted to sell earlier. Now, before moving, is the time to list them at fire sale prices!

The hobby items got some interest, but there was a misunderstanding on the price. Maybe next time.

In the mean time, I found another bulky item to add to the donation box.

[Roadrunner53]

Well, this is very interesting! Seems the objective is to reuse your cardboard boxes by filling them with clothes or other useful household items. You can print a FREE label and either take the box to the shipping company or have them pick it up at your house! The boxes are sent to various charities. If you wish to send to a specific charity, you pay the shipping. Otherwise, shipping is free. Check it out!

https://www.givebackbox.com/faq#

[MaybeBabyMustache]

I went through my son's closet while he was out (because of online schooling, he's almost always in his room when I have a free moment). Found five pair of base layer pants with ripped out knees. He's a soccer goalie. Found four base layer shirts that he's outgrown. Found one set that should be properly sized & not ripped.

-Tossed the ripped pants
-Will give away outgrown shirts

While I was in his room, also found a book he's done reading that I'll either list or donate.

We also ordered a bike tire replacement for my other son. The tire came in an absolutely enormous box, with....25-30 feet of brown wrapping paper (like the kind used in moves to wrap dishes & such). I'm hoping someone on my Buy Nothing group has a use for it.

[MayDay]

Today I cleaned out a cupboard above the fridge and got rid of:

-a pile of misc silverware that I never remember is up there so I never use. Stuff like decorative pate knives.
-a napkin holder.
-gatoraid that we only drink when sick and will probably be expired before we drink it (I kept enough for one round of sickness)
-Sprite, same

From my closet a paid of jeans that doesn't spark joy

And a book that I read but it wasn't that great.

Yay me.

[NotJen]

I've mostly been focusing on cleaning the last few days, but today I took another trunkload to the household/hazardous waste drop-off this morning.  Also decluttered my credit cards (I 'churn' so I have more than a few), and got rid of the canceled/expired ones.

[Unique User]

Sold four more items for Jan to end with 28 items sold in Jan for $597.  Also decluttered some boxes of tea, two large boxes of cookbooks (only kept two) and some other random items.  Everything listed and picked up on craigslist/Buy Nothing group.  Listed a bunch of items over the weekend and starting off February with three items sold.  Brought over a bunch of expired epi pens and inhalers over to Walgreens to dispose of properly, I think I had items going back 5-6 years.  Put together a bag to take over to Clothes Mentor, I'll do that this week.  I'll do some more clearing out this weekend as rain is in the forecast. 

[PMG]

@MaybeBabyMustache has inspired me and I listed three things on eBay last night for the first time. Fingers crossed. It makes me ridiculously nervous! What if I mess up and an internet stranger gets mad at me?!?  But naw. Hope they sell but I need still need to build in some personal deadlines and donate if they don’t.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

@PMG - yay! Just remember, it takes practice, and while most transaction do go well, you will probably learn a bit along the way. Once you get the hang of it, I find it super easy & fun.

[Plina]

I gave a big snuffle mat to an acquaintance from the dog park who mentioned that her dog loves them. Mine doesn't and the darned thing took up valuable real estate in my little kitchen.

I'm working my way through the assorted fabrics in my linen closet and have a question for you clever folks. Can you think of any uses for formal table cloths in a home that only sees dinner parties once a decade? I've inherited several and they feel superfluous.

My parents use their during christmas and other family gatherings like bigger birthdays, christenings etc. I recently used mine when I got an colleague over for a covid christmas dinner with takeout instead of a companywide outing at a restaurant. I have decided to use my ”good” everything. I have seen so many people use specific china only for christmas or special occassions. I gave away the cheap glasses and use the expensive ones etc. When I have guests over I use the linen napkins instead of paper. So my suggestion is to use them to spruce things up occasionnally.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

I gave a big snuffle mat to an acquaintance from the dog park who mentioned that her dog loves them. Mine doesn't and the darned thing took up valuable real estate in my little kitchen.

I'm working my way through the assorted fabrics in my linen closet and have a question for you clever folks. Can you think of any uses for formal table cloths in a home that only sees dinner parties once a decade? I've inherited several and they feel superfluous.

I'd give them away to a local Buy Nothing or similar group. I think these would be popular items, and if you are never using them, I'd want them out of my house

[PMG]

Would they make good daily use napkins? Or dish towels if they are linen.

[okisok]

OK, so that was 1/19, and I just dropped off the donations on 1/31. A little over a week, but they're gone!

Helped SO clean out two trash bags of donate-able items from a cabinet. Now you can get items from it without causing a mini avalanche. His place still needs work but that's up to him with small help from me.

Found another small bag awaiting me in the kitchen when I got back from the donation drop-off. Darn. But there's still room to put more stuff in it, so I am trying to fill it up.

Still taking care of mail when it comes in. Either acted on or straight into recycling.

[oneday]

Well, this is very interesting! Seems the objective is to reuse your cardboard boxes by filling them with clothes or other useful household items. You can print a FREE label and either take the box to the shipping company or have them pick it up at your house! The boxes are sent to various charities. If you wish to send to a specific charity, you pay the shipping. Otherwise, shipping is free. Check it out!

https://www.givebackbox.com/faq#

This may come in handy soon, as I'm moving and will eventually have extra boxes, thanks!

[crocheted_stache]

Discovered I had two copies of the identical 1980-ish Sunset book about patio and deck designs. Oops.

Also discovered one area charity that's open for donations, even if it's not my favorite. Time to go unload a year's worth of stuff that's been piling up in bags.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Got rid of roll of 25-30 feet of brown wrapping paper on Buy Nothing. (Someone is moving)
-Have takers for our old Rainbow Loom stuff. There's so much of it. Thrilled to get it out of the garage
-Discovered three things in the kids room that can be returned to Costco. (Ski stuff, unused with tags. We won't ski this year, and they will outgrow before next season).
-Went through our medicine cabinet. Tossed some expired stuff
-My husband briefly gave me the green light to go through his closet. He's now almost revoked that, because I've discovered he has 18 of the same type of shirts. This is no joke. I did manage to gather a bunch of stuff to donate or sell, while i had my chance. I need to go slowly, so he agrees to have me continue.

[Goldielocks]

I'm working my way through the assorted fabrics in my linen closet and have a question for you clever folks. Can you think of any uses for formal table cloths in a home that only sees dinner parties once a decade? I've inherited several and they feel superfluous.

Make a snuffle mat?  LOL

[SimpleCycle]

One paperback out of the house to a Paperback Swap recipient.

Fulfilled several in search of posts on Buy Nothing.  Sometimes it takes knowing a neighbor would use the item to give me the nudge to rehome it.  I gave away a pile of adult clothes, toddler snow pants, and a muffin tin (I had 3!).  I find meeting a specific need more fulfilling as the gifter because sometimes when you post a giveaway it's just a pile of "Interested" and no real context.

I also did a bunch of organizing in the kids' room.  DD has a very hard time parting with things, but I need everything corralled for my sanity.  Interestingly, once everything was off the floor and in containers, only a select few toys are actually being played with.  I figure I can rotate which bins are most accessible so things get played with.

[SimpleCycle]

I'm working my way through the assorted fabrics in my linen closet and have a question for you clever folks. Can you think of any uses for formal table cloths in a home that only sees dinner parties once a decade? I've inherited several and they feel superfluous.

Depending on the fabric and the size, many tablecloths actually make great babywearing wraps.  One of my most versatile wraps is half a 60"x120" tablecloth.

http://wiki.babywearingdiy.com/do/view/Main/TableclothBabywearing#:~:text=Tablecloth%20Babywearing,of%20buying%20Colima%C3%A7on%20et%20Cie.)

[slackmax]

Side note to decluttering: Recently I have been finding things I either have forgotten about, or never knew I had. Example: 
I was thinking of buying a VHS tape rewinder to save my VCR motor. Well, I was looking for some cable wire under my TV table, and voila!
I found a tape rewinder.   

[NotJen]

Listed and almost immediately sold a paper shredder.  It’s still a mystery to me what non-furniture things will actually sell on Marketplace.

[Blissful Biker]

I want to get rid of my yearbooks and looked to see if the pdfs would be available on line.  No dice unfortunately.  I bet that's the way of the future though. 

[oneday]

@Blissful Biker if you hear of a service that converts them, I'd be interested!

Today found the source of the larvae that have been appearing on the kitchen ceiling on and off: an open bag of cornmeal and an open bag of oatmeal. Also tossed an open box of breadcrumbs without checking because it was old. Ick. But the kitchen is more sanitary now.

[BZB]

I do a whole home declutter just about once a quarter because I live in a small space and it fills up quickly. Also I am planning a move next year and looking at things I haven't used since the pandemic began and evaluating their utility in the next year. Today I got rid of some makeup, pajamas, and a set of 4 bowls. I'm considering getting rid of some of the outdoor furniture on my balcony.

[slackmax]

My library is now accepting donations again, and I dropped off a nice heavy bag of 5 books yesterday.  More space in the house now. I had been undecided about keeping or donating these books for a while. I do not miss them. Glad they're gone.

[draco44]

I want to get rid of my yearbooks and looked to see if the pdfs would be available on line.  No dice unfortunately.  I bet that's the way of the future though.

If you reach a point where you're willing to give them away without having an electronic backup, I once donated mine to a local history museum's collection. It only works if you are the first one to offer donating a particular year's book, however.

[SunnyDays]

If anyone needs more motivation to keep decluttering, here's some:  a local man just died in his house when he couldn't get out when it caught fire, because of his hoard.  Lots of papers and cardboard apparently.  He came to the window on the second floor where neighbours were urging him to jump, then left the window and wasn't seen again.  So bloody unnecessary.  So keep at it, everyone!

[Prairie Gal]

I was looking for my silicone muffin tin yesterday, and ended up pulling everything out of that cabinet and tidying it up. Put two mini-muffin tins and one regular size in the give away box. Other than that not much de-cluttering happening lately as work is starting to get busy again.

I do need to list two kitchen stools, but it is snowing and too cold out for porch pick up, so I might just stick them in the garage for now until it is nicer out. I do want them out of my entry way asap.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Sold another item on eBay
-Went through a variety of closets & found 5 more items to sell or donate

[NotJen]

Went through the kitchen cabinets yet again, and finally took out some pots, pans, and bakeware I'm never going to use, so will sell/donate.  Also threw out some bakeware that's seen better days.  Threw out some old loose teas.  Took everything off the fridge - put magnets in a baggie to be moved, and photos in an album.

[MayDay]

I'm doing a refresh of bedroom decor. It is currently also my office and I am sick of looking at it. So a few things went out:
-two cheap Ikea prints in frames (Buy nothing)
-two end tables that are going to leave the bedroom for awhile while I think about if I am temporarily tired of them or permanently tired of them haha. A couple flimsy/small tray tables will temporarily replace them in the bedroom while I ponder.

I will also be painting a wall a new color and I might swap the living room and bedroom lamps for some wild excitement in my life.

Other things going out:
-a hanging calendar the kids no longer use
-a too small winter coat (swapping for homemade crackers with a neighbor, I am the clear winner in this trade!)
-2 not nonstick frying pans, swapping for one that is actually nonstick!

I bought DS two small bins to store projects in. He has been working on electrical projects that he has lots of bits and pieces for, which get spread everywhere. I told him he could have each container of he gets rid of three things. So far he has claimed the first one, releasing 2 birthday decorations and a chapstick holder thing. This appears to be a good method for him. He likes to keep things "just in case" but then doesn't keep things organized and can't find it when he needs it. But when properly motivated he will make a trade.

[Nederstash]

If anyone needs more motivation to keep decluttering, here's some:  a local man just died in his house when he couldn't get out when it caught fire, because of his hoard.  Lots of papers and cardboard apparently.  He came to the window on the second floor where neighbours were urging him to jump, then left the window and wasn't seen again.  So bloody unnecessary.  So keep at it, everyone!

If anyone needs a new Youtube series to follow: Curiosity Inc just took on their second hoarder home. There's a whole series on Youtube under the name Musician's House. The old lady used to be a piano teacher but turns out... a millionaire. She inherited a ton of stuff from her parents (her father was a famous tailor). She apparently loved jewelry and fashion, because the house was full of it. The house has been cleared now, the first auction (jewelry) brought a whopping 285,000 CAD and the second (household stuff) 90,000 CAD. Third auction (misc items and some jewelry) is next Saturday.

This is the first video of that series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQnKYVUArIo

Alex Archbold, the guy behind Curiosity Inc, is a genuinely good egg. He's very respectful to the people who hoarded and always makes sure to do a little background on them as people, not as hoarders. Highly, highly recommend the first house he did too: the Potter's House.

[slackmax]

Another kitchen cabinet person here!  For some reason I noticed all the mystery stuff in the back 3 feet of one of the cabinets under the kitchen counter. Sigh. A whole bunch of decisions to make. What a pain. Oh well, just do it. It's not that big a deal, right? 

And look! There's a bunch of plastic lids. And some empty glass jars. Easy stuff. Recycle them, and put a few of the nicer glass jars into the jar box! 

I made myself take one side out first, and just look at it all. Feeling like I was doing something wrong, but hey, you're just crazy, accept it, this will always feel wrong, even though it's right. Just do it. It's right. Keep going.

End result was I filled up a big recycling container with glass and plastic stuff, and moved a bunch of sellable stuff to the flea market pile. And even threw out some stuff that was just way too far gone. Like three jars of French powdered mustard
whose metal lids had actually rusted through. Wow. Don't want to be eating flaked lid metal, so those were easy to throw out.

The cabinet is almost empty now. Yay. And I found some neat stuff I didn't even know I had, like an electric  mixer, and some other neat cooking tools, that I can make use of.         

     

[SunnyDays]

Good going, Slackmax!  You’re not crazy, you just need to think about things differently than you have been.  Feel the pain and do it anyway!  Feelings come and go, but you don’t need to make your decisions based on them.  Chances are that you’ve never missed anything you’ve let go so far, and look what you’ve gained - space!  Satisfying, no?

[halftimer]

If anyone needs a new Youtube series to follow: Curiosity Inc just took on their second hoarder home.

Thanks for the reminder. I watched the first dozen videos in December when I was home sick, then never finished watching them. It was highly motivating to see so much stuff that used to be very expensive reduced to a few fantastic finds mixed in with tons of things that had to go out as garbage.

[horsepoor]

Today it was pretty nice for February in Idaho, so I did a little decluttering outdoors. Got the burn barrel going and torched some small scrap wood and branches, and part of the Christmas tree. Picked up some broken up pieces of concrete and moved them up where they can go out with the trash. Repurposed an unused squat rack as storage for additional scrap wood that had been haphazardly stowed in the back corner of our yard.

[Dutch Comfort]

Jay!!!!! another oven-dish sold and out of our house. It was a nice one, but after 8 years still stuck in its original box. Seems like I did not need it after all....... well, let's say it was from my pre-MMM time.....
I need to clear out my kitchen again, since my kitchen cupboard is overflowing..... mostly food items, so need to make the family EAT IT ALL!!!!! We started with sausage rolls for lunch!

[Sugaree]

The decluttering effort is making small steps forward.  Sold about half of my diaper stash a few weeks ago and made a decent dent in the formal living room/dining room this weekend.  I've still got about 5 boxes of kid's clothes that I'm going to sell/donate.  And a big box of baby/toddler books that will be dropped off at the thrift store this afternoon if my coworkers with new kids/grandkids don't want them.  And I've got to find somewhere to put the boxes of xmas decorations.  But, it's getting there. 

My husband, who has always shaded towards being a packrat (as does his father and our son), has been taking a medication for the last 8-12 months that has a known side effect of compulsive behavior disorders and it's been manifesting itself as compulsive collecting of rocks.  So, I've been trying to keep that collection from invading the house.  My son did admit this weekend that we have too much stuff and he knows I'm not purging stuff in order to be mean.  That's a nice change.  He even helped clean up this weekend without too much bitching. 

[Nederstash]

Found out that a pandemic is an excellent time to be selling boardgames! Six of them out the door and a nice sum in my pocket (it pays to keep things in good shape!!) Also made my sister happy by giving her my stand mixer (used only once).
 
Also angling to get rid of my tv... but I don't know what I'd do with the empty wall?? I don't really want to buy more stuff just to fill a vacuum.

[NotJen]

Found out that a pandemic is an excellent time to be selling boardgames! Six of them out the door and a nice sum in my pocket (it pays to keep things in good shape!!)

What's your secret?  No one has seemed interested in purchasing any of my boardgames.

Sent out a DVD today.  Profit was only $2.71, but better than nothing.

[midweststache]

Gave away (via Buy Nothing / FB Parent Groups)
- hanging storage organizers
- bridesmaids dress that's two sizes too big
- decorative wine bottle holder
- four pint glasses

Sold (via FB Parent Group)
- infant travel system
- heated mattress pad (ppu)

Thrown Out/Recycled
- kids' art / old KiwiCo projects
- chipped/old glasswear
- broken kids' drinking glasses

I tried to take our e-waste to be recycled last week and the darned drop off site wasn't accepting donations! I can't fault them - Covid-related precautions - but that wasn't on the website. I just want someone to take my old iPhones! I was hoping to stick with free city drop offs, but now I'm hunting down other sites. I also have yet to shred my paper, as I'd like to watch it happen but everywhere I've found simply puts it in a locked box for mass shredding at a secure site. Some of my documents are old tax returns and, call me paranoid, but I don't want to deal with identity theft - so not a chance I'm taking.

T-minus five weeks until the move. I'm pleased with the progress we're making!

[Polaria]

Also angling to get rid of my tv... but I don't know what I'd do with the empty wall?? I don't really want to buy more stuff just to fill a vacuum.

Maybe you can rearrange your room? If your room tends to be centred around the TV, it is no wonder that you feel something would be off if the TV was not there anymore.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

-Sold another two items on eBay. Will get them packaged & out of the house today.
-Went through the other side of our medicine cabinet & found expired stuff. Tossed that, recycled the containers.
-Continuing to discreetly go through my husband's closet (I have his permission, but he is a bit more of a pack rat. I've agreed to group like items, make a pile of suggested donations, etc). I can only do a bit at a time, so it's taken me a while.

[Weisass]

Well, I just successfully rehomed a large box of DVDs, a bunch of PS2 games, and a dozen or so outfits for 12-24 month kiddos.  Slowly making my way through the churn of unnecessary items that comes with having kiddos. But feeling like progress is being made.

next up: goal is to go through our small attic. There is not a ton of junk up there since we moved to our house in 2017, but I would really like to clear it out, because I think we may be able to finish it and make use of it for our kids. That means we can't keep stuff up there, though. So I force some work clearing out books, old craft supplies that have no realistic use, and finding a new space to put a few things (suitcases, eg) that don't get a lot of regular use. you know, the usual.